pzico

Current cruise is through RC, but the FCC was from cruise through a TA.

Topic says it all. I'm sorry if this has been addressed before. I have a cruise booked and I don't know how to use my FCC and I don't want to be waiting in line for long time (1-2 hours?) and have risk of disconnection. Or is this something everyone kind of has to go through?

It's been 8 weeks for me already

I used the redeem link on Tuesday. I got printable confirmation saying:

"YOU'RE ALL SET

Your request has been submitted for Booking ID: XXXXXX. No additional action is needed on
your part. You'll receive an e-mailed copy of your request as a confirmation of receipt shortly.

After confirming that the reservation is eligible for Cruise With Confidence, we will issue and
send the Future Cruise Certificate within 30 days.

We look forward to welcoming you onboard in the near future! Thank you for your support and
loyalty."

However, I have not received the confirmation email, and my reservation shows up online still. So I used the support form, but looks like that support takes days to reply. Now I'm in phone calling them, and was given heads up that wait time may be more than an hour.

Bit frustrating,.. I wish there was easy way to get Confidence that Cruise With Confidence works.

I'm a bit confused about entry requirements to Bahamas. I'm going to have RCL cruise to Nassau soon, but noticed that in RCL website and also some official sources I found online seem to be explicitly mentioning that you need to have passport from country of your birth. In my case, I have been a citizen of another country for many years and don't have passport of my birth country. I travel quite a bit but never noticed this kind of requirement anywhere I've gone. Do you think they will enforce this rule, or am I fine with one of the best passports in the world although it's not my birth country? Any thoughts and personal experiences welcome. Thanks!

I saw a photo of sauna in Allure of the Seas once with a water bucket, but when I went to their spa section, they didn't have it, actually there was even sign not to pour water and I got explanation that it's for liability reasons. So I'm not even sure if I can trust the pictures. :confused:

I'd like to know, whether Equinox has a sauna where you can have bucket of water to increase the heat, something like this maybe:

https://www.cruisecritic.com/photos/ships/celebrity-solstice-381/canyon-ranch-spaclub-171081/canyon-ranch-spaclub--v9156755/

Thanks!

I've made arrangements and planned to arrive in San Juan port 11-11:30 AM in hope of getting on-board early. Probably there are many others and RCI is trying to just make the process more smooth by time slotting people depending on their deck.

The text asked me to send confirmation and I did. Now I wonder if I shouldn't have as I need to wait several hours in the port for my allotted time. Do they enforce this, like airlines do? Should I call RCI to tell about my situation or just ignore it? :confused:

It's challenging to get passport in this time frame. I would have done so earlier, but didn't pay proper attention to 6 month rule. If it's clear that visiting ports is considered transit, I should have no problem, as it clearly says that 6 month rule is required only if you arrive as tourist instead of transiting through.

Nice to know they are considered transit! :)

Round-trip cruise starts departs from San Juan. I don't need passport to enter to Puerto Rico, as the flight is from US, therefore domestic. So I'll be just travelling with my US Driving License to Puerto Rico. And show the passport at Cruise Terminal if requested.

I didn't find all stops, like St. Thomas from VisaCentral, but I suppose no differences:

21-Dec Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas 8:00 AM 5:30 PM Docked 22-Dec Basseterre, St. Kitts 8:00 AM 5:30 PM Docked 23-Dec Philipsburg, St. Maarten 8:00 AM 5:00 PM Docked 24-Dec Fort De France, Martinique 9:00 AM 6:00 PM Docked 25-Dec Bridgetown, Barbados 8:00 AM 5:00 PM Docked

Just noticed, that if I choose option "Transit", it doesn't say such requirement. Are stops at ports considered as transit?

Maybe better I call RC, but afraid they don't leave me any options as they have to give official safe replies. Will be hard to get my passport renewed so quickly :(

Before You Board section at Royal Caribbean website says:

"All non U.S. or Canadian passport holders should contact the Embassy (Consular Services) of each country on your cruise or VisaCentral for specific visa requirements, information, forms and fees for your nationality."

