BrianB

Counting the one I’m on now… I have 62 nights between now and the end of March. All are solo (so far) and in JS and above, so double triple points. That’s a total of 372 points (62x6). The points are just a bonus because I would have taken these cruises anyway after the cruise drought. I usually only sail between September (pool closing) and May (pool opening)…not over the summer months…love sailing over the winter months into the Caribbean, where it’s always summer! I’ve already sailed 48 nights since Sept marked my cruising re-start…giving me 288 points (48x6). I have another 59 nights between April and Dec, but I have yet to book my Nov and early Dec cruises. 16 of those nights are on a long pre-planned and twice re-scheduled TA on another line. So, for Royal…another 258 points (43x6) for a total, so far, of 169 nights with 918 points (169-16=153x6…my head hurts)… Looking at it like this makes me think that I may have a cruising problem. And by problem, I mean a really, really good problem!

I’m on my eighth cruise since September. After the first one, it all seems to be just routine now. I have an alarm set on my phone’s calendar to alert me that it’s two weeks from my Covid test date before each cruise. I do that because that’s when my CVS opens up scheduling for the test. I’m lucky because in Central New Jersey there are plenty of testing opportunities available. A quick drive and it’s done! Others have it much more difficult because of travel and time constraints along with less availability for testing. Sometimes I’m onboard when I need to make the reservation so it’s good to have the WiFi. On my B2Bs, the tests were done on the ship so it was much easier. The only times I got anxious about the tests was when I was able to successfully RoyalUp into really nice Sky Class Suites and worried that I wouldn’t be able to go. Other than that…it’s just routine now.

@levib2 Yes to the plastic holder…lots of people have them. They are the same size as a credit card. There is no barcode…the card has a chip in it. I don’t know about the hole punch, never did it. edit………my experience is only with the Oasis and Anthem. Other ships use different cards. Thanks @PG Cruiser!

On the Anthem now…at check in they gave us paper wristbands that can only be cut off or broken. Then after dinner, the room attendant came with a white satin band with a letter asking us to replace the temporary paper bands with the satin. We had the rubber wrist bands on the Anthem on Nov 8, 14 and 28th cruises. I guess they ran out of the rubber ones and now we’re back to satin. Sheeesh!

On board the Anthem…while walking the hallway today after embarkation, I saw them delivering a couple of foam mattress toppers to a few rooms in a row. They all appeared new, wrapped in plastic. Apparently a lot a hard beds! **I actually looked for them to find you an answer!

On the Anthem…the final count is 2,700. Nice, round number!

I always book and manage my reservations myself. That gives me the freedom to make any changes directly with Royal and not give up control of the booking. However…I am retired and a bit of a control nerd. Every day I need to check and make sure I can take advantage of price drops or upgrades or even cabin changes (locations and/or categories). Also, I check every day to manage my Cruise Planner purchases ensuring I have the best price for what I bought. I’ve learned through experience and information shared by others, mostly on these forums, tips and tricks to help me get the best value for my money…such as not cancelling a Cruise Planner purchase for a lower price until after locking in the lower price. Every time I find a better deal for my cruise, I call Royal and have to deal with whatever agent answers…virtually all have been nice, considerate and professional…but (a BIG but)…sometimes different agents give different answers. Not that they don’t believe what they are saying, just sometimes they don’t have the right information, or misunderstand what I want. That’s another good tip learned here…if you don’t get the answer you know is right, call again and get another agent! No one is infallible. The issue with calling Royal is there is virtually always a long hold period. After speaking with an agent…I am put on hold while they confer with their ‘colleagues’ and eventually return. The average hold time for me is thirty minutes. I just put my phone on speaker and wait. Then there is the issue of FCCs, Cruise Planner credits, and refunds. These take the most time to deal with. These are just some of the many time-consuming, and sometimes frustrating, tasks I need to perform just to manage one reservation. If I booked and didn’t constantly check, I would definitely be missing out on excellent opportunities to save money or take advantage of upgrades and sales. If I wasn’t such a control nerd, and didn’t have the time, I would definitely use a good TA. Let them handle all the work and stress. Plus, they sometimes give some extras like OBC or a gift in your cabin.

