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Started By
Message
Newbie going on a cruise. Need advice.
Posted on 6/21/17 at 8:03 pm
Posted on 6/21/17 at 8:03 pm
I am heading out this Saturday on Oasis of the seas on Royal Carribean. This is going to be a 50th anniversary (wife's parents) trip with my wife's whole family.
First time on this type of cruise. I am trying to figure out what add on's I need. And any other advice.
Is the deluxe drink package worth it for $55? Drink package with internet is $59. I haven't seen any discount prices. While I know you aren't allowed to give non drink pass people free drinks, is this a strict policy and how do they enforce it?
How do you communicate with other family members spread across a huge ship?
Is smuggling alcohol on really hard now?
Really any info at all would be great. This is a 7 day cruise to Haiti, Jamaica and Cozumel.
First time on this type of cruise. I am trying to figure out what add on's I need. And any other advice.
Is the deluxe drink package worth it for $55? Drink package with internet is $59. I haven't seen any discount prices. While I know you aren't allowed to give non drink pass people free drinks, is this a strict policy and how do they enforce it?
How do you communicate with other family members spread across a huge ship?
Is smuggling alcohol on really hard now?
Really any info at all would be great. This is a 7 day cruise to Haiti, Jamaica and Cozumel.
8
Posted on 6/21/17 at 8:26 pm to flyAU
They will nickel and dime you to death so might as well get prepared. The drink packages depend on how much you drink and the details of the package. You can usually smuggle some alcohol in shampoo bottles and other toiletries as long as you aren't obvious. We've never been caught but we haven't pushed the limit either.
The internet package is worth it if you need internet while at sea. When you get to port there are usually places that have free internet so you won't be totally cut off.
As far as staying in touch I have seen some people walking around with Walkie talkies but I have never done that so can't personally say if they work or are even a good idea.
Dive Cozumel. You won't regret it.
We normally slum it and go Carnival. They had a behind the fun tour which was awesome. It's a several hour guided tour of the ship. They take you to the engine room, bridge, galley, etc and it was fascinating to see all of that. Hope that helps. Oh and if you can get a balcony room because it gives you a place to escape if you need it.
The internet package is worth it if you need internet while at sea. When you get to port there are usually places that have free internet so you won't be totally cut off.
As far as staying in touch I have seen some people walking around with Walkie talkies but I have never done that so can't personally say if they work or are even a good idea.
Dive Cozumel. You won't regret it.
We normally slum it and go Carnival. They had a behind the fun tour which was awesome. It's a several hour guided tour of the ship. They take you to the engine room, bridge, galley, etc and it was fascinating to see all of that. Hope that helps. Oh and if you can get a balcony room because it gives you a place to escape if you need it.
Posted on 6/21/17 at 8:31 pm to flyAU
Haiti? Jesus.
Posted on 6/21/17 at 8:53 pm to flyAU
quote:
Is the deluxe drink package worth it for $55? Drink package with internet is $59. I
I've never been on a cruise but have always wondered how they are profitable and how many voyages it takes to break even. Curious what packages they offer guests.
Posted on 6/21/17 at 9:20 pm to VABuckeye
quote:
Haiti? Jesus.
I said the same thing. Apparently royal carribean has a private resort called labadie (sp). Walled off from the rest of the country.
Posted on 6/21/17 at 9:36 pm to flyAU
Don't fall off the boat
Posted on 6/21/17 at 9:56 pm to flyAU
Something tells me you are going to fit in just fine.
Posted on 6/21/17 at 10:03 pm to CorkSoaker
quote:
Something tells me you are going to fit in just fine.
Yeah, I am going to need some help with this quib.
Posted on 6/22/17 at 6:20 am to flyAU
quote:
Is the deluxe drink package worth it for $55? Drink package with internet is $59.
If you cant get the package any cheaper, its a better value with the Voom for $59. This close to the sail date it likely won't get any cheaper though so depends if $4/day is worth it to have internet.
Even at $55 I think it's a good value. It comes with free bottled water which is a huge plus and breaks down to like 6 drinks a day.
Even on port days if you have a drink when you get back on the boat, two glasses of win with dinner and a glass of wine or another drink that night after the show you're close to breaking even if you grab a specialty coffee heading off the ship and a few bottles of water throughout the day.
From a convenience standpoint it's awesome..try new things, dont care if you spill your drink, etc.
Also, the included drinks with the package are included at Labadee in Haiti which is a very nice bonus.
quote:
While I know you aren't allowed to give non drink pass people free drinks, is this a strict policy and how do they enforce it?
If you're caught theyyll revoke your privelages and won't refund the money. So, for someone who may want a drink or two a day it can likely be done but I wouldn't plan on it for two people drinking all day.
quote:
How do you communicate with other family members spread across a huge ship?
Royal has an app that will allow you to text using the ships wi-fi (even if you don't have the wifi package) between your friends and family.
quote:
And any other advice.
Don't feel you NEED to go to the main dining room each night. Sometimes it's just as nice to hang by the pool as long as possible. Definitely try the flowrider and the lines will be smaller when everyone else is at dinner. I'd suggest at least one specialty restaurant as well. If you want to see the ice skating show, make sure you guys check which night it is available to you. Not everyone can go every time it is offered so if you don't want to miss it make sure you know when you can go.
