cobra614

You are not guaranteed to be in the A boarding group.

Get a good quality tanning lotion specifically made for tanning beds and an after tan lotion.  The wife and I signed up with a salon for just a month to get a base tan and we have it already. Going to cancel our membership the day before we leave on the cruise. 

Anyone get an accepted bid for symphony sailing on July 27th? My 4 weak bids are still pending.

Well crappy single odds it is I guess. They still pay the correct place bets odd I assume?

21 minutes ago, Andrew72681 said:

Usually the 10$ blackjack tables will be 6:5 blackjack. If you make the move to 15 those are almost always 3:2. The house edge on 3:2 is about .50% and at 6:5 is 2% so make the jump. 

I'd rather not play at all on a 6/5 table, so I will be making the jump for sure.

 Any idea on craps minimums?

I tried searching,  but the thread  I found was years old, so I figured I'd start a new one. I would be playing blackjack,  craps and video poker.  My wife will be playing slots.

This will be our first ever cruise,  any info on the above would be greatly appreciated. 

Thanks

7 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

I also grabbed it at $49 a few weeks ago for SY. What week are you sailing? We’re on July 27th.

We are on the same sailing.

On my upcoming July Symphony cruise I've seen a price as high as $59pp. I bought it at $52pp, then saw it drop to $49pp. I just canceled and rebooked. I did see it drop one other time to $48pp, but didn't bother. One thing I did learn tho was keep checking RC`s prices. I,'ve saved $1000.00 on our Jr. suite cabin price from our original booking thru 3 price changes!!!

Need recommendations for our upcoming first cruise on Symphony along with our first time in Miami in July.  I enjoy smoking cigars so wouldn't mind a nice hotel with a balcony and a view. Port view would be a plus.

 Thoughts?

As others have said, if you want it, book it. Then keep checking prices for better deals since you can canceland rebook.  I was on the fence originally about getting the DBP. Originally it was $56 a day pp and went down to $52. I didn't jump on it and missed out because it went back upto $56. I kept checking the cruise planner and finally it went back to $52 and i pounced on it. 

A couple of months later it went down to $49pp. I ended up just calling RC to cancel and rebook, saved a few bucks, worth the free phone call. 

This also applies to your cruise fare. I have called them out twice now since I purchased our cruise in late December for our July cruise and have saved almost $1000.00 for our JS on Symphony. 

I ended up just calling them, took care of it all on the phone and saved $49.56. Worth a free call.

Thanks again to all for the info in this thread.

On 4/5/2019 at 4:57 PM, Lovetocruise2002 said:

Here's my two cents on all of this:

I always buy the refreshment package (except for star class).  Does not matter if I am sailing in a suite or not.  For me, I like the convenience of being able to go to any venue (not just the suite lounge) to grab a bottle of water, specialty coffee, etc.  I think I drink enough water alone to cover the cost of the package so it is a no brainer for me.  I purchase it on sale.  Never at $26/day.  The best deal lately was the Black Friday deal at $17/day.  Right now, Symphony for July is sitting at $20/day.  This is USD that I am quoting. 

The deluxe package is a whole other story.  I will sometimes buy and sometimes not.  The first factor I go through is are my kids with us?  If yes, then the deluxe is likely a no as we spend a lot of time with our kids while cruising so, I would less likely be sitting around drinking something. 

The next factor is how long is the cruise?  For example, for the Anthem GC, I am almost certain that I will be #teamnoDX because for 9 nights, that is pretty pricey.  And my kids are with us so double whammy, likely no.

The next factor I consider when debating between Deluxe and Refreshment is what is the difference in cost between the two packages?  For example,  our July Symphony sailing (anniversary just hubby and I) coming up, the price for Deluxe has dropped to $49/day and Refreshment is $20/day.  The total difference between the two packages is $239.54.  That is equivalent to about 2 drinks per day (+$25 left over).  I can easily go through two drinks in one day on a cruise like that so I will be calling Royal right after this post to purchase.

Those are usually the scenarios I run through to make a decision.

