ChrisK2793

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2022/02/08/norwegian-drops-mandatory-face-mask-rule-its-cruise-ships

Hopefully RCL follows 

Several years ago, we were very loyal to Carnival.  But, a couple of very frustrating things happened and we made the decision to try another cruise line.  We went with RCCL, Oasis of the seas, Aqua Theatre Suite, Star Class.  We haven't looked back.  Since we always go Star, loyalty points really don't mean too much to us.  Star Class actually turns our cruise into an ALL INCLUSIVE with 
If RCCL went away, not sure.  Maybe we'd try the Haven.  But, I really don't like the smaller ships.  Had enough of small with Carnival.

As long as they show in the “order history” of your cruise planner on the website, then you’re good.  Lots of times the app never shows restaurant reservations of booked excursions ….. Royal has a terrible IT department …….. pre-Covid they accidentally gave away the Deluxe Beverage Package on a bunch of cruises for $18/day!  Royal tired to cancel it on the tons people who bought at that price and ended up having to honor it because of the uproar trying to cancel everybody caused.
 

As long as they show in the “order history” of your cruise planner on the website, then you’re good.  Lots of times the app never shows restaurant reservations of booked excursions ….. Royal has a terrible IT department …….. pre-Covid they accidentally gave away the Deluxe Beverage Package on a bunch of cruises for $18/day!  Royal tired to cancel it on the tons people who bought at that price and ended up having to honor it because of the uproar trying to cancel everybody caused.
 

I really started frequent cruising in 2015. I began on another line and accrued enough points being solo in suites to get to their top tier (700+). But, although I loved the crew members and the line, I didn’t like the way the area around the port was changing. It was getting more difficult getting through the traffic at the tunnel from New Jersey, and there were several incidents either going or coming back in Manhattan that really concerned me. I felt less safe.
For me, Bayonne is much closer and easier to get to. So I tried Royal. And I was hooked. The ships are beautiful, with large open areas such as the Promenades. On the Anthem…the Esplanade, Via, Two70, SeaPlex, enclosed family pool and the Solarium are phenomenal! Especially during winter sailings out of New York Harbor! The other line only had an Atrium which was always crowded with events, had crowded access points and a casino midship on a main level…pretty much forcing you to walk through it. I love Royal’s huge open areas concept! Always feels less crowded, much brighter and airy. And the crew members are wonderful! Plus, Royal also has triple points for solo cruising in suites. Add to that Royal’s double point promotion and I earned six points per cruise night. Makes sense, since I would have accrued the same amount of points had the shutdown not occurred. I really love Royal’s Crown and Anchor rewards program. Attaining higher levels gives lots of rewards and recognition, and Pinnacle gives so much more than the other line’s top tier. On the other line, I am top tier but get virtually nothing unless I pay for a suite. So I get the same access and benefits as someone on their first cruise. Very disappointed, but I didn’t know any better…until I found Royal! And, in particular, Matt’s blog and the people on these forums. Thank you all! I know that I am very fortunate, and I’m thankful that I am able to cruise so often. I’ll be Pinnacle on my next cruise…and I loved every moment along the way. Can’t wait to get back aboard! Happy cruising!😎

For me, it was the way they took care of me and my wife on my very first cruise. It was out 10 year anniversary and we booked the inaugural cruise on Grandeur of the seas in 96. We had a interior room, but with a new ship, our room was creaking badly to the point we could not sleep. They gave us ear plugs for the next day as I’m not a big complainer. We tried that, but they would not stay in and another sleepless night. They said they had a ocean view room to replace our interior. So they gave us the key to room and we grabbed our stuff to move in. We got to the room, I opened the door and a woman was changing right in front of me. Before I made it back to the desk, they already called and said someone entered there room. I guess these people also had room issues. Well after that, the lady behind the desk said they only had one room left. She took us up to the room, and it was a owners suite. I was beyond myself going from a interior to owners suite plus $200 OBC. So that left a lasting impression on me that they wanted to take care of me. The only downside to it, once I had the balcony, I have not gone back to interior, so that experience cost me a lot of money since, but I love it.

Whatever cost-cutting measures they implement in the future, I hope that they keep the drink vouchers.

