dodgestang

Don't let it bother you. Everyone tips their own way. Tipping is included so anything you give is above and beyond. Imagine how I feel/felt when I tipped my Genie $200 for a 9 night cruise with my family of 4 and then come back to see people saying they tip $50-$100/night/person to their Genie......I'm not going to tip $1800-$3600

First sailing with RCCL in August 2018.....reach diamond on April 18th 2020 (2nd day of our 5th cruise) We did it just by booking suites and only sailing 8 days on longer for each sailing....the suites get you double points per sailing and the longer trips add up fast. Didn't really do it for the points though....took what we thought would be a once in a lifetime kinda trip, fell in love with it, and just really like the big rooms so we keep going back (plus the casino keeps dangling carrots) ?

Coco cay is free. Are you saying the coco beach club is sold out? or the water park? Shore excursion desk can sometimes help pre cruise by emailing them.

We are sailing in April. Port Canaveral is our first US port after CocoCay so we will have to clear customs. How long does that process generally take? We had to do it once before on Anthem in Boston, but that was done on ship. Reason I ask is I am weighing pros/cons of car rental and driving to St Augustine (2 hours away) for a family visit. We are supposed to be there 6-6pm.....but I am already thinking it makes much more sense to think of it more like 9-4 to account for customs and making sure we have no issues getting back on time and for the first couple waves of people to go away for the day ;). Which then nets us out about 2.5 hours of visit......and if the boat is late....it just shrinks from there. Basically I'm talking myself out of the hassle ?

Yes.....I am being sarcastic ;).

I'm just upset that I can't book excursions for my August 2021 cruise, make dinner reservations, show reservations....I can't even book my spa treatments yet. They are really letting me down.

My kids have grown up going to day care since they were 3 months old. All year long except for the occasional few days off for holidays or to go to the beach. Even after school started....school all day, then after care till 5:30 when they get picked up. It's hard on them (or at least it is hard enough on me that I think it is hard on them). Even during the summer...up early, off to day care all day long. It wasn't until last summer (when they were 9 and 12) that I felt with my son they were old enough to stay home alone....so it was the first real summer they had where they got to sleep late all the time, stay home, play outside....etc. I also had changed jobs and was working out of the home office and only away from the house about 8 days a month so they didn't stay alone often. When we took our first cruise we didn't do kids club stuff....it was all new so we just hung out as a family. When we took our second cruise we asked if they wanted to try the kids club (8 and 11 at the time)....we signed them up with 'sign out' privileges .... after about an hour they were back at the room. They hated it. Said "it feels just like we are at daycare". I wasn't going to fight with them and force them since we are on vacation, on a cruise ship, the last thing I wanted to do to them was make them feel like it was just another day on their lives. We've been on 4 cruise now, and have 3 more planned this year. They always have a great time (10'ish and 13 now)....the youngest can be found nightly singing karaoke, the oldest goes swimming, they participate in scavenger hunts, my youngest basically felt like she was working at the coffee stand on Anthem last time....would go there for hot coco and then clean up the seating area for fun.

Well it has been painfully obvious for the last 2-3 days that they are doing system updates.....everything on the whole site over there is running like crap

Good to know. Seems like you can't get away from noisy pool deck anywhere on an Oasis....all the videos I see of RLS appear to have the same issue as soon as they go outside....so not a deciding factor on the room. The open air design for the bedroom is certain something to consider since we will be traveling with young kids......I suppose it isn't that much different than the curtains for privacy in the other lofts. All in all still looking forward to it.

What was the noise level (if any at all) of people on outside lower decks when you were on the little balcony ? And....weird question I know....the bedroom has a door I can see that, but is that a glass wall above it....or is it open air between the two rooms.

Watching this tour....resolves any trepidation I thought I might have had with my selection ?

$15k additional to go from OP to Royal Loft Suite..

Yes I've watched the videos....I did notice the lack of a toilet door...but figured the bedroom has a door...... In the OP you can lay in bed and watch/wake up to see the ocean In the RLS you can lay in bed and wake up so see the stacks, courts, and water visible off behind them all ? And on edit.....after a follow-up phone call there is a $15k price difference between the two....so the decision may be easier than I thought.

