monctonguy

I didn't see them anywhere when I was on Brilliance last month. They didn't hand out the cups either to use the machines.

i think there are some wrong assumptions and info out there. Or perhaps it was diffetnet in the 80's and 90's. Nowdays, You are inadmissible to the USA if you steal chocolate bar....and for some crimes, even if you are not found guilty, just the charge of the crime can be enough to ban you from the USA. I have not heard that you get a free pass on a DUI..its a criminal code conviction here in Canada...pretty sure that makes you inadmissible to go to alot of places..

I don't think their are any or many hotels in that price range in Miami. I have stayed there before a few cruises in the past, and am currently looking for hotels in Feb of Next year. right now, the average would be over $200USD. The Best Western is not near the airport or the cruise port, so not sure why you listed that as an option. The Ramada one is nice. rooms are fairly large, and Tom's restaurant and bar attached is nice. And there are a few places within walking distance as well which is nice. (mcdonalds, dennys etc) But again, never stayed for the prices you are looking for. Breakfast was pretty good too if I remember correctly...pre-covid of course. Good luck!

Its the same both ways for the most part. Its always funny how much Americans don't know about Canadian laws and rules(or history or politics or tv shows or the list goes on..lol). They aren't much different than the USA. In a lot of cases I would say even more lenient. But, its like its a big deal/surprise that if you try to enter Canada with a DUI there might be a issue.....ummm, pretty sure its the same exact thing for Canadians going to the USA.

Not to rub salt in the wound...but i getter better offers from Celebrity's casino program..and I have only take ONE 3 day cruise with them and maybe gambled...$200.00. I think this maybe another example of Royal not caring or not having to care as they are selling out at high prices without having to offer freebies and incentives??!

I am not sure it would be worth travelling hours to another airport to use a particular airline?! It defn would cost more to do that, so there would be no savings. Plus the extra time required. In all likelihood there would be an overnight stay probably required as well. Transportation is going to be more expensive than in the US, more limited and defn not as convenient as you maybe used to when travelling in and out of the USA.

No a la carte options. And the fees listed for each package really aren't representative of the actual cost at all.

Thanks! I am guessing they might as well. it will be their loss as we wont purchase anything through them if that's the case. Be cheaper to pay for and bring my own photographer and wedding officiant. I will post an update here once I hear back from someone.

Thanks..great overview!! I guess I have to wait up to 3 days to hear back form Royals wedding planner department....to confirm if there is a la carte pricing as we don't want/need all they offer in their packages....

It is not..in North America....not sure where you are cruising from.

Does anyone know if you can pick things a la carte?..For example, just the officiant and the photographer. Also, wondering if Freedom still has the wedding chapel...looks like it on the deck plans but i thought they had gotten rid of those?

That's crazy..I wouldn't take that chance..even if the flight was free!!! Arriving at the airport at 6:25pm.....if the flight is on time.....disembark....get luggage......get shuttle/ride to the port...its probably 8pm..then you have to go through security.then check in..then get on board..... I wouldn't try that in a million years..

I don't know why you would check in later? You pay for the first day and you don't get a full day as is so. Its going to be busy anywhere and evrerywhere...my experience is the longer wait the busier it will be by the time you get on. The bars, pools etc will all be packed so it will be even longer waits. I am not sure how long the Muster drills are now, but keep in mind that everything is closed during that time as well.

So Brilliance would still be Seapass cards for everything then?

Its all a moot point....if we are arguing for TIPS, then use the official definition of it. And none of these threads do. Its insane arguing for something, but not even using the official meaning or definition of it. What the Cruise lines do is NOT tipping. We all know its a game...cruise lines pay their staff lower wages and then charge customers mandatory tips to compensate...insane really. Everyone who is encouraging and supporting the cruise industry to keep doing this are actually enabling them to keep wages low for the workers. I have never seen people on such high or large soapboxes in my life, as I do when it comes to tipping in the cruise industry. All those who feel so strongly about giving a tip to anyone and everyone on board to feel better or to justify the 'low" price of cruising, please feel free to contact guest services on each cruise so you can pay the staff what you think is a living wage. Please feel free to add a 4-500% tip if you like. I hope you do the same when you shop at Walmart, or order from Amazon etc. Please take into consideration the origin of the product and the laws/customs in that country about tipping so as not to offend anyone to make sure everyone gets an adequate amount of compensation(whatever you think is the magic number of course) so we can all do our part to top up everything we pay for... Next time an item is on "sale" when your out shopping..perhaps you should offer to pay full price to make sure the company isn't doing this on the backs of their workers like the cruise industry, or offer to tip to bring up the cost of what you are paying..lol It's madness...it really is.

