1st rccl ?s

[reneejasmine]

I am thinking about doing my 1st rccl cruise. So far I have only cruised with disney. From what I have been researching there are lots of difference good and bad. So I have a few questions.
1)My main concerns are the extra costs once onboard. With disney I never paid for any extras. So far the extras costs I found are drinks, room service (at certain times), and childcare (at certain times). What else might have extra costs?
2) Ice skating is free but do they offer lessons? (Never been)
3) I read something about tickets for the shows. How does this work? And does it make a difference if you are traveling with a wheelchair?
4) what do you wish you knew the first time?
I will be traveling with a party of 7 my parents (dad in chair) my sister, my nieces (10,13) nephew(8) looking at a 4 night on the independence but may consider liberty, navigator, allure and oasis.
THANK YOU!

 

[IndyRnRfan]

Certain restaurants have extra cost but you don't have to eat at those. I don't believe there are ice skating lessons. Don't worry, most people looked like first timers when we did this. Afaik shows are included with cruise price still.

 

[CynBeth]

Only certain ships have the option to reserve shows. If I remember from the Allure there were designated handicapped areas in the different areas shows were held. The casino and certain classes not to mention Bingo also have fees. Plus the shore excursions. I would recommend you splurge and go on Allure. That was our second RCI ship we have been on and it was the best!!!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

For my upcoming Baltic cruise RCCL was several thousand less then DCL. IMHO you are paying for all those things you got for "free" on DCL

 

[bumbershoot]

IMHO you are paying for all those things you got for "free" on DCL

So true. By the way, OCC, my search for beverage package bills was interrupted by a weekend dance convention. I found the one for October on vision and the charge was there BUT we got it after boarding. On Freedom I preordered and I still have to find that bill.



On Freedom there were no skating lessons, but there was free skate time. Helmets and skates at no cost. Really painful and fabulously fun.

 

[sam_gordon]

I am thinking about doing my 1st rccl cruise. So far I have only cruised with disney. From what I have been researching there are lots of difference good and bad. So I have a few questions.
1)My main concerns are the extra costs once onboard. With disney I never paid for any extras. So far the extras costs I found are drinks, room service (at certain times), and childcare (at certain times). What else might have extra costs?
2) Ice skating is free but do they offer lessons? (Never been)
3) I read something about tickets for the shows. How does this work? And does it make a difference if you are traveling with a wheelchair?
4) what do you wish you knew the first time?
I will be traveling with a party of 7 my parents (dad in chair) my sister, my nieces (10,13) nephew(8) looking at a 4 night on the independence but may consider liberty, navigator, allure and oasis.
THANK YOU!

1) Extra costs are all optional. If you drink a lot of alcohol or soda, you might want to invest in a drink package. However, during our two cruises, I just paid as I ordered, and the total between the two cruises didn't match one drink package. If your ship has a Ben & Jerrys or a Cupcake Cupboard, those cost. If you have a stand alone Starbucks (Oasis and Allure for sure), that costs extra (but the Starbucks sold at Cafe Promonade on other ships is included with drink packages). There are certain classes & tours that you can spend money on also.
2) Sorry, don't know
3) Oasis and Allure gives you the option of reserving a spot (not a particular seat) on all their "big shows" (headliners, ice show, diving show, comedian). Freedom only gives you the option to reserve for the ice show. I'm not sure about other ships.
4) I don't have a good answer. Once we picked our ship, I did a LOT of reading on what to expect. I might have done a few things differently, but nothing major.

 

[vacation_junkie]

I am thinking about doing my 1st rccl cruise. So far I have only cruised with disney. From what I have been researching there are lots of difference good and bad. So I have a few questions.
1)My main concerns are the extra costs once onboard. With disney I never paid for any extras. So far the extras costs I found are drinks, room service (at certain times), and childcare (at certain times). What else might have extra costs?
2) Ice skating is free but do they offer lessons? (Never been)
3) I read something about tickets for the shows. How does this work? And does it make a difference if you are traveling with a wheelchair?
4) what do you wish you knew the first time?
I will be traveling with a party of 7 my parents (dad in chair) my sister, my nieces (10,13) nephew(8) looking at a 4 night on the independence but may consider liberty, navigator, allure and oasis.
THANK YOU!

We were on the Allure last week! We LOVED IT. 1st Cruise with Royal.
We purchased drink packages ahead of time. Soda is not free like on Disney. We loved the Coke Free style machines. So much more besides Pop. Dasani , Gatorade , seltzer water...etc

But there is Iced tea, Lemonade and flavored water for free and tea, coffee , milk..etc of course!

Our bill at the end of the Cruise was $59 and that was only because we ended buying a three day unlimited internet package.

You do need to book your shows ahead of time. the level of entertainment/shows on the Allure was top notch!!