DublinFC

32 minutes ago, cmdrfrag said:

*Scotch Whisky :)

14 minutes ago, twangster said:

Scotch.  Period.

No need to drag it down into the broader classification of swill that some countries call whisky.   

whoa whoa easy tiger hahaha, quoting the label.  besides Irish Whiskey is Champ.  Jameson, Tullamore Dew (my Graddad worked there as a cooper), Teeling, and Redbreast are all wonderful.

5 hours ago, cmdrfrag said:

You can purchase Alcohol packages from the Royal Gifts that would be delivered to your room.
I believe these are allowed to be consumed at your leisure in the stateroom

Though with these there is a good bit of a mark up.

I was taking a peek at those before and agree the markup is a bit much, but it is tempting.  I am debating the DBP or not and this would be nice to have then hope for a drink card sale later in the sailing.  Save some money that way compared to a 7 day DBP.

9 hours ago, CGTLH said:

Yes, Royal does hold purchases until the last night. If purchased late on the last day you'll be able to take it then.

If the bottle included the "ship tax"/priced much higher than it can be bought for. Then that would be a NCL policy allowing purchases for onboard consumption. Unfortunately Royal, outside of the few 375ml bottle options purchased in advance, doesn't allow bottles to be purchased for onboard consumption.

I thought the price was pretty good when I bought it.  Also, when I am in vacation mode I don't really look at price all that carefully if it is below $50.  I know the bottle wasn't that much though.  We were nearing the end of the cruise 2nd to last day so maybe that was why they let me take it with me???  I don't know.  All I can say is my friends and I had a few drinks back in our cabins with some nice whiskey (scotch whiskey if we are being particular).

2 hours ago, Vlgg said:

Don't they hold any bottles of liquor that you buy on the ship until you get off at the end of the cruise?

Not sure, but I bought a bottle of Johnny Walker Black Label on NCL Escape and they gave it to me then and there 

20 minutes ago, Wilmsta said:

They had Guinness on tap in the pub on Indy last summer.

However it wasn't poured correctly for either of the 2 pints I tried. Maybe I should of had a word with the barman and advised him how it's meant to be poured (rather than just straight up) but the bar was far too busy.     

I am a very picky Guinness drinker as well.  I think I would have had a word with them when it was less crowded.  I don't mind waiting for it to be done right.  I do get they are busy people and trying to get everyone's orders though.

6 minutes ago, twangster said:

I've had great success getting Guinness in a can on many ships but never on tap.   

Not the worst news ive ever heard.  thanks for the info.

@twangster Great post with the menus.  One glaring omission though.  Guinness.  Can ya get a pint on board?  Was happy to see the Jameson though!

2 hours ago, Atlantix2000 said:

Is there actually a difference in cost between ordering a shot of Captain and ordering a Captain and Coke?

But the bottle I buy on the ship provides a stronger pour since I am the bartender   :)

Glad it worked out.  I would be really annoyed with myself if I were in your shoes.  But, its vacation if the worst of it is trading one good time for another happy days!

6 hours ago, JennyB said:

soda package and up...Soda, Refreshment, Deluxe...

Awesome! Constant supply of  Coke for my Captain Morgan!

does the coke refill cup come with the DDP?  Or only the Soda package?

Just now, mook1525 said:

I am having this issue too..

I was able to get logged in on the main site, then clicked at the top already booked, cruise planner, clicked reserve,  took me to a page where I needed to put in my last name reservation# sail date and ship, then it took me to the cruise planner and displayed my sailing.  Long way in, but at least it worked.

P.S. there might be one more step, but think that was it.

I just logged in so I could check out the sale.  My reservation isn't showing on the RC website.  I tried to add my cruise with the reservation number and the button isn't working.  Just wondering if anyone else is having any issues like this?  I am at work and out computers are less than fair imo.  But when logging in and not seeing my cruise listed is a little alarming.

On 3/16/2019 at 3:21 PM, Zambia-Zaire said:

https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/3859/?&source=99362/

thanks for the read.  Im looking forward to the conformation of what exactly is going to be added.  I really hope playmakers makes the cut.  Also hooked would be nice to see.  

1 hour ago, teddy said:

Is there any rhyme or reason to the pricing structure????

We have a 4-night Caribbean cruise booked on Vision in October.  We booked the middle of February and paid $811.20 and got $75 obc.  Since then, I've seen it as high at $900.20.  Two days ago it was $823.20 and friends who are going with us actually rebooked theirs at that lower (for them) price.  This morning I checked, and it was $800.20... the only reason I didn't rebook is because we'd lose our obc.  Tonight, I just checked for the hell of it, and it's at $818.20

Any ideas why the prices jump around so much?

