Peter D

I would personally keep the prepaid gratuities and still pay cash tip to room steward and bartenders. I have even be inclined to give a little extra to specialty wait staff for a job well done.

I would personally keep the prepaid gratuities and still pay cash tip to room steward and bartenders. I have even be inclined to give a little extra to specialty wait staff for a job well done.

What I did was on day 1 (while onboard), I just watched the app entry for the escape room for the 'reserve now' button to become available.  Once it did, I had no problem booking 3 of us to participate.  I do not know how many events there were throughout the week, but I can say that I saw many group of people queued at the entrance throughout the week.  If you are vigilant when the app allows booking, you should not have any issue getting a spot for the week.  good luck.

What I did was on day 1 (while onboard), I just watched the app entry for the escape room for the 'reserve now' button to become available.  Once it did, I had no problem booking 3 of us to participate.  I do not know how many events there were throughout the week, but I can say that I saw many group of people queued at the entrance throughout the week.  If you are vigilant when the app allows booking, you should not have any issue getting a spot for the week.  good luck.

It was open for our August 23 cruise.  The app access opened for our cruising late on the first day.  It was pretty fun and definitely recommend.

Oasis-
MY MIL and hubby had a casino comp in an interior cabin deck 8....it was TINY.  No couch to sit on, not even a soft chair, just a desk chair  Hubby was lucky I was in a comp in a balcony so MIL had that small room for herself.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Central Park.  I've never had a problem finding a chair and people watching.
The walking track-on Deck 5. So you are not jogging/walking in the hot sun.  It has chairs at the aft you can sit and watch  the ship's wake.
Shows:  Frozen in Time-Fantastic, Cats-you either will love it or hate it-I lliked it, Aqua Show-OUT OF THIS WORLD
Food:  Playmakers-fine, Portside BBQ-really good
Solarium-16+ very nice and has a second level with couches
Windjammer-small, no omelet station....you need to beg someone or go to the Solarium or MDR for an omelette
Blaze Comedy club 18+-reservation needed=-nice atmospher if you've ever been to the old style comedy clubs you'll appreciate it
Vitality Spa (GYM) =has protein shakes/smoothies
Rising Tide Bar
Music Hall-upstairs has a pool table.  Nice place to hang out if you want to be away from people during the day
Card Room-what a view!
Main Dining Room-3 levels that are "connected" by a Central opening.
Central Park cafe-not many are aware of it. Has the infamous roast beef sandwhich, "finger sandwhiches" eh, salad bar, dessertcase and coffee. You can get some sort of bagged potato chip from behind the counter (you must know to ask)
I'm not big on pools so I cannot address those
Why I like this ship:  Central Park, Blaze Comedy and the shows, Solarium, Deck 5 walking track, Vitality fitness center and protein shakes
What I dislike:  Windjammer

Anthem-
Interior cabin has a virtual balcony (or ensure it does) what a difference it makes!!
OV-just be careful if you book all the way forward-you will be walking all the way to the back of the ship for the windjammer and MDR.  It's a LONG walk, especialy when you forget something and have to go back...I'm sure the same can be said for Oasis but I didn't make that mistake on Oasis!
Northstar-wow!!
Two70-I can honestly say, I don't find it to be as great as others say. Very limited seating. Sightline to the show from the back sucks (yet makes it easy to walk out when you discover you do not like the show)
Shows:  Spectre CAberet-very differnt-1st time I left in 10 minutes, 2nd time I swore I would sit thhrough it and I was more intersted in watching people leave-(I had the bad sight line in the back of the room), The Gift-I liked it, We will Rock You-AWESOME but long!!
Windjammer-is larger-has omelet stations
Music Hall-feels larger. There is a pool table upstairs here as well.
Main Dining Room, is 4 seperate dining rooms
Cafe 270-not many people know about it.  It has the infamous roast beef sandwhich, some decent selections of "finger sandwhiches", and a salad bar as well as a desert case and coffee.  Bagged Chips are available behind the salad bar, you have to know to ask.
Why I like this ship:  nooks and crannies you can sit in, shows (minus Spectre), Solarium and while I did not get into the specialty dining Jamie's Italian I felt was better than Giovanni's on Oasis-Windjammer has omelets
What I dislike:  it feels so much longer than Oasis, making walks from Two70 to the back of the ship feel like it will never end.

There is so much more on these 2 ships too!



