Leaderboard

So, I know it's not necessarily RC related but just a reminder for those of us in the UK (or with access to the UK tv channels via the wonder of the internet) that the new series of Cruising with Jane McDonald starts tonight at 9pm on Ch5 ? I'm almost as excited for this as I am for my actual cruise! And by the time the series finishes, it'll be about time for my cruise ??

@DocLC Sorrento's doesn't have pizza!!! That's not pizza!!! I don't know what that can be classified as but it sure isn't PIZZA!

If you ever decide to throw your money overboard or burn it, just give it to me and I'll do it for you. Trust me! I promise!

@DocLC, @tiny260, @Matt @twangster @WAAAYTOOO I am now a member of the Michelle MEI family. Thanks to all.

I don't suppose I can find this series on YouTube or Netflix here in the US? I need an itch scratched!

Sounds like a reason to book a cruise today!

Stock valuation is a fickle beast and variations beyond the control of the senior executives likely keep them all up at night. One quick analysis is to compare trends against the competition. This comparative trending can illustrate external forces impacting the whole industry. That being said let's see how the big three are doing over 12 months: It appears all three peaked in February and have trended lower since. It appears they all track each other to some degree. This suggests to me that the emotions, whims and predictions of the markets are the primary factors driving stock valuations for the industry as a whole. They are all being painted with the same brush. One opinion here: https://seekingalpha.com/news/3361660-cruise-line-stocks-lower-morgan-stanley-warning Carnival (NYSE:CCL) and Royal Caribbean (NYSE:RCL) trade lower in early action after Morgan Stanley warns on overcapacity in the sector and foresees a potential slowdown in the second half of the year related to hurricanes. The investment firm also points to the negative macro mix of higher oil prices and a strong U.S. dollar as potential margin pinchers. CCL -4.29% premarket to $60.62. RCL -2.51% to $103.84. Last year was a bad hurricane season. That has likely caused some jitters and has the markets being sensitive to the potential for a repeat while at the same time oil prices have caused equal concerns for airlines as it has for cruise lines. Stock markets are very speculative so it seems that is the primary factor driving stock prices - speculation.

Kind of like politicians....

Cruising solo does offer its advantages. I've done some great excursions that as a family or even a couple would break the bank. If the drink package works in your favor, having to buy only one certainty makes a big difference and a care free vacation without thinking about it when you feel like a drink. Cheers!

My first cruise was in 2015, and when my TA told me about the drinks package, I went home, calculated the price and then worked out how much I'd need to save per week to pay for it! ? Second cruise coming up in March 2019, so no idea yet what the package is going to cost - but I've high-balled a number and yep, saving up for it as we speak. When I was married, I NEVER got to drink when we went out - the ex didn't drive, so I was always the designated driver and had to stay sober. Now I'm single, I'm still the designated driver, but I've been known to indulge and catch a cab home (the ex disapproved of that - can you see why he's now the ex?) ? For me, my cruise vacation will be just that - a vacation. Away from always being the driver, away from (much) responsibility - the drinks package allows me the freedom and convenience to enjoy speciality coffee (the free stuff is pretty dreadful, and I'm no coffee snob), to take bottles of water on shore excursions, and to laze away the day by the pool with lovely waiters bringing me drinks with umbrellas in them. Isn't that the stereotypical vacation ideal? Plus, my experience on Independence back in 2015 was brilliant - I glimpsed a cocktail in the wine bar (before the ex dragged me away because he didn't want to stay there) that had elderflower liqueur in it. Couldn't remember the name, just that it was champagne and elderflower. When I asked the bartender in the MDR for this vaguely described drink? I got it. And it was beautiful. So the unlimited alcohol package is an indulgence, but one which I am sure I will get value for. It's also a convenience. I should mention I'm cruising alone, so there's no requirement to purchase a second package for another party, which certainly adds to the affordability. I can't wait for March next year to enjoy some fabulous Royal cocktails again!

I'm just trying to have a conversation here and this is the second time you've been antagonistic in this thread alone. Notice that I said "could" rather than "were." Perhaps we should follow the administrator's advice and stick to the topic of the case, which I was attempting to do.

Breaker one nine this here is rubber ducky. Over

will sound goofy but last time i cruised RC i was 30lbs heavier and was over indulging way too much. I still enjoy the indulgent while on vacation but I'm more apt to grab a few smaller , more sensible items throughout the day, and still splurge during the evening. With that in mind, just curious as to any "grab-and-go" options the Liberty may have available. Does Sorrento's still have pre-made salads and sandwiches that we can grab for a quick healthy(er) bite later on in the evenings rather than their pizza? Any other good options for earlier in the morning or later in the evening while out and about on the ship?

