ADK

I was on Hamrony last month and they showed movies in an indoor theater (I remember "Star Wars Last Jedi") as well as  outdoor/Aqua theater (BlackPanther was one being shown.) The times never seemed to work for us (although my 11 yr.old caught Star Wars.) Voom's connection was not reliable for us. We often had interruptions, loss of service, and buffering. Still glad I got it and we made it through Season 1 of a show but we're used to bad, rural internet. I'm sure those used to good internet would have given up!

On Harmony they offered different cheesecakes in different places. Your SIL may need to try a couple to find one that suits her. My husband didn't care for the one served in the MDR (I think strawberry topped) and one of the chocolate ones at WJ. He likes dense cheesecake and these were lighter, fluffier. However, he tried one at either Cafe Promenade or Park Cafe that he said was pretty good. Have to admit, he's a cheesecake snob.

I had my 11 and 14 yr old sons with me and my brother had college aged boys with him. I could not imagine not having a way to keep in touch with them. They would all start out with a plan for the day but it would always change as they found new, more interesting things to do or people to run around with. Each day there would be at least a dinner, a show or some other activity that the whole family would do together but the kids had no concept of time. My son said the ship is like the Lotus Casino from Percy Jackson, lol. 

I was just on Harmony last week. It was my first cruise and not expecting the muster drill so soon after boarding (not sure when I thought it would be, but...) so I was half in the bag during the drill but seem to remember them saying that the life vests would be distributed at the muster station and this was to keep everyone in one location during an emergency, not scattered while trying to go back to their cabins for vests, etc. So, if there's an emergency you just go to your muster station. (My location was in the gym.) I tore our cabin apart looking for a lost necklace on our last day and there were no life vests in it.

We just returned from our cruise. We were a group of 10 and found it impossible to stick to a schedule. There are not a lot of clocks onboard, people aren't wearing watches (due to water), kids are running around, you lose all sense of time really, lol. I was the only one who purchased VOOM so couldn't use internet texting with them. Those who thought their cell carrier would have a signal ended up with no signal. A few of us purchased Royal IQ. It's very basic but good enough to ask "where are you?" and get a reply. Biggest problem was no one was checking their phone!

Well, after holding for 23 minutes (and no one answering) the online check-in gods let me into my account. So, crisis averted, I guess.

I'm having some trouble with our online account & printing passes (have been for days now) and whenever I call the various RC phone numbers and make my selections, it rings once and then goes dead. I held once for 10 minutes and there's just silence... no music, announcements, no one answers. Is this the way their phones work? I've tried again and again to get a human being and I get no one.

Wondering if anyone knows whether an Atlantis excursion purchased on board will be any more expensive than one purchased ahead of time on the Cruise Planner ($159/adult & $119/child.)

On embarkation, most of our large group will have been traveling nonstop and will be starving. Any chance there's a restaurant that is less crowded than WJ?

Is formal night only in the main dining room? Are the other complimentary restaurants still casual on formal nights?

Thank you for the suggestions!

17 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

What hotel are you at?  I would either take a cab or uber/lyft.  Most of the FLL hotels are so close by.

Four Points - around Federal Hwy & 17th (apprx. 2.5 miles from airport). So I'm guessing due to all of the cruisers there are lots of cabs & Ubers  that have room for all of us and luggage?

For our arrival this coming Friday we were planning to use our hotel's free airport shuttle. (We're overnighting before Harmony embarkation on Saturday.) But, recent comments/reviews are saying it's really unreliable. What are good backup options in case our ride never shows? We're a family of 4 with a lot of luggage! 

3 hours ago, jurrjurr said:

Here is the corkage fee policy for RCL 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/charge-corkage-fee

It says corkage fee in "public areas" but the Travel Agent said it would only be charged in the dining room. Wondering what has been people's actual experience...

One thing I'm not clear on is where it's ok to drink the wine. I gather we can bring it to the dining room and of course drink it in our stateroom. But, can I pour a glass and walk around with it, or sit in a lounge chair with it?

2 hours ago, mathbees said:

ADK, I didn't think about doing this originally, but when I went back and tried it this morning, I got the same result as before.  I had high hopes, given the number of times I've that come up as a good solution for accessing RCI's website.  Oh, well.

Well, I decided to change our children's expense account to Mary's suggestion and when I did there were all kinds of glitches. The clearing Cookies didn't work. I tried later and magically it worked for one reservation# but not for another. I was told to download and try Firefox, I did and it took care of one issue but not another. At least I can now print a SetSail Pass but will have resolve the other issue at embarkation.

