MLH

Good choice on Cp150.  I like it much better than Chops and bonus is other non Oasis class ships do not have it,incase you get the cruising  bug and go onother ships.

1 hour ago, JVPIII said:

I immediately responded with an introduction to our family and covered are initial preferences for dining and in suite requests. I let Wendy know we plan on eating at all the specialty restaurants and chefs table (sans wine pairing). We also requested to dine in Coastal Kitchen on filet night. Have to get that filet that @Lovetocruise2002 got so many of us excited about. I warned Wendy of my Mom’s Dr. Pepper addiction and requested those be in the suite as well.
 

I also put in request for some special genie magic regarding Rick’s and my Mom’s birthday celebrations that we plan to do on the ship. Rick’s birthday is 9/18 in just a few days and my Mom’s is 11/6 so I want to make sure they are both recognized on this cruise.

Now a little bit of a rant. While I was not surprised that Wendy’s email requested us to pre-book chefs table and Hibachi, as I have seen many people on the blog say this, I was surprised that it came in the initial form welcome letter. It is surprising and disheartening to me that the “all inclusive” and “the genie will make it happen” aspect of Star Class has diminished in this way. While I do understand cutbacks to remain profitable, I do not see how this change helps with this. At the end of the day we will have a good, time just a stray observation. We do not plan to pre book any of the meals as 7 pm is where we like to eat anyways and will leave the specific days we eat at each restaurant up to Wendy.

At least the Hibachi thing has been somewhat resolved versus book it and we will refund it.  I guess many complaints to corporate and genies were heard.  I think it is a fair solution as they need to book those experiences to optimize usage of the venue.

1 hour ago, recogneyes said:

We sailed on Explorer last month and booked Royal's shuttle from Marco Polo.  Super easy to find - at the arrivals area you will see reps holding RCCL signs.  Approach and give your name and you will be put in a line up and then walked to the buses.  We were there for 11AM and boarded our bus shortly after.  There were lots of buses so I imagine this goes on for a good hour.  We stopped to stretch our legs and use the washroom if needed (bring euros to pay to use - less 1 euro).  Then we carried on to Ravenna - your luggage is taken from the bus right to the ship so make sure you put your luggage tags on before boarding the bus.  Enjoy your cruise!

Thank you for the last bit about the luggage. 

1 hour ago, Cruisin and Boozin said:

It’s a baby and above the outfit is the sonogram ….

Totally missed it.  Congrats!

I feel your pain.  I am the family planner for our 12.  My family and my sister and her family. No vintages Started a google doc which no one reads.  Have to travel to venice , get to our hotel, spend 2 days in Venice,get to the bus station for the 2 hour shuttle ride to Ravenna,board the ship, find excurions in 4 ports and then get back to the airport.

Check in opened and 1 person did it.  So they can sit out and wait for their time while I am onboard enjoying the flowrider and drinks!  

I loved Sabor.  I had to get my fix in before they turn it over to Playmakers. Love the margaritas there for sure!  Our genie kept asking us if we were sure we didnt want food from anywhere else every time we requested it.  

1 hour ago, Cruisin and Boozin said:

So as I was planning this cruise I found this….any guesses to what this means?

Is that a baby or human sized?  lol

14 hours ago, JVPIII said:

It will be here before you know it. If there is anything specific you want me to scope out for you let me know.

Thank you so much!  If you could ask if the genies are staying through December that would be great!  So excted  you should receive your genie email soon!

14 hours ago, JVPIII said:

Absolutely. Glad to have you along. When do you sail? We have only sailed once in an AQ room but it was fantastic hopefully no early morning banging sound this time for either of us!

December 3rd. 

Thanks for doing this!  We have the same exact room.  Love the AQ rooms for sure, although last time we had maintenance banging on the big screen on sea days starting at 7am.

Is that calamari or onion rings?

Just off Brillance for Alaska.  After so many Oasis, Quantum, Freedom Class,it was for sure  different. I didnt gain any weight as the food in the WJ never changed and the MDR served small portions.  Not a lot of alternate food places. The iternary calls for a smaller ship, but it will take a long time for me to go back on one. But, it was not over crowded even at the MTD line even for being sold out.  That is a positive!  

For MTD, tell the concierge and they can walk you to the front of the line.  

Yes just got back. Glacier is accessible. 

24 minutes ago, melmar02 said:

I received a survey, but all the questions were suite related. The only food questions had to do with how important included specialty dining would be versus other suite amenities such as having genie or exclusive experiences. 

