smokeybandit

5 hours ago, SpeedNoodles said:

Drink packages cannot be shared. If the kids don't drink much soda, you can just buy their sodas individually.

Or bring soda for the kids.

RC is sailing at well over 100% occupancy. I doubt they're worried about Virgin. I'm sure like any other competitor they're doing due diligence, but I doubt they're concerned.

4 minutes ago, Matt said:

Someone else on this sailing mentioned to me he heard it was because of the dock not being ready in Skagway

An ageing dock had to be replaced, but the replacement dock had all sorts of problems, so they had to replace the replacement.

https://khns.org/skagway-will-foot-the-bill-for-broken-float-dock-for-now

It is no longer offered as a package.

8 hours ago, Heymarco said:

Make a wish (MAW) itself is great but Royal's partnership with them feels so self-serving. Royal raises money from us for MAW to give Royal a huge tax break. The they take money from MAW to put people on cruises. Come on.

Why shouldn't RC or any company or individual in the country take advantage of tax rules surrounding 501-3-c organizations?

And really you don't even have to watch them.  But it'll save you a couple minutes at the muster station if you do.

Is it related to the ship or other reasons?

Ah, could be this:

https://www.chilkatvalleynews.com/2024/04/30/theres-a-small-possibility-haines-could-get-an-early-cruise-ship-this-weekend/

I'm curious how many people use the app chat. And by use I mean use more than the first day until they realize it's no good.

55 minutes ago, dougalsgirl said:

We made a conscious decision that we want to be internet free for this cruise. 

I know it probably would be a revenue killer, but I'd like to see RC sell a cheaper messaging only package for this reason. Kind of like some airlines do.  Say, pay $8 per day just to use iMessage or WhatsApp, but get no other internet access.

There are notifications. Just they're terribly unreliable.

Twice upgraded from a GS to a GT (2 BR suite). On Liberty (March 2022) and Jewel (March 2023).

Bid one click up from the minimum for both.

The Liberty GT was booked, but must have been a very last minute cancellation, as when we boarded, there was a medical fridge and a sharps container staged in the room.

The Jewel one was just an unsold GT, which was a rare thing.

5 minutes ago, AshleyDillo said:

On X Michelob Ultra wasn't included in the classic drink package..you had to upgrade for that

Not a beer I'd typically associate with the word "upgrade"

1 hour ago, OCSC Mike said:

It is rumored that there will be a Back to the Future stage show.

Does the ship have to be going 88 knots for the show to start?

Happy "You get to print your luggage tags in May" to me.

2 hours ago, TexanTwoStep said:

Hey Matt,

We're staying at the Hampton Inn across from the port.  Is it feasible to walk from there or do we need to set up transportation?  We're able-bodied people

It'd be a 2.5-ish mile walk on the shoulder of a busy road with no sidewalk or other pedestrian access.   So you are better off with transportation.

1 hour ago, Andy & Sheryl Unwin said:

For what it's worth, I was in the exact same situation when Marriott bought out Sheraton and Starwood Brands some years ago. I had status with all three.

The points earned for each program simply merged into one, Marriott. Thereafter, based on total points, I was given a new Tier. Based on an accumulated 941 nights spent in those brands, I went from what was then mere platinum at Marriott, to a "Lifetime Titanium Status."

There is no telling if that's what will happen here, but it's fun to speculate. Sheryl and I have not yet cruised on Celebrity; we prefer to stick with one line and have cruised only on Royal Caribbean ships. Perhaps if things merge in a way we feel is beneficial to us, that may change, at least once.

 

 

The difference there is Marriott and Starwood were merging into a single entity. 

34 minutes ago, TheoneandonlyMICAH said:

While we have a 11:30 time to check in, we also have a suite. So it became, what time did we really want to get there.

I'm in a suite and plan to get there between 10-10:30, and expect there to be 100+ people already inside.

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/hideaway-beach-adults-only

Unless it's a bucket list thing that you really only have one chance at (say, Panama Canal or Greenland), cruising is a lot less stressful when you just prepare yourself that port changes may happen and mentally adjust when they do.

 

44 minutes ago, msgeueke said:

We are on the WOS cruise and very disappointed with the itinerary change from Puerto Rico. This stop was one of the main reasons we selected this cruise. We have travel insurance on the cruise and probably would have cancelled this one and booked a new one. My question is why did RC wait to announce this change if they knew there was port damage from weeks ago?? Doesn’t add up. If they knew we couldn’t dock there, why did they wait?

Because maybe San Juan ensured them it'd be fixed by now and yet it wasn't.

Strange thing (to me at least) is how much the crew likes ducks. It seems each cruise some crew member makes a comment about our stash of ducks on the table. I guess maybe they're a distraction from the every day routine.

One room service person even asked to take a picture of the stash.

We keep them until the next cruise, then re-hide. We found one once that the finders kept writing the duck's next cruise on the label and when we found it it was on cruise #4.  Almost to Diamond Duck status.

And yes you can use an existing photo. It may reject the photo the first time (mine always is) but try it a second time and it works.

Just note that other than formal night (I'd guess 50-70% participate) and to a lesser degree Caribbean night (25-35%?), the dining attire themes are largely ignored or people simply don't even know.

This is huge.  The elevator software is by far the most inefficient thing on a cruise ship.