Chadster

I have to agree with so many about a lot of tips, both for gambling on Royal and gambling in general. My September trip on Oasis was my first Royal cruise, and I told myself before I went that I was only going to play what I could afford to lose. Unfortunately for me, I didn't keep that number constant. I kept letting the siren song of the casino draw me back, telling myself I could lose a little more and still be okay, and I ended up a lot more down than I planned. Not to the point where I've wrecked a bunch of things, but it did definitely make me kick myself. From now on, it's hard-and-fast limits plus any free play/earned play from points...then done.
On the upside, after a reminder earlier in this thread to check offers, I see that the points I earned have already gained me a $100 instant-savings certificate, which will come in handy. Still, lesson learned -- walk away when I win and know how much I can truly stand to lose.

I have to agree with so many about a lot of tips, both for gambling on Royal and gambling in general. My September trip on Oasis was my first Royal cruise, and I told myself before I went that I was only going to play what I could afford to lose. Unfortunately for me, I didn't keep that number constant. I kept letting the siren song of the casino draw me back, telling myself I could lose a little more and still be okay, and I ended up a lot more down than I planned. Not to the point where I've wrecked a bunch of things, but it did definitely make me kick myself. From now on, it's hard-and-fast limits plus any free play/earned play from points...then done.
On the upside, after a reminder earlier in this thread to check offers, I see that the points I earned have already gained me a $100 instant-savings certificate, which will come in handy. Still, lesson learned -- walk away when I win and know how much I can truly stand to lose.

During one of our last pre-pandemic cruises,  hubby was trying to download funds from our credit card for the second time on a slot machine, and noticed that it would no longer do so. He had planned to use the money that he cashed out in other slot machines and at table games.  A staff member in the casino told him that so many people try to use the slot machines as a free ATM that they allow people to use it only once and then they lock them out. After verifying that hubby was a Prime member and that he was truly trying to gamble on the slot machines, etc., they did something to unlock him and he was able to continue the process. 
 
Now we just charge the money we  will use to our room - it’s tied to our credit card, there are no extra fees, and we earn double points with the credit card.  
 
If we do want actual cash, we both are currently Prime, and they will waive the transaction fee for Prime and higher-level members. However, we no longer see any point  in carrying around large amounts of cash. 
 
 

I have to agree with so many about a lot of tips, both for gambling on Royal and gambling in general. My September trip on Oasis was my first Royal cruise, and I told myself before I went that I was only going to play what I could afford to lose. Unfortunately for me, I didn't keep that number constant. I kept letting the siren song of the casino draw me back, telling myself I could lose a little more and still be okay, and I ended up a lot more down than I planned. Not to the point where I've wrecked a bunch of things, but it did definitely make me kick myself. From now on, it's hard-and-fast limits plus any free play/earned play from points...then done.
On the upside, after a reminder earlier in this thread to check offers, I see that the points I earned have already gained me a $100 instant-savings certificate, which will come in handy. Still, lesson learned -- walk away when I win and know how much I can truly stand to lose.

1. Remember that the casino know you are captive , its not that you can go to other casino next door ... Therefore   you will see things like single odds craps tables and not so good odds at the machine (just my impression  anyway).
2. If you are playing the machines remember to check how many points you have at the last day. points can be converted to free play (without any impact on your status) for example if you have 1000 points you can  can convert them to 20$ of free play. Many people are not aware to it or just forget to do so.
3. Since its a cruise expect to see many first timers in the casino , do not be surprise to see people splitting 10s  or standing on 14 against a face card / taken a card on 13 against dealer 6. Anyone is allow to do it , you just need to decide if you want to keep playing there or go to another table. 
4. Check during the first day if you got any free play , many time the casino will give everyone between 5 to 100 $ in free play which is good only for the first two days.
5. Ask the Casino manager how many points you accumulate during the last day , mainly if you played the tables , sometimes you are entitle to some cruise vouchers which are not automatically being processed.
6. Always show your card and use it at the machines , even if you are going to play just with 20$ , remember , its not about how much money you put at the beginning its about how much you played with this 20$ . For example if you are playing blackjack and play 20$ each hand for two hours and you win every second hand and lose the following one you considered as you played average 20$ for two hours . Same with the machine , if you started with 20$ and played for 1 hour 5 $ each hit,  winning every second hit (in average) you actually played total of  1800 $ (5$*60 minutes * 6 (playing every 10 second) .
7. Do not start a game few minutes before  a show or dinner time , saw many people that got good hands  , saying "just one more hand" and missed shows/dinner , its never good for the relationship 🙂 
8.  Remember your plans for the next day , you don't  want to play until 2-3 am when you have early excursions ... 
9. If you used the option of getting money from your on board account and you are lucky enough to win some money and hold to it until the end of the cruise , consider to go to the guest services and pay your on board account using cash  , (that is if you are not collecting points on your credit card , in that case ignore it)
10. Have fun , you are on vacation not at work ...

I knew it was you, Pat -- that's why I said it like that. 🤭 Consider it payback for the early birthday shoutout at dinner that one night. 😜
You folks really did make my cruise 10x better, though as I said, I know I would've had fun being much more solo, too.
To anyone reading this thread and feeling on the fence about a solo cruise, I think everybody should try it at least once if they get a chance!

