WAYNO

My go-to entree in the main dining room is always a beef dish. Prime rib or steak always works. And on that extra special night, lobster! In the buffet, the primo entree choices are more limited. Minute steaks or roast beef when they have it. Pork chops also, when they have them. I'm no longer able to have desert. But my wife loves cheese cake. It's now rarely available in either the MDR or buffet, but when it is, she is happy. My wife also loves cake, so that's her choice when cheesecake isn't available. When it's available, in the MDR, I order shrimp cocktail for my desert. The first time I ask, the waiters are puzzled, since I also order shrimp cocktail as my appetizer. Once they understand my intentions, the shrimp cocktail is automatic. And sometimes the waiter brings me a double. Before my life changed, lava cake or a brownie and a scoop of ice cream, however simple, was my choice. Appetizers? As above, shrimp cocktail is my favorite. But sometimes I do change it up a little, and order a Caesar's salad. The menu has changed, and my favorites are not always available, but I usually find something to eat, even if it's in the buffet. A burger patty with a side of hot dog is my steak replacement. And grilled fish has always been good for me. However simple I am, I also notice what our table mates order. Some folks order escargot at every meal when available. Everybody that orders it, loves it. And the onion soup? I've never had it, but it is a table favorite, every time. We took our boy on a cruise recently. He ordered lamb, and loved it. So, although the menu changes don't please me every time, other folks at our table rave about the other choices. Bottom line... I appreciate everything, and if it sounds like I'm bellyaching, I need to be slapped and brought back to my senses. These cruises are a Blessing from Heaven.

Yes and no. Although you share status, points are not supposed to be shared. But most of the time, they do anyway. Then when you expect them to, they sometimes don't. And when you're finally convinced they are not supposed to be shared, they do anyway. Are you following all this? We've struggled with Royal over this issue. When each of our points were incorrect, it took an act of the CEO to get them corrected, while simultaneously their customer service, (an oxy-moron) said our points were way off because of improper crediting. We also receive conflicting advice while on cruises, with the Diamond Concierge. Two different concierges in the Diamond Lounge have two conflicting opinions and solutions. And even asking for a discussion on this forum has been futile. Because so many folks have received different treatment, folks are quick to belittle a post. Gee it didn't happen to them that way, so it couldn't have happened to me! Okay, it is what it is. I accept how the points earnings are best described by Royal. But even since our last points fiasco, I am again receiving points for cruises my Wife has taken, but I was not a part of. I've given up. In the scheme of things, I am now D+, with little chance of making Pinnacle, so point awarding no longer matters to us.

We've flown a lot. We have no favorite airline, as none of them are user friendly, helpful, or trustworthy. And none are getting better We have also found MIA to be the least friendly and/or helpful airport. And the more we fly, the more we are experiencing delayed and/or cancelled flights. Our most recent cancellation was MIA. And in the Miami culture, the airline employees were pretty worthless. It was not their job man. When I'm delayed, I find myself researching other flights. I use Flightrader24 to track delay patterns. And in most cases, I've found Southwest to have the most delayed or cancelled flights. I no longer include them in my travel searches, regardless of itinerary or cost. Southwest Airlines and MIA... Not a combination I would ever trust. I wont for a second expect to convince anybody any more than the Southwest fanboys/fangirls will convince me otherwise. I have my own experiences, and act accordingly.

Yes, I can relate. Not long ago, we had 4 cruises on the books, making a total of 7, November to November. We now are down to only two left, and the next one is not til the end of September. I feel naked. We had one more planned, but just one day of procrastination caused it to no longer be available. The lesson here is book the cruise the minute you receive the offer.

Is an early flight possible? Yes. Is it likely? Maybe. Is it guaranteed? Absolutely not. Because we have experienced so many ground transportation snafus, I always book an afternoon flight. And every time there is a hang up, and I realize we would not have made a noon-or-earlier flight, I smile that I booked the conservative flight. Even then, ground transportation and air schedules have a way of inadvertently adding a day or more to a vacation.

The walk-in closet is a huge draw for those choosing a Junior Suite. We have also had a Junior suite with a smaller closet and two separate bathrooms. I missed the huge closet, but my own bathroom was pretty nice too. To pick one over the other, the walk in closet would be my choice. .

That's not a bad upgrade price. I've paid more... And to me, always worth it.

We just received a casino-comp offer for this cruise. I'm headed out the door right now, but when I get home I'm gonna give 'em a call. ...and an update. Whoops... I spoke too soon.. The rooms are already gone.

I don't think the question was if cruise lines need a meteorologist. My question is, if they are struggling financially, would an unknown face be cheaper for them than a popular local TV weatherman?

When one couple rates a meal as wonderful, and the couple at the next table rates the same meal as horrible, who should Royal listen to or take seriously?

