WAAAYTOOO

I will be on Liberty October 30th and am already taking the approach that I will only be able to scope pre cruise, embarkation day, and from the ports thanks to having global travel pass with Verizon. I did call crown and anchor about it and even told them what Ken Jarvis was told about Voom on board last week. If I'm not able to scope while at sea, so be it, just stop advertising it and selling it as Voom. :)

Thank you all for your words or reassurance and I'm going to stop reading the negative reviews and start the count down to our holiday, I'm hoping this will be our first cruise of many to come as I think it's a fab way of seeing the world, thank you GrubbyGrubbles  I too was very close to cancelling but I'm going to enjoy the experience to come, I will have a look at your review and once again thank you.

Don't worry about those negative reviews.  Some people are just never happy...and I tend to believe that they're bogus to begin with.
 
I admit that I am very easy to please so I rarely find anything to complain about anyway....but I am a firm believer that if you BELIEVE you will have a good time you WILL have a good time.  Just go in with a positive attitude and reasonable expectations and you will be AMAZED !
 
I am on Navigator over Christmas and New Year's and I cannot WAIT ! 

I agree with Matt and others that the internet has been greatly improved in the past year across the fleet; however, I also feel it is disingenuous to advertise Voom as if it is the same fleet-wide especially if this is influencing someone's decision to purchase the service.  In the long run, a disgruntled customer who doesn't receive what he/she expects is not likely a good customer. 

Hello All,
 
I wanted to see if we could commence a running Cruise Director and Activities Manager list here on the Royal Caribbean Blog Boards.   As many of you know, the Cruise Director can be very influential in providing a fun and interactive experience while on a cruise and for this reason the question is often asked "who will be the cruise director on my sailing?" However, as with any position of importance, the Cruise Director also enlists the assistance of his or her Activities Manager to host a number of events throughout a sailing (e.g. trivia, bingo, karaoke, etc...).  Therefore, I would also like to keep the list updated with the current Activities Managers whom many of us develop strong relationships with based on our varying degrees of participation in ship events. 
 
While I know there are similar lists maintained elsewhere on the internet, my desire is to provide an easily accessed (thanks in part to the long-term edit function of these boards) and more user friendly document than what currently exists.  In addition to receiving regular updates from the fantastic blog community that fill these boards with Royal Caribbean knowledge everyday, I also hope to leverage Kat's evergrowing Periscope community to obtain real time and accurate updates as to who holds these very important positions throughout the Royal Caribbean fleet.   Below is my first stab at a draft of the list based on information I was able to retrieve from various social media and online content.  As you can see, there are some blanks, which I am sure many of you will be able to assist with filling in.  Please feel free to respond here with any list updates or any comments as to the format or layout of the document.
 
I would like to thank all of you in advance for any assistance you can provide with making this list a useful resource for Royal Caribbean cruisers.
 

You are a brave soul for taking this on.  Thank you!!

Not a dumb question at all !
 
Unfortunately, there is no single answer to this one. Dining rez can open at most any time but you can expect it to be open at LEAST 60 -90 days prior to sail date.
 
My upcoming Harmony dining will have been open for nearly a year by the time we finally sail in Feb 17 but my upcoming Navigator Christmas 16 dining bookings just opened up a couple of weeks ago approx 140 days out.
 
There's just no right answer to this question. I truly have no earthly idea what the criteria is for opening up the dining reservations ! They just do it when they do it. Keep checking.
 
...and it doesn't have anything to do with whether not you have an outstanding balance, BTW.
 
If you want to change your dining option, I recommend you call RCI directly or have your TA call for you if you used one. The sooner you get that changed the more likely you are to get the option you really want.

Don't know about the size but to answer your first question - no.  Just book for yourself then you can add up to 5 additional people. 

Me too !

There is so much to do on Oasis that I would enjoy the boat while you are in port at Nassau

My thoughts are more sinister.
 
Originally, when NCL offered the UBP as a free perk, it was completely free. You got the perk and got free drinks onboard. It was great. Then, sometime last year, they changed the rules so that when you selected a free perk like the UBP or the specialty dining package, you got the item for free, but you had to pay 18% gratuity on the price of the package. So, "free" wasn't quite as free, but still a good deal.
 
So, here's my thinking. They raised the price to $79/person/day because few people actually buy it; most people get it by choosing it as their free perk, and those people are paying the 18% on that inflated $79/person/day. That's almost $200 for a "free" drink package for two people on a week-long cruise.
 
Theoretically, that 18% could be going to the bartenders, but who knows? NCL has always been kind of secretive about their daily gratuity (called a "service charge"). Although they collect $13.50-15.50/person/day (comparable to Royal Caribbean), here's what they say about where the money goes:
 
Note that it does not say that the service charge actually goes directly to the crew, but instead to "incentive programs" funded by the service charge.

We love JR and always go at least once.
 
