billdauterive

3 hours ago, FionaMG said:

I just took advantage of this for the first time on my very recent Anthem cruise. I did what @WAAAYTOOO suggested and just wrote on the bag "D+ No Charge" (worked great, so thanks for the tip ).

However, when it came back I noticed that it had the number of pieces written on the outside so I'm just wondering if I should actually have filled in the form with the details of what was in the bag? Or does it not matter? To be fair, I didn't notice anything missing.

 

I also do the "D+ no charge $0" written on the bag, but I also fill out the number of items as well.  I think if you don't write the number of items yourself, they will on the way back just as a check/proof of what was washed.

16 minutes ago, tonyfsu21 said:

When the screen finally breaks, what will happen? 

Agreed.  You really do need most of the day to actually enjoy them. 

I always recommend renting a car instead of taking a tour so you can go at your own pace.  Its only about a 30 min drive and parking is free and plentiful.  Overall it's usually quite a bit cheaper too depending on your rental rate and how many people are going.  The only "hard" part is getting to downtown Victoria and then to the rental places and then reverse for the way back to the ship.

9 hours ago, DoomSlayer said:

GS on Voyager is my vote.  Sounds like a good deal and you will probably enjoy Coco Cay a lot more than Costa Maya.  Costa Maya is one of my least favorite ports.

Agreed.  Better benefits with full suite and Coco Cay is better than Costa Maya.  Also Port Canaveral is a little closer to the airport than Galveston.
If your main concern is watching wild card weekend then Voyager has a tavern that is similar to an upscale sports bar where boleros is on other Voyager class ships.  It has 2 large TVs on either end of the venue.  They aren't as big as the projection screens in Playmakers, but larger than any other televisions I've seen on any other ships.  I watched the NCAA tournament there this past march and I thought it was a great venue overall.  It's not as enclosed and noisy as Playmakers so it's easier to actually hear the TV commentary and stadium sounds.  It's also usually less crowded so should be easier to find a seat, but obviously big game events can change that.

1 hour ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I can't imagine that this would trigger their "bad boy" list.  I imagine this is a pretty common occurrence.  I think their concern (as if I'd know ) is an empty cabin and no one playing in the casino.

Agreed.  I don't think they would care about the guest, only the money maker.  But I guess it depends on how they implement the check.

Very interesting.  Did anyone here receive that email?  I didn't, but the wording makes it sound like it only went out to people who have no showed in the past 12 months.
I would definitely be rethinking my plans if they tried to retroactively assess a $200 deposit to all my upcoming cruises.  Especially since they would want that payment within 30 days for ALL upcoming cruises.

Zero chance that's the case.  It's a technical dry dock and they very rarely make major changes to venues then.  Also as mentioned, no way they'd be introducing a new Wonderland as it's on it's way out of the fleet.

7 hours ago, Jolly Ogre said:

So I have been getting a few offers but they only go up to 3/31/25... anyone get any offers for after 4/1/25?

I am on Adventure in 12 days and will hit prime but was wanting to get an offer for after 4/1/25 to work on the next years status early.

Most offers are usually in the 3-6 month range.  There will be some that are 1-2 months out for lower demand times/ships they need to fill (think Grandeur in Sept/Oct).  March is the latest I currently have as well, except the Ovation summer/fall 25 offer they sent out recently.

But that Ovation offer is an exception since they very recently changed it's port from China to LA so I'm sure they are way behind capacity planning on that ship specifically atm.  It's the only one I've ever seen that far out (except instant certs of course).

Also for anyone reading this thread, if you get a 1200 pt or higher offer ALWAYS* purchase a next cruise booking before you get off the ship, even if you don't think you're going to use it (*Unless you know with 100% certainty you would never use it and that fact would never change).  I'll always just purchase it through the app as soon as I hit 1200 points so I don't forget. 

Worst case, you just redeem it for any cruise on the list before the expiration.  I can usually find at least 1 that could work if all the stars aligned just right, or as a backup to an existing reservation, or one that has a higher level cabin or more FP.  But even if there is literally nothing it's still worthwhile for the chance you can find one. 

Then sometime before the cruise departs, call and cancel and you'll receive a full refund since all the money from the next cruise deposit has gone to taxes and port fees.  I've personally had to do this a few times when the stars didn't align.  Obviously there is the extra work of calling to cancel and tracking your refund, but I think it's worth it to guarantee you don't miss out on a comp (or extra FP / upgraded room).

Personally I would definitely still try it, especially if there's a chance you will buy another cruise within the next year.  You may not get any OBC bonuses if it's not used for a while, but it's the same as a deposit for a cruise you're going to buy anyway with a good chance of it working for the casino comp.

3 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

I want to say ymmv but I think no will be the answer. I used a NC booking made on a 3 night sailing for the cert earned under the following 4n sailing. I was able to do this because of it being a B2B2B and the sailing wanted from the 1200pt list was sold out. But the rep made it seem like the only way she could do this was because I was on the same ship and purchased the NC booking before the cert was issued. Since it will be a week or more after the cert was issued, there may be an issue. 

Oh that's interesting.  I've never had a problem in the past but I think I've only ever done it once or twice.  I didn't think they checked anything other than if the next cruise booking was within the 30 day OBC bonus window, which shouldn't affect the casino FP/stateroom bonus, and the certificate wasn't expired. 
Maybe the rules for 1200 pt lists are different?