The sight of Ovie with the cup really did a number didn't it? No, I don't think it's fake news. For a while Adventure appeared in the new app but only for a small group of users. Then it disappeared and hasn't returned. I suspect what the user captured was real. My evil twin says to piggy back off that momentum, photoshop a page based in Asia and make it look like I booked Spectrum, then post that to CC. Get everyone over there in a frenzy. I won't though, that would be mean.

Any Presidential visit even domestically in the US tends to cause local disruptions. Nothing unique to the current administration, this has happened for a while. Talk to your airline. In the end it is out of their hands but it may give more insight to your risk. I always try to fly in the day before just because. I'm a million miler on a US carrier. Over the years I've seen all sorts of delays for all kinds of reasons. When it comes to my cruise, I plan to be on the ship as long as the ship is there and ready to accept me. The cost of a hotel is worth it to me. I am booked on two Singapore based cruises in 2019 and will be arriving the day before.

Oh geez!! I went to YouTube and looked it up....what was i thinking ?

Someone who has been on Liberty more recently than I could probably weigh in on this better, but I think Cafe Promenade is another good stop for little sandwiches and salads. I also really enjoy the salad bar in the Windjammer for lunchtimes, as well as the Tutti Salad options in the MDR at lunch.

To elaborate, last year Royal Caribbean split up itinerary releases with some in November 2017 and the rest in Feb-March 2018. Historically, RC has just released all itineraries in the Feb/March/April timeframe. So remains to be seen if what happened in 2017 with the split releases will occur again this year.

Sure, why not! In all of the threads I've read on MDR attire, I've rarely seen shoes mentioned. It usually comes down to whether shorts and/or t-shirts are being worn. If you wear your hiking shoes with a summer dress, you'll probably just be seen as "cool" or "trendy." ?

I do plan on wearing some of my bulkiest things on the plane. Paring down what I want to take is probably going to be the key though. Do you thing my hiking shoes will look good with my dinner dress? ?

Cappuccinos and lattes can be ordered in the MDR. For anything else, you can go to Cafe Latte-Tudes on Deck 5 in the Centrum.

Thanks everyone. I am going to pay in full before we leave so there is less to do when we get there and contact them to let them know when we dock so they will be aware that we may be cutting it close. I was just having one of those 3 am worry sessions where I panicked that I wouldn't get off the ship quickly and there wouldn't be any transportation waiting by the time I got off. I also wondered how I am going to fit all the necessary footwear and bulky warm clothing in carry-ons too. I am one of those weirdos that refuses to check bags.

They'll get it all back with the increase in price to Johnny Rockets.

Plaintiff sought to amend the S&C and add Punitive damages, which is not a factor since this is a negligence cause of action and not an intentional tort. Court denied their pleading since it's discretionary. See attached verdict sheet. Just sharing some knowledge.? Spearman-Verdict.pdf

Something like that happened during one of Matt's Periscopes. It almost got me blocked before he saw who posted it. ?

Cruising advice, yes; legal advice, I doubt very much.

I love Xcaret and if you've never been would recommend going. I've been there about half a dozen times. There is so much to do and see....it's a little like a Caribbean Disney-park (with no rides, obviously). You can relax on the beach, go tubing in the caves, see music and arts demonstrations, walk through the Day of the Dead displays....just very very cool and educational and fun and relaxing. That being said, i see the tour is eight hours, but if it is taking two hours to get there and two hours to get back, leaving you only four hours in the park, then I would skip it and put it on your list for another trip of it's own. No tour is worth wasting four hours of vacation time in travel. (Boo....sorry). Let me know if I am misunderstood.

I mean... it could have been a worse auto correct if you missed a letter there at the beginning. ?

As @twangster mentioned, it is best to look at the sector as a whole and see if RC is different than the sector. To me it doesn't seem any different than the sector. What you pointed out, Jan 29th was a market high. Just about everything is down compared to that high. Look at the S&P or the Dow. Fuel/oil is affecting many things, not just cruise lines. Look at airline stocks which have very similar charts to the cruise lines. Now, if you look at oil companies (which will go up with the higher oil prices), while they are on an uptrend even they haven't surpassed that Jan 29th high. I think oil is going to be the biggest factor in stock prices for a while. When oil is high, certain sectors are significantly lower as their operating costs are go up. Bottom line, IMO nothing is specific to what RC is or isn't doing.

Good point. I guess cruise prices will start going up even more at this point especially since fuel/oil prices are rising.

