Spang1974

23 minutes ago, Moby Dick said:

WOW.  If I ever put the wrong address into my billing address and the C.C. company/clearing house accepts it/approves the sale, I'll drop that company in a NY minute.  

LOL, aren't you still living in the Wild Wild West where they don't require PIN number entry for in-person sales? or have they gone past signature use finally?

OFF TOPIC : The LARGEST and most successful optical manufacturer in the world chose Linux (nothing wrong with that) to base their in house operating system and retail software because it was FREE. Before that when they used MS-DOS as their OS(circa 2001), the same company would ship PCs from the US (made by AT&T) to the UK along with power converters because they had the PCs in stock in a warehouse and it was cheaper than buying a new PC to run the antiquated software. Just because a company is the best at one thing, and making a profit in the billions, doesn't mean they want to or are willing to spend money on IT. Royal have spent years bleeding cash at this point and their IT department is working for it's customers.. lets say 75%(to be stingy) of the time. I don't see them losing sleep or any money with that success rate:) With regards to the optical company ALL true, with regards to Royal, my opinion.

2 hours ago, SpeedNoodles said:

I guess I don't get this.  You can get the Next Cruise certificate that allows you quite a while to book something once off the ship. You don't need to choose  your sailing right there and then.

I know other lines do this, not sure about RCI. Its basically a Future Cruise Credit you pay for:) So you can use it for a future sailing yet to be decided.

1 hour ago, Moby Dick said:

If using a C.C., I believe the address must be the same as what's on file with the C.C. profile.  You can use a separate delivery address but the billing address must be the official profile address.  

I don't have an answer to the OP's question, though.

Yeah, that's how it is supposed to be, but trust me, as a person from the UK who buys from USA websites all the time, it's not always possible. I have used the shipping address (as my card billing address) more than two dozen times over the years. The short story is the USA credit card authorisation system doesn't always have access to the EU/UK card database to check, and depending on the amount it will sometimes automatically authorise the charge.  

Have you tried using the hotel zipcode for payment? 

22 hours ago, dodgestang said:

Treason Day.

Blocking access to Boleros, and The Brass And Bock Pub (as well as Sorrentos), definitely treason and a plank walking offence.

On 7/4/2022 at 6:33 PM, FionaMG said:

EU certificates don't show that information. The EU's ferocious data protection laws mean that this is all you get:

There is a QR code and a unique identifier on each certificate, which allow varying degrees of access but only the health authorities in the country where a person was vaccinated have access to the full data. Since cruise line personnel can't tick that box, they essentially have to take your word for it.

HOLY MOLY! You weren't kidding (discussed earlier on this forum), At least the Irish ones have "3/3" for number of doses! One of us has lost their original card but knows the dates that her first two doses were administered. Like I said though, if asked, we could just make them up. Unlike the USA and the CDC, the staff at the terminal in Southampton have NO way of verifying this info or to even read QR codes from our Digital certificates:) I like you will not even bother uploading ours (2 UK and 2 Irish), I will just make sure we have printouts at terminal for check-in.

Smoking is not allowed in the casino when sailing from Southampton:) Come to the darkside and enjoy a smoke free casino!

On 7/1/2022 at 3:24 PM, AspiringCruisePlanner said:

The OBC is the best value for loyalty points (gold coins) for RC with MyVegas. 

Side note: you're limited to one reward (either OBC, free play, cruise discount, or comped cruise) per reservation (meaning Jack and Jill cannot both use $100 OBC on the same stateroom reservation) and 2 RC rewards per person in a rolling 180 day period.

But can Jack use his reward for his cabin Booking #1200, and let Jill use a second rewards for her cabin Booking #1283 ?

As a tribute to someone I have lost, I always have a double crown and coke on my cruise. I always offer to pay, and have never had an issue getting this included, as I only ask once. I personally don't need to have more than the one as I have the drinks package. If I get pushback I just leave it but I suppose a hack or way around this is to fill a freestyle coke cup with 3/4 coke. order a shot, and pour it in the cup, when they come back for my drink order later, order another shot, pour it in the cup. Tadahhh, double crown and coke.

Not sure if this is affecting earlier sailings, but some of us sailing on Anthem of the Seas September 23rd 2022, have received emails stating Royal have adjusted our port times to allow for longer travel times between ports due to engine maintenance.

54 minutes ago, twangster said:

Before 9/11 when you could bring liquids onto planes in carry-on I brought dozens of wine bottles back from South America.  Declared everything and CBP said "Welcome home".   

