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S0nny

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Everything posted by S0nny

  1. The free champagne has been around at least since we booked our last cruise to Cuba in Nov 2018 on RCCL. On this November sailing we got and extra $200 OBC just for using the AMEX, PLUS the champagne. You DO have to purchase either through the AMEX Travel website, or an affiliated TA. This offer applies to AMEX Platinum and Centurion card members. We booked all our travel through our AMEX Affiliated TA who secured us the benefit. https://thepointsguy.com/guide/amex-platinum-cruise-privileges-program/ The other option is to pre-purchase the bottle in your cruise-planner before booking. Usually you can save 20-30% off onboard prices. It's still 3x the offboard prices... but I suppose if you're not getting the drinking package (or don't want to go to the bar and don't want to pay for room service as the OP indicated) it may not be the worst option!
  2. We prefer champagne over red or white wine anyways! If you have an AMEX card and book with it, you’ll even find a bottle of chilled champagne waiting for you in your room. Perfect for those sail away parties from your balcony.
  3. On both Oasis in 2015 and Empress, we picked out the bar/spot that was convenient to our room, got to know a couple friendly bartenders, and in spite of having the drink package, tipped in cash. For the Oasis cruise we tipped $5 bucks. Armando remembered our names for the whole cruise (having only met him once). Anytime we walked up to the bar, he would start making our drinks (if he smiled at us and gave us the thumb up, we knew he was making our favorite frozen mojito drink). On Empress, our group of 6 tipped Valentin about $80 cash the first day of the cruise (we all had the drink package)... that man treated us like kings and queens. We did not want for a drink the entire 8 nights... (We also usually tip a buck every time we go to the bar). We normally tip 20% and since the gratuity is only 18%... it just feels right.
  4. Blog indicates about 75-60 days prior. This checks with our upcoming cruise on Harmony; which opened up reservations (from what I noticed) on day 64. It may have been sooner, but I didn't see the option prior to that. I received and email when it opened on that day as well. https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2016/07/23/first-time-cruisers-when-can-i-prebook-entertainment-dining-and-more-my-royal-caribbean#targetText=If entertainment is available to,days prior to a cruise. Yes! That's where I found it ? We delayed booking most of our reservations (because we were still debating over the Key...) And we booked everything around 28 days prior. I'd say we got our preferred time for about 50% of the selections. We ended up going with The Key. I'll let you know if it makes any difference once onboard as far as reservations are concerned. On our first Oasis Class cruise, we didn't reserve anything in advance (I don't even remember if it was an option in 2015). But ultimately we never had any issues showing up 10-15 minutes prior and getting okay seats. (We were on a January sailing though, and the ship was rather empty). If you really want to, you can look at the Cruise Compass for show times, and use that to pre-book your dining. And then if somethings changes, you should still be able to go back and change your dinner plans. (and worst case, if your preferred dinning time isn't available, you can just change it onboard. I doubt you will have problems)
  5. The way the muster stations appear to be assigned (at least on my sailings, and future sailing on Harmony of the Seas) is at the large gathering spaces. If you are trying to determine your approximate room location (as of right now... because if you're in a guaranteed room I suspect that could change before you're actually assigned), then it seems to be correlating to your room location. (ie. Forward, Aft, Starboard, Port-Side). Our room on Harmony is a Boardwalk Balcony (9719). This room is on the Starboard side (right side of the ship as standing on it and facing forward) on deck 9. Our muster station is F01. This appears to be (from the images I found online), on deck 5 in the MDR Silk. I couldn't find pictures of Voyager, but Serenade (a different class ship), has muster station C08 which appears to be on the Port Side, mid-ship.
  6. Great question! If no one knows definitively, I would be more than happy to find out by ordering it on our next sailing ? My guess; no it wouldn't be included. (see below) "Package does not include room service, mini bar items and souvenir glassware, specialty beers as listed on bar menus, or super premium category beverages above $12." https://www.royalcaribbean.com/content/dam/royal/resources/pdf/beverage-packages/deluxe-beverage-packages-cruises.pdf "Room service and minibar items are not included in either package." https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/category/category/unlimited-alcohol-packages#targetText=Royal Caribbean has one unlimited,sparking and bottled still water.
