HeWhoWaits

YMMV We booked a cruise departing July 4 (7 weeks out) last night and the C&A discount brought the price of a JS down from double the price for a Superior Ocean View Balcony to about one-and-one-half the price (factoring in the reduced price for the SOV Balcony).

The one time we had a "repeat offender" it was stopped with a simple statement: We understand that there is a survey. We will fill it out. Just be aware that every time you mention the survey starting NOW, the score for your department will go down. Never heard another word about the survey from that individual.

Jersey attitude at play there.

Added what will be our first cruise that visits Coco Cay. All part of planning to get a crystal block on a particular ship. Freedom OTS July 4, 2022

Top two blocks being the target is reasonable. Only a perfect rating as the target is not reasonable. I'm okay with giving a 9/10 for very good service. 10/10 requires something exceptional.

Thanks for sharing the updated offer sheets, @twangster.

The safest bet for boarding together if this is important would be to all show up together at the latest boarding window. Coming early is less likely to work in the ports where they are being strict about times. Being "late" can be a reality caused by transportation delays so they know they have to allow some flexibility on that end.

Correct. "Perfect" is the only acceptable score. 4/5 or 9/10 is considered failure. I believe some of them would consider 99/100 failure if the scale was 0 to 100. When a survey follows up on rating something less than perfect with a question about why I have a standard response. Example: Please tell us why you were not highly satisfied. "I chose satisfied because I got what I expected. Highly satisfied requires something special and is reserved for exceptional service. You should be happy with a response of satisfied. I do not operate under an everybody-gets-a-trophy mentality. If you want a highly satisfied rating, do MORE than the standard expectation. By the way, once you do MORE a couple times, that becomes the new expectation and continuing to provide that level of service will return you to a response of satisfied."

I saw those too. Notice I didn't recommend any of those so-called "limousine service" companies.

The lifeboats are more spacious than the crew cabins. Add a toilet and shower and it might be considered an upgrade.

We booked Premier Airport Shuttle to a downtown hotel for $50.60 for two people. They give the option to prepay a gratuity with the booking or to pay a cash gratuity at the time of service.

Eat fast. Then get another one.

Funnel cake is worth going out in the rain!

We're all still dealing with changes to cruising that may not match our expectations, which are based on previous experiences without the restrictions required by our current world situation. I'm just happy to be getting onboard Ovation on Friday. If it's "not quite as good as my previous cruises" it will still be a cruise. If the experience is at the same percentage level vs. "normal" expectations as everything else in our lives, we will still have a great trip. It takes ten minutes to get a drink instead of seven? Okay. Fifteen minutes to get that late-night slice at Sorrento's rather than ten? So what? The drive-thru at Taco Bell last night took twenty minutes whereas it usually takes less than ten. That's the current reality we live with.

What you're seeing in the app now means that 1:30 is the earliest time currently available to select if checking in now or trying to update your check in time. Your app should be showing you as checking in at your original time.

We received emails yesterday with the subject line: "An important reminder from Royal Caribbean: Complete your ArriveCAN form today!" Just one teeny, tiny problem with that, Royal. The Canadian government won't allow us to complete the form until Tuesday (three days prior to boarding) or later. The urgency implied by the use of "important" and an exclamation point in the subject line had one other couple traveling with us (first-time cruisers) concerned because they couldn't complete the form "today!"

The best answer will be achieved by asking yourself the following question: "Which will Dad appreciate more?" Always go with the choice the honored guest would make if they were making the plans.

We've never experienced this. I don't personally go for the virgin drinks, but over time I've ordered just a virgin drink or two for my wife, my kids when they were underage, my grandkids, my mother, and my mother-in-law (without ordering alcohol for myself). Every bartender I've encountered has smiled, made the virgin drink(s), and wished me a good day/evening - just like when I order alcohol.

It probably won't be offered as a daily special but make sure to have a Duck Fart, either onboard or in port. I usually go get an original at Red Dog Saloon in Juneau. Their current price is $7.50.

Guess what? It happened again. Got a message from the friend with the same issue that another refund had showed up for the cruise with my wife ON A DIFFERENT CARD. Checked our account and found the same thing on our Ovation cruise that leaves on Friday. We have now paid AGAIN to avoid concern with cancellation. Royal knows there is a problem but still has no idea WHY it's happening. And they clearly haven't corrected it yet. I'll be checking the account daily to make sure yet another refund doesn't show up before we get cleared to board. We'll have a printed copy of the original paid-in-full invoice with us on Friday as well as copies of the three paid-in-full invoices issued with the subsequent repayment, re-repayment, and re-re-repayment. So far we've gotten a fruit and cheese basket, a bottle of wine, and $25 OBC on Friday's cruise "for our trouble." The other cruise so far has a bottle of wine and $25 OBC. Total value only accounts for about one hour of our time while dealing with the issue exceeds six hours (and counting because I have ZERO faith that they've gotten it corrected). I almost hope the system issues another refund for this week's cruise AFTER we board. Good luck getting the money back at that point, Royal.

There is no rhyme or reason to when Royal Up offers become available. There is little rhyme or reason to when Royal Up offers are accepted. It can be any time from when you submit the offer to dinner time on boarding day.

Checking on the app and online. Still haven't seen earlier than 11:00.

I keep checking but 11:00 remains the earliest available to us.

Now it makes sense!

Curiously, a cruise departing June 18 returns a message saying "Please ensure your sailing is within the next 30 days" but one departing July 9 has availability to bid.