CrznTxn

On 4/19/2024 at 8:30 AM, Matt said:

Welcome to the message boards.

You are correct, there's no more Diamond Plus line.

For Express Check In, you need to have the setsail pass say it (regardless of C&A status). In order to get it, you need to do the check-in on the Royal Caribbean app (not website), scan your passport in the app (not enter it manually), enter all contact info, add credit card, upload check in photo, and then do health questionnaire. 

One of the things I love about going out of Galveston. They call boarding per the cabin or tier status. Suites and Pinnacles first, Key, then Diamond Plus and so on. That Diamond Plus status gets us onboard early, condescending looks from some of the passengers and an early start at the Schooner Bar for our first Kraken Colada.

The muster is now on the Royal Caribbean app and it is the easiest muster of all times. You download the app on your phone and link your cruise. On the day of departure at 8:00am, Royal activates the muster (Safety) part and you listen to the ship's horn and how to put on your life jacket. You have to do that for both of you, not just one so you have to have it each of your phones or two separate logins. When you get onboard the ship you go to your muster station (its on the app) and one of the crew there will verify you watched it on your phone (they scan your Set Sail Pass) and your are done! Even if you do not watch the videos, they will demonstrate it to you and then scan your Set Sail Pass.

Unfortunately for Harmony OTS, it was built without the Rising Tide water show. What a disappointment when we first got on and I was waiting for the water works.

17 hours ago, LakeAlto said:

We are docked at Cozumel for the second day.  We are skipping Costa Maya altogether.  According to the captain, we will leave Cozumel at 6 Pm tonight.  We have a day at sea tomorrow and arrive back to Tampa on Thursday morning. 

Costa Maya is exposed to the open ocean while the Cozumel port is on the opposite side of the island facing the mainland so it is definitely calmer there. Our last sailing, Costa Maya was rough but able to dock. Have been on a couple where the Captain said not a chance and we either had a sea day or we went into Cozumel early. Expecting next week's sailing to be up in the air on the Costa Maya stop.

On our Halloween cruises they have a lot of folks dressed up, decorations out and parties with best costume prizes and recognition. Love boarding the ship with my big T-Rex head on, strolling the promenade sipping a drink from a long straw and having fun.

2 hours ago, YellowBrickRoad said:

Thank You! I didn’t realize I would be getting so many casino comps since I’m only Choice. I was Prime before but that expired. And of course they started coming  and the exact one I wanted right after I booked! 

We sail exclusively on the Casino comp cruises and the offers come and go depending on the time of year and how often we are booking. Currently the wife has 7 offers listed but we have had only one or two at different times of the year. It was a few months since she booked a cruise so I guess they were throwing a bunch at her to try to get her to book another one. Guess it worked as she booked another the first of this week for a B2B in October. Maybe she will take me on this one.

One of the reasons I use a third party insurance. They give me the cost of coverage without having to book any cruise as it is online. Less than Royal's insurance and covers a whole lot more. I then just factor that cost into my vacation plans.

Have not seen or heard of that for our cruises booked so far this year. Will keep an eye out on our excursions and dining reservations.

20 hours ago, Pattycruise said:

When I inquired last year at Guest Services about getting a cruise compass I was told it’s automatically given to guests of a “certain age” ( not disclosed).  I believe my reply was something about getting one for a cranky middle aged woman,  they promptly gave me one.    Maybe you are “of that age”?

OMG. We are of age and still have to ask for the Cruise Compass. Maybe we still look too young to qualify.

We had this happen on one of our B2B sailings. Be sure to talk to the Loyalty Ambassador on the first sailing (earlier the better) about your status upgrade and they can look it up and make the change. They were very nice and it was great to get the free drinks and Crown Lounge (Diamond Lounge back then) access as I do love their coffee machine and the snacks in the morning and evenings. They can also give you your Diamond pin on your second sailing, be sure to visit the Ambassador on the second sailing.

Ditto on @twangster comments on the forward glass on Quantum class ships. Spent hours with lenses stuck between the panes of glass, heavy coat and gloves. Fellow next to me stuck his suction cup GoPro next to me and went back inside. Got lots of great pics but with suffering in the cold I envied his ingenuity and debated who had the best shots.

Congrats! That is a fantastic room, especially with the kids. Enjoy.

