CruiseRoyalDad

Sailed Harmony in August in a GS 2 bedroom. We used the bunk bed configuration since we are a family of 6. But if you only have two passengers sailing in the second bedroom you can have the attendant stow the upper beds folded against the wall. Moreover, before sailing the bed configuration can be requested ahead of time. The beds in the 2nd bedroom can be configured into a King or two twins to accommodate as you see fit. You'll hardly notice the upper berths there if they are folded up and out of the way. It's a great room with plenty of space for entertaining in the large living room. ENJOY!!!

1 minute ago, Crown&AnchorEsq said:

I hope you were able to move Forward from your Stern Warning and enjoy your cruise.

STOP! you guys are killing me. 

24 minutes ago, AlmondFarmer said:

On a recent sailing I was leaning over the rear of the ship admiring the wake. I was approached by the Captain and given a Stern warning.

DAD JOKES! HA!!!!

1 hour ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I thought the Sky JS on Utopia WAS full Sky benefits.  No ?  I have one booked on Utopia in Sept.

After being tipped off and spending too much time diving into the benefits, you are correct. As per the fine print, it looks like the SKY JS on Utopia is a true SKY class suite with all expected amenities that come with the SKY label. Of course, logically, it doesn't follow since you'd think that Sky JS on the Oasis class Utopia would match the same benefits on Wonder and below. But to make it more confusing it does not. Per @Ampurp85 they probably had it in mind to make the Sky JS on the utopia, true SKY suites, which is why we are sitting here splitting hairs. To alleviate confusion it would be superbly simple to not call anything without full SKY benefits "SKY". 

It's unfortunate that we have to have this conversation though. Very deceptive on Royal Caribbean's part. Most disappointed I've been with them since discriminating against passengers for personal medical decisions. 

This is phenomenally deceptive. AT best IT hasn't caught up with the amenities change for the junior suite, at worst this is deliberately misleading. It would be easy for seasoned suite cruisers to see "SKY" and assume full benefits included. The room itself is not worth the upcharge above a normal junior suite and it's on deck 6 to boot (don't get me wrong I love the Boardwalk, but still). It's almost as if Royal is deliberately trying to trick its most loyal customers into dropping a deposit before they realize what the "SKY" junior suite really includes. It doesn't even include access to Suite sun deck, all day CK, VOOM (which was horrible on our Feb 2025 wonder cruise)...etc. Wow!!! Maybe a few drops on social media pointing out deceptive nature of these so called sky class amenity suites is in order. I'm extra salty because I have two on hold and if not for @Lovetocruise2002 heads-up, I might have been dropping an August 2025 wonder deposit on these rooms. Very disappointing. 

19 hours ago, Atlantix2000 said:

I'll ask the obvious question.  Should your pass say sky class?  That means you booked a certain type of room.  I'll assume your friends booked an appropriate room and that's why it's on their pass.  If you also booked a sky class cabin, then you should contact Royal and have them regenerate your travel documents.  If you didn't book a sky class cabin, well, that's why it's not on there.

Riiggghtttt. SOOO....yes. It should. Hence the question. If I wasn't sky class I'd definitely would not expect it to magically appear. But it does say it on our friends set sail (who are also sky class) but not on ours.

2 bedroom GS Sky Class but all it says is platinum-choice. So if it should say it on the set sail pass, I guess I'll have to call them since it doesn't. 

Similar question. I have my C&A status as well as "choice" but it doesn't say sky class on the set sail pass. WHY? My first time RCCL cruising friends have sky class on the pass. I know it likely won't matter but I want to limit hiccups at check-in. Sky Class > Platinum  when trying to access priority check in and security lines. 

Harmony of the Seas August 5th! 

Does CK still serve the 11-11 complimentary soda, beer, wine, water to sky class and above? Just received the letter from the concierge for a Harmony sailing on 5 Aug and it did not expressly say that. Thanks!!

On 7/20/2023 at 9:54 AM, TXcruzer said:

Having two policies is just an invitation for neither to pay out, but rather argue about who is liable

With the correct allianz policy this is absolutely correct. If you take cruise line insurance you are setting money on fire. If you are taking cruise line insurance on top of another appropriately researched and applicable policy you are using napalm to set money on fire. Who are these youtubers? Are they insurance agents? 

23 hours ago, CrimsonCruiser said:

Thanks! One less thing to worry about losing lol

I know right, it's hard enough to not lose things like matter, like kids!  See you on HOS in August! Hopefully your royal up comes through! 

We've taken advantage of kids sail free in the past (to great savings) but it's really only available when they are supposed to be in school. However, as mentioned all major "school" holidays are excluded. Suffice it to say "kids sail free" is ongoing but it has more blackouts than North Korea or California during a heatwave. It's imperative that one takes into the account the fine print and if the kids are out of school just assume it doesn't apply. It's just the way it is. Trust me as a father of four, and the oldest aging out of getting pulled out of school, I wish this wasn't the case. 