Soft pillows, blanket, ice…extra hangers (especially on b2b)…occasionally a mattress topper if needed.

That’s my main concern with some of these ‘brand’ cards. It sounds good when they extol the benefits of using their card, but in reality, getting the benefits can be a challenge. There should be a quick, seamless application of points toward a purchase without having to waste time making a phone call. If it’s not convenient and easy…then it’s not an attractive alternative to all the other cards with benefits. Just my opinion.

I was on that sailing also and enjoyed the CK. I agree the setup could be better, I mean what’s with the two level tables? At least they didn’t seat anyone above me or I would have felt like I was sitting at the kiddie table during Thanksgiving dinner. Too bad they couldn’t combine the lounge with the restaurant like on the Oasis…it’s a bit of a hike to get to the lounge all the way aft on deck 12. The view from the lounge is great, but the location is inconvenient and out of the way. The ambiance and the view in the CK are both very nice…the food and service were excellent. I asked for a dessert that wasn’t on the menu and they sent someone down to the MDR to get it. When I asked why they didn’t just step into the Windjammer next door, they said because it’s made fresh in the MDR kitchen. Nice touch! I’m looking forward to the rigatoni with sausage tomorrow night!

My FCC story is a bit different. I booked a cruise months ago on the Anthem leaving this Sunday. I paid for the deposit with Amex and used three separate FCCs for much of the balance, the remainder to be paid by Amex. Since I booked it…the price had dropped and I re-priced it, receiving the lower price. As I had yet to make final payment at that time, the final payment was reduced and then I subsequently paid it off with Amex. Meanwhile, with the double points promotion, I passed the 350 point mark so I called C&A to get yet another re-price taking advantage of the solo cruiser supplement reduction. The difference was about $1,200 to be returned to me as another FCC…understandable because that was the bulk of my payment. Then, I submitted bids to RoyalUp and a couple days ago, I was notified that my bid was accepted and my Amex was charged. Today, I reviewed my booking and found a balance due of $156. I’m sure that would cause a problem at the terminal. When I called and explained (yet another very nice, helpful agent) I went through the seemingly obligatory thirty-five minute holding period (can they PLEASE change the commercial while on hold!) while she and her ‘colleagues’ worked on it. Eventually she came back and told me that the $1,200 will not be refunded as an FCC, but to my credit card as cash. Also, the balance due was a ‘glitch’ in the computer and they would work on removing it. But, just in case, the supervisor added a note to the reservation indicating that there was zero due. Fingers crossed I get aboard Sunday without this being an issue. This ‘managing my bookings’ stuff is hard work…but well worth it! ****Update Sat Dec 11…my reservation now shows -0- balance…and the $156 has been refunded to my Amex. Now just waiting for the remainder. At least I won’t be nervous checking in at the terminal!

Sorry, I should have been clearer…not 150% off (which would be great!)…but a 50% reduction on the double occupancy price. “Single supplement reduced to 150% from 200%”…cabins are sold double occupancy so solos have to pay for two. Exception is for the solo cabins where there is only one person…but the demand for them is usually pretty high, so the price goes up. Plus, taxes and port fees are for only one person. It’s pretty sweet to have that reduction combined with the sales such as 60% off second guest…or 30% off each.

Due to physical distancing protocols…ships have been limiting the amount of people allowed in the pools at one time. Same with the hot tubs. On the Anthem, the pool was roped off with just one opening so that the lifeguard could control how many people entered. As someone left, someone else could enter. They need to start re-evaluating that policy as they increase passenger load.

Don’t forget to keep checking the prices. I have submitted RoyalUp bids and then watched as the price for the category I wanted dropped low enough over time for me to cancel the bid and just pay for the upgrade. This way I got to choose my cabin and received the extra points. Just sayin’…

The biggest tip here is don’t forget to enable airplane mode before sailaway! …then turn on WiFi. What I do is make sure whoever may need to contact me knows I’m on WiFi only…so text, email or Messenger. I’m an Androider (new word?) so I don’t have FaceTime…but Messenger video works just as well. WhatsApp…not so well for me. I let people know there may be some delay because sometimes the ship's WiFi can go down occasionally, so be patient. Sometimes it’s not the same instant connection as on land. I know my carrier has Travel and International options but I’m okay with just the WiFi. For me…usually it’s best to just disconnect and enjoy the now!

