Shari

I have sailed on Radiance and Brilliance. Radiance still has the staircase in the centrum area while Brilliance does not. Also, Brilliance has closed off the area by the pool tables for offices while Radiance still has seating in that area. I prefer Radiance over Brilliance because it has not been "updated" to include more cabins so it feels more open.

Another tip is to stop by a bar and use any remaining vouchers for that day to get bottled water as you head up to your cabin for the night.

I came across this earlier today. TikTok star gives a look inside life on Royal Caribbean's extravagant 9-month cruise: 'Crazy' (foxbusiness.com)

We have done Alaska 3 times it is our favorite place to cruise. Once on a Quantum class and 2 on Radiance. Radiance and Serenade allow all ages to swim in the Solarium at specified times. We are older so we preferred Radiance over the Quantum class. However, with children, either is great. You may want to do the Serenade or Quantum itinerary due to flight costs, roundtrip cheaper than multi-city.

Yes it is normal. However in this instance we requested a certain area and showed up just before our 6:45pm reservation time (the first time available for MTD) and said we could wait until it was available. Also the head of that area had put a notation in our reservation for where to seat us.

That was just night 1. On the last night we were escorted to the section that we had been dining in all week and there were no tables open, they were still all occupied with the early seating diners. We were taken back to the host station and we said that we would wait patiently until our usual waiter's section had an opening. A few minutes later they took us back to another waiter's section and we said no we wanted our usual waiter (we had a tip envelope for her) so they took us back to the host station. Finally, they took us to the section that we had requested. As we were sitting there we saw at least 3 other tables of people seated in sections that were different from where they had been sitting all week and their waiters MOVED them to their sections. So no it was not just a table we didn't like it was many people having issues especially on the last night.

That is exactly what I meant. It happens way too often. Most women will not speak up. I am not one of them and neither is my friend. There were plenty of tables available and we were moved very quickly. In fact where we were moved to we could see open table that were already set by the windows and they only seated couples (men/women couples) when they did seat someone there.

We had Denzil and he is absolutely great.

I am officially spoiled now. Our experience in an Owner's Suite on Navigator of the Seas was fantastic. The only issue was the main dining and the kitchen (more on that later). This was my first experience in a suite that included the suite lounge and concierge. My friend and I took full advantage. We are both Diamond so we used our drink vouchers outside of the Suite Lounge Happy Hours. We utilized the Suite Concierge a couple of time and he was fantastic. He was able to find out if the spa had any port day specials in advance of that port day so I had my first massage on this cruise and would recommend it to anyone. The spa even gave us an extra $10 off of the special rate. The Suite was so awesome and spacious (too bad this was only a 7 night cruise). Since we were 2 friends I took the sofa that made into a bed and it was very comfortable (for only 1 person as I would not recommend for 2 people due to the raised area in the middle). Now for the only down side to the cruise. The host staff (specifically those at the computers) was awful. We had My Time Dining and the first night they tried to sit us at a completely awful table (2 women together and I know this to be true because there were 2 women at that table when we left). The next table was barely better but was not so out in the open that we accepted it. The prime rib was so tough it was inedible (others around us complained too). Our waiter noticed that we were not happy so he quietly informed his boss (the person in charge of that area, Jude). Jude came over and asked us what was wrong. We told him, he said to let the people up front that we were to be seated in his area the rest of the cruise and he took care of us. The next morning we ordered Main Dining room service and it was a disaster. My friend ordered an omelet with ham, cheese, and mushrooms with toast and the 2 sides being sauteed mushrooms and cheesy grits. She got delivered a Smoked SALMON and mozzarella omelet with warm bread (no toasting) and no sides. The server came up 2 more times and the order was never totally correct (the cheesy grits he brought were shredded cheddar cheese and no grits). That evening in the main dining Jude asked us about our day and we told him what happened at breakfast. He went and got the head of room service, that person took our order for the next morning and personally brought it up. We had no more room service issues and we did order dinner one night (with the help of Jude again). Jude even sent us a dozen chocolate covered strawberries for our issues. We took care of Jude at the end of the cruise, he truly was awesome and made up for the first night dining and morning breakfast. All in all I would definitely sail in a suite again and hope I get another chance. Thank you to everyone who answered my questions when I won the Royal Up.

I always start my cruise search with a spreadsheet. We then choose which cruise and balcony or jr suite fits our budget for that itinerary. After that I look for the deals on lunch or dinner at a specialty restaurant, shore excursions, etc. When we decide on something it goes into the spreadsheet with the cost. I always keep track of the spending on everything. Being Diamond means no drink package or wifi (we are retired with grown children so no need for extra). Once on board then the cruise purchases are minimal.

The charges have shown up again. Whew.

I cancelled and rebooked on the first day of the sale and mine repurchase is not on my credit card but everything still shows in my Calendar and for the new times. I will just wait and see a few more days. My cruise is in less than 2 weeks.

Jewel of the Seas was "upgraded" in 2016 and the pub was changed to The Pit Stop bar. Kind of a precursor to Playmakers. "In 2016, the ship went into dry dock for a nip and tuck that gave it two new specialty restaurants, a new wine bar, an outdoor movie screen and also gave its staterooms some TLC. The makeover didn't change the ship beyond all recognition, however. Its look is still quite classical. With the exception of the revolving bar in the Vortex nightclub and the racing theme of The Pit Stop bar, the ship doesn't really go in for gimmicks. Instead, it drops nautical hints throughout, with lots of dark wood, blue-hued fabrics and brass."

We had a cruise that ended in Amsterdam a few years ago. We scheduled an 11:45 flight out of Amsterdam. We carried our luggage off and had a private driver waiting for us at the port to take us to the airport. We were flying business class so had the shortest lines. However, we barely made it and are sure that others on the cruise did not. Why, because the customs in Amsterdam delayed arriving and clearing the ship for over 1 1/2 hours. 10:45 is way too early

We hit Diamond + on our back to back next September. It may not be worth it by the time we get there.

The more they mess with Diamond and up benefits makes me think they are really trying to push the older crowd to Celebrity. That way they can book more lower level families on Royal for maximum dollars.

You can call and get the lower price since final payment isn't until February.

27 November 2023 on Navigator of the Seas!

Navigator of the Seas - 27 November 2023

I have a question. Does the concierge contact you before the cruise? I know some suites have that and was wondering if this one does.

We got an Owner's Suite on our 27 November Navigator of the seas cruise for the minimum bid of 190 each. Upgraded from a Jr Suite. Never been in anything above Jr Suite so this will be fun!

Update. We received or crystal block today. It was less than 3 weeks. Instead of the 4-6 weeks.

I have been mock booking daily to check on upcoming cruises and it has changed every day back and forth. I am wondering why.

We use Allianz. Reputable and not too expensive. Annual with them is cheaper than one cruise with Royal. Also Allianz is what we always booked through the airlines when we did just one flight.

We have been on cruises where ports were missed due to hurricanes, where one of the azipods failed as ship was trying to outrun a storm, and various other stormy issues. So my only gripe is that they kick me off at the end of the cruise when I am not ready to leave.