WAAAYTOOO

I’ll bet he ends up loving it !  My husband did not want to go on our first cruise.  His mother (a world Class world traveler) had convinced him that cruising was frivolous and cultureless.  She was wrong. I was right. 

17 minutes ago, VinceC said:

I just won a satellite tournament on the Allure last week and won a Cruise on the Oasis in November 2020 as well as a seat in the Royal Poker Finals tournament on the Oasis.

Congratulations !  What’s the date of the RPT sailing on Oasis in 2020 ?  We are on Oasis on 6 Dec 2020.  Hadn’t even thought about the fact that it might be a poker cruise !  Matter of fact, we are on Oasis THIS year Dec 1.

I have transferred my older-than-60-days reservations from Royal (or the casino) to MEI many times. It can take a few days longer but I have never been unsuccessful.

This is the second such posting I have read today.  Maybe things are changing !!

The facial recognition thing is only for FINAL disembarkation at Customs.  The ports of call do not use facial recognition.

With the refreshment package and the soda package you can purchase it for one or more people but everyone in the cabin does NOT have to purchase it.  The "everyone must buy" rule only applies to the Ultimate Beverage Package (alcohol).

I believe the BOGO package has been replaced with Chops +1

7 hours ago, sk8erguy1978 said:

Exactly why I will just bring plastic straws! However, you've made me realize to spring for the ones individually wrapped so I can toss a few anywhere!

Edit: Just went on Amazon and bought 200 individually wrapped straws for $8.00, I spent a little extra for the colorful ones. With upwards of 14 friends on board, I should buy two boxes LOL!

I love this idea !

17 hours ago, bokx2 said:

Thanks. I've only played the cash games but stopped since I got turned off by the electronic table. 

Good news !!  All of the electronic poker tables are now GONE !

11 hours ago, FionaMG said:

apparently the two of them just chattered away to each other in their own languages while playing.

I LOVE this about kids.  They're just kids.  They don't care about anything.  Why can't adults be like this ?

 I  never play roulette so I have no idea what the minimums are but my GUESS would be $10 as that is the minimum at most of the other table games.

Good luck !

3 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

In addition, you have already paid for Day 1 so why would you not want to take advantage of it more? 

^^this^^

Anyone who is a Club Royale member can book through the casino (you automatically become a member when you put your seapass card into a slot machine or have the dealer scan your card at a table game).  From what I understand, unless you are at least Prime level, the casino prices are not significantly different from regular prices.  In other words, I believe you are unlikely to get much of a discount as a Choice player HOWEVER, there are some exceptions to that "rule".  When the Cuba ban first happened, they had a LOT of rooms to fill from cancellations and it is my understanding that even some of the Choice players got offers for those sailings.

Obviously, the higher you are in the program the more offers you receive and the more lucrative they become. Prior to 1 April 2019 (the start of the new CR "season") the upgrade rates were excellent.  Since April, not so much. They still save you money but not like last year.

They hold qualifying tournaments throughout the cruise (usually on sea days) with the final on the evening or afternoon of the last sea day.  If they have enough Entry money to cover the cost, the first place prize is a seat in the final tournament (usually held in early December on one of the big ships) and the complimentary 7 night cruise for 2.  If they do not get enough Entry fees to cover the cost of the cruise + tournament entry, they just give cash prizes to the top few winners.

Dan won a satellite tournament years ago and we went on the free cruise and he played in the final tournament.  He went out the first day and we were able to thoroughly enjoy the rest of our cruise without the stress of worrying about the tournament !

I came in second once and got about $1200 as I recall.

We rarely even enter anymore. 

Wow !  That should be an interesting itinerary 

It can vary in price from ship-to-ship and from sailing-to-sailing.  No set price.  You'll just have to wait until it is published in your Cruise Planner to find out 

53 minutes ago, bretts173 said:

While Apple pie is supposedly an American staple, it originated in England and the traditional recipe does contain raisins. 

Well, the Brits can keep the raisins.  We'll take the vanilla ice cream

I love the picture of him in the hammock !  What a cutie !

YIPPEE !!!!  Have a great time !

But Stephanie, shouldn't she wait until Royal contacts her so that she will get some compensation ?

I totally agree with you that she should start looking for alternatives, and maybe even book something else with a refundable deposit, but I wouldn't think it would be a good idea to cancel the [potentially chartered] cruise until AFTER they formally announce it.  If she cancels now she will get nothing for her trouble !

5 hours ago, Linda216 said:

I have to ask some of my favorite regulars about this..

@WAAAYTOOO, @Lovetocruise2002, @twangster ...have you guys ever heard of this?  My cruise in Feb is missing on list. It appears they do that when sold out. But the above posts hint that my cruise may have been chartered out and I just don’t know yet!  Any help?!?!  

All of us are just guessing, of course....but I find it extremely hard to believe that a random Feb 2020 cruise is completely sold out.  That normally only happens in the last few weeks prior to a cruise, if it happens at all (my 25 August Liberty cruise JUST came off the website a few days ago).  I also agree with Stephanie that CS reps are a very poor source of factual information.  I wouldn't count on their knowledge at ALL.  I also don't believe that a partial charter would be removed from the website.  Frankly, the only explanation that makes sense to me is a full charter.  But it is just a guess based on past experience.

5 hours ago, Pamp said:

Does using RCCL Luggage valet help?  We cruise out of Ft Lauderdale and fly out of there as well.  Thinking of paying RCCL for that.  Don't want to do both - which is the better option?

IMO, Luggage Valet is the best deal that Royal Caribbean offers.  Absolutely YES, use it if you have the opportunity.  It's been a while since we sailed on a ship/port that offered LV but whenever we find one, we ALWAYS use it.  

Not sure what you mean by "both".

8 minutes ago, J_Keeble said:

that way they don't get too warm

I thought you Brits drank your beer warm !

4 minutes ago, FManke said:

Also, what's with apple pie with cheese on top?

Nope. #noraisins.  #nocheese

2 minutes ago, CruiseGus said:

Just to be clear

I was under the impression to transfer a booking from one agent to another, the original agent has to agree to release the booking?

So an agent that charged you $xx up front to book is not in my opinion going to easily release a booking because then the will also lose out on the Comm/
Admin Rate proceeds they receive.

If you know the answer for sure tell us please

Also I agree you need a new and much better agent.

This is all true. Trust me, it is NOT easy to get the original agency to release the booking. I only had to do it once, but if they decide they’re not going to release it, there is nothing you can do about it.  Of course, they will lose any future business from you, but they were going to lose it anyway.  They do not have to release your booking if they don’t want to.

#noraisins