Traveling Mike

If you cruise once a year just print on plain paper and keep on cruising.  If you cruise multiple times a year or you are worried about them breaking or tearing purchase the wider ones from Amazon.  

I would not call them Souvenir Cups.  I was so impressed with the ones they gave us last week I filed mine in the round file before leaving the ship.

I have been on multiple of both cruise lines and the way I explain the difference is...

• Royal is where you want to play with toys and do things
• Celebrity is where you want to relax and enjoy shows and events

• Royal is where you want to take your kids and have fun
• Celebrity is where you want to avoid the kids and enjoy peace and quiet

• Royal (Symphony) has old ladies on the wall when men are going to the bathroom
• Celebrity gives you riddles on the wall when men are going to the bathroom

On 7/22/2022 at 6:23 PM, dadLovesNachos said:

you would think they would give credit for very old cruises easily, as recognition really doesn't cost them anything, yet happier customers are more likely and willing to spend more money and share the positive experience with others to entice onto RCL cruises.

I am like you.  I would think they would want to make us happy, but Crown and Anchor does not seem to want happy customers.  They told me I had to show them pictures and I showed them pictures with date stamps, and they would not take them.  I ended up finding the booking number from my old travel agent and they were not going to take it until I asked for a supervisor.  I tried to work with the C&A rep on my cruise last week and she was a nightmare to work with.  I left her never wanting to sail on a Royal Ship again.  I had to tell myself that is just one person; the bad thing is the entire C&A seems to be that way.  They need to do something different.

24 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

What makes it Go Green? It looks to be the same as we'd be used to minus the evening toilet cleaning.

 

But if you want to give me extra points for that, bring it on

 

 

I am guessing they are not changing towels and sheets as often.  Less laundry to do.

1 hour ago, Tret said:

Does the unlimited dining plan include Johnny rockets express? Also does it include food at bras and bock pub?

On Symphony of the Seas Johnny Rockets was on the dining plan.  On the Symphony Playmakers Bar was part of the Unlimited Dining but on the Ovation of the Seas the English Bar was not part of the Unlimited Dining.

21 minutes ago, PRMLVM said:

Can you share exactly what your envelope said?  That seems to be what is hitting you wrong.  We have cruised 3 times since Jan 2020, and have always had exactly one envelope, and it said "Tip Tip Hooray" and said it was for honoring a staff member who went above and beyond.

I did not keep the envelope or take a picture.  I did know it said, "Tip Tip Hooray".  It also said something about giving additional tip.  My family owned a restaurant and I understand tipping and I over tip most of the time because I know how hard they work.  What hit me wrong is them asking for a tip on top of the tip. 

7 hours ago, Ray said:

Envelope left on cabin bed along with statement showing any onboard spending. 

Personally i don't see it as a big deal! If you want to give extra you put it in the envelope if you don't you just ignore it. 

 

The problem I had was it was not just an envelope for tipping.  The envelope said it was for an additional tip.

This does not make sense.  I just finished my 5th cruise with 3 different cruise lines in the past year and not one envelope.  

Edit:   I just found this post that talks that it is hit and miss if you get envelops.  It is up to the Cabin Stewart.  I always give him a large extra tip at the begging of the cruise so there is no reason for him to ask for more.  Gratuity Envelopes? - Royal Caribbean Discussion - Royal Caribbean Blog

These pictures are from Symphony of the Seas Cabin 10139.  That is the last cabin on the 10th floor.  I watched the show multiple times during the week.  The high wire walkers started right next to my room.  

9 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

Were you verbally asked for extra tips or were the envelopes just left in your room?

 

I've always been given envelopes near the end of the cruise

I have not had envelopes in the room in the last 4 or 5 years.  They automatically take the Gratuities out of my onboard account and do not leave envelopes anymore.  I have seen on the message boards where people request envelopes, but I have not seen them in a very long time.   These were envelopes that has something about "Tips on Tips" They state something about they are for if you want to give additional tips on top of Gratuities.

WARNING.... make sure you put your phones on Airplane Mode.  If you don't you will connect to the Ship Cell Service as soon as you are out of port, and it will cost you dearly.  I did that once and seen a $700 phone bill.  I was able to get my cell service to split the cost with me but save yourself a lot of money and use Airplane Mode.

I just got back from an Alaska Cruise and seen something in my cabin that I have not seen before.  They left me 3 envelopes allowing/asking me for additional tips on top of the Gratuities I have already paid.  I normally give extra cash to the people that go beyond for me but this asking for an extra tip rubbed me the wrong way.