Prepare for many comments regarding pay for the service you want type of thing.

However, the best way to go about this is to be upfront and honest with your concierge. No doubt your FIL will be doing a good bit of childcare. Make sure the concierge knows this. That he is partly your childcare specialist. They will often include him and your non-suite daughter in your CK reservations without issue. I'm not saying this is a rule and they may not allow it but they have in the past (speaking from experience). As for the priority boarding and shows. They will not turn you away with your child as long as they are ticketed passenger. Likely it'll be that your father can come with you especially since he's a crucial part of assisting with your kids. As for the shows, when you walk in show your suite passes and hold your 4th child's hand. You'll likely be fine. 

Please read the above in that Royal does not have to make any exceptions for your case but probably will. Just don't be disappointed if they don't. 

So what's the upside for the Royal faithful? More ships in port? More cruisers to compete with for activity availability? Higher costs than the already ridiculous prices for the marquee excursions such as thrill, beach club, and cabana's? More pee in the Caribbean's largest swimming pool? I don't really see a win here. Seems they want to make sure the island is always at max capacity.

20 hours ago, Traveling Mike said:

Me and my 26-year-old son share one device for one person.  We just communicate who is connected.  While on the cruise I am working and he is doing his school work but we seem to make it work without any issues.  This allows us to save the money for other things.  

Mike, how do you communicate via text, when you are on different areas of the ship but only one of you have a device on wifi? Or is that not a concern for you?

21 hours ago, Vancity Cruiser said:

I've sailed Oasis both pre and post amplification and she is my favorite ship by far (except for that dang cats show). I agree with you about Quantum class for warm weather but they are great for Alaska. Loved the temp controlled Solariums that allowed swimming while the weather was inclement outside. I sailed another line to Alaska a couple weeks ago and just assumed the solarium would be temp controlled but it was not  

Looking at the glass half full, yes CATS  but if you need a good nap...there you go! 

On 3/4/2019 at 6:34 PM, twangster said:

So any ship but a brand new ship is a slap in the face?   Whose face is being slapped?   I just sailed Oasis on a Western Caribbean that she had been doing for 8 years.  It was an awesome cruise.  My face wasn’t slapped.  I’m sailing the TA to bring her to Europe.  Face not slapped.  Oasis is a beauty.  

Never been on her, we started with the Allure which we loved. Came back to another Allure, did a quick Anthem to Bermuda, then Symphony. Though I've never sailed her, the Oasis holds a special place in my heart for giving birth to the finest class of ship at sea to date. Having been amped, and given the right itinerary, I'd be on Oasis faster than you can say ICON!  I'll go ahead and ruffle some feathers, Quantum Class falls far short!!! 

Some OK sales for the start if summer on Cruise Planner. Was able to get an extra 5% off thrill water park which I had purchased months ago and had only been going up. Also, Voom is nicely discounted. Question, my sister and BIL will need voom. Getting them each the surf and stream package is more expensive than getting one of them the package but selecting "TWO" devices. Am I missing something? I'm planning on recommending that just one of them buys it with multiple devices. 

Thanks!

On 6/19/2023 at 7:10 PM, Almost retired said:

We have been on about 12 cruides, but first time on Oasis Class ship for me and my husband, we are older couple in our 60s. Looking forward with so much to do, but little overwhelming with size of ship and number of passengers.

Don't try to do everything. Pick a few activities to set as priority and make as you go decisions later on. You won't be able to see or do everything within 2 weeks much less one week. Looking forward to meeting you!

Ha! @Xaa not if He really did! 

There's a little Catholic church right on the beach in downtown Sint Maarten. Saint Martin of Tours Catholic Church. It's a few steps down from Big Bastard's beach bar (I didn't name it). Tell your wife the forums compel you to do a pilgrimage to see a new church, in a different culture, steps from a beautiful beach and a pina colada.

Also, hold the hate mail. I know this is not the prettiest or most exciting beach on the island, not even close. But calm shallow entry and warm Caribbean sun make most beaches awesome. The plethora of restaurants and shops are bonus. When you have small children and a family as large as mine sometimes it's nice just to walk ship to beach and chill out for the day!! 

2 minutes ago, Xaa said:

That's maybe a little harsh.  I am Catholic.  Not hardcore.

If not showing up is a sin and I go for confession and confess it, do my penance then how is it not all good to the point where you declare it both wrong and to such a degree that it means one knows little about the church?  I'm asking seriously.  I'm under the belief that reconciliation is how I become whole with the church again.

I was harsh and quick to anger. Partly the nature of the response and the funny enough "this is a fan site" comment always sets me off. Yes it's a fan site but as fans part of the education is talking about what we perceive as good and bad at Royal. But I digress, and my apologies for being so ill-tempered. I actually, ended up pointing out how you were correct in a follow-on post.

In reflection you were actually very right with your answer but I imposed a tone of being flippant on your post when reading it my head. My problem not yours. To know grave sin, in this case missing mass, commit it, then go to confession with expectation of forgiveness is not ideal and can be a sin in it of itself. Yet I've done it too many times to count. 

