WAAAYTOOO

Rats !  I can't read this article.  I'm blocked b/c I am not a subscriber.

Twangster, did the noise issue on Oasis return after we disemarked or did they leave those speakers disconnected ?  I was just wondering if they removed the speakers just to get us off their back or if they were really interested in solving the problem.

21 minutes ago, panda123 said:

Allure from Texas November 2021, (RC glitch?) balcony pick your own room is currently cheaper than Oceanview they pick your room.

Probably not a glitch.  There are far more balcony rooms on an Oasis class ship than there are Oceanview rooms.  Since Royal is now using computer programmed inventory pricing, the oceanviews are more "rare" than the balconies, thus the higher price.  Once the balconies start to dwindle, the prices will likely switch.  On the December 1, Oasis cruise I just completed, the oceanview rooms were the first to sell out.  I recommend that if you are seriously considering this cruise, book a balcony now with a refundable deposit.  You can always change your mind but the prices on those balconies will not be lower for long (my guess).

5 minutes ago, wordell1 said:

The trend on land has been towards more casual dress in all aspects of life.  Even in the business world,

This is very true.  20 years ago, when I first came into the "beltway bandit" world, ALL women wore dark suits, stockings and heels.  Period.  Not long after that it became much more relaxed and nowadays women in the workplace pretty much wear whatever they want to.  Of course there are still occasions when you must dress more professionally, but the average day is no longer strictly suits for both men and women.

I am so excited for all of you. This is going to be so much fun !  I wouldn’t stress too much about not having excursion plans.  Sometimes it’s more fun just to wander aimlessly and stay close to “home”. Since you have the DBP, there is benefit to hanging out around the ship. Merry Christmas !

I’m with you, Oliver !

I’m sure the family was hoping that they could get the video thrown out, as evidence.  Now, as Twangbot has so skillfully predicted, they will claim jury bias.  Maybe they actually leaked it themselves !

Congratulations on your first cruise !  You picked a great ship to start off with !

2 minutes ago, KD412 said:

I recently repriced our upcoming cruises and got some onboard credit. I see that it shows up automatically in the cruise planner, but I’m wondering if I have to use this before a credit card when making an online purchase or if we can save that for when we board. There are two excursions we still plan to book so that’s why I’m wondering. Thanks! 

No, you do not have to use the OBC first.  We always have OBC on our account prior to the cruise but I "save" all of that OBC for when we are on board.  You can either use it to make pre-cruise purchases or save it for use once you get on board.

18 minutes ago, twangster said:

Oasis UP in 2022.  

By doing an ATS while I am younger the 67,000 extra steps shouldn't be an issue.  Still wish it was closer to SL/CK though.  

The NextCruise agent asked my dining preference.  Seriously? MDR?  I said  "My balcony... every night  ".  

I will agree with you....it's a long dang way all the way to the ATS but honestly, I don't think it's going to be any fewer steps from all the way forward, either.  I guess it depends on where you are going...but if you're going up to 17, it's going to be a trek from the UPS.

You're doing the right thing though....easing yourself into Star Class.  Once there, you're doomed.  

I have to laugh about the MDR preference when in SC.  2 weeks ago, when we were on Oasis, we had a call from the Maitre 'd in the MDR asking why we had not been to the MDR all week.  I kind of held the phone away and looked at it and then put it back to my ear.  I just said that we had been eating in the specialty restaurants and left it at that.  It does seem incredibly stupid for them to hold a table for you in the MDR when you are SC.  Doesn't the Genie let them know that you won't be coming ?

5 minutes ago, twangster said:

I'm on the UP wait list, but I've always wanted to try an ATS so I might just stay where I am.  

Of course, I have not been inside one of the UPS but from what I have seen, I think the ATS is a much better option.  Unless there is a tremendous price difference or some other reason to choose the UPS I would stick with the ATS.  You already have an UPS booked a different time, right ?

You will be issued 6 (or 8, or whatever it is these days) wrist bands and only those people will be permitted in the restricted area.  How strict are they about monitoring who is coming and going ?  Unknown.  With the suites area, they are very strict about monitoring who is allowed in.  For the Nellie's Beach area (or wherever else cabanas are found these days), I have no idea.

I'm sure this all happened very quickly.  Being put immediately on the defense and in that split second afterwards, he probably jumped directly to "...it wasn't my fault.  I had no idea the window was open."  Once you pronounce your "alibi" you are kinda stuck with it.  I'm sure the grandfather didn't consider that there would be security cameras recording every moment.

I don't see how the family or the attorney can possibly move forward with the idea that Royal is somehow responsible for this.  It would seem that the only logical move now would be for the grandfather to accept the plea deal....if, in fact, it is still on the table after this video has leaked.  If he doesn't, he's goin' down...

In Feb we stopped at Port Canaveral (Anthem) and we hired an Uber to run a few errands.  I was very surprised how expensive it was.  The Uber in CC was more expensive than it had been in Bayonne.  I don't know if surge pricing was in effect but it cost us waaay more than we expected it to be.