And then when I take a look at:

http://visacentral.com/visas.php

My passport is from Finland, but I'm a resident of US. But for easier comparison, let's fill information as an American (I get the same with option Finland):

I hold passport from: United States

State of Residence: California, Northern

I'm travelling to: Barbados

I'm travelling for: Tourist

-> submit

" you must:

• Hold a passport valid for at least six months beyond your date of country exit and with one blank visa page "
  

I'm doing southern Caribbean cruise with Jewel on December. Just noticed that most destination have following requirement according to Visa Central: "Hold a passport valid for at least six months beyond your date of country exit"

I can say my passport is valid 5 and half months beyond the date of country exit, but not full 6. I suppose there are no exceptions to this? Last time I did Caribbean cruise, I don't remember my passport being checked on any of the ports. Actually I think it was even said that you don't need to carry passport when you leave the ship.

I don't know what kind of service you should expect if you tip up front or after. But I don't understand the point of up front tipping being insulting in contrast to tipping in general. US and some other countries have this culture of tipping, and I'm sure there are also political factors that have caused this to be so. From my point of view, you either have tipping or you don't. How would a person serving you know how well you are going to tip and improve their service? Ship is not like a local restaurant where you keep coming back.

Having said that, I still prefer countries where tipping is non-existant or even insulting (northern Europe, most of the China,..). With a disclaimer that my preference/opinion is not ment to be insult against person who gets low wages, but instead to the broken system that causes wages to be so low. As a traveller who goes around a world, I wouldn't like to trouble my mind about tipping anywhere, or be tempted to give more tip to beautiful waitress who touched my hand, who statistically gets much higher tips than in average.

Thanks for clarifying that, I read it incorrectly before! :)

I'm positively surprised with your reply, however, this is what is said related to my reservation in their website:

If you cancel your reservation after a specific date, you may be subject to cancellation charges. Please take a moment to read the details of the cancellation schedule.

Cancellation and Penalty Timetable Cancel Before * Penalty per person 22-Sep-2014 to 17-Oct-2014 $250.00 USD 18-Oct-2014 to 07-Nov-2014 50% of total price (taxes and fees excluded) 08-Nov-2014 to 28-Nov-2014 75% of total price (taxes and fees excluded) On or After 29-Nov-2014 No refund except for taxes and fees

Looks like they use word "may". I suppose as US resident I may have some additional rights like you say.

Oh my.. Just did a mistake reserving my Christmas cruise directly from Royal Caribbean. :( I did try to search and read some comments whether to use travel agent or not, and found out that:

A) TAs can't offer lower prices (although there are some tricks they can use to go bit

below)

B) If something goes wrong, it's easier to talk to Royal Caribbean directly than use a middle-man

Having said that, last time I cruised with Allure I used TA, and things went quite smoothly. But if had known that there is a way to play tactics, like see where prices are going over time, and if there comes up something major (death in family, getting laid off,..) I wouldn't have to try my luck with insurance.

My mistake, with couple of searches I obviously was able to miss the most relevant..

Hmm, I thought there is a cancellation fee of $500 ($250 / person) by default. Surprising if they let price shop to smaller price once you have agreed to one deal. I feel there is something fundamental I'm missing.. :confused:

I'm going to have a cruise with Jewel on December. If I'd like to reserve trip for Quantum or Anthem for summer/fall 2015, is it likely to be better deal when reserved during my cruise on Jewel? Or do you need to be lucky for those "take another cruise offer" type of promotions to be offered during your cruise?

Sounds all wonderful! I'll do Jewel on Christmas, and then next year try Anthem with more ship-time. :D

Good comments. Firstly, I didn't mean to discriminate older people in any regard. Second, yes, we are doing southern and plan to go out on all ports. Probably it's us who don't have too much energy left after walking cities back and forth all day, if only expect to find some free seats near jacuzzi. :cool:

I've cruised before with Allure and I loved it. Now I'd like to try Christmas cruise on Jewel, but I'm a bit concerned about following random comments I've seen..

Comment: "It can feel crowded when full"

- Well, Allure was full when I cruised, but it didn't feel full to me.

Comment: "Travellers seem to be quite old"

- Me and my wife are on thirties, like discos and so, but wouldn't like to have too many kids around, which may be likely on holiday cruises in general

I just hope it will not be negative shock after Allure.. any comments are welcome :)

Thanks....PZICO, have a great cruise....I am viewing the web cams at the port and the weather looks beautiful...Have a glass of wine for the rest of us. Can't wait till our turn!!

I will :D btw, for some reason boarding hasn't started yet.

I'm at the port now. They say boarding starts 11:30 today.

I'm planning to go with light coloured khakis and dark sport jacket without a tie. I think that maybe 95% of men will wear dark pants, but so what.. I think black is overused as it's just a safe choice.