Would love to fill that one out! lol

1 hour ago, jojo03 said:

Hi there, we just finished our Alaskan cruise July 30-August 6. It took my wife and I a total of 2 hours from check in to setting our foot on the ship. We arrived about 1:00pm. What took long was customs. The lineup was huge! It was basically one line for all 3 ships on port. Royal, Celebrity and Holland were all there. We actually arrived at the Port at 9:00am. We dropped off our luggage on ground level and went to the 2nd floor to check in which was a breeze since it was early. They give u a colored ticket afterwards. Since we arrived early, my wife and I walked around downtown for a bit. It was when we came back to get on the ship was when the long wait happened. Hope this helps.
 

Yes Thanks! That is our plan as well I was planning on 9:30 but we will be on East Coast time and will now plan on 9.  We are going to take the shuttle to the Suspension Bridge and will come back to go through customs.

Can someone tell me if we turn right or left to get to the shuttles after the people mover. Thanks

You can Royal up to a GS but I would not do a ru for a JS.

When is your cruise?  Tip:  If you do not see your room assigned on your app prior to check in.After checking inand get your set sail pass download it into your apple wallet and the last 4 digits are your room number.

Looks like so much fun!

We are doing Brillance Alaska on the 13th!

1 hour ago, Neesa said:

Its actually sad, if paying for a Royal Suite one should get at minimum Sky Class benefits. Royal really should look at their suites program and standardize it. At least wifi, leave the concierge alone! They are busy enough with the multiple suites and pinnacle guests. Come on Royal, you are bragging about bookings being better then ever, look in your rear view for a second and support your crew as well as your guests. A superior product begets  next cruise bookings! Revisit the suites product sooner rather then later. Please? 

100 percent agree.  The suite program has declined to the point where I am now booking Celebrity unless I need my flowrider fix.  Even though they are the same corporate entity you can see the differences in their individual brands before merging.  Celebrity suite program surpasses Royal in every aspect even some Star Class perks.

You do get escorted on to the ship by the concierge.

7 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

 

This is true. Even for genies. The short turn around is hard for all of them because now you are doing 2 turn arounds per week instead of 1. It will be interesting to see who goes to Utopia because of that. Many here on Wonder are headed to Icon. Again, they are taking the best. 

Not only turnarounds but double communication and planning each week with new  families.  I agree there will be some new genies on  utopia.  We are booked in Star for the inaugural so we will see.

Whats wierd is when we went on celebrity from Vancouver to LA, it wasnt bad and I dont remember having to go through customs. We did stay at the pan pacific and dropped off our luggage there.  I think this time I am going to go to the Pan Pacific bellman stand and drop them off even though we are not staying there.

2 hours ago, Rackham said:

Yeah, last week. Check in time was at 1:30 pm (wanted to explore Vancouver a little first). Breezed through check-in at 1:20 pm. Like literally walked in, they scanned my SetSail pass, and I was handed a Brilliance paper ticket to keep with me until getting aboard the ship. Here's where the hour+ ordeal begins. You'll take the ticket, walk outside, and downstairs for security screening first and then US immigration control. Keep the ticket because you'll be mixed in with passengers for any other ship also embarking for both. We had a Celerity ship and a Holland America ship also embarking along with us. The lines will snake back and forth like you're waiting for a theme park attraction and move about as quickly. Immigration control is the automated kiosks where you'll insert your passport, answer some questions, and take a biometric photo. If your passport and responses are accepted, you'll get a ticket to take to the person at the end of the immigration area. If you're "X"ed, you'll have to wait in another line to speak with someone personally. My passport and answers were approved, so I got to leave without lining up again. All in all, without any issues going though the process, it took approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes to clear and get aboard the ship.

Edit: You didn't ask, but while I'm thinking about it, the debarkation process went basically as you'd expect at any other port, but a Canadian customs declaration form is required to be submitted after getting off the ship. Said form, and instructions to fill it out, are provided by Royal on night 6 (or at least it was on my sailing). You might want to bring a pen as Royal didn't provide one. I do travel with one, so it wasn't an issue, but there were people in the terminal needing to fill theirs out at the checkpoint.

Thanks. We plan to drop off our bags at 930 am and then take the free shuttle to Capastrano Suspension Bridge for a few hours.  After you clear customs  do you have to get on the ship or can you go back out.  I'm thinking you can't as you cleared customs and cant leave.  Thinking I can try to beat the crowds in customs.