ellcee

I'd like to formally apologize to all of the husbands I just got in major trouble with their wives. 

Oops, my bad....but, bcarney did make a post sometime back about a great breakfast idea regarding hash brown potatoes and gravy....or was it curry.......it's  been a long day.....you know how stressful retired life can be. But I have found that making a "to do list" is helpful. The #1 thing on my to do list for tomorrow is......NOTHING.

Day 4 Sea day.
 
Today was the second sea day in the cruise,
Although the forecast predict a very cloudy day it was once again a wonderful sunny day, perfect for a sea day.
I started early (well 9 am on a vacation for me its early) gong to a guest lecture about creativity, it was a one hour interactive lecture which was interesting and funny, I glad I been able to attend.
For some reason RC (at least in this cruise) put all the lectures around 9 AM , not sure why.
After the lecture I met with my spouse and we went to the sundeck area to catch some sun. Although the pool deck was fully occupied there were enough chairs on deck 12 , not sure why people insist on the pool deck (I know that some like to jump to the pool from time to time but it can easily  done also from the upper deck).
Actually we found some extra hidden decks that were empty so we used them as our privet deck (there is one above the bar which was kept empty all the time , my guess  the proximity to the round antenna  radome which is nearby may intimidate some people  but they contain mostly satellite equipment and almost harmless comparing to the sun radiation.


Although we are coming from a very sunny country I cannot really stay in the sun too long before becoming a lobster(one of the downsize of working at office all the time), since the lobster day is tomorrow and I did not want to find myself as the main dish in the Windjammer I finish my pathetic effort to get tanned very fast.
We took some pictures to send home after getting complains that we only send picture that they can be download from the internet and they want to check that we are relay cruising.
And now for the daily complain session J , not really understood why RC are insisting on this  towel policy with the room card , the queues to get a towel become sometime quite long which is annoying, there must be a better way to handle it, its not that people have where to take the towels beside the ship.
I understand that again we are paying the price for people that throw the towels over the board or something like that.
For lunch again we did the Windjammer trying to focus on light things, I decide to try something healthy for a change so I took a Pizza.
The good thing about lunch today was the fruits  they brought , beside the regular apples they also served Rambutan and Longan , Rambutan you should already recognize from my previous post about  Thailand but Longan (not Logan ok ? , its  not made out of Adamantium) is a small round fruit which taste more and less like Litchi. The fruit stand was very poplar but there were plenty for everyone , it was good dessert.

 
The time past quite fast on the sea day, we enjoyed several of the show in the pool area  and some indoor activities.
For dinner we went to Chops, the food was very tasty, loved the crab cake and the soups, the service on the other hand was ok , I mean when we got service .It  seems they were missing waiters and each waiter had to serve too many tables ,  I will just say the dinner took us two and half hour and we had to wait 40 minutes between the steaks and the dessert .Hopefully it was  aone time issue as I heard the service in this restaurant usually excellent.
 
Tomorrow another sea day.
 
FYI , if there are any request to get some more info about the ship or cruise or you want me to take a picture of something in the ship , let me know I will be happy to answer/take the pictures.

OK, so I called up Royal and my package is all purchased. However, I definitely have to say that my experience mirrored @twangster's.
I got a nice rep on the phone, and I made sure to explain right away that my wife had a note on her reservation that she is unable to drink due to medical reasons; because of that, I was calling to purchase the Deluxe Package for just myself. The rep confirmed he saw the note and put me on hold while he spoke with his supervisor. After he came back on the call, I was told that the "exception" they would make for me was that I could buy the Deluxe Package for myself, but I would also have to buy the Refreshment Package for my wife at the same time.
Now, in my particular case, I was OK with this. My wife actually did want me to get the Refreshment Package for her, since she expects to be getting a fair number of specialty coffees, fresh juices, and bottled waters. I would have preferred to buy her package next month when I was on another new billing cycle, but the cost of the Refreshment Package (after gratuities) is a little over half what the discounted Deluxe Package costs and I felt I could swing the extra on the card this month.
So, it does seem that the standard line you should expect from any CSR at Royal, even after speaking to a supervisor, is that you'll need to buy the Refreshment Package for the person requesting the exception. Maybe for most of you, this will be OK, but if it's not I would definitely make a point of bookmarking Matt's blog post that has the email screen shot. Then when you're on the phone with Royal, have that screen shot ready to read back to them and make them talk with their supervisor again and again until you have the specific purchase you need.

