CruiseWookiee

On a related note...

I did an eastbound TA once and we set our clocks ahead 1 hour each day at noon for 5 (6?) days in a row. The first couple of days it was cool. Hey, 23 hour days, that's different! Then by the end your body clock goes in to "tilt" mode and you become a walking zombie for a couple days.

I heard that on westbound TA's they set the clocks back each night at 1 or 2 am and you get an extra hour of sleep (or partying if that's how you roll?). I'll have to try that next time.

I agree....almost every form of transportation that cross time lines, land, sea, or air....usually shows their schedule in local time at each stop. I can't see why they would want to stay on "ship's time" if it were different....perhaps just for the convenience of the crew, not having to endure a 'short night'?:confused:

It's a double edged sword. If you make the passengers change their clocks/watches, someone will forget. If you stay on ship's time someone will not get it and rely on the clock on the wall somewhere in the port. And that's how you get pier runners!

That must be why the Captain gets to pick which problem they want to have?

Perfect. Thank you.

I think we'll plan to visit the restaurant, but remain flexible and double check the Cruise Compass on that day for any changes.

Look at your itinerary on RC's website or on your booking confirmation, those times are supposed to be local times.

RC site says arrive 7am depart 2pm

A previous Cruise Compass says, "All aboard at 1:30 pm Ship's Time."

Why spell out "Ship's Time" if it's the same as local time?

I'm thinking that the ship stays on EST, but would like to hear from someone who has done this stop with a RCCL ship recently to confirm.

We will be stopping in San Juan on Feb 1st and I'm wondering if we have time to complete something. Prior Cruise Compass' say that you have to be back on board by 1:30 pm ship's time, but is that actually 2:30 pm local San Juan time? We want to go to a local restaurant that doesn't open until noon. Don't want to do it if we have to rush and worry about traffic getting back. The extra hour will make the difference.

Since the cruise originates in EST, I am assuming that they won't set the ship's clock back one hour, but you know what happens when you assume...

We disembark Oasis OTS on Sunday, 2-4-17. My first time at PC.

I have a 12 passenger van reserved for 8 people in our party from Avis, No one has a MCO flight earlier than 12:30.

My thoughts were...I could get off by myself at the earliest time for walkoff, take the shuttle to Avis, get the van and then drive back to pickup the other 7 people.

My questions are:

A. If I leave the ship at a different time than my wife, will that cause a problem with Customs? Would we both fill out separate declaration forms? Do they have Global Entry or Mobile Passport at PC?

B. How early does the Avis shuttle run?

C. Coming back to Port, is there a designated area for private passenger pickup where I would meet the other 7 people? Would I have to go to the Uber lot or something?

TIA

I know everyone is saying that you can't make this flight, and that IS the RIGHT answer, but... I still have to ponder the possibility.

You would have to carry off your own bags at the earliest possible time slot, as soon as they open the gangway. I would say that would be 7:30, maybe a couple of minutes earlier if you're lucky? If the ship arrives late, you're screwed.

Hopefully, CBP has a lane open and an agent that works faster than a sloth. I have heard that there are porters that can zip you through the Customs line, never tried it. If you're the first one off the ship it may not be necessary.

If you're one of the first off the ship, cabs should not be a problem. This line always moves quickly.

The early morning traffic is usually light and the ride to the airport should take 25 mins. Unless there is some hurricane related construction going on?

You would have to have carry-on bags only for the flight. They won't let you check a bag after 45 mins(?) prior to the flight. Your bag has to get on the same plane as you.

You would have to have TSA Pre and get lucky at the USDA inspection station.

That's a lot of stress to add to the end of your vacation. But there are people crazy enough to take on the challenge. For the record, on my last cruise I booked a hotel for one night and extended a day in PR. The cost ends up about the same because the Sunday flights cost so much more.

The package does not cover beverages from the licensed Starbucks venue on Oasis class ships. However, it does cover specialty coffess from Cafe Promenade, Park Cafe, and restaurants.

Thank you

Just getting ready to pull the trigger on adding the Deluxe Drink Package to our January cruise on Oasis. There is one asterisk in the description that says, "*All Beverage Packages exclude any beverages served inside licensed Starbucks® stores." Sounds like this means that cappuccinos and other Starbucks drinks are not included? I know on my last cruise on Jewel I had Starbucks coffees everyday with the soda/coffee card.

Can someone who cruised Oasis lately explain? Thanks.

I was just searching for this same question...

One of the things i found was the website hotelsbyday.com That looks like a good option? Get a room on South Beach for the day and then shower up and head for the airport. $100-150

There is also a day pass available for about $35 at the Savoy Hotel, you don't get a private room but you do get access to the beach pool and locker room. They will also store your bags.

