hsweat22

Typically yes, and I would strongly encourage it.  I've done the tour on Anthem in Dec 2019 with the whole family and just myself in Sept 19 as a self guided when I was on Mariner.  It is an excellent opportunity to see so much space history.

My guess is that it has something to do with COVID as to why its not showing up in the planner.  I would just keep checking back.  

Like others have said, its a great experience.  They tried to push stuff on us before and after but it wasn't to the point that it ruined the experience.  If its a special occasion I would go for it!  We always get one on a port day morning.

hey @CHRIS WONG, 

Are the crew cabins any different on Oasis? Curious how they may have changed from Mariner to Oasis.

3 hours ago, CHRIS WONG said:

I'm currently in my hotel in Miami, resting, before joining Oasis tomorrow. It feels like I'm on a mini-vacation. It's so nice to have a little break in the middle of the contract. This is also a great time for me to edit all my YouTube videos.

 

Anyway, here's the new vlog.

 

How long is my contract?

 

Hey @CHRIS WONG, what does your friend do on the Navigator?  sorry if I missed it in the vid!

Hey @CHRIS WONG, hope you enjoy the new ship and the challenges that arise!  Cant wait to see the next vlog from your new home!

3 hours ago, CHRIS WONG said:

So slight change of plan.

Instead of flying to Spain, to join Oasis for the crossing, I'll be joining the ship now once it arrives in Fort Lauderdale.

So, I'll be flying to Miami now from Orlando in 2 weeks. And I'll have 1 night in a hotel, to relax before joining the ship. I much prefer this!

They will fly you from Orlando to Miami?  Figured they would just send you via car service! Orlando is about 45-50 min from PC, Miami is like 3.5 hours from PC.

I picked the GC/Cozumel one....GC is one of my favorite ports!

19 hours ago, CHRIS WONG said:

I will be here till March! I'm sure we'll see each other soon!

finished up the vlogs yesterday.  Do you plan to continue to make some new content? thought it was very interesting!

I don't think ill be back on Mariner by March.  I am on Anthem in December and Brilliance in March.  It looks like we will both be in Nassau on the same day.  If you get off the ship would be fun to meet up and grab a beer or something!

Congrats on the promotion!  I just got off Mariner a couple of weeks ago. What dates will you be on her? I usually get to know the host pretty well on my recent cruises.

Also, going to check out your vlog!  

Best of luck!

4 hours ago, Mr. Candyman said:

 You have to remember it's a 3rd party company not Royal. With that being said on our last sailing, I was told photos will be printed on demand only.

is it really?!? I didn't know that!  I thought it was all Royal employees that handled the photos.  

I could see the print on demand only....has to be WAY less waste.  I really wish they offered individual digital.  Oh well!

On 10/6/2019 at 6:13 PM, Clear Laker said:

Since the banning of extension cords and power bars and with the hope of avoiding one of Royal's '25 Orange Extension Cords I have done the following:

- For my CPAP I bought a 15' cord to replace the standard 6' cord that goes from the outlet to the power transformer block .  You can buy them on Amazon as they are the same cords used for TVs and some computers.

- I bought a 220v plug adapter with USB ports.  This allow for an additional plug at the desk for dual voltage devices as well as 2 spots for charging phone, tablets etc.

- Lastly, I went to the hardware store and bought an old fashioned 1 to 3 square block 110v adapter.  

These days as most things are USB powered … having 5 standard outlets and 2 USB outlets is all we need.  Total investment was less than $20.

@Clear Laker any links or pics of what you purchased for the 220v and the 110v adapter.

14 hours ago, Pinnacle Dreams said:

Our most recent cruise we did the all inclusive digital package but the one before that we somehow bought only one photo and it was digital! Its shocking to hear that's not offered anymore. That was January 2018.

@Pinnacle Dreams I guess we may be able to file it under the ever so consistent Royal policies? lol.  Thanks for the info!

1 minute ago, PatsFanBrian said:

We were on Serenade a couple of weeks ago and had the same question.  There were a couple of photos that we really liked, but the only option for single photo purchases was the print, no digital.  Also, just as annoying, if you get one of the packages other than the most expensive, you have to choose either the print or digital.  Makes no sense when they're just going to throw away the print if you choose the digital.  I really can't understand why you can't get both (and we were not the only ones questioning the policy while we were on-board).

RC's photo policies have always confounded me.

@PatsFanBrian UGH! That's what I remembered the last time we looked into it.  At that time, everything was printed and on display.  I was hoping they changed to a digital option when switching over to the kiosk.  Guess not!  Thanks for the reply!

Bringing this thread back from the recent dead....

...is there an option onboard to purchase single digital photos?  I would prefer the digital download to a print, but don't think we will get the value of the photo package.  Its been a while since we've ventured into the photo area (before they switched to the kiosk) and I cant recall if its only prints that are available for purchase onboard.

Thanks!  I will give it a shot then! 

On 7/5/2019 at 11:29 PM, Hoski said:

We had the same concern about our youngest and the guided tour.  She will be 8 but has some special needs.  The RCI site isn't clear on the admission but I'm sure it includes the admission or that is a really expensive transfer.  I cannot wait to see what answers you get.

 

@Hoski what have you decided to do?  I am still on the fence if we should do the trip.  We purchased the unguided tour, but I am still concerned about time at the park.  We arrive at Port Canaveral at 12 noon, so probably off the boat 12:30/12:45, which would put us at KSC around 1/1:15.  The park closes at 6pm so I would imagine the bus would leave about the same time.  The reason I am on the fence is if a 3 & 5 year old would be entertained enough for that duration.  Not saying there isn't a TON to see there, but the attention span of a 3 & 5 year old isn't exactly the best!