I really really love this site!   I have been checking for days and at every cruise planet sale and the drink price for the deluxe has always been 55/ day for my March freedom cruise.   I looked at sabrinas post and decided,  ok I will look... won't be different but....   Well, it was down to $45/day for no reason so I hopped to buy.  If I get 30% on black Friday I will cancel and re book, but that saved me 75 dollars a person!   At 45 a day,  that is 3 cocktails, a coffee and a bottled water... even my husband would do that (he drinks a Lot less than I do) so I can justify the 2 adult pkg.  Wondering if pkg purchases were down with the 2 adult thing...but it's a long time till March.  Nothing else was on sale.    Thanks for posting...i never would have gone on today!  Jane 

Don't really know for that one but someone else might have a better idea. All I can tell you is that for our last cruise on Harmony it was $55 then for Black Friday it went 30%off and then it went to $46 and stayed like that until sailing. Perhaps it depends how well the packages are selling on a particular sailing? But I am big on FOMO so once it see it I don't think about it for long lol. 

Well, despite my beeching and moaning about it, I opted for the package for the wife and me.
I hate that they have done this, but once I broke it down and weighed the issues, I decided to 
pay now instead of at the end of my cruise.  
 
This still doesn't mean I'm going to participate in the belly flop, regardless of how many drinks I've had.

My friends already know if I've given them information they can trust it. This makes me the one who does all the pre work for my trips but I know it's appreciated...and I'm doing it regardless of whether or not I'm assigned to the research.

Day 3  Port day. Kaohsiung Taiwan:
 
After a nice first sea day we finally arrive to our first stop  at Kaohsiung , we got to the port around 7 AM and I Started to get organized as we had our shore excursions
To avoid the rush hour of the buffet on a port day I went up and grab a plate to bring down to my spouse and me, our room is actually just one deck directly below the Windjammer so it makes live easier.
After the quick breakfast we rushed to the  excursion (thank you  WAAYATOO) meeting point , it was 8:15 which was the time the meeting should tool place ,when arrived we have been told to catch the bus outside so we went out pass the immigration very quick (as the passport still with the ship we got yesterday a stamp photocopy of our passport, that was why RC asked everyone to bring a photocopy with them).
As usual not everyone arrived on time so we were waiting for people on the bus until 9 AM  ,maybe this is the punishment for people who come when they are being told too (that and also my spouse saying to me , told you so ,we should not have rushed J )
The excursions  was for the Buddha temple complex in the city of Fo Guang Shna , I choose this one as the city of Kaohsiung is mainly industrial city and not much to see.
The drive to the temple complex tool around one hour, each participate got bottle of water on the bus which was nice has it was a very hot humid day.
The complex is spitted to two different areas, the first is where the monks are leaving and learning, it also contain a huge temple with three golden Buddha’s (sorry no photo were allowed  inside the temple but here is the standing Buddha from the parking area).

The second one is the more modern area which has a 360 foot Buddha statue and many pagodas tower.
I found the second part to be very immersive although tending to more commercial, in the entrance there is something that look like a mall , it even contain a Starbucks (well maybe they sell there an holly tea , did not check).
Although there were allot of people around the place is huge and it was very quiet and e feeling of serenity was surrounding us (and not the  serenity now kind)  , I really enjoy it, just sorry we could not stay there some extra time


We were doing our way back around 12 PM as it was half day tour.
By the way in the port there was an ATM machine and money changer, beside that there weren’t any other services.
The way back to the ship was very fast without any queues or delays , nothing like to come back from the very warm day to the air-condition of the ship , love it.
For lunch we did our way to the buffet, this time it was not as busy as yesterday and the food was excellent, again I was eating too much.
After a very required rest we went to see the headliner show which presented a vocal group name “Dream Zone” they were performing different songs with the ship band which was entertaining.
 
