Jerel

Just wanted to start a little thread with my random thoughts this far. First RCI cruise, western Caribbean. Used to be primarily a Disney cruiser
 
-Ship is a lot cleaner than i excepted
- After about a day, you get a good feel of how to navigate the ship
- There are less activities I actually want to participate in onboard than DCL
- Did chefs table last night. Cool experience but was 4 hours long (8 pm- midnight). Needed a designated walker back to the room
 
Labadee today. Looking forward to trying a labadoozie and falling asleep in our cabana. My one year old is licking the sea salt off of the table on our balcony right now. Kinda gross but kinda funny too. Have a great day, everyone

We loved curacao. Beautiful, not as touristy as st maarten but same dutch caribbean vibe. Our favorite caribbean island so far. Aruba was nice flat and dry. Great beaches and snorkeling.

All of them are beautiful. If you are a SCUBA diver, Baonaire is Mecca. Curaçao is my favorite Caribbean island. They all have a heavy Dutch influence so the architecture is very quaint. No pushy vendors. Warm and friendly residents. Laid back and easy-going.

When I was on the Independence of the seas last month it was the same thing, I believe there was one everyday.

I've been to two-thirds of them. Aruba has great beaches and we had an off-road your that was fabulous. Next time, we might do Trikes Aruba. Curaso was cool, too, but we just did a city tour there. Both were much more developed than other Caribbean ports, so I didn't notice anyone being pushy as we shopped.

Never heard that. I am torn on the issue though.
Wate slides are fun and I like to ride them, great for families too. But I think they will look tacky. I like the way the ships look now, very sleak. Adding colourful slides will make the ship look like a floating carnival IMO. I really don't like the idea of them in the bordwalk of the Harmony. I really like the openness of the back of the Oasis class, having slides go down the center will ruin the tunnel effect I think.
Maybe I'm just being a old bitty, who knows, I do like riding them.

I may do it from the Allure, just not sure if I want to pay for Internet, maybe.
 
I'm @Halifax_Jerel
 
As a heads up I posted a thread in 'people connect' to share names of people presently scoping.

I may do it from the Allure, just not sure if I want to pay for Internet, maybe.
 
I'm @Halifax_Jerel
 
As a heads up I posted a thread in 'people connect' to share names of people presently scoping.

I personally LOVE viewing the periscopes of everyone who is cruising!! I'd love if people could list when their cruise is on here IF they plan to periscope any on their cruise.....Please list your PERISCOPE NAME So we can view your scopes please!!!
 
Brian

If you can, tell us how it went when you get back, even if it's just a short blurb.
We like reading that stuff, especially from the perspective of a new cruiser.

If you can, tell us how it went when you get back, even if it's just a short blurb.
We like reading that stuff, especially from the perspective of a new cruiser.

This is from a different post on these boards (http://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php/topic/1202-first-timer-in-the-us-cruising-oasis-cruise-in-july/?p=11005), but instead of making you search, here's my thoughts again....

B) 

First, my disclaimer: I am a bartender at Dockside Margaritas in Disney Springs (formerly Downtown Disney) at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. I live on tips. So, admittedly, I am biased. That said, I can still present an objective argument as to why tips really are not included when you purchase the drink package. Yes, technically, they are. But, it is a set dollar amount regardless of how much you drink or do not drink.
 
For example, let's say that the total gratuity amount is $50 (it's not, but it's close to that - round numbers are just easier, obviously). Then let's say you get 10 drinks over the course of your cruise. Each bartender would get $5 per drink. But, you never would get just 10 drinks, because to break even on the drink package, you would need to drink 5-8 drinks per day (easy for this guy to do! not so easy for others). So now let's say now that you get 50 drinks. Each bartender would get $1 per drink. You see how their tip just dropped a lot? But still, you probably wouldn't get just 50 drinks, because then why buy the package? You didn't come out ahead and you should have just bought the drinks individually. BUT!!! It gets worse. They tip share! Not only do they tip share with the people at their specific bar - let's say R Bar - but they also split with other people at other bars - let's say the On Air Bar. The bars are grouped, so stronger bars will help support the staff at weaker ones. So when you give the bartender $1, you're really giving that bartender $1 divided by the amount of people sharing that $1. In the case of the R Bar and On Air folks, that's split at least 6 ways. So instead of the traditional 15-20% tip a tipped crew member should receive, they're receiving something like 2-3%. I don't know about you, but I think the service I receive from the Royal Caribbean crew is worth far more than 2-3%.
 
