Hi Everyone:

I have never been on a cruise before but am considering one of RSSC's cruises for next December in the Carribean. Is there a place that I can go to get answers to a bunch of "novice" questions? My questions have more to do with tips for first timers such as boarding, making reservations, what is covered/not covered, best excursions, where to reserve a cabin on Navigator, is it better to be on one side of the boat in the Caribbean, how much should I expect in shipboard credits from my travel agent, etc.

I've read many of the posts here and it seems that you have a wonderful community. The insights on the Navigator - both pros and cons have been really helpful.

Thanks.

Kim, welcome to the board! You have come to the right place for asking questions, we love new people and we love to answer questions for new people!!

Thanks for the warm welcome, Karen.

Here are my pressing questions:

1. what is a great cabin on the Navigator in Category E?
2. Is it better to be on one side of the boat in the Caribbean?
3. The price is listed at 2 for 1...should I expect any further discounting from my travel agent?
4. How much should I expect to receive in shipboard credits from my travel agent?

Thanks.

Kim, I can't help with the cabin selection question but we have others on the board who are Navigator cabin pros! :)

For question two, it depends on your itinerary. Some ports have lovely dock areas,some don't and some ports, you will tender in. I don't really worry what side of the ship I am on for the Caribbean. Do you know your itinerary yet?

For question #3, if your travel agent does further discounting, I would assume that they would advertise that up front. If not, it wouldn't hurt to ask.

As for the last question, you would have to ask your agent that as well. If you pay with a certain American Express card, you will receive an on board credit and some travel agents also offer credits.

Kim,

600 and 601 are both great cabins, larger than the others. However, they are all the way to the bow of the ship, on deck 6. We were in 603 when we cruised on the Navigator in Sept. It is also a little bigger. We loved it.

Hope this is a little help! :)

Betty

Best to be mid-ships on Navigator. We were in 629 and it was great; close to everything, yet smooth and quiet. Don't believe you'll get any further discount from your TA beyond the 2for1. Check Ngaire's prices on this board. I think you'll get the best deal from her.

Navigator has a small vibration that bothers some people but is very soothing to others. To me, I like it and it helps me to sleep like a baby. Some suites have verandas and some don't. The ones without verandas are larger since the size of the veranda is taken out of the suite space. I love the Navigator, too.

Ardis

BTW, Kim, I agree with Karen regarding the side of the ship. We did a Caribbean cruise once with friends. Our cabins were across from each other. We had a running joke, each day, about who had the best view. One day they....one day we!!! ;)

Betty


edited to say...Ardis, I think window suites and the balcony suites are the same 301 sq feet, with balcony an additional 55sq.ft. You may be thinking of the Diamond, which, that was the case... the window suites were larger.

Pam and Susie are on Navigator I think get off Tues? They'll be wealth of recent info - if you have Amex plat card you get $300 credit - you can use it for booking but put remaining balance on another card if you'd prefer - if Pam reads this she may reply to you - Joanna

Remember to get the AMX Platinum onboard credit you must use NOTHING but an AMX card of some kind, cannot be any MC, Discover, Visa etc involved in payment.

Yes now I remember we put balance on Starwood AMEX editing to say as I wanted the points on that card

Kim, if you are looking for a travel agent who specializes in Radisson, look no further than here. Ngaire (Brown and Keene), is the best. I gave up my Toronto travel agent a couple of years back, because although they were cruise specialists, they knew little or nothing about Radisson, and I was frankly not happy with the mis-information that I got. I've got my second cruise booked with B&K, and they really know what they are doing, and tell you everything you need to know.

(Ngaire may be embarrassed by this plug, but it's the honest truth, and I am a real customer, as other posters can attest, because some of them have met me! I live in downtown Toronto, west-end, where do you live?)

Here in Canada, AMEX Canada offers these two cards:

Aeroplan Plus Platinum Card
$399 annual fee (includes free Supplementary Gold Cards)
$175 annual fee for each Supplementary Platinum Card

And plain-old Platinum Card (same fees,of course the fees are in CDN.)

Edited: I found it: it's the "normal" Platinum card which has the "Cruise Privileges" benefit, but I don't see it with the Aeroplan Platinum.

If you cruise more than once a year, it's a great deal, if you only cruise once a year, you have to study the rest of the benefits to see if it's worth it.

I've been twice on the Navigator last year and numerous times to the Carribbean. I prefer a balcony and we were also in 603 for one of our cruises. There is a downside to that room if you are anchoring, you will have about 5 minutes of clanging noise when they arrive. If they dock, you won't have that. Navigator has two restaurants and pool grill. Food and Service are excellent. You will have a great time.
2 for 1 is a great deal. When you are on board, book another cruise for the on-board booking discount - you will be able to use that for your next cruise.

