monctonguy

That's why I am looking at trying to get to diamond asap....with my cruise in Feb..then doing a 7 day cruise solo cabin in April I will hit emerald and be 24 nights away from Diamond. Seriously looking at doing a transatlantic or repositioning cruise in the fall solo just to bump me to diamond. I am really hoping that if/when they do change....that at least at Diamond level you wouldn't loose too many of your perks and incentives.

There are going to be a lot of disappointed people. Let's be honest, most ppl who booked Majesty was strictly for/because of the the refurbish details....and nothing else. To advertise, promote, take bookings and then just say NAH, we won't bother to do that now is not a great way to conduct a customer driven business. While I know its not past the final payment date for any of those cruises, so customers can cancel and get full refunds that is not the point. Many would have potentially booked flights, hotels, time off work etc to plan this vacation. While some things are beyond control, this is just a decision that RCI made obviously based on their best interests not the customers. Glad I didn't join the rush to book.... Now, I wonder what changes they may decide to not make with Empress now that they have lots of bookings confirmed with that ship as well....hmmmmm

They had the option to buy in the terminal in Tampa last Jan for the Brilliance cruise.....only place I have seen it so far. I will be at San Juan in April so will see if they do there. I have never seen it cheaper by buying it in advance or on the boat.....8 cruises and counting so far.(outside of when they offered a bogo on the drink package last year for select cruises(oceanview and higher) and only for a short period of time)

Just a note there is a fee to rent the lockers as well. I believe $4. My buddy just used his cell phone to shoot when doing the zipline last week.

Just off Independence and no machines.....you still get the "coke cups". While the waits weren't real long, the lack of options is what I missed. I love all the powerade drink options which I usually need in the morning and missed them greatly. I am cruising Brilliance next and am out of luck on her as well.

I am sure something is going to change..on my most recent cruise, out of 3900 passengers, over 1300 were C&A members...granted around 800 of them were Gold Status which basically means no perks really...but you can see when about 30% of the customers are "rewards" members they are going to have to do something to make it harder to obtain higher levels.

I just did this...took less than 10 mins....so as long as everything is ok with your cruise getting to port, your fine!

Not crazy about buying points, but if they keep upping the levels.....you have to do what you have to do I guess. That being said, I haven't heard anything else about the "spending X amount of money on board" gets you more C&A points? I can't imagine they would change it so Diamond members aren't even allowed in the lounge anymore...seems harsh. At 1000 points for Pinnacle...that would be approx. 142 cruises it would take at 7 nights a cruise....that's just not even acceptable.

You have to know the prices.....I have a nice collection of fossil watches, so I know the prices pretty well here in Canada and the US. Their fossil "sale" is a joke...about double what I paid for the same watch at an outlet in Florida. Even from back home here in Canada paying full pop and with exchange it was hardly a deal. Buyer beware for all that stuff they list as "high end" on sale.......

I am headed there next week...first time there after many visit's to coco cay. I know Labadee is a lot bigger and more to do and see. Any links to a good up todate map? Do they give you one in the cruise compass?

I hope its an error.... My Brilliance cruise in Feb shows $58 and $70 so its increased. Kinda harder to tell for my other two cruises as it shows in CAD right now. If anything, they need to start offering it included or BOGO it or something to compete with Celebrity and NCL.... Or maybe they don't to if ppl are willing to pay RCI's high cruise prices AND then spend close to another $1000/cpl for a week long cruise on drinks... I wouldn't mind a slight increase if we see those "drink cards" come out or being able to buy the drink package for certain days.

I thought you could still sit outside at the windjammer on Brilliance? Pretty sure last Jan on my cruise you could anyways...

I do not believe so...on my cruise in April on Enchantment my travel partner had one in her checked luggage...never thought about it.....suitcase was held and she had to pick up the knife at the end of the cruise....

Congrats...I am sure it's gonna be a great time. I don't know if I could cancel 2 cruise for one cruise...but its a good one to do it for I guess if you have to! I would love to book as well, but can't commit yet. It's on my list of options for 2017 for sure though...hoping I can make the commitment soon!

You can get the drink package at ANY bar....just skip the long lines when you first get on the ship and head to the pool bar or wherever you want. It takes 30 seconds and your ready to drink. Take it from someone who has does this many times on different ships..lol. I did get mine in the terminal in Tampa the one time there as well, as there was no line up at the time I was passing by the table.

I had heard about this but never got to experience it. Too bad they are doing away with it...more disappointed about losing the location than the food it sounds like. Surprised a Radiance class ship would be making changes that limits seaviews as that is one of the things ppl enjoy about this class of ship! I am back on Brilliance in Feb, will have to enjoy sitting outside and having lunch as who knows if/when they will get rid of that in the future.

Hey Michel....we don't get to our hotel till about 10pm on Sat night....staying at the Ramada Fort Lauderdale....if you're anywhere around there we could try and meet up for a beer...my gf is from Edmundston and speaks French so we would have no problems chatting...haha Yeah Jerel...it was an amazing deal..anything under $600 CAD is good sad to say....I have come across a deal once or twice for just under $500 our of Halifax....but this was amazing....I was on the fence about cancelling my cruise if the flights weren't going to come down from almost $1000 originally.

wow....that's a lot of work....I mean a TA at any given time could have a thousand cruises booked. I can't imagine the work of checking everyone's booking for the next 2 years each time each cruise line comes out with a new promo or sale which is about every month.

Awesome...thanks! I get 2 free spins now in the casino.....:)

I always wait till I get on now, and I get a package every cruise.....(7 and counting) I don't see any advantage really to buying ahead. It goes on your credit card and they get to make that money off you months in advance. Once on board, you can use your OBC to purchase it if you have any. I have never seen the prices higher on board than before...and I have never paid more or less in taxes either on any cruises. I know that some cruises are trying out being able to buy the package for one day at a time..or buying a drink card at a reduced price so that maybe an advantage of waiting till getting on board to decide.

I am cruising on Monday and am platinum...will report back here what the difference was. I too will be close to emerald then as well.... But the big perks/savings etc come with diamond level...hoping to be there by next year.

I couldn't believe the deal I found for airfare out of Halifax for my cruise out of San Juan...it was about $330 return USD......amazing.....that's crazy to think about $165 each way in USD.....never seen that in 15 years of travels!! Glad I waited to book as previously flights were over $600 USD return and higher out of Moncton.

That's what I thought it's lower except for suite cat..... I don't use a TA And I am not sure they would check every booking every time a new deal comes out and call me if its a better deal? Wouldn't they have thousands of bookings to check every time a new promo comes out with a particular cruise company....I just check myself and call for the better deal if it is a better deal!

Not sure about price..but isnt this BOGO worse for the OBC...pretty sure the last one was 50% higher for Inside, Ocean and balcony bookings.....

They have already announced the "new" Bogo starting Jan 4th I thought I had read or seen somewhere.....was the same as the last one, and prob the one before that I am pretty sure.