Neesa

+1

@FireFishII sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes ya don't!! I love both!!

Yes, I'm sure. I called @Sharla right away (as soon as I read the email) to check my status and pay where I needed to, I bet she was swamped!! It was just the point of it all. I remember we just had an increase about a year ago. Blessed to sail so there is that!

Amen to that, @SweetPea. I sailed DCL recently and we had little tickets with names and amounts to include departments, so we could see who received what! I'm sure they had a staff meeting right before the announcement of raised gratuity that fed them this line to give lowly people like me, undeserving of knowing where the monies are actually going. I just feel strongly if they were going to crew why not be transparent. Gees!

@Figuring It Out depending on my outfit of the day photo bombing will be an activity I will fully embrace! Glad you are sticking it out!

I just don't understand why the breakdown is such a secret. I asked and this was the response, honestly it is what it is but what is the reasoning behind not allowing the consumer to know.

@Figuring It Out We have fun looking back and seeing if by chance we are in the video. Seriously though, I get your hesitation. When we were on the first sailing on the Adventure from Nassau after the shut down the ship seemed to have more travel industry professionals & bloggers than leisure passengers like us. They were there in full force....but I can say they know how to sail and were very respectful. I thought everyone was being pretty kind to each other & there seemed to be a lot less little ones underfoot. We do believe when a new ship is released your assertion is correct, they will be there. We just go about our business & enjoy the sailing being respectful of our surroundings. Stay excited, I have never experienced an inaugural before so I'm looking forward to celebrating how special it will be. I wish for you joy with what ever decision you make.

@Lovetocruise2002 can these two strands be merged? I just spoke to the amazing @Sharla & prepaid my two remaining sailings as well. Longer strand under Discussion.

@CrznTxn Is there a website or somewhere specific to research group take overs? I think especially with large groups taking over venues unsuspecting other cruisers should be made aware. Twice on Oasis we were "booted" from specialty dining lunch that we previously paid for because a "group" booked it, we were never told until we went to check in at the podium, I thought that was very fresh. Another time there was a college "take over" yikes that one was wild! Also maybe it's a group I would be interested in joining, I like the TCM sailings but they are doing them on DCL so no thanks. I guess what I'm asking is there a central location or website to peruse for these special offerings? Thanks so much, and BTW so sorry your sailing was not enjoyable we have 2 more with Royal and for us if things don't improve our family is moving on as well. Here's hoping for the best!

I can not agree more with @OCSC Mike @Ampurp85 could and should write some books, I would purchase in a heartbeat. Shenanigans of the Seas! The Vintage Brigade's take over of our Cruise Holiday! Pointers on how to Coral Cats, otherwise known as Vintages! Tomfoolery on the High Seas, narrated by Ampurp85! Ampurp85 Complete Guide to sailing with Vintages! Ampurp85; TA to the Stars, by Stars we mean Vintages! @Ampurp85 observations & the way she expresses them are something I always look forward to, but it does make me sad that she had a true *Demon ship experience! I wish those sailings on no one. This blog report had me internally being pulled in opposite directions, on one side what in the world is going on in society that being polite and respectful is the exception not the rule, as well as in the same breath, oh please let this sailing get better for our newly minted D+ Once again thank you again for bringing us along & I truly wish for you peace, relaxation & an amazing next sailing:) *Shout out to @asquared17 for teaching me this perfect descriptive....and if there was one saving grace (shout out to @SweetPea & Batman) there were zero underwear ordeals....that we know of! My next blog will be named, Did I pack enough underwear for my Adventure of the Seas!!

I'm sorry this is travel from hell, but I'm so happy you are safe. I second you the assertion here that you are a Saint, I would have booked a flight and figured out how to pay for it later. I know my tolerance and I couldn't be as amazing as you are with the vintage brigade! I hate travel days normally but this one would have me rethinking, maybe I should move closer to some cruise ports! You have packed your patience and I'm rooting for you to arrive home soon. Thanks so much for bringing us along, I just wish it was better for you. I can't believe there were so many kids, don't they go to school? I had previously booked a sailing for spring break 2024 but the school board changed the date. I had to cancel because kiddo was horrified I would take her out of school, she wasn't having it, Have an uneventful evening our newly minted D+ Alicia!!

Whenever we sail ships with no CK we are always assigned a table on deck 3 or 4. Our Adventure of the Seas sailing with our cabin on Deck 10 I wanted to dine at the MDR on deck 5. We have traditional dining and the app shows MTD is assigned deck 3. So deck 5 seems like fair game. Before the sailing I will ask the concierge for deck 5 so we can take the stairs (that's my stairs limit, lol) Is there any reason why deck 5 is not preferred? After a handful of cruises on this class I just wanted to ask for your thoughts. Is it louder? Anything that i should be aware of before requesting? Curious minds want to know. Thanks all!