Odyssey is quite gorgeous and wonderful. However, it does not have a conventional promenade. That in itself makes Odyssey not my first choice. I also understand the promenade may not be as important to other passengers as it is to me. Regardless of promenade or other preferences, this ship is quite magnificent.

I looked too and saw nothing. Interestingly... While I was looking I figured I should book a couple VOOM's for some upcoming cruises. None were to be found for one of my upcoming cruises using the APP on my home computer. But visiting the phone APP on my Wife's phone, the VOOM was available. Being forced to do everything digitally, when they don't always maintain their end, makes it tough for a dinosaur.

I live and play in Western Oregon. The weather in the Coast Range is similar to Southeast Alaska. Not particularly cold, but often quite wet. I seldom use rain pants, other than the heavy rubber ones we wear while fishing. How do we identify tourists? They wear rain pants. Seriously, if you're comfortable wearing rain pants, by all means go for it if that's how you are inclined. My experience, you can be wet from the rain, or wet from sweating inside your rain pants. You're still wet either way. And rain pants that breathe? An oxy-moron designed to sell rain pants. In a boat is a different story. Inactivity while wet can be very uncomfortable. One good blast of spray, and you'll likely remain damp and cold for the rest of the excursion. Water shedding clothing will be worthwhile.

I gotta say, after reading so many posts by so many people basically hating every cruise experience.. . Why do you cruise if you know it's gonna be so awful? I know every person has their own expectations and experiences. But it seems a lot of folks cruise to be disappointed. Makes me glad I grew up poor, so I can appreciate this floating heaven on earth experience. I too sometimes have less than a perfect experience, and like others, I do come here to vent. After I re-read my posts a few times, and realize I'm sounding like the other people, I try to tone it down, and re-count my blessings.

Port Canaveral is our favorite. And I've found the whole area is geared to cruisers. I've stayed at multiple places, and one way or the other, transportation to the airport was super easy. Not super fancy but our favorite stay is La Quinta in Coco Beach. Pool with bar, an easy walk for dinner, and a wonderful included continental breakfast. And a bus to the pier waiting outside the door after breakfast.

Our last couple of de-bark's have been dreadfully slow, and dreadfully un-organized. That said, I've learned to expect these snags, book a late flight, and life goes on wonderfully.

Very nice production. Thanks.

My Wife was in Cozumel last week. I just asked her about this. She remembered the extra TSA-style stop before the ship, but she said it was completely unobtrusive on that day.

Although prices on everything aboard ship are quite inflated, in no way do I consider it scamming. Compared to the mall, I'm sure sales volume is low, and overhead is quite high. If they sell a few items, they've gotta make some profit. If a feller thinks it's too much, just keep walking. I find jewelry and watch prices in the ports to be high also. I buy very little for that reason. On the other hand, I've bought gifts on the ship or in a port, knowingly paying too much, but receiving the bragging rights that I bought it while on a cruise. And nobody scammed me. I don't cruise with the intention of saving money.

We are definitely loyal to Royal. We are comfortable with how it all works, and even how it all doesn't work sometimes. We keep coming back. As a D+ with no chance of making Pinnacle, I do let my thoughts stray to maybe other cruise lines, but then I come back to my senses. Familiarity is comfortable. Plus, we've loved every cruise with Royal.

Apparently this is a name recognizable to many, but not to all. This thread is the first time I've associated the name with a position. So, what's the payback to a struggling company to employ a regional TV personality recognized by only a relatively few passengers?

In this world of canned, pre-paid luxury, we are easily disappointed. Such downfalls are common in the airlines, restaurants, hotels, and yes, cruise ships. I can complain and only further disappoint myself, or just count my blessings, which are many. I am sorry your cruise was so dismal. It's probably time to consider vacations elsewhere, as on a cruise ship, you get what you get, little will change, and you'll continue to be disappointed.

That's the craziness of their system. We did receive a certificate on day 1 on a recent cruise. Throughout the cruise we both received enough points to qualify for a substantial upgrade . At the end of the cruise, the casino manager refused to issue us a new and upgraded certificate, saying we'd then receive an equivalent upgraded certificate on day 1 of the following cruise. That didn't happen. We received a certificate on the last night of the next cruise, and only for the points accrued during that cruise. I'm not really bellyaching. It's all different ploys to get us back on a ship. And for them, it works. I've discovered too, no matter what certificate I use or don't use, a new offer will quickly come in the mail anyway. I get often, multiple offers per week. Many of these offers are quite lucrative.

My experience. Your experience may be different... Some items, such as soup or spaghetti, are prepared in batches, so you might have little say in how much salt was added. On individually prepared dishes, such as vegetables or steak, just ask for no salt or reduced salt at time of order.