monctonguy

I have not been on a cruise yet where the bars stayed open all nite or waited for people to leave. The "main" bars were closed by midnight at the latest, the only bar that stayed open would be the "disco" club in the crown and anchor lounge and that was closed by 2am at the latest, maybe earlier some nights. No options for any drinks after that untill the morning, 10ish before the bars re-open.

I was curious for years but had heard the horror stories/rumors, plus the cost of getting to a cruise(from Canada), plus the cost once on the cruise(extras, tips and drinks!) was too much imho. So I travelled south for years and did AI's. However, as soon as the drink packages came out, I decided to take the plunge and book a cruise. Have done 3 in the past 2 years and am ready to book my fourth. Now that I have experienced it, I prefer it over an AI.....it's just convincing others to join me as the single supplement is killer with RCI.

Only been on 3 cruises, but all of them took cash. The card you stuck in was just to collect points for playing and prizes. They actually had machines that only took quaters to play certain games as well......

I have done inside twice and ocean view once. The oceanview room was a little bigger(i think this is normally the case) and it was nice to have a bit of a view. That being said, its not a big deal for me really. $100 extra total for a week long cruise maybe I would. But I never spend alot of time in my room, so a window while nice, isn't worth alot extra based on my experiences so far.

It was a Bahamas cruise on Enchantment of the Seas....

You dont worry about the %15 tip, its included in your package. You only pay above the max amount for the cost of the drink, or at least I did a couple times on my last cruise in Feb.

I finally had a chance to try the honey stung chicken last cruise thanks to the suggestions here....it was very good! I like the variety and choices in the Windjammer. I usualy end up eating most of my meals there. The Indian food is always great and was a pleasant surpirse on my first cruise with RCI. Had it pretty much every night for starters. Last cruise I took, was only there one night that I could find it. I defn enjoy the salad bar there each evenings as well.

It would be nice if they did something, as often I have heard about this being something that alot of people miss out on because of the weather. I have been lucky 2/3 times I have gone. That being said, it's a big part of a short cruise to be able to spend the day there. It's too bad they can't/wont do anything about it.

awesome...good to know!

For a first time cruiser I would recomend taking the package. It is very easy for the cost to add up, your having fun on your first cruise, meeting new people and having drinks with them etc. Factor the package in as part of your budget, and then once the cruise is over you can decide if you would do it again. Horror stories of a $1000 booze bill at the end of the cruise was one reason why I refused to cruise untill they had drink packages. I didnt think they had the packages for the 3day cruises or less, but perhaps that has changed?

I do have asthma. I am also allergic to dogs, cats, and dust. But I realize I have to accept and deal with these things in my everyday life or I would never do anything or go anywhere. If we block and ban everything that pople dont like/enjoy/appreciate or are allergic to or have potential reactions to, we might as well live in a bubble. So based on my experience, and from someone who does have asthma(the orginal posted did not indicate that was his issue with the smoke) I would say the casino's arent that bad when it comes to making your clothes smell!! :)

Been on 3 different cruises, on 2 different boats and spent alot of time in the casino each time. Never found it to be that bad. Unless your sitting in a section where you are surrounded by smokers, it should be ok. They usually also have a section that is some free for the whole cruise in the casino, and they also have at least one evening during the cruise where the whole casino is smoke free. So if all you want to do is "try" the caisno, and not spend the whole cruise there, your outfits won't smell like smoke for the cruise. And if they do, their laundry services are very affordable, efficent and quick/great service based on my experience!

Yeah..I have seen Carnyvale in alot of cases waves ANY single supplement. However I really do enjoy RCI, am a C&A member and those I usually travel with enjoy RCI as well, so I guess I don't have much choice. I am ok with even 50% markup...I'll eat and drink for 1.5 people no problem...my issue is really when they charge me for more than 2 people....absurd!

.....Reduce the cost for single travallers to something more reasonable....