The Savoy Hotel

425 Ocean Drive, Miami, Florida 33139

Could you price Uber from Exchange Place or Grove St in Jersey City to Cape Liberty? If the price is comparable there is no need to go all the way west to Newark Penn Station to come back to Bayonne.

 

From midtown PATH leaves from Herald Square between 32nd & 33rd on 6th Ave. Uber could be cost effective for more than two people, but the absolute cheapest fir 1 or two people is to go to Hoboken from 33rd St or Exchange Place from World Trade and take the Hudson-Bergen light rail to 34th St Bayonne for $2.25/pp and then call Uber for a ride into the port, which should be $10 or less. PATH and light rail are totally accessible with luggage and seats are not an issue outbound from Manhattan in the morning.

Now you're at "EXPERT" level!

Even better two ways:

PATH from 33rd St to Grove St. and UberX to the port for an estimated $13-17

PATH from WTC to Exchange Pl - Light Rail to 34th St. Bayonne - Uber to the port $6-9

Not sure if this qualifies for easiest, quickest or best, but cheapest way to go (considering that you're in one of the most expensive cities in the world) from Manhattan to Cape Liberty would be to take the PATH train ($2.75 per ride) from either NY Penn Station at 33rd St. or World Trade Center downtown, to Newark Penn Station. Then Uber to the cruise port ($20 per car UberX). A party of four could be all in for under $50. Now... there may be some aggravation involved schlepping your luggage through train stations and all, and you may have to upgrade to XL or SUV, but it could be done.

The easiest way would be to get a limo and hand him your black Amex card as he schlepps your luggage in to the trunk. If that's how you roll... power to you. ;p

I am actually looking to do the same thing in July/August.

I did find Jauntee Cruises and they are very reasonable. I just can't find any other independent info about them.

https://www.jauntee.com/

Anyone hear of them?

I just came off Jewel and I have Sprint. I noticed that the "Wi-Fi" logo was active indicating that wifi calling was available, but I didn't test it. I should have for the research value, sorry. No incoming calls came through either.

Thank you so much for the review and Compasses! We're leaving in two days for the same trip, but RCCL changed St. Kitts for St. Maarten for some unknown reason?

We have a different taxi booked for Curcao (Thank goodness). And I communicated an itinerary similar to what you did. Is is worth the side trip for Shete Boka? The standard tour spent time in the Willemsted area, I told him to skip that, head straight for Shete Boka and then the beaches on the other side of the island with a swim stop at Cas Abao. Does that sound doable?

Thank you for the info. You have been very helpful. Since we arrive at 1:00 AM, we decided to stay at the Hampton Inn by the airport. We are sailing on RCI Jewel of the Seas in Jan.

I have stayed at the Hampton Inn several times and have never had a bad stay. The staff is very nice.

Some good info in this thread http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1992537

E625 looks bad to me.

The Aft pool looks similar to the small plunge pool on Lido under the MUTS screen on Royal and Regal. There were plenty of people using that area on my Royal cruise. I think it is a nice addition... but I'm a wake-watcher anyway.

I was wondering how they did this...

Here's a comparison to the Royal

I've booked guaranteed balcony a couple of times. The first three times I got a normal balcony, everything was great. Then there was last February on Royal Princess...

I spent 10 minutes on that balcony over 7 days.

That's what can happen when you roll the dice though.

If it's at all possible, I would move. You are at the aft end of a tender, which has the raised seating area on top of it as you are looking forward, and the davit with the 'block and tackle' of the davit looking aft. Quite a bit of obstruction there all the way around. :(

 

Here's E608

Kinda crappy IMHO

I really can't see any reason why someone would use them these days. Princess may accept them but have fun trying to use them elsewhere. They are pretty much an anachronism these days.

They're accepted at every payphone. :p

Iceman2a - This may seem like a silly question to ask, but 'why' is E438 priced as an obstructed view? Based on your picture, it looks perfect (especially versus some of the other OV cabins like E608 - night and day difference). Just wanted to make sure I didn't misunderstand something.

E438 is a BV and they do note that it "could be partially obstructed." Maybe the OV is just because when you look straight down you see the promenade area. Also you are on the same level as the tops of the life boats and crane equipment for them, so that might block your view directly forward or aft?

I would have been very happy with that cabin and the view.

We were in the first walk off group on 2/9. I think we met at like 6:10am. We had to queue for the three customs agents and then again for a taxi that would fit four of us. After all that we arrived at FLL around 7:30am.

Your mileage may vary. :)

Has anyone stayed in cabin E511? Wondering how much of an obstruction it has.

Thanks

You'll be in the middle of a life boat, not a tender.

Go to post #24 on this thread and someone has a picture of cabin E512 posted. That will be your OV. E512 is the mirror image of E511 on the port side.