WAAAYTOOO

I talked with her about it, and showed her a video posted by RCI, as well as the sample menu on the Cruise Planner. She wasn't sure about the menu, thought it might be a little TOO adventuresome. She also feels it's as much about the wine as the food and that it wouldn't really work for her because of that.
I'm guessing that the average age of the people in the promotional video didn't help. She probably would be the youngest one there by a country mile, and she's already self-conscious about being "old for her age".
It was worth a try. I may still go on my own, or she may change her mind over the next 8 months. Will take it as it comes.

I have 6 on the books (all either at significant casino discounts or "free" as a result of certificates) so I will keep doing what I'm doing until those have been exhausted BUT if it turns out that they are no longer giving the [admittedly very generous] casino rate discounts then that will be all for me.
A number of years ago I cruised with NCL for the first time and I received a "free" cruise from them - after just ONE cruise !  Up until now the NCL casino program has not had the same lucrative benefits that Club Royale has so I stuck with Royal but if those benefits are now gone, I will certainly be looking at NCL and other cruise lines again.
I completely agree with Marc and Tony. It's like we're finding some kind of hidden treasure whenever they give you a discount or a certificate.  NEVER have I seen a PROMOTIONAL program so steeped in secrecy, ambiguity and anonymity.  I never seem to know what the rules are from sailing-to-sailing.  Maybe these latest tales are misinformation.  I certainly hope that is the case.  Only time will tell, I guess.
I will never stay out of the casino.  That's the primary reason I'm on the ship....but it may well be the casino on another cruise line or shore casino.

You must wait until you are onboard to make the reservations for your 3, 4, 5 night dining package.  They will make the first night's reservation for you at a random restaurant/time (pf their choice); the other 2 reservations will be left open.  Once you get on board, go to any restaurant and they will tell you where they made your first night's reservation.  If you like it, great !  Just show up.  If you do not like either the location and/or the time, you can change one or both.  Then, you can proceed to make your other 2 reservations at whichever location and time you choose (assuming there is availability...and there almost always is, from my experience).
From what I can tell, the reason for this seemingly odd reservation arrangement is that they have more difficulty filling the specialty dining reservations on the first and second nights than any other nights of the cruise, so they are "forcing" you to eat at a specialty restaurant on night #1.  It's a win-win.  You get a heavily discounted specialty dining package and they don't have a bunch of specialty restaurants sitting idle on the first 2 nights.

Yeah, I find t-shirts and bathing suits aren't really hanger worthy.

Isn't that interesting ?  I have never ever used all of the hangers that they give us !  I guess I just throw everything in a drawer vs hanging it up in the closet !

I have been to a number of Chef's Tables on different ships and I will say that I have never (to my recollection) seen any "children".  I suspect that this is more a function of price than of an attempt to exclude.  I think that your 14 year old would be welcome, especially if she is a true connoisseur.  I'm sure they would strongly discourage younger children that would be likely to disrupt but I think a 14 year old would enjoy it if she likes trying new things.
Obviously there would be no wine for her and I wouldn't expect any price break but if you're ok with all of that I would say go for it for a dad and daughter date.  I think it's very endearing.

Yes, Mark, you can.  On our Grandeur cruise in late May we had the 3 night package and ate at Izumi twice and Chops once.  We could have eaten at Izumi 3 times if that's what we chose to do but twice was enough (for me, anyway !).
As Matt has mentioned, with the $50 per person allocation at Izumi, it is a steal, if you are a sushi lover like Dan.
BTW, I do NOT recommend the lunch special at Izumi.  They advertised it to us as a "buffet" but it was a sit-down, pre-selected menu which neither of us enjoyed at ALL.  The 3 night package, definitely....the special lunch at Izumi, not so much.

I'm sailing on July 16.  If they really stopped this practice on July 1, I'll be thrilled.  That means I can fit all my pre-paid water in the fridge (without having to take out the stale candy bars and airline-size vodka bottles) and I also won't get charged for additional water left on my counter.  I'll let you all know if it really got stopped.
Now if they'd only package individual water bottles instead of those damned giant liter sizes all would be perfect.  I can't even lift those to my lips with one hand.

This is GREAT! Thanks WT
Ryan, please let us know how this goes. Sounds like a win-win plan!

Ok.  To contact the concierge on board Explorer, send an email to
[email protected]
The Suites Concierge will probably be Denzil, but that's not a guarantee.  They switch up all the time.  But if you send an email to the generic concierge address someone should answer.
Good luck !!
 

Ok.  To contact the concierge on board Explorer, send an email to
[email protected]
The Suites Concierge will probably be Denzil, but that's not a guarantee.  They switch up all the time.  But if you send an email to the generic concierge address someone should answer.
Good luck !!
 

