Cruises - 10/30/11 RCI Grandeur 14d TATL: O/V + $200 OBC = $617 all in

I just put this cruise on hold with a FT member cruise agent. She literally burns the midnight oil!

Outside Categories: F, G, H & I
Inside Categories: K, L, M, Q

1 pax O/V= $617 all in ($45/day)

50% reduced deposit must be placed by Wednesday, May 4 11.59pm CT(?) to qualify for $200 on board credit. PM me for her contact info.

Sun 10/30/11 Palma, Majorca (Spain) - Embarkation - Times are subject to change 05:00 PM
Mon 10/31/11 At Sea
Tue 11/01/11 At Sea
Wed 11/02/11 Tenerife (Canary Islands), Spain - Docked 07:00 AM 02:00 PM
Thu 11/03/11 At Sea
Fri 11/04/11 At Sea
Sat 11/05/11 At Sea
Sun 11/06/11 At Sea
Mon 11/07/11 At Sea
Tue 11/08/11 Philipsburg, St. Maarten - Docked 08:00 AM 06:00 PM
Wed 11/09/11 St. John's, Antigua - Docked 07:00 AM 03:00 PM
Thu 11/10/11 Bridgetown, Barbados - Docked 08:00 AM 02:00 PM
Fri 11/11/11 At Sea
Sat 11/12/11 At Sea
Sun 11/13/11 Colon, Panama - Disembarkation - Times are subject to change 07:00 AM

Ship info at Cruise Critic (http://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/review.cfm?ShipID=74)

With one-way awards, this shouldn't be too hard to do.

Found this pricing with other cruise agents as well.

This offer is from the cruise line, not the agent.

This offer is from the cruise line, not the agent.

Which any travel agent has access to. That was my point.

My post wasn't to insinuate this fare is only available from this agent. I was thrilled to find such a great bargain for a solo traveler and wanted to share it. C'est tout.

Bring some bags of candy with you, they will probably have the kids (if there are many) trick and treating at dinner on Halloween.

RCL has a 2 day WOW sale on now (ends Wed., 4th May) which offers reduced deposit and OBC. Pricing is good with or without those perks. ^

OP has to go to Maho Beach in St. Maarten where the runway is feet from the water and people go there just to feel the rush of a plane landing so close. Google a picture and you'll see why if you hadn't heard of this. I tried getting there last month but other things delayed me and I never go to experience it, though hope to one day. :)

Grandeur is a good ship. It's pretty light on amenities, since it IS an older ship, but if you aren't into all of the latest things like water parks, malls, etc., that all of the latest ships have, then she's the perfect ship for you.

The best things I liked about this ship/class was:

-Movies (Family during the day, PG-13 or R late night) shown in the theater on a full-size theater screen.
-The burger bar in the Solarium is pretty much a secret until the about the 6th day of the cruise
-The outside promonade can be used to by-pass the smokey casino between dinner and the show

Suffice to say, my father wasn't too privvy about this ship considering that all of the ships he had sailed prior were of larger, more stocked classes. However, he did enjoy this ship, as being smaller, it was much easier to get around, and the not nearly as crowded.

I've only cruised twice - the NCL Wind months before they sold her and the MS Deutschland. Small, old ships are fine by me. Actually, more than fine. I think/know I would find the the new monstrosities overwhelming.

Now, I'm not one to shop for cruises on a regular basis, but this is the first time I've seen such a low single supplement + an OBC based on the length of cruise vs. fare. The cheap inside cabins usually come with piddly $50 OBCs. This offer gives me an outside cabin and a whopping $200 to spend.

Bring some bags of candy with you, they will probably have the kids (if there are many) trick and treating at dinner on Halloween.

Do you think there will be many kids on a EU-Central America cruise during the school year?

...
OP has to go to Maho Beach in St. Maarten where the runway is feet from the water and people go there just to feel the rush of a plane landing so close. Google a picture and you'll see why if you hadn't heard of this. I tried getting there last month but other things delayed me and I never go to experience it, though hope to one day. :)

Thanks, I've seen those pics, didn't remember the location as St Maarten and wouldn't have put 2 + 2 together. I unsuccessfully searched google maps for the ship pier(s) to get an idea of how close/far Maho is. Do you happen to know?

Grandeur is a good ship. It's pretty light on amenities, since it IS an older ship, but if you aren't into all of the latest things like water parks, malls, etc., that all of the latest ships have, then she's the perfect ship for you.

The best things I liked about this ship/class was:

-Movies (Family during the day, PG-13 or R late night) shown in the theater on a full-size theater screen.
-The burger bar in the Solarium is pretty much a secret until the about the 6th day of the cruise
-The outside promonade can be used to by-pass the smokey casino between dinner and the show

Suffice to say, my father wasn't too privvy about this ship considering that all of the ships he had sailed prior were of larger, more stocked classes. However, he did enjoy this ship, as being smaller, it was much easier to get around, and the not nearly as crowded.

Thank you very much for the info/tips. Perfect timing because I need to decide today if I want to book.

Thank you very much for the info/tips. Perfect timing because I need to decide today if I want to book.

