SteveinSC

The anticipation is part of the fun! 

I mocked my current booking up, and its at 100 bucks more with the 30% off all than the BOGO 50% . Meh.... 

2 minutes ago, bobroo said:

Oh yeah, the room service coffee, fresh fruit, sweet roll thing is just the pre-game meal. You'll be throwing down a little later after you take a shower, do some housekeeping and got the kinks out of your legs and feet.

Gotta get primed.....cant go into the Windjammer with anything but my A game. Itd be like Lebron playing without stretching and a shoot around before the game. Recipe for disaster....

1 minute ago, AshleyDillo said:

They will have door hangers in the room. 

I HAVE seen these, and always completely disregarded them as something that costs money....never paid attention. I have nobody to blame but me....

As for it waking them up, im good with that.....as a typical Dad, I love nothing more than rubbing it in their faces that Im awake, on vacation, before anyone else. 

3 minutes ago, AshleyDillo said:

Room service is complimentary at breakfast for a limited continental breakfast menu.

I have never been aware of this!!!!!  Complete game changer, for me, as I wake up and need my coffee injected into my veins IMMEDIATELY, followed by some sort of breakfast. Waiting on my wife and kids to get up to go get coffee/breakfast has always been like dying a slow death, for me.....and this will solve that. GAME. CHANGER. Thank you!  Im not dramatic about it, at all..... 

4 hours ago, L454S said:

You can have room service deliver a carafe of coffee with cups, etc. any time for free. 

So, they dont charge the service charge for room service? Is that correct?

Here is what I know. You can fly with it, and rent a car with it. I used to manage a rental company at the Charlotte Douglas, and we saw these from states all the time. As for leaving and entering the country with it.....I think you'll be fine as the temp IS a recognized govt. ID as long as you have the expired one with it. As someone else said, though .....I'd call RCC to be sure. 

I generally stick to one rule....if someone does something for me (bring my food to me, bring a drink to me, clean my room, provide some type of service that saves me time and/or energy) I tip......the percentage ranges based on how much work and thought they had to put into it. 

On 9/25/2019 at 9:14 AM, Matt said:

Park at the port and splurge for valet parking. It's a fixed cost extra (I think $15) and makes embarkation and disembarkation so much easier.

Thanks, all, for the feedback. The valet is looking preeeeeetty good. Especially considering the mood, POST cruise. 

UPDATE #2: @AnnetteJackson reached out to me, and made another push to get my reservation transfered over to MEI, and it was successful!

Just the extra effort to transfer my reservation was above the call of duty. Kelley and Annette went above and beyond, and I appreciate it greatly. It's a relief to know that I have a heavy hitter in my corner, and I look forward to working with them. 

Can anyone give a recommendation on the best place to park for the week in Tampa? 

Ive been on 5....3 RCCL and 2 Carnival. I have one booked for April, with RCCL.  I would advise you, now that youve chosen your 1st on RCCL, to stick with them for all future cruises. I havent cruised them all, but I can say for what you get, what you pay, and what the others offer...RCCL seems to be the one I like best. Ive shopped them all, at one point or another, and kept coming back to Royal Caribbean. I feel like if I had it to do over again, might as well stick with one and rack up loyalty points.  Make sure you sign up for CROWN AND ANCHOR program. 

 https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/crown-anchor-society-loyalty-program-enrollment

As far as transportation, flying, etc.....I always drive to ports. Im in SC, so its not as easy as those that live in Florida, but not so bad I mind doing it.  Id rather have some control than leaving it up to the airlines. 

Once on the boat....dont get wrapped up in trying to do too much.  Pick a couple things that you REALLY want to do, and just fly by the seat of your pants the rest of the time. Choose things spontaneously. There is so much to offer, youll never do it all, and if you get wrapped up in trying, youll fail and it may negatively impact your opinion of cruising in general. Just be in the moment, on the boat, and enjoy the freedom of cruising (my favorite aspect). 

JUST MY TWO CENTS. 

13 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Yes.

"Fairly quick...." 

15 minutes ago, Matt said:

Agree with this.  Learn a few basics and that goes a long way.

Effort should be made. If you show up, and make zero effort, they wont either. If you make an effort, and they see you struggle, they will come to the rescue (if they can).  Ive been on both sides of this....and its just MY experience, and opinion. 

1 minute ago, RatedPG said:

I hate what little intelligence I have being insulted.

I try not to look at it as being insulted.....just a reason to constantly be on guard. 

5 minutes ago, RatedPG said:

Does Royal prey on naiveté and gullibility?

Absolutely, they do.....as do most businesses. Tis the way of the world.....figuring out a way to get as much of your money into their pockets as they can. 

Just now, Jason12 said:

Deluxe £37.24 refreshment £15.20 for our Oasis December cruise I’ll let you do the conversion  

Thats around 46, right.....great price. 

Just now, RatedPG said:

I find this funny... I know which one I want, but which do I believe... the increase or the drop?

"Lets see.....if we increace our prices, then drop them to the old price, they will feel like theyre getting a deal!" 

7 minutes ago, RatedPG said:

It's still at $82 for the Odyssey Inaugural

Yikes, thats steep. I assume that sailing is excluded because of what it is.....but 82 as a pre-cruise price?????? Wow. 

A couple days ago, the Drink Package for my upcoming cruise was at 58/day.  Today its part of the Fall Sale at 51/day.  Check out your prices, people!!!! 

4 minutes ago, raahc said:

So sorry to hear that Steve 

Your MEI rep sounds amazing though.  I just checked their website just to take a look, and not sure I have the right one.  It doesn't offer any quotes, I'd have to fill out the on-line form, is that correct?

No complaints about the help I received. Very pleasant to interact with, and seems as though a strong attempt was made in the face of adversity. 

Yes, I used the online form, as a starting point, just to get the conversation started. I received a reply in less than an hour from the rep, and she took it from there!   

Any rumor, inside knowledge, inclination as to if/when all ships will be on the App? Im booked on Rhapsody in April, and it is not there, yet.  Ive played with the app some, for other ships, and its a REALLY cool thing. 

17 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Very surprised.  That's the first time I've ever heard of them not getting a reservation moved for ANY reason.

A dubious honor.....

1 minute ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

MEI can still get your reservation transferred....even if final payment has been made.

My MEI rep said no dice after getting her Ops Mgr involved? Not sure where to go from there. 

6 minutes ago, Hagar said:

The "paid in full" has always been part of the policy.  I don't say that to defend Royal, just to remind us all that now that final is 90 days from sailing, it makes it even easier to be tripped up by this.

Yeah....I didnt know about transfering a reservation as an option until after I had already paid in full.  Wasnt aware of that stipulation. Learned the hard way, I suppose! Just means I have to keep an eye out for sales, rates, etc, myself....oh well.