If you decide to pick up the edge of the bed to slide a suitcase underneath, be very careful that you do not dislodge the beds from one another.  They are "hooked" together to form the double bed and sometimes, if you pick up one end, you will accidentally dislodge the 2 and end up with separates.  ....not that this has ever happened to me....  <eyeroll>

39 minutes ago, Linda, CCTX said:

My "upgrade" was from deck seven inside to deck two with a porthole. Not an upgrade in my book! And, as customer service put it, there is NOTHING RC can do for me. I've been a loyal patron of RC for 20 years. Dismond member and nothing they can do.

I even suggested keeping the additional  money for the 'upgrade' and switching back to my original room. 

I'm extremely upset. DECK 2, even with a porthole, is not an upgrade.

I'm sorry that you are not happy with the location of your "upgrade" but it is, in fact, an upgrade. Going from an inside room to an ocean view room is considered an upgrade.  One of the dangers of using RoyalUp is that you do not know where you will be relocated and with the basic room accommodations the locations vary widely.  That is why I recommend that people in a balcony category never try and upgrade to a different balcony category b/c sometimes you end up with basically the same room you started with but in a terrible location.  

Yes, this is a very common phenomenon...particularly with first time or relatively new cruisers.  I used to lay in bed or sit at my computer and just feel the ship moving ever so slightly.  I have never found any cure except time.  It does go away eventually.  After you have cruised for a while it is not as prevalent although it still happens to me from time-to-time.  I don't get sea sick so it isn't a problem for me but some people do feel nauseous.  I hope you aren't feeling sick.

35 minutes ago, twangster said:

I just booked Odyssey transatlantic at NextCruise.  They had no idea Odyssey Europe had opened up yet.  So I'm not hopeful they call me when Allure in Galveston opens up.  

OMG I am SOOOO wanting to book one of those 12 night cruises to Greece and Israel.   I had to force myself to close the browser and step away from the keyboard....

10 minutes ago, dodgestang said:

"I want Pickled Pigs Feet and Fanta"

Granted !

21 minutes ago, jlpr said:

Thank you.  Good to hear that there is still time to set things up.   

Oh, you have PLENTY of time.  Genies can make things happen very easily and very quickly.

I expect, that, given the short turnaround in your situation, they will just skip the pre-cruise questionnaire.  It is a big waste of time IMO anyway.  The only thing that the Genie needs to know prior to your arrival is (1) what time you are planning on arriving, (2) what do you want to eat for lunch on boarding day and (3) what would you like for your arrival snacks.  Everything else can be finalized/organized once you get on board.

21 minutes ago, jlpr said:

thank you again!

 

Just now, jlpr said:

Thank you for the quick response!   Thank you for the email address.  Very helpful.   We have been on Disney Cruise Line for many years now and have stayed in the Walt Disney Suite and the Roy Disney Suite so looking forward to seeing how this compares.   Haven't been on an RC ship in over 15 years so looking forward to it.

You are very welcome.  I know you will love Star Class on Harmony.  It's a one-of-a-kind experience (Star Class, I mean).  

On that email address, it is hm <underscore>g o t l (genie of the lamp).  Sometimes that lower case L looks like a 1.  So it is gotl

Even if it DOES rain every single day of the cruise, you will still have a great time.  The good news is, you are on Harmony of the Seas !!  There is plenty to keep you entertained....without ever going outside.  The only theater that would be a bust would be the Aqua Theater but the rest of them are unaffected by the weather unless the seas are very rough.  But rain alone should not affect the other theaters.

Happy Birthday to your Grandmother !

3 minutes ago, jlpr said:

Thank you for the quick answers!  I am sailing Jan. 5th and booked the cruise last week.   So I am within the 4 weeks but haven't gotten any email from Genie.  Is there a phone number I can call or an email I can call to get in touch with the Genie?   Also,  I just read about Coastal Kitchen and it says reservations are recommended but I don't see it as a choice online under dining to make the reservation.   Is there a special toll free number or somewhere else online that I can make the reservation for Coastal Kitchen?  Thanks again!   

No, you cannot contact anyone by phone but you CAN email someone and they will get you hooked up with your Genie.  If you just booked this cruise I am not surprised that they haven't gotten in touch with you yet. 

Send an email to hm_gotl03@rccl.com  Even though this may not be your Genie, they will put you in touch with your Genie.  Be sure and include your name, your reservation #, your Suite number and sail date in the email.  Someone will get in touch with you ASAP.

Congratulations !  You are in for a real treat.  We've been Star Class on Harmony 3 times.  It's a wonderful ship.

15 minutes ago, twangster said:

A rental car can also be an affordable option and provides much better flexibility depending on your plans.  

+1 for the rental car option.  National (and probably others, as well) does not have a one-way rental penalty in FL so you can rent the car at the airport in Orlando and return it in Cape Canaveral without paying anything extra.  That way you have a way to get around to go out to eat, go to the Kennedy Space Center (for example) and keep your bags safe all day.  You can return the car after hours.  It is the right option for us, every time.