I think Royal has found a good balance that brings value for the vacation dollars spent.  A luxury cruise experience sounds great but they costs luxurious dollars.  A budget cruise sounds easy on the wallet but are often too budget oriented - you get what you pay for, or not.  
Certain companies I gel with.  I have tried other lines, several of them as I sought to check out the grass to see if it was greener over there.  This has helped me validate my feelings about Royal.  In the end Royal feels like home, if there is such a concept, for a cruise line.  
I like that Royal doesn't include everything as that would drive the price up and I'd pay for things I don't want or need.  
I like that Royal offers activities for a wide variety of ages.  I may not have young kids anymore but the kids areas and activities keeps them occupied so they aren't all swamping my space because they are bored with nothing to do.  When I travel with family or friends that have younger kids the kids programming allows me and my friends to spend some time together while their kids are occupied.  
Sometimes I want to jump in a bumper car or lace on a set of skates and sometimes not.  On Royal there are those things for me if and when I feel like it.  Even when I don't sometimes it's fun watching other people have fun.  
I cruise Royal not because of the Crown and Anchor Society but those benefits certainly don't hurt and it is one of the best loyalty programs in the industry.  For me I just enjoy many different aspects of a Royal cruise.  I haven't had bad experiences on other lines but it just doesn't feel like home like it does when I first board a Royal ship at the start of any cruise.  

Nice shorts and a collard shirt is perfectly acceptable in the MDR. On formal night I wear long pants but never dress formal...thats for work!

My standard advice is don’t look like a slob, chew with your mouth closed & no elbows on the table.  And no food fights!

It’s a matter of preference but the few times we dined there, we had a great meal/service.

It’s actually 150 Central Park (but they might appreciate the upgrade!).
We loved the menu, the atmosphere, and the service.  It’s an all-around experience.

That's fantastic news

Latest from Michael Bayley on when protocols could go away: https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2022/02/04/royal-caribbean-sees-many-covid-19-protocols-going-away-once-cases-drop

For connected reservations, it’s much easier to make reservations and book excursions thru the website cruise planner ….. the app makes it much harder.
 

Most ships I’ve been on have a self-serve coffee machine in the Diamond Lounge.  It makes decent lattes and cappuccinos among other coffee drinks. If you’re not coffee “snobs,” you can save your Diamond freebies for bar drinks.

I will just leave them as is.  I saw another guest's luggage tags in a Facebook group.  Their room was on the same side as mine and yet their tags were identical to mine.  I hope the Royal IT are not having issues with dyslexia.

The benefit is only available for the stateroom in which the shareholder (with a minimum of 100 shares) is sailing.
Onboard credit is applied on a per stateroom basis, double occupancy.
Only one shareholder credit per stateroom on any one sailing. If shares are held jointly, 100 shares are required for each onboard credit request on any one sailing.

It can't be the couple of free drink vouchers that makes everyone eager to be Diamond, there must be some crazy stuff going on in that Diamond Lounge!!  🙈

I'm one of those people who will only go to the hibachi experience if I'm with a fun group of people whom I know. I've never had hibachi, anywhere, where the food itself impresses me (including RCCL ships). 

Can't you just keep both? Put your fiancee's name on the 2nd cabin, consider the kids no shows at the port and at least get some money back. And then get double points? for sailing single. And if they're connecting cabins, you get to keep the bigger balcony.
@Matt, @AshleyDillo, @twangster. Does this sound doable? 

I wouldn't be bored.   We just did a Bayonne-Port Canaveral-Coco Cay-Nassau sailing on Oasis that we had done previously on Anthem.   The ship really WAS the destination with so many options for entertainment, music, food, and fun.   We did the comedy show and the Aqua80s multiple times.   
 
 

Just because it's an identical itinerary doesn't mean there is no reason to get off the ship in port. There's always something to do in port that you may or may not have done before. Two cruises scheduled this year. Already been to all of the ports once or twice but that doesn't mean we have no reason to get off the ship.

We were on the Oasis in December with our 30 something kids and their spouses. We all had a good time. Second time on Oasis, 4th time on an Oasis class ship. Always enjoyable, always something to do.