Can you be addicted.....

[jsol1979]

to cruising, without even going on one yet?? We leave in about 6 weeks, but I think I could start packing today if I could!! I love these boards and all the information I have gotten so far.

 

Couple of more questions though. Do most people travel with travelers checks?? Or mainly cash?? At the ports, if I buy something, will they accept the travelers checks? I know the independent excursions we have booked want those or cash, I guess I'm wondering more about smaller items, and if American dollars are just better overall.

 

Also, has anyone else flown out of Tampa later at night after leaving the ship, as in, our flight doesn't leave until 9:20 that night. We are thinking of renting a vehicle for the luggage and possibly going to Busch Gardens for the day, wondering if anyone else had done this before.

 

And I have to tell a short story here, that I'm trying to be calm about at this moment. I was filling out my on-line cruise documents at RCCL and I got done but couldn't print anything. It said that I would be notified when they were available to print. I was confused about this and kept checking back for two weeks with no change. I called RCCL and they basically told me that there was no final payment made yet and to check with my TA. (I made the payment with her on January 11th). So, I called her and she tells me that their system must not be working with Royal Caribbean's, and she would call me back in a few days. Well, she never calls, so I call back, and she's like, oh, they said it will be fixed by this Friday. Well, its Friday and its not fixed yet. So, at this moment I am trying to remain calm. RCCL assures me that the reservation is still there and I haven't lost it or anything, but my final payment was due on Jan. 29th, so I'm all worried about it. I will be nice, and give it until Monday, but after that, I'm gonna have to go a little postal on this TA, cuz she seems not to care too much, which i'm extremely disappointed in. I've been talking this cruise up to everyone and i'm sooooooooooooooooooooooo excited that i could jump out of my skin, and if something happens that isn't my fault and the reservations are gone, I just don't know what I'll do. So, I'm just venting at the moment I guess, and will try and stay calm and try it again on monday!! Thanks everyone for listening and thanks for answering any of my above questions if possible!!

[bellaluv]

I would be a little freaked out also. Hopefully you will get what you need by Monday. You will have a blast!!!!! The best advice I can give it to bring plenty of cash and camera's!! I made my own packing list and checked things off as I packed them when I went on my cruise. It was very useful.

 

Have fun!;)

[Ken]

At the last minute before my last cruise, I changed suitcases and left almost all of my cash at home by mistake. It was not a problem because I got cash advances as needed from the casino, and used credit cards when ashore.

[dyanna72]

Call the TA everyday until you get exactly what you want...ON THAT SHIP! Enjoy the trip & look forward to reviews when you return.:p

[Jan_In_Maine]

We did take some traveler's checks as I didn't want a huge credit card bill - we cashed them on the ship - most of the time in ports I used cash as we didn't make any major purchases.

 

Our next cruise isn't until the end of October, but I paid the balance off the beginning of November - and much to my amazement I found out on Thursday that our TA never sent the money in - glad that I found out now and not later as she thought they had sent it in and had no clue that they hadn't.

 

Have a wonderful time on your cruise - go with the belief that you will have the best time in your whole life - then ignore anything that isn't perfect and enjoy everything that is - have an amazing adventure! Jan

[MzItaly79]

to cruising, without even going on one yet?? We leave in about 6 weeks, but I think I could start packing today if I could!! I love these boards and all the information I have gotten so far.

 

We are thinking of renting a vehicle for the luggage and possibly going to Busch Gardens for the day, wondering if anyone else had done this before.

 

I have yet to go on my first cruise and I'm DEFINATELY addicted unfortunately I have longer than you to wait - April 27th were flying to MIA

 

Regarding Busch Gardens I went last year and LOVED it! It's beautiful and there's so much to see and do I highly recommend it. We have a great Zoo here in Toledo but Busch gardens makes our zoo look like torture. The animals there have SO much room to roam and I didn't ride any of the rides but they looked fun.

 

Hope you have a wonderful time please let me know how your cruise is and how you like BG if you go.

:) :)

[Dockman123]

to cruising, without even going on one yet?? We leave in about 6 weeks, but I think I could start packing today if I could!! I love these boards and all the information I have gotten so far.

 

Couple of more questions though. Do most people travel with travelers checks?? Or mainly cash?? At the ports, if I buy something, will they accept the travelers checks? I know the independent excursions we have booked want those or cash, I guess I'm wondering more about smaller items, and if American dollars are just better overall.

 

Also, has anyone else flown out of Tampa later at night after leaving the ship, as in, our flight doesn't leave until 9:20 that night. We are thinking of renting a vehicle for the luggage and possibly going to Busch Gardens for the day, wondering if anyone else had done this before.

 

And I have to tell a short story here, that I'm trying to be calm about at this moment. I was filling out my on-line cruise documents at RCCL and I got done but couldn't print anything. It said that I would be notified when they were available to print. I was confused about this and kept checking back for two weeks with no change. I called RCCL and they basically told me that there was no final payment made yet and to check with my TA. (I made the payment with her on January 11th). So, I called her and she tells me that their system must not be working with Royal Caribbean's, and she would call me back in a few days. Well, she never calls, so I call back, and she's like, oh, they said it will be fixed by this Friday. Well, its Friday and its not fixed yet. So, at this moment I am trying to remain calm. RCCL assures me that the reservation is still there and I haven't lost it or anything, but my final payment was due on Jan. 29th, so I'm all worried about it. I will be nice, and give it until Monday, but after that, I'm gonna have to go a little postal on this TA, cuz she seems not to care too much, which i'm extremely disappointed in. I've been talking this cruise up to everyone and i'm sooooooooooooooooooooooo excited that i could jump out of my skin, and if something happens that isn't my fault and the reservations are gone, I just don't know what I'll do. So, I'm just venting at the moment I guess, and will try and stay calm and try it again on monday!! Thanks everyone for listening and thanks for answering any of my above questions if possible!!

