S0nny

Based on the title of this post and yesterday being Halloween, I totally thought this was going to be about a haunted cabin. ?

Thanks for sharing this, @S0nny

I was recently monitoring RRCL's website for room availability; I was trying to book a Junior Suite on Harmony of the Seas since one wasn't available at the time of booking. (About 75 days prior to sail date). I would frequently see a listing for a Central Park Balcony, or Ocean View Balcony, and rarely a Junior Suite. Sometimes, when I would attempt to select the room, it would show me the error message "Central Park Balcony Staterooms are unavailable" (or whatever the particular room was I was attempting to review). 
Last night, I noticed a Junior Suite finally displaying"available" (previously the "Royal Class Suites" would only show the "SOLD OUT!" banner). But again, when attempting to review the room's location and price, it would populate the error message " Junior Suite Staterooms are unavailable". 
I decided to call Royal Caribbean (since my TA wasn't immediately available to take my call), and I was informed by the representative that they indeed had ONE JS stateroom available for booking! I was able to book the room through my agent (who called me back almost right after I hung up with RCCL). 
I wanted to share this information since newbies (like myself) might not realize that the website isn't always accurate. (I reviewed the RCblog topic history and noticed there was a good discussion about RCCL's website not showing ALL rooms available for booking...
 
Hope this helps! Have a great day y'all! 

In addition to the suggestions on the previous discussion that you posted, Royal's UK website (.co.uk) generally shows full availability. 

I was recently monitoring RRCL's website for room availability; I was trying to book a Junior Suite on Harmony of the Seas since one wasn't available at the time of booking. (About 75 days prior to sail date). I would frequently see a listing for a Central Park Balcony, or Ocean View Balcony, and rarely a Junior Suite. Sometimes, when I would attempt to select the room, it would show me the error message "Central Park Balcony Staterooms are unavailable" (or whatever the particular room was I was attempting to review). 
Last night, I noticed a Junior Suite finally displaying"available" (previously the "Royal Class Suites" would only show the "SOLD OUT!" banner). But again, when attempting to review the room's location and price, it would populate the error message " Junior Suite Staterooms are unavailable". 
I decided to call Royal Caribbean (since my TA wasn't immediately available to take my call), and I was informed by the representative that they indeed had ONE JS stateroom available for booking! I was able to book the room through my agent (who called me back almost right after I hung up with RCCL). 
I wanted to share this information since newbies (like myself) might not realize that the website isn't always accurate. (I reviewed the RCblog topic history and noticed there was a good discussion about RCCL's website not showing ALL rooms available for booking...
 
Hope this helps! Have a great day y'all! 

@twangster You’re awesome! 
 
I just looked up local dive prices; for SSI certification it’s about $459 pp + some extras for renting vs buying accompanying literature and other incidentals. Our cruise is offering $599 for PADI OWD certification which includes two 2 tank dives plus all materials and ALL equipment (vs just BCD, tanks, and regulator like the local SSI shop). Considering we are eyeballing an Australian cruise next year, we may just knock out our certification now. 
 
I got my PADI Junior OWD certification when I was 16, but haven’t dived since ??  And diving in Mission Bay San Diego CA  was possibly the WORST dive experience you can have! Hahaha I think I enjoyed the pool more than that murkey and cold dive spot... the Caribbean would be a welcomed change! 
 
I’ll let you know what we choose and how it went! Thanks again! And thanks @Kim23 for the OP. Sorry to hijack the thread, but I had the same questions and found it on the search. 

Mine was not working as well. I was going to book an excursion through them. 
 
I called ‭(866) 562-7625‬ and was able to book through the phone. Interestingly, the agent indicated that I needed to log out of my account prior to him being able to access it (and there was a disclaimer provided that if I try to login, it may mess up the process). 
 
I noticed that when I attempted to login after the call, my account and the cruise planner worked just fine. 
 
This leads me to believe that having multiple windows open may have meant I had one window that was still logged in. I would try logging out of your account (if you can), close all windows on your browser, if it still doesn’t work, restart the device. If still nothing, call the number, explain the situation. Maybe whatever gremlin lurking in my system happened to you as well. 
 
This happens to me actually a lot... and I will be following my own advice from here forward now that I know what may be the issue. ?? GOOD LUCK!!

Mine was not working as well. I was going to book an excursion through them. 
 
I called ‭(866) 562-7625‬ and was able to book through the phone. Interestingly, the agent indicated that I needed to log out of my account prior to him being able to access it (and there was a disclaimer provided that if I try to login, it may mess up the process). 
 
