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sk8erguy1978

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Everything posted by sk8erguy1978

  1. Yep, that's my thing more than anything - letting him eat it all - or take it all - just because. OH well, probably did my fat butt a favor :).
  2. Letting your child put a big pile of bacon on his plate in the Windjammer, not leaving any of the rest of us. I mean, there is always more coming, just wow, he put like an entire package worth and he was a little kid (8?). At that age my parents would have killed me if I took more than 3 slices (only because it's vacation could I eat that many LOL).
  3. My thoughts exactly! What's the rush? Sip your drink and wait.
  4. My wife has it and uses it for her everyday spending. She's not into the points game. She has yet to redeem them, maybe for come Cruise Planner stuff for September 2021. Is there a portal or something to access and get the points? Curious / asking for her.
  5. Same. Some are easy, like when I snagged the JetBlue card just for the bonus, I needed to spend $1000 so it wasn't bad, others can be a bit more expensive.
  6. As a trifecta user, it's not too bad actually. The challenging part is to remember what the 5% are and to put that card in your wallet. Although, I do have everything in Google Pay too, so no biggie, but again, remembering LOL. Without going into boring details, some quarters the categories are either something you can automate online (Netflix) or you're not interested (Amazon but get 5% cash back via Amazon a different way). Also ... as to Chase cards ... I also have the United Card. Sure, some perks that I try and take advantage of (able to get wife TSA Pre & Lounge, etc) but it's not going to be a "forever" card. My main reason was the sign on bonus points & that Chase is a partner with United. So, I have the sign on bonus points (I tried to use them but COVID) and if I needed a little extra, I could transfer from my Chase pile. I'd rather have the perks of the Sapphire Reserve so I'll ditch the Chase card once life gets back to normal. It's a fee card so not something I can call a "sock draw card." Same reason for getting the JetBlue card (not Chase), great perks (check bag, discount in-flight purchases, 5k miles) but mainly 60k sign on bonus and I can transfer any Chase points to them. It also comes with a small fee (there is a version without fee) and while it is worth it if you fly JetBlue, I'd rather book a flight with Reserve for the insurance and other perks. That's worth more to me than a free checked bag and 3% more points (6% JB Card 3% Sapphire). So, again, COVID, but I plan to downgrade it to the one without a fee and just get 50% off my in-flight beer and snack. So, you see it's a bit of a game :).
  7. Right, for Chase you'd have to use their portal and you can book with whoever, think of it like kayak. As mentioned, you do get a better value for points, BUT, you're not booking direct, which isn't something I'm a fan of. You can also use Sapphire to buy direct with Delta and redeem points for cash to pay the bill, although not ideal. If 80% is at Costco, check out cards that give good bonuses for that too... Maybe a card that pays 2% at grocery stores or something... Although, those are usually cash back, but you can use the cash to pay the airline tab... (Just tossing ideas, someone might be better on how to get lots of points from Costco.)
  8. I'm a Sapphire Reserve guy too and everyone covered all I'd say and more. Delta & Chase you'd have to book through Chase's travel portal or convert the points to cash. If you're looking for Delta specific rewards give the American Express cards a look, I believe they will transfer to Delta. They have branded cards too I believe but I'd consider the Platinum, that's American's premium card, like Chase's Sapphire. What I like about Chase personally is I have a bit of a trifecta: Freedom (5% rotating categories), Freedom Unlimited (1.5% always), Sapphire Reserve (3% travel & dining + perks). I can transfer the points earned on two of the cards to one, making it one large balance of points. Being close to United EWR and used to be close to JetBlue (SWF) (airlines are pulling out of that small airport and my reason for going to it's main destination FLL is no longer an option -- but they are big in JFK -- ugh) I also got those branded cards for sign up bonus plus Chase transfers to them. They do come with some perks but not sure it's worth the fee for those perks, so once I get a chance to use those points I'll downgrade or cancel them.
  9. @MuttMutt what a touching story. I'm so sorry about your wife. I was never interested in a cruise at all. It just never appealed to me assumed it would be boring, etc. My wife's sister who also never been on a cruise asked us to join her for a 3 Day Country Themed cruise to the Bahamas. Great, Country Music & a cruise, I wasn't a fan AT ALL of the idea. However, my wife (then girlfriend) wanted to go so we went. I still wasn't a country music fan (still not) but instantly fell in love with cruises. When we got back I booked a 5 Day Cruise to Bermuda on Explorer out of Bayonne. That cruise solidified both of our love for cruising and Royal Caribbean. However, we did stray to NCL once and plan to again in the near future. We would like to give NCL a second chance on their newer and larger ships. (Was supposed to be next year but with credits locked up with Royal, we will be on Oasis instead).