I agree with the comments that RC should just make the policy known. I don’t think it’s something just between the employer and employee because RC should know customers will “extra tip."

In everyday day situations I always tip more than 18% (up to 30% when service is excellent and our party is being difficult or picky) so why would I stiff the employee just because the auto added/pre-paid says 18%? 

I don’t have a problem with tips being pooled to some extent. Having worked as a waitress I know the behind the scenes people are very important to efficiency. But, RC should know that people will want to reward service that goes beyond satisfactory and that its measurement is commensurate with the level of service given… whether that be by extra money or survey. Just let us know which is the better reward.

We're sailing on Harmony in a few weeks and added a minor from another reservation as you describe in #4 of your post. Where it says "Would you like to add and pay for other guests in your reservation?" we entered the last name & reservation # and they popped up with check mark boxes next to their name and on their SetSail Passes it shows our charge account. No problem. So it sounds like you're doing it right.

The reason I'm replying is because I had a problem with accepting the terms of credit card payment. I could not check the box. I finally had to call and after some troubleshooting they had me clear cookies. It was then resolved. So, if other suggestions on here don't work you may want to call or try clearing cookies.

16 hours ago, CGTLH said:

 

Mini-fridge? Yesish, not really that cold.

 

Stocked with for purchase mini bar items? Will you be charged if you remove them to put your own stuff in it?

3 hours ago, whitsmom said:

I have asthma and I can go into bronchitis easily so my doctor will usually give me Rx before I leave if I am experiencing symptoms.  I take several different OTC meds also just in case (Tylenol, sinus, tummy, Bonine, and etc) so that I won't have to buy it on the ship.  I would rather have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. 

Similarly, this person has nasal structural issues as well as asthma. She's fine now but IF she catches a cold or allergies while on board it may turn to sinus infection and bronchitis easily. Her doctor won't give antibiotics or steroids when she's not symptomatic so she can't get them before her trip.

But thank you to all for the insight. When people are going to Playa Del Carmen I say to readily visit the doctors in the Farmacias for such illnesses (inexpensive and I've found the doctors are good) and wondered if it was similar on the cruise ship. I guess not!

Are the walls of the stateroom/bathroom metal so I can use magnetic hooks? 

Is there a mini-fridge in the staterooms? Travel agent says no (only in suites) but a YouTube video of our kind of room appears to show one. If yes, are they large enough for a wine bottle?

Can you make a reservation for putt putt? (Asking for another in our group who is the ultimate planner.)

We have someone in the group who’s been back and forth with bronchitis & sinus infections lately. Nothing life threatening but they’re wondering about the ship’s physician and whether you can get antibiotics, steroids, etc. Any insight into services provided?

Thank you to all here. I've gotten such great advice!

2 hours ago, JBC said:

We went on Harmony in February, had a group of 10.  When you exit through customs to the outside, the first people there are RC employees that arrange group transportation, it's like $20 per person to go to the airport if I remember, which is high.  Instead of that, after you get outside from customs, hang a left and walk to the corner of the building.  There is private group transportation there, I believe the workers were wearing red vests.  It is $9 per person to go to the airport, you tell them how many you have and they flag you an appropriate vehicle.  It was super easy.  RC sets up shop on the prime real estate right outside customs, but a 1 min walk farther away and the same transportation is half price.    

Since my group's headed straight to the airport, I think this is what we'll do. Thank you!

Our group is sailing out of Fort Lauderdale on Harmony. When we return part of the group’s flight departs at noon (and will go straight to the airport) but part of the group’s flight doesn’t leave until 3pm. They figure they’ll have to be off the ship around 10-11am??

For the noon flight group do you recommend transfer or taxi? We’ll weigh price, convenience, etc.

For the 3pm group, can you pay for RC to store your luggage and they could explore a bit and then return for luggage and transfer? Or is there some other option that involves perhaps a taxi? They’re a group of 6 with all their luggage so it would have to be a van, I guess.

This is our first cruise and not sure what the disembarkation process entails. We have to go through Customs, etc? How long does that usually take?

Are there any taxi services you recommend? 

Thank you!!

Just now, Lovetocruise2002 said:

Yes. As far as I know, you can only iMessage from Apple products.

That's my understanding. And it seems if you're trying to text/communicate with people who have Androids then you have to pay for some kind of service: Royal IQ (for on board communication), or Voom (and use free What's App or similar WiFi text service) or I guess you could pay your carrier's fees. 

5 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

You can iMessage.

That's if the other people (at home) have iPhones, right?