Tomorrow sea day ,   
 

Well I am starting to get into the cruise mode, yesterday with all the issues, the  late sail and some work related issues I was not there yet , took me a while  J
There is something very special in the moment you get from the gangway to the ship , I love that feeling.
During the morning I found out the VB to work fine just the sky looked gray, which is ok as we did not planned anything for the sundeck yet.

The room itself although small is big enough for two people with tons of storage, we came with two big suitcase (after all we packed for 18 vacation days) and after unpacking we still have free  space, I like the way they utilized the room, The suitcases where nicely shoved under the bad and we are glad we don’t need to see them for the next 9 days.
This is our first time to  be in inside cabin , I thought I might feel it to be claustrophobic but no ;its just fine and open more opportunities for us in the future  not to rollout this option.
When I woke up today I saw it was already 8:30 , so, although feeling still tired  I went to the bathroom to prepare for the day (we had the meet and mingle at  9:30 AM ) lucky for me I took a look at the laptop which indicated it is 4:30 AM … I asked uncle Google for the time in Hong Kong and it concurred indeed it was 4:30. I found out that my cell phone which I did not moved to flight mode (big mistake) connected to the Verizon service that moved the clock to EST. Since I am wearing a smart watch (dumb watch in this case) it was synchronized with the same time which  was 8:30 PM … basic beginner  mistake.
Luckily for me I did not tried to wake up my spouse, that could have been a disaster J.
After waking up again (normal time) I took something quick to eat at the promenade café and went to the meet and mingle meeting (my better half still slept) that was 9:30 am  (who do such meetings in the middle of the night on a sea day) ?
There where around 25 people in the meeting and RC did the usual raffle so I figure almost 50% got something, I was not at that 50% but it was still nice. Beside the regular small notepad gift they also gave everyone a folding shopping bag with RC logo, I actually found it to be very useful.
For Lunch (and breakfast for some people) we went to the Windjammer that was packed. it took us around 15 minutes to find a table  at the end we just joined some other people, typical sea day J.
As the wind was very strong the upper deck was closed also in the lower deck it was not that easy to walk, the pool by the way turn into a wave pool, who said there is not a water park on the Voyager of the seas.
We browsed the ship for a while to see where is everything, I am very happy to tell you that I saw the famous park café sandwiches served in the promenaded café.

One thing was very clear, there were  many queues on the ship  , queues to the shore excoriation (which might indicate that many are not using the site to pre order it) the queues started almost on the other side of the promenaded. Queues to the guest service were also exist for the all day, Maybe since we sailed late people did not had time to complain yesterday and queues to the MDR.
With all the different queues I heard people suggest to rename the ship to Queues of seas.
For dinner we went to the MDR , it was ok , slow but food was fine. I think we will visit the Windjammer more.
 
Tomorrow we are in Taiwan and we have early shore excursion

FYI...Thanks to the daily checking of my cruise planner , I noticed that the drink package for our sailing (Anthem-March 9, 2018) is down to $43/day.  It was at $55/day yesterday still.  I decided to jump on it and not wait for the Black Friday sale that may or may not come.  Anyway, I called RC because like some of you have mentioned, I needed an exemption because my husband does not drink due to medical reason.  Thought this was going to be easy from the comments I read over the last few days...
The agent I spoke to refused to exempt my husband.  He said the only way it would work is if I purchased the deluxe but he would at least have to purchase the refreshment package.  Thank goodness for the blog @Matt did a few days ago along with whoever provided a copy of that email because again I had to speak to a supervisor and quote the email directly.  In the end it all worked out but it was not as smooth sailing for me as it was for others.