I noticed that when I attempted to login after the call, my account and the cruise planner worked just fine. 
 
This leads me to believe that having multiple windows open may have meant I had one window that was still logged in. I would try logging out of your account (if you can), close all windows on your browser, if it still doesn’t work, restart the device. If still nothing, call the number, explain the situation. Maybe whatever gremlin lurking in my system happened to you as well. 
 
This happens to me actually a lot... and I will be following my own advice from here forward now that I know what may be the issue. ?? GOOD LUCK!!

Why do we keep getting this error?

Thank you so much for this! We wanted to book the Discovery Scuba excursion on our upcoming Harmony cruise in a few weeks, but I didn’t want to take away any sea days for didactic instruction. I must have gotten confused in all the reading and thought the Discovery Scuba session necessitated time in the ship’s pool for initial immersion. 
 
As reading it now, I think it’s just an introductory lesson while in the water and then doing a super shallow dive. We are looking at doing this in Costa Maya. 
 
And thanks for the info on OWD certification! I was completely backwards in thinking that doing it on a cruise would be a waste of time and money; is see differently now. 
 
I’m a new member on this blog, but I really appreciate your advice ?  

I'm not inherently a dishonest person... but I always just move the towels if I don't see anyone on them after about 15 minutes (I only do it when there are no personal items). The ONE TIME someone came back, we had been sitting in the seat for over an hour, so I simply told them there were no towels present when we showed up. I reminded them of the policy and told them their towels must have been removed by staff. Maybe not the most honest thing... but neither is not adhering to the very obvious rules...

@twangster You’re awesome! 
 
I just looked up local dive prices; for SSI certification it’s about $459 pp + some extras for renting vs buying accompanying literature and other incidentals. Our cruise is offering $599 for PADI OWD certification which includes two 2 tank dives plus all materials and ALL equipment (vs just BCD, tanks, and regulator like the local SSI shop). Considering we are eyeballing an Australian cruise next year, we may just knock out our certification now. 
 
I got my PADI Junior OWD certification when I was 16, but haven’t dived since ??  And diving in Mission Bay San Diego CA  was possibly the WORST dive experience you can have! Hahaha I think I enjoyed the pool more than that murkey and cold dive spot... the Caribbean would be a welcomed change! 
 
I’ll let you know what we choose and how it went! Thanks again! And thanks @Kim23 for the OP. Sorry to hijack the thread, but I had the same questions and found it on the search. 

I agree with Lovetocruise2002.  The activities where Star Class gives you priority are awesome on the Q Class ships.  The only major restaurant that is missing on Q Class is 150 Central Park but I did miss it on Anthem.  One big drawback on the Q Class is that all of the SC suites are a long walk aft.  I missed deck 17 when I was on Anthem.  The Coastal Kitchen on Anthem is far less impressive than on the O class ships but the food was just as good.  Of course, the Q Class ships do not have a Suites Lounge at all and that’s a big negative.

Honestly, I have never been on one of the "special" cruises - anniversaries or President's cruise or anything like that so I cannot say for sure.  I will speculate, however, that you will still be given the same priority as you would, otherwise.  I guess it's possible that there may be some special meals that the politicos would have that might cause reservations to be harder to get than normal but I wouldn't worry too much about it.  I think the Lounge is going to be the place where you might have the most problem so if you are planning on frequenting the Lounge during the "busy" times then it could be a problem but as I said, we frequent the lounge much LESS when we are SC than any other time simply b/c we have so many other options.
 
I think it's fair to say that Star Class has spoiled me.  That's a fair statement.  I do not miss Star Class on the non-O/Q ships simply b/c I know there is no SC on those ships BUT I will say that we now manufacture the Star Class environment (on any ship class) as closely as possible.  Until VERY recently, we always purchased both the Ultimate Beverage Package and the Unlimited Dining Package which basically simulates the all-inclusiveness of the SC food/beverage service.  Of course, there are still some aspects that are not equivalent to SC - you cannot get the upcharge menu items (well, you can, but you have to pay more for them) and you cannot get any specialty restaurant food delivered to your suite but it's as close to SC level as you can get.  I find the absence of the Genie to be the easiest aspect of SC to forego.  The Suites Concierge can do NEARLY everything that a Genie can do with the exception of the reserved seating.  So it's pretty easy to simulate SC on the non-suite class ships as long as you are in a GS or higher.
I will also add one more thing.  I am the SC lover in my family.  Dan couldn't care less about it.  There was a period of time where he actually discouraged me from booking SC b/c he hates all the "fuss" - particularly when we are in our suite and trying to relax.  He has quit mentioning it b/c #1 I pay for all of the cruises and #2 he knows how much I love them so he basically just keeps his preference to himself.  There are parts of SC that he really DOES enjoy like the specialty dining and having reserved seats when we want to go somewhere but he really doesn't care much for the Genie's "involvement" in everything we do. So SC isn't really for everyone.  He is quite happy to be in an inside room (although it has been many years since he's been in one !) with no frills whatsoever.  I guess I'm the Diva....and I'm not afraid to admit it. I love the pampering ! 