We always take a combination of cash and travelers checks. Usually on the conservative side. I know that we can get additional cash in the casino using our seapass. Besides we get points added to our card by doing this.As far as the problem with your TA, I would stay on her everyday until it is paid and tell her you want a confirmation email. Then after this cruise I would start looking for a different one. If you made final payment Jan 11 I find it hard to believe that the problem has lasted over a month. I think she forgot to make it and is making up excuses. JMO

[SlightDraw]

if this cruise is great, just wait. depression sets in if a new one isnt booked. this will be our 4th in three years, dw not happy, but she is alway willing to pack and go.......I may not be the norm, but I bring a fair amount of cash and then use a cash reward card for all else.

[sailor05]

We always take travelers checks. They're just so easy to cash, and it's really good protection against lost or theft. You can cash them at the casino where there usually not a line.:)

[LindaandJeff]

And I have to tell a short story here, that I'm trying to be calm about at this moment. I was filling out my on-line cruise documents at RCCL and I got done but couldn't print anything. It said that I would be notified when they were available to print. I was confused about this and kept checking back for two weeks with no change. I called RCCL and they basically told me that there was no final payment made yet and to check with my TA. (I made the payment with her on January 11th).

 

Have you checked your credit card statement on-line? If she tried to put the charge through it should show up on there either as a hold or as a charge. If she put it through but RC didn't get it, it would probably be a hold. But if she didn't try, then it wouldn't be there at all. If that's the case then I would tell her that you will transfer your booking to another TA or something if she doesn't complete the deal for you.

 

Have a great cruise!

[wraithe]

if this cruise is great, just wait. depression sets in if a new one isnt booked. this will be our 4th in three years, dw not happy, but she is alway willing to pack and go.......I may not be the norm, but I bring a fair amount of cash and then use a cash reward card for all else.

 

This is an absolute fact in my case, my table mates from my first cruise won a cruise and went in January, I was so jealous. It worked out though, we booked a cruise that's going over my birthday, so for the first time, I'll be happy to be out to sea on my birthday, and I'm actually planning on reserving my next cruise (next Jan) while we're out to sea this time, so that we can join up with the table mates from our first cruise. I think I was hooked from about the first night underway, when I slept for 11 hours with the gentle rocking of the ship, and woke up feeling better than I had in a long time. Good luck with your TA problems, and I would crawl up her back and make a mess in her hair (use your imagination) if she doesn't have it fixed by Monday close of business.

Wraithe

[ribarfly]

We always bring both, cash & traveler checks but we tend to purchase with the card:confused: The ship will cash the traveler checks.

Don't worry, this will all be happy cruise memories someday:rolleyes:

[ortiz34]

Enjoy your cruise! You chose one of the best with RCCL, hopefully you'll be hooked like the rest of us :D

 

BTW Go to Busch Gardens, it's a great time. That is, if you have enough time to do it. I'm not really sure how far it is from the airport.

[chorder]

I just hope you don't get the post cruise depression before your cruise is even over!!!(LOL)

[huskerdude]

to cruising, without even going on one yet?? We leave in about 6 weeks, but I think I could start packing today if I could!! I love these boards and all the information I have gotten so far.

 

If you think your addicted now just wait until your done with your first, that's when you know.:p

[ibzeyda]

to cruising, without even going on one yet?? We leave in about 6 weeks, but I think I could start packing today if I could!!

 

My wife and whole family and all my co-workers joke about me. We are scheduled for our cruise in about 8 weeks, have already picked out my clothes for the cruise and would pack today as well, but the ridicule is terrible. LOL. I do, however recommend that when you pack, cut it by about 1/3. You can wear clothes a number of times, swimsuits instead of undies and one base color for formal and smart casual nights, so you just have to pack one pair of dress shoes. Most of all ENJOY YOUR CRUISE! Let me know how the Legend is, we will be going on transatlantic on that ship mid-april. And yes definately speak constantly with your TA. Good luck Russ

[FOXTROT]

JSOL1979 please do yourself & your family a huge favor, CANCEL THE CRUISE NOW. Don't go. Remember I tried to warn you. We too went on our 1st cruise in 98. We enjoyed it. So 99 we went on another one. We enjoyed it more. In 00 on our next cruise it hit the addiction. It's now 3 or 4 per year. We have to have at least 2 booked at all times. Do we pack to go? No we are always packed ready to go. Our next cruise is in 35 days, it will be our 24th. We got our kids addicted. They were very happy at Disney, not any more. Yes they are older but still want to cruise.

Don't go it's terrible addiction. There are no warnings on the side of the ships. There are no warnings in the documents. Planning to sue RCL. We are remodeling our house to look more Caribbean.

It's sooooo terrible there should not be a dry eye reading this. Please send a donation to help poor souls like us who are addicted to cruising.

 

ENJOY

[jsol1979]

that is great!! I think i'm gonna brave it though!!

 

I think that we will be on the conservative side and take the travelers checks and the cash and see what happens. If we need more cash or whatever, we can get it.

 

And Busch Gardens is only like 15 miles away from the airport, so I assume we are pretty much going to have to do that, because I am not going to sit at the airport for 12 hours!! 'Course thats another couple hundred bucks that I can't spend on shopping in the Caribbean, oh well, what can you do sometimes! I'm not going to sit with two bored teenagers - lol. We'll make it work.

 

And as for the Set Sail Pass - YAAYAAY, I was just finally able to print it out this morning, so thank god for that. I didn't want to have to hurt anyone! I will not be using the TA anymore, I expect a certain level of service, that she obviously didn't have.

 

Thanks for all the replies, I appreciate them so much!