monctonguy

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)

Wet Wendy's for sure.....cant wait to get back there in a few weeks! There is so much to see and do in Cozumel....we just take a cab up as far as Pancho's Backyard usually and then make our way back leisurely stopping where ever we want to or what catches our eye... The usually cab it back to the port after wrapping up our visit to the Huge Grocery store there.

If you have the drink package, you have it included. Or at least the last time I sailed with Royal and every time before that. Of course, it can be hit or miss at the various bars....unless you find a good bartender who will hide some away for you!...

great info here.

I have never been offered anything from Royal's Casinos...and while I don't spend a lot there, I am sure over the past dozen cruises I have spent thousands and thousands. I have only sailed Celebrity once...and gambled the same as I would on Royal....and its unbelieve the offers they give me for 10 day free cruises with Veranda rooms.....based on my gambling???! Are Royals and Celebrity's casino programs linked somehow or?

I am paying $299 USD for 6 night cruise to Bermuda...including drinks and Wi-Fi....when Royal has a deal like that..let me know. Thats my point. Till then....Royal is way more for their cruises...or at least the 3-400 hundred I have looked at for the past 5 years to Bermuda.... Oh..and the NCL cruise is also less than half PLUS drinks and restaurants and wifi and OBC included..so probably about 4-5x cheaper when all perks factored in........ Just Royal's drink package alone would cost more....its insane.

Not cherry picking.....not that I need to explain my statement again....but I have been looking for Bermuda for the past 5 years....mostly looking at Royal..it has NEVER been that cheap..drinks or not. Also..MSC, its not a one off promo..there are multiple dates and prices even cheaper.. As for the drink promo...sure it is..but at the end of the day, that's what it costs. Its like Royals math with 60% off second guest and kids sail free....all that matters really is the cost at the end of the day..no matter how they try to spin it or make it look like. So as originally stated....Royal is getting only 1/3 of my business this year..based on their high prices for both their cruises AND their drinks. Fact. When someone shows me ANY cruise with Royal that is even just double....sign me up!. Royals drink package...on sale or not is more than my whole cruise and drinks and wifi port/fees taxes etc.... That's a fact..not opinion.. Whether or not its as good as Royal or whether I I will enjoy it or not or whether the drink package as good as Royals, those are opinions.

The cruise was $229 without drinks..or drinks and wifi for $299....so works out to $11/day for the drink plus package AND wifi.... Royal would add approx. $800 CAD each to the cruise price for similar options. That's my point. I am still waiting for someone to show me ANY cruise with Royal that would be similar in price.....at least double if not triple cost on average...when its all added up and as similar a package/options as possible..

Well this will be the test...to see if these "cheaper" cruises with other cruise lines are worth it or not. I have loved every Royal experience so will be interesting to see how NCL and MSC stacks up against Royal firsthand.

And this is VERY nice weather for us at the end of October....normally it would be around 35F ish with frost and even flurries here and there some years. But yeah, I think that these cruises would tend to lend themselves to more seasoned cruises, less family/kids and a lot more indoor than outdoor time which could make a ship feel more crowded and busy, especially a smaller/older ship. that being said....if your stopping at Halifax or Saint John tomorrow..LET ME ON!!..haha

I also think its the time of year/clientele that are probably on this cruise as well perhaps? This time of year the weather isn't nice and not as much to do outside, which probably makes everything busier inside as well thus leading to crowds and longer waits? if you would like to get off in PEI and trade places with me for the rest of oyur cruise...I'll jump on!..ha

I don't think this is typical of Royal cruises(i haven't been on one now for almost 3 years but..) The dinner thing...1.5 hrs is always the norm on royal for sit down dinners in the MDR based on my experiences. We don't do it often for that reason. But I guess I know that ahead of time and plan accordingly....if I didn't know to expect than well, yeah I get it. Late shows and no shows....sounds like bad planning on the CD's job/part perhaps?... I haven't had weak drinks nor have I not been able to get a cupcake in a cupcake shop or a piece of pizza at a pizza place...so I can see your point there. Schooner bars are usually fairly small and always crowded when they have live music....I enjoy a good crowd or a busy spot like that but others not so much and I get that. I have cruised small and large Royal ships..usually things work quite smoothly and are enjoyable.....

and then add on about 40% exchange rate for Canadians....makes cruising or drinking or anything very expensive right now!!

Sure is...or at least for ALL of my searches and inquires and quotes.(and I have done probably 3-400 in the past few months looking for/at cruise deals and options) Ok...maybe 99% of the time..I willl give Royal a 1% chance that someone can find a better deal. Feel free to send me links to all these cheaper cruises and drink packages you seem to know about with Royal. Find me a Royal Caribbean cruise for 6 nights to Bermuda or 8 nights out of Puerto Rico in 2023....Bermuda needs to be around $499 USD taxes and drinks in.....San Juan needs to be $599 CAD with drinks and taxes in. Good luck..lol. Thanks.

well yes and no....with the deal I got..it was the drink plus package....so pretty much everything covered with a few exceptions...and for $11/day I will take a chance if I have to buy an extra drink or two during the cruise.. Still..not even close if you were to add the top drink package to my MSC cruise...Royal would still be more for just the cruise. OH..and i didn't mention it was in CAD...so like $7USD/day for the drink package... So yes, it is MUCH cheaper over all..... I can now move on to my incredible deals and savings I got with NCL as well.. 8 night cruise for $491 CAD plus taxes...drinks included again... and yes, I know they have different drink package levels.. Point is....Royals cruises and drinks are much higher than the industry norm...I would say the highest(within the main 4 or 5 cruise companies out of the US)...which is why they are losing 66% of my business next year....I cant afford to cruise with Royal that often any longer...its too bad...

Hoping this is still the case next November when I make my first cruise to Bermuda...hoping the $40 fee is dropped too by then..if not, sucks to have ot pay that but this is a one time cruise to Bermuda and I can cross if off the list.....had a chance to go earlier this year but didn't book it because of all the tests and fees and forms...wasn't worth the worry or stress.

Interesting....I feel the exact opposite way..makes a huge difference in any/all of my cruises so far.

One of the reasons why Royal only has 1 out of 3 cruises we have booked for 2023....after being pretty Loyal to Royal for the past decade or so....i cant justify the prices they have for their cruises PLUS the drink package. Both other cruises we have booked are incredibly cheaper in large part to the drink packages. Our MSC cruise..we only paid $11/day for the drink package...(it was a deal with the cruise line but still) and even if it wasn't a deal..the basic drink package is $39/day....basically what it was with Royal on my first cruise ever... 2023 prices are quite high with Royal for everything..add on 40% exchange rate for Canadians and its a deal breaker to pay almost $2000 Cad just for drinks on a week cruise with Royal.....

Now if only the US would remove vaccine requiements for Canadians flying into the US!! But its MIUCH cheaper to drive to the US and then fly anyway's, which is what I always do now out of Bangor. 4 hr drive saves me thousands every year on flights! But I wouldn't get too exited....the app hasn't gone away..it can and will probably be implemented again in the very near future. I wouldn't count if out for long!

I am sooooo happy!!..what a relief for Canadians who need a day or two to travel prior to the cruise and have to figure out getting a test and results and then hoping that can still get on the cruise!! I have a 5 day in October and it doesn't go to Bahamas...yeah!...I will be avoiding any cruises that visit there if they keep their vaccine requirements and testing when all/most others places don't. 70 days till Serenade!!

Sorry...I am anxious to get booking!!!!... I was surprised that NCL already had it updated on the documents when I booked this am, was hoping Royal had as well.....thats all.