Hi Everyone:

Thank you for the great advice. Reply to Wandra....I live in downtown Toronto.....

About booking my next cruise onboard to get the discount....does this require an immediate deposit and what if I want to change my mind to go on another cruise instead of the one I booked while onboard?

Thx

You're probably thinking of the Diamond.
All the regular cabins in Navigator have 301 sq.feet inside the cabins. This is true for window cabins as well as for balcony cabins.

Regarding the vibration issue I agree that it is a personal thing. In my case I find that the vibration in the back of Navigator would be unbearable for sleeping however it doesn't bother me when I feel it in the lounges or restaurant.

Yes, you will need to give them an immediate deposit. I believe it is 10% of the cruise amount. If this is incorrect I'm sure others will chime in. You can change your mind at a later time and move your deposit to the new cruise you want to book. If you do this before 120 days of sailing date ( of the cruise you originally booked onboard) there is no penalty.

Kim, most people seem to "park" their deposit on the cheapest cruise they can, as far in the future as possible. I have never done this myself, only done the onboard booking once, that was for my upcoming June cruise on Voyager, and I had researched that beforehand, and pretty well knew what I wanted.

I live in Little Italy, by the way.

Kim
The crossings seem to be the cheapest.

627 is my favorite cabin on Navigator. Just next door to Doug's favorite, 629, but it is a three person cabin. If you book this cabin, you ensure no kids around (at least kids as third person in cabin).

You can get discounts from TA in addition to 2 for 1 some of the time. As for credits, TA shipboard credits are no longer combinable with Amex Platinum shipboard credits. So, if you have Amex Plat use that; if you don't, there are some TAs that give shipboard credit. Of course, Amex Plat has a lot more benefits, too.

Navigator is a great ship; you will have a wonderful time.

Pardon me! I'm a font of misinformation, as usual.

Ardis

I, too, gave misinformation when I told Kim she could put balance of her cruise on another CC and thank goodness Ngaire said it has to be another Amex card!!! People are so helpful here!!! Joanna

What would we ever do without friends to keep us on the straight and narrow? It is appreciated.

Kim, I've had one cruise on the Navigator and LOVED her! Yes there is vibration and clanging etc but you are on a SHIP and that is part of being on the ocean. It's fun. I think the Navigator is the perfect size for a ship.

The standard cabin on the Navigator is a lovely thing indeed. We were in 919 and had storage space to spare. The bathroom is really a marvel, too, with the separate shower and tub.

Hi Everyone:

One more thing. From the brochure, it looks as though Category E is on both Level 6 and Level 7. Which deck is better for ensuring that the trip is quiet? I really like Marc's tip about booking the one for 3 psgr capacity to avoid kids next door.

Kim

Kim, this is just my opinion but if you are not taking one of the larger E's (like 603) I would go for cabin # 633 as it's in the middle of the ship and closest to the waterline which makes for the smoothest ride. Also, you have no neighbor on one side of you! If that one was already reserved, I would aim for 728 or 733 on the next deck up for the same reasons.

728 looks particulary good as you are down the hall a bit.

Hi Karen:

Thanks. In another post Ngaire warns about some pump noise on the starboard side of Navigator cabins. I will likely try to find out what options remain available soon.

Anyone else experience the pump noise recently?

Kim

Hi Kim,

I was on Navigator this past June/ July in a starboard cabin ( deck 5 #515). And indeed there is a pump noise just the way Ngaire described. I knew about it because somebody that had stayed in #525 had posted about it. So I went prepared with ear plugs just in case. But I never used them. Eventhough the noise was there it sort of "blended" in, so after a while I didn't even notice it. Of course, the first day I pointed it out to my husband and he thought I was nuts to even bring it up. He was like "What noise??".

I didn't know that you could hear it on other decks. So as Ngaire suggests if you can pick your cabin, pick one with an even number.

I love the Navigator. I have cruised twice on it and with the right itinerary I would love to cruise on it again.

BTW, the first time we had an even number cabin and there was no pump noise :) !

I was in 633 and no pump noise.

One thing about 633 versus remainder of cabins on that deck. Since just aft of these cabins is reception area, there is a glass door to provide some noise abatement. This door protects all cabins EXCEPT 633 which is outside of the door.

I have not been on deck 7 so can't compare the new setup of E on both 6 and 7. I just found deck 6 so convenient.

okay _ looked and I was in 724 and 603 on the Navigator. I was on 733 on the Mariner.