kac0426

OBC from Royal should show up when you enter your Cruise Planner.

Can you tell me where? I guess that's what I'm having a hard time with. I don't know where to look for it or what to click on.

Call the cruise line and ask.

Is there a way to view it online or no?

I am actually booked on the very cruise you mention. I booked it about 5 months ago and paid nowhere near the price you are quoting. For some Caribbean cruises, you may be able to get decent deals within 3 months of sail date. But I find with the popular itineraries and cruises like Panama Canal, Europe, etc., it's best to book 6 months to even 1 year ahead. Seems the price only goes up. I actually wish I'd booked mine even earlier than I did.

I booked my upcoming cruise months ago and now I can't remember if it included on board credit. Is there a way for me to see that before I board? I've tried logging into the website but am not having much luck. In the past, I thought logging in would allow you to see how much you owed, how much OBC you received, when the deadline to pay is, etc. I'm not seeing any of that information anymore. Maybe I am looking in the wrong place? I also thought I might have received a confirmation email when I booked, but the email I have doesn't really say anything helpful other than a link to use to check in online.

In somewhat related news, I have another cruise coming up in about 4 months and can't remember the deadline to pay the final balance and I also can't find this deadline posted anywhere when I log in. Seems like they would want to make that date VERY obvious to people.

If the promenade is significantly more expensive than an inside room, I don't know that I'd pay hundreds of dollars for it. But we had one once and loved it. We love to people watch, and it was always neat to be able to see what was going on down on the promenade (to see if we wanted to join in).

I don't remember noise ever being a factor.

You can be in your room and not feel like you're missing out on what's going on, whereas with an inside room, I always feel like I'm "in the dark" (literally and figuratively) about what's going on outside of my little room.

I will look into Nationwide. However, it appears that something else is going on with Cuba. Possibly overbooking the port.

How did you find this out?

We booked this cruise a couple of months ago not knowing it was the Majesty's first Cuba trip.

 

Left Orlando at 9.00am and on the ship in the bar at 10.55, parked at the Port of Tampas parking all pretty seamless.

 

Ship sailed empty form Port Canaveral yesterday so crew seem genuinely relaxed, happy and excited to see Cuba.

 

Any questions let me know

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I'm thrilled you are doing this! I'll be on this very same cruise next week. It's been hard to find much information about it since, to my knowledge, this is the first time Majesty has EVER done this itinerary?

I echo what someone else said: Would love to know if there's a formal night. Really don't want to pack a dress and formal shoes if I don't have to/won't use it. Can't wait to learn more!

I really appreciate all of the replies, everyone. One other reason why I was leaning towards staying hear Heathrow was the cost. $90 per night versus about $300 per night. But it sounds like maybe there are some less expensive hotel options in London that I haven't found yet. I'll keep looking. I definitely see what you are saying about it being much more convenient to stay in central London. I've read a few horror stories about trains and coaches being delayed and I guess I thought the ship's transfer the morning of embarkation day would be more "guaranteed."

Has anyone done an excursion on disembarkation day in London? Or anywhere in Europe really? I've done post-cruise excursions in Ft Lauderdale and New York and both times, my luggage was on the same bus as me and they dropped me and my luggage off at our flight terminal when the excursion was over. I assume that's how it's done all over but I don't want to book the Stonehenge excursion if my luggage is going to be sent to the airport ahead of me.

When you buy rum in Cuba and get back on board the ship, do they take it from you? How do you then get it back? I've never purchased liquor while on a cruise but may make an exception for Cuban rum!

I'm not much of a liquor drinker (or purchaser) but someone asked me to bring them back some Cuban rum. What are the rules on what you can/can't buy? Is there a limit? Do they take it from you when you re-board the ship? How do you get it back? These all may be silly questions but again, I've never bought liquor while on a cruise before.

It's a little pricey, but I'm willing to pay if it's worth it. The excursion appears to run from 8:00 pm to midnight which seems like a LONG show. Any input is much appreciated.

Hope this helps

• Emerald, Diamond, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club members will receive welcome waters & a snack (“welcome amenity”) on day one of their sailing. These items will be placed in the guest’s stateroom. In addition, Emerald, Diamond, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club members can go online to www.RoyalCaribbean. com/UpgradePreferences or call one of our Loyalty Representatives (www.RoyalCaribbean.com/ContactLoyalty) in their local offices to preselect from a list of beverages to be included with their welcome waters & snack. One beverage can be selected per guest 18 years of age or older. Preferences must be entered or updated for your upcoming cruise vacation up to 5 days before a US based sailing and 7 days for an internationally based sailing. The beverage selection list for Emerald and Diamond members will include water,juice and soda items. In addition to the previous list Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club members can select from a more expanded list of beverages. If a guest has not selected an item then bottled water will be sent to the stateroom. House alcoholic brands may be substituted or changed, and are subject to availability.
  

This is what I read prior to posting here and I tried to follow these directions exactly. But when I went to the website it directs me to, there is no place to list my preferences. I wonder if it's like what others mentioned and it doesn't work anymore. To me, if RCCL is going to no longer honor this benefit, they should remove it from the Emerald benefit lists. (Wishful thinking, I know.)

And obviously, I know I can call C&A, but having the ability to select it online is so much more convenient, both for them and me.