2 hours ago, urk1919 said:

Thank you for this amazing explanation.  I do have one question I am wondering if you may know the answer too.  

 

I just recently got off a cruise on Utopia (Amazing by the way!!) and received a 1200 point offer, which includes some interior/oceanview free sailings with a next cruise.  I did not book next cruise on the ship and understand it can only be done on a ship.  HOWEVER - I am going on another cruise, on a different ship (Still Royal of course) BEFORE the current instant cruise cert offer expires.  If I get then next cruise bonus $200 paid while on board of my next cruise, can I use it on an offer from a previous sailing (since it hasn't expired)?  

 

Cheers! 

Yes.  They just need a next cruise booking number to associate with the certificate redemption.

2 hours ago, Jolly Ogre said:

Can you get bottled water, cans of soda or beer at the casino bar?

Absolutely!  I drink A LOT of water so I'm running by the casino every few mins to grab some to take back to my room to stock up for the times it's not open.  Most of my embarkation evening is spent running back and forth, at least when I'm not donating money to the casino.

https://clubroyaleoffers.com/
In case someone doesn't already know.

30 minutes ago, CHart said:

I did just got this via USPS.

Offer Details (royalcaribbean.com)

VERY interesting.  The 24VAR9 offer codes aren't up on the club royale website yet.  Do you see the same offer on your account on the website yet?

The VAR codes are for the monthly offers based on recent play.  24 is obviously the year, 9 is the month, 01 is the top tier like the instant certs.  But I would have expected the redeem by to be early Oct, not Sept.  I suspect they misprinted the redeem by and mailed them a little too early this month.

I always just check the club royale offers website every so often.  I do get the snail mail offers too but they are the exact same as the website.  I have never gotten an email offer which I assume would also be identical to the website offers.

1 hour ago, CrznTxn said:

Depends on how many Pinnacles and D+ passengers there are. If there are quite a number then they restrict the happy hour to them.

I've never understood the appeal of happy hour.  The lounge is crowded then and there isnt anything special about that time other than maybe some hors doeuvres, which will still be out afterward.  I've always called it Pinnacle show and tell, and I've got way better things to do...

Back the original question, yes the crown lounge is forbidden for anyone not of that status according to the rules.  However, if someone accompanies you during a slow time, no one really knows or cares in practice.

14 hours ago, CHart said:

It was not a hand pay, but a cash out from the table. 

So you're a man of many talents!

It's been ship specific for me for a while.  Some have been just flash the card, others have asked for room number every time.  No rhythm or reason I can find.
I assume it's based on however the current beverage manager of the ship or head bartender of the casino bar is wanting to keeping track of comped casino drinks (if at all).  I've noticed every time I've been asked for a room number they write it down, while I don't notice any obvious way of them tracking a card flash.

Yep, I saw that this morning too.  Assuming with the short time frame from the announcement they need bodies on the ship asap, hence the offers.
Ovation is one of my favorite ships so I'm seriously considering it.

On 8/3/2024 at 7:11 AM, twangster said:

Don't fly in the day of the cruise.  

Fully agree for the VAST majority of people.  But it can work in certain situations.

In my situation I almost always fly in day of (domestically) as long as it's a direct flight and is scheduled to land well before lunch.  It works for me specifically as all my cruises these days are casino comps, so if I happen to miss the ship I'm not out any money (port fees and taxes are returned).  I only book excursions that are refundable.  I usually fly Southwest so I have the option to cancel and not even get on the plane if it's delayed too much and get my points (or money) back.  My work schedule is very flexible with PTO so I can move dates around very easily.  I've already been to most of the destinations (in North America) so usually there aren't places that I'd be really upset about missing.  I'm the type of person that HATES unpacking then repacking to move when I'm on vacation (which is why I love cruising so much) so I try to avoid 1 night hotel stays as much as possible.
I also have a higher risk tolerance than most so I'm willing to risk the outliers and costs associated with them.  My luggage gets lost?  Oh well, I'll just buy another set and clothes that were in it.  The plane is delayed on the tarmac or in the air?  Oh well, I'll just get a flight back when available and hotel if needed. Maybe I'll just stay in the city and tour a few days and spend the money there instead of on the cruise.

Now having said that, any time I'm meeting other groups on a cruise or if the itinerary has something I specifically don't want to miss, then yes I'll fly in day before to be certain I don't miss the ship.

20 hours ago, CHart said:

Not sure, but I believe they track the chips based upon room as when I have received $500 chip, they always check my room number when getting and again when cashing out. 

I didn't know that hand pays were in chips!

I'd call the casino line and just ask about your options.  But I suspect you'll at least be able to redeem it on your next ship even if it's not Harmony.  I think I've read about someone having the same issue before and that redeeming on other ships is not an issue.  Now I don't know if they were trying to redeem the denomination you have...

Another data point, I've received all of mine via email from the past several I've taken.  Latest was late June.  I'm both the primary reservation and cardholder on file so can't help with that question of which gets the email statement.

No idea about printouts because I've always just tossed them anytime I get them.

23 minutes ago, Vancity Cruiser said:

Wouldn't a stop in Victoria satisfy the PVSA?

No.  It's not a DISTANT foreign port (i.e. not North America) that's needed for one way sailings.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passenger_Vessel_Services_Act_of_1886