I was looking around for a 4 night cruise in Oct as well and I have been having a hard time keeping it straight, so I asked  a travel agent from MEI who was assisting me with a stay at Universal.  I am pushing my 4 night cruise out till 2020 though.  We have enough scheduled for this year now.  Unless it has been the new promotions and/or people booking and canceling it is confusing.  I doubt people are booking and canceling that much in such a short amount of time. 

I saw this posted on facebook today.  I did not prepay my gratuities when I recently booked my cruise.  Would it be a good idea to pay them now so I don't see the increase if it happens?  I know its a small amount, but per person per day all adds up.  Less money to spend on vacation, when its going towards vacation.

57 minutes ago, AGSLC5 said:

Odyssey is a Quantum class ship coming out Late 2020. It was announced it is coming to the USA. Im sure that boat will be amazing so if I were you I would look to sail on that as soon as they open sailings for booking which should be sometime soon. 

I am going to keep an eye out for her.  Costs I',sure are going to be high since she will be brand new.  I would be interested to see what they have on board compared to the other Quantum ships.

45 minutes ago, twangster said:

Odyssey is still far enough out I'm not counting on anything until I see her available for booking.  UK media quotes executives saying she is going to Europe, US media claims US.  Maybe it's a combination of the two, maybe in the interim if something else happens it will go somewhere else.  

Until I see her bookable I'm not counting on her being anywhere.  

Maybe its a mystery cruise??  Hopefully its clarified soon so we know where she is headed.  I would like to sail Europe, the British Isles cruise specifically, so maybe Odyssey will be available for one of the European cruises that look intriguing.

25 minutes ago, twangster said:

Ovation moves around a bit more than her sisters.  She has traditionally split time between Singapore and Australia.  This year she comes to the Alaska.    

Anthem has been fixed in the US Northeast for several years now serving the NYC general market.  She is going back to Europe soon for a summer and dry dock before coming back to the US.

Quantum was more heavily modified to serve the Asia region so it has tended to stay in that region.

Spectrum was built for China and sails directly there after completion.  It's unlikely at the moment you'll see her leaving that region unless something else changes.

This class is generally built to suit colder climates.  That has historically played a factor in deployment plans. 

Moving ships between regions is not an insignificant undertaking and it costs money.  When Ovation first comes to the US this spring she has to undergo a 3 day mandatory inspection by the US government.  Taking a ship out of production for 3 days making zero revenue is a huge financial burden.  All cruise ships only make money when sailing full of guests.  

thanks for the details.  I know sitting idle means no money coming in.  I saw a map of ships moving around and wasn't sure if that was common or a every now and then situation.  Knowing the Ovation is coming to Alaska just means a trip there will be sooner than later I guess.  Win-Win!

8 minutes ago, Matt said:

RC has found the Quantum Class to be a good fit for Asian market. I think it also helped these ships debuted right around the same time China became red hot for cruises.

 

Ok that make sense I guess.  I was checking them out their Solarium's look amazing, plus the other great features.  So only having the 1 option here currently was a head scratcher.  Thanks for the info.

So I was searching around here looking for information on the Quantum ships and didn't see what I was looking for.  I was pricing cruises on the 3 available Quantum ships last night, then noticed there is Spectrum coming soon.  I was wondering why 2 of the 3 are sailing in Asia only?  Also, will they be moved around when the next ship is available?  And, lastly does the fleet rotate where they sail from yearly or how does that work?  I really hope this doesn't sound too ignorant, just hoping to learn a bit more.  Thanks!

2 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

No.  "They" will make a reservation for you for the first night, which you can change once you are on the ship, if you like.  Once you are onboard, you can make the rest of your dining reservations.  When you purchase a dining package pre-cruise, you are trading cost for convenience.  You save money but you are not permitted to make those reservations ahead of time.  That's the tradeoff.

Ok, ok I got it now.  That's different to NCL. We bought and booked early.  Thank you for the clarification.   

Quick question on the dining package.  I was listing to an older podcast last night and I was a little confused about the reservation process.  If I purchase a 3 day package can I make reservations on the cruise planner when it opens up?  I am sailing on the Oasis. 

@MarvinS Yo!

4 minutes ago, spiralqueen said:

I wouldn't count on it in the smaller ships. When I was on Enchantment in November, I was only able to get fresh squeezed OJ in the MDR. I asked in the WJ and was told they don't offer it there on that ship. But that fresh squeezed that I WAS able to get in the MDR? SUCH a difference! I sounded like an idiot when my only reaction to it was "it tastes like an orange!!!!!"  Of course that  was my shorthand way of saying it tasted exactly like biting into a fresh orange, but looking back it was a silly thing to say.  

"it tastes like an orange"  hahaha Well at least it was good!

2 minutes ago, JennyB said:

To clarify, it was on Freedom OTS and Independence OTS...AND in the MDR for breakfast

I would hazard a guess that it would be standard-ish line wide.  gives me a good idea where to start :)