I began my Oasis cruise a couple of weeks ago on My Time Dining in the MDR. They put me at a table for two that was a booth-style seat on one side and a regular chair on the other. I was seated on the booth side, and there was a couple at the table on my right. (I ended up spending most of the cruise attached to the dining reservation of a group of fellow solo cruisers I met, and we all ate at a standard 8-person round table.
For breakfast, I was always at a two-person table, often with the same booth-seat setup, though I had a few days where I was at a table with two traditional chairs, and tables were spread out a bit.
 

I knew it was you, Pat -- that's why I said it like that. 🤭 Consider it payback for the early birthday shoutout at dinner that one night. 😜
You folks really did make my cruise 10x better, though as I said, I know I would've had fun being much more solo, too.
To anyone reading this thread and feeling on the fence about a solo cruise, I think everybody should try it at least once if they get a chance!

So, I got back from my first RCCL cruise last week: a 7-day cruise aboard Oasis. I was, of course, "Pre-Gold" when I started the cruise. Apparently, per the C&A rep, "Pre-Gold" didn't qualify for the double-double points for solo cruisers, but rather just normal double-points for solo cruisers as if there were no promotion. On all my future cruises I booked before the Sept. 30 deadline, I'll get double-double points as a solo cruiser going forward, but I'm missing out on an additional 14 points because I wasn't at least Gold status when I cruised on Oasis. 😕

Quite frankly, I’m not even going to bother.  I’m just going to make sure that DH is linked to my account as a spouse so he gets the same on board benefits I do.  I really don’t have the patience to try to explain this.  My last call to get DH the deluxe drink package and me the refreshment package (I haven’t drank in 20 years), took well over an hour - most on hold.
 
I wish you the best trying to get yours straightened out. 

I knew it was you, Pat -- that's why I said it like that. 🤭 Consider it payback for the early birthday shoutout at dinner that one night. 😜
You folks really did make my cruise 10x better, though as I said, I know I would've had fun being much more solo, too.
To anyone reading this thread and feeling on the fence about a solo cruise, I think everybody should try it at least once if they get a chance!

Hey Chad! It’s Pat!  We loved you were a ringer but definitely not the reason we “kept you around”!  Great personality means a lot when meeting people, you definitely have that!

I got back from my first solo cruise last week; I was so lucky to meet up with some great fellow solo cruisers at a meet-up event we had on the first day. But even though we did a lot of things together, I also had a great time just doing some things on my own, too. I also struck up conversations with so many other great folks. But even if none of that would've happened, I definitely don't feel like I would've felt out of place even if I spent the entire cruise in full solo mode. Everyone on board felt so welcoming, and it was so much fun to take part in things -- or just to lounge and enjoy the views!
The above activities are just a taste of what we got to enjoy, even though we were all technically "solo". Toss in the carousel, a dance party or two, and it was an utter blast -- even if they clearly kept me around as the trivia "ringer". 😉
Point is, don't let your "solo" status. Make it the cruise you want, whether that's time with others or by yourself. I hope you have a blast, Donna! 🙂

Just did my first solo in September. I left the husband and college age kids home.  Facebook has a groups for most sailings.  I joined the group, saw there was a solo meet and greet/sail away Day 1 at one of the pool deck bars snd met a WONDERFUL 
group of people.  We met the next day for 10am trivia (and every day after) and I think by day 3 we went to the main dining room manager and got ourselves a table and we had dinner together every night.  At 10am trivia people would discuss their plans for the day and some would go together. At dinner plans for the evening we’re discussed, and some would go together. 
I hung out at Beach club at CoCocay  with a pair of women in our solo group traveling without spouses.  
I loved traveling solo so much I booked a few more cruises.  I hope I meet some equally as nice people.
hint: don’t wait for others to create a solo meet and greet….or sail away/whatever. Otherwise it might not happen!

I'm so very thankful for this! I've had some unexpected news that kinda turned everything on its ear, and I was afraid I was going to have to cancel my back-to-back Christmas/NYE cruises, but with this, I'm not going to have to even remotely entertain that thought, and those cruises will be even more welcome as winter holiday escapes!

I am over the moon!
A few nights ago, it was announced that the USA travel ban is lifted for vaccinated travellers with testing requirements. We've planned this cruise aaaages, had to move it, and were waiting with bated breath for this announcement!
We will be coming to Orlando late April 2022 and cruising on the Harmony in mid May, I am the most excited I've ever been.
Here's a shout out to the international cruises who are probably as thrilled as I am!

Got $514.99 refund today for my refundable deposit. That brings my total savings to about $3300 on 3 cruises since June. Pretty much expecting Royal to start paying me to cruise! 😂

I didn't get any price drop on my NYE cruise, but I did save a little bit on my Alaska cruise for next spring, so there's plenty of time for it to drop more. Plus, who knows what will happen to the price for my holiday cruises between now and late November for final payment?

Thank you! Pretty much what I thought. This cruise has been moved 4 times since may 2020 so the refundable deposit just kept getting moved with it. 

So according to Sharla, I actually can change my refundable deposit to a non refundable by Thursday (new final payment for my October 23 Symphony) and Royal will refund to my credit card. 
 
I made final payment back at 90 days. I can get $500 back if I do. 
 
I’m thinking this is a no brainer.  Am I right? Lol I mean I’m 32 days out. CWC is still available. 

I AGREE! Look at my picture. I started shaving my head just so they would stop asking!🤪

Sorry everyone for having to deal with the spammers. They've been dealt with.

Well now I don't feel special that carib_life wanted to fly everyone to the Caribbean! I thought she just liked me!

Next season on 90 Day Fiancée...

I got the email too. Trip booked. Looking forward to meeting her in person.