Bryce G.

Nice to hear good responses from Customer Service, especially after some of the experiences mentioned in the most recent podcast for a new cruiser!

You carry a case of water onto the ship? That's a smart idea...except carrying it around before your room is ready. Have you done it before? Did you find it to be troublesome?

I love Fury Catamaran excursion in Cozumel. Very impressed with the service. Worth it!

How old are the "kids" in the stateroom? By RCCL policy, the kids (under 18) can't be in the stateroom on their own...

 

I presume they're all on the same reservation?

August 31 Allure OTS.

Sorry for the delay. Yes, I've booked the Celebration Dining Package. Obviously the "$30 credit for wine" or what restaurants are included depend on the ship. It's 100% worth it if you like your specialty restaurants. Book your first restaurant on night 2, and you'll be set.

 

I'm excited for when they release the Allure Choice Dining Package for my sailing.

Nice!

I'm sort of already doing this. On Allure in August, I will not be going to the MDR once. I will be canceling my auto-gratuities (since I won't be in the MDR, I'll just manually tip the stateroom attendant), and use that money towards visiting a different specialty restaurant every night.

Port days are some of the BEST days to enjoy the ship. You get some PRIME lounge chairs by the pool, and it feels like you have the entire ship to yourself. 

 

*cough* Nassau, Bahamas *cough*

Also of note, some people like to be in the MDR (or NOT be in the MDR) on formal night. Formal night IS known ahead of time, so once on-board, just ask Guest Services or any Restaurant staff.

 

Now, I'm planning on booking the Central Park Dining Package on Allure OTS ahead of time. THEN, once on-board, I'll book both Samba Grill and Izumi. This is the cheapest option to visit all 5 restaurants, depending on how much you plan to spend at Izumi. Additionally, it allows me to take advantage IF they happen to be offering the 2-for-1 deal on embarkation day (for the two restaurants NOT included in the Central Park Dining Package).

 

Yes, there is a science to my addiction.

 

Show reservations for my sailing are posted, but Chicago is the only show NOT bookable yet.

On a related note, has anyone ever witnessed or heard about people getting engaged on a Royal cruise ship? In a...public...manner? Perhaps with the help of Royal Caribbean (ie- microphone & proposal in MDR/Royal promenade, etc)?

I agree a new site is welcome.  Speaking as a web developer, their efforts are better spent on a new site that has a responsive design that shows up nicely on mobile devices rather than require an app download.

Oh absolutely. A mobile site with a site revamp would be better than an app. I definitely prefer mobile sites to apps.

To be honest, I'd much prefer a website revamp over an online-use app. Along with a website revamp, a mobile app to be used (on land) to view reservations, purchase excursions, etc. RCI already seems to know that their web interface has problems, but they haven't touched it for forever!

I have noticed that, for the most part, everyone's first cruise LINE is their favorite cruise line. People (guilty) seem to be fearful that they won't experience the same level of (service, food quality, show quality, etc) on a different cruise line.

On my past two cruises (first w/kids) Royal Caribbean had a program where the children would sit with us in the main dining room and have an expedited dinner, then the Adventure Ocean staff would come and get them after 30/45 minutes and take them to AO so the parents could finish their dinner any more relaxed manner.

 

Highly recommended by me. :)

that's a neat idea! leave it to RCI to come up with that niftiness!

Lots of starfish. Jellyfish, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, really exotic-looking plants, and a bunch of 'regular' fish...aka fish that I don't know the name of...

Snorkeling in Alaska? Isn't that....cold? :)

Nope! Not after about 5 minutes. They give you this awesome wetsuit that allows a small amount of water in, and doesn't allow it out. So your body just heats up that water, and you're good to go! Highly recommended!

Hi, AMiller!

 

Could you give us a BIT more information about your sailing? When, which ship, and which stop in Jamaica (I'm guessing Falmouth)?

 

You're going to have a blast!

We did snorkeling in Ketchikan. It was not physically "taxing," per se. And boy was it worth it! Amazing! I'm sure the other ports offer the same.

Can your bonus cover us too? :)

If things go as planned, 10-15 years from now, quite possibly! ;-)

I'll check it out when I get home. Enough miles for 2 round trip flights + the deal that Costco is offering + the Wow sale. Let's do this (soon--as soon as the company announces what our bonus is).

The thing that makes me want to agree with @Tylor is that one side of the "zip line" has the little hut/shack where you prepare/get hooked in...And even steps up to it.

I have the printed version of my NCC at home. Will it be listed on there?

 

Also, can I have that TA transfer it to Costco before I actually book? Or do I have to book, then transfer?

Interesting. When I bought my NCC, I don't remember if I used a TA for that sailing, and whether or not I selected to use the same TA. Any way I can change that? I found a Costco deal that's far superior to my TA, and that's what I plan on using...

I also bring a highlighter (when I remember) or at least a pen. I mark the ones I DEFINITELY want to do. I understand that you don't want to bog down your vacation, but I also try to find a happy medium--if I wanted a chillax week of doing nothing, I can just take a vacay from work and sit poolside. I would feel way guilty if I missed some of the theatre shows, comedy, ice skating shows, BINGO, etc. Like I wasted a cruise!