One caution. Do NOT wait until the last sea day to go. It was PACKED on our last Freedom cruise on the last sea day.

My dear Robert, you already ARE hooked....but apparently just don't know it yet !
 
:)
 
Welcome aboard !  You will find nothing but enablers here !

The statement that using a TA will cost you more money is absolutely NOT true.  The TA is paid a commission by the cruiseline and you will NOT pay more when using a TA.
 
Having said that, you should be aware that you lose some flexibility when you use a TA.  If having absolute control over your reservation is something that you want, then you might not want to use a TA.  If you find a situation where you want to make a very quick change to your reservation (either a price drop or a room becomes available that you want to change to) then you will have to wait until the TA is available to make that change for you.  If you have a very good and responsive TA then this will not be a problem but SOMEtimes you can be in a situation where the TA is not immediately available and you need to make a change immediately....and you can miss getting the room you want or take advantage of a glitch price drop.
 
I have never had this happen to me, BTW.  I have an excellent TA.  But for all of the advantages of using a TA there are a few drawbacks and giving up some control is one of them.  You will not be able to look online and find out what your cruise balance is.  All things dealing with money are removed from the website when you use a TA (the Payment tab mysteriously disappears !).
 
Some people expect miracles from their TA but even the best, most attentive TA in the world is never going to care as much about your reservation as you do.  So it's going to be up to YOU to look for price drops and up to YOU to be on the lookout for a room in a better location, etc.
 
It's a teamwork approach as are all good things !

For those who have ever vacillated over whether or not using a travel agent was in your best interest or not, let me assure you that a GOOD travel agent is priceless.
 
I have proven that to myself this week with the disaster that Royal Caribbean created with its cancellation of the Empress sailings in March and April.
 
As everyone now knows, Royal Caribbean cancelled 6 sailings on the Empress of the Seas, due to sail beginning in late March through mid-April.  Dan and I were booked on the April 11, right, smack dab in the middle of that cancellation cluster.  It was a psychological blow to us as well as a potential logistics nightmare.  All I can say is THANK GOODNESS I had Michelle Cunningham with MEI as my advocate.  I can say, without any doubt, I would have killed myself, Dan or someone on the other end of the phone line before I managed to get it all straightened out if I had had to do this by myself.  Imagine.  1800 passengers times 6 sailings.  Over 10,000 people are trying to either rebook or cancel their cruises.  No thanks.
 
Not only did Michelle manage to salvage our cruise but she saved our $1,000 OBC that Dan had earned on our Allure sailing (from Club Royale), which was in real danger of going bye-bye.  Our out-of-pocket costs, as a result of this monumental BLUNDER - that was 100% Royal Caribbean's doing - is only going to be ~$200...which will be some airline change fees that RCI is too damn cheap to reimburse us.  Thanks to Michelle's diligence and persistence, we were able to get $200 of the $400 reimbursed.  She got us rebooked on the sailing of our choice in the same room that we original had (Owner's Suite 8506) for the same price.  Actually, we got a $28.68 refund so she actually got us money BACK on the resked.
 
...and let me assure you, she did not do this without considerable interference from me !  We changed our minds, and changed them back again at least twice, not to mention the numerous emails that I sent, inquiring as to her progress over a 48 hour period.  She never complained (at least, not directly to me although she would have had every right to do so !) and came through like a trooper.
 
EVERYTHING has been rescheduled...the cruise, the hotel, the excursions, the airfare.  Everything.  We couldn't be happier, considering.  This is all the result of excellent service from Michelle and no thanks WHATEVER, to Royal Caribbean.
 
So Michelle....thank you for everything you had done for us over the past 72 hours.  You are a gem, a great friend, a consummate professional and a credit to your Agency.

The statement that using a TA will cost you more money is absolutely NOT true.  The TA is paid a commission by the cruiseline and you will NOT pay more when using a TA.
 
Having said that, you should be aware that you lose some flexibility when you use a TA.  If having absolute control over your reservation is something that you want, then you might not want to use a TA.  If you find a situation where you want to make a very quick change to your reservation (either a price drop or a room becomes available that you want to change to) then you will have to wait until the TA is available to make that change for you.  If you have a very good and responsive TA then this will not be a problem but SOMEtimes you can be in a situation where the TA is not immediately available and you need to make a change immediately....and you can miss getting the room you want or take advantage of a glitch price drop.
 
I have never had this happen to me, BTW.  I have an excellent TA.  But for all of the advantages of using a TA there are a few drawbacks and giving up some control is one of them.  You will not be able to look online and find out what your cruise balance is.  All things dealing with money are removed from the website when you use a TA (the Payment tab mysteriously disappears !).
 
Some people expect miracles from their TA but even the best, most attentive TA in the world is never going to care as much about your reservation as you do.  So it's going to be up to YOU to look for price drops and up to YOU to be on the lookout for a room in a better location, etc.
 