 

 

What is particularly interesting is it seems that only wait staff does this.  I do not ever remember a room steward ever mention it.  Of course, bar staff never says much of anything.  Maybe there is something to the whole script thoughts and wait staff (dining rooms) was selected to be the messenger.  Honestly, as I think of it, it is probably the cruise director that should give a 'survey is important' spiel.
Maybe we need our own passenger pre-emptive spiel.  " I know the end of cruise survey is important and if your service is worth a 10, then I will give a 10, but do not ask for it."  (of course, this approach is only partially in jest) 😜
Sadly, I will have to wait until May2023 before I get another survey.😢

What is particularly interesting is it seems that only wait staff does this.  I do not ever remember a room steward ever mention it.  Of course, bar staff never says much of anything.  Maybe there is something to the whole script thoughts and wait staff (dining rooms) was selected to be the messenger.  Honestly, as I think of it, it is probably the cruise director that should give a 'survey is important' spiel.
Maybe we need our own passenger pre-emptive spiel.  " I know the end of cruise survey is important and if your service is worth a 10, then I will give a 10, but do not ask for it."  (of course, this approach is only partially in jest) 😜
Sadly, I will have to wait until May2023 before I get another survey.😢

What is particularly interesting is it seems that only wait staff does this.  I do not ever remember a room steward ever mention it.  Of course, bar staff never says much of anything.  Maybe there is something to the whole script thoughts and wait staff (dining rooms) was selected to be the messenger.  Honestly, as I think of it, it is probably the cruise director that should give a 'survey is important' spiel.
Maybe we need our own passenger pre-emptive spiel.  " I know the end of cruise survey is important and if your service is worth a 10, then I will give a 10, but do not ask for it."  (of course, this approach is only partially in jest) 😜
Sadly, I will have to wait until May2023 before I get another survey.😢

I just completed my Oasis of the Seas survey.  Overall, we had a great time, and my survey responses reflect it.  However, I always hesitate on one question.
'Has any cruise member requested a positive rating, and if so... who?"  I never really know how I should answer this question.  My experience over the years is that we always have at least one crew member does in fact says something like 'remember, you will be getting a survey and it is very important that you provide your feedback, but my manager considers anything less than 10, a failure".   
I never answer the survey question 'yes', because I don't really want to throw anyone under the bus... but should I? 
Do the crew members know that this question is on the survey?  If so, why do they still request a 10?
Am I doing a disservice to all, by not 'reporting' the crew member?  Anecdotally, it is almost always dining room waiters/asst waiters that even mention the surveys and comment on it.
 
What are some other thoughts on this? 

I just completed my Oasis of the Seas survey.  Overall, we had a great time, and my survey responses reflect it.  However, I always hesitate on one question.
'Has any cruise member requested a positive rating, and if so... who?"  I never really know how I should answer this question.  My experience over the years is that we always have at least one crew member does in fact says something like 'remember, you will be getting a survey and it is very important that you provide your feedback, but my manager considers anything less than 10, a failure".   
I never answer the survey question 'yes', because I don't really want to throw anyone under the bus... but should I? 
Do the crew members know that this question is on the survey?  If so, why do they still request a 10?
Am I doing a disservice to all, by not 'reporting' the crew member?  Anecdotally, it is almost always dining room waiters/asst waiters that even mention the surveys and comment on it.
 
What are some other thoughts on this? 

Totally agree.  If it is a pass/fail situation, tell the customer.  It's natural to think a 9 is a really great score.  Any person giving someone a 9 would not expect that their experience would result in the target being in trouble.  They would be better off using Net Promoter Score where essentially you take your % of 9's and 10's and subtract from that your % of 0-6 (ignore 7's and 8's).  Then consumers could complete the survey without worry and the staff wouldn't feel like they need to inform us that they are in trouble for anything less than a 10.

To my opinion this is an issue created by RCL.
I regular survey people tend to give 8 and 9 as good score an 10 for exceptional. If RCL consider a  9 or 8 to be a problematic score there should explain it in the beginning of the survey or in the CC otherwise they almost force the crew members to explain it ...
 
 
 

I just completed my Oasis of the Seas survey.  Overall, we had a great time, and my survey responses reflect it.  However, I always hesitate on one question.
'Has any cruise member requested a positive rating, and if so... who?"  I never really know how I should answer this question.  My experience over the years is that we always have at least one crew member does in fact says something like 'remember, you will be getting a survey and it is very important that you provide your feedback, but my manager considers anything less than 10, a failure".   
I never answer the survey question 'yes', because I don't really want to throw anyone under the bus... but should I? 
Do the crew members know that this question is on the survey?  If so, why do they still request a 10?
Am I doing a disservice to all, by not 'reporting' the crew member?  Anecdotally, it is almost always dining room waiters/asst waiters that even mention the surveys and comment on it.
 
What are some other thoughts on this? 