Can say that we have had a number of positive experiences with C&A reps. They have corrected our accounts, linked me and the wife, discovered "extra" linked people to our accounts that have wreaked havoc on our notifications and other issues.

On 1/21/2024 at 12:40 PM, jbrinkm said:

@CrznTxn Can you say a little more about GeoBlue? I just bought a supplemental policy from them and thought it was only for health issues abroad - didn't realize you could do the whole travel insurance through them. Was it a specific type of policy related to your corporate benefits, or available to anyone? We bought a plan (just single trip for our cruise in March) through Insure My Trip and then I wanted more medical coverage (specifically the med evac) so bought an additional plan with GeoBlue but didn't see where I might have expanded that coverage beyond health coverage. 

Here is the excerpt from our TREKKER policy:

There is also a lost luggage claim form on their website.

Congrats Patty! We are a ways off but are looking forward to our Pinnacle call up on-stage. The wife is ahead of me and will probably get there sooner as I send her on cruises more than I (she is retired and I am not). I am hoping you have the best adventures and wish you the best going forward.

16 hours ago, Geezer Of The Seas said:

We did a studio session on our first cruise. Stupid expensive, but worth every penny, Ordered a nice canvas of Mrs. Geezer and myself all cleaned up and pretty that hangs over the fireplace.

And there wasn't an Olan Mills in the immediate area, so......................

Wow, that really dates us with the Olan Mills reference. Hope your photos were great and enjoyable for years to come.

Not everyone is attuned to the Super Bowl and its importance to their everyday lives. The ship will show the Super Bowl on several venues so those who want to enjoy it's significance to them, but not everyone is attuned to football.
I have seen the Super Bowl onboard but honestly only about 30 percent of the folks onboard are interested and the others are looking for a good time on an amazing time on their vacay. Hope you have the time of your lives and enjoy your time aboard.

They will have a watching party but as far as the food and party accouterments that accompany the game will depend on the ship and its cruise director.

Yes, since you upgraded through RCCL and not through the RoyalUp program you will get the double points. We have done the same thing and shied away from the Royal
Up program since it is a third party and not RCCL proper and does not give your the double points you are entitled to.

We have used GeoBlue Travel Insurance for our annual insurance for the last several years as it works with our corporate insurance policy. It works for us but this not not to say it is for everyone. Since we cruise about once a month it is very affordable for us and covers us for all the intangibles that may occur on our travels. Be sure to research all your options and choose what works for you.

2 hours ago, Jess4214 said:

Does this apply to refundable deposits? 

Is there such a thing any more? Isn't for my cruises but I only book Balcony and below and maybe a JS if I can get one at a great price. The others are too pricey for me.

In the Up Close and Personal event they give us as D+ and above, the performer captains give us the time lines and daily rehearsal routines on their contracts onboard the ships. It is interesting how for the stage shows they have to try out again for the same or different shows and also their training leading up to being onboard. It is the same for the ice shows and Aqua shows. They can try to return or they can try out for different ones. For the theater shows they have the rehearsal stages in Miami, for the ice and Aqua shows they are contracts with a third party and they may or may not do rehearsals prior to taking over on the ships. Fantastic athletes and and performers and they put in so much time and energy to their craft.

Looks identical to the Balcony room I had last week on Harmony OTS. Has to be a photo of an Oasis class ship standard balcony.

Our parking shuttle driver pointed out that the old Del Monte warehouse was being converted into the MSC terminal last week. It is right next to the Galveston Dock 14 indoor parking for the Royal terminal. Will make for an even more interesting parking and travel experience to the Galveston cruise terminals when 4 ships are docked there. Especially if the Carnival Jubilee, MSC Seascape, Regal Princess and Royal's Oasis ships are there at the same time. About 21,000 ~ 23,000 passengers.

Then there is what I call Diamond Plus-Plus at 340 cruise points with additional perks. You get a free lunch with the officers (Cheers with an Officer) at least on 7 day cruises, upgraded bath amenities (small tubes of boutique shampoo, body wash and lotion that my wife loves) and an additional Bonus gift for 5 night and longer cruises. The lunch is a great treat as you get a Chops steak, seafood and other selections on the menu. Sure saved me some money on additional specialty restaurant.