CrimsonCruiser

Omg I feel like I'm psychic! Quick! Let's get this thread over to Royal ASAP! (kidding kidding)

can you get water out of the free style machines? - Yep! You can get straight water or flavored Dasani options does this only include soda at the machines, or does it also entitle you to a soda from a bar or restaurant? - the Freestyle machines give you the most variety but you can get a glass of Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Tonic Water, Club Soda, or Water at any bar with just a flash of your seapass. They will also fill your cup with those options if you have it with you. what are the "free beverages" that are already included? - Water, Fruit punch, lemonade, iced tea, flavored water, OJ, apple juice. Most of these will only be located in the windjammer buffet though the pizza place will sometimes have water, lemonade and the flavored water dispenser. as far as carrying wine on, I know we get 2 bottles per state room. Can they be in the checked bag? - Technically by the FAQs on Royal's page they are supposed to be in your carry-on for the ship. That said, the first time we did it I was unaware of this and handed them over to a porter in a tied reusable shopping bag and there was no issue. That said, the others make great points about them potentially breaking and messing up your clothes. I also highly recommend buying the wine at the port city. You can either be cheap like me and hit up a Walgreens or find a liquor store but that way you don't spend flight weight on the bottles.

While I personally couldn't care less about the lobster (as I don't eat it) I do think it would be a nice gesture to extend the drink vouchers to at least Emerald at 1 or 2 per day. I actually heard once upon a time that Emerald was created to lessen the gap between Platinum and Diamond. Which is kind of why, in my estimation, there are far fewer perks at that level - it was an after thought.

Fortunately for my mom it's more about just not wanting to vs not being able to. Basically a, once I'm in, I'm in mentality. I only mention "technically a senior" because that's easier for most people to understand She can and has done the entire Cozumel pier with no issues, but good ol' fashion fussing cuz it's hot and the ship never seems to get closer (but I think we can all agree on that)

@Midwest Cruiser It doesn't look awful....but I also have to account for my technically-a-senior mom. While she could do the walk, it may be a turn off to go to and from often in a day. Thoughts?

How long would you say a walk to aft is from the aft elevators? I think the extra balcony space is awesome but I worry about a long walk especially after a full port day.

Since the restart and the double points shooting so many people into Diamond and Diamond Plus, I've seen lots of conversation/thought around here and on FB that Royal will most likely revamp the Crown & Anchor Society Program to better recognize the influx of new high-tier members. Which has me thinking....what could that look like? What would I like it to look like? What about you ? So let's throw out our ideas and hey! maybe one day it will trickle into Royal's ear. (For reference, the current spread: https://www.royalcaribbean.com/content/dam/royal/resources/pdf/crown-and-anchor-society-benefit-grid.pdf) I'll go first: Bring Back Priority Embarkation across all US/US territory ports: Prior to the restart, it was listed that every tier got priority embarkation, but in actuality it was a YMMV situation for anyone lower than Pinnacle (from what I'd seen). Now, according to the new list, it's gone COMPLETELY! Bring it back! This was one of the perks we were most looking forward to and my mom will be crushed to know it's gone. Implement special areas on the private islands for high tier members or at least discounts on cocobeach blub, cabanas and thrill waterpark Implement discounts on shore excursions: Even if they were only limited to ones on the private islands, I think it's a nice way to show appreciation. Implement Birthday Coupons! I mean literally every other loyalty program in existence has some kind of birthday perk, why not Royal. It could be across the board, so all members get it, but (like the discounts on balconies/suites) increases as your tier gets higher. Something simple like $25 - $150 OBC (increasing as the tiers climb [25,40,55,75,100,150]), 15% coupon to a specialty dining, or 24 hours free wifi, just for some ideas, applied to a booking made in your birthday month. And there could be an extra perk that if you sail in your birthday month you get a free drink or something. Drop the Entertainment Tour: I think with Royal offering so much to do on almost all of their ships, doing a backstage tour may not be something people are clamoring for. But bring back the bridge tour Drop the pins: based on a previous thread around here, it seems like most people don't wear their pins until/unless they get to pinnacle and while I am someone who does, it might be better to drop them all together. I think noting the level on the sea pass is probably enough for most people. I look forward to hearing what everyone else thinks/suggests! After all - we're the c&a people!

My thoughts to the patient and their family. I can only imagine they opted for the Fire Department because it was urgent and they have EMTs who can treat the patient enroute

I don't know anything about the Citi card you referenced so I don't know how they compare. What I do like about the Royal card is..I'm going to cruise anyway, might as well get something extra for it. The dollars I spend on booking a cruise and excursions going toward a future free/discounted cruise or OBC is really helpful for maximizing vacations and I'm in no rush to pile them on.

