Leaderboard

When I become Pinnacle I will be getting a custom Speedo made with ‘Pinnacle’ on one side and ‘700’ on the other. Suggestions on which side to put each? Hopefully I can achieve Pinnacle in my mid age as Father Time is not kind to the Speedo.

I sometimes wear my pin knowing it absolutely gets under some people's skin. I think it's absolutely hilarious that it bothers some people so much these threads exist. I also very much enjoy those moments when I'm not wearing it and some blabbermouth D+ is sitting at a bar like they are king of the cruise world telling everyone within earshot how much they know, most of which is wrong, then I throw down my Pinnacle sea pass card on the bar to order a drink. Go on... dig that hole a little deeper. You were saying?

We are board and in our suite.

The best parts of wearing the Pinnacle pin are not the published benefits. Crew deal with an ever changing guest population one cruise to the next. On a typical cruise roughly half of the guest population has never cruised Royal before. Crew are constantly dealing with newbies who don't know how anything works on board. When crew see a Pinnacle pin they instantly know that guest has been around... a lot. They know they don't have to explain things like to a newbie. It's not the kiss ass relationship some people assume. Crew instantly let their guard down and it's like greeting an old friend or fellow crew member. It's an ice breaker. It is said that the Pinnacle pin opens doors. That's not literal, as in crew holding a door open, but a metaphor. It does make onboard life easier in subtle ways. It starts walking to the terminal doors where the terminal contractors see a Pinnacle pin and instantly know that you know the routine. If there is a suite and Pinnacle queue they are already welcoming you without having to show a set sail pass. When I didn't wear my Pinnacle pin boarding and I've had to show my Set Sail pass to enter the right queue I've had terminal contractors suggest that I wear the pin next time. It's easier on them too since they know instantly you are in the right place. Having boarded many cruises I have learned it makes life easier in the boarding process so why wouldn't someone wear it? Why make it harder than it has to be? When it's time to start boarding and they call Suites and Pinnacle the terminal folks that are gatekeepers looking for eligible guests for that moment in time can instantly see you are Pinnacle. No need to examine your papers, keep the line moving. It's just easier. Why make it harder?

Still rough seas but nothing like it was. Got out of bed around 10 and forced myself to find my friend but we spend over an hour looking for one another because internet was down. Can’t be mad because who knows what was going on with Ian. I gave up and got myself a drink. Was it the smartest with not feeling great? Probably not but it was fun. Rained on and off all day til later afternoon but we drank the day away first at the pub then Vintages and then naps since we were both a little queasy. Lunch was the MDR- meh. Wasted some time in the casino. Dinner. Dinner. Dinner was 150 CP. what a lovely dinner. The food was great and we were both very happy. Still trying to get through my OBC so I splurged on a bottle of Moët. My friend isn’t fancy but she enjoyed it. Got the cheese plate for dessert. Holy crap. Real cheeses, good cheeses. Even a perfect sized spread of Allouette. Every dinner has been decent to good so far (Giovanni’s, Izumi) but this felt special. I don’t know what’s going on with either of us but we’ve been content to skip entertainment every night. Dinner has been at 730 and if we make it til 10pm it’s late. No complaints, we just are tired.

The crew are mask free as of today!!!

The email is outdated since the rule change was only a week ago

Did they serve that with quackers?

They do not want to pay the up charge to the cruise line. If they did it would cost the $84pp that the other beaches do. Glad they do not, at least for Nachi Cocom. I will take the $59 charge and pay the taxi fare for a real all inclusive exclusive beach, personal palapa and much better food. The best part is the bartender is super friendly and will fix our drinks exactly (strong) as we like them.

There are passengers at all levels who do things that are improper or obnoxious. When they wear a Pinnacle badge it's not the Pinnacle badge that made them that way. That is just the way they are at the grocery store back home or on a ship. Honestly now looking back there are more obnoxious and whiny Diamond Plus members. It's not Diamond Plus that makes them that way. On a typical cruise there are hundreds of Diamond Plus while there may be ten or twenty Pinnacle. By shear numbers there are more obnoxious and whiny Diamond Plus because there are ten or twenty times the numbers of Diamond Plus compared to Pinnacle. A cross section of every level from Gold to Pinnacle will have obnoxious members. By shear numbers there will be more of them in every level compared to Pinnacle. Yet Pinnacle are known because of the Pinnacle pin. If every level wore a label only then would it be revealed who are the worst offenders. The lore of bad Pinnacle behavior becomes told like stories because like a bad driver in a company car it sticks out in people's minds. The same bad behavior from any other guest gets written off and forgotten.