Always declare it and have never been required to pay duties or taxes that they could impose.  

THIS! Exactly, I always declare and have never had to pay. I think its when you don't declare it and they find it, and they can fine you, they make it worth their time?

8 minutes ago, Swar said:

Hooked, on the Wonder, has the best steak (and you get included lobster). We have eaten at Chops over a dozen times - very good overall. I tried to deviate from the filet one time and was severely disappointed and sent the bone in ribeye  back for a filet. Mason Jar is also better than Chops. RCL needs to banish Wonderland and bring in  Hooked / Mason Jar as replacements.

As long as they keep Wonderland though October so my Sister can try it for her birthday that will be fine by me, LoL

Only been to Chops on Anthem (twice) and we really enjoyed ourselves both times. One was a full capacity pre covid cruise, the other reduced was a reduced capacity post covid cruise. I always have the filet and the wife always has some kind of fish (she is not mad about red meat). Never a complaint in fact we indulged in a bottle of Moet last time and REALLY enjoyed ourselves.

3 hours ago, gr123 said:

Odyssey does not have any skating rink of any kind, they are found in oasis class ships. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news

Quantum Class ships have a Roller Skating Rink in the Seaplex, it also serves as the bumper cars arena, basketball court and indoor soccer filed. However I have not seen them offer roller skating since COVID.

Not here in the UK. However we have extra consumer rights when booking cruises in the UK, so maybe that makes up for their lack of expertise, LOL.

9 hours ago, Suite Snob said:

If "home" means the U.S. of A. an issue is Duty (Taxes) on the bottles of alcohol you bring back.  Duty free doesn't mean quantity free.  You can only bring back X amount of bottles/milliliters per person.   If you are willing to pay the "Duty" on any over authorization amount of alcohol, you can bring what you want.  Don't forget the Kraken! 

 

I have been lucky every time I have declared my duty free purchases (over the personal limit) to border patrol in the USA, they just shake their head and wave me through like it's more hassle than it's worth for taxing a couple bottles. Not sure if this because I am a USA citizen residing overseas and the port is not my final destination or what? YMMV

I think it would depend on the crew member serving you? Like if you were upfront with them, " Can we have this to share or do I need to pay for it outside of my dining package?" They may not be concerned/bothered about who is eating the food? I mean if your friend takes a couple of fries off your plate or a wing is anyone really gonna know? I say just ask.

Both P and O Cruises and Virgin Voyages out of the UK offer High tea and Afternoon tea   Royal Caribbean just offers tea and cookies in Windjammer, LoL!

16 hours ago, FionaMG said:

Exactly. I make two paper copies of everything, one for me and one for DH AND put a copy of everything on ALL of our devices. Think I might be overdoing it?

By the way, tell your Irish travel companions to have at least an idea of the dates and types of all their jabs, because we were asked for this information when we checked in for our recent Odyssey cruise. This is because the EU, in its infinite wisdom, decided that only the date and type of the very last jab (even if that was a booster) should appear on the certificate.

Thank you, I will have them bring their cards for proof, remember the dates and type, or make this information up the day before(its not like it can be verified). Seems silly as it states on their certs 3 of 3 doses and date of booster, but hey, whatcha gonna do, LoL?

I know it is not as much, but the good old USA charge their own fees to outside travellers. Just saying. And let's not even mention the amount of money they charge for actual visas to stay and work in the USA.

9 minutes ago, FionaMG said:

I did not even bother uploading my EU certificate because I knew it would only cause bewilderment. I simply took it to the port and showed it there. Where I had to explain its unfathomable contents to the check-in clerk, vindicating my decision.

Yeah, two of our group are Irish, not even gonna bother with theirs as well. Bring it ALL to the port of course, both digital and paper copies of everything, is the plan.

14 minutes ago, Keiffer-b said:

Unfortunately, Walgreens does require you to be in some type of vehicle.

Thanks:) Love that we could show up on bikes, LoL. Any recommendations for in-store or in-clinic testing in Orlando or Miami (anyone)? 

Do Walgreen's offer in-store testing for those without a car? Or can anyone recommend a convenient place to have the tests done? Travelling to Orlando/Miami from the United Kingdom and looking for place to test before our cruise, can either be Orlando or Miami.

Also for some locations (Cruises sailing from the UK for example) the maximum drink allowed for the Deluxe Beverage Package is $14.00.