Kraken Colada/Kraken Lava Flow has to be my fav frozen drink.

Mix drinks I typically stick to Kraken and Coke, but my last cruise I was introduced to a drink called Caipiroska by a very good bartender in the Bamboo Room.  I loved it and decided to get at least one every night from that bartender.

8 hours ago, twangster said:

Queen's Staircase - from below looking up.

If you have a late departure like well after dark i like to get ship pictures at night.

Also, when arriving into Nassau there will be a lighthouse on the port side.  Usually a photo op then.  

We will be there overnight. Would love to be able to get some ship pictures at night. 

Thanks for the tip on queens staircase and the lighthouse!

Any photographers in here (hobby or pro)? @twangster maybe?  Wondering if there are any areas in Nassau that offer some great landscapes or nice architecture.  I am just getting into it (about 1 year down) but since I now have an extended time in Nassau I would like to try and get some nice scenic areas or street photography.

Just now, twangster said:

Typically it will open, after 6pm or whatever time the local Casinos close on that day of the week.  

They can't open if local casinos are open.  

I'll take any Casino time over no Casino time!!  Local ones there close at 6pm? Seems so strange!! Very different than ones here in the US

With the recent adjustment to our schedule on the 9/16 Mariner we arrive at Nassau at 4pm and dont leave until 9pm the next day. The change is perfectly fine with me, and I think its a great thing that Royal is doing for the people in the Bahamas.  My question is if anyone knows if the Casino will be open while docked since it is overnight.  I have yet to be on a sailing that has an overnight so this is something new!  I had planned to use this cruise to help vault me to prime before the casino year ends in April.

Thanks everyone!!

2 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

First piece of information is to let you know that I suck at blackjack.  That is really Dan's game ( I love Ultimate Texas Hold 'Em). However, I will validate your first 2 points.  That is also why Dan prefers the high stakes table.  Probably more for #2 than #1.  Rarely will there ever be anyone else there, but if there is, they are not rookies.

Another reason for choosing the high stakes games is b/c the payout for BJ is better on the single deck and high stakes games than on the other games.  I always get this wrong but Stephanie will help me out if I do !!!  ...the high stakes games pay 3:2 on a BJ and the other smaller stakes tables pay 6:5.

Would be very happy if it were 3:2....everything I have seen says 6:5 but nobody mentioned high stakes

16 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

This is really a great question....and one I'm afraid I cannot answer with any certainty.  I will give you my opinion....but that's all it's worth.

After many years of trying to work the program to my advantage, trust me when I say that I have tried it all !!

1.  I do not believe that cashing in and re-buying chips will help you.  Honestly, to my knowledge, the only thing that they track with the "card swipe' at the tables, is how long you play and how much you win or loose.  The table swipe, IMO does NOT have anything to do with the rate at which you acquire points.

2.  Points acquisition has waaay more to do with the amount of your wager than it does with how much money you bring to (or take away from) the table.  That's why the table players are at such a disadvantage as compared to the slots players.  With slots, every single wager you make is recorded.  With table games, they come by periodically and make "notes" on an iPad about what your wagers are but if you vary your wagers (I do not....Dan does) and they happen to only pass by when you are making lower wagers, then that is what they are recording.  Conversely, if they happen to pass by when your wager is up, you will get credit for more and your multiplier will be higher.

3.  Frankly, the best thing you can do to be noticed is play at the high stakes tables.  Dan always makes a point of playing at least 1 full night at the $25-$50 per hand blackjack table.  Since the minimums at those tables are higher to start with, your time at those tables will net you more points all the way around.  Dan never EVER plays as many [total] minutes as I do but he almost always ends up with more points at the end of the cruise than I do b/c he spends time at the high stakes tables and I go nowhere near them !

Again.....this is all conjecture.  They keep their ratings secrets SECRET so I really have nothing to go on but LOTS of experience.

One last thing.  Don't listen to the people who tell you that they do not give you "credit" for losing money.  This is one thing I DO know for sure.  If you have lost a lot of money over the course of the cruise, they DO consider that in determining what kind of certificate you will get (but NOT with the number of points you are awarded).  Winning will not penalize you but losing DOES count in your favor.  I once had a certificate re-issued from a small $$$ off certificate to a free balcony certificate based solely on the amount of money that I had lost (nothing to brag about, for sure !).  On that cruise, both Dan and I earned free balcony certificates (the only time that has ever happened !).  Many would say that we just 'prepaid" our cruises, which is a fair analysis !

What is your experience with other blackjack players at high stakes?  I play high stakes at my home casino (not due to being a high roller) mostly due to two reasons.  The first, if I have to play with someone, they typically know what they are doing.  The second is that I often get the table to myself.  A slight third reason is that drinks are free in there, but I don't usually drink too much when gambling.  Our high stakes is $50 min which is about what I would play on any table.  

My cruise next week is my first cruise where I will actually pay attention to the casino more than just an hour or two one night.  Unsure of the blackjack table layouts and high stakes.

18 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

To add to my above post, I forgot to put "total".  I would pay no more than $300-400 total.  Definitely not per person on non-O and Q class.

I share the same thoughts, more with the $300 total mark.  I put in a bid at 150pp to go to GS, if its gets accepted great, if not, I am still in a JS and don't see the perks work more than $300 on a non Oasis or Quantum class.

thanks for the clarification @twangster and @Lovetocruise2002