I'm glad I saw this post. I purchased the DX package for my July sailing on Symphony for $52 a day and now it's $49. For 2 that is a savings altogether of $45.56. Not huge but if I found it on the street I'd pick it up, lol.

To get it I just cancel the purchased ones then buy the new ones? If so, use the cancel option in my purchase section of the cruise planner?

Are there any cigar lounges on Symphony of the seas? If not, can they be smoked wherever smoking is allowed, and where would those places be?

Also, I think I saw that torch lighters are not allowed on board,  majority of cigar smokers use these. Will I be stuck using matches?

7 hours ago, twangster said:

They will supply a gallon of distilled water (if needed) and an extension cord for free.  You can contact them or your travel agent before sailing and ask for them, or simply ask your cabin attendant for one once onboard.

Also...

When you create a topic on the forum, please use a descriptive title in the "Title" box.  Do not put your username here.  Something like "Are extension cords allowed?"  

Thanks!

Glad to know about the distilled water, I also use a cpap and haven't got around to asking this.

Another question on this topic: where should we pack a product that we want to take onboard,  in our carry on  or checked luggage? In my case it is the one I took a screenshot of above. No surge protection, no extension cord.

Our upcoming cruise was booked by a family member that also booked 2 other rooms plus ours. She said if we did it that way we would be seated together during dinner times. Does that mean we are "linked" together also?

I bought this one. Think I will have any problems? It said it was cruise ship certified. 

42 minutes ago, Matt said:

FWIW there is a new Cruise Planner sale that just started. Perhaps related to that. The way to know is after sale ends, if price jumps back up.

I took advantage of the deluxe beverage package for our upcoming cruise, dropped to $52 a day from $56 a day. Figured I'd better lock it in while it was there.

I found out from one of the people we are going with that the double double bonus game he played was a 8/5 game at the $25 credit level, wow. I would walk past those at the dollar level in Las Vegas. Oh well, guess I'll go into it as a big gamble and hope I hit some 4 of a kinds or a royal. Sounds like the best bet would be blackjack as long as the rules are good. Double on any 2 cards, double after splits, etc.

Just wondered how the odds are in the casino since they have a captive audience so to speak. Mostly interested in video poker pay tables and blackjack rules. On VP I would be playing double double bonus $1 machines,  maybe some $5. Blackjack would depend on the minimums and if they are 3/2. Will not play 6/5.

I paid my fare fully when booked and repriced it a couple of weeks later. 

From what I've read if you preorder the ultimate drink package you must buy for every night of the cruise for each adult in the stateroom. If you wait until on the ship to purchase there has to be at least 4 days remaining for the cruise.

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/beverage-drink-package-products

Thanks for the reply @Lovetocruise2002, good to know about the perks for the possible cabin upgrade. We are also cruising on the July 27th one.

First post on any cruise forums, been lurking for a few weeks and signed up today. 

Anyhow,  this will be our first cruise, my wife has been dead set against them, afraid since she can't swim. I always said if the airplanes we fly in has a problem can you fly on your own??? Lol. But since we have family that has been on 2 cruises now on harmony and has had a great time we are taking the plunge this summer. We are sailing on symphony in a junior suite eastern caribbean itinerary. I already purchased "the key" while it was on sale before the price gouge, no better way to describe that, IMO. We are sailing with our family and they are in a grand suite for the upcoming cruise. 

My questions are:

I've read about the royal up program.  If I am offered to make a bid and try to go for a GS or higher would we get the upgraded perks that go with those cabins compares to a JS? I'm talking about all day access to the coastal kitchen,  lounges and all that?

Next question is about the deluxe drinking package.  It did go down to $52 a day , buy one, get 50% off second, but went back up to $56 a day for the 20% off total price. Sorta wished I pounced on the better offer. Should I hope for that to return or even a better one down the line?

We are gamblers, we go to Las Vegas as much as we can. I was curious if anyone could share video poker pay schedules, my game of choice is double double bonus.

Any other tips other than the above would be greatly appreciated,  thanks.