Yo2slick

Does anyone know how many Key packages they are selling per sailing?  I heard it was limited to 100-200 people?

I always wear jeans and a t shirt around the house and have never even tried on a Tux lol.  But Ill be rocking one on our cruise because my wife will get more enjoyment out of it than anything else.

This might have already been answered but where would you recommend staying overnight in Galveston before a cruise?  

1 hour ago, monctonguy said:

If you think that's bad...imagine leaving the sea pass card in your room and getting locked out and trekking down to guest services in your underwear at 2am.....

 

Only time  I 'lost" a seapass card.....

 

I'd take losing a seapass card fully clothed anytime over that again.....

Years ago we changed door handles and locks on the house.  Most handles unlock when you open the door but this one would open and leave the lock in place.  Walked out in the backyard one early morning in my underwear to let the dog out.  Shut the door and bam, no phone or anything.  Nobody else was home.  Had to walk to the neighbors and call my wife to let me back in the house.  Changed the lock that afternoon!  

On 6/1/2019 at 11:00 PM, analp38 said:

I never thought to look up what to do if I lost the SeaPass card in a port. Hope it is useful to others.

My aunt lost hers in Atlantis, and didn’t realize until we were on tour bus back to port. She freaked out and started crying(first cruise for her was very nervous) I headed straight to where they check ID and card, to ask what to do, they said to go to port security which was right outside.

Went and they checked her passport with ship manifest and let us through a side gate back to the ship. Once at gangway ship security supervisor came down to verify and let us through. Once we went through scanner we headed for guest services for a new card.

Just out of curiosity, what would they have done if you didnt have your passport on you?  I hear of people leaving their passport on the ship and was just curious. 

7 minutes ago, twangster said:

They mean when off the ship somewhere other than Royal's own private destinations of CocoCay and Labadee. 

For example in Cozumel.  Leave the ship and walk into a bar, you pay just like a local. 

At Royal private destinations the DX package works and always on the ship it works regardless of the port you are visiting.  

6 minutes ago, spiralqueen said:

Yes. If it is a non-private island port your drink package obviously won't work there. A random bar on Nassau couldn't care less about your cruise drink package. If you stay on the ship while in port, your drink package will work just the same as a sea day. The same applies on if you go to CocoCay or Labadee. Drinks in non-souvenir glasses (like a coconut) are included with a package. 

Thats what I figured but I thought I would ask to be sure.  Thanks for the replies! 

Ive seen people say that the UBP doesnt work on port days....is that just referring to being off the ship?

My wife and I purchased the DBP on our cruise in August for a couple of reasons...

I didnt want to have to worry about a bill at the end of our cruise and if you price out an all inclusive resort its still cheaper to take the cruise and pay for the beverage package.   We are going to use this opportunity to try lots of new drinks that we otherwise wouldnt have.   

15 years and this is the first time we have went anywhere without kids....mama and I are gonna have some fun! 

Hey everyone,

I purchased an excursion in Cozumel and it says, 

• THIS TOUR IS OPERATED BY A TOUR OPERATOR THAT HAS BEEN THIRD-PARTY VERIFIED TO AN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED SUSTAINABILITY STANDARD.

Is this just fancy wording for everything is Kosher or what?

13 minutes ago, AGSLC5 said:

does your cruise offer the 3 night package? If so I would do that. That way you get to experience the MDR and some restaurants. Best of both worlds!!. Plus getting a 3 night package is much cheaper than paying out of pocket of the ship.. 

Yes they have a 3 night package I believe for 80 right now.

Just now, WAAAYTOOO said:

That is really such a personal kind of decision.  For anyone who is new to cruising, I say that it is wise to give the MDR a try first.  We ate in the MDR for YEARS before we ever tried our first specialty restaurant.  We just, eventually, got tired of the same menus over and over again and decided to venture out...so if you have "been there, done that" with the MDR and enjoy eating at the specialties, I'd say $154 for the UDP is an excellent price (7 nights ?).

