PurdueFlyer

I don't think these negative nancys are really trying to rain on our parades. I think they might just be THAT uncreative when it comes to vacations that they have to rattle off 8 unrelated reasons why they don't cruise. It's a big cover to hide the fact that they're too scared to undertake the booking process (or whatever) and try it out. whatever; less lines at the Windjammer for me!

I snagged it for my solo cruise on Brilliance back in February for $19.99/day, but at that price it was basically VOOM, which I was getting anyways, plus twenty bucks for lunch at chops. all the other perks were gravy. Great value for what I needed, but it was like biting the forbidden fruit; haven't gotten it again on the next 3 cruises with the price increases and don't see the point.

Any idea if Joff will still be the CD for our Sept 20th sailing on Ovation? This is the Vancouver to Honolulu 10-nighter, so right after the Alaska season ends and the ship heads towards SYD. Not sure if they usually stay on for these transition sailings or whatnot ...

We are sailing on Ovation, which (still) isn't supported on the app, so app check-in is not available in this case.

bumping this thread ... We sail in 29 days. been trying to check-in online now for about 6 straight days. When clicking the "start check-in" button on the website, We get an error message "Sorry there's been a glitch. Check-in is currently unavailable, so please try again later." I emailed Royal to ask if they are having website difficulties, or if something with our reservation got "corrupted" thus preventing online check-in (for us) for some reason. Royal responded the next day. "We are currently experience technical difficulties with our Online Check-In, and it is impacting many of our guests. Our IT Team is currently working on the issue, and we hope to have everything resolved as soon as possible. While we are not able to advise an explicit time frame regarding this, we encourage you to continue attempting to complete your check-in. If you are unable to complete the Online Check-In prior to arriving at the pier, the check-in staff at the pier will be able to fully assist you." So there you go. Just a friendly PSA incase anyone else has been trying to use OCI this week ... apparently they ARE having issues. Although I'd be curious if other users have managed to successfully complete online check-in (nay, even get the page to open!) since this past Sunday. cheers, PF

sorry for digging up an old thread ... any updated information RE: global entry at the Port of Miami? I'm returning Friday from a Navigator sailing, but haven't been through the port of Miami since Royal opened up their new Terminal A. Would be nice if GE kiosks were operational here!

thanks. also good point RE: RoyalUp. I didn't consider the cabin roll would help balance (potential) oversells for the lower-end rooms, so even if I'm not bidding for a better stateroom odds are that it'll resolve itself without them having to INVOL upgrade a bunch of people. In either case, this trip is about checking out the new and improved Navigator (and of course Perfect Day at Coco Cay)! I wont have time for lolly-gagging on a balcony anyways ?

no RoyalUp this time, cruising solo & on principle, I won't pay the single supplement and then pay a double RoyalUp charge as well.

I just returned from a 5-night sailing on Indy that will bump me from Platinum to Emerald. The status level has not updated yet in my Crown & Anchor profile, and probably won't for another week or so, per normal. Now, apparently because I can't help myself ?, I just booked a 4-nighter on Brilliance that leaves in 1 month. I'm in an inside guarantee (GTY). The docs have been issued and it says I can check in now, even though the stateroom hasn't been assigned yet. I realize I paid for the inside GTY (and I'm fine if that's what I end up in) but, in the wisdom of the board, is there any benefit to checking in NOW, or should I wait until the Emerald status posts? If they assign the cabin tomorrow, this is all moot, buuut, in theory having a higher status when the rooms are assigned should only help the chances of an upgrade, right? I think I'm just gonna sleep on this until the status updates on its own, but wanted to bounce it off the gurus here first.

just did Independence last week ex. FLL, and we were onboard by 1130am.

in the event no one else can answer this, I'll be happy to report back this Thursday 2/28 when I depart on Brilliance (different ship but hopefully the same protocol!)

as a data point, received the following offer today for a solo cruiser. sailing in 10 days on Brilliance (4-nighter) & currently booked in a balcony. was offered $80pp ($160 total) for a JS, and $200pp ($400 total) for a Grand Suite. I consider the $160 to be a pretty good deal for a JS upgrade, but I don't really need the extra space for 1 person and I can use the money elsewhere onboard. The $400 / GS upgrade is more than I'm willing to spend (and for no extra suite nights credit), although it would be cool to check out a Grand Suite.

+1 I've only done a JS once, on a 3-nighter on Mariner. I was a solo cruiser on that one. The points were the main draw, but at 3 nights in the Bahamas, there wasn't much "cruising" to begin with. The big turn-off for me was that once onboard, discovering the perks for Suite guests really only apply to Grands and higher. I've never seen a cost-differential that I felt justified making the jump from JS to Grands. At some point I'm asking "what else can I do with this money" either onboard or towards another trip. I have a 5-nighter with the SO in April. We initially purchased a Promenade-view (never done that before) but later bought up to a nonrefundable JS for about $450 more total. I couldn't say no to that. He will get to see what the JS suite entails for the first time, we'll both get the double nights, and we'll compare notes. For me, with a flexible job where I can easily swap days to get a chunk of time off without burning vacation, I assess the value of the suite extra cost & points accrued, versus carving out time off for another cruise later on in a normal cabin. (These are all good problems to have, right?)

perfect, thanks for the reply! I'll probably just save the money for booze instead.

Hey all- I'm cruising solo in 2 weeks on Brilliance. The terms indicate that: Offers are based on two occupants per stateroom - only the first and second guest will be charged. ... but that seems a little unclear if there's only one person in the stateroom to begin with. Probably not worth paying a faux-single-supplement twice (in my case, would be from a balcony to a JS most likely) and not even get the bonus night credits usually associated with the suites ... but I'd possibly entertain it just for the bigger room anyways. appreciate any feedback on this!