Well you said that it was akin to leaving something for not so great service..... I thought leaving a bad or low tip in the service industry was akin to leaving nothing. It is not seen as an insult? Perhaps its a cultural thing between Americans and Canadians? What if the cruise I paid for was $299(and i have paid less than that before)....then does a $600 tip minimum make sense? So the tip is 200% of the cruise fare and it could be the worst cruise and service ever....but yup, pay up??!...lmao Its assinine to call it a tip at $16/day for good or bad or no service. for a short cruise or long cruise. Whether you use everything or nothing on the ship etc... Again..its a fee, not a tip. Therein lies the problem......

BINGO!... And why do they do that? Answer that question, and you will get the reason why they try to mask extra fees as "mandatory tips" on their ships!

I am from Canada, doesn't work that way here. $35k is minimum salary for any worker pretty much in Canada..and free healthcare and benefits in most cases. So perhaps cruise line should start basing their ships out of Canada and pay their staff living wages..problem solved I guess.

really....so you think that the $300 plus dollars we "leave" as a tip on week on a cruise is akin to leaving NOTHING??..... ($16USDx2x7 =$300CAD) Plus we pay another $300 in drink tips or should I say fee.s So $600 plus in "tips" that are mandatory and required before we leave an extra cent??!

That's the problem. For some reason, cruisers seem like its their patriotic duty to take care of the laundry people on the cruise. Or whatever hidden department they come up with when tips are discussed. Perhaps we should start blaming the cruise lines for NOT paying their staff properly..imagine that??!! And you think that its all fair and given to the person who washed your sheets?..lol. Or the random person who wiped your table in the windjammer? You have no idea who gets it and if they deserve it. Plus..bottom line.......a fee is not the same as a tip...ever.

There is NO minimum of a tip..it is supposed to be based on the service received. if you want to argue that they deserve $16 more from every person..then add it to the fare. Its NOT fair the way they market and use "tips"....its NOT a tip to be honest. its a Fee. Just because You like to leave money doesn't mean that I should have to or need to. it is always going to be an issue till them just include it in the fare. Do you tip the gas fueler for the flight you took...do you tip the flight attendant for your meal? Did you tip the gate agent for getting you on the plane in time? Do you tip the pilot for the flight......No, you paid for the service/product and that's the end of it. Its not an argument about tipping or not tipping for me...its the fact its a mandatory fee that they try to pass off as a tip in hopes that most people will buy into it or feel badly for some reason for the cruise crew. There is nothing else I have ever used or taken or stayed at or bought etc in my life that is similar to the way cruise lines do it.... That is the issue

I don't know of any other industry that uses "tips" to help offset their employees pay like this or try to make the vacation seem cheaper by not adding them to the end. Either way its a bit of a game and not really fair to the customer or the employee IMHO. Hotel rooms, All- inclusive etc don't add tips automatically..and they clean, rooms, wash dishes etc.... A tip is suppose to be VOLUTANRY as appreciation or recognition for good service. Requiring everyone to pay the same no matter what the experience, before you even receive or never receive the service is not a fair practice at all. And don't get me started on the pre-selected tip amounts now a lot of service industry is starting..with the minimum often starting between 15-20%....that's a defn turn off and a great way not to get a tip from me at all.

Tampa on Brilliance for me. Cruised out of here a few times with no issues showing up early so hopefully that's the case in 19 days!

How strict or closely do they follow those check in times? I know previous to Covid, I would show up at around 10am no matter what and was usually on the ship before 11am. Has this changed or still the norm?

I was unlucky enough once to book a a cruise that had a large charter group(not the whole ship) Tt greatly affected the vibe, service etc. My recommendation would be to avid them at all costs. it's too bad that Royal doesn't let you know or offer you to switch(not that i know of at least)