Jill

I always schedule dinners (we usually do the unlimited dining package) and shows. I’m a planner though and like to know what I’m doing each evening. We rarely do excursions in the Caribbean. Always just plan a beach day Just finished a 12 night Holy Land/Greece and that was heavily planned due to the extensive ports of call. Did a 5 night dining package with 7 nights in the dining room. If there’s anything that you really want to do, reserve it in advance

If this is Symphony, pick the embarkation/disembarkation port you want to spend time in. Note: the Royal App only works for cruises out of Barcelona (unless they fix it this year) May I suggest looking at Odyssey out of Rome? We just did the 12 night Holy Land/Best of Greece and it was FANTASTIC! I’ve looked at that western med cruise and only one sea day on an oasis class has discouraged me. Just throwing it out there for consideration

There’s been a lot of discussion about food quality in general since the re-start. Initially all seemed fine but around last March it became evident the quality was not the same. I had a conversation with someone this past weekend that has first hand knowledge of the food situation with Royal Caribbean Group. Let’s just say things are VERY different since Fain left. The focus is very financial now. Fain was very much about customer experience. Liberty is a $$ guy Most shocking to me is that they are now using “no roll beef.” Explains why I’ve had some questionable steaks, even at Chops. I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt about supply chain etc but this person assured me that even when things get turned around, the food isn’t going to. If you don’t know what “no roll beef” is, just Google it. I sincerely hope Mr Liberty doesn’t pinch too many pennies because there are many people not happy with the quality of the food right now. With that being said, my Odyssey cruise out of Rome 3 weeks ago had very good food. My US based cruises (3 this past year), not so much. We’re paying more and getting less. I think our surveys need to start hammering home that food quality is being sacrificed.

Definitely look at Going Going Gone. Are you within driving distance of any port? Are you pretty flexible on when you can go? There was a new blog post yesterday or day before about taking a $99 cruise. It seems a great strategy is to book an interior then wait for a Royal Up. Going Going Gone (it’s updated every week or two) https://creative.rccl.com/Sales/Royal/Multi_Dest/Special_Offers/rci_sales_event_USD.pdf

Going Going Gone is available for anyone to see! You just have to know how to find it! I have it bookmarked! They update it every week or two https://creative.rccl.com/Sales/Royal/Multi_Dest/Special_Offers/rci_sales_event_USD.pdf

That makes zero sense since Wonder sailed out of Fort Lauderdale for 6 weeks before she headed to Europe.

I guess I can see the issues with having the refreshment package plus free drinks. We don’t get any package. We drink water or alcohol but when I order a drink, I tell them EVERY time that I’m using a Diamond drink or I’m not. For example: my husband pays for his beers by the pool and saves his vouchers for his vodka tonics at night. He always tells the bartender that he’s paying for the beers and not to use his vouchers. My guess is people are not telling the wait staff? Just hand over their card?

I’m in agreement with @smokeybandit This is due to people not paying attention We’ve had 5 sailings totaling 43 nights with free drinks and have never had an issue with vouchers being used incorrectly. Right after the re-start there was some confusion among bartenders but now, they all are pretty much on the ball.

However that tip is shared among others. When you tip in cash at time of drink delivery, the server gets 100%

I’m thinking no but thought I’d ask. Friends booked through Royal for our upcoming cruise this spring. Now they cannot go. We have family that would like their cabin as it’s next to ours. Is there anyway to do this? Family knows they would be priced at todays pricing. Just would be nice if they could be next to us. Not a whole lot of inventory left either. Thanks for any advice!

I suggest not booking a cruise that stops in Israel then. Whether you are going ashore or not EVERYONE has to disembark, go into the terminal and go through face to face immigration. It took 3 hours for Odyssey to clear immigration a few weeks ago. Tours that were to start at 8:30 didn’t get started until almost noon. But that’s their policy and not much we could do about it.

Summer 2024 Europe is still not available yet fall 2024 is

They used to be great when it was a sail away from the helipad. These days we skip it

I’m waiting for Europe summer 2024. Norwegian fjords to be exact.

Pretty sure the JS on the hump have both. Ours on Odyssey was on the hump and one side was sink/separate shower/bathtub and the other side was toilet and sink

That was a real knucklehead decision with the movie screen. We were on Wonder in March and you definitely can hear the screen in Central Park. Really bad decision on designers part

We are now officially booked as of Tuesday. April 20, 2024. Sharla got us a group rate and with our D+ discount came to $3280 with refundable deposit. Ocean balcony $200 less than the 3rd sailing of Wonder back last March. Only problem is I now have a big gap between our May Wonder and April Icon. Need to find something for October 2023 . Must cruise every 6 months or I get very crabby! Still hoping to book Norwegian fjords for summer 2024 and anxiously awaiting the release of those dates. Just can’t decide between Anthem or Jewel. First world problems

From what I hear, MSC is a very different cruising experience versus Royal. I’ll be curious to hear your review. NCL is more comparable to Royal in terms of overall experience.

Woot! It’s a long wait!

This is no longer allowed post Covid. I’m not sure of the exact reason but it’s a new policy since the re-start

Well I just had to go looking at the Going Going Gone list. Indy 3 night for about $360 p/p December 5 Mariner 5 night Western just under $600 December 5 Wonder 3 night Perfect Day just over $600 December 4. Hmmm that Wonder one is tempting. We have her booked for may but December would be nice as she’d be all decorated for Christmas

I’m confused. I thought Royal will only adjust the price within 48 hours of booking now. No more Best Price Guarantee that was available during Covid. Am I wrong? I hope so! I love those price drops!

I couldn’t initially get in with Safari. Switched to Duck Duck Go and it worked. Has this always been available? I’ve checked that Royal gifts link before and never found the alcohol packages Also has anyone been able to switch the mixers? Hubby is a vodka tonic drinker and sprite is offered. I guess you could switch them out at any bar.

Really tempted to hop on one out of PC. Just got home from the Holy Land cruise but now going through cruise detox