So what we do is leave a buck per drink on top of the "included gratuity" - in some cases two bucks for more difficult to make drinks, like mojitos,etc. At the R Bar, the bar we spent the most amount of time at, we ended up giving them a lot more than that. But, we weren't just paying for someone to put liquid in a cup. They provided such a unique experience that we felt the need to say thank you in a big way. Remember, if you do not do the drink package, you still have an included gratuity. We always round that up as well, again because they earn more than they're being given.

One contrary point. If the bartender isn't happy to see you, seems to begrudgingly pour the liquid in the cup, and doesn't seem to care if you are there or not, feel free to stiff the guy! Well, okay, maybe not stiff. He still lives on tips. So maybe just a bad tip. ;) Just because I'm in the industry, doesn't mean I don't recognize that there are horrible servers and bartenders out there.

Speaking of servers, you should also give them something more. Calculate the amount of money you would have to spend for any meal based on the prices you'd pay on land, and then consider how much of a tip you'd give your land-based server - 15-20%. Then consider how much you're giving your sea-based server. Then, don't be a curmudgeon! If you can afford to spend thousands on a cruise, find a few bucks for the service you're receiving. If you can't afford it, maybe you can't afford the cruise in the first place.

Finally, don't forget to tip something anytime someone goes above and beyond for you. If you're stateroom attendant does his job and nothing more, then he is already being tipped. But, if the deck patrol guy does something WOWing for you, give him a few. He probably doesn't get that often - you'll make his day! If he WOWed you, WOW him!!! Instant Karma!!!

I actually have an alter set up with candles burning around a picture of Matt. It looks like something out of Criminal Minds. <jk>

Lots of reveling confessions here, many I am guilty of too.
I'd say my worst is going online and discussing trivial things as if they were important, but you wouldn't know anything about that now would you ;).
 
I was just thinking... How many of you could spit out your 9 diget Royal Caribbean membership number without thinking twice, but need your phone to know your mothers phone number? Like this post if this is you.

Lots of reveling confessions here, many I am guilty of too.
I'd say my worst is going online and discussing trivial things as if they were important, but you wouldn't know anything about that now would you ;).
 
I was just thinking... How many of you could spit out your 9 diget Royal Caribbean membership number without thinking twice, but need your phone to know your mothers phone number? Like this post if this is you.

If you have time when you get back tell us how your trip went, we like reading reviews, especially when compared to another line.

While I have the floor and I'm admitting to all my cruising shortcomings:
 
I'm so addicted to to cruising that I..... <deep breath> post video reviews of cabins that we have had in the past on YouTube.
 
I'll be completely honest--I AM A BALCONY SNOB. I go to great lengths to select rooms for our cruises. #1 criteria is Price; #2 what is the balcony like?
 
I can not be the only one who distrusts RCL deck plans. So I share fairly short, sweet videos of our cabins and their accommodations for all the world to see; usually when we first enter the room. I've posted 6 of them now.
 
My YouTube channel is  bobroo007

Here is what I have learned and other stray observations from watching Love Boat episodes:
 
 
When an episode begins, we immediately need to surf Wikipedia to find a biography of a former hollywood star/ or a wanna-be star. This is always a fun an informative stroll down memory lane. For example: Who would have thought that Olivia de Havilland is still alive, almost 100 years old, and currently lives in France? Or, what ever happened to ___ ___ (insert name)??? Or, why was so-and- so famous?
 
Some of the episodes were filmed on actual cruises during sea days. A frequent guest, Bret Sommers has said doing a Love Boat was easy, fun money--and a free vacation. It's fun to watch the actors in the wind.
 
I joke with my wife "Julie: she gets all the guys..." but in reality Captain Stuebing doesn't captain much but rather focuses his time on hooking up-- and is quite successful, nearly every episode.
 
