twangster

25 minutes ago, WannaCruise said:

Great video and example above as well.

One thing from the video I didn't realize....you can purchase it on say, day 4?  I assume you just pay for the # of days you'll be using it and not charged as if you purchased it on day 1?  If so, this is a nice alternative if you want to just try it on the last day (if even an option)

Yes it is prorated but the last day of DX sales varies by ship (and cruise length).  If I'm toying with this approach I make a point of asking on day one when the last day for DX sales will be.  

For a 7 night cruise the last day might be day 3 on one ship and day 4 on another.  Ask early.  

Voyager announced to be $97m.  Discussed in this thread:

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php?/topic/13592-voyager-amplification/

Explorer, Adventure, Freedom and Liberty yet to be announced.  With the exception of Freedom, the rest of these ships already have received various levels of AMPing before that was a thing.    

Explorer has already quietly received some refreshments like the new deck 12 forward cabins including Panoramic suites.  The interior cabin I had in 2018 had been "touched" such as new carpet, new seat back/bottom, new sofa - the type of cabin update that Navigator received during her AMP.  The Tavern area had new large screen displays installed and the overall area refreshed.    Mariner and Navigator had received none of that so large sums of their AMP went into things that Explorer has already received. That should make Explorer's AMP less costly.  

Liberty too had the new deck 12 cabins added a few years ago while Freedom has not.  Liberty had the other new cabins squeezed into areas around the ship already, I stayed in one last year (before AMP was a project).  Indy got these added during her AMP driving up her AMP cost.  Liberty has water slides already.  Liberty has a suite lounge already, Freedom does not.  That should make Liberty's AMP much less costly.  Liberty's AMP will largely be deck 4/5 changes with possibly some pool deck or solarium updates.  Prior to Indy's AMP Liberty was my favorite Freedom class ship because of the updates she already received.  

Adventure started the ball rolling getting AMP like updates before they officially called it that.  New Izumi in the Promenade, water slides, minor cabin updates, a suite lounge.  Her AMP should be less costly because she was already 90% AMPED months before they announced the whole amplification program.

With the exception of Freedom, the rest of the fleet amplification should be less costly.

4 hours ago, HeWhoWaits said:

But a West Coast cruise could visit all of these cities, as long as Vancouver or Victoria (or something in Mexico) was included for the foreign port requirement. Alternative itinerary for ships currently visiting Alaska.

It's more than just can they do it. The first problem is the route mentioned is it.  That's it, that's all.  No where else to go, no diversity.  This drives the second problem.  People would go once but that's it.  It's not desirable like Alaska is.  Who would repeat the cruise again and again?  Some might, if the fares are cheap.  Once the initial rush of folks is over, the consumer market shrinks very quickly.  The third problem is that Carnival brands saturate this market now often using old and small ships at bargain rates.  

The simple truth is that Royal could come and add yet another line doing the same routes.  They can make more money with their ships in other areas.  Why give up revenue from more profitable routes just to say "we also do the West coast now".  Saying to investors "the good news is we are doing the West coast.  The bad news is we are doing the West coast and reducing dividends".

In the end you know your kids best. 

No one here can properly advise on this simply because we are different and our kids are different.

In my case I would have a honest conversation with mine.  "The cruise line doesn't allow athletic shorts in the dining room.  How do you want to handle that?"

That approach may not work in your family but I'd be surprised if this was the first time in their lives you have had to negotiate around something.  Follow your gut, you know your kids better than anyone here does.

This varies by ship and cabin location. Balcony cabins with the curtains left open will heat up with sun shining into them.  

I've had interior cabins that became very cold.  So cold I woke up in the middle of the night and had to turn up the thermostat.  I've also had rooms where I left the thermostat at the coldest position and it remained there the whole time.  Most of the time I find a daytime position and a slightly colder nighttime position since I like a cooler (but not freezing) room at night.

On some ships cabins are serviced in groups.  If one cabin leaves their balcony open it can reduce cooling for that group of cabins.  

Welcome to the message bards!

Arriving the day of the cruise is risky any time of year.  I missed a cruise in April when unexpected thunderstorms caused an issue.  I cruise often, many have gone perfectly.  What could go wrong?  Doh!  I missed the ship.  If you can make an arrival the day before work the cost of a hotel is well worth it.

Late October is the tail of hurricane season but stuff can happen.  I'd suggest you look into travel insurance just in case.