I am not upset, just don't comprend the concept behind it. If I follow the logic being presented here, then every single person who does anything for me deserves a tip. Even though they are only doing their job, and if they dont do their job they won't get paid or they get fired. But then we tip on top of that. And when it comes to luggage, I do more of the lifitng then they do..I take it from the cab right to the cart and then i take it from the hallway to my cabin. And when I mentioned flying, I wasnt talking about the guy at the curb carrying your bags, I meant the attendant who takes your luggage at the ticket counter. Cause based on the reasoning being used here to justify the level of tipping, "you would tip her $10 as well, cause you want to make sure your luggage makes it to the plane"......I just dont know where you draw the line or cut it off. If that was the case, we should be down in the engine room of the boat, cause without those guys, the boat really would go nowhere..... I guess I work in the wrong industry.......lol I tip for GOOD service, where they may go above and beyond.....i dont tip them for the job they are already paid to do as a rule...

That wasnt my point at all. This is not a cultural issue so don't even try to imply that. We give to homeless shelters, we drop clothes off at goodwill stores, we tip servers etc here in Canada as well.. My point was that the porter at the dock, lift's my suitcase from the ground to the cart....thats it. And the suggestion was made here that is worth $10! If thats the case, then every single person who does anything for you at anytime derserves a tip! And I was not implying that porters are wealthy or that wealth plays a roll in tipping or not. I was simply statting that if everyone tipped the porters $10, they would be some of the best paying jobs in America or any country for that matter. To each their own....I just don't think lifting my suitcase is worth $10. And by suggesting and setting that precedent, you make them come to expect that. Do you tip the check in person at your flight counter $10 for lifting your bag to the belt??

Thats right, the changed it about a yr ago or so. Much better option now. And they can track you pretty easily if you are "buying" drinks for others on your pass!

I have never tipped a porter.... I drop my 1 bag off at the cart. It is then pulled by a tractor onto the boat. At some point, someone has to bring it down the hall close to my room, but I have no idea who that is or see them. I self check out with my bags. If everyone tipped the porters at the docks $10, that would be some of the best paying jobs in America! I don't get that concept.

The only ship I know with RCI thats has those is the Brillance of the Seas...they average about 150% of a regular price.....which I can swallow if I have to...but it only goes out of Tampa Bay(from what I can see)....and flights from NB to Tampa run close to $1000 return so its not really an option even with the slightly reduced cruise cost.(mostly in part to the abusd air prices we pay in Canada) I think that with divorce, people waiitng later in life to get married, and if cruising wants to appeal to all ages and walks of life, they need to do something to accomdate single travellers. They are missing out on some potential there. Glad to hear that perhaps with the Quantum ships there maybe more options with RCI.

Ok..that is normal. Not what the poster said that I was commenting on!

Really?....so i do a booking, pay $100 deposit. The I see a couple of months later its alot cheaper. So i suck it up and lose the $100 deposit to book a cheaper cruise. They could come back and charge me the difference? That would be the last cruise I would book with them if they did.....wow. I have never experienced anything like that in my 15 years of travels with any type of travels or company...hotel, air, cruise, resort, etc

It's a great offer if you are planning on cruising in late 2015 or 2106 especially as by 2016, chances are the price will have gone up by then. However, these prices aren't great from what I have seen, They must have raised the base prices to help make up for it. I have travlled in the past for cheaper than any deals i can find right now......or even for early 2015. Guess the only plus is you can just put a deposit down now, and lots of time to pay it off.

Usually with RCI, they collect your tips automatically now....no option to not tip. And when its usually been usually equal to 20% of the cost of my cruises(yes, I have found cheap cruises..lol) I certainly do not feel the need to tip on top of that

I don't see a need for this...keep parents responsible for their kids when on a cruise...... While it can happen to anyone anwyhere, we don't need anymore costs added to cruise prices already....

I know this has been dicussed many times, on every board, about every travel company out there, but I don't get why RCI is so bad when it comes to this. I know all the reasons, arguments and for the most part I understand, although don't like it. However, when they charge MORE for a single traveller, than for 2 people in a room, that is just not acceptable. Especially when it's last minute, and in all likelyhood are going to sail with empty cabins in 2 days, why not at least just charge double, or give a break to collect some kind of money. I know Carnival has alot of sailings with 0% single supplement, and other cruise lines vary. But why does RCI consistantly have to be the worst and the highest when it comes to this??! Frustates and disapoints me, as I have had nothing but great expereiences with them so far......but this kind of thing turns me off from a company, any company taking advantge of people.