WAAAYTOOO

Fingers crossed !

I cruise on Grandeur a lot and I don't find it particularly cheap. Matter of fact, I think Baltimore is one of the more expensive ports on a per-day basis. I don't know if it's the port fees for Baltimore (#1 guess) or the port fees for the ports that she visits. I'm not saying that you can't get a deal from time-to-time, but on a routine basis, I do not think Grandeur is a cheap option, really...other than the fact that I can drive there and don't have to fly...which is why I continue to book her even though I think it's a little pricey. I always break my cruise pricing down to a per person, per day basis and Grandeur is always one of the most expensive cruise options we have. A new or different ship would be ok with me !!

I was over on CC this morning and it is now confirmed that at least 2 March 2019 sailings of Grandeur have been officially cancelled (images of the cancellation letters have been posted). I do not recall the dates but it seems like they are in the middle of the month. It states something about unanticipated dry dock maintenance. Nothing more informative than that. I will be on Grandeur 2 more times before the end of the year ! I sure hope whatever is wrong won't affect those 2 sailings. Matter of fact, we're leaving for Baltimore tomorrow and board on Saturday....then again on Dec. 21 for a 12 night Christmas + NY cruise.

Honestly, there may be a way to pay for a drink package for your dad. The problem will be getting him to relinquish his card so that they can place the DP sticker on it without him knowing.

Didn't they do away with formal nights on Empress ? I don't know since I've never sailed on Empress

There is still a casino discount. This is in addition to the (1) free annual cruise for Prime and above and (2) certificates that you can earn in the casino based on your play (3) email and snail mail offers that they send out periodically. However, the casino discounts now are pathetic. The most I have been able to get on a cruise is 5% off the going rate, which is WAAAY lower than it used to be (used to be between 45-60% off !). You cannot combine a casino certificate with a casino discount though. It's one or the other. I am only Prime so I'm guessing that maybe the casino discount is greater for the higher level Club Royale levels. I don't know that for a fact.

Another reason not to wait until you get onboard to book any specialty restaurant is that specialty restaurants booked onboard are subject to a separate gratuity...or at least, it was working this way in the recent past. Specialty dining paid for in advance has the grat incorporated.

Steph, we have an 8 day in Anthem booked over President's Day next year. Maybe they aren't supposed to allow it over some holidays but at least in our case, they did.

Welcome to both PG and Stephanie !

I don't think that's unusual. We've had them call us with offers of discounts before. I think it depends on how booked up their specialty restaurants are on any given cruise. If the restaurants are booked and relatively full, the discounts aren't pushed. If there are lots of open tables they will try and fill them by offering discounts. I thought you were getting calls at home...which would be something I had not experienced before.

No. The beverage package does not include drinks in the staterooms, including anything that is in the small fridge in the room.

I guess I should have mentioned that...b/c we agree...we always tip in cash...never "sign" for a tip of any kind.

Yes, presumably the grat is already factored in but I don't really trust that it is going to the servers.

I wouldn't think you would have a problem for lunch but better safe than sorry

Sorry to hear about your Grandfather's passing, ekaiser0328 ?

How delightful for the crew working that cruise. I can't imagine anything worse. I wonder if the crew had an "opt out" choice for that one...

Thank you !

We generally tip $20 for dinner and $10 for lunch

Thanks, Twangbot. I haven't been on any Q class ship yet. Thanks for correcting the Suites lounge thing. I thought the Q class ships had a Suites lounge, too.

1. I understand your wife's glee at having the "Sky Class" on her set sail pass. It's a wonderful sight, indeed ! I have been reading lately that some peoples' boarding passes are missing the "Suites" markings. It seems a great mystery to me. In fact, all of our upcoming cruises (where the set sail passes and luggage tags are ready) are also missing the "suites" designation. That isn't going to stop us from boarding in the Suites line, believe me !! At least one of you has the Suites designation. 2. Room service will NOT deliver drinks to your room, unfortunately. They WILL bring coffee. I have not yet been on Anthem but on the other ships I have sailed lately, there has been a bloody mary bar out on the promenade. I'm afraid you would have to retrieve your bloody mary yourself. One caution. While we have not yet sailed on Anthem, the drinks, in general, and the bloody marys, in particular, built by the robo bartenders were horrific. 3. No direct knowledge of the Anthem activities, so no help her except to say that I would ask the Concierge for his/her advice. Perhaps he or she could help you get a reservation. 4. Yes, the Sky Class suites amenities are pretty much the same as the other full suite with one notable exception. I do believe that all Sky class pax get free Voom internet on the Q and O class ships where they do not on the other ship classes. Also, for pax on the Q and O class ships, you will have the suites lounge that is open 11AM - 11PM and will have water, soda and limited alcohol available during that period where the other class ships' suites lounge is basically closed all day until the "happy" hour. I know this is true of the O class ships...not entirely certain about the Anthem but I think their suites lounge is the same. Since you mentioned a small "gathering" let me mention here that you are eligible for room service in your suite at any time while the MDR is open. Therefore, if you wanted to get some "munchies" brought to your room for your guests, do so during normal MDR operating hours. They will bring as much as you want. I would recommend talking to the Concierge as they can help you get the kinds of munchies (the kind of things that are generally in the Lounges during "happy" hours) that would be suitable for a small party in your suite. There is no charge for this unless you want servers or alcohol. As for the bubbly...not entirely sure. We always have bubbly waiting for us but I'm not sure it is a function of our C&A level, the casino or the fact that we are in a suite. I would bring my own just in case. What's wrong with having 2 bottles ?! Ask your room attendant to bring you a champagne bucket with ice. Oftentimes the champagne will already be on ice (if you have a good attendant). Other times, it's not. 5. In Bermuda, the shops and the casino will be closed while you are in port BUT (at least on Grandeur) the casino will open at around 8-9 (can't remember the exact time) on nights when you are in port. To my knowledge, the shops remain closed. Enjoy your suite. You will be ruined hereafter, but that's just the price you will pay for being SO smart !

None of my 2019 or 2020 cruises show 60% off second pax (or 30% off, overall). They all show the old BOGO50%

Bermuda in 3 days !!

???

I would do this except I don’t want to drag my lapotop onto the ship and I know I could never tap out a good blog from my iPad. Maybe I will try to figure out what I would need to make a keyboard work with my iPad. I’ve never bothered with it before. Maybe it’s time...

I am not a slots player but all of the tournaments that I am aware of are either on sea days or later in the evening. They would not conduct a tournament while the ship is in port. 99% of the time the ships casino is closed while in port.