My motto: Don't be afraid to book the older ships. Maybe I'm a tad old-fashioned (Okay, maybe a LOT,) but I tend to like them. Also, the fare on this is double-cheap because of the double whammy of older ship, plus hurricane season.

One other thing I like about this class is that the Windjammer cafe is on the bow, so you can see what's coming.

Thanks, I've seen those pics, didn't remember the location as St Maarten and wouldn't have put 2 + 2 together. I unsuccessfully searched google maps for the ship pier(s) to get an idea of how close/far Maho is. Do you happen to know?

The pier is very close to Philipsburg and you can take a water taxi for $6 all day to the beachfront shopping area and wander as we did with limited time. The info desk right at the pier said it was approx. 20-30 min taxi drive to Maho Beach from the ship. Without studying the airline timetables you wouldn't know if planes would be landing while you were out there but it may be a bit of adventure if your not sure what else to do. Here'a a half decent RCL map of the island:

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/content/en_US/pdf/port_explorer/StMaartenRC_ENG.pdf

I just put this cruise on hold with a FT member cruise agent. She literally burns the midnight oil!

Outside Categories: F, G, H & I
Inside Categories: K, L, M, Q

1 pax O/V= $617 all in ($45/day)

50% reduced deposit must be placed by Wednesday, May 4 11.59pm CT(?) to qualify for $200 on board credit. PM me for her contact info.

Sun 10/30/11 Palma, Majorca (Spain) - Embarkation - Times are subject to change 05:00 PM
Mon 10/31/11 At Sea
Tue 11/01/11 At Sea
Wed 11/02/11 Tenerife (Canary Islands), Spain - Docked 07:00 AM 02:00 PM
Thu 11/03/11 At Sea
Fri 11/04/11 At Sea
Sat 11/05/11 At Sea
Sun 11/06/11 At Sea
Mon 11/07/11 At Sea
Tue 11/08/11 Philipsburg, St. Maarten - Docked 08:00 AM 06:00 PM
Wed 11/09/11 St. John's, Antigua - Docked 07:00 AM 03:00 PM
Thu 11/10/11 Bridgetown, Barbados - Docked 08:00 AM 02:00 PM
Fri 11/11/11 At Sea
Sat 11/12/11 At Sea
Sun 11/13/11 Colon, Panama - Disembarkation - Times are subject to change 07:00 AM

Ship info at Cruise Critic (http://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/review.cfm?ShipID=74)

With one-way awards, this shouldn't be too hard to do.


Great to hear we are on the same ship! I booked this on my Vision transatlantic last month, while onboard. My cost for a large ocean view worked out to be at just over $22 per day. My base fare was lower (was booked on a Monday promotion) and I used a $200 off Crown & Anchor coupon. Good for you also with the $200 credit, I only got a $150, as the cruise was not 15 days.

George

As always, thank you for the info/tips, tcook052.

Great, gkbiii! Maybe we can have a mini how-to-maximize-the-cruise-program seminar while on board.

I just took a peek at the RCCL program pages on their website. Strange to think in terms of lifetime vs annual qualification (as in airlines/hotels).

As always, thank you for the info/tips, tcook052.

Great, gkbiii! Maybe we can have a mini how-to-maximize-the-cruise-program seminar while on board.

I just took a peek at the RCCL program pages on their website. Strange to think in terms of lifetime vs annual qualification (as in airlines/hotels).

Yea, I think that would be great. I wish there was more of that here.

Yea, I think that would be great. I wish there was more of that here.

Happy to provide that for any of the lines if anyone is interested.

Happy to provide that for any of the lines if anyone is interested.

I really like the fact that it is lifetime too and for those with children, the parents level transfers to them on their 18th birthday. I really think Royal is very generious and did a good thing when it recently improved its program. The great benefits really begin at Diamond level and above. This includes nightly parties and strong cruise discounts ($100 difference compaired with Emerald).

I really like the fact that it is lifetime too and for those with children, the parents level transfers to them on their 18th birthday. I really think Royal is very generious and did a good thing when it recently improved its program. The great benefits really begin at Diamond level and above. This includes nightly parties and strong cruise discounts ($100 difference compaired with Emerald).

The one place it lacks is the fact that RCCL and =X= are still separate programs. If my cruise days on =X= counted on RCCL and vice-versa I'd be much happier. (Yes, I know status transfers)

The one place it lacks is the fact that RCCL and =X= are still separate programs. If my cruise days on =X= counted on RCCL and vice-versa I'd be much happier. (Yes, I know status transfers)

And likely to remain that way. No cruise line families combine sailings between brands. I'm thankful they give equivalent status!

70 days and ticking...

Flights booked. Hotels now booked. Haven't looked at any tours.

How about you, gkbiiii?

70 days and ticking...

Flights booked. Hotels now booked. Haven't looked at any tours.

How about you, gkbiiii?


My cost got down to around $20 per day, by my travel agent having RCCL imput my new Emerald Coupon. I have been to most of the places the cruise go, other than St. Martin. I will stay overnight in Colon and then take the train to Panama City. Then a cheap Spirit flight back to Orlando. Thanks to Flyertalk, I will use one of my free days (for hotels.com 5 star disloyalty promotion). I really love you guys, most of my freinds on Cruisemates.com & Cruisecritic.com pay full price for everything!!!