It's a teamwork approach as are all good things !

A couple important notes about the Oasis production of Cats:
 
Cats productions are personally authorized/scrutanized by Andrew Lloyd Webber. This is taken quite seriously, you will never see Cats at a community theater or at your local high school. Mr Weber retains the right to fire any Cats cast member at any time. There is something like 12 or 15 Cats sets, meaning there can only be a maximum of 12 or 15 (or whatever the number is ) productions going on in the wold at any one time. One of which is in long term residence on Oasis. 
 
Mr Webber mandates Cats to be preformed with a live orchestra. In contract negotiations with RCL, the orchestra requirement was bypassed. Instead the music is recorded and on a click track. However, Mr Webber requires a conductor (Mr. Webber's personal choice) to be on board and in charge of the click track during performances (a full scale theater production at sea can have unexpected surprises--see below)
 
In other words, the Oasis production is the identical full scale, authentic show that you would see on New York's Broadway or London's West End. No scenes are cut, it is full cast, and of course there are the costumes... And the tradition continues that the audience is invited to take pictures with the cast members in character after the performance.
 
Here is what happens during Cats. The first act introduces you to the cast. The flamboyant costumes are awesome! You here the familiar songs from the production. Cats is in British English, and there are words and phrases that unfamiliar to a lot of people. And, at the end of the first act, "Memory" is sung. For many, many people the show is over; so they bail. They've seen the costumes and heard "Memory". Add-in a little difficulty in completely understanding what is being said--many people don't have the patience for Act II.
 
Where to sit? I don't think it really matters that much to be honest. I promise you'll be able to upgrade to just about anywhere for Act II, perhaps front row.
 
Cats is free and a part of your cruise fare. Also free and a part of your cruise fare is Meet The Cast (find the day and time in the Cruise Compass). It will be held in the little Comedy Club (I forget what the name of the club is). Here's what happens at Meet The Cast: It only happens once a week for about an hour or a little better. There will be 5 or 6 cast members there (I guarantee at least one or more from Cats, I also bet heavily on divers from the aqua show being there) and there is open question and answer for everyone who attends. You get to ask about how long it takes to get into costumes, the actors previous theater experience (you will be pleasantly surprised at just how good these actors are), what happens during rough seas, and finally what happens if there is an Alpha, Alpha, Alpha call during a Cats production. Alpha (and some similar calls) are required by maritime law to interrupt everything onboard a ship....everything. So, the music stops during a performance, does the click track stop too? or, does it continue silently in the background? and, what happens if you are in a choreographed dance while this happens? An Alpha call will probably last 15 seconds or more and can be an eternity if you are onstage and not sure what to do. Hmm...good question!
 
Also for free (for certain levels of Crown and Anchor) is Behind the Scenes. Again look for it in your Cruise Compass. Behind the Scenes (much like Meet The Cast) happens in the theater. You get to go onstage, behind the stage, touch the sets of Come Fly With Me and Cats, meet the sound and lighting guys, and really see how big and well equipped the theater is. It's really a multi million dollar facility. Also you see where they cut the budget when they made Oasis and a dressing room backstage is nonexistent. Hmm...more good questions.
 
I suggest you get a video of Cats and review it before you sail. Certainly go to a production. Go to Meet The Cast. Armed with some interest and some background, you'll really, really enjoy Cats and have some appreciation for what is really going on...unlike those who bailed after Act I.

We were torn on purchasing the drinks package or not. In the end I got the Ultimate Package for my wife and I will probably end up getting the Royal Replenisher Package (I really don't drink that much alcohol so makes little sense for me). We are not 100% sure we will 'make our money' on it but we thought we would give it a go for our fist RCCL cruise and keep a tally etc and see how it worked out.
 
One advantage of the package is its is likely to encourage us to do is try something new.... Even though we could probably save money by putting money aside until the cruise and then just putting that on our account the reality is mentally we probably wouldn't take a 'risk' on something new knowing we had to pay later... since it is already paid for though there is no risk (Yes I know it is a head game.... but I swear I've been tested and am relatively normal... at least that is what my wife told me and she's got a PhD in Psychology... either that or I am the live in experiment). 

Such good news ! We will keep our fingers crossed that your F-I-L continues to improve. Have a wonderful cruise !

Not strict at all.  The email with your boarding time is just a suggestion.  They will not prohibit you from boarding.  Feel free to go to the port as early as you please !
 
They have recommended boarding times to try and manage the check-in process but they do not enforce it.

No, the table limits are the same as they've been....at least, on the ships I've been on.

Congratulations, Kris ! That's a big milestone. Enjoy it !

I love the theaters on the Radiance Class.  I wish all of the ships had these small theaters.

The atm is the only electronic machine in the casino I can ever get to give me money. That's why I tend to stick to blackjack.
 
Eric

I can tell you what the problem is: BANANA LIVES MATTER !