I've got one of those questions I hate to ask....but I'm really on the ropes. Don't flame me ;). I've never sailed Oasis before, I booked last night....I booked the Owners Panoramic 1 bedroom (1701) which is a relatively new class room as I understand it. It is my wife and two kids (14 and almost 12 at time of sailing) who will be with me. Here's the question...when I book....I start on a discount cruise website to find the ship, itinerary, and room I want, get the price from there and then call the casino for actual booking....I do this because 1. The website I use it vastly superior/easier to use to find what I am looking for that using Royal's booking site and 2. I get casino comps that I am often applying (although this time I have not applied any comps yet and will reprice it in April 2021 when I have some I reviewed again today and I see the Royal Loft is actually available. When I was looking yesterday it did not show as available and when I called and booked with the casino I had just said I wanted 1701. Has anyone here sailed in either the panoramic one bedroom or the royal and can give me some feedback about your experience? With the Royal half the balcony overlooks the courts and in videos sounds like it has a lot of music noise from activities....what about the side balcony does that insulate it a bit? The owners panoramic has only a side balcony that is a little small, but with a hot tub (that we will use) but seems to also slightly less private than other balconies we have used on other ships. I suppose another way to get at this is....if you have your choice between these two...which one would you pick?

YOLO

I hate you. I really do. We are now booked on the July 30, 2021 sailing. The mrs. is going to kill me ? I least I have 1.5 yr to reprice it ;)....I should have the prime cruise award again in April 2021

Philistines! ? ? ?

Yes. Yes we stay in the royal suite on Grandeur. First time Francis wasn't there and Carlington was filling in....it was a different experience and not as high touch, it was our first cruise though...so didn't know what to expect at that time.

it probably comes down to space though....do they have enough crew space to add a Genie into the smaller ships. Francis (Concierge on Grandeur at the time) made us feel close a Genie experience. When we got on board last time he met us in the parking lot, moved us through security/check in at lighting speed, took us to our room at 10:30, premade us dinner reservations (and visited us at every meal), met us every morning at breakfast (brought Nina a big plate of bacon ? ), helped us to be the literal first people off the ship at Miami (before the RC excursion flow), firmly suggested we not do the south beach bungalow I had reserved and instead do the "suites cabana" with BBQ lunch at CocoCay (something that appears to have only been a short time thing)...so with just a good concierge on the smaller ships they can get you close. The only thing they really can't do is "get somewhere early, hold seats, and wait around for you" that Genies seem to do a lot of (on Anthem I have seen if they take their eyes off the little red 'reserved' blankets....people will just move them).

This is contextual to sailing in 'Star Class'. Would be the same for any ship that has 'Star Class' Unlike smaller ships, like say Grandeur, regardless of suite you sail in right up to and including the Royal Suite (best on that boat) you still have to pay your own grats (unless you use a travel agent), pay for specialty restaurants, buy a drink package if you want it, pay for internet, etc...because they don't offer 'Star Class'. With that said....it isn't really 'needed' either....AKA there is no real for a Genie on the smaller ships. I do wish they offered the ancillary benefits that I listed above on the smaller ships as part of the room.....but then....the rooms would appear to be more money and priced out of site for the smaller ship size. It all balances out in the end ?

Not sure I'm completely following.....in my mind a 5 night cruise is always cheaper than a 7 night cruise. So which is going to be 'more fun' or 'less stressful' 7 days: I 'assume' easy drive to PC and board, 7 days on boat. 5 days: a day travel to port, 5 days on boat, a day traveling home....so still 7 days....but more stress...if you drive, what about the added costs of hotels and food and gas and time sitting in the car? If flying...sure...can be faster, may shrink days involved, but added stress of flights being on time, time at airport, baggage fees when you pack too heavily.

Train ride from Union Station to Newark Penn Station is 2.5 hours on the Acela and then short uber to airport (or port ? ). Business class $220, first class $380 *prices vary based on actual train Train ride from Union Station to EWR (at the airport) on Amtrak Regional Rail (more stops) is 3 hours. Coach class $130, business class $180 *Prices vary based on actual train The train IMO takes the same as a flight factoring in security lines at airport, time to arrive ahead of departure, etc....plus parking at the train station is cheaper in many cases and you don't have to deal with baggage issues (weight, checking, liquids) According to my son....the pan roasted Shrimp on a bed of wild rice was the very good. ?

DC to Newark....Acela first class.....unless someone jumps on the track I've never had an issue on the train ?

Already on board before RCI announced policy.

I always carry my passport when outside of the US.