BigKarl

I am guessing that the Comp Cruises do not gain C&A points?  I do not Gamble at all because I have terrible luck!  When my ship does comes in I will most likely be stuck at the Airport.

Sometimes the Young ones act better than the adults!  I say Go for it.

With Only doing one B2B in my Cruising travels I am unfamiliar with the Process. Is it different for each ship/Cruise? Do I need to Disembark every time? Do I need to Pack my luggage and transfer it to my new room or can I have the Steward transfer it? I am sooo confused at this point. Oh Gurus of the B2B please help!

I have found a "Code of Conduit" if anyone cares to follow it on their next cruise.

https://www.ecmweb.com/national-electrical-code/code-basics/article/21262943/nec-requirements-for-metal-conduits

I just couldn't help myself on this one. No self control.

4 hours ago, tonyfsu21 said:

The most disrespectful invention ever is the speaker phone and the people who feel like the entire world needs to know their business. There is absolutely nothing more obnoxious than someone yapping on a speaker phone in public. Nails on a chalkboard for me. 

I get a little embarrassed when someone with airpod earphones says "hello, how are you today" and I think they are talking to me and I respond. Otherwise, I could care less.  

1 hour ago, SweetPea said:

Good info and thank you, but I'm still eagerly awaiting your REASONABLY PLEASANT FRUGAL GENIUSES DELIGHT YOU WITH FOOD PORN blog.

"FOOD PORN!"  I may install a mirror over my dining room Table!

Just my $2 (That is my 2 cents plus inflation).  I have been told by an officer onboard (Whom I will not call out by name or ship) that the reasoning behind RCL not rolling in the Gratuities to a cruise fair is that RCL would be responsible for the taxes both as income and payroll taxes.  Otherwise, calling it a gratuity means no income taxes or Payroll taxes for RCL and lays it solely on the employee to disclose the income and pay taxes on this income.  This alone makes quite a difference for RCL to not claim the income and pay the taxes.

Disclaimer: I have no idea if this was just the officer's opinion or whether he has any knowledge of RCL's tax accounting.  But it makes a bit of sense to me why they would not want to "Roll in" Tips into the cost/profits.

I want to start a new trend.  I have decided that since my wife will not be accompanying me I will not be hiding Ducks for the "Cruising Ducks" craze and instead will be using these https://www.amazon.com/DolliBu-Global-Buddies-Yellow-Rooster/dp/B075FJDRR3/ref=sr_1_3?adgrpid=1332608660666258&hvadid=83288255932860&hvbmt=bp&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=79947&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=p&hvtargid=kwd-83288395280504%3Aloc-190&hydadcr=4097_13164447&keywords=rubber+duck+chicken&qid=1698682441&sr=8-3 

I will call this new craze "Cruising for Chicks"    

Oh! and I have two adult children that have lived with me for 15 years and 3 dogs so just being away for months at a time far outweigh any Pinnacle perks!

8 hours ago, Cello56 said:

I am not trying to be snarky, just genuinely curious. Why? What is it about Pinnacle that would make you want to spend this much money to sail alone just to reach that milestone faster? I'm wondering if you have added up the additional value of Pinnacle level verses the cost of all these cruises? Free internet - not expensive to purchase. Free drinks? Diamond Plus already get  5 per day each. Free cruise? $2500 or so is a drop in the bucket in comparison. My DH and I are completely loyal to Royal with over 50 cruises and over 400 points, but we just don't see the value of chasing Pinnacle. That is why I am curious. No judgement, just wondering. 

Excellent question !  currently I will be retiring in 2 months but unfortunately my wife doesn't want to retire for two more years so at the risk of being bored I have decided to spend 200 days aboard a Cruise ship (Not all 200 at once but all within the year).  The first reason is to determine if I would like staying on a ship for extended periods of time so that when my wife does retire we can do the same for her.  We have only taken one B2B cruise because of my wife's dedication to her job. Me....  Not so much. The second reason is that I am not in great health and have always wanted to try "Living on a cruise ship."  I may never get the chance if I don't start soon.

I am not actually "Chasing" pinnacle per se but it will be a bonus when my wife does retire as she will enjoy the added Perks as well. After 40 years of work I am convincing myself that I deserve this while I can still enjoy it and am healthy enough to do it. Also, I live close to the pier in Los Angeles and it is a minimal cost to get to the Cruise ship. After calculating everything I will be spending less than 30K for B2B2B2B2B2B...  (You get the idea) cruising.  I will be out nothing if I do not choose to continue and will not be disheartened if I do not or can not reach my dream of spending my retirement years on a Cruise ship. Pinnacle is just a milestone and not a goal I am reaching for in this endeavor. I am hoping that I will enjoy it as much as I have been wanting to do this for over 40 years since my first Royal Cruise in 1983.

