Larry Muster

The benefit may have been relaxed but it’s still pretty useless.  Tried to claim it for three upcoming cruises.  Zero for three.  

Make use of that EU plug in the room with this...

Syncwire 34W 4-Port USB Wall Charger, Multi-Port [Foldable US Plug] Travel Power Adapter with Interchangeable UK/EU Plug for Apple iPhone, iPad, Samsung, Android Phones, Tablets & More https://www.amazon.com/dp/B011KPRE1G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_oxriEb27XPWD5

@Quilter620 I was on STTC-I on Norwegian.  In general I noticed very little difference between that chartered cruise and a normal cruise. Some of the small differences were:

1) An extra layer of ‘customer service’ in the form of ECP.  

2) ECP staff essentially replaced the cruise director staff.

3) Lack of traditional “cruise” activities, which were replaced by celebrity hosted activities.

The gym was a ghost town and I never saw more than 5 people in it at once.  The MDR was also a ghost town - it was a buffet crowd.

I am also on STTC-IV so looking forward to seeing you.

 I was on Allure recently. I can say for sure that the arcade was not so so, it was terrible! I’m not a complainer and this is probably the first negative thing I’ve said about a Royal experience but the arcade really was terrible. I think they were fewer than 10 games, a couple of them were price games, a couple were games for very young kids, and then there was driving game or two.

 I remember the arcade being so small, that I assumed it was just an add-on to a larger arcade so I went looking for it. Turns out the closet that I was in was the actual arcade. 

 If I remember correctly the arcade credit is something like 50 bucks. I don’t remember how much each game cost but what was available was not enough to hold my attention to even spend five bucks. 

On 7/3/2019 at 6:54 AM, J_Keeble said:

Explorer of the Seas 2020 -  It appears her final voyage before dry dock is a Southern Caribbean that leaves 21st February 2020, dry dock seems to be 1st March till 7th may for her European season.

It’s not a material difference but the Explorer dry dock is likely one week later than listed.  She’s on a chartered cruise for seven nights starting March 1, 2020.  

Has anyone below Diamond gotten the confirmation they will honor it?  We have friends who are emerald and they have not yet gotten it.

 We were able to stack the package for three out of four of our 2020 cruise‘s. However we had issues trying to add it to the last one so we called.   Royal Caribbean said that it was indeed a glitch and that when they get it all figured out the website will show a balance due between what we paid and what the fair value of the passage.

Agreed on this.  As a shareholder this is a big miss.  I can get more swag with a cheap logo of the local gas station than I can RCCL?

10 hours ago, Clear Laker said:

Just think, some people share the shower.

I splurged and got the shower package so I don’t have to share.  

2 hours ago, karl_nj said:

And it's tax free, since it's a rebate and not a dividend  

Even better!  

On 6/10/2019 at 3:54 PM, Clear Laker said:

At 123.55 per share, 100 shares min.  You are not going to buy RCL stock for the $100 discount for a 7 night cruise.  But now it is at least a benefit that has some value vs. being non combinable in the past. 

I wouldn’t dismiss it so quickly.  Most of us seem to be pretty positive about RCCL so we in general like the direction they are heading, and probably assume   the stock will go up.  

If you put in the $12K and say you cruise 5x per year and get $500 OBC that’s a 4% return regardless of where the stock goes.

I’m only in the 3x per year club but I’m going to buy enough to get me to the 100 share mark.

If you are going to buy an adapter go with something like this.  For me it turns a useless plug into four USB ports.

Multiple USB Wall Charger, [22W/4.4A] LENCENT 4 Port USB Travel Adapter, All in One USB Charger Plug with UK/USA/EU/AUS Worldwide International Travel Phone Charger for iPhone, IPad & More - White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077VFGNYZ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_5kM.CbTFB8W4K

My Perfect Day will be the day after Thanksgiving this year.  We have decided to splurge on a cabana and are thinking Chill Island.  Unfortunately the cruise planner indicates booking is unavailable and indicates I should check onboard.

is there any way to secure a cabana ahead of time?  This is a YOLO Cruise for us and I really want to lock in the cabana ahead of time.

 To clarify, I understand you are waiting for RCCL to refund cruise planner purchases, but isn’t it the insurance company you are waiting on for the rest?

6 hours ago, marti314 said:

Only if you call in and specifically tie your spouse to your status.  If you just show up on the ship and expect your spouses seapass to reflect your status you will have a challenging time if they are checking seapass cards at the diamond lounge.

I’m too afraid of commitment to tie my spouse to my C&A status.

 In the same boat no pun intended. Two away from diamond. I will earn diamond on grandeur in July but will not reap the benefits until symphony in November.

On 5/8/2018 at 1:28 PM, twangster said:

Speaking of which...  here is the RavPower travel router I am trying on this cruise pictured beside an iPhone for scale.  I first mentioned this in the first post.

It has come in very handy.  The latest update to 11.3.1 on iPhone continues to have wifi issues.  When I'm on 'royal-wifi' my phones don't roam around the ship very well without disconnecting from the the wifi.  I first noted this on Serenade when I upgraded to 11.3 during the cruise.  After the upgrade I experienced more wifi issues.  I blame Apple for this, not Royal. 

With the above travel router and it's internal battery I can slip it into my pocket and wander around the ship.  My phones stay connected to it and I don't have to re-connect every time I wake up my phone. 

I've placed several wifi phone calls through it and I've scoped through it.  It seems to work well.

I’ve got the same device and love it.  I use it constantly but I have one issue that I’m wondering if you know the fix @twangster.  How do I forget a network without resetting the device to factory settings?  I had it connected to the hotel Wi-Fi but it remembered a previous connection to my hotspot and switched there chewing up all my data.  I can’t seem to find a forget network function.  I know there are obvious workarounds like changing the hotspot password but would like to try to find a primary fix.

9 hours ago, hoofbeats95 said:

I priced enterprise with the same drop off as well as my current situation before I booked the flights. The difference was not significant. I didn't see anything regarding paying per mile? 

 In my experience the mile surcharge only comes into play when you pick up at one location and return at another. 

The challenge with your scenario, although you may already know this, there is an additional fee plus mileage with a one-way rental.  Normally you get a rate if X per day when you pickup and drop off at the same location.  With one way there is a fee plus mileage at the major carriers like Avis and Enterprise.

I feel you on this one.  We have a similiar story with one of our children.  The KEY is to engage in the teen center early.  Get him involved in the early meet and mingle thing and the magic of RCCL will do the rest.  Meeting people early and doing the first mingles is critical.  Make watever deal/bargain with him that you need to in order to get him there.  

I saw a warden from North Woods Law (Maine) named Michael Joy on Serenade last October.

Grandeur July 6 2019

Explorer March 1, 2020

Harmony August 2, 2020

My cousin was on the Carnival ship at the time.  All he got for his inconvenience was a certificate for  two free drinks.

7 hours ago, JLMoran said:

Are these things sort of a floating mini-con? Do a lot of the passengers cosplay while on board? (or on excursions!)

More people dress up than do not.  I am a casual fan and have a T-shirt or two with a StarTrek theme but that’s it.  I felt a tiny bit out of place dressed as a civilian human.  

3 hours ago, ScooterScott22 said:

Insert obvious “science fiction loner in the basement” comment here.

Funny AND true.  When I booked the first cruise I called within 24 hours of the announcement and all the solo rooms were taken.  The agent actually said they all sold out within the first few hours.

I do cruise solo a couple of times per year.  For the people watching alone I will go promenade double points or not.