I can now identify with being a crew member. Because when I hear Julie say at the beginning of an episode "we will be sailing to Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, and Mazatlan" I say "AGAIN??? Yuk!"
 
It must have been great to sail when alcohol was included in your cruise fare. Sometimes the guest stars were wasted; and we think that is generally pretty funny. Makes me think an Alzamara cruise is not as expensive as the prices I've seen.
 
There is always a sail away scene with guests on the top deck throwing streamers galore overboard. Nearly everyone in those scenes is holding a cocktail. Ahh the good old days.
 
Baked Alaska was a big, big deal in the Dining Room; and everyones dessert. Ahh the good old days.
 
Extravagant Midnight buffets with bands and dancing poolside. Ahh the good old days.
 
Skeet shooting off the aft of the ship. Ahh the good old days.
 
Every night was a formal night. But Love Boat formal nights are what current sailings make fun of on 70's night. Most of the tuxedos on the 1977-78-79 episodes are G-R-O-O-V-Y Man!...and I secretly wish I had one.
 
The stars of the show always have a scene at the pool. The stars of the show are always fully clothed at the pool (unless the guest is Cheryl Tiegs or similar star known to show skin as their skill). Everyone else is wearing a scanty bathing suit. Not that I want to see Don Knotts in a bathing suit.... but the stars stand out for all the wrong reasons.
 
The pool on the Love Boat is very, very small and completely unattractive. The Oasis has larger hot tubs.  
 
How could Gopher possibly be the purser of the ship? He can't tie his own shoes. He's in charge of all the money????
 
The accommodations for the crew are spacious, single bed per room, and have phonographs and posters and windows and various souvenirs. So I'm calling out the stories I've heard about current crew members living below deck in cramped quarters with a couple other roommates. Obviously that isn't true.
 
Scenes on the bridge are funny because it so doesn't look like a bridge and Captian Stuebing is so unconcerned about the heading the ship. If he ever needs binoculars-- they are hanging on the wall.
 
Captain Stuebing's quarters resemble a boardroom in a way. It makes me say myself "Why have I never seen a photo of a current captions quarters?" I bet they are equal to a Owner's Suite.
 
Debarkation: When the entire crew shakes your hand and thanks you for coming aboard. Ahh the good old days.

News Flash - Voyager of The Seas and her slighlty younger and bigger sister Explorer of the Seas met on Sunday November 28th in Sydney Harbour and made the harbour look like a small bathtub.
 
Thanks "Cruise Advice" for posting this wonderful video on Youtube. Up until Sunday, Voyager was the largest cruise ship to homeport Australia that title nows goes to her sister Explorer of the Seas. 
 

That's funny. At least if they come to your place you know they don't require any decent entertainment, and of course they won't complain about the food.

That's funny. At least if they come to your place you know they don't require any decent entertainment, and of course they won't complain about the food.

Hello-- My name is Bob and I DVR episodes of The Love Boat--all of them. Every single one of them.

With the amount of money you'd pay to park, you could stay at any number of local hotels for JUST ONE NIGHT and have parking for the entire time you're cruising included FOR FREE!! Plus, they'll shuttle you right to the door - also included FOR FREE!!

I know a lot of folks like the Radisson. We used La Quinta. They both have the same offering. And there are many others.

Thanksgiving dinner is always fun with my family.  My wife and I are avid Royal Caribbean fans, my sister and her husband are loyal Carnival customers, and another sister and husband lean towards Norweigan and Carnival.  This makes for some fun dinner conversations!

Thanks for the great observations Jerel. Your thoughts on the Promenade room are interesting. We just got back from being on Liberty (same class) and had similar observations: not enough storage, and those shelves next to the mirror are virtually worthless. I didn't measure them, but 1.5" sounds about right! Also, I loved having the small bench seat in front of the window. It added a nice little seating area. I agree the window wasn't very functional because we were on Deck 8 and the actual Promenade was on Deck 5, so you had to get very near the window and look down to see anything. It did make the stateroom seem much less confined though, and we were not bothered by Promenade noise at all.