This post was edited on 6/22/17 at 6:22 am
Posted on 6/22/17 at 6:23 am to HoustonGumbeauxGuy
Posted on 6/22/17 at 6:25 am to flyAU
Dude dont listen to the cruise hate (and I have never even been on one).
Have a fricking good time. Get the drink package and drink like a mofo. After you get back, is spending ( or even wasting a portion of it) $300 extra on drinks going to matter if it was worth it or not?
If you go and dont drink when you want to because of the cost, the whole thing will suck. Spend the extra on the drink package. Share it when someone if you have to. Just enjoy your vacation.
ETA:
And stay on the boat this day and use your drink package. Holy hell.
Have a fricking good time. Get the drink package and drink like a mofo. After you get back, is spending ( or even wasting a portion of it) $300 extra on drinks going to matter if it was worth it or not?
If you go and dont drink when you want to because of the cost, the whole thing will suck. Spend the extra on the drink package. Share it when someone if you have to. Just enjoy your vacation.
ETA:
quote:
This is a 7 day cruise to Haiti,
And stay on the boat this day and use your drink package. Holy hell.
This post was edited on 6/22/17 at 6:28 am
Posted on 6/22/17 at 9:33 am to LanierSpots
quote:
stay on the boat this day and use your drink package. Holy hell.
One of the best things about going to Haiti on a RCI ship with the drink package is that it is included there.
LINK
quote:
Get the drink package and drink like a mofo. After you get back, is spending ( or even wasting a portion of it) $300 extra on drinks going to matter if it was worth it or not? If you go and dont drink when you want to because of the cost, the whole thing will suck. Spend the extra on the drink package. Share it when someone if you have to. Just enjoy your vacation.
Spot on...not getting the drink package MAY cost you a bit more up front but it makes things so much easier and if you try just a little you can come out ahead and you don't have to worry about flying with booze, sneaking it on, heading back to the room to make drinks, etc.
This post was edited on 6/22/17 at 9:36 am
Posted on 6/22/17 at 10:11 am to HoustonGumbeauxGuy
Hijack, HGG, there was a CNBC show a few years ago about the economics of cruising and follows a boat for a week cruise. Really interesting show if you are into that sort of thing. Boils down, iirc, to getting as many people on the ship as possible (running a fare sale last minute say) and then hoping to get a per passenger, per day spend. They wouldnt exaclty say how much money they made per voyage, but for the particular cruise they were profiling they got a non-committal answer that this "cruise made money"
Posted on 6/22/17 at 9:01 pm to BlackenedOut
Ton of great info.
Posted on 6/22/17 at 10:04 pm to flyAU
don't book excursions through the cruise line. use the locals, way cheaper
Posted on 6/23/17 at 6:33 am to hawgndodge
Went on a RC cruise a couple years ago and got the beer/ wine drink package for like $36 a day. It was well worth it as I drank no less than 20 beers each day on the boat
It's worth it if you drink a lot and there wasn't a max number of beers you could consume in a day like Carnival
It's worth it if you drink a lot and there wasn't a max number of beers you could consume in a day like Carnival
Posted on 6/23/17 at 2:16 pm to hawgndodge
quote:
don't book excursions through the cruise line. use the locals, way cheaper
This is true. However, if you book through the cruise line and the excursion is late coming back they wait for you. If you book locally and you're late they leave you behind.
Posted on 6/24/17 at 1:00 am to flyAU
I went on the same trip about 5 years ago. As much shite as Haiti gets, it is RC controlled area and looks like any other port or beach in the Caribbean. It is clean and fenced off. They allow limited amount of locals to come in and sell their goods.
Get the premium drink pkg. I just went on the ALLURE of the seas 2 weeks ago. If you drink more than 6 to 8 drinks a day, it will pay for itself. You also get bottled water, if wanted, with that pkg.
Do not book excursions through RC. get on trip advisor now and start searching for things to do in each port, much cheaper. In labadee, we stayed on the beach. in Falmouth, we went to the hilton rose hall resort in Montego bay with a day pass and hung out. Cozumel was walking around shopping, smoking Cubans, and swimming/drinking at a resort.
This ship will shite on anything carnival has. Enjoy...
Eta. We had the $18/day Wi-Fi and it was spotty. Texts and voicemails took hours to receive. Once we switched our phone settings to Wi-Fi calling , everything was received a lot faster.
Get the premium drink pkg. I just went on the ALLURE of the seas 2 weeks ago. If you drink more than 6 to 8 drinks a day, it will pay for itself. You also get bottled water, if wanted, with that pkg.
Do not book excursions through RC. get on trip advisor now and start searching for things to do in each port, much cheaper. In labadee, we stayed on the beach. in Falmouth, we went to the hilton rose hall resort in Montego bay with a day pass and hung out. Cozumel was walking around shopping, smoking Cubans, and swimming/drinking at a resort.
This ship will shite on anything carnival has. Enjoy...
Eta. We had the $18/day Wi-Fi and it was spotty. Texts and voicemails took hours to receive. Once we switched our phone settings to Wi-Fi calling , everything was received a lot faster.
This post was edited on 6/24/17 at 1:08 am
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