Sunny AZ Girl

On 11/28/2023 at 1:06 PM, crisp1 said:

I have a car reserved with Budget, but they close at 6pm and I won't be able return th car until later- like 7- 7:30

Most car rentals offer a key drop box for after hours returns.  Check with the rental agency. 

We will be in Tenerife for the second and third times in November of next year (2024) while we are on 2 different cruises that stop at the island each time.  I see that whale watching is in season at that time.  Can anyone recommend a tour operator that operates out of the cruise ship area for whale watching?  I doubt if we would want to travel to the other side of the island to do this.  It is still early, but I don't see a ship excursion doing this. We have done a regular island tour on our first visit a few years ago.

On 5/31/2023 at 4:11 PM, pcrum said:

I work with people from Granada who told me the Alhambra was not to be missed. But, out TA cruise did not dock in Gibraltar, only Malaga, so we opted to do Gibraltar as an excursion from Malaga to see the monkeys instead. 
 

What were your impressions of the Alhambra? I hope to make it there on our next trip. 
 

Enjoying the trip report. 

I would love to do an excursion from Malaga to Gibraltar.  Did you book through the ship? 

And yes, Alhambra is beautiful.  But we have been there so looking for another experience in Malaga. 

10 hours ago, keesar said:

 

As for the Main Dining Rooms, there are 4 and you just show up when you want to eat.  No reservations are needed on the class of ship you are cruising.  You can go to a different one each night if you choose.  However, for the Specialty Restaurants, you need to make reservations and there is a surcharge for them.  We book our Specialty Restaurants in advance as we want to choose the day and time.  

 

Enjoy your cruise!

5 hours ago, terrydtx said:

On the E Class ships with 4 different and distinct MDR's each with a different menu, you can go to any one of the 4 when you want to. However, all 4 MDR menus are available in any one of the 4 MDR's to order from.

Thank you both for the responses.  If you go to the MDR at a popular time (6 -7 pm?) is there usually a long wait?  Is there a trick to getting in at any particular time?

Also, do the menu;s change daily?  

I have cruised RCI so long and am so accostomed to making reservations in advance for MTD that this seems really different.  But I am looking forward to new and different menus!

We are booked on the Celebrity Apex for the westbound TA in 2024.  We are D+ on RCI and have cruised a few other lines, but have never cruised on Celebrity.  Looking at the Main Dining options, it does not look like what we are accostomed to on RCI. We usually have My Time Dining in the main dinig room with a few specialty dining options thrown in.  What should I expect on the Apex? Are we to sign up for each night in a different main dining restaurant? Nothing is open for dining on the website yet, so I can't tell from that.

Thank you in advance!

10 hours ago, OmaDebbie said:

We booked through Thenford Grey tours a few years ago and had a wonderful tour.  Went to Romney Manor and bought lots of batik fabric!  Thenford was our tour guide that day and he was a wealth of information.  The fort was amazing as was the beach he took us to.  We would book another tour with him in a heartbeat.

We have now booked a group of 6 with Thenford Grey for January.  We have toured St Kitts before, but the others have not, so it should be fun.  My sister in law is a quilter.  I can't wait to see her reaction to Caribelle Boutique! I bought 6 placemats from there in 2015 that I use all the time (still in great condition) and I want 6 more! 

We did the HOHO bus the last time we were there.  It was a nice ride, but we didn't get off because it was raining.  I'm not sure if it is still running/  That was in 2015.

12 hours ago, ARandomTraveler said:

It docks right downtown, across the street from the Sheraton Old San Juan hotel. You can walk to the forts and around the downtown area as long as you're mobile and can walk uphill. 

My experience has been that it is better to catch a cab to the fort and then walk back down!  I shop along the way and stop for a bite to eat at one of the many eateries along the way.  But that is me.  

55 minutes ago, Ashland said:

RCI always day ports at the Old San Juan pier. The only time they use the Pan American pier is for San Juan departures. We were just recently on a B2B Southern Caribbean out of San Juan on Explorer. Enjoy San Juan !!!

That is what I thought.  I just wanted to make sure that pier could handle an Oasis Class ship 

  Thank you for the response. 

1 hour ago, Coralc said:

Are you still on Navigator 4/27 G? You started the roll call but have not re-visited.  We are carrying on without you, wondering about a meet up now. Your input would be appreciated. LOL 

No.  We cancelled that, sorry.  I had a total knee replacement instead. 😉

Carry on. 😊

We are booked on the Oasis on Jan 5, 2023.  We now have San Juan added as a port stop due to a recent itinerary change.  It is a relatively short day (7AM - 3PM), back on the ship by 2:30PM.  I am wondering where the ship will dock?  I am hoping at the pier in Old San Juan so we can just walk off the ship to the shops and restaurants, but not sure if the Old San Juan per can handle an Oasis Class ship.  🤔

18 minutes ago, tkere said:

We took this company March of 2020 and loved it (actually the last tour before the shutdown).  The food was good too.  A bit pricey and we took a taxi to the tour.  https://stmaartencruiseexcursions.com/excursions/st-maarten-catamaran-tour/

That looks like a good day.  I have already e-mailed another company, Captain Jack's.  I will have to compare the two.  Thank you.