Maybe I am mis-reading something but it seems that the whole point is to have this be a surprise for his parent.  While it would certainly work, I don't think this was the scenario that Ryan had in mind....

This story brought a little tear to my eye.  I can't imagine not having gone to a Disney park as a child.

I've only been to WDW twice. Once in 1976 as a child, and then again in 2006 with my own children. Looks like it's 2036, with the grandkids!

Kind of like the people who put towels on lounge chairs by the pool first thing in the morning. If we can't find a couple of vacant lounge chairs we will occupy a coupe of the reserved chairs. When challenged by the individuals who "reserved" the chairs I tell them, in my best German, "I'm sorry, I do not understand English. Do you speak German?" That usually sends them away in a tirade of vulgarities and hand gestures.

From what I remember from our Dec NAV cruise, the fridge was empty but there was a "order sheet" to use if you wanted anything stocked in the fridge.
 
I agree that this is a much better system.  #1, it leaves the fridge available for use if you have something you want to put in there, #2 it avoids unintended/erroneous charges and #3, you only get what you want in your fridge.  I guess you could add #4, the bar service person no longer has to bother you to "check" the fridge unless you do have it stocked, in which case I guess he/she is still going to come by occasionally.
 
So the mini bar service has not actually STOPPED, it's just been modified.

I have also read these threads on CC and one of them, in particular, is from one of the few sources on CC that I trust and respect.
 
I am an engineer but not an electrical engineer so I can't say that I understand the physics...but if what they are saying is true (and, as I said, in one case I tend to believe them) then you want a multi-plug unit with a circuit breaker mechanism as opposed to a surge protector.  Apparently there is something about a surge protector, on a SHIP, that can cause the unit to overheat and even, in rare cases, catch fire.
 
So...I intend to purchase one of the specific products that this person has recommended.  I haven't yet done my research to try and find them but once I do I will see if I can share that information here.  I have not been too successful with getting links to post to this site...just like I cannot get my "quote" function to work even when trying multiple browsers.  I'm sure it's just me....
 
Bottom line...if spending $25 (or less, apparently) can reduce the risk of fire on a ship...I'm all about it.  If not, I have another multi-plug device.  Big deal.

I have also read these threads on CC and one of them, in particular, is from one of the few sources on CC that I trust and respect.
 
I am an engineer but not an electrical engineer so I can't say that I understand the physics...but if what they are saying is true (and, as I said, in one case I tend to believe them) then you want a multi-plug unit with a circuit breaker mechanism as opposed to a surge protector.  Apparently there is something about a surge protector, on a SHIP, that can cause the unit to overheat and even, in rare cases, catch fire.
 
So...I intend to purchase one of the specific products that this person has recommended.  I haven't yet done my research to try and find them but once I do I will see if I can share that information here.  I have not been too successful with getting links to post to this site...just like I cannot get my "quote" function to work even when trying multiple browsers.  I'm sure it's just me....
 
Bottom line...if spending $25 (or less, apparently) can reduce the risk of fire on a ship...I'm all about it.  If not, I have another multi-plug device.  Big deal.

This one may sound crazy...but, stopping the ship on a sea day for 45 minutes in the open ocean so anyone who wanted to could go swimming. Cannonball!!
Of course I'm thinking Caribbean or other warm climate...too much shrinkage otherwise!

Small gestures can mean so much. We went to guest relations inquiring what it would cost to call our daughter from the ship to say happy birthday. The employee said "Tell no one and follow me". Walked us to a phone, asked for and dialed the number and said with a smile "sing happy birthday, keep it short and hang up". Now THAT is customer service!

Personally, I think RCI is just using an excuse to do this.  All of the other lines do it and I think Royal thinks they'll make an extra nickel by forcing everyone to get a package.
I'm not suggesting that there aren't those who are erroneously sharing drink packages but I truly do not believe that's why Royal is making (or trying to make) this change.

For me JR's is all about the Milkshakes.

Last Fall my wife and I spent 5 days in Cozumel, we love the island and didn't feel like we had enough time to fully appreciate it on a cruise stop, with that said, from a port shopping stand point, I think the port shopping next door where Carnival docks is a better shopping center. My wife and I walked from the hotel down there last year and bought a ton of gifts for our Grand kids. It seems like it is better laid out, there is a Ponchos that has amazing shrimp tacos just like the one downtown, a large Cinco Soles and a Ron Jon's if you collect that brand.
I kills me to say that Carnival does something better than RCCL...

Personally, I think RCI is just using an excuse to do this.  All of the other lines do it and I think Royal thinks they'll make an extra nickel by forcing everyone to get a package.
I'm not suggesting that there aren't those who are erroneously sharing drink packages but I truly do not believe that's why Royal is making (or trying to make) this change.

Or one of those mini belt sanders on TV...