BrianB

The current price structure is pretty simple; charge as much as possible as long as purchasers are willing to pay to fill all available slots.
As purchasing tends to drop, so shall the price. Supply and demand.  

After the losses during Covid, I really don’t expect RC (or any for-profit business) to fix pricing based on what seems a fair trade allowing purchasers to buy spots based on a ‘first-come first-serve’ basis. Although that may be good for customer relations, especially for those ‘in the know’ repeat customers…it doesn’t make business sense.

Since the shutdown, and the accompanying loss of revenue, it seems the ‘maximum profit’ mentality has taken over. Gone is the reasonable pricing which provides a service for a fair fee plus profit. Now it seems it’s all strictly get whatever they can get…and then some!   

Oh, well…I can chose to purchase or not to purchase. 

Yes, I use TSA combination locks. Never had a problem with them.
Only once my bag was sent to ‘time out’ and I had to go down to security to get it. Apparently there was a sticker on the bag that said ‘ Iron’.  
Port security stuck it on when it went through their scanner.  
When I got to security on deck 3, they scanned the bag, did not find anything on the scan, told me it was fine and gave me the bag. When I asked if they wanted me to open it, they said not necessary. I asked why they didn’t just do that and send the bag on it’s way. Apparently I had to be there in case they needed it opened.
Strange policy.

Ditto about the restaurant reservations…especially with a group. Go right to the restaurant host desk as soon as you board and make the reservation. Just have everyone’s cabin numbers. Reservations fill up quickly, especially for groups.

Also ditto for the coupons. Unless specifically noted, they are one and done. Just tell the server which one you want to use…your free Diamond drink, or your percentage off coupon. Do that for every drink you order so that the server doesn’t charge you for a Diamond drink if you’re only getting a soda or bottle of water. Save them for the alcoholic drinks.

Congratulations on achieving Diamond!

It seems like there are different results at different ports…and even different security workers at the same port. Some are more strict in their own individual interpretation of the rules. I saw a confrontation between a passenger and a port security screener. I don’t know what item was being challenged…but the passenger kept asking for a ship’s representative to come and make the decision. The worker apparently didn’t like the challenge to their authority and was very rude. I don’t know what resulted as I kept moving. Hopefully it got sorted out. Bottom line…YMMV. Good luck!

My question is a little bit different….

I plan on bringing aboard a bottle of Tropical Oasis liquid vitamins. It’s 32 ounces (a one month supply) and is not sealed. They don’t sell the one I use in a smaller bottle that I could bring sealed. I’m guessing it will be examined by security so I’ll carry it separately and present it during screening. Hopefully it’s considered the same as liquid medicine in original bottles and it won’t be denied because it’s not sealed. It would be a waste of money for me to purchase a new bottle every three weeks just to get it through port security…but if that’s what I gotta do…oh, well.

The port is Port Liberty.

I like being on the sundeck midship between the forward mast (where the horn is) and the smokestacks. It’s a good spot for 360 degree views and to see how close the ship is when passing under the bridge with the smokestacks retracted.

Icon won’t fit under the Verrazano. Oasis sails out of NJ during the summer and fall season.

Yep! Just found that out.

I’m cruising to Greenland on the Jewel from Port Liberty on September 14th. It’s apparently a very popular cruise and many regular RC cruisers are booked. Check in opened last night at midnight.

There are a few social media groups for this sailing with lots of cruisers, and the word is out that it’s a good idea to check in right at midnight to secure an earlier arrival time.

I was checking the app right before midnight and all seemed normal. Then, just at midnight…it shut down. Tried logging in on the website…nope! Tried the usual rebooting devices and reinstalling the app…nope!

Checked FB and found out it wasn’t just me. That the app and the website were down. Lots of comments from cruisers who all tried to log in at midnight. Some actually succeeded in starting the check in process, only to have it suddenly close them out.

I’m guessing we crashed the app and the site. Maybe, maybe not…but the timing sounds plausible.

Oops!

**at 5am EDT I was able to do my check in on the app…but was not able to choose an arrival time. As of now (845am) it still says to check back later for an arrival time.

24 minutes ago, PPPJJ-GCVAB said:

I did also say I will choose from the children's menu (which I absolutely love chicken fingers) or I will order the Chops Grille filet (again would be very happy with that).  The older menu had more choices nightly and I believe that might be the hardest change to accept with this new menu offerings.  

Quick questions…

When you get the filet mignon from Chops, is it the same? Do they send someone to Chops Grille to get it or is it prepared in the MDR galley? Are there any sides included………thank you.

I have been on eleven cruises since the menu change. Primarily on the Anthem. 
I’m not very picky and easily pleased. I don’t like fish, so the lobster controversy doesn’t affect me…although I sympathize with those who dislike the ‘extra tail for an extra fee’ rule.

So far, I’ve been pretty happy with the menus. I like the choices…the food has been well prepared, plated and served. I think the main reason I have such a good experience is because I like early dining (as soon as the doors open, I go right to my table) and I’m usually solo. I love having the same time, same table and the same server and assistant. From soup/salad to dessert…I’m usually out in an hour.

I know that others have larger groups and may be coming in during busier times…so that can make it more challenging. Hopefully it goes well and there are no issues with the food or the service. Good luck!

Oasis just barely squeezes under the Verrazano Narrows bridge coming out of New York Harbor from Port Liberty.

That’s with her smoke stacks retracted.

So Icon is a no-go to Bayonne…

I agree she’s a monstrosity. No one should book a cruise on her! Stay away! 

