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JC Pats

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  4. Muster Drill ?!?! Check in Time?!?!

    in Royal Caribbean News and Rumors

    Posted

    9 hours ago, HeWhoWaits said:

    But will their system recognize that the muster information has been viewed in the app prior to boarding? I already watched the videos for our upcoming Alaska cruise (and learned exactly what I expected to learn - absolutely nothing).

    I have done the video and sounding horn part of the e-muster in my hotel room the morning of each of the 6 cruises I've been on since the restart. My understanding is you can do it anywhere, as long as you're logged into Wi-Fi within 24 hours of your boarding time (YMMV). But I have not had to "re-do" any part of the e-muster once I've boarded, just find the muster station, have them scan my seapass card (phone or paper) and I'm done. 

  5. Mad at Royal Caribbean-- charged without consent and overcharged.

    in Royal Caribbean Discussion

    Posted

    6 hours ago, mrcrab2022 said:

    Update: The $15 beverage that I was charged on my final guest statement will be refunded back to me (They made a mistake and said I had wine). The Royal Caribbean person that I spoke to told me the extra $15 and $43 charges to my credit card after the cruise will drop off.  They are shown as pending. So now I am feeling a lot better. I'll keep an eye on my online banking.   

    To the highlighted point, credit AND DEBIT cards will be pre-authorized when you board, and then every so often as charges accumulate that exceed the pre-authorization amount. These will show as pending and usually drop off no later than 5-7 business days after a cruise (the delay is almost always the bank). The app for my credit card shows PENDING if the transaction is pending but will show as a charge towards my limit. 

    I know a lot of experienced cruises are aware of this, but since there are a lot of new to cruising people joining the message boards, this is invaluable information.

    A couple of tips (from my own experience cruising and from my hotel career) for the financial end of things.

    1) NEVER EVER EVER use a DEBIT card at check in. If that is all you have, use CASH. Debit card authorization will hold money on your checking account and can (and has had) very bad outcomes and RC is not at fault. 

    2) As mentioned previously, monitor your charges, whether through the RC App or on the In-Room menu where you can see account charges. You can even go to Guest Services at any time and get a printout of your charges, and/or pay them down. I personally keep my receipts and make sure the charges/tips are correctly posted to the account and then dispose of the receipts at the end of the cruise. If you see an issue, resolve it immediately on board! Saves issues post cruise.

    3) If there is an issue, CALMLY & POLITELY discuss it with the staff member (wait staff, guest services, etc.), if that doesn't work, CALMLY & POLITELY escalate it to the supervisor/manager. If you're calm with them, they're more apt to find a resolution to the issue as they want to make it as right as they can. If you yell/scream, et al. at them (not saying anyone did, j/s), why would they want to help you? (i.e., treat them, as you would want to be treated in their position/situation.)

    4) Know what you're buying. Royal is a business, and they assume when you order something, you know what's up. I got hit on this pre-pandemic and ordered a glass of wine that the waiter recommended but wasn't something covered by the drink package, and I ASSUMED it was on the drink package list. I had a very big shock when the bill came as I was charged for the bottle. If you're not sure, especially when it comes to what is covered under a package, ASK. They will help you and save you from stress. 

    (Side note, ship staff are FAR more helpful/knowledgeable than shoreside (call center) staff. Most SHORESIDE staff probably haven't ever been on a cruise so keep that in mind as well.)

    Just some helpful advice to all the new (and experienced if you didn't know) cruisers. 🙂

  6. COVID pre-cruise Testing - Port Canaveral

    in Royal Caribbean Discussion

    Posted

    23 minutes ago, Justina said:

    Hi, I am traveling on Harmony of the Seas soon out of Port Canaveral and was wondering what pre-cruise covid testing option I should pick. We are all vaccinated. On the RC website it says PCR but I've heard a rapid is acceptable since we are vaccinated. I've read to just order the emed tests and go that route, they are $150 for 6 tests. When I look at Walgreens it shows: PCR, Rapid NAAT, and Rapid Antigen but really the Rapid Antigen aren't available in my area and the PCR I worry about not getting the results in time. Thoughts?

    Get the emed option. I believe they have a 3 for $99 option as well. The emed tests are simple and easy, literally takes less than 20 minutes start to finish with results and as long as you have wifi, you can do them at any time of the day or night, at home, in your hotel the night before or the morning of without worrying about making appointments or getting results on time. It's well worth the extra cost, which in the long run, isn't really that much more, for the flexibility, convenience and peace of mind they provide. 

