billdauterive

Wikipedia has a pretty good summary
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passenger_Vessel_Services_Act_of_1886

2 hours ago, RCIfan1912 said:

I'm not doubting your explanation but just not fully understanding. You say you can't use Canada as a foreign port to satisfy the requirement but we take cruises from NJ to New England/Canada every year. It's ok in that instance? Is there a difference that I'm not following? 

Starting and ending in the same US city (closed loop) just requires a stop at any foreign port (like Canada).  Starting and ending in DIFFERENT US cities (open jaw) requires a stop at a DISTANT foreign port (basically not anywhere in North America).

48 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

I don't care about the pin but the D+ luggage tag was really nice. 

43 minutes ago, FionaMG said:

What D+ luggage tag? Is it still a thing? Can I ask the LA for one on my next cruise???

I have the same questions.

12 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

RC says 6 months, but unless the country requires it (and in the Caribbean type routes, only Colombia does), you'll be fine.

Agreed.  *But I would still bring your BC and ID just in case...

2 hours ago, Skippy67 said:

Holy Roll[r] has a number of YouTube videos that might help. He's a craps player and frequents the RCL ships.

Agreed.  Holy Roll[r] is a great youtube resource for playing craps on a cruise.

https://www.youtube.com/@holyrollr

As others have stated it's about 45 mins to the airport from the port depending on traffic of course.  If you're taking lyft/uber, it's about a 10 min walk from the terminal to the staging area. 

Personally I made an 11:30 flight last year without any trouble and plenty of extra time without rushing.  I think 11 is reasonable with the caveat that you're not leaving much room for unforeseen delays. So if the ship docks late, or customs clearance is behind, or uber/lyft is busier than usual, or traffic is worse than usual, or airport security is far behind then there is a real risk of missing your flight.  Also note you won't be able to take advantage of the port of Seattle luggage valet since the flight is before noon.  *Side note, I REALLY wish other ports would offer this service too.  It's such a great way to not have to deal with bags and have an opportunity to stay later and enjoy things in the city after a cruise.

As long as you understand the higher level of risk and are ok with it, then I don't think 11 is unreasonable.  Now anything between 10-11 I think is starting to push it to an unreasonable risk (and I'm an extreme risk taker when it comes to travel dates/times).  Any time before 10 would be pure insanity...

8 minutes ago, RCIfan1912 said:

Thanks for the suggestion, Android guy. 

Ditto.  I just screenshot.

54 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

Excited about a Quantum ship in LA? Yes.

 

Excited about lame 3-6 night itineraries? No.

Couldn't have said it better.

1 hour ago, Brendon said:

$10 Pass bet is single odds

$15 Pass bet allows Single odds on 4/10, $20 odds 5/9, $25 odds 6/8

$25 Pass bet allows Double odds on all numbers

$50 and up Pass bet allows 3x4x5x odds.

This.

Also something different is both dice have to hit the back wall or it's a no roll.  *Watch the dice carefully because they will definitely call a 7 out when 1 doesn't hit but is close to the wall and call no roll if both hit just barely or in the corner but isn't a 7 out.  Always argue in your favor if it's close because the house definitely takes advantage...  I've had them stop the game and go to the eye in the sky to verify it did or didn't hit when I know I was in the right a few times and the pit boss wouldn't change the call.  I've had about a 50/50 success rate but it does take about 30 mins to verify so make certain you're correct and the money on the table is worth the lost rolling time if you do that.

Field bet can be as low as $1 (assuming at least $10 else where on the table).

No ATS or World bets.

On 2/19/2024 at 8:28 PM, twangster said:

It's truly the end to end journey on a single ship with every night spent sleeping on that ship.

This is the absolute best one sentence summary I've seen on how to determine a PVSA violation.  It's really easy to spot a violation once you understand the concept above (minus the distant foreign port outside North America exclusion).

Just in case anyone is curious, you can look up the current (and previous) instant reward certificates to see what's available for yourself.

http://clubroyaleoffers.com/CertificateOfferCodeLookUp.asp

The code format for instants certs is: (2 digit year) (2 digit month) ("A" - 5 or less night cruise, "C" - 6+ night cruise) (07 - 1200 points, 06 - 1500 points, 05 - 2000 points, 04 - 3000 points, 03A - 4000 points, 03 - 6500 points, 02A - 9000 points, 02 - 15000 points, 01 - 25000 points).

