SebagoSue

I think you do get free drinks for being Elite (equivalent of Diamond on RCL), but only 5pm to 7pm and a very limited drink menu

Been following this blog for awhile but first time posting. Love this blog. Feel like I’m taking an advanced course in Cruising - too much good info for Cruising 101.
Just returned from Mariner Aug. 12. Previous 2 were on Wonder so wasn’t sure about “down sizing “ ship. Must say we had a great cruise! Nothing negative to say. We even enjoyed the MDR. Maybe we just aren’t picky eaters. Food was hot, served in a timely fashion, great waiter and assistant. Room steward was also good. Met him on first day as soon as cabins were ready. Did a great job - cleaning and meeting our requests. 

Thanks to everyone who posts such great info here! Feel like I know you just from following.

I wonder if Mr. Bailey is self aware enough to realize that the outrage was not purely driven by this survey question, but was a symptom of the growing negative perception of his brand in the last 9 or 10 months by its most ardent supporters. It was simply the straw that threatened to break the camels back. There was a time not that long ago when this survey question would not be given much credence by the faithful on the boards here. "Ehh... It's just a survey question. Don't freak out" is what I'm sure most would have said. But at this point in time, we have been conditioned to absolutely not give them any benefit of the doubt when it comes to price hikes and service reductions. That trust seems mostly gone. They've squandered it. And once their balance sheets look a little better in a few years, they may have trouble getting that trust back.

Freedom has waterslides while Allure does not..go with Freedom.

The survey asking if we will pay money for Sorentos made me think why to stop there. Here some more creative ideas for RCL:
Weight the plates in the WJ and pay by the pound. 
Want Emuster ? Pay extra otherwise you are back to the regular crowded muster.
All cabin doors to be removed , want privacy ? It's extra, diamonds will get free transparent shower  curtains,  D+ will get free transparent door and pineapples will get a real door but without a latch.
Quest challenge lidt can be purchased the day before , same for Love and Marriage. 
Tender boat tickets will cost money,  people will be able to swim to port for free. 
For dinner time you can choose between 5 to 5:15 PM , want another slot ? It's extra.
Extra charge the comedy show if you don't want to be the star of the show.
Jacuzzi will be coin operated,  the good news, you can use your key to charge it to you room.
The flowrider will still be free you just need to pay if you want it filed with water.
At the end of the cruise at the exit you will need to be weight , every extra pound you gain during the cruise will be charged. 
Charge 4500$ for a 7 hour use of the over the water cabanas , oh wait ...
 

On a lighter note:
Every night we sit down to watch TV with our dinner and my husband asks "What do you want to watch" and I reply "The dock getting smaller". Been using that same line for 32 years. LOL. 😆

Liberty would counter that for years cruising was not charging enough, that cruising was too affordable, that was was too much value in the cost of a cruise versus a land vacation. 
To that end, he doesn't want cruising to be budget friendly if the definition of budget friendly is cheap.   Yet someone is buying cabins and suites on these ships.  To these people these rates are within their budget.   By that definition they are budget friendly for these people.  
It's always been a supply and demand market.  There is a lot of demand right now and Royal is capitalizing on it.  With strong demand rates are high but people are paying it, that is those that find it within their budget to do so. 
I feel your pain though and my cruising is down as a result.  While it may be within my budget I don't find the value especially with all the cutbacks and now talk of charging for pizza.   It's not about charging for pizza specifically, but more that they are looking to introduce charges for more and more and more while simultaneously increasing base fares more and more and more. 
For new guests who are just finding cruising this is normal to them because they don't know any better.  For me the math of the value proposition has changed so I spend elsewhere. 

One of the drug cartels uses channel 4-20. Stay off that channel.

Record earnings! Best quarter ever! You hear this and you think "Whew!" Maybe now they can stop the death by a thousand cuts that is killing my desire to book anything new. Nope! Let's see how fast and how far they can gut the core experience.
This company under Mr. Liberty has me very much questioning my loyalty to cruising in general. They are going to keep pushing this and in five years they are going to wonder why all the repeat business has dried up.

Was there a "oh hell no" option?

I'm +1 on missing the Garlicky Prawns.  They were a bright spot for me at Jamie's.

Anyone else experiencing the disappointment of the changed menu? I loved the garlicky prawns. Jamie's was also sort of basic anyway but getting rid of the prawns and the burger just makes it worse. 
 

Don't forget the free bag of laundry on 5+ day cruises !  That's a huge benefit at D+

I still say that knowing the day of the week is meaningless for passengers. What we need to know is what day of the cruise we're on.
I don't care if it's Tuesday or Wednesday. I DO care if it's Day 3 or Day 4.

Day 2 – Palma
 
Ok, it turns out holidays are stressful. A balloon drop at midnight doesn’t go too well with an early morning breakfast – at least not for my girls.
 