On 10/21/2023 at 8:31 PM, BigKarl said:

WOOT!   It all works out then.   I will be Pinnacle status on my birthday 12/17/2024.   Also, if anyone is interested in the numbers I used to calculate this I can post them. Like total nights needed to reach this level. Cost for Solo vs. Double occupancy (Bring girlfriend er...  I mean Wife).

I have found a flaw in my calculations.  I have counted the 150% price for a solo cruiser fare prematurely on my spreadsheet. I will reach 340 after my first 3 cruises but cannot use the discount until after that milestone cruise is completed.   Anyone know how long after you complete the 340 C&A points cruise before you can book at the discounted rate?  Also, if I book a cruise at the 200% solo rate will they discount the fare after the 340 discount cruise is completed and what if I paid the fare in full.  It only changes the statistics a little.  So many small details to think about.

WOOT!   It all works out then.   I will be Pinnacle status on my birthday 12/17/2024.   Also, if anyone is interested in the numbers I used to calculate this I can post them. Like total nights needed to reach this level. Cost for Solo vs. Double occupancy (Bring girlfriend er...  I mean Wife).

I guess it is better than Rhapsody getting a flyby right now given its position .

1 minute ago, smokeybandit said:

I wish I was there for that.

For some reason I am hearing "Highway to the danger zone"

I will be retiring in December and will be calculating the number of Cruises I must take to get to Pinnacle status.  I have most of the numbers crunched already but need to verify a couple of things first.

1.  Does a Solo Cruiser only pay Gratuities for a single guest ($16/day)  or is this also increased for single guests.

2. Does a solo Cruiser get Double C&A points for any Cabin Category?  Or is there a minimum category requirement for Double points.

3. Will my Spouse share Pinnacle Status when we cruise together once I reach this status?

To answer the question ahead of some of you, No I will not be leaving my wife by herself as we have 2 adult children and three dogs at home. We also have lots of family less than 10 miles away.   

If anyone can review and reply to these questions and anything else I may have forgotten to include in my calculations, I will be very grateful for your input.  I am getting quite excited about this possibility and hoping to pull it off in 2024.

36 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

Liability of the Seas

Head Trauma of the Seas

Broken femur of the seas

On 9/30/2023 at 1:54 AM, Xaa said:

Diamond Plus will be renamed Crown and then it will be Crown and above.  Just speculation.

I want to Identify as "Crown Royal" in fact I am going to register that name right now  

On 9/25/2023 at 10:16 AM, Fuzzywuzzy said:

My wife actually likes just a little rocking at bedtime. It knocks her out and she sleeps very well. Rum has the same effect on me.

My wife falls asleep before the Rockin begins  

I will be retiring and thinking of moving to an Income Tax free State.  I have only visited Florida about ten times and that was to board a Cruise ship. For those of you that live in Florida and wish to comment (Good and Bad)  please be honest in your personal assessment of florida living and also which area may be best. Thanks in advance. 

On 9/18/2023 at 3:02 PM, smokeybandit said:

From a 1999 NY Times article:

 

Grandeur of the Seas

Capacity 1,950 passengers; 74,140 tons, two outdoor pools, retractable dome, spa, fitness center, casino, international cuisine, choice of restaurants; entered service in 1996.

Year round -- Seven-night cruises departing on Saturday alternately from Miami or San Juan, calling at Labadee, San Juan, St. Thomas and Coco Cay or Aruba, Curacao and St. Martin. From $1,399 to $5,349.

You amaze me every time you reply @smokeybandit.  Now if you can find a picture of Captain Johnny before he was Captain in 1983 on the Song of Norway?

Not just Size,  Length and Girth are a factor as well.   Oh you mean "The Ship" right?

On 5/23/2023 at 5:54 AM, twangster said:

For several decades Royal didn't have all that.   Water slides, the big full sized slides didn't exist until Liberty added some and Harmony was launched with them in 2016 just seven years ago.  Contrast that to the creation of the company fifty five years ago.

Royal has changed substantially over the past six to seven years and shifted into the kid first cruise line it is becoming with the latest class, Icon of the Seas.

Many return guests are long time customers that have sailed many ships no longer in the fleet.  They are vested heavily into the loyalty program.  It will take time for these long time customers to accept that Royal has changed and most of that change has been more recent.  They didn't change, Royal did. 

This was their "go to" cruise line.  They were loyal to Royal.  It will take them time to transition to a new go to cruise line.   

And while your at it,  "Get off My Lawn!"

I remember as a child, we would make our own popcorn and sneak it into the theater.  Maybe you could take a carry on filled with Popcorn?

Cooler = Mini Fridge with the electrical cord removed ?

3 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

That's one way to get around paying for pizza at Sorrento's. Bring your own pizza oven!

Or bring a frozen store bought Pizza and use the hair dryer on it.  Would most likely taste the same?