  10. Our first Royal Caribbean cruise on Explorer of the Seas in 2007 the pizza at Sorrento's was awful; at least when we'd go for a slice at midnight. Also, the only option was shrimp pizza for some reason. It just tasted like it was leftover from the afternoon rush, hence no plain or other options; we covered it with crushed red pepper which made it...edible. Kind of ironic as I've grown to love Sorrento's (now that it's fresh with more late night options) and it has been my midnight (okay, okay 2AM) snack on every cruise since.
  11. Yep, I agree it's more about the reusable cup, but surface touching might be a concern of the panel, CDC, etc. Probably more from a passengers prospective than a scientific one.
  12. I believe you're correct. It didn't click until now but (at least in NY) we are all touching surfaces that others have touched and not sanitized, including ordering systems. Example: I just used a touch screen to order my lunch at QuickChek.
  13. I agree that it varies. We finally hit Diamond in 2018 and took our first Royal Caribbean cruise in 2007. Not counting this year, we missed two years of at least one cruise on Royal Caribbean. One was to try NCL the other was for an extended (and expensive) Hawai'i trip. So, 11 years and several cruises we traveled in a Grand Suite (never higher yet). For the last 5 years we only sailed the 5 Night Bermuda from NJ itinerary which slowed us down but luckily we were able to splurge on a Grand Suite for the last 3 years. Side note: we LOVE Bermuda, favorite island thus far, but unless it's not the only cruise that year, I am definitely over that itinerary. So glad Royal has started offering other trips from Bayonne. (Not that we will not fly to port but we like to sail with friends where it's easier to just drive). Edit: I'd like to say my guess is it takes an average loyal to Royal customer 15 years. That's taking into account an average sailing of 7 nights in a room category below a Jr. Suite as 80 / 7 = 11.43 (rounded). Figure 1 7 night cruise a year means year 12 is the Diamond year but add a few more years to try other lines or just not cruise that year.
  14. The one downside I see is the the selection the freestyle machine offers (kind of assuming never really used it on a ship, but have at work) vs what might be offered a bar. I'm sure anything reusable but not under Royal's sanitation control will not be initially offered.
  15. Not sure if you're past the deadline yet but figured I'd chime in ... To me the last sentence says it all, giving more money in hopes the cruise gets cancelled to get a full refund while having financial issues is an unnecessary risk, especially chasing $100 dollars. You're going to put forth thousands you cannot afford to in hopes to get $100, not something I'd do. If it was me, I'd wait until the last day hoping they cancel (which is unlikely), if not, cancel & get the FCC. As stated it is good until April 2022, hopefully that's enough time for you to cruise again. If not, write the $100 dollars off as - well, I did book with a non-refundable deposit, lesson learned. I'm sorry you're in this horrible situation and wish you the best of luck.
  16. This. There is a chance cruising might resume before a vaccine but it's not looking good.
  17. As stated, since you cancelled you received a FCC for 100% of fare, that was your CWC, prior it would have been subjected to cancellation or change fees. 125% is if they cancel on you, not if they cancel after you. Sorry if you might have misunderstood the policy, stinks. Let your agent get to the bottom of everything. I cancelled a cruise before it ended up being cancelled. I did so because I didn't want to make full payment. So I lost out on a possible 125% and 100% fine with that.
  18. I remember my last cruise we had a first timer with us, his reaction as Anthem of the Seas came into view was one I'll never forget.
  19. What I'll to calculate the base price of a sale (let's use my current $61 as an example): 61 / .80 = $76.25. So the price before sale is $76.25. With that number you can calculate the other prices (which are not always what Royal puts up as price). 25% = 76.25 * .25 = 19.0625. 76.25 - 19.0625 = 57.1875 30% = 76.25 * .30 = 22.875. 76.25 - 22.875 = 53.375 Obviously I'm using actual and not "dollar" rounding either. The actual formula is something like .... Original price = sale / (1.00 - percentage off). That's where I get the 61/.80 above.
  20. At least with the alcoholic drink package it's usually close to the calculated base price from the always 20% off in the planner. I assume they round to make the numbers even ... assuming no one has already done the math LOL.
  21. Ha ha! When I drive it's a bit more stressful! Usually fine until we hit the NJ Turnpike LOL! After the 16W merge and toll it clears up and we are at 14A in a few. Last ride with the shuttle he (the driver) kept passing all the opportunities to get to port, finally I asked him if he needed directions. That's when I noticed an old GPS and saw it would be a few minutes... Assume maps not updated to all the traffic changes. Oh well, we arrived just before boarding and basically walked from curb to Windjammer! (With a group photo or two and a bar stop or three in between!)
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