Mike T

Yep, we got our Royal Up email.  I'm not gonna even try this time.  I've never been successful, and we have two very decent cabins already.  Good luck to those who are gonna try.😎

Thought about pulling our bid back and just staying but we bid minimum amount and Ocean View would nice.  Had OV once on Freedom and enjoyed it at night.

Anyone get their Royal Up email?!  We're in a CP Balcony but put a bid on Oceanview Balcony.  Good luck to everyone!

We met a couple on a cruise that had only been on a few, this was their first time on Royal, and were celebrating their 40th anniversary. I checked with the desk in Chops and they agreed to use two nights of our DP to accommodate our guests and we invited them to join us for dinner.  They even did an anniversary celebration for our guests.
Not sure it would work on every ship but when on a cruise...ask...because they do try and want to see you back on board in the future. 

If you can score the 3 night specialty dining package for $112/pp, that's not a bad deal considering Chops is about $55 by itself.
It's that price and once you sit down, you can order the entire menu if you want.  When we sailed on FOS in January for my 50th and my daughter's 16th birthdays...we each ate a couple shrimp cocktails each (okay, I might have had 3 or 4...LOL)..tried a couple entree and several sides.  It's a nice change from MDR and Windjammer and we have had TREMENDOUS service in Chops (at least on FOS the 2x we have sailed it).  Hoping for the same on SOS in February.

I just did this for the 3rd time the other day. My husband doesn't/cannot drink and I have had no issues getting the DBP for myself (and the refreshment package for him). It was a few minutes on the phone while they did the "permissions" or whatever. I did ask if there was a way it could be noted for further cruises - she said that they hoped to be able to get that set up, but it is not as yet. 
As everyone on here always says, if you call and get an answer you don't like, call back!

And just as of last night, we are booked on this cruise too.🥰

Same intern doing a double shift at Ticketmaster.

Seems 'Black Friday' has turned into 'Blackout Friday'....

One of my favorite tours of all time was on St. Maarten. We walked off (a group of 6) and found a van driver willing to do an all day island tour for $25 per person. We toured the entire island hitting all the popular spots and some lesser known spots. Our driver was amazing!
 
P.S. Worrying about making it back on time and booking a ship excursion is something I used to do all the time when I first started cruising. I never book through the ship anymore as they are overpriced and packed. Its cheaper (and much more relaxing) to purchase good travel insurance and find independant tours.

Up to $600 off and 30% off + kids sail free
Let's get the drink packages down...make the DBP about $55!! 🤪

Yes, with the fixed (traditional) dining times, you need to show up at the time to be seated in the MDR.  (There can be some flexibility if you let them know in advance but your table is intended to be used twice that night for both traditional dining times.)
With MTD, you can reserve times for each night and they do NOT have to be the same.  You could schedule 6:30PM one night, 7:30PM the next, etc.  If you make reservations for MTD, a table should be waiting for you so you do not have to wait.  You can also go without reservations (wing it) but you may have to wait for an open table.  MTD is very similar to a sit down restaurant on land (you can go with or without reservations).

Yes, early and late settings are fixed times. You can only show up at MTD if you have it selected pre cruise or have it changed onboard- which may not be possible.
With MTD, You can wing it each night, but will typically wait longer. I make reservations for the week, but they can be changed onboard if our plans change.

Thanks @CrimsonCruiser, I appreciate that.  Thinking we'll mix it up between WJ and JRs in February!

Snagged this from Tony at La Lido Loca who was just on Allure this past week

THIS!  Great tip! 💯

Yeah, I'm somewhat familiar with the area in terms of proximity to beach and the amount of places to eat/shop/see.  I stayed at the Lowes up the street for a convention several years ago and we did a little walking around.  My issue with this property is that I think it's a busy bar in the evening and at some point, I'm gonna want to get some sleep!  😅.  It's still reserved but I'm looking at other options as well.  I really appreciate all the info you've provided.  We'll see what happens.  I just don't want to drop $350+ for one night...and I know that's cheap in this area.  That's why I scooped it up because of the price for that area.

⬆️⬆️⬆️
I don't know how or why I was quoted and implicated in this thread, as the quote was from the Mexican Riviera thread.  Anyway, this will be a good excuse for me to join in🤠...
 
I love seeing the islands, how the people live, and talking directly to the residents.  For me, there's no better way than to get on a tram train, shuttle, taxi, whatever, and when we push the tour guide to engage us in conversation, most of them do so.  Before we know it, they're telling us about their families.  It's a very lazy excursion, but it's become my favorite activity, especially the first time we visit a place. 
St. Thomas?  That was an exception.  The tour guide did not like her job.  St. Maarten?  Probably our best tour and interaction ever.  And that tour was completely sold out from the ship.  We walked thru the port and found the tour on our own.  There are lots of opportunities to design your own tour. 
 
Further, I am an aviation buff.  Multiple times in St. Maarten, whatever tour we were on always stopped at Maho Beach, long enough for us to see and nearly touch the belly of an airliner on final.  If that's not a persons thing, I would think just hanging on that beach, listening to music and watching people would be icing to a great day. 

@Mike T  [email protected]  The website is joyceprince.com
 
 

When you get off the ship in Nassau and make the walk towards where the taxis are....there is a building you can go in and get passport stamped.

It takes only minutes to stop by the Promenade kiosk or any specialty restaurant to take care of all of your reservations.  Any of them can take care of all of the restaurants.  

When you get off the ship in Nassau and make the walk towards where the taxis are....there is a building you can go in and get passport stamped.

@MattG @asquared17  We got our deposit paid this weekend and are on deck 12 courtesy of our TA...

Thank you for the info....Makes me feel a better about our choice!

My husband and I will be doing a back to back continuing on the March 4-9 sailing to celebrate our 40th anniversary! This will be our first time on the symphony. We've sailed on oasis, harmony and allure in this class and loved all of them. We really enjoy watching the cover bands on each cruise and hoping we can find out who will be performing on these dates.