I don't think this has much to do with Royal Caribbean's operations. The largest single day stock market dip in history happened in February. The January 29th date you mentioned was about a week before the dip so it's not the best point of reference. I can confirm because my 401k has taken a beating so far this year. I'm also no expert when it comes to the stock market, so this should not be construed as investment advice. haha Also, as @twangster referenced it appears that the industry as a whole is not doing well in terms of stock value. This article cites rising fuel prices, travel demand, and flat prices as concerns. https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/05/cruise-ship-stocks-are-the-worst-performers-in-sp-500.html

From an article i read. The CEO blames higher cost of oil. https://www.thestreet.com/investing/earnings/royal-caribbean-falls-as-revenue-misses-14570131

Yup, this is how I always play. Craps, minimum pass line bet and take my odds. The fun is managing to get a good set of rolls and the chit-chat and banter with the other players as we go up and down. When the table feels like it’s cold, I walk. I can’t imagine how much money that’s saved me, but I’m still out of divorce court and my wife doesn’t complain when I go to the “adult arcade”, so it must be enough. ?

Here is more and less how they calculate the points (its true for most casinos). Its all about odds and math. each points has value , we can calculate it roughly by looking on the certification , to get a 1000 $ certification you need 4800 points to get to 4800 points in slots game (easier to calculate) you need to play 4800*5 = 24000 $ as you get one point for each 5$ you play , remember this number I will get back to it later Now each game has its own house edge which is the chance you will loose , in blackjack (if playing right) its around 1-2% in slots , its rally depends on the casino but can be 5% - to 15% and even worse, craps , again depends how you play , if you play the odds it can be also around 1% while 3 card poker is more around 5%. The way they calculate it for a table game is something like : the house edge * the average bet * number of hands you played = theoretical casino earning which % of it will return back as perks to the gamblers The average bet is exactly why everyone say you need to get the host attention (or the pit boss) since the house edge and time of playing are tracked automatically but the average bet is not. so lets say you were on a 5$ minimum blackjack table and played for 4 hours but you played 50$ per game , if the host/pit boss is not tracking your average the automatic calculation will be done as if you played 5$ bet only ... Back to the slots example , so if the edge is 10% and you need 24000 $ play to get a 1000 $ certification it means your theoretical losing for the "free cruise" will be 2400 $ (they will add to it also the free alcohol in the casino bar). To get to the same in a black jack table or crap (lets assume 1.5$ house edge) you will need to spend 2400/ 0.015 = 1600000$ ... The average number of black jack hands per hour is around 50- 60 so in other words if you play average of 10 $ to the the 160000$ you will need to play 266 hours ... while only 26 hours if you play 100$ per hand (which you will get if you play 4 hours per day * 7 = 28 hours) . The better the edge of the house in a game , the less time you will need to play . This not 100% accurate but it can give you a good example why you are not getting so much points playing table game, I think the most important is to remember : For the long run the house always wins , so play for fun , do not ever play to get certifications/other perks , 99% of the time its cheaper to pay for it directly.

I would rather watch reruns of Lawrence Welk than play at a slot machine for hours on end. Ah one and a two.

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome!

Yeah, well, just don't drink the water before you do the zip line or you may have an "El Monstrou"! ?

Yup! But the damage is done lol....I have raised cruise fanatics. When your dinner conversation last night is about how you move to Pinnacle status and your youngest is leading the discussion because she watches @Matt's scopes with you, there is no turning back from that. Enjoy them! Seriously.

This is way off topic but I'm going to share this anyway....while tossing summer vacation ideas around lately we asked the kids what they wanted to do. We've done Disney the last two summers so that was off the table (waiting for Star Wars land to open before returning). Thought about going to New York or Chicago for a land vacation ?. We basically asked the kids what they wanted. First question, "Is there going to be a lot of walking in NYC and Chicago?". Yes. Next comment from the kids, "Ummm....Why can't we just go on another cruise?" ?Wonder where they get these ideas from?? I have always said and still believe (so far) that cruising is the best value vacation. Especially for a family.

It's cheaper for us to fly to San Juan then it is to fly to Fort Lauderdale or Miami. We live in Houston. Plus we get to go to better destinations. Sailing out of Galveston means going to Mexico...been there, done that. We recently flew into San Juan and sailed on Adventure, it was the easiest embarkation and disembarkation we have ever experienced. We looking into more cruises out of San Juan....better bargain for us. Plus we are all for helping this beautiful place get back on their feet.

I'm not at all a fan of forced arbitration. From the handful of leaked or very-after-the-fact reports I've seen on these things (because remember, it's also under a non-disclosure agreement where neither party is allowed to speak publicly about what happened or what was agreed to), it always works out in the favor of the corporation / employer / defendant, and leaves the plaintiff barely any better off than if they'd done nothing. And because it's never in the public eye / under NDA, it doesn't put the same level of scrutiny on the corporation / employer / defendant; and it's that level of scrutiny, public outcry, analysis by the press, etc. that actually ends up forcing the corporation / employer / defendant to actually make any meaningful changes that would prevent the same thing from happening again and lead to improved safety / working conditions.