I wore my early pins as tie clips or lapel decorations. A D+ pin remains on my backpack. If someone behind me anywhere on the planet sees it they likely don't know the cruise connection while anyone who is D+ or above would likely understand what it is. Once I earned the Pinnacle badge I wasn't wearing it very often. More than one loyalty ambassador encouraged me to wear it more. One even stated they wanted more people to see there are nice Pinnacle too. When I don't wear it no one knows that I am Pinnacle. Standing in line like everyone else I blend into the crowd. No one comments on Pinnacle who know and follow the rules because the majority of Pinnacle who do follow the rules blend in. No one knows we are amongst them. That is the vast majority of Pinnacle. When I wear the Pinnacle badge and stand in the same line only then does anyone know I am Pinnacle. What has changed? I am still standing in line to enter the theater like everyone else. Then the crew start to open the doors and ask if there are any suite guests or Pinnacle and we are allowed in first. Now people get out of sorts. Now we are labelled as rude or line jumping. Royal owns the ship. Their ship, their rules. If someone is wearing the Pinnacle badge they are now identified. Like driving a company car with a large logo you stand out from all the other cars. At this point people wait and watch for any perceived transgression even if it isn't. They didn't use their blinker long enough!!! What is it that drives some people bonkers over the Pinnacle badge? Royal took a lot of effort to create them and distribute them. Royal decided to make it a name badge. Is it jealousy? Is it fear of missing out? It's just a piece of jewelry. Do these same people get upset when someone wears earrings or a necklace? Look at that person wearing massive diamond earrings?!!! To the theater no less!!! Do these same people sit in coach class on a plane and silently brood knowing that more loyal guests in the airline's loyalty club received a free upgrade to first class? When boarding a plane and walking past first class do they silently guess who paid for a first class seat and who received a complimentary upgrade? When boarding a Southwest flight do these same people hate on people who get to board before them because those passengers earn that by flying more?

Royal provides all levels of CAS badges. If they are not to be worn then what is their purpose? To be placed in a box or a nightstand never to see daylight? It's more curious to me why it gets under the skin of some people. That is more telling than anything else.

If we ever manage to achieve Pinnacle, the badge would be one of the most expensive pieces of jewellery and I will proudly wear it

Same goes for the table that may be in the room; if it is getting in your way and will give you more space, especially with a wheelchair, you can ask your steward if they could remove the table from your cabin.

Old Heidelberg in Ft. Lauderdale was dinner tonight and where the above pictures are from.

RCL does have a ship tour that goes to the kitchen, but the last price I saw was about $190 per person. $190 per person is better spent on 4 specialty restaurant dinners than one tour, in my opinion

There is the "All Access Tour," which has recently returned after a COVID inspired hiatus. It takes you into the kitchen and provisions areas, the engineering control room, the bridge and the laundry area. It was very interesting and informative, I enjoyed it a great deal!

We have arrived in Ft. Lauderdale. No issues with weather in traveling. Next step ….tomorrow is ship day!

I hear everyone wears their pins on the nudist cruises

Royal Caribbean has laid off it's American Casino and Escalation call centers, many 5+year employees now have no jobs. Not profitable? or not enough profit?

It doesn't for those of us experiencing the ongoing glitch. We can't even see it in the app. I've tried at least 5 browsers out of annoyance and boredom. Thanks though.

You are absolutely not the only one!! I watch those all the time. My family says that I’m too obsessed with cruise ships when I’m watching, but I counter with “Does such a thing exist?” I think not!!

I am sure I am not the only one that is on this blog that has watched the cruise ships show on Smithsonian. Watching those has piqued my interest about visiting those operational areas of the ship. As such I will be watching the prices and since I am close to D+ that they will bring that benefit back.

I read your first sentence, and said huh? Then I looked to see who said it. Ahh! We're doing fine. Hope you're doing fine too. Yean, I set up a M&M on our up coming Enchantment cruise., as you mention to get to know the CCers.

Hello! My husband and I will be on this cruise. We are so excited! This will be his first cruise.

