Cez

I have a problem with that approach. If you stay in hotel and tipping housekeeper do you also tip laundry person or cleaners?
Even in North America insane tipping culture, tips are for people who interact with you directly and provide you with expected or elevated level of service. 
Royal approach is changing tipping into subsidizing salaries for people I never interact with. 

Interesting fact finding from ChatGPT
https://chatgpt.com/share/67216364-2540-8006-be34-05aace39973d

Interesting fact finding from ChatGPT
https://chatgpt.com/share/67216364-2540-8006-be34-05aace39973d

No one is talking about withholding tips. Just wondering if removing automatic gratuities and replacing them with the same amount of cash tips is more beneficial for those hard working individuals 

Interesting fact finding from ChatGPT
https://chatgpt.com/share/67216364-2540-8006-be34-05aace39973d

I found somewhat disturbing post on Reddit. I thought that prepaid gratuities are increasing employee net income. OP suggested that prepaid gratuities decreasing RCI salary obligations and are part of guaranteed salary, therefore they are directly benefiting RCI, not employees
Is that correct?
 

I found somewhat disturbing post on Reddit. I thought that prepaid gratuities are increasing employee net income. OP suggested that prepaid gratuities decreasing RCI salary obligations and are part of guaranteed salary, therefore they are directly benefiting RCI, not employees
Is that correct?
 

I found somewhat disturbing post on Reddit. I thought that prepaid gratuities are increasing employee net income. OP suggested that prepaid gratuities decreasing RCI salary obligations and are part of guaranteed salary, therefore they are directly benefiting RCI, not employees
Is that correct?
 

With kids that age an Oasis class is a no brainer. For me and just the wife, we would do Freedom.

Take it and watch for price drop, especially during Black Friday period. We've been there few days ago for 19.99.
Seems like lower end Beach Club but without fancy lunch, children and taste of exclusivity. IMHO only for heated pool is well worth the money under $50 (I hate cold water).

Take it and watch for price drop, especially during Black Friday period. We've been there few days ago for 19.99.
Seems like lower end Beach Club but without fancy lunch, children and taste of exclusivity. IMHO only for heated pool is well worth the money under $50 (I hate cold water).

Absolutely in my opinion.  We got in for $22.99 per person a few weeks ago as the price dropped last minute before our cruise.  We really enjoyed the heated pool and spent most of our time in there.  It was our first time to experience Hideaway Beach since it opened.  My wife and I both agreed that anything $50 or less per person is a no brainer for Hideaway Beach for our future trips.

Carnival has reportedly made plans to bring their current sailing into Norfolk.  I’ve not heard about the Baltimore cruise that left this past Saturday-I believe they are a 12 day sailing so they have some time to figure it out. 

I don't think that matters.  The casino only has a certain amount of cabin inventory available to them.  So the ship can be almost empty but if the casino inventory has already been taken then you won't be able to book it on a casino comp. 
i.e. booking a room on an non-comp fare in hopes to "save" a cabin for yourself to book a casino comp later won't work, it's 2 different buckets of inventory.

I don’t think you can switch a current booking to a new Prime Casino booking…but you can apply the value of the certificate to the current booking.
That’s what I usually do. I think the certificate is for a free 7 night Caribbean cruise for two. There are no 7 night Caribbean cruises from Bayonne. I’m pretty sure they don’t consider the Bahamas as ‘Caribbean’ even though it’s sometimes referred to as such. The Bahamas are in the Atlantic.
The best bang for the buck would be to use it for the 7 night Caribbean. It usually covers everything except port fees and taxes. But, I’m not flying to Florida for that. I’ll just take the value.
 

I’ve read it happens I’ve never tried.  Hopefully whatever you book is not during the excluded sailings list they will supply when the annual tier offer comes out.  

I try and tip the assistant waiter and waiter the same, both work hard, I go to the bank and get about 20 two dollar bills to tip the bar staff,  we tip most staff, the one I don't get aggressive tipping is the head waiter who walks around and ask how the food and service is, we tip him, but I give the two that serve our table more, but to each their own, the staff works hard.

I would like to confirm that I called Royal to make sure that it would work and they told me to go ahead.
Therefore I canceled and successfully rebooked using this promotion . It works !

I would like to confirm that I called Royal to make sure that it would work and they told me to go ahead.
Therefore I canceled and successfully rebooked using this promotion . It works !

I would like to confirm that I called Royal to make sure that it would work and they told me to go ahead.
Therefore I canceled and successfully rebooked using this promotion . It works !

I would like to confirm that I called Royal to make sure that it would work and they told me to go ahead.
Therefore I canceled and successfully rebooked using this promotion . It works !

This has been my experience on the 2 cruises I've taken.   I was never asked by any staff about filling out the survey.  I've been fortunate to have excellent service and tipped our wait staff and cabin attendant extra $ and made sure to mention them by name in the surveys (I take their picture, paying special attention that their name tag is readable).

Yes, and double points if solo!, 3 pts if solo in a junior 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?

@Adriana you have a very high tolerance meter that I'm sure I don't have. You definitely set the bar high for the grace under pressure. Hats off to you. With all that had gone on the Diamond Manager would have been the straw that broke the camels back for me. He would have taken a full brunt of righteous anger; controlled but angry. I can't even imagine how much you have spent to become a Diamond... 😠