Confession and reconciliation is exactly how you get right and become whole again.

Jump on the the HOS august 5th and I'll buy you a drink in Central Park, we can talk more! 

2 hours ago, Pooch said:

All of that is true but, for a devout Catholic, physical attendance at Sunday Mass is a requirement except for exceptional circumstances.  Vacation would not qualify as such a circumstance.  Not making judgments either way, just pointing out.  Does any other religion have this requirement?

Hey @Pooch I very much agree with you. But the situation is outlined perfectly in @drjohn4 response. If you are on a Saturday to Saturday cruise you are pretty much sure you're going to miss mass Saturday night as the earliest vigils are at 4pm. Trying to make it to a 4:30pm all aboard won't happen. While great, and while this sometimes is the case, there will be NO expectation to have a priest onboard for Sunday. Discussing this with the most conservative of pastors many are very much willing to provide a special dispensation which may include (but not limited to) a direction to engage in prayer and reflection. Now, if you are told in no uncertain terms by your pastor that a dispensation will not be granted and you choose to go on a cruise and miss mass anyway then yes, at that point @Xaa would be correct in that it's a mortal sin and you'd have to go to confession before receiving the Eucharist which we know as Catholics is not a symbol, but the actual Savior in physical form. 

Here's some personal experience with the matter. I was on a run once with Father Sutter, an former Army Ranger and superb priest of a more liberal parish in Charlotte, St Gabriel. He basically told me I need to always prioritize the Eucharist and I should have picked my dates better. I couldn't agree more with him and am very much thankful for his ministry. This was a few years back. My parents on that same cruise however, thought ahead and went to a super conservative priest at St. Patrick's Charlotte, he asked them to do a rosary and one for him and gladly granted them dispensation for that Sunday they would miss.

The last time I went on a cruise, I honestly sat on the Suite's beach in Labadee, where the water meets the sand, with my steel rosary in hand (sandy and wet) praying while looking at God's beautiful scenery, realizing the absolute blessing I have that so many don't, and being thankful for time to spend with family. 

So the reasons for all of the red tape, dispensations, and the such is to ensure that we as the faithful keep the Sacred Heart of Jesus in mind at all times. That we realize that God never takes a day off from us and we should endeavor to never take a day off from Him, though we do often and we fail often. 

Taking the OP in good faith he seemed to be mad that they had a priest onboard, had other religious or societal religious adjacent social activities advertised in the cruise compass, but would not advertise mass even though the capability was there for it to occur. I have ZERO expectation that priest will cruise with us but if he did I would hope that a time and location would be posted like the Sabbath service almost always is on all cruises. I do think that I've seen cruise compasses in the past advertise mass when available so I'm chalking this up to a one off. Duck off a waters back. 

I've given this much thought because we leave on HOS Saturday August 5th out of Miami. So we are currently in this exact situation. I can find a priest willing to tag along and pay the cruise fare or ask for a dispensation which is hopefully granted. 

Cruise Safe and God Bless!!! 

On 1/25/2023 at 7:04 AM, Xaa said:

I think as long as when they return they go to confession before taking the eucharist, they're all good.

@Xaa is wrong and seems to know little about the Catholic church. @Larry Muster see @drjohn4 response for the correct answer. Thank you @drjohn4. 

St Maarten is beautiful. The beach in downtown right there by port is adequate. The beach is serviced by hotel restaurants, water sport companies, and is an easy walk to shops. However, a 40 minute cab ride will get you to a little slice of heaven on Earth that is called pinel island. You have to take a small boat to pinel island once you reach your destination. The inward facing side of pinel is serviced by restaurants with crystal clear water and powdery beautiful sand. It's more of an endeavor to get there but it's worth it and NO EXCURSION needed. DO BE SURE THAT YOU HAVE A TAXI WAITING FOR YOU AT AN APPOINTED TIME BEFORE YOUR RETURN. You do however need to plan time to return to the ship before departure. I'm assuming you arrive at St Maarten at around 12pm island time and then depart at about 8pm? Make sure you leave pinel with at least 3 hours to get back on ship. If you get there to port with no issues you can walk around downtown and explore or just head back to the ship and get read for dinner. 

St. Thomas has the world famous Magen's Bay. I've never been to that beach and can't comment. What I can say is that a cab will do the trick no excursion necessary just make sure you allow adequate return time.  However, there is beach a 5 minute taxi ride from the port, flanked by an airport, which is much undervalued. Lindbergh Bay beach is not often talked about but super convenient and beautiful. It has restaurants and restrooms you can't go wrong for an easy beach stop. ALSO, you can take a ferry to the world renowned St. John. Easy, no excursion necessary. 

We haven't been to Coco Cay yet but will be in August on same itinerary! Have fun!

Oh and if you have a balcony. Use it with ditchdoc's recommendation. 

Congratulations!! 

Both. The cutback in service is noticeable.