Last Lion

Glad someone finally mentioned the concierge. It is like having your own guest services/maître de available with no lineup. They have smoothed out numerous issues in the past for us. Royal seems to put some of their best people in that role.

That plus the opportunity to meet other frequent cruisers are the best benefits of the D lounge.

 

 

 

Interesting question.

Just out of interest, when it comes to choosing specialty dining times, do you:

1. Prefer early, mid or late times?

2. Prefer sea days or shore days?

3. Prefer early in the cruise or later?

For me the answers would be early, sea days, later in cruise.

Are kids required to eat off the kid’s menu? 
That would be inhuman.
No, they get a plate like everyone else.

20% off all spa services for Diamond and above.

Am I correct to assume this can only be applied to on board spa reservations?

Essentially, it just about cancels about the 18% gratuity expected?

My experience on two deck dining is that traditional is always on the lower deck and MTD is top deck with some overflow on the lower deck.

Has anyone experienced different?

 

Whatever Royal does, they better do it rapidly. MSC is very aggressive and very well funded.

First off, I have never had a bad meal on Royal. A couple of times sent back steak for more (or less) time on the grill. That’s it.

I have a theory why my experience has been so enjoyable.

We always have traditional dining at the earliest possible time- 5-5:30.

Being first up to bat so to speak does this mean the food is fresher, less reheated, and cooked under less time constraints than the hurly-burly food delivery of later in the evening?

What do you think?

 

Norway is the world’s 8th largest oil exporter and the 3rd largest natural gas exporter.

Yet they are as fussy as a poodle about emissions from a few cruise ships.

Bit hypocritical don’t you think?

Both classes provide the “classic” cruise ship experience. I have sailed on six of the eight ships.

Not obsessing on it, but going for the clean sweep in the next couple of years.

Did Empress & Majesty in their last year with the company- although we did not know it at the time.

 

 Dockworkers have made an exception for cruise ships. Ops normal.

Four on the books in 2023 and 2024. Two Royal, two Princess. 39 days worth.

Psychologically,  there is something very, very groovy about having things to look forward too.

 

 

 

Oh my. How can anyone spend a week at sea without craps? That would hurt wouldn’t it!?!

I will second you on the Radiance Samba Grill.The best specialty dining I have ever experienced. Once you find the place!

I talked to some of the staff on board as to why only two ships have the grill. The general thought was it hasn’t been profitable. Costs too high unless they really significantly jack up the price.

 

They are factually incorrect as well.

Princess Crown Grill is $39 per person, up $10 since February.

Royal Chops is $49.99 including the always available pre-cruise 10% off.

The price difference between the two is $11, not $50.

No facts, no credibility.

 

Grand Mariner soufflé! Yes sir!

The previous post strikes home. Cruising seems to be splitting into two channels- all the bells and whistles- generally family oriented- and the quieter, more traditional sea-going experience.

Personally, we would utilize both for different family situations. But it does seem that Royal charges a fair bit more for the bells and whistle ships.

I would really hate to see the more laid back cruise experience disappear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have tried all the major cruise lines except HAL and DCL.

D+ benefits are excellent. We use them all. Often the only items on the bill at the end of the cruise are gratuities and 1/2 of a specialty dinner.

Suits us to a tee. Is RC perfect? Nope. Does their outstanding loyalty program plus large fleet (ergo multiple itineraries) cancel out the imperfections? Yup.

 

 

Geez I’m very sorry to hear about these circumstances. It sounds like your group handled it exceedingly well.

I ‘m glad there were no long term consequences. 

VOTS was a little behind on things throughout that cruise.

Thankfully Covid seems to be in the rear view mirror now.

Hey Who guy! I was on VOTS a couple of years ago when the Who convention was on. Over the course of the week, you Who-ites became harder to find. Rumour was possible Covid. Was that true? 
 

 

That menu is a heck of a lot better than any B2B menu I have seen.

Sigh. We are talking the same kitchen serving the same dining room at the exact same time.

”Those people who left” - 75% of B2Bers- voted with their feet that the offering was unacceptable to them after seeing the menu.

Let’s not denigrate the commitment passengers make when they pay for B2B cruises. For most this means two weeks of vacation used for example.

Providing a lunch on turnaround day is the only linkage between the two cruises. The only recognition of appreciation given a “double” customer.

All I am saying is therefore make the meal reasonable. Not the tiniest menu you will ever see in a cruise ship.

Didn’t take a picture but as I said only about Five items total. As a point of reference, the new MDR dinner menu has a total of 19 items nightly.

No jealously here. Just pointing out that simultaneously in the MDR they are serving two different menus. This seems impractical if nothing else.

Two weeks ago. B2B. 52 of us. Approx. 12 went in for the B2B lunch at 1130. Nine walked out on seeing the menu. 

Meanwhile, as I said above, 40 feet away in the MDR at the same time Key folks were enjoying a nice Chops like lunch.

Is it really too much to ask that loyal B2Bers be offered the same meal?

 

 

They offer you a B2B lunch in the MDR after you get back in at 1130. Don’t go there.

Sounds like something special like the Chops Lunch Key members get. After all, aren’t you proving how loyal to Royal you are by buying two cruises in a row?

The lunch is rubbish. About five