  7. Linked below are some beaches I found that are relatively inexpensive (nothing is really free if you pay for a cab, and bathroom usage, or beach access). Cozumel is mostly full of resorts that charge a premium to stay for the day, but if you can swing the cost (about 50-80 USD) and another 15-25 USD for the taxi, it may be the more "affordable" option if you're interested in drinking. Mr. Sanchos being the huge crowd favorite! https://cruiseradio.net/4-free-beaches-in-cozumel/ https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g150809-Activities-Cozumel_Yucatan_Peninsula.html
  8. Ooops... and this is why I should read ALL the comments before posting ? I suppose it's just positive reinforcement!
  9. I find the best prescription for this diagnosis is booking another cruise from "Next Cruise" while on the ship! I immediately start daydreaming about the next one!
  10. lol I love this! Your blog was awesome! Thanks for the detail AND the musical theater humor!
  11. hahaha YAAAAAAAAAS Can't wait to get the updates! Happy cruising!
  12. lol Thanks for any and all updates! We're cruising in a month and DEFINITELY not cruising Star Class ?. For now I'll live through you!
  13. If she only drinks one daily, have her buy them when you arrive to your port destination. I've never seen it onboard, but I will specifically look/ask for it on our sailing next month! Per the policy: "Guests may also bring non-alcoholic beverages as carry-on items on boarding day. Non-alcoholic beverages may not exceed 12 standard (17 oz.) cans, bottles or cartons per stateroom" https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/food-drink-onboard-policy
  14. Great advice! What's nice about this response is if you don't like their answer, you can call again on a different day and hope for leniency. On the cruise ship, if you don't like their response, you will not get so lucky to have an exemption.
  15. They did for our Cuba Cruise on Empress in 2018. If they serve it, try the Cortadito! As others have stated, it is nestled just inside the Boleros entrance.
  16. We have always had excellent service in the food department. A friend brought his son onboard who was a picky eater. They made him his favorite meal (spaghetti) every night even though it wasn't on the menu. When the waiter noticed I wasn't interested in the entrees listed he asked me what my favorite cuisine is (Indian), and I was surprised when he brought me a plate! And if something arrives cold, I would never hesitate to send something back (politely). We sprung for Chops Grille on Empress in 2018, and the crab legs (or lobster... I cannot recall) arrived undercooked. They brought out an entirely new tray.
  17. Do it! You won't regret it ? Just check back into the cruise planner every now and then before sailing. If you see a cheaper purchase price you can call Royal Caribbean and have them refund you your original purchase and rebook it for the lower price!
  18. Good choice! I suspect you won't regret it. We have always done MTD and have loved it regardless if we were a couple or a group of 10!
  19. Our group of 6 expanded to a group of 10 during parts of our cruise on Empress of the Seas (Nov 2018). They had a table large enough to accommodate us on the smallest ship in the fleet (AND we had My Time Dining). I suspect you shouldn't run into any problems following the advice given already. One add on, if you DON'T get what you're looking for, don't be discouraged. Just call the MDR from 1pm-7pm and see if they have cancellations and can accommodate your crew! People cancel all the time (or in our case, the group had reserved the table every night, but never showed up)
  20. There is a lot to do on the island. One day dedicated to the water park should be more than sufficient IMO. And if I were you, maybe consider the water park on the SECOND day to bet on the crowds having gone more on the first day. Let us know after the cruise what choice you went with and if you would remake it!
  21. A wonderful reason we always book the deluxe drinking package; we always grab a bottle or two of Pelligrino every time we pass a bar on the way to the room. Never have a problem filling our mini-fridge and stay hydrated the whole time. (in spite of our best efforts ? )
  22. Thank you for this! What a great work-around for room service with the unlimited dining package!
  23. Definitely agree. We had no problems with nice jeans and button down shirts. (Although, most in our party were dressed to impress.)
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