Hagar

Another great run to maximize the value of an AFT balcony too. Doing Vision in December in one of them. Location, location, location!

OBC received from an onboard booking is the most common thing to drop off of a reservation when changes are made so I'd double check with t/a (or Royal if you booked direct). It isn't always that it doesn't qualify, the computer just removes it and a rep has to verify that it was an onboard booking and add it back onto the reservation manually.

And this is why their marketing got "AX" added to their BOGOHO=buy one get one half off. Dunno who used it first but have loved the label "BOGOHOAX" since then ? I'd like to add that just because they offer a BOGO60, it isn't always less $. Royal does change line 1 (base price per person) depending on how well the run is selling so it's good to check the "out the door" pricing for comparison.

The terminal at Cape Liberty is a good one for early arrival. AN usually does a quick turnaround even though there will still be some people out front leaving if you do arrive at 1000. Terminal does run out of chairs sometimes but they do a pretty good job overall. Once onboard it's amazing to see how jacked up the traffic gets because of the poor planning on ingress/egress (maybe Royal IT helped plan this too ;>)

One of the most asked questions I get is some form of 'how/why Royal thinks they can get away with this?'(covers any "this" you might have encountered) My answer has always been "because they can." Don't jump to a conclusion yet, I say this with over one hundred cruises with Royal under my belt. I have ridden the customer service roller coaster that caused me to cut up my "Crown & Anchor" card and send it to the V.P. in charge of "C&A" (anyone recall that we were even issued cards back then?). I've tried other lines just to discover that poor service or products are an industry wide issue in mainstream cruising. So "because they can" is the plain reality that comes from full ships. My rose colored glasses broke long ago but I can also articulate many positive reasons that I still cruise with Royal. Ironically the first reason is the loyalty program I stuck with after the V.P actually responded to me so many years ago ;>)

I prefer being by the aft elevators since dining is such large part of any cruise. In addition to the dining venues "270" is an EXCELLENT venue and it's on the aft also. Just my 2 pennies, Hagar

Great capitals of Europe in 1993 on the Sun Viking in an inside cabin. She even did the Kiel canal transit.

I wholeheartedly agree with using them for best pricing for international flights, especially open-jaw runs. Since I am a red-eye person, I even use them for domestic flights for embarkation day arrival. I don't mind the extra fee for the peace of mind. Might seem counterintuitive but one tip I like to pass along is to price 2 one way tickets in addition to the round trip feature. I have found a better price or flight arrangements on some occasions by doing it this way.

The world of "BOGOHOAX" can soitenly be frustrating ? After 30 years of cruising with Royal I agree that booking when the deployment is released is the best overall route to take. Booking later usually involves comparing other ships and/or sail dates if you are truly bargain hunting. Finding one or more that isn't selling well is key since those will have the best promotions and qualifier discounts (senior, resident, military etc.). Lastly, booking after final payment isn't as lucrative as it once was but there are some carrots "out there." Final is now due 90 days out which can help with booking reasonable air too (was just able to book a qualifier rate earlier this month for AN on 8-1 so I do know this is still effective ;>)

Same menu but usually much better service. Kitchen is right there so hot food is a PLUS for me.

I wholeheartedly agree that using a t/a is usually hit or miss but since this site has real life experience to support their recommendations, I'd at least give it a shot. I'm an agent that is wrapping up my franchise so I have the freedom to discuss the business side of things. We have the potential to make things very easy for you but are there good and bad agents "out there?" Soitenly, so the main thing I like to suggest is use an agent who actually cruises, at least occasionally (cubicle cruising does NOT count ;>) The negative aspect to using any agent is giving up your control over the booking. The vets on these boards will confirm the withdrawal symptoms but it can be done. As stated you should be getting something for that though (best pricing, knowledgeable cabin selection and maybe an extra perk or two).

Affirming my infinity for the newer ships (or a Jr. suite on the older ships) since I am truly built like my namesake (the cartoon Viking)

The attendants do have help getting the cabins ready and sometimes this is their first day in that zone after a change (or even returning to ship for the start of a new contract period). But your attendant is still responsible so my tact is usually the floor supervisor since they should look into what went wrong and have the resources to make it right.

To advise management that they are not responsive to your issue, the email should be "[email protected]." The real work will get done when someone in "IT" actually fixes the issue so good luck with it. You are not alone!

Much of deck 6 on QN class looks across the tops of the lifeboats so you do miss the moving water from your balcony but still lots to see. I've stayed there 3 times BUT do move up to 7 for the same price if I can manage to do so.

As a left coaster, I agree that port side always "floats my boat" out of Cape Liberty. Statue of Liberty and NY skyline as those Staten Island ferries go by is always a highlight for me.

Makes me glad I am in the twilight of my cruise travel franchise. I certainly do empathize since the "BOGOHOAX" drives us batty too. Having said that, there are ways to money at times but they have really added obstacles as we all attempt to run the gauntlet. Since so many of the posters on this board seem quite happy with the work done by their travel agency (MEI, I believe) I wouldn't run the course alone ;>)

2 pennies worth reinforcing that it really depends; While in "cruisingpower" for Royal, travel agents can see if the current promo allows for conversion (to the new rate). Even this can be an obstacle since the Royal reps don't use the same system and sometimes they need to get "resolutions" involved too. I have gotten some fantastic deals PRIOR to the automated "Royal UP" program but the pond really is drying up inside the final payment window. No salesman hat on since my customer base is "locked" as I wind down my franchise. Just enjoy this site since it's so much more relaxed than the big dog ;>)

I love deck ten aft on Voyager class ships like Adventure because of the carpeted Windjammer. On Radiance class I drop down to deck 9 since the fantail noise from the wood deck (scraping chairs and washdowns at zero-dark thirty) can be a pain in the ( Y )

I like the joke made by a few of the Captain's at the "top tier" events; Ultimately the largest ship will just be anchored in the Caribbean and the passengers will be brought to it ;>)

Webinar with Vicki Freed yesterday expressly stated no suite/Pinnacle area on Coco Cay planned at this time.