When we did the Discover Scuba in my hometown it was a couple of hours one evening.  We sat in a classroom and went over a couple handouts.  It wasn't lengthy or highly technical but covered some basics like always breathe, never hold your breath while diving.  Then we got the equipment on and went in the pool.   At the bottom of the pool they had some water toys we could play with but it was pretty boring.  The pool was designed for diving so it had a big square deep end but it was six of us sitting on the bottom looking at each other.   
Discover Scuba will be pretty much the same everywhere because that is what PADI requires but doing it in the Caribbean in the ocean is way smarter than doing it in a pool at home.  

Reminds me of the Priceline commercial with the chair hog...
I hope I’m not violating anything by posting this! Please delete if I am!
 
 

Everything you just said only reinforces why so many people find such conduct to be selfish, self-centered, boorish, and classless.... not to mention rude. 

 

 

Let’s add against the rules to that list...

I'm not inherently a dishonest person... but I always just move the towels if I don't see anyone on them after about 15 minutes (I only do it when there are no personal items). The ONE TIME someone came back, we had been sitting in the seat for over an hour, so I simply told them there were no towels present when we showed up. I reminded them of the policy and told them their towels must have been removed by staff. Maybe not the most honest thing... but neither is not adhering to the very obvious rules...

I just read this too. I like CATS (we actually have season tickets to our local theater and we are watching it next week), but I’m not disappointed about the shorter run time. I feel like they are missing an opportunity to bring something new to the new and improved ship though... 

I just read this too. I like CATS (we actually have season tickets to our local theater and we are watching it next week), but I’m not disappointed about the shorter run time. I feel like they are missing an opportunity to bring something new to the new and improved ship though... 

After the amplification, Oasis will have a new shorter 90-minute version of Cats without an intermission.

I'm not inherently a dishonest person... but I always just move the towels if I don't see anyone on them after about 15 minutes (I only do it when there are no personal items). The ONE TIME someone came back, we had been sitting in the seat for over an hour, so I simply told them there were no towels present when we showed up. I reminded them of the policy and told them their towels must have been removed by staff. Maybe not the most honest thing... but neither is not adhering to the very obvious rules...

We cruised Empress last November. We got one internet package for the two of us and just alternated turns as needed. It is a judgement call, but I would be less inclined to purchase The Key given the short duration. That being said, time is money; you may save some time on priority choice departure into the port. I would weigh the cost of a Chops lunch, whether you were GOING to buy one or two internet packages (or at all), and whether you NEED priority departure for disembarkation (I don't think you will need The Key for priority departure in the ports given Empress isn't large and you won't be fighting with 5K+ people to get off. 
 
I have a suggestion NOT to do... I would skip Chichen Itza (if it's not completely necessary). It's really awesome to see, but the trip there and back takes the WHOLE port time... and you may enjoy relaxing somewhere more. I would recommend going when/if you ever vacation in Mexico (say at an all inclusive). 
 
It's a smaller, older, ship. They have a rock climbing wall and a very small pool; that's about it. The charm of Empress (for us) was in the excellent service we found on board. We were a party group so had fun everywhere, but go into the cruise not expecting much (and you won't be disappointed!) Check out the cruise compass for theme party (it was 70's last year) and dress up. It should also give you an idea for other activities they are hosting that you may be into! We had a lot of fun at the piano bar! Nobody was dancing when we showed up! By the end of the night, a very sweet, elderly, widower danced with me (you can see her in the back of the video). Her daughter came up to me after, and with tears in her eyes, declared that she hadn't seen her mom have this much fun since her dad passed away years prior. Fun is what you MAKE it... never has that been MORE true than on Empress! Hope you enjoy!
 
 

This is SO true! lol It happened when we cruised in 2015. We arrived to the theater with almost no seating available. People were leaving in mass exodus during the entire first part! By intermission, we moved seats all the way from the mid mezzanine to the first row!