Then hopefully, as demand drops…prices will also drop and I can get a better deal!

Seriously…I can’t wait to board this absolutely Iconic, next generation vacation-destination floating city!

@New_CA_Cruiser I think rotating in and out is fine. The beds are pretty close together and anything other than four would be a problem. You can go on YouTube and see videos showing how the beds are set up at each of the locations…Breezy Bay, Chill Island and South Beach. Enjoy!

Renting the beach bed gives you the bed plus two loungers right in front. How you decide to allocate that space is up to you. I’ve rented a bed under my name and cabin number, and I sail solo.
I invited friends from other cabins to join me. We were a total of four. The cooler has four bottles of water…we added some more. Nobody questioned anything about who was using the bed/loungers. If I, the renter, was okay with it…so were the people at the check-in stand. 
I think if I rotated friends from other cabins in and out at different times, there would be no problem as long as we did not exceed four…and as long as I (the renter) was there.

I have also had issues with the wrong color card.

But the Suite Concierge and/or the Diamond Lounge Concierge took care of it immediately by printing out the correct color card right at their desk. There was no need to go to Guest Services. After all…that’s part of the concierge’s duties. To be a guest services desk for those eligible to be in the lounges.

I agree the bartender acted inappropriately…or worse. But the Concierge shouldn’t have just shrugged it off, either. 

Each has its pros and cons as noted above. So, the perfect solution would be…do both!

Save money on your wedding. Elope on a cruise ship and let the captain marry you!

If you purchased the internet via the Cruise Planner;

Go to the Cruise Planner…upper right side click on History…your internet purchase should come up. It will give you a choice to cancel the purchase. Clicking on it will begin the refund back to your credit card.

Looks like the $88 beach club passes are never coming back. Oh, well…it was good while it lasted.

I agree with the price being so much higher (darn supply and demand economics!) it makes it that much easier to avoid the temptation and pass it by. 

Plus, I was getting tired of the anxiety involved in being one of the first off the ship and rushing to try and snag a beach bed by the pool. Especially with two ships docked.

Lunch is a sit down meal in a restaurant…not buffet-style. So reservations are required. The upscale menu includes Filet Mignon and Lobster. It’s one of the best things about the beach club. That and the infinity pool…and the exclusivity. I always make my reservation on embarkation day and then as soon as I arrive at the beach club, I check with the restaurant desk to confirm.

I like that they are expanding the island to allow for more guests…but I wish they would expand the beach club…and it’s restaurant. More guests on the island means higher prices for the club. Supply and demand. I guess it would increase the exclusivity of the beach club by making it more expensive…and maybe that’s part of the plan. I’m guessing they will just keep raising the prices as long as people are willing to pay.

@Julanna Some machines have bets as low as twenty five cents a spin, or even lower. You still need to bet five dollars to get one point. So you would need to spin twenty times at twenty five cents a spin to earn one point. Some machines have a maximum bet of twenty dollars a spin…so each spin will earn four points. Each five dollars equals one point.

You can earn thousands of points by playing over a long period of time even on penny slots. It takes a lot of time to do it. For instance, betting .88 cents a spin a on a penny machine will take nearly six spins to earn one point. But, if you’re lucky, you may find yourself on a machine that gives lots of play for your money. Otherwise, you would need to keep feeding the machine to keep playing. I like to find what I call a ‘points’ machine. Those are machines that I know have a history of good play. They may not have as many jackpots, but they win just enough to keep playing…and keep earning points.

Jackpots have no effect on points. Someone can put in twenty dollars, and on their last spin win a thousand dollar jackpot. They still earned only four points. One point for each five dollars. 

The beach club is capacity controlled, so you will find loungers and umbrellas available whenever you get there. They will just be in the rows further back from the beach. As others posted, rather than waiting until you get there to make lunch reservations…make them on embarkation day. Most don’t know to do that until they get the beach club reservation letter in their cabin. There is a continental breakfast available.
If you really want to splurge…reserve a beach cabana. The prices are high, but they include entry to the club for everyone in your party.

Casino loyalty points on board are earned similar to many land-based casinos. For regular slot machines, every five dollars bet equals one point. For poker machines it’s usually every ten dollars bet equals one point. That’s because the player has more control to affect the outcome on the poker machine. 

Keep in mind…it’s not how much you put into the machine, but how much play you get. For instance, putting in ten dollars should give you two points…five dollars a point. But, if you put in ten dollars and are lucky enough to hit for twenty dollars and keep playing, you can earn six points. Your total bets equal thirty dollars even though you only put in ten. Many machines can give you quite a bit of play…win some lose some…over an extended period and your ten dollars can result in you earning many more points. It’s not the amount you put in…but how many times you bet five dollars.

Table games have different rules. Based on the type of game, the amount bet and the total time played. Many players change their bet amounts while they play. Those rules are not as clear as the slot machines and it can be difficult to keep track of what you are earning while you’re playing. You can always ask the pit boss.

@Pima1988 Yes…that’s both the bad and the good. The bad is as more cars arrive later in the afternoon, they make you wait in line for an available drop off spot before you can approach the terminal. That causes traffic to back up.

The good is, rather than a Mad Max free for all where everyone jockeys for position, there are plenty of workers to direct traffic and point you to a specific numbered space when it’s your turn. Then after you drop off your luggage, it’s pretty simple to pull out and go park your car. Plus they want to control the amount of traffic as people are exiting the terminal and crossing the street.

If the garage is available to non-handicapped, you can pull in and the attendant will hand you a ticket. If not…then there are plenty of workers to direct you where to park. Just go with the flow.