I realize this is a very minor thing in the big scheme of things, but I read somewhere that once you are an emerald member you can receive a welcome amenity which normally includes a snack and bottle of water. I also read that you can request a soft drink instead of water, which I'd like to do. I've tried everything and spent way more time than a free soft drink is worth, but now it's a challenge that I can't give up. How in the world do I request the soft drink? I went to royalcaribbean.com/upgrade preferences which is what I was told to do but see nothing that says "preferences" and see no form to fill out to list my preferences. Help?

When the State Department felt that U.S. personnel in Cuba were at risk as a result of unresolved health risks, they said the total length of Ordered Departure status may not exceed 180 days, which falls on March 4. If after 180 days the State Department determines the threat still exists, they plan to permanently adjust the staffing posture of the Embassy. Some fear that travel to Cuba could be banned at that point. This may or may not be a justified fear. I'm honestly not sure.

I'm considering booking a Cuba cruise for May. But I know there's a pending government decision, to be made on March 4, that may affect travel to Cuba. Does anyone have any insight or recommendations on booking cruises after March 4? Would you go ahead and book the cruise and take the risk? What if travel to Cuba is banned after March 4? Would the cruise line refund my money or would they just substitute a different port? Obviously, the reason for booking the cruise is to go to Cuba, so if at the last minute I were notified I'd be going to Cozumel instead, it would be quite disappointing. I also know that's the risk you take when you cruise though...

We did a Norwegian Fjords cruise in 2016 and LOVED it. We used the National Express bus from Heathrow to Southampton for about $24 per person. It was a nice ride, and got us close enough that we just walked to the port. If you have lots of luggage, I would suggest a taxi though.

 

On the return trip we used International Friends and toured Stonehenge, Salisbury Cathedral, and Windsor Castle before airport or hotel drop off. We really enjoyed this tour and felt like it was a great value. Enjoy your cruise!

Thank you for this. Did you do the 8-day Norwegian Fjord cruise with RCCL? If so, I may have additional questions for you! :) How do you define "lots of luggage." I'm thinking a backpack and normal sized week-long suitcase for me.

They won't know the difference. I often book a flight home before their recommended time and just fudge the departure time when I do my Set Sail pass. Same thing for arrival, just find a flight that arrives in time and give them that info, this will put you on their list. They won't know if you just got off a plane or out of a taxi.

That was my thinking too. The only way I could see this getting messed up is if the flight I put down is cancelled or delayed!

That is really surprising. You would think RCCL would be happy to make the extra money. I guarantee they charge more for a transfer than what it costs them to transport someone. What if I just found a flight coming in the day of the cruise and said I was on that flight? How would they know the difference?

I appreciate the suggestions of taking a taxi, but my understanding is that a taxi from London to Southampton would cost an exorbitant amount of money. I'm trying to find another, less expensive option. I've also read horror stories about trains getting delayed and I definitely don't want to miss the ship.

Thanks for the replies. When I've done post-cruise excursions in the past, they've never checked my luggage in for me. So unless that's something new, I don't think that would be a problem. With all of the customs regulations, I'm really surprised they are even allowed to do that.

I am planning a Norwegian fjord cruise out of Southampton this summer. The plan is to fly into London a couple of days early to see London. We plan to stay at a hotel near Heathrow and would like to utilize the RCCL transfer to Southampton on the morning of embarkation for convenience. Since we will be flying in two days early, how do I arrange this transfer? I imagine RCCL will want my flight information, thinking I'm flying in that morning, but that won't be the case. Will the transfer give the option of leaving flight information blank?

Similarly, at the end of our cruise, we plan to do the Stonehenge excursion with RCCL and take advantage of the drop off at Heathrow. We plan to stay at the same airport hotel that night and will fly home the next day. I, again, imagine that RCCL will need my flight information for this excursion, but if I put that it's the next day, will that mess things up?

I've never done post-cruise excursions or used a cruise line transfer when not flying in the day of embarkation/disembarkation.

I thought of two more, and of course they involve kids and the buffet.

1. A little boy was playing in the buffet during the very busy lunch hour. He had a toy car and was using the section where you normally would place your plate or tray as "lanes" for his car, running his car up and down all sections of the buffet. He was far too young to be by himself but of course, his parents were nowhere to be seen.

2. A little girl (again, far too young to be on her own) was serving herself from the buffet. She was really too short to do so and of course, the parents were nowhere to be seen. She served herself a spoonful of fruit salad but I guess she didn't like strawberries so she proceeded to pick all of the strawberries off her plate and literally throw them back into the large serving bowl. It was disgusting to watch.

1. At a show, a family with two small children sat in the front row. During the entire show (which featured a singer/performer), the children jumped off the side stairs of the stage. The entire time. Their parents just sat in the front row and watched. The children were maybe 3-5 years old and jumping from a pretty tall height. The parents were not concerned. It was extremely distracting.

2. One night around 9-10 pm, there were three children sitting in one of the elevators, just riding up and down, for about an hour. This prevented pretty much anyone else from using that elevator (maybe 1-2 adults could still fit but no one else and certainly no wheelchairs or scooters). Clearly they needed something productive to do.

Thanks for the quick replies everyone. That is good to know. Is this option a new thing for RCCL? Booking with nonrefundable versus refundable? Does it always give you that option or are they maybe just running a special right now?

I haven't cruised with RCCL in about two years, so this may not be a new thing, not sure. But I hadn't seen it before. I noticed recently that it gives me the option to book with a refundable deposit or a nonrefundable deposit. The nonrefundable deposit is, of course, cheaper. If I choose the nonrefundable deposit option, if the price drops before final payment deadline, can I still get the lower price? Or am I locked in to the original price? Thanks in advance.