Balsam

From what I've seen on RC, they use continuous shufflers where the cards are shuffled back into the show after each hand, thus killing any hope of counting. Most casinos nowadays are going this way unfortunately... after the years I spent trying to stop card counters, now that I'm out of the game, I can't use my skills for my own benefit. ?

Here's a time lapse of Ovation turning in Fremantle: Based on Oasis class being about 20 metres longer, it might just work...

Good point, but unless I'm wrong and some other pacific ports can handle Oasis class, it would be a pretty boring schedule: Brisbane - Expensive Private Island - Brisbane

And this affected your play how? After 20 years working in casinos, it always amazes me how people think in this regard. If that person was in box 7, and the next two cards out were 6, 10 and they didn't draw, this would mean you win. If they did the "correct" thing and drew the 6, you would probably lose. Unless you know what the next card out is going to be, just ignore the other players on the table and play your own cards.

The new terminal in Brisbane is (AFAIK) the only port in Australia where an Oasis class could dock. Seems a bit silly to bring Wonder all that way when all she could do is cruises to nowhere out of a single port... Not sure if any ports in NZ or the Pacific Islands could handle Oasis class, but I would doubt it. Edit: Just did a bit of research, and Fremantle, which is actually my closest port, may be able to handle Oasis class. The dock length is well and truly enough, the draft is 13m ( Oasis is 9.8), and the width of the port is is about 425m (Oasis is 369m long). The only thing would be that there would need to be empty berths on both sides of the port to allow the ship to turn. Ovation has visited Fremantle a few times, so we know that size will work. Would love to see Oasis class visit, even if I wasn't getting on board.

You basically just need work out if the drinks package would be good value if the price was increased by $22 per day. You won't get RC to change their decision, so forget that plan. "I really want the deluxe package- I know I'll utilize TO THE MAX. But if I can't get it then I won't drink because I'll be reluctant to pay per drink." This makes zero sense. Do you think RC will care that you don't drink just because you don't like their rules? You're going on a cruise to have a good time. Work out how many chargeable drinks you would have per day when on vacation, then decide if the drinks package is good value with the extra $22 per day. If it is, then buy it. If not, just pay as you go. It's not really that difficult....

Are there people who don't do this?

I wasn't questioning you or what you were told, so apologies if it came across that way. I'm saying the rep is either mistaken, or just giving a company line. Royal obviously want people to bid so they can have the opportunity to make some more money.

Just one question... what's "leftover wine"?

If it's allowed by the cruise line, and he eats all of them, I cannot see an issue. It's the people that order huge serves and then leave them, or do sneaky things to get more than they are entitled to that people object to.

Personally, I don't believe this. Please explain why they would do this? Example: They have a suite that hasn't been booked. For a couple to book that suite, it would cost say $6000. If it doesn't get booked, they give it to someone who places a Royal Up bid for a much lower amount. That obviously makes sense for cabins that don't sell, as RC at least gets a bit more money from the Royal Up bid. What you're saying is that they are intentionally not selling cabins just so they can use them for Royal Up... i.e. they are intentionally reducing the amount they can make for those cabins. You also need to think that there is always the possibility that nobody places a Royal Up bid for the unsold cabin, and they either sail with it empty, or upgrade someone for free. This makes zero sense, hence why I don't believe it happens. The reason they still offer Royal Up on sold out cruises will be to cover last minute cancellations. If someone cancels and they can't resell the cabin, they can at least get a few dollars more out of another passenger through Royal Up.

I think that if you had one or two small bottles in your backpack, there's a good chance nothing would be said, however as @KristiZ noted, the rules say only on embarkation day.

OK. Pretty good value, especially if you are doing lunches as well as dinner. Cheers

How much do you need to eat? Not sure why people have a fixation on getting multiple entrees (or Main Courses as they are known everywhere except the US)? If you're really hungry, you can have two appetisers, multiple sides, and three desserts. Add in one main course, and that should satisfy anyone. If you're still hungry, head up to the Windjammer for a second meal. Personally, I think anyone that complains they don't get enough food on a RC cruise is either a greedy moose, or a complete miser trying to get everything they can for their money. I've never heard of any cases of passengers starving on cruise ships..

