Ampurp85

6 hours ago, DB Cooper said:

Right now the price on a 3-night package is only about 20 bucks less than booking the three most expensive restaurants ala carte. I'm hoping for a sale. I should have booked on black Friday.

In my experience the 3night package never really goes on sale like the UDP. Are you also factoring in the gratuity for the 3 restaurants a la carte?

I was checking an offer and noticed this. 

It gives everyone an idea of when the prime certificates are being released. Also, the points have reset.

It looks like the new offers say for new reservations only. 

17 minutes ago, Rackham said:

I'm imaging the prices going up on the packages has to do with the potential for pre-bookings starting sometime this year. There's less need to give a substantial discount over booking individual reservations if Royal's switching the dining packages from something akin to a GTY for restaurants to a "You pick" setup. Though with how many new cruisers Royal attracts, I bet they were fielding multiple complaints each sailing from people not realizing the packages were to ensure restaurant traffic by selling tables which would otherwise go unoccupied.

Does anyone know how it worked on Wonder when it was being tested? I'm curious to know if after purchasing a package if restaurant reservations in the app/website didn't happen with the normal steps, but there was no charge for the reservation at checkout?

I was on Wonder in Jan with the UDP. The option to prebook wasn't available like they said it would be. I can't actually recall if anyone was able to prebook. 

Website is down. I check-in today and was hoping not to have any issues. 

It is not a hard and fast rule, more than likely the points will reset on the 1st Friday in April which will be the 5th. Friday is a popular day for when points post in both CR and C&A. The offer will become available usually around 2wks after that. Last year it was the 20th of April. The reps can't help you without an available offer. 

The offer is good for any 7n or less cruise that sails within the calendar year......in this case probably the earliest of May 2024 to March 31st of 2025. Excluding ships that haven't been in service for more than a year and some summer/holidays. 

Wait why was Alaska avoiding you.

Also 9000 points is a lot, so definitely a degenerate.

11 hours ago, CanHardlyWait said:

But excursions get cancelled. The explanation is probably not enough people booked it. The explanation wouldn't help you get to the airport anyway. I get it then becomes a chore to figure out transportation. However, the original poster made finding back up transportation sound boarder line impossible. And as anyone around here knows from Port Canaveral to Orlando is easy with multiple options. Even last minute. I kind of read it as being put in a difficult situation transportation wise. And I still don't think it is. Inconvenient/Disappointing maybe, at best.

While this is true, it can be very frustrating to find out last minute. Plus, in most cases this is often a much more cost-effective option. The sole focus seems to be that there are many transportation options. Not that the OP prebooked this and has a later flight and planned to do this to kill the time. It could be impossible to find a way back if the OP can't afford the cost of a last-minute rental car. 

The Key check-in standard time is 11:30 but you don't automatically get assigned a check-in, no one does. With the Key everyone with it, can just show up at 11:30 regardless of what time they actually get. 

I had this excursion cancelled on my Allure cruise in Jan/Feb. I think it is a valid warning as this was probably the 3rd excursion like this........a sightseeing tour that also takes you to the airport.......that was cancelled while I was cruising. There was no explanation, just some random OBC. 

19 minutes ago, billdauterive said:

I'm finally doing my first B2B next month and curious how the lunch works.  From my understanding there is a dedicated B2B cruiser lunch in the main dining room.  Do you go straight to the dining room after being led back on the ship or do you just meet there at a certain time?  (Or did I hallucinate everything and I'll be stuck with the hoards at the Windjammer?)

If there is a consecutive cruiser lunch it will be at 11:30. I have been reading, and told, various stories of the lunch not happening. I think there has to be a threshold of consecutive guest. I have also read and been told that on some sailings consecutive guest can enjoy the Key lunch. I have a B2B2B next month and I am hoping the lunch will be available. 

57 minutes ago, KevinK said:

If you don't mind me asking.  Since you dine in CK, tipped as you go.  How much do you tip the server and the assistant service?  $20 & $10?

My general rule is a flat amount pp, usually $5. It was 5 of us so we would do $30 for the waiter and $20 for the asst. 

"If I die, I want to die on a cruise....."

I have heard that plenty of times in the past Diamond lounge. People seem to think they will fuel the ship as food too  .

 Is both handcuff and scuba boy on the vintage side?

6 hours ago, Snotarni said:

Last year, Mariner was "testing" an embarkation lunch in the MDR...  we tried it and it was very good, and more importantly, it was quiet and not crowded.  We're going on in a couple weeks, not sure they're doing that anymore, and/if it's still the same quiet/uncrowded experience.

They didn't offer it on any recent sailings, I asked about it in Jan and everyone (crew members) was unsure if it would be back. 

Welcome to the board

In Royal's booking vocab, traveling party only means those in the room with you. You had two rooms and those rooms are each treated as a separate reservation, despite you being family. So not everyone traveling with you. I think you are reading it wrong, because traveling party only means those on the same room as you. If the rest of your traveling party stayed in the other room and you were the only one confined, then it is only an FCC for you. 

Having a grandmother from the south, MJ lacks authenticity for sure, but they do have some good food and the hit or miss aspect is prevalent everywhere on Royal's ship TBH. When I was on Wonder, I had the UDP and all the restaurants, minus MJ, were a miss because the name of seasoning for that week was salt. 

It would come down to price imho. I love Wonder, I think they have the best Ice show so far and I cannot say whether Symphony has the better shows because I will sail her in Jan 2025. Wonder is clean, new, and modern; having the internet access devices in each room was a game changer..........don't get me started on storage space. 

But as I said price, which includes transportation, would be the most important fact and I personally think you cannot go wrong with either. 

I was told a while back that they were doing away with the 10:30 check-in time, I posted it as a rumor because I couldn't be sure. However, I was up at midnight for a check-in on Friday and the earliest time was 11am out of Miami. 

This past Jan when we were on Mariner, we went to Playmakers. The lunch wasn't too heavy, although I prefer a heavier embarkation lunch since I don't eat until after 8pm. It wasn't too crowded, and it was very relaxing. 

57 minutes ago, cdixon22 said:

Can you use diamond/diamond plus drink vouchers at desserted?

I recall reading no. At least for the adult milkshakes but I would imagine for the floats and other stuff yes. 

It will vary. Odds are when you check in at day 45, your GTY interior room will be unofficially assigned. I just checked in for one of my GTY rooms and although it hasn't updated to reflect anything, I know my room number and location. You will be able to scan your set sail pass with a barcode scanner and get your room number. 

I remember being sat at an 8top on Freedom last year and being the only person there 2/4 nights. Anyway, that is crazy she stayed in the regular seat she took to be chatty Cathy instead of sitting next to her guest and having a connection. 

I think most of the Mexican ports are pretty boring if you don't want to do beach or ATV stuff. I love when I can use it as a casino day. 

Have a safe trip home and Happy Easter if you Celebrate it 

I love when people just cut the line and don't ask, I mean I really don't, but it is pure entitled shenanigans. 

I help so many people with charging at the casino. But that's funny about the drink. I have a hard time using all my D+ and prime drinks when I a solo.

In 2023 my offers were dry. In 2024 I'm getting at leat one a month. Usually interior or ov since I'm only prime but hey they are cheap.