So for example, if you want to look up the 1500 point for short sailings ending in Feb '24, the code would be 2402a06.  If you want to look up the 4000 point long sailings ending Jan '24, the code would be 2401c03a.

1 hour ago, Thom Cruise said:

Do European cruises ever appear in the list of comp cruises? 

I'm in the UK and am Prime, it's so frustrating seeing only Caribbean cruises. 

Instant certificates?  Absolutely, even on the lower tiers. 

Online offers?  I've personally never seen any.

12 hours ago, twangster said:

the key to sailing out of Seattle is getting an early check in time.  If you don't secure an early check in time then go late.  Midday is mad house for check in.  

100%

Craps seems to be $10 minimum fleet wide now so I'd be surprised if it was anything else.

I can verify there is a senior discount and it is a true discount (not the usual Royal "discount").  Same sailing later this year.

someone 65+:

me, not 65+:

I feel like I'm having my leg pulled in this thread.  I've been on a dozen cruises since the restart and not ONCE have I seen a brunch offered.  In fact this is the first time I've ever even heard it mentioned that brunch is offered.  I've been on all class of ships and length of cruise and times of year.  Maybe it is just a random luck of the draw of what's being served that cruise?

I'm not complaining, I actually prefer the split.  I just feel like I'm on a hidden camera show or taking crazy pills reading this.

On 12/21/2023 at 11:45 AM, dmattinson said:

Who held on to their RCL shares?  

Nice returns for those that didn't give in when it was in the $70's

All the tables I've seen this year have been a $10 minimum and I've been on every class of ship this year except a Vision class.  However I do recall playing on a $5 table sometime last year but I don't remember which ship it was (I want to say Mariner but not positive)

On 12/22/2023 at 8:23 AM, baltodave said:

For beginners, "Color Up" is a good Youtube channel.

Agreed.  Great channel to watch if you want to learn basics but also has a lot of more advanced strategies.

https://www.youtube.com/@ColorUp

I also like Brian on Holy Rollr since he's specifically playing dice on cruise ships.

https://www.youtube.com/@holyrollr

14 hours ago, twangster said:

Do you pay double gratuity as a solo cruiser?

Be careful what you wish for...

 

Hmm, that would be an interesting option.  $18 for 4-6 extra drinks a day...

Just now, AshleyDillo said:

Pretty sure when the card is scanned it would show they hadn't checked into the ship yet and you wouldn't be able to charge anything to their account.

That's what I suspect too.  But you never know until you try

On 12/15/2023 at 8:57 PM, bobroo said:

I was on Explorer and we got blown out of Coco Cay last Wednesday. 
 

It was a Perfect Day at Casino.

Ditto and ditto on Liberty.

Sorry, but I think I'm the problem.  I've found a good deal on the Coco Beach club 3 times in the past 3 years and EVERY time the cruise has been cancelled (covid) or the ship couldn't dock for weather reasons (2 years ago, last Wednesday).  0/3 and counting...

On 12/15/2023 at 6:55 PM, Geezer Of The Seas said:

Apparently Voom worked admirably.....

Can confirm, voom was great the entire time.

On 12/12/2023 at 12:29 PM, kadmgs said:

I-45 is under construction between Galveston & Hobby.

This has been and will be true for eternity...

6 hours ago, CrimsonCruiser said:

Looks like Southwest heard my dilemma and there are noon flights available! *WHEW!* grabbing those to avoid the stress FOR SURE!

But thanks all for the feedback!

Personally if I fly Southwest, I will usually chance an earlier flight I think I can make since rebooking to a later flight is easy if things are going south that morning.  No guarantee that the later flights aren't already full, but I think the flexibility makes the risk acceptable.

11 hours ago, Crown&AnchorEsq said:

Step 1: book double occupancy rooms as BigKarl/BigKarli

...

Step 4: collect your drink vouchers

I almost got to try this recently as my partner decided not to go last minute, but then I decided to just invite my dad and turn it into a gambling cruise.  My plan was to just see if I could use my partner's card, who wouldn't be on the ship but who's card would be printed, to use their drinks and see how long that would last (1st day, not at all, entire cruise, pay for used ones at the end?).  I couldn't get the solo C&A points anyway since it was booked as a double, so why not at least try to see what happens.  Worst case, "oops, I grabbed the wrong seapass, here's mine" when it doesn't work.  Or maybe pay for all the ones I used on their card at the end which I would have been buying anyway.