Luv2Travel

Ha - I just completed a survey today on this type of RC online retail. Interesting!

I finally won an upgrade through RoyalUp on an upcoming Mediterranean cruise at the end of May 2024 on Odyssey of the Seas. I noticed the ability to bid on an upgrade in my Cruise Planner 75 days before my sail date and I won my RoyalUp bid 60 days before our sail date. We were originally booked in a category 4D Oceanview balcony stateroom and we were upgraded to a J3 Junior Suite on deck 9. The minimum bid for us was $450/person and I bid $475/person. Our cruise appeared to be selling well with not many cabins left and I believe the reason I won my bid so early was to free up an Oceanview balcony stateroom that could be easily sold.

If you can get The Key for a few more dollars (I've gone up to $8 more) than the internet, yes, I'd definitely get it. Another thing to consider is if you're tendering at any of the ports on your cruise. We're sailing in a Junior Suite next month and bought it because we have 2 tender ports where priority tendering through The Key will be very helpful. Bon Voyage!

Could be, but I don't think so. It's a Mediterranean cruise on the Odyssey and all of the cabins from interior up to connecting oceanview balcony are either waitlisted or GTY. The remaining inventory is either a Junior Suite or an oceanview with a large balcony. Maybe they think my less expensive cabin will be easier to sell as we get closer to the sail date so they're bumping guests up?

Is this a record?? What's the earliest you've won a Royal Up bid? More info: I didn't receive an email to bid, I used the "upgrade your stateroom" link in the Cruise Planner. The link was available 75 days before the sail date and I placed bids for maybe $20 over the starting prices. Received my "congratulations" email exactly 14 days later. Check in for the cruise doesn't open for another 14 days . . .

When you get your confirmation from Air2Sea you may see another record locator than the one given on your reservation. For my upcoming flight reservations I have one record locator for Air2Seas, one for Iberia, and one for British Air. So you'll want to use the correct record locator per airline when you're trying to view your reservation in the airline app. If you don't receive an email from Air2Sea by tomorrow, then give them a call back (or ask your TA to call) and ask for one to be sent. Also note that some airlines will not let you select your seats until the booking is paid for (when you pay for your cruise and air in full). Hope you have a great cruise!

That is awesome Gasman62 - Congratulations!! Do you mind giving us more details, please? How soon are you cruising?

For $5cad more when you're getting the internet package already? That's a good call! I'm only a fan of The Key when it's within $10usd of the internet package, and then I love it! We had it last year on our cruise out of Venice/Ravenna and used the priority tendering at Mykonos. They'll tell you what time and where to meet for your tender through communication left in your stateroom, like you receive info for an excursion booked through RC. I believe we met at Schooners Bar and as soon as passengers were allowed to get off the ship we were being led to the gang walk. We were the first ones on the tender boat and we enjoyed a couple of hours exploring Mykonos before the masses arrived in tour groups and made it crowded. We bought The Key again this year for upcoming Greek Isles cruise because we thought the priority tendering would definitely be worth it again in Mykonos and Santorini. Hope you enjoy your cruise!

I'm guessing that you're actually sailing out of Ravenna? If so, Bologna is a closer airport - maybe an hour away from the port. We did a Greek Isle cruise that sailed out of Ravenna back in May. We flew into Venice to spend a couple of days there before the cruise and then we flew back home from Bologna. The flights were actually cheaper than flying roundtrip to/from Venice. Happy travels!

Did you email them for a quote? I don't see any prices on the website. Thanks for the info!

We caught a deal in July 2023 through Air2Sea for our cruise in May 2024. We have business class from ATL to FCO for $2473 each roundtrip. Last year we caught a deal from BNA to VCE in business class for under $2500 too through Air2Sea (booked in October for a May trip). I check daily (and sometimes multiple times daily) to see if I can get a better deal. Air2Sea offers $500 off of business class seats and $200 off of other seats and the tickets do not have to be paid for until the final payment for the cruise. Point being - check prices as often as possible! Check nearby airports and check different dates (especially the middle of the week). There are deals to be found.

This is very good to know, thank you!

I'm wondering about the "Love & Marriage" Game Show - I haven't seen it listed in any posted Cruise Compasses yet. Is it happening on your cruise, or have you heard any news about it?I'm wondering about the "Love & Marriage" Game Show - I haven't seen it listed in any posted Compasses yet. Is it happening on your cruise, or have you heard any news about it? Thanks so much, hope you have a wonderful holiday!

Great suggestion, thank you! I don't want anyone to try to pick it up for me, I would just like to know if it's been found. I figured it would take awhile to go through the different departments, that's why I wish someone onboard could ask. Thank you so much for the ray of hope though, that does make me feel better!!!

If so, would you be up for doing me a big favor, please? I disembarked on Oct 16 and left behind something very important to me in my stateroom. I’ve filed a lost item report, but I would be so appreciative if someone could check with Guest Services to see if it was found.

Any luck with Royal Up??

Looking forward to following along too! Can't wait to hear about your Royal Up experience, maybe you'll hear something today??!?

Yes, this. It was still there back in July, but not open. Most things opened at 11:00 am or later in Nassau, but we never saw the Straw Market open during our visit this year.

I saw his post on Instagram and was hoping I understood him correctly!! Flight is my favorite!

How do you handle the sales pitch at the end of the massage? That just ruins it for us. It was easier on Disney Cruises to tell the Spa up front that we didn't want a sales pitch at the end. But RC is a little more determined. Did you find the therapists pushy at the end with the products, or do you have a way to turn them down quickly?

Allure bookings for the Med next year are already closed. So it definitely looks like the Wonder will be taking her place!

You're making me so hungry, but I love the pics and review - Thank You!! Questions for you, please: Are the "Formal" (aka dress your best) nights on the Eastern cruise still on the 2nd and 6th night? Has "Love & Marriage" or the "Belly Flop Contest" made any appearances in the Cruise Compass?

You are AWESOME, thank you so much!

Oh and a question for you, please: if you happen to go into Playmakers today, could you tell me if they're showing any college football games? I'm wondering what channels they're able to televise in Playmakers?

Enjoying your pictures and blog so much! Can't wait to hear about the Eastern Caribbean cruise and your Star Class experience. Thank you for taking us along!!