Having said that, the vast majority of all cruises, all year go on time and as scheduled.  

I've cruised in October many times before and enjoyed them all, hurricane free although one time a hurricane nearly impacted a cruise. Instead it hit Freeport.   Like they say with stocks, past performance is not a guarantee of future results.  

I also find the Labadee buffet okay but not great.  I often make my way back to the ship and eat in the Windjammer.  Few lines.  

6 minutes ago, Pen said:

Can you specialty dine lunch on sail away day with the Unlimited Dining Package?  I know you get lunch in a specialty restaurant on sea days...but didn't know it included day1.

This varies by ship.  Some take the position that lunch is included on sea days and day one is not a sea day. Some ships have allowed it as reported by users on these boards.  

30 minutes ago, Joe01 said:

You've missed the point - port days limit the activities which are available. 

Why is that?  Because most people aren't there for the ship as the destination.  Most guests disembark.

If large numbers stayed on the ship the CD's would adapt, offer more entertainment and open more activities.  

You've actually proven my point quite nicely.  Most people do not book a cruise for the ship, they book primarily for the ports of call while considering the ship and factoring it into the bigger picture.

4 hours ago, FManke said:

This makes sense as that is a lot of money to commit for just drinks. You could never drink enough over time to get close to break even as most people try to do.  I would think the novelty of unlimited drinks would start to wear on you the longer the cruise. I don't drink anymore, but I still would have had a tough time back in the day. I'll stick to my refreshment package and I'll definitely be getting my moneys worth!

Drink fatigue is real and usually kicks in on day 5 or 6 for me.

Granted not everyone is the same and some people will continue to consume beyond the daily DX rate right to the end. 

11 minutes ago, Joe01 said:

People don't usually do Europe on Oasis Class for the ports as the bulk of the guests are European and can fly to many of those cities for fairly cheap (less than £350 to fly from where I live to spend a weekend in any of the cities on this itinerary). They are usually there for the ship. As you say, people don't mind small ships for the ports. If you are an American trying to do Europe, there are so many better itineraries than this 7 nighter.

I would also disagree with your assessment that the ports are wonderful. Whilst the Italy ports offer plenty, I really can't see why they would keep Marseilles on the itinerary when the city offers very little (nearby Cannes and Villefranche are far better, obviously can't be reached due to tendering not being feasible for OA class). There isn't anything in the port area in either Palma and Marseilles, so you pretty much have to take their transfer bus which isn't free. I was displeased with this on Allure in 2015, and it was still the same on Symphony in 2018.

I respect that you have a counter opinion to my own but no one is forcing people off the ship on any itinerary.  If people want to sail for the ship as the destination all the better in the Med.  5,000 of your fellow passengers have disembarked leaving you with an empty ship to enjoy.  That's better than a sea day.  

The geography does present some challenges in some Med. ports.  The areas of interest are not always in close proximity to the port.    Perfect opportunity to stay on the ship.  Yet many people do book these cruises and many guests do disembark at these ports.  Many guests still have a wonderful experience despite the bus ride.  

Just now, FManke said:

Has anybody noticed a correlation between drink package prices and the number of sea days per cruise? Or is it simple based on supply and demand?

Mostly supply and demand.  Not so much the number of ports days but cruise length is the most common factor that influences DX price in my observation.  A 4 night cruise is usually less than a 3 night cruise.  A 7 night less than a 4 night.  For the Symphony TA last year they dropped the rate to $39 at one point.  At 12 nights few people wanted to commit over $1,400 for a couple to buy DX so they cut the price (low demand). A 3 night cruise over the weekend?  High demand, higher prices.  

Certain ships often have lower DX rates.  Grandeur for example.  I suspect this is largely due to the nature of Grandeur cruisers that lowers demand.

In the end it all comes back to supply and demand. 

In general Royal has a lot of data to mull over.  They know from historical data how itinerary, ship and time of year will influence DX sales.  

The Med is always port intensive largely due to the ability to reach so many wonderful destinations in a 7 night duration.  This is why many people don't mind Greek cruises on smaller and older ships.  The port intensive itinerary - they are there for the ports of call.  If Royal removed ports just for Oasis class in the Med, people would call them out for that.

The addition of CocoCay as an Oasis capable port has impacted Oasis class in a similar manner compared to the Med.  Another port is now within reach where it wasn't Oasis capable in the past.  The proximity of CocoCay to Florida allows them to include it often.