So did our family. We made the cut-off via our travel agent to make it cheaper. Somehow, it was around 8000 instead of the casual 12000 - 15000 grand on a balcony for a family of 4, 3 days. 6000 for us in a family balcony (Oasis OTS) and 7 nights.

There is a behind the scenes tour for D+ and Pinnacle but they have not restarted it that I know of. Can't wait when they do.

This! If I recall correctly on our Harmony sailing a few (3) ladies (pins) could not get their gold cards to open the door to the suite lounge. I was staying in a CLS and saw them getting angry and continuing to tap but the door wouldn't open. I went over and said oh I'll do it for you and swiped my sea pass for them. The door opened for me and they verbalized how it was disgusting that mine worked and theirs didn't. Wait, what? Then they continued they knew they weren't wanted in there but they were going anyway; wait didn't I just open the door for you? Not even a thank you and as I was following them in they didn't even attempt to keep the door from closing in my face. I promise you it actually took me a minute to keep my mouth securely shut as that door continued to close in my face behind them. It was a sad display and honestly I was like am I on candid camera? I find most pins will gladly share stories and such if asked, I get and feel their frustration as the experience I'm sure has changed a great deal over their 700 plus nights ie. teens in wet bathing suits and no cover ups in the lounge but wow, that really stuck in my crawl for a minute.

I would not be willing to put holes in my clothes for a pin, but the lanyard idea sounds good.

I really didn't know so many people were disgusted with others wearing their C&A pins. I just may have to find mine and wear it on my next cruise.

Here Be Dragons

Or is it more snooty to wear the pins or list every cruise you've ever been on in your signature?

Well this is from many years ago, but these are the deck plans (map) that I prefer as well. I had no luck finding them on the web, but went to guest services on the ship last week and they supplied a Boarding Day Quick Guide that has this type of deck plan and it fits in your pocket. I scanned it in and cleaned it up a bit, it's an odd size (3.5"x19"), so I am not sure how well it will print. Note, I joined this forum just to share, so I hope somebody finds it useful. https://i.imgur.com/5L98eBq.jpeg

I am in the same spot with the diamond drinks and with so much time on ship and coco cay I think I might get the deluxe for me and the refreshment for my wife.

Refund within 14 days

I am surprised there isn't a dedicated forum to this here really considering a segment

My wife has all of our pins on her canvas "carry on" bag that she has on EVERY embarkation; they are a nice decoration if you are into that kind of thing.

I haven't encountered this on a ship but I do go to conventions and it's not uncommon for people to pass out candies. Ideally, you go with Halloween rules and get the bite size bars or mini bags and avoid small unmarked hard candies. People are generally more accepting if they recognize the brand and packaging. Also helps if you have like a basket or something to pass it out from vs pulling it out of your pocket or personal bag. Basket says "I planned to do this" whereas personal bag or pocket screams "here's something random I had lying around". I think the staff would also appreciate it and if you wanted you could give a bunch to the hotel manager or the like at Guest Services to distribute back on the crew decks where they are more likely to partake without concern.

Independence November 7-11, 2022

This was what I was wondering. Good to know this information too.

The prices drop dramatically by 11. They tend to be much higher earlier. It is very difficult to predict.

For those planning to park at the new terminal I would mention that a covered parking area was just added to the North Lot. It was not shown earlier for those making reservations on their site. The covered area at the North Lot costs about $20 more than the open area at North Lot for those interested.

I'm glad I found this thread. We are cruising out of Galveston next summer (August) on Allure of the Seas. I saw someone's post recently about debarking early in order to avoid the surge and sudden increase in Lyft or Uber fares. I wonder if that will change with Uber joining in.

I second crew stairway or storage I managed to rustle up someone walking on the other side on deck 14 and you can just barely see a doorway in that general area (@ 1:18) Motion sickness warning - this is THE shakiest cam of all shaky cams. Even I was getting dizzy watching.

Big fan of the breakfast sandwich there when made with a slightly runny egg. The Park Cafe McMuffin! Great venue in general & one of the things I miss most when not sailing Oasis class.

November 10, 2023, Ovation, Sydney-Eden-Sydney back to back November 13, 2023, Ovation, Sydney-New Zealand-Sydney.

You can definitely reprice after final payment. I have done so and was not booked under Cruise with Confidence.