I was wondering if there is a catamaran snorkeling tour offered that is easy access from the ship in St. Maarten?  We have been there several times and would like to do something different than the usual land tour with beach stop.  thanks in advance.

3 hours ago, Essiesmom said:

Radiance transited on April 1, 2022 through the old locks.  

 

Pedro Miguel

 

 

Miraflores

 

 

 

I guess that is what we will be doing, too. Thanks. Great pictures! 

We did the Jewel of the Seas, full transit, in 2015.  Old locks (new locks were still under construction).  In 2023 we are booked on the Radiance of the Seas (same class of ship) for the full transit.  Since we know that class of ship can use the old locks should we assume that we will be using the old locks once again? 

3 hours ago, brillohead said:

Honestly, I don't see the point in beach beds or cabanas now that they have sooooo many loungers and umbrellas available.  Unless you really need constant dedicated bar service, but you can get that at a lounger if you tip cash with your first order.  

South Beach is more "primitive" and only has a Snack Shack, not a buffet.  
Chill Island Beach has the large buffet nearby.  It's actually three beaches with rocks between, plus Breezy Bay Beach on the "corner" of the island.  There's a Snack Shack at Breezy Bay, too. 

Thank you.  We have never been to Coco Cay, but we are now booked to visit in January.  We think that we would prefer Chill Island as long as snacks and drinks are available nearby.  Also, the free loungers sound good to me! 

2 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said:

I have seen others use so I had to try and loved them.    I bought the 6 pack online.   I, also, bought a portable air blower from amazon and blew up the noodles in the cabin before heading to the beach.   It worked wonders instead of blowing up yourself and passing out!    Also, worked decent to deflate them once we were back onboard.   We used them in Nassau too!     

 

I would definitely get this one as it is stronger than the flextail and others available on amazon site.    It comes with a black travel pouch too.   We will definitely use this again and again for the noodles, etc. 

 

Those look great! Thank you for sharing. 

On 12/3/2021 at 7:36 AM, CLS/KAS said:

I have been in contact with the taxi service I use in St. Kitts.

as of a few weeks ago, You are .

allowed to use private taxi service 's,

as long as they are cleared by the govt.

of course the Cruise lines are not going to tell you this,

because they want ALL the $$ they can get from the excursions, 

they don't care about the locals, and will not inform their passengers,

because they know people will use them.. (cheaper/ better tour)

I am going in early Feb. planning on using them

anyone going sooner?

We are going in January 2023.  When I read the official statement from the St Kitts government it states that all tours must be arranged by the hotel concierge.  I assume that means that cruise ship visitors must book through the ship?  I hope that rule is changed by the time we get there.  We hope to go to Caribelle Batik and Romney Manor, then on to the beach. 

There are not limitations on private tours or taxi's in St Thomas, then?

Are taxi's plentiful at the port?

Are there any licensed private Tour Guides or taxi's that are allowed to pick up cruise passengers in St. Kitts?  My research shows that you need to book tours through your hotel concierge, but nothing that applies to cruise ship passengers.  I would like to go to Caribelle Batik & Romney Manor, then be dropped off at a good beach for lunch and sun time before having the same driver pick us up and return us to the ship.  My last visit to St. Kitts was in 2014, and the operator I used at that time appears to longer be doing tours.   

Would one of these recommended beaches also have snorkeling available?

I love following these pictures.  But I am having a hard time wrapping my head around the sheer enormity pf how large these buildings must be!  It is mind boggeling to me, knowing how large these ships always apear to me when we first see them in port.  I would love to see this operation in person some day.

25 minutes ago, twangster said:

 

Ovation's approach had shifted to a short repo between Vancouver and Seattle.  I was looking at it in 2020 but the shutdown killed it.  

 

Maybe they are trying to decide between another long Alaska repo like in 2019 or a short repo like 2020.  

 

I'm booked on the transpacific so watching it closely myself, waiting for the next Northbound leg to become available.

 

 

We did the 2019 Alaska Repo on the Ovation - 11 nights.  It was the best itinerary I could hope for!  We loved the extra time and the port days in Icy Point Strait and Sitka that are not on the usual itineraries.  

We are also on the TP in 2022, but on the Quantum.  I am inclined to stay in Hawaii a few days, but want to see what the repo offers before we make any decisions.

