SuperNinja

So Final payments for the cruise were due on 08/04...… All paid up, looking forward to November. Hopefully they will announce the additional entertainment that will be on board during this cruising. I think I have come to the resolve that I will try and avoid the MDR for the entire cruise....and maybe even Windjammer too...…. Want to make sure I put that unlimited specialty restaurants to the test!!!! Definitely scouting out Izumi for Sushi, Hooked a few times, Chops, etc!! An aside question, I know that people with they Key can have a special lunch in Chops during embarkation day, can Star Class get in as well, or is it not even worth the hassle of trying to get in with the number of Key guest that are trying to get in for lunch? @Lovetocruise2002 In your opinion is CK the better option for lunch on embarkation day? I know it is one of your favs!

Yes I actually read it and followed along during your cruse (as I am on your current one). Full of great information and insight to your experiences, thank you!! Thank you for the insight. I have Ovaition planned for next June in Alaska, also Star Class, excited about that one as well. So essentially it will depend on the ship the and the genie what is "covered." I actually had in my mind to do the escape room, find those pretty enjoyable, and even if I have to pay the $20 that's fine, but if I don't have to, of course Im not volunteering, lol. An aside question, check in for this cruise actually begins on the 4th (which happens to be the same day that final payments are due) is it suggested from everyone's star class journeys that I check in on the first day, or does it really matter?

That makes complete sense. Thank you. Im sure I will have more questions about expectations as I find out who my genie will be. In the mean time, Enjoy your cruise on Symphony (I'm following along on your blog lol) and Happy Anniversary!!!

Completely agree!. I was actually hoping that it was included. May just be a mental thing, but even when I was Sky Class, having a latte from their café on the Promenade was disappointing so I went and brought one from Starbucks. May have to put in a standing order for the mornings..... I guess I will figure out how all that works as time gets closer.

Music to my ears!! Might be a blessing and a curse though....

Thanks, I may have to try it that way for small things (such as wings) Ok. Make sense, was trying to "accommodating" but I guess if they wanted the perks, they could have beared the expense as well. So I wont go that route, outside of if I just ordered a larger portion of something (Such as wings, instead of getting 10 for myself alone, I get 20 and we share). Heres a bit of a gray area for me. I have seen online that it says that Starbucks espresso drinks are not included in the Drink Pkg. However, I have seen others mention that they were able to go and as long as they didn't get their food there was no additional charges. Any insights?

May have to try that to prevent confusion. Quick question, in places that are a la carte, such as playmakers on Symphony, if for a game, my family and I are sitting in the restaurant, will they allow me to order food for the table and use my card as opposed to charging it to everyone? Just trying to mentally have some idea as my cruise is in November and I may can catch some of the football games with the family there. For me honestly, I don't even think I will notice the difference because, as you said, with the added bonus of being able to go to various Specialty locations, it wouldn't bother me. When I was in the Crown Loft, I only went there to hang out during the happy hour times or early morning for before breakfast (The mornings was never an issue as I was in there by about 8am) So if anything, I would stick to just the mornings before probably going to CK for breakfast (since Im already on 17 anyway ) I am actually trying for that not to happen, lol. I think it has though. After Sky, and the convenience that came along with it, it was hard for me to even think about booking a regular room. Luckily the next 3 Cruises are going to be on ships that have the RSC and Star Class (which probably will only spoil me all the more). Do you personally have a preference in class of ship? (I think for me Oasis is winning, especially, including the November at least 3 of the next for are on Oasis Class, and I need to book Allure now that they have the updates.

That's interesting. Is that across the board with specialty restaurants and a la carte items? Even in Sky class, I always kept the actual card in my pocket and did the majority of things with the band (seemed more convenient). I think for me to let them handle it will be hard to do, as I for the most part try to stay as low-maintenance as possible and things that I can handle I try and just handle myself. But having to give up control to someone else to handle even the small things for me will definitely take some work. @WAAAYTOOO mentioned how popular you become with Star class and the Dark Blue Card, and I'm trying to trying my best not to draw attention (or at least try to avoid it as much as possible) I have to see how to do that (even though being escorted places or getting "special" attention in and of itself will cause people to wonder)

I may have to try out the laundry idea. It is always a bit of a "downer" to get home and then start unpacking, only to have a big pile of dirty clothes from the week long trip and various activities. So to come home and be able to put things away knowing they are already clean should be a welcomed changed. When I booked the cruise back in September, I didn't even know about the 50th Birthday. Only after, did I get the notifications and thought it would be cool. I was thinking maybe they would have some special entertainment, etc on the ship to commemorate the celebration, guess that will be announced (if at all) as time gets closer. I tried to plan around my birthday time again, but this was the week that had the destinations. (Sadly in 2017 on Harmony, due to Hurricane Damage, they completely changed the itinerary (wasn't too happy about that) so I guess it will be an experience. Considering the higher tiers on board, SC would still have preference over them as far as reservations, etc correct? Also, considering you've navigated the majority of the RCCL ships, on those that do not have the Royal Suite Class, do you find that you miss the perks? I have only done one that doesn't have it, and that was on Navigator before they revamped it, and that was prior to me jumping to Royal Suite Class. Congrats on your First SC as well and welcome to RCCL lol. Harmony was amazing when I went as Sky, so I can imagine as Star. Ok so ideally somewhere around a month out to get things going. Absolutely, I look forward to hearing about your adventures!!!

Thank you for the insight, my other family members that are going to be sailing with me aren't going to be SC, they are in balcony rooms, so not sure how that would work. Don't want to make them incur fees. Thank you, I am excited about it. I did Sky Class for my 30th Birthday two years ago on Harmony and loved it, so to now jump to SC for Symphony I am excited. I will have to take a look at that site to see if I can find anything, would possibly be interesting to take a look at some of the other rooms that I haven't seen (like the Aqua Theater Suite, Villa Suite, Star Loft, etc) Perfect, I have to take a look and see what is there. I know this is going to be a cruise with a lot of higher tiers, so to speak so hopefully if I do the Cabin Crawl it will be more than just regular staterooms. So much valuable information, thank you so much. I agree, this is the first, not to be the last. I have Ovaition booked for June in Alaska in an Grand Loft Suite, and then looking to do the transatlantic on Oasis 5 in 2021. I think when I did the Crown Loft on Harmony I was spoiled by Deck 17 because of the convenience to Coastal Kitchen and the Suite Lounge, So I wanted to stay on that floor again. Thought about doing the ATS on Deck 10, but read a few reviews about the long walk to the back of the ship down the hallway, so it swayed my decision. I thought about the laundry piece, but I wasn't sure. I thought about only doing things that I didn't have a real attachment to in the event something was ruined. Have you ever had anything happen like that? As far as the reception in my room, that is perfect, I will make sure I mention it to the genie in the emails to see what we can do, as I want to do something for them to show them the experience, as they thought about doing SC but at the last minute changed their mind. I still have roughly three months to go, when does the communication with the genies typically start?

This cruise is going to be my first cruise in Star Class. I have sailed on Harmony in Sky Class, which to me was absolutely awesome, now I get the privilege of traveling in Star Class. Are there any tips that anyone can provide. I have read several different blogs on here of similar questions, but I guess I am a little anxious for the new experience. I will be on the 11/2 Symphony of the Seas Cruise (Booked it before they announced it would be the 50th Birthday) so I am stoked about that as well. Also, if I wanted to do some sort of reception on in my room for my family that will be on board as well but not in star class, how would I do that? One additional question (for now) I have read about people doing "Cabin Crawls" What are they and if I wanted to potentially do one/participate in one how does one do that? Thank you everyone for your input!