Yeah its a 7 night cruise.  We already have a lunch at Chops because we have the Key.  Since we never have been on a cruise before and you can only eat so much food I didnt want to just write the MDR off without trying it first.  I assume we can still make a reservation on the ship and just pay out of pocket if we wanted to right?  Or if we just wanted to grab a burger at JR just pay for it then?

So stupid question, with all of the dining options available for first time cruisers would you all recommend this package?  Its down to 154 on our sailing on Liberty and we are already Keyed up.

Ahh, we are trying to decide on the DBP and UDP.  

Just now, WAAAYTOOO said:

Mine, too.  When are you going ?  We will be on August 25

Us too!  August 25-Sep 1st  My wifes B-Day is the 26th and our 14th Anniversary is the 29th!

Mine just dropped to 46 PP/PN + 18% Gratuity on Liberty for our August cruise.

On 5/21/2019 at 7:31 AM, coneyraven said:

This past April, we did the Turtle Farm and Stingray City .... had an awesome time, but as @monctonguy said, you run the risk because it is a tender port.... that's why we def. booked through RC -- this way, if we couldn't make it, the refund would be instant.

I was just about to ask what happens if you arent able to make it.  I am planning to book excursions through RC anyway so that works out great.  Thank you all for the replies!

1 hour ago, Atlantix2000 said:

Anything on the ship will be charged to your account using your sea pass.  You can settle that bill with credit cards or cash.  They will automatically add an 18% gratuity to any drinks purchased (and also to the drink package if you purchase that).

Pre-paid gratuities cover your stateroom attendant, waiters, and all the behind the scenes employees.  If you don't pre-pay those, they will be charged to your sea pass daily.

If you have the DBP, do you still get charged the 18% for all drinks?

On 5/14/2019 at 9:49 AM, tiny260 said:

My Wife and I cruise together, but any excursion having to do with going underwater is not her deal, so I usually book these excursions myself and I have had no issues.

LOL My wife and I just had this same conversation as I would love to do some diving and its a no for her.  Haven't figured out what she is going to do yet on that day.

Hey everyone, I was looking in my Cruise Planner and noticed there are several dolphin swims and encounters in both locations.  Is one typically better than another or all pretty close to the same thing?

First time cruising and in this area of the world so we are not familiar with any of this.  Thanks!

Thank you all.  Looks like we are going to do the 7 night on the Liberty and the Balcony wasnt much more on the Liberty so we are going balcony as well.  

We have an open mindset going on this cruise.  Im sure there will be a shore excursion or two we will do but for the most part just going to take in the experience and see what happens.  I kind of like the idea of having my own private balcony to use whenever we want.  Guess we will see if we utilize it or not.

Hey everyone, my wife and I are looking at a 5 night cruise on the Enchantment and a 7 night on the Liberty.  Also tossing around the Oceanview vs Balcony.   This will be our first sailing so what would you recommend between the 2 options?  We were booked for Alaska and just cant make it this year so are wanting to atleast get a cruise in this year.

23 minutes ago, Matt said:

Think of The Key like first class seats on an airplane.  It's not that first class seats are a tremendous value necessarily.  Rather, it's a splurge and a way to treat yourself.

Nice!  Thats a great way to put it.   We are celebrating my wife's birthday and our 14th Anniversary on this cruise so splurging wont be a problem!

Ok, so I have read the blog about gratuities and see that everyone seems to have their own opinion on how to handle them.  My question is at the end of your cruise if you choose to tip the stateroom attendant extra, what would be an appropriate amount?  I dont want to be the guy that insults someone by low balling and certainly dont want to go way overboard.  But I have no problem paying someone what they deserve.  Can you all give me an idea of whats fair?  With all of the 18% gratuities added on and us prepaying gratuities do we only need to worry about tipping the attendant and our waiter?  Thank you in advance.  First timer just gathering information!

Thank you for the reply.  We decided to grab the key before it was sold out.  Being first time cruisers Im not sure if its worth it or not but it sounds like it has some nice perks so we will try it out.

I decided to buy it for Ovation in Alaska,  I missed the 20 per day but after it came back down from 30 something I got it for 25 a day.  I don't know if its worth it or not for us but its our first cruise so why not.  Sounds like it has some nice perks.