1 hour ago, Wine-O said:

It looks to me that Radiance and Quantum TP's were both cancelled.  Only TP is Ovation leaving on 10 April???  🍷

Nope.  See the letter I posted.  The Quantum TP was switched to Brisbane on April 11, 2011 and we were all shifted automatically to that cruise.

2 hours ago, internetwhiz said:

Rc deployed ships. That happens. Quantum TP and Radiance TP affected, April 2022. All they did to Quantum was change the departure port to Brisbane. Same date, same ship. So we get a letter cancelling Quantum TP with no option to move to the new sailing at Brisbane, they just cancelled ours. Only option, re-book at prevailing prices with 100 obc for our trouble.
 

With Radiance TP cancellation, they tell them them can move over to the Quantum 4.11.22 from Brisbane, and they’ll do it automatically for them. They get Our ship, our sail date-just from Brisbane rather than Sydney. It would have worked for me. But noooo

Such a slap in the face. I haven’t been so angry in a long time. 

Yep.  It seems you all got the short end of the stick. I would be very angry, too.  I was very surprised to see that you didn't have the option.   For those of us who had booked the Radiance (thank goodness!) it looks like it has worked out.  Hopefully the itinerary will include the New Zealand ports, which is why we booked The Radiance instead of the Quantum in the first place.  I do hope you are able to join us, though.  I would love to see you again on the Quantum!  

52 minutes ago, MichellePerth said:

I must be missing something. I've justvreveived the following email telling me that the quantum April 2022 TP has been cancelled.  Isn't that the ship that the radiance bookings are being shifted to? 

 

 

Dear Guest,

We hope this email finds you and your family healthy and well.

Over the next few weeks, we will be making schedule and itinerary adjustments to some of our late 2021 and early 2022 sailings for six of our ships. These changes are being made after tapping into market research and listening to feedback and input from guests and trade partners on opportunities for new adventures. But most importantly, we are applying the best available public health, science and engineering insights to deliver a safe and healthy cruise vacation. However, as a result of these shifts, our April 11, 2022 Quantum of the Seas cruise has been cancelled.

We know this news is disappointing, and we're sorry for the impact to your vacation. As a result of this unexpected change, we'll be providing you with the following:

• A full refund of any paid portion of your cruise fare to the original form(s) of payment, including any non-refundable deposit.
• A full refund of any prepaid Royal Caribbean International amenities to the original form of payment.
  • You can expect to receive your refund 45 days after we cancel your reservation. Kindly note, refund times may vary depending on your financial institution.
• And, if you booked your airfare through Royal Caribbean International, it will be automatically refunded to you. However, if you booked on your own, please contact the service provider directly for your options with them.

Understanding how much time and effort go into planning your cruise, it's important that we make this up to you. So, we also have a special offer just for you. If you rebook an alternate like itinerary departing from Sydney, Australia or Brisbane, Australia in 2021 or 2022 by November 24, 2020, we'll provide you with an Onboard Credit valued at $50 USD for Interior and Ocean View staterooms or $100 USD for Balcony staterooms and Suites. To rebook your next getaway with us, CLICK HERE to visit our website and choose your new itinerary or reach out to your Travel Advisor. If you prefer to call us to rebook, we'll be more than happy to assist, however, please know hold times may be longer than usual. You must decide to move to a new sailing by November 24, 2020 to take advantage of this offer. Once you find a new sailing, just call us or reach out to your Travel Advisor to rebook your next getaway. The Onboard Credit will be automatically applied to your new reservation 72 hours from the date you rebooked your new cruise, so there's nothing additional for you to do!

If you have any questions, please contact your Travel Advisor or contact us at:

It looks as though those of us on the Radiance TP have been shifted over to the Quantum for the same price.  Those on the Quantum original sailing have been cancelled and have to rebook for OBC compensation only.  It looks like we got the better end of the deal on the Radiance shift.  

9 minutes ago, cruise wizard said:

 

That's what I thought. RCCL still haven't had our cabin reassigned from the change over of ships from the Brilliance to Jewel for our 9/12/21 cruise. It should have been so easy - same class ship, layout and categories. So now it may be months before we find out our cabin assignment on Radiance from the Explorer. We had a cat 4D - Radiance doesn't have a 4D - so this will be one of those disputes and price changes etc. Here we go again!!!!

We were originally on the Ovation TP from Tokyo to Seattle in May '21.  We did a L&S to the Radiance TP from Brisbane to Honolulu in April '22.  We had a Spacious OV on the Ovation and that was changed to a Large OV on the Radiance.  Now that we are back on the Quantum, I am assuming that we will go back to a Spacious OV.  My TA has told me that we will get our cabin assignments once all of the reservations currently on Radiance are shifted to the Quantum.  Once that happens we can change cabins within our category, if available.  This is a wait and see game.  I am getting used to it by now, lol.  This is our third ship booked with the same reservation number.  But I am not willing to let it go since we got such a great price on the original booking and so far it has been protected.