This blog is getting to be an expensive place to hangout. Since I'm going to Alaska in a few weeks I've picked up a Sony A7 III to see how it compares to my Nikon D750. I blame @Hockeyman55 for this unexpected expense ? The low light level performance of the Sony looks amazing and I like to do low light photography. Nikon is threatening to release a mirrorless system next year but they have the legacy baggage of a million Nikkor lenses that Nikon enthusiast keep in their closet. The reality is a mirrorless system calls for a new approach to a lens mount. No doubt in my mind Nikon's first attempt will be super expensive with the impossible challenge they face of appeasing a vested user base with a million lenses. Since a switch to mirrorless will likely call for new lenses to do it properly, my investment in Nikkor lenses becomes somewhat a moot point. Enter eBay. Between an Alaska cruise in June and a Cuba cruise late July I'll have some cruise photo ops to help me decide which one ends up on eBay. Unfortunately that means slugging both around until then.

McDonald's is currently being sued for not offering a Quarter Pounder without cheese which used to be on the menu. The plaintiffs claim they're being overcharged when they order it without cheese as they're not being compensated for that which they have taken off when ordering.

Pop quiz... who thinks Royal's website is totally awesome? For those who doubt why a travel agent can be a great resource, how did you answer the pop quiz? What makes you think the best price is always displayed on the totally awesome Royal website that you think is so great? Here is an example of one of the three cruises I just booked with MEI travel. Using my D+ C&A balcony discount for a 6D balcony the Royal website the total is $2,122.85. That doesn't include gratuity and no OBC is offered. I though this was going to be the price of this cruise. Jacki York with MEI responded to my request for a quote for the same cruise, same 6D aft balcony. I asked her to include gratuity. The total is $1,471.35. That's $651 cheaper and it includes prepaid gratuity plus $50 OBC. YOLO! Book it! Seriously if you have ever had issue with or grumbled at the Royal website, why would you trust it so much booking your own cruise? If I had booked this on my own using the Royal website, I would be paying $2,122.85. What did it cost me to save $773? Zero. MEI doesn't charge fees for their services. This doesn't happen on every cruise I book, but since I book a lot of cruises I've seen enough examples to know the value of a free quote from MEI Travel.

I'm willing to accept that premise, my problem is that they made the decision not to go in a staged approach that gradually replaces old features / functions with new ones. Maybe this is directly because of the legacy database they were using, and doing a piecemeal migration would have been impossible under any circumstances. But then trust that your customers will respect you if you tell them up front, something like this: "Changes are coming, and in the beginning some of them may be painful. We have a legacy system that is ancient and incapable of handling what we need with our future plans, and replacing it is not going to be easy. We're going to try our best to keep problems and issues to a minimum, but nothing this complex ever goes exactly as planned; so know that when a problem does come up, we will break our backs to fix it as fast as possible and keep the transition moving forward as quickly as possible. The end result will be a much better system that everyone will appreciate, but until we're there we ask for your patience." Something as simple as that, posted on their Facebook page and sent in a mass email a month or two ahead of all of this starting, with follow-ups giving general progress reports and estimates on how much longer this crap would be taking, would probably have gone a long way to alleviating much of the anger and frustration all of us here, and everyone around the world, have been feeling for the last several months now. This is as much a PR CF as it is an IT one.

i thought it was just the pizza that was tasteless. And YES i would and have done, Unless you have been through a tragic event yourself you will never know how sometimes laughter is the ONLY thing that makes a differnce, as it takes your mind off whatever is ripping you apart inside which in turn STOPS you from doing something stupid.

I think a newbie mistake is to not use a TA, or at least get a quote from a TA. I book my own hotel rooms, book my own rental car and book my own airline travel, so my assumption was that I would book my own cruise as well. From my outside perspective, it seems the cruise industry is very much still aligned with travel agents, while those other travel related industries not as much. I am happy with the price I got via booking directly with RCI, but I will admit I will use a TA or get a 2nd quote from a TA for my next cruise.

We've sailed out of Tampa, Miami, Bayonne, Port Everglades, San Juan, Manhattan and Canaveral. Each one is a blur as we are just so excited to get onboard, or exhausted and want to get home. ? Just went thru the Bayonne on and off this past week, so still fresh. Very easy on, very easy off. No issues with parking or exiting. Very easy. Last September was Port Everglades, and some to report. Love how everything is so close between the airport, the port, hotels and fun. Personally, I don't care if the airport or cruise port is shiny and pretty, it's a small place in the overall vacation and I guess I have low expectations. As long as I don't have to sit on the floor and be a zombie, I'm good. I can't remember saying we'd avoid cruising out of any of the above. Next up for us, Boston and Baltimore. Two more to try!

I'll just be happy to get to Platinum after the next one ... As they say, we were all Gold once.