I just completed my Oasis of the Seas survey.  Overall, we had a great time, and my survey responses reflect it.  However, I always hesitate on one question.
'Has any cruise member requested a positive rating, and if so... who?"  I never really know how I should answer this question.  My experience over the years is that we always have at least one crew member does in fact says something like 'remember, you will be getting a survey and it is very important that you provide your feedback, but my manager considers anything less than 10, a failure".   
I never answer the survey question 'yes', because I don't really want to throw anyone under the bus... but should I? 
Do the crew members know that this question is on the survey?  If so, why do they still request a 10?
Am I doing a disservice to all, by not 'reporting' the crew member?  Anecdotally, it is almost always dining room waiters/asst waiters that even mention the surveys and comment on it.
 
What are some other thoughts on this? 

Option 2 is better in that even if you have to 'kick off' a device, the log in will ask permission to do so.   It's definitely better to get the multiple devices for one person.  For example, in my upcoming Symphony cruise, I checked and 1 person-3 devices is same prices as 2-person-1 device.  Best to decide how many devices you want to use and try to do it under 1 person. 
Hope these comments help. 

Also, congratulations to your mother for achieving Pinnacle Club!

Yes. 
Pinnacle members were never banned from CK but during the initial six to eight months of the restart Pinnacle members required reservations to dine in CK.  
In certain circumstances such as transatlantics sailings when there are typically several hundred Pinnacle on board they will often limit Pinnacle to two dinners in CK for the voyage as a means to ensure suite guests have fair access.  As long as your sailing doesn't have excessive numbers of Pinnacles on board your mother will be able to join you.    
During the initial six to eight months of the restart Pinnacle members were banned from the Suite Lounge.  That was different from CK access.  Perhaps your mother is getting Suite Lounge access confused with CK access.  Suite Lounge access for Pinnacle members was restored on March 15, 2022.  
You should have no issues inviting your mother to dine with you if you are in a full suite.  Just have her cabin number available when making CK reservations.
I am Pinnacle and have enjoyed many CK meals over the past 12 months.
Here was the announcement from Feb 28, 2022 when Pinnacle were invited back into the Suite Lounge.

 
 

We will be in Allure in a few months in a Grande Suite.  I’ve never been in a suite on an Oasis Class ship and therefore never had the opportunity to experience Coastal Kitchen.  Since we are strictly specialty restaurant type cruisers, I am curious if Coastal Kitchen is the same quality as the specialty restaurants.  Wondering if we even need the unlimited dining package on our cruise.
If anyone can chime in who has experienced both I would really appreciate it.
 
Have a great day!

On several occasions, my family of 5 had tried many of the spacious staterooms on Freedom class.  We tried interior on deck 2 (2309), Ultra spacious ocean view (9200/9500) and the spacious promenade stateroom (7307/7607 and 8307/8607).  By far, the promenade ones worked out best for us.  These were quite nice from a location perspective (mid ship) and accommodation perspective (large room with a bunk room).  It was also nice as we used the promenade windows as a 'sign system' to let the rest of family know who was in the room... my youngest daughter also put a 'bring cookies' sign in the window.  🙂 
While these days, the two room connecting balconies is probably preferred, we did enjoy these staterooms and promenade specifically quite a bit.

Jamaica is a place where I'd want to stick to providers screened by Royal or some other well-known travel organization. (High unemployment/crime rate.)  We did take an excursion that drove us to a scenic mountain site and also took us to a shopping venue.  We spent most of our time on a bus.  I don't know what is available right now, but most ports offer a drive-around excursion.

I am not sure that Independence of the Seas has show reservations, but if they do, then you are correct, reservations are done through the app once onboard.  Even if they do have reservations, and you do not make them, you can still show up at the shows at showtime and they open up seating to those without reservations.

Still a crystal ball question.  
My best guess is that they will see how the initial changes impact cruises and based on results they'll either continue easing protocols or hold the line.  
Perhaps a refundable deposit booking would lock in rates but give them an out should the signs not look good in the fall.  

"As of April 1, 2022, pre-entry tests are no longer required for fully vaccinated travellers entering Canada by land, air or water. You must still use ArriveCAN within 72 hours before your arrival to Canada."  
Travel to Canada: Requirements for COVID-19 vaccinated travellers
The 72-hour PCR test or 1 day antigen test is for unvaccinated children 5 and older.  The 2 Day testing is the standard Royal Caribbean requirement for fully vaccinated passengers to board a ship.
I have been very excited for my May Vancouver to Alaska cruise but dealing with requirements to enter Canada are a drag.  If this goes smoothly, I'll be very surprised.

For me, its the exact opposite.
I've done 5 cruises since July 2021 and have one final shutdown/FCC/lift-shift related cruise happening in August and then nothing else booked until mid 2023.  Over the last few post cruise surveys, I have shared my thoughts to Royal on the protocols/requirements and that this August cruise will be my last cruise while the protocols are in place.  I currently have two booked in 2023 and one booked in 2024, but I have had enough of it all and will not go on them if protocols are still in place.  I certainly hope things change sooner than later.