Whether you choose self-assist or luggage valet, you are not required to get off at whatever time pops up on the screen. Those times are simply the earliest you could leave but you have until I think 9:30 or 10 AM to actually get off the ship. As for what I recommend....I would think, with the fact that you have small kids don't use self assist. I'm just me and my mom (both of us healthy adults) and I hate the idea of trudging my suitcases down the ramp and through the terminals, around the many crowds and porters. Plus you also don't have to worry about dragging your suitcases to breakfast since you have to be out of your stateroom by about 8 something. I also agree with @smokeybandit that it may be a better use of your time to do things off the ship. The ship is pretty much shut down the morning of debarkation with maybe 2 or 3 breakfast venues open. There's not much to do to entertain the kids and there's a general sense of rush in the air as people bustle along their way. You could always take advantage of the debarkation day excursions offered by Royal which will take you and your luggage to the airport afterwards.

Next Cruise OBC bookings will show up within like...a week of making the reservation, especially if you are transferring it to a TA. You'll see them on the Cruise Planner page; a rather annoying pop-up will let you know how much you have available as soon as you go over to the Cruise Planner

Is it an actual cookbook? Like with recipes for dishes on the ship restaurants? Cuz that would be super cool

I think, even if you had contact with your genie I think you still wouldn't be able to access the OBC until the sail date. As for booking now and rebooking, be aware that most of the shore excursion prices online are lower than onboard (by about 20%). Meaning if you book, cancel, rebook you will pay the onboard price. If you're okay with that, I don't see why you wouldn't be able to do that once onboard at the shore excursion desk (just to make sure no one snipes your space from under you).

Hi all! Looking at maybe booking our first Junior Suite (normally do GS) for Freedom of the Seas and wondering what the difference is between J3 and J4? Hoping someone can help and also accepting general thoughts and opinions on Freedom JS.

Ahh maybe they don't have the mobile site updated. You might see it if you switch the view on your mobile browser to desktop mode

It must be sooooo satisfying to peel all those protective films off the glass panels

That is so weird..I've added screenshots from literally right this second....hope they help To favorite: To add to watchlist:

Double checked the article; they are getting rid of Diamond and up member access to the Concierge/Suite Lounge. The Diamond Lounge will still exist and be accessible to on those ships which have it (adventure, allure, Freedom, harmony, independence, liberty, mariner, navigator, oasis, Odyssey, symphony, spectrum, voyager, wonder...and presumably Icon)

I can see the watchlist option only when I'm looking at an actual cruise date. When you click on a cruise but before you go to the book page the watchlist button is there beside the price. The heart seems to be floating over the picture for the cruise. I am VERY glad they've finally added this feature! I hate trying to re-locate cruises I've seen before but wasn't ready to book. Also will be helpful when it comes to repricing cuz it should save a couple of clicks at least since I don't have to find the cruise first.

Every cruise 4-nights or longer will have at least one formal/dress-your-best night. So even if you're not entirely sure when it will be, I can guarantee you will have one. You may also have a white night, Caribbean night and 70s or 80s night as these are all pretty common across cruising

Whatever it was, I feel bad for her for experiencing that during vacation. It will leave a mark on her, I bet, for quite some time. Whether bugs or dirt or scarring, Royal should have done better on cleaning and grading their food. It seems like they were able to enjoy the rest of the cruise okay, so I hope it ended with positive memories.

I think the trial is still in place. feedback is probably being gathered via in-person comments (like the waiter's may ask what people think, looking at the number of people going to the mdr based on previously, guest suggestion box comments) as well as on the post cruise surveys. But i do think it's only for the MDR. don't think the special restaurants are making any big changes

from what I remember it's similar to the dessert section in Windjammer. Ice cream, cheesecake, i think they had fruit too. We ended up not partaking because we were close to bursting from all the mains but I did see it in passing. Like the salad bar it is included in your payment

I agree with Wayno in the sense that, yes service animals are well protected and despite what people say there is no registry or database of service animals. Unfortunately, people tend to take advantage of that and claim their dog is an emotional support animal. Companies can only ask if it's service dog and what service they perform - they can't ask for proof of the disability or a training certificate - so someone who is falsely using "emotional support animal" can say it's for anxiety and there is no standing for the cruise line to debate that. Alas, it makes it tough for people who do really need service animals. all that to say..hopefully the pups in this case were at bare minimum well trained and using only the designated potty section and not causing distress to any other passengers

I have a little baby list so far but I'm hoping to at least have sailed on one in each current class. Oasis Class: Allure (Hoping to get on flagship Oasis one day) Quantum Class: Odyssey Freedom Class: Freedom & Liberty (really want to finish the class and get on Independence) Voyager Class: -- (I think I'd like Navigator or Mariner best) Radiance Class: -- (Would love to do an Alaska in this class. Seems built for it) Vision Class: Enchantment (Wasn't the best class for us so probably won't be doing any other here)