USCG Teacher

12 hours ago, Kevin C said:

Do the dining packages increase or decrease as you get closer to your cruise date? Or do they stay the same? I'm pretty sure we don't want to wait until the cruise to book them because I'm sure they go up then.

Both can and will happen.  Royal's package prices usually hover in a fairly consistent space with some occasional fluctuations.  Sometimes it's because of a sale, sometimes it's just random.  Your best bet in buying anything off of the Cruise Planner is to just buy what you're interested in whenever it is at a price you're comfortable with, but then keep monitoring the price!  If it goes down after you buy it, you can always cancel and rebook at the lower rate.  The only caveat is to be sure to call in to rebook on items that may sell out.  There have been tales of people who cancelled online to rebook the lower price, and by the time they rebooked, the excursion or package had sold out.  Doing the exchange live with an agent is far less convenient, but it eliminates that possibility.

22 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

I have already decided that the long train ride will have to be the place where everything is discussed. They need to see the seriousness of my face and the conviction in my eyes. 

This is 100% the move.  After sunset.  No scenery to distract them, nothing to do, and too late to get off. May the Gods be in your favor.

8 hours ago, TexanTwoStep said:

Join the Navy/Coast Guard -- you'll get plenty of stormy days

Rates are better, too, although every cruise is an interior GTY.

1 hour ago, Ampurp85 said:

I also want to say a big thanks to @USCG Teacher for helping ease my anxiety and answering my fears/questions.

No worries at all, you've got enough on your plate!  And it's a standing offer.

3 hours ago, Xaa said:

You're very late in the game, but try Victor Bodden.

 

https://www.boddentours.com/

+1 for Victor Bodden.  Used them last month and were quite happy.  Have also heard several good things about Rony's as @OCSC Mike suggested.

10 hours ago, ScottD said:

I'll be celebrating almost 2 years sober on this trip

Huge congrats, man.  That is no small feat.  Glad you're able to celebrate, and happy to be following along!

10 hours ago, OCSC Mike said:

I'll take a couple dozen soft pretzels and a few cheesesteaks (you pick the place, anywhere will be better than what I get here).

To most central FL restaurants' credit, I've always seen them listed as "Philly-style Cheesesteaks," and not Philly Cheesesteaks.  I view this as an explicit admission that they won't be anything remotely close to the real deal, it's just the best they can do.  Fair play.  All that said:

10 hours ago, ScottD said:

And yeah, we tried a cheesesteak in Miami a few months ago and that was rough! 

Yup.  

3 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

OMG, I am packing so many snacks and I keep mentioning this to everyone. Like I brought several cooler bags/backpacks because everyone said the food/beverage situation is bad. That was my major concern, it would be just my luck to be up those hours instead of sleeping. 

Are you doing coach, or do you have roomettes/bedrooms?  On Texas Eagle, from Chicago to San Antonio has "Flexible Dining" in the dining car, which is a generous term for microwaved meals.  That said, even those microwaved meals are a step up from what's in the cafe car.  The cafe car is fine for a short commuter trip where you just forgot to eat and need a quick snack, but fr real sustenance it gets old real quick.

Texas Eagle Flexible Dining Menu

Generic Amtrak Cafe Car menu

Also to note: I have been on trips where no cash was accepted and it was card only, and I've been on trips where the CC reader was broken and the cafe was cash only.

1 hour ago, Rackham said:

At Samba on Allure last month the filet was the third meat brought out. I couldn't really figure out what was determining the order presented. Lamb was towards the end, but so was the pork. Staff was excellent and I probably could've asked for only certain meats without issue. In fact, they brought back by several of the more expensive beef cuts trying to get me to take more. My only issue during the meal was the dessert buffet wasn't being replensished quickly. Though having a slight delay in dessert after all that meat wasn't a bad thing. 

I was on two weeks ago and had the same experience.  Filet and tenderloin were fairly early on, we absolutely had the red/green disc, and the servers had no issue at all if any of us wanted to skip a particular meat.  Our experience was somewhere between 90 mins. to 2 hours, but that was definitely more of an us issue than a them one.  It was only about 60% full and still a long ways to closing, so we didn't feel rude lingering and enjoying a few glasses of wine...

13 hours ago, happy cruisers 2 said:

Thanks, USCG Teacher.  Good suggestions.  Actually, the shows we've selected are mostly starting anywhere from 9:15 to 10:15 so we're thinking we'll ask the Concierge to get us the same dining time each evening.

This is exactly what we did.  We had 7:00 dinner reservations each night, then the later reservations for the 3 shows we saw (Blades, AquaAria & Blue Planet).  Gave us plenty of time for a leisurely dinner and to relax a little bit before the show.