Just wondering.... how much was the UDP for a three night cruise? I only ask because my thinking is that on short cruises, we wouldn't bother with a dining package as the MDR would be fine for three or four nights, or we might pay for a single dinner in Chops. For longer cruises, dining packages certainly have appeal, but I just don't see the benefit on a three or four nighter.

On our only RC cruise so far, we had MTD. We had another couple we knew on the same cruise (just a random thing... we both booked separately without knowing), so when we ate in the MDR, we were seated at a table for 4. The one night we were in the MDR without the other couple, we were asked if we were happy to share a table. We said yes, and were on a table with two other couples. Great meal, with good conversation. For our next cruise (58 days and counting), with just the two of us, we have again gone for MTD, and will again happily share a table. We're thinking that we will get tables for 6 or 8, and probably not with the same people each night. On that basis, if we happen to get some boring people, it's only for a couple of hours at dinner, and only for one night, so not a big deal. We also have the three night dining package, one night in Chops for my other half's birthday, and the Mystery Theatre dinner. It's an 11 night cruise, so we'll pretty much be alternating between MDR and specialty dining. Part of our holiday, whether they be cruising or land based, is meeting and chatting with other people. For land based, it's usually at happy hour in the pool bar, and for cruising, it's dinner in the MDR. It was amazing how many times we bumped in to the two couples we shared a table with on our last cruise after we dined with them.

I'll give another vote for the three night package. We did the same on our first cruise just so we could then make an educated decision on future cruises. After doing that, we've decided to do it again on our next cruise. We're quite happy with the MDR, but a few nights in specialty restaurants breaks it up a bit. If this is your first cruise, taking the unlimited package means you're either missing out on the MDR, or paying for specialty dining on nights that you do eat in the MDR.

Nothing dodgy about smuggling booze onboard in a disguised container, when you know it's not permitted? Of course not.

Please explain.... The OP was talking about the exact situation I was in. Not trying to do anything dodgy. I really don't think they would have an issue as long as they declared the vodka on boarding.

I know I've probably posted this before, but in Australia, there are NO gratuities on your base fare. They are included in the base fare, and there is no option to remove or alter them. You pay for your cruise and that's it. If you choose to tip crew members onboard because you received good service, that's up to you. A MUCH better system IMHO

I'm not so sure about this. Maybe the difference is in the word "seized"? Our last trip was from Australia to the UK, then to Singapore and a cruise to Hong Kong, finally flying home to Australia. In the UK, I got a great deal on two bottles of single malt scotch that were half the price I would pay in Australia. I took them to Singapore as they were within the duty free that was permitted. When we boarded Voyager, I had them in a separate shopping bag that went through the xray machine. Security immediately pounced on the bottles and myself. My response was that I knew they were not allowed, hence having them in a separate bag and being very obvious about it. They then took me to the desk where I surrendered the bottles and received a receipt for them, and was told I could collect them at the end of the cruise. On the last night, when we returned to our cabin, the two bottles were sitting on the bed in the same bag. Based on that experience, if you want to take alcohol onboard that you know is not allowed, as long as you surrender it on embarkation, there won't be an issue. Basically, it comes down to "Do the right thing and there won't be a problem". Try to smuggle it aboard or be sneaky, and you may well lose your booze...

Maybe walk in and have a look, or possibly ask the staff in the restaurant?

ALL gratuities have to be prepaid when booking in Australia. That's because they are included in the fare for your cruise. There is no "removing" gratuities, and no "prepaying" gratuities. You pay your fare, and you go on your cruise. If you choose to tip crew when you are onboard because you feel it is deserved, that is entirely up to you, but "gratuities" do not exist in Australia.

That would depend on how much you paid, and what you get for the money. Personally, a cruise ship that takes me to a private island, where I have to pay through the nose for everything is called "taking the mickey". I would just stay on the ship and enjoy the facilities I have already paid for without the crowds.

Really? After the video footage shows him leaning out of the window, he believed there was glass there? Everyone can make their own call here, but personally, once I lean my body out of a window, I'm pretty confident there's no glass there...