Just remind your waiter at the MDR if she does put it in her preferences.
 
I used it for my last cruise (for gluten issues) and my waiter was not informed. I told him and he was very helpful from there on. I've heard that the info doesn't always make it to the MDR but it's still important to indicate for the ship's information. I feel like I remember low fat options on the MDR menu but I don't have anything to back it up. I think she'll be fine if she is aware of what she shouldn't eat to begin with.

I don't think you're complaining...I get it. You work hard, your budget sounds good, things are just expensive. You don't sound cheap.
 
For airfare I check daily, I'm also type A. I do a ton of research. I travel a few times a year to visit a friend for the last few years so I'm always on multiple sites for flights. I research for months before I commit. I love Kayak but there are a few good sites for airfare. I switched to a TA (also MEI) after I booked but still check the RC site.

I definitely can't let my wife view this thread. She'd want to stay in the suite just for the purple card.

Not really sure it "forces" one to drink more.  It's really a question of your mindset.  I bought the package and already am of the mind that I will probably lose money on the deal.  However, I know if I hadn't spent the money now when I can be done with it and have it out of my budget, then on the trip my penny-pinching mindset would have scrutinized every drink I bought.  Now I can drink whatever, whenever I want and not think twice about the payment.  a weird way to think of it in the long run I know, but it works for me!  Same thing with the balcony.  It's my first cruise and most of the shows / night clubs just don't sound all that appealing.  It is comforting to know that should I find myself not in the mood for "partying" in the evening I always know I have a bottle of wine, a cribbage board, my wife, and a balcony waiting on the 8th deck
 

Haha! I'm the same. It's part of my morning, afternoon, and nightly routine. That along with checking drops in cruise fares and this blog....?

I'm pretty bad myself. I'm a routine lover so it comes as part of my morning routine. I have a problem but I also don't care - it's not hurting anyone.

My name is Emerson, and I'm a Cruise Pplannerolic.
I've just realised I have a problem. I find myself checking the cruise planner 2 to 3 times a day pretty much from the time I book my cruise. The symptoms seem to get a lot worse 6 months out and come 3 months out... well, someone please take my keyboard from me.
Am I alone? Do others suffer from this crippling condition? Is there any cure or should I just embrace my disease? 
If Royal Carribean comes out with an app that allows me to check cruise planner I may need to check myself into a treatment centre!
 
 
 

I'm pretty bad myself. I'm a routine lover so it comes as part of my morning routine. I have a problem but I also don't care - it's not hurting anyone.

I'm pretty bad myself. I'm a routine lover so it comes as part of my morning routine. I have a problem but I also don't care - it's not hurting anyone.

I'm pretty bad myself. I'm a routine lover so it comes as part of my morning routine. I have a problem but I also don't care - it's not hurting anyone.

FABULOUS!!!! Thank you ellcee!!!

There is one "catch", you have to redeem the points you accumulate on your RC credit card and the "catch" is fairly easy. Here's the link:https://www.managerewardsonline.com/RMSapp/Ctl/entry?pid=grprwd&mc=RCCL. 
It will take one credit card cycle (30 days) for the points to show up in your account and you do not want to have any on board credit posted greater than 180 days from your cruise date. If you do, they will expire. As I understand it, when you order/buy something (drink package) and you go to check out you will have an option to pay by credit card or use on board credit.  Also, any on board credit you receive from a 3rd party (travel agent promotion) will not show up until 2-3 days after you have embarked on your cruise. 
Perhaps someone else can chime in here if I'm incorrect on this and correct me if I'm wrong. 

I am really hoping for a black Friday/cyber Monday sale...if we are buying 2 drink P kgs, it would really be nice if I could save 11 bucks a day!  Jane

It was a glitch! Somehow the computer reverted to the non promotional price. Spoke to a wonderful woman in customer service named Stacey. She was able to get me an even lower fare! Wonderful customer service, and I can't wait until our January cruise! 
Thank you to all of you for your help! 
I will have to come back to this forum since you are all so nice!