9 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

Also @USCG Teacher I would appreciate all the insight. I have done European trains but never Amtrak for that long. 

Check your DMs.

6 minutes ago, happy cruisers 2 said:

I'm confused about the need to tell the Concierge what shows we want and when.  I was able to make reservations for shows and dates on the Cruise Planner.  Is there anything else, related to shows, that I would need the Concierge to do?  I can understand the help they could provide with dinner reservations and table location preference.

Two things about the shows.  If you've already made show reservations on CP, that's great.  Makes your concierge's job one step easier.  Letting them know what time your shows are booked for will help them to pan your dinner reservations around your entertainment schedule to make sure there are no conflicts.  If you have been unable to make your reservations on your CP, particularly if the show you want to see is showing sold out, your concierge can help you secure a reservation.

I have to agree with @asquared17, this feels like a camera crew should be following you!

As an aside, I'm not sure if you've done long-haul Amtrak before or not, but if you have any questions/want suggestions, etc., please feel free to message me.  Otherwise, looking forward to see how this journey unfolds!

On 9/2/2023 at 11:59 AM, Born2cruise said:

Again, your "kindness" is appreciated. You seem to be missing the point, however, whether we are gold, emerald , diamond... ect. its the point that RCCL should have given full refunds or at the very least vouchers --- when you have completly cancelled the best island in Hawaii.  We are a party of 6 and I know that doesnt matter to you either.. There are a lot of very disappointed people booked on this cruise, with  no other any recourse. Have a great weekend

Keep moving those goal posts, champ.  Sooner or later you're sure hit a point that people agree with you about!

1 hour ago, ScottD said:

Thanks! I hope this is still the case,that would be great. I read a few recent reviews that complained that they picked you up close, but dropped you off on the other side because they want you walking through the new port. 

That would make sense, sadly.  Hopefully someone with more recent intel can chime in!

3 hours ago, ScottD said:

Are there any shuttles or trams running through the port these days? We are doing the blue lagoon excursion and we read that they drop you off pretty far away from the ships when you take the return ferry, My wife has some mobility issues so now shes concerned about a long walk back to the ship

Het @ScottD!

    Not sure what ship you're on, but when we went to Blue Lagoon last summer on Oasis, the return ferry dropped us off really close to the ship, a few hundred yards at most.  This is the link to a post I made with an overhead of the pier (the red star was both where we met in the morning and approximately where we were dropped off).

51 minutes ago, RCIfan1912 said:

Thanks for the info, didn't know about the 1 o'clock open. And definitely do not want to be that parent. 

When you go at 1 it's basically an open house.  Lots of staff to show you around, answer questions and get your kid registered.  Taking time to look around, it took 15 minutes tops.  Very easy process!

The OBC will be placed back into your account immediately, any remaining amount that was on your credit/debit card will take a few days to weeks to make it back to you.

12 hours ago, twangster said:

Kahului can't accommodate the largest cruise to ever visit the Hawaiian Island be damned!  We all know all the Captain has to do is apply full power and jamn it in there!  Make the ship fit! 

"Welcome aboard folks.  The gangway's up and we'll be preparing to set sail from Kahului momentarily..."

1 hour ago, Born2cruise said:

to not even consider their needs as well as the other guest on board who wanted to CONTRIBUTE and give the people of MAUI HOPE. 

If only there was some way to contribute to the people of Maui!

11 hours ago, OCSC Mike said:

If you're sailing on a ship with a Playmakers, really enjoy the burger there with garlic parm fries.

4 hours ago, ScottD said:

Beat me to it!! 

Yep. This is the one.

24 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

If you have full on noro you're not going to want to leave your cabin anyway.

"Like" is the wrong reaction to this statement, but there's no other way to show my agreement! 

1 hour ago, OCSC Mike said:

My money's on this one. Sounds like a nice option though!

If I were a gambling man, it's where I'd put my money, too.

Three words and a conjunction: Garden Martini and bread. Team 150 all the way.

5 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Back in the day, you could ask the CK to please serve your preferred dish from the MDR even if it is not on the CK menu, but I believe that they have mostly discontinued this practice. That means, if we want the lobster tail (which is much better than it used to be, IMO) or the lamb shank you will have to go to the MDR on those nights.

Interesting data point for you, @WAAAYTOOO.  This past week were in CK on Allure during MDR lobster night (poached lobster night in CK).  Our server told us that there was "an off menu option" that night that was the traditional lobster tail, and that he could also do it as a surf and turf.  He also told us that as a suite perk, CK diners do not have to pay extra for additional tails. He even brought a few out just for my boys to try them.  Not sure if this is official policy, unofficial policy, or a ship by ship case.

Our family of four was on Allure the same week as you.  Luckily, no cases here!