  13. Getting off at ports!

    in Royal Caribbean Discussion

    Posted

    At Coco Cay and Labadee, a lot of items are unloaded from the ship, food, drink, towels, etc. and those have to be set up 1st before guests are allowed to disembark. USUALLY, it's somewhere around 45 minutes to an hour after docking. As for other ports, as mentioned above, it's all dependent on the port authority to clear you. 

  14. Why get the Deluxe Beverage Package when one is Diamond Plus?

    in Royal Caribbean Discussion

    Posted

    My DX purchase depends on 1 thing

    Is @Matt going or not?

    Now, for those that have partaken in an official OR unofficial group cruise with @Mattyou know how it goes - breakfast, day drinking, lunch, nap, pre-dinner drink(s), dinner, pub/schooner (multiple shots + drink of choice) THEN Casino (multiple shots and drink of choice). On a sea day, probably 12-15 drinks, port days, 8-10 not counting waters/soda. For me, getting the DX is very worth it as I usually end up saving money. 

    Now, if it's just me, I'll get the Refreshment package and be ok. 

  16. 2023 Fall Itineraries for Eastern Canada & New England

    in Royal Caribbean News and Rumors

    Posted

    On 2/6/2022 at 9:29 AM, Kathleen said:

    We are patiently waiting for them to be released also. We went ahead and booked an Late summer 2023 Alaska cruise on Celebrity with a refundable deposit while we wait for the RC New England Itineraries to be released. If we see something we love we will switch. We have sailed Alaska before but never New England. So glad to hear Feb 21 is the expected release date. Any word on when Caribbean Nov 2023 through April 2024 will be released? 

    Matt put this out a couple of weeks ago - Here's when Royal Caribbean will put more 2023-2024 cruises on sale | Royal Caribbean Blog

  20. Satin Ribbon Wristband Tip

    in Royal Caribbean Discussion

    Posted

    12 hours ago, BrianB said:

    I've noticed someone on my current cruise wearing a rubber wristband even though we were issued the satin ones. I'm guessing it's from a previous cruise. I'm thinking that's a good idea. I have lots of assorted-color rubber bands from my previous cruises. I'll bring them all with me on my next cruise in case they issue satin again. Hopefully I'll have a rubber one of the same color.

    It’s hit or miss.. but sometimes guest services will have the silicone band as well as the cloth band. 

  24. Windjammer Self-serve? yea/nay?

    in Royal Caribbean News and Rumors

    Posted

    One thing I've done is ask for a drink after I sit down - just one less thing I have to get back up and do after I get my food, and the wait staff is more than happy to get it. They've also very good at circling around and asking if I need anything else. I agree that it's weird they allow you to take a bowl of salad, but the next station over they serve you. But I am a solid Nay. I was on Freedom with 3000+ ppl this past weekend, and it wasn't too crazy or backed up anytime I went for Lunch or Dinner. 

  25. Would you fly or drive?

    in Royal Caribbean Discussion

    Posted

    On 11/7/2021 at 7:40 AM, WannaCruise said:

    I know everyone's situation is different, but torn with what do to for our Dec cruise out of New Jersey:

    • 10 hr drive (or much more with regular stops)
    • 1.5 hr flight

    We are all vaccinated.  Obviously without covid, the 1.5 hr flight would win.  Flying is much quicker (of course, there is still the time that you spend driving to the airport, and check in and waiting, etc).  But then we are exposing ourselves more than with driving.  Having said that, at least everyone at the airport will have a negative covid test and be vaccinated.

    With driving, 10hrs is still long, especially for kids.  And the big issue for us, or me, is that I have back issues and can't sit for long...so that would mean stopping every 30-60 minutes.  We would probably leave 2 days before (after our antigen test) to spread out the drive so there would still be an extra hotel stop.  And this all assumes good weather (Toronto to New Jersey), which you can't really assume in Dec.

    One pro though with driving is if one of us tests positive on the ship, then we could drive home and quarantine (not sure the logistics of washroom breaks).  With flying, we would be stuck in a hotel in New Jersey.  (If we fly, DH and I are going to bring our laptop in case this happens so we can work...haven't decided yet about kids laptops for school).

    For those that have the choice, are you driving or flying?  And how long is the drive?

    Do you feel that flying is safe?

    I fly from Ohio and have zero concerns about flying. As long as you are masked up, you’ll be ok. 

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