HeWhoWaits

When we started cruising, I would have described the MDR meals as bordering on fine dining. Now, I liken them to somewhere between "not quite as good as I would make at home" and "I believe I could get pretty close to that if I had ready access to the ingredients" depending on the dish.

I would be more comfortable in shorts, but still put on slacks for dinner in the Main Dining Room.

Now as for the main dining HALL - that's Windjammer, so shorts it is!

3 hours ago, CanHardlyWait said:

Actually the scan I was having yesterday morning while having this Haiti debate ended in me being told I have a lump on my left lung. So I guess I'm not totally OK? Still processing.

Still keeping my focus on my May 4th Icon trip. And enjoy (most) of my time here. It fills my mind and time. 

Wow! More than I'm sure you were asking for. LOL. Kinda so full I think I just verbally tossed my cookies folks. Sorry. 

 

Our differences of opinion on here aside, wishing you all the best medically. 

While many of us on the boards don't agree on many fronts, we're still a community,

On 3/6/2024 at 1:51 PM, CanHardlyWait said:

NO. I NEVER SAID 6 HOURS AWAY!

NEVER EVER MISS QUOTE ME!

I concur that you didn't say six hours away. You said "nearby." The reality is that the violence is closer to six hours away than to "nearby" by almost any frame of reference.

And the murders in Miami (my reference) are MUCH closer in both distance and time to get to the port than Port au Prince is to Labadee.

24 minutes ago, CanHardlyWait said:

Ultimately that's more responsibility than I want on a vacation. And I just can't party when I know people are being randomly killed in the streets miles away.

Then you probably shouldn't board a ship in Miami.

22 hours ago, Bmac said:

We're sailing on Apex in May for a transatlantic sailing, we upgraded to the premium package hopefully that isn't a bait and switch package also.

We had the premium package last month on Reflection. There were a few drinks that weren't fully covered by the $17 limit, but those were the fancy drinks at World Class Bar and premium wines by the glass.

1 hour ago, PPPJJ-GCVAB said:

Ok…I just had to ask…just how accommodating are they when you decide to order someone completely different?   

So sorry…your reply just hit my funny bone!  

More importantly, how does your significant other respond?

1 hour ago, Ampurp85 said:

I am a doing a B2B2B on freedom in May, it's a 4/3/4-night cruise for a total of 11days. I have some fears. I don't get off at PDCC or Nassau, the ports that will be visited. So none of those matters, I am worried about the food and pax though.  I did a B2B on Navigator a few years ago that was a 5 and 3 night.......it was an experience. 

My wife did a 3-4-3 B2B2B on Freedom last June (with different family member co-cruisers each leg). She didn't report any difference in the fellow passenger experience for the pair of 3 night weekends vs. the 4 night weekday. The food was repetitive, but since she doesn't venture far from her standard comfort zone that wasn't an issue. 

8 minutes ago, PPPJJ-GCVAB said:

This looks delicious and right up my alley!  Where should I try to find this when on Symphony of the Seas?

With the possible exception of the specific rum, every bar on every ship should be able to make this drink.

Unless the OBC is more than the cost of one of whatever package you're looking to purchase, it doesn't matter which person it is "assigned" to. The OBC for both people can be applied against the purchase for one person on the reservation.

We have documents authorizing us to obtain medical care for our grandchildren, regardless of travel situations.

For traveling outside of your country of residence, it is always advisable to have specific permission for the trip in question. The Royal Caribbean form is a good example, but not the only version that will be accepted.

21 minutes ago, JFCruise said:

I find it funny that people think 8pm is an unreasonable time for dinner, but for me, 8:00 is the absolute earliest I find "ok" to have dinner. Not when the sun is still up.

So you would will enjoy spending time in Spain.

2 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

Not really a lower price as shorter cruise cost more per night than a longer cruise. 

More per night, yes. But the overall cost is lower and most people don't look at the per unit price when shopping, just the total.

That middle time will be filled up in nothing flat when booking opens by those who opt for fixed dining and like to eat at a reasonable time (that would be us - 5:00 is way too early and 8:00 is way too late).

1 hour ago, fishernrex said:

Most likely English isn't their first language and they may well have not fully understood your request in writing (vs. verbally). 

Reminds me of a trip years ago (before cruising became the go-to) at an all-inclusive resort in Cozumel. My sister-in-law kept asking the housekeeper for "extra" towels and the housekeeper dutifully replaced the towels (no doubt confused as to why this crazy American wanted the towels changed when those towels were perfectly clean). A quick conversation between me and the housekeeper en español eliminated the confusion and got her the additional towels.

You seem to have a handle on the matter. Sounds like you'll want to avoid this travel agent in the future. You don't need such stress interfering with your cruise vacation.

2 hours ago, CanHardlyWait said:

Shareholders should vote to take less profit and increase wages to first world minimum wages. This would be a step in the right direction. You are first world passengers. The laundry workers should be paid a minimum like any first world worker who takes care of you. Those making a profit off these hard working people's backs should make the first move. Anyone?

Welcome to the advent of interior staterooms for $500 per person per night, if you got your way.

3 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

people cleaning the stairs and bathrooms.

I've passed along cash to these folks on more than a few occasions, especially when I see the same crew member repeatedly. Best reaction I ever got was when I handed the guy washing the pool deck at 5:00 a.m. a $5 bill.

Imagine tendering to embark and disembark! Early check-in no longer preferred. It's a MUST.

9 hours ago, asquared17 said:

i often wonder what i should be bringing to the crown lounge concierge instead of trying to time my visits to guest services at off-peak times. i usually forget about seeing them entirely.

Other than changing some bigger bills to ones for on-the-fly tipping purposes, we default to asking the concierge first. If the concierce CAN'T help, they can usually get you a faster response than waiting in line at Guest Services.

3 hours ago, twangster said:

For future reference always request copies of the Royal Caribbean booking invoice for all cruises and if any updates are made, changing cabins, price adjustments, etc., request a new copy of the booking invoice.

Even if the only change is opting to pre-pay gratuities if it wasn't included at the time of booking.

14 minutes ago, Last2Know said:

Based on current events, I'd be more likely to spend time off the ship if there was shopping and other amenities like Wi-Fi within the secure area at Nassau. I like the Cozumel model.  I know I pay a bit more in Cozumel when shopping at the vendors at the port area but the cost savings out in town is negated by the cost of a taxi. 

That's what was so nice about docking downtown on our recent Celebrity cruise. Access to the local vendors just outside the pier area.

13 hours ago, p27159 said:

I’m wondering if the fact that I have been a “problem child” for them with my complaint, will they decide to screw us over and assign ours last, and put us in the least desirable locations?

The staterooms will be assigned by the system, not by any potentially vindictive individuals. You will get what's available when the assignment is made. No experiential basis for this assumption, but it seems likely that the earliest guarantee bookings at the highest room type are assigned first and it cascades down through the final guarantee booking at that level, followed by progressively lower categories/later bookings.

All this talk about something between D+ and Pin got me thinking.

Maybe what's needed is a level ABOVE Pinnacle. Call it the Super Mario.

33 minutes ago, RCIfan1912 said:

A screen shot works? They accept that and scan that? Maybe dumb questions.

Seems likely. That's how my wife handles her boarding passes for the airlines. Still wants that paper in hand for SetSail pass (maybe because it's easier to hand that to the bartenders than to show them a phone prior to having the physical SeaPass).