Regarding the sleeping arrangements in your cabin...no, something is amiss. I would ask to speak to the head of hotel services OR show the concierge a picture of the cabin with the beds like that. It seems lazy, I think it should be rectified ( side tables in the middle) and some OBC issued to both you and your brother. That just can't be right! I want so much for you to experience crazy joy from here on out too. Have an amazing rest of the sailing.

Our Serenade sailing Thanksgiving 2022 had 29 pins. The concierge told us the cut off was 30 so they occupied every seat circle an hour before happy hour until dinner. They also sat at the little bar in there. They were gracious when you engaged them but very territorial. The mornings were very light but by maybe 3 or 3:30 not a seat unless you went to the back on the stage. Just an observation, so on Serenade that week 31 pins would have been directed to the now Crown Lounge. @OCSC Mike we visited the DL and SL on our Wonder sailing in June, same food offerings. We just don't enjoy the venue/space of the DL on Oasis class (except the Allure of course) it just feels like you are in a large closet! Sorry @Ampurp85 to continue the hijack, now back to our regularly scheduled Vintage hijinks....hosted by our favorite Cruise Director @Ampurp85

Ship wide announcements are made to let you know your cabin is ready. When we sailed the Odyssey 2 years ago our cards outside our door were another family. There were 4 cards first clue & they were in the cabin starboard and we were port, same cabin the 2 bedroom suite on opposite sides we were sure of it! The other family was outside their cabin making the same discovery as we went over to the other side to locate our cards. We exchanged and all had a laugh with lite banter "hey do you have more OBC then me? " the state room hosts were mortified. We received extra bottled "good" water the entire 8 night sailing. Both families were cordial, had a great laugh and greeted each other the entire sailing. Honest mistake but I never ever felt anxiety over it, so it can occur but 9.9 times out of 10 it is correct, don't give it another thought. We bring carry on roller boards & backpacks now so we wheel our luggage in the cabin with us. Not for fear of it being lost or taken but because we like to have everything we need right away to unpack and organize and let's face it we were bringing way to much, Seriously if things hanging in the closet are not touched, you brought to much......well except for underwear, always bring extra underwear, don't leave them in the laundry basket! Taheeheehee!!! Ode to; shout out for @SweetPea Na na na na, na na na batman!

I wanted to answer with multiple laughing emogis as well!!!!

@Ampurp85 your smile made me smile right back at you! Love, love, love those frames. Nails are spot on, and I think your hair is on point. Just the whole package. FYI I'm a gummie vitamin girl myself. Wishing you minimal vintage shenanigans:)

FOUND ONE!!!

Thanks a lot, now I'm very thirsty!!!! Now I'm on the search for a duck drinking wine...

@LandstromCruise Here you go, what a loss to Royal Adventure of the Seas

@SweetPea and @WAAAYTOOO the message I read between the lines is at this point like @asquared17 put so eloquently in another post their focus is truly on the new cruisers. I feel like being successful at their going hard taking guests from DCL and examining the cash flow, the company does not care to continue to respect the higher tier Crown and Anchor guest. They don't need us anymore, D+ fantastic...off to the Haven you go. Don't like our suites program, there are many behind you that didn't book on day of release so pay more for our suites with less amenities and they will spend more onboard as they are newbies and don't know what to expect! This is what I get from the Jason Liberty direction. We kept them afloat (pun intended) until and after C, now be gone top tier cruiser, you are really not our future. A really warm and fun cruise director I follow who loved sailing has decided to not renew his contract after his last one, his joy was impacted and leaving Royal was his decision. Now it may be unrelated for sure, but the tides are changing and sometimes change isn't always for the better. Just my humble opinion TBH.

Pretty sad response. This is what they sent me when I asked why the suites program wasn't streamlined. Not even the Royal Suite on the smaller ships which hit different. I was specifically requesting an internet amenity. Truth be told I asked why it wasn't included especially now with the upgraded internet provider. At least for grand and above, but more importantly their most grandiose suite on the ship. Made little sense.

@OCSC Mike wow she is beautiful. I have seen some gorgeous sparkly ducks, but crystal? Wow, thanks so much for sharing!

@SebagoSue OMG thank you so much for taking the time to describe the Celebrity product....SOLD! I really think moving forward this will be a better fit for our family as we don't go for the "thrills" that much anymore. Different strokes, right? I am especially excited they are going to start to sail from PC as well. I have been watching videos on the cabins and what not but the first hand account experience is what I lean into. The videos of any quality (no crazy moving camera making me nauseous) are usually done by the lovely TA community and they just want to sell cabins. I like to know everything I can before I commit. Thanks so much for your perspective I really truly appreciate it

Huge thanks to the wonderful @SweetPea! True to her word she allowed me to adopt her duckies. We had a very enjoyable afternoon going through the box, many wonderful surprises!!! Thank you so much @SweetPea.