I’m D+… I never bid the highest, just what I’m comfortable with at the time. Usually at the lower end of the scale. I think I was just lucky with the first one because that was Anthem’s first cruise after returning from the UK and the first day was removed making it just a six day cruise, so there may have been some cancellations. For Sunday’s cruise…also luck. I bid the lower end again and don’t know why I got it. There must have been lots of availability and they awarded bids on the higher cabin categories, freeing up mine. Keep trying! Good luck!

$73.50 a night is a bit steep. Maybe if it was $73 even, I’d jump all over that!

Received the email that my RoyalUp bid was successful. From JS to Owner’s Suite. The cruise is on the Anthem from Bayonne NJ on December 12…so, five days from embarkation day. The last time I was notified of a successful bid was on Nov 5th for the Anthem sailing on Nov 8th…so, three days out. Yay!

In my case…being solo it’s just one price, and one device is fine…I switch between my phone and iPad. Priority embarkation makes a big difference for me…I am pretty much guaranteed my specialty dining reservation times because I’m onboard early…plus the Chops lunch. Carry on drop off and delivery is convenient. But I don’t use the Flow Rider or Rock Wall reserved times. It makes sense for me to jump on a cheap Key price especially if it’s just a couple dollars more than getting WiFi for the cruise which I would get anyway.

Self assist early walk off is the first to leave the ship after clearance from local authorities. That’s where you have all of your luggage with you and need no assistance. It depends on the time that the ship arrives in port which is usually early in the morning…as long as there are no delays. On the Anthem in Bayonne, we usually start disembarking between 6:30 and 7:00.

Can’t wait to get back to Canada cruising from Bayonne. Halifax is great…even just walking off the ship and touring the terminal with it's displays on the history of immigration into Canada. Then a stroll along the waterfront…great restaurants, shopping…they have a fully restored WW2 convoy escort corvette, the HMCS Sackville that you can tour. There’s also the CSS Acadia, a restored survey ship which is the only ship to survive the Halifax explosion. Near the end of the Boardwalk is the Maritime museum. Big, sprawling and lots of exhibits and videos about the Titanic and the Halifax Harbor explosion. Another stroll inland and there are more great restaurants and pubs (my usual is The Old Triangle Ale House for lunch)…and a little further is the Citadel. A restored fort on top of a huge hill overlooking the harbor where they do military life re-enactments. Yeah, I’m a history buff. That’s just some of the things to do in the area of the terminal. There are also plenty of excursions. By the way…the locals are great!

I’m on Anthem now…boarded Nov 28 with the Key. No room service or 25% dining discount. But Chops lunch was great. Carry-on drop off was easy. There was signage for the Key at the terminal entrance, but because there was no line at all when I arrived at 11:30, everyone was just being waved in. There is no early entry for the shows at the Royal Theater or Two70, doors open 45 mins pre-show and anyone with a reservation is welcomed. Key times for the Flow Rider and the Rock wall only. No Northstar or iFly. There is no priority disembarkation for early self-assist walk-off. Just have to stand in the regular line waiting for clearance after the ship arrives. Sit down Key breakfast and Choice Departure is offered and there is the Key luggage area in the customs hall.

Yes. Always good to have back up kits. Some have been found to be defective after the monitor instructs opening them…such as the little bottle is dry. Some people made mistakes while taking the test, like dropping the card off-screen…and the test was invalidated. But as long as you have another kit, the same proctor will just start over during the same session. There are also some who lost wifi mid-test and again, that test was invalidated. I consider having back up kits like having insurance…you never know if you’re going to need it, but it’s there!

Royal has a link www.chargerback where you can report an item lost onboard the ship after you have disembarked. Is that the process your wife used? If so, good to know it works as intended.

Good question. I always thought they needed to provide CBP with a passenger manifest no more than 48hrs prior to sailing. I’m on the Anthem now…I went to the web page and was able to put in my info and found available rooms for tomorrow’s seven night sailing. A studio balcony for $408 and balcony cabins for $563. I can’t pull the trigger because I’m coming back next week and that would be crazy…even for a full blown Cruisaholic like me!