Maria is the only one of us four leaving the ship today. She had booked an excursion through Royal. She went to the “Flamenco Show at Son Amar”. Despite the name the excursion included more then just a flamenco show. It was also a small city sightseeing tour. Maria had fun and she really enjoyed the show.
The kids and I stayed on board but we also had fun. Most of the time without mum the kids went to “Splashaway Bay” the kids water play area. Something we really have to get used to is the level of presumed safety. 3 life guards for “Splashaway Bay” is a lot, one for each slide and one to wonder around. Don’t get me wrong, I think safety is important, but I think it is also possible to overdo it. My guess is this has something to do with the crazy US laws, you can sue anybody for everything. I’m more used to “use your brain” and kids will hurt themselves playing. - But ok, doesn’t really bother us so back to the blog.
 
While the kids were playing I relaxed in a hot tub and then spend some time watching the kids with a (non alcoholic) drink from the “Sand Bar”. Like the other venues I tried so far the bar staff was very friendly and fast. After the first drink I didn’t need to show my sea pass again for the rest of the morning.
 
We went for a late lunch to “Sorento’s”. Pizza always works. We each had a couple of slices – not too much as we had a big dinner planned. For around 6pm.
After the pizza we stopped at the “Vitality Cafe” for a smoothie. It was nice and I think I will get another one during the holidays. Next time I have to enquire if they can customize it and use more fruits of one type for example. Very strangely even my 6 year old liked it – usually she doesn’t like anything new.
 
We then returned to the room for a while. The 8 year old went out on her own to go down the “Ultimate Abyss Slide” twice. She proved that she can do it. So I feel comfortable to let her or both of them together wonder around alone for a limited time.
 
After her trip to the flamenco’s Maria went to the thermal spa to relax for an hour and then met us all on time for Hibachi at Izumi. The kids were tired (the 8 year old actually dozed off for a good 15 minutes while sitting there. But apart from the youngest one we all enjoyed the food.
Two negative points – I should have guessed that, but the “show” doesn’t actually start until everybody at your table has arrived. We arrived about 5 minutes early and others about 10 minutes late. So we had to wait for 15 minutes – that’s somewhat boring not only for the kids.
But really the one thing I didn’t expect at all was the noise level. I think after the dinner an hour at an airport runway or an AC/DC concert would be really relaxing for the ears. The room is somewhat small with a low ceiling and the chef has to scream over the noise the other chef’s make and the other two tables. The girls didn’t like it at all especially the youngest one.
So my wife and I might go back later this week or next week but without the kids.
 
After dinner we went to 1977: “A Thrilling Adventure on Ice”. Our Genie met us at the door got us popcorn and drinks and nice seats front row near the middle. Oh and something I didn’t know, he had blankets so no need to worry about being underdressed for an ice show.
The show itself was good the plot or the story wasn’t the best but the performers were great. We wouldn’t have minded if the show would have been longer. And we look forward to the other ice show “iSkate 2.0” later this week.
 
Since it was fixed we had a working hot tub so late in the evening it was used 🙂
I think I agree with the comments online that the location of the Ultimate Family Suite is better on Wonder of the Seas. Here on Symphony the balcony is a little too public.
 
Maria went down to the silent disco for a while when I watched over the girls and ensured that they got to bed slightly earlier.
 
Maria and I were talking about the laundry bag that we filled early morning and that it sadly didn’t arrive the same day – not that we needed it that day. But when we went to get ready for bed we noticed it in the wardrobe. Shirts hanging up nicely and everything washed and returned on that day. Gloria did a fantastic job in not only returning it but hanging it up inside where it should be.
 
We had a little problem with the phones the night before as there were those annoying blinking lights indicating about a message. Gloria figured out how to listen to it. Only one of the three phones works for that – and that is the only phone I did not try.
The messaging system is strange. The automated voice prompts are in German (I guess since I’m German) but the message from shore excursions itself was in English. That also meant that Gloria couldn’t delete the message. She listened to it and understood that it was late, and not really necessary in the first place but, more a friendly reminder to be on time and bring the stuff you need to bring. But since the message “Press 1 to repeat, press 2 to delete, …” was in German she couldn’t do it. But she met us in the evening after the ice show and together we figured out how to delete the message – so no more blinking phones.
Is that automated message normal for the first excursion on the cruise? Since we didn’t get one for the day 3 excursion.
When we were about to go to bed an office from the technical team showed up to fix the phones – I was a little embarrassed that I couldn’t delete a simple voice message but really nobody told me to try all three phones.
 
So that’s it for today, we all 4 managed to be in bed just before midnight. Tomorrow we’ll be in Marseille
 
Random observation for today:
The background noise on a cruise ship is something I need to get used to. At home we here birds when it gets light outside and usually the first car around 6:05 (one of our neighbours going to work) and then only nature until around 6:30am. The advantage of living in a small village in the middle of nowhere. But here on board you constantly hear air-conditioning, elevators, engines, ...
 