Two Questions:

1. What do you think about asking for extra tips?
2. When you have Unlimited Dining do you add an extra tip when you have dinner?

I asked while I was on my cruise this week and the person on the ship told me I just have to pay taxes and fees.  

The one thing to keep in mind is you will have 4 devices.  If one of your groups connects to their phone, then their computer that will be using 2 devices.  The account is under the name you setup then it just knows there are 4 devices, it does not care who, what and where.  This week me and my son are using 1 device and sharing it between 2 phones and one computer.  Just tell everyone to remember to sign out of their device if they are not using it.

I just booked excursions for my December 2023 cruise.  My April 2023 cruise has nothing on the site.

I am paying mine as I have extra money in my vacation fund.  It helps me control booking and paying for cruises.  When I have more than 2 cruises booked that are not paid for, I know to slow down my booking and/or vacations.

Note:  I have rean into issues that @WAAAYTOOO is talking about.  They can work it out, but it would be easier if it was not paid in full.

5 hours ago, Neole2682 said:

Wow! Seriously? Wellllll that's awesome!

Thank you so much!

On the Symphony of the Seas in February I did a lot of computer work in Playmakers.  I never seen a check there.  I did not know there was a $20 limit.  I am guessing they must have closed out one ticket and open another because I often would be there 4 or 5 hours.  Playmaker waiters would also go across to Jonny Rockets and get me burgers.  The Unlimited Dining is truly Unlimited.  I know someone on our cruise that was eating early appetizers at Jamies Italian and then go across the way and having the 16 oz ribeye for his main course.

You want to book a couple years out.  That way you always have a cruise coming up.  

When you purchase the internet, you are purchasing how many devices are connected at the same time.  If they are under your name, there is one sign on and how many devices you purchase.  If you purchase two devices, you can be signed on with your phone and your computer at the same time.  In your case you can be nice, and you sign on and your wife sign on.  If you are also using your computer, remember to sign out when you are done so it does not take up one of the devices.

When my son travels with me I just check the price for one of us having 2 devices and each having our own device.  Most of the time it is more cost effective for one person to purchase two devices. 

If you search on the Royal Caribbean website (under manage my cruise) you will be able to change dates in the search.  Use the option for Browsing and search for your cruise.  As soon as the price comes up you will be able to change dates.  The software between Celebrity and RCL are different and use different ways in finding flights.  When I call in they can be the same people.  I have used Celebrity air to book RCL flights.  They just made a change where my travel agent (Costco Travel) can book AirToSea flights.

The first thing I do is book my specialty restaurant reservations.  If you have not been on the Symphony, I would recommend walk the Royal Promenade deck 5, Boardwalk deck 6, Central Park deck 8, Flow rider area deck 16.  Then you can ride the Ultimate Abyss to deck 6 (make sure you scream on the way down).

I did a B2B (back-to-back) in February.  It was really a S2S (side to side. different ships).  The price of the cruise is the price of the cruise.  What it did get me is I flew from California to Florida and took two cruises.  I was able to cruise Western Caribbean followed by Eastern Caribbean with no hotel room or additional flight.  Royal Caribbean took care of my Covid Testing for the second cruise at no cost.  Royal Caribbean transported me from Miami to Fort Lauderdale at no cost.  I enjoyed it so much that I am looking at doing it again in December 2023 and April 2024.

I just went on a Trans-Atlantic in April and spent 3 nights in Barcelona.  I stayed at Reserve Hotel Exe Ramblas Boquería in Barcelona (eurostarshotels.co.uk) the Exe Ramblas Boqueria hotel.  The Hotel is on the La Rambla (main walking drag) and the Mercado de La Boqueria (large public market) is right behind it with entrance on both sides.  I was able to walk up the street just a little way and get to the main square to catch the Hop-On-Hop-Off bus.  I had a room that overlooked the street and enjoyed watching the crowds going all hours of the night.  The hotel has a free breakfast, but it is a European breakfast.  If you stay there there is a grocery store across the street where I was able to get waters, drinks and snacks.  I used a Taxi to get from the cruise ship to the hotel and then from the hotel to the airport.  The taxi price was not too bad, and the hotel arranged the pickup I needed for 4 am.

I like the cups for at my office.  I did not use them much on the ship but I use it all the time at work.  On the ship I got all my sodas at meals or the bar.