TXCoastPatriot

Here is my best recommendation, pack a very large suitcase of patience.

All I can say is my set sail pass in my hand right now for a 4/18 sailing on the Harmony out of Galveston does not have the term “suite” anywhere on it, only SKY under the heading “Category”.

The Set Sail Pass differentiates primarily by “Category”. My Set Sail Pass for Sunday shows “Sky” as the category. No where is the term “suite” on the Set Sail Pass. Junior Suite is not a Sky class category, I believe it considered “Sea” class. Also, the Set Sail edge color for GS and above is purple.

Ditto that. “Wash and fold” comes back unwearable…socks and underwear only. “Wash & Press” is usually decent (men’s slacks & shirts) but not for gentle laundry cloths. “Press only” is always nice for linens.

Galveston’s terminal suites line allows only GS or above or Pinnacles.

In addition to what @Ampurp85 stated, you also get double C&A points in a JS. However, you are not allowed to use the Suite check-in line, Suites lounge, or Suite pool deck.

Great Point! As gamblers, we are all sensitive to changes in comp programs, whether land based or cruise ship casinos...and rightfully so. With the new Casino Royale "season" starting, we all need to be watchful and inquisitive especially word from casino hosts, then openly share that information on this site. As with you, I am suspicious Royal will move the bar in their favor.

We are simply offsetting the higher rates with fewer cruises. In 2023, we sailed 7 times all 7+ nights in GS. This year we only have 5, that is nearly a 30% reduction. In 2025 we are planning land packages to Sedona, Key West, and Aruba with only 3 cruises.

We are on the Harmony next week (4/14). I watched the sales nearly daily. The best offer was 30% off. Our total cost, AFTER gratuities was $1205 ($86 pp/day). Drink packages are getting out outrageous!

If a ship has 2 concierges, we tip each $50US. Ships with 1 concierge, we tip $100US.

Should be interesting, we will be 3 days into our cruise before Casino Royale figures out our status. Certainly going to record our points daily

There is a lot of chatter on C&A Rumor site regarding merging systems Crown & Anchor with Celebrity's Presidents Club benefits. Interesting topic however, the real benefits for us sailing, and staying loyal to Royal is the benefits from Casino Royale. I haven't been on Celebrity since 2012. How does their Blue Chip Club stack-up to Casino Royale, as far as: Gaming Options; Points Earned; Point Redemption; Comps such as Cruise Options, Drinks, Wine & Dining, etc.?

Interesting. I recently got a email from Sharla saying she was moving on to do something different. Apparently, I was kindly being dropped.

If I recall, there was a fee for it. I thought it was really a great meat house restaurant, but poorly advertised.

Agree, a 1.75 pts/$ ratio is decent. However when I have weeks where my pts/$ ratio is .61; .90; and .91. it is painful and extremely frustrating. $3K disappears quickly.

We loved the Samba Grill on the Allure back in early 2020. Do they still convert the Solarium Bistro into Samba Grill for dinner? Is it every night? What other Royal ships offer Samba Grill?

At CK, as well at any specialty restaurant, I tip $10 at dinner and $5 for breakfast and lunch. A waiter once asked if wouldn’t mind leaving additional gratuity on the bill instead of cash. Said cash goes into his pocket, a tip on the bill goes to his family via his paycheck. Since, I politely ask. I give a Sky Class suite attendant $50 on day 1 and another $50 on the last evening.

I’ve used Port Canaveral Transport. Prompt, friendly, local service. We spend the night near the port at Stay at Homewood Suites Cape Canaveral. No stress in the morning worried about traffic delays. Bonus, there is an outstanding Italian restaurant a short walk down and across the street.

Our last transatlantic plus B2B was on the Odyssey. The SeaPlex was used as a holding area for all the B2B sailors. Must have been 200 and it was packed!

I’ll trade you the Allure (Galveston ‘26) for the Odyssey and a ship to be named later.

I totally agree @billdauterive. I track my casino points daily and record them for each cruise. My “points/dollar” range from .61 to 3.66 points earned per dollar spent (lost). On average my ratio is ~1.75 points/dollar spent. I try to hit the 6,000 point mark each cruise when building points or wanting a decent Instant Cruise Certificate, so take a bankroll north of $3000. I found my points/dollar ratio vary wildly from ship to ship. My worst experience is on the Wonder and Harmony. My best ratio was on the Voyager. Unfortunately, my home port is Galveston and the Harmony is there until March ‘26. Will try to change my luck on the Harmony April 14 for the start of a new casino season.

Congratulations again KevinK! It’s a great club to be in. Here is slot tournament we have been invited to. It might be regional, we live in TX. Unfortunately, I can’t make it, I’ll be on a mission trip to Ghana and won’t make it. 2024 SLOT TOURNAMENT SERIES - HARMONY 08/17/24 A cool thing about Signature, an Assistant Casio host will find you at a game your first evening in the casino and introduce themselves and welcome you. They remember your name and check in with you during the week while you are playing. All the casino host(ess) are beneficial to be very kind to. Perks from Club Royale as a Signature dwarf the C&A perks by miles. Lots of free cruise offers…about two per month. Club Royale is a major reason we are loyal to Royal.

Congratulations on Signature! That is AWESOME. Just under the wire to start over April 1st. Sorry, I did not mean to mislead you. Normally, my wife and I each get a bottle of wine or a champagne from Casino Royale for our points status. We’ll get a bottle of wine & strawberries from C&A for D+. Typically we get another bottle of wine along with daily fruit plates, cheese plates, cookie plate, or petit fours from Beverage or Guest Services, I assume for being Suites guest. Often they just arrive without indication who it’s from. in total, 3-4 bottles of wine in our suite during a 7-N cruise.

Thank you Captain, I am aware, however there are two similar topics posts. In addition it was posted prior to the confirmation of the Allure. I apologize to all for being redundant and superfluous.

Personally, I love the Allure. My first sailing on her was a transatlantic to Barcelona March 2020. We got off the ship into an entirely new world as the pandemic shut the globe down. The Allure ended up back here in Texas and we did many more cruises on her. As with others, I was just anticipating a different ship, something new and exciting. What does excite me about the Allure is to see her AMP'ed changes. Hopefully some new restaurants.