I wonder if you just see people standing in the corridor opening and closing their doors endlessly, could be the new slot machine.

Hi @theapple477!  Congratulations on booking your first cruise!  You made a great decision booking it on Royal.  This is a great site for asking these types of questions.  
Yes, the gratuities ($80+$80) are in addition to the port fees and taxes.  They will be automatically charged to the credit card you put on file with Royal for onboard expenses. Usually you will see them show up daily as a $16 charge on your onboard account. As @smokeybanditsaid, there is really no reason to pay them in advance, unless you don’t want a bill at the end of your cruise.
As far as dining times, many people like My Time Dining because they either like the flexibility of dining at whatever time they want on a particular day or they don’t like how early or late the traditional dining times are.  These are typically 5/5:30 for early or around 8:00 for late dining. A big benefit of traditional dining is having the same table and wait staff every night.  Even if you have My Time Dining, you can make reservations for a particular time in the app or in the cruise planner. If you decide you would prefer a traditional time, just contact your travel agent or Royal and if they have availability, they can make the change for you.

@Lovetocruise2002 once again I'm behind. 24 days, glorious! What ship please and are you blogging it? I hate missing your adventures.
We visited 2 colleges this past week and honestly I am finished sailing for a few years (after the 2 booked next summer) This whole process is depressing and exhausting. At least she wants to go more technical so she will have licensure and a profession when done.
Oh my I just returned from the supermarket, I'm not sure where inflation is reported to be going down but it's sure not in Tampa Florida! The people who say this obviously don't shop for their families in person.
I will live vicariously through you until probably 2027. 
Don't get me wrong kiddo is working and will absolutely do her part but we don't want her strapped with crushing debt, it's hard enough now a days....
Bring it on please, I can't wait for your next experience! Did you Royal up bid?  Oh, by the way did you find any ducks?? You know I love my ducks!
Last thought now that you're back. I'm not a fan of the suites neighborhood on the Wonder, nope I prefer the older Oasis class ships set up of deck 17. Thats why on the Utopia I booked @OCSC Mikes suite next to CK. Im there for the inaugural festivities but otherwise will be from lounge to balcony, period. Looking forward to sailing in my CK cabin!
Glad you're home safe 🙂

Its actually sad, if paying for a Royal Suite one should get at minimum Sky Class benefits. Royal really should look at their suites program and standardize it. At least wifi, leave the concierge alone! They are busy enough with the multiple suites and pinnacle guests. Come on Royal, you are bragging about bookings being better then ever, look in your rear view for a second and support your crew as well as your guests. A superior product begets  next cruise bookings! Revisit the suites product sooner rather then later. Please? 

Royal is making hay while the sun is shining.  Naturally if demand reduces so will prices.   However if demand doesn't wane, neither will prices.
The concept of supply and demand economics was not created by Royal in 2022, they are simply another example of it in action.  
To a large degree the industry has priced me out of the market but I respect the fact there is an ample supply of guests willing to pay current rates. 
Going back several years pistachios were a good price but then something happened that caused them to skyrocket in price.   I stopped buying pistachios because the value wasn't there for me but I respect the fact that there are other people that find value at a price that I don't. 
Going back several years Blue Label Scotch was a good price but then something happened that caused it to skyrocket in price.   I stopped buying Blue Label Scotch because the value wasn't there for me but I respect the fact that there are other people that find value at a price that I don't. 
These are signs of a healthy free market, in some ways capitalism working as expected.  So be it.
Go Royal Go.  Make hay while the sun is shining because none of us know what might impact the market in the future.  
And if Blue Label does come down in price I'll be happy to become a consumer once again.  

In March they were checking seapass cards on the Sundeck but that must not be standard procedure. I saw quite a few people get asked politely to leave by the staff. I hope they resolve this issue soon.

Yay! 
 

OK ... now I am nervous.  
PLAN A: is to fly from Atlanta to Buenos Aires in January 2024 (to link up with Serenade).  We are flying on Delta.
PLAN B: I looked up how long it would take to drive and got:

PLAN C (assuming an 8 hour per day drive):
Drive to Colon, Panama = 72 hrs (9 days)
Ferry to Cartagena = 48 hrs (2 days)
Drive to Buenos Aires = 113 hrs (14 days)
25 days?  I might have to leave in August.
😉
Curt from Canada

Crossed Florida State lines!
 

Wow! I'd even take travel delays at this point. @Lovetocruise2002 was treated to an amazing Star Class anniversary vacation....Cabash just purchased me a new lawn mower! 31 years and I got a lawn mower, yay!🤦‍♀️