Some people think cruise lines are trying to keep guests captive on their ships, it's refreshing to see that you feel the opposite is true - they are providing more opportunities to visit destinations off the ship.

Even in the past a 7 night cruise wasn't enough time to experience Oasis class and all it has to offer.  Another cruise has always been required to experience more.  That truth remains valid today.  

13 minutes ago, FManke said:

I'm not sure what the % of cruise passengers are actually on a drink package per cruise

It's actually lower than most people realize.  Also people factor in port intensity into the DX equation.  The first advise often offered - don't buy DX on port intensive cruises.   If anything adding more ports to an itinerary reduces DX sales.  Few people buy the DX on Med cruises for this exact reason - drink in port and enjoy wonderful local beverages.

I think this is great but again I really wish they would publish and standardize all perks across the fleet.  Otherwise guests end up with incorrect expectations when booking ship to ship.  

Nice!

3 minutes ago, sk8erguy1978 said:

I like the idea of a few drink coupons for Diamond members, I'd still buy a drink package honestly, but it's nicer than rushing to the lounge just for a "free" drink. I like the discount of the drink package idea even more; only I'd suggest adding 5% to your suggestion for Diamond because 30% off is a popular sale that many wait for, as a Diamond member I'd rather know I got it a little less. Assuming $70 base price 35% is $45.50 vs $49, I'll take it! 

*Side note: How does Royal calculate the buy one get one 1/2 off? My algebra say 20% ($56 a day) & 30%($49 a day)  point to a $70 dollar base but 25% of $70 isn't $52 it's actually $52.50.

Currently D+ gets 30% off which means I don't have to play the game seeking drink package sales and watching it every day.  I can just board and get what is typically the cheapest you'll ever see in the cruise planner.  Most cruise planner sales are 25% at best.  Once in a while you can do better than 25%.  The idea is to extend what they offer today to D+ to D, then bump D+ and P up to appease them.  

There is no base drink package price.  You can't use $70 as the base price for all cruises.  Many are in the low 60's on board.  It varies by cruise length and sail date.   That's the heart of the issue, you don't really know what the basis of their discount are until you get on board and then it's too late to buy it in the cruise planner.

5 minutes ago, bramms24 said:

honestly no idea. wife generally just tells me when to have bags packed lol. i know it’s out of orlando and goes to PR, bahamas and st martin i think 

Sounds like Harmony.  If so, Harmony has a hidden unpublished feature.  iMessage works for free, but only to other Apple users.  They can be on land or on the ship.  Just connect to the ship's wifi and iMessage should work.  

I thought I saw another user report a suite lunch on day one on another ship.

Perhaps a new sweet benny.  

Just now, FManke said:

Huh? My head hurts just reading this. I'm old!

Dad?  Is that you?

1 hour ago, FManke said:

With all the new additions and changes that come along with amplification, what is the one structural or design change you wish they would do?

Converting the Solarium to match Symphony's Solarium including the Bistro restaurant layout. 

Love this itinerary and the train ride.  Enjoy!

6 minutes ago, bramms24 said:

awesome. so as long as we both have iphones should be a problem?

Yes, if everyone has iPhones you don't even need wifi calling, iMessage will work over Surf.

Which ship are you sailing?

The ship wifi is available for anyone to connect to without buying a Voom plan.  You won't be able to reach the internet, but you can use the app and you can visit royalcarribean.com for free.

At home many people associate WiFi to equal The Internet.  Technically that isn't the case.  WiFi is how you connect to the ship's network.  A paid Voom plan then enables you to reach the internet over the ship's WiFi network.  Without a paid Voom plan you can still connect to the ship's WiFi and use the app.

Yes, as long as your cell phone and provider support wifi calling.  

True SMS text messaging is a cellular function.  Wifi calling emulates a cell tower over the internet.  That is how SMS text messaging can work when wifi calling is enabled and connected.

iMessage, Whatapp and FB messenger are applications that allow chat over the internet.  iMessage can fall back to SMS text messaging when the other party isn't using an Apple device if there is a cellular connection including wifi calling.

Surf supports wifi calling and chat applications.  Sending pictures by text over Surf will take longer compared to sending them using Surf and Stream. 

I came at this from a different angle.  I purchased a 15' power cord.  It's not an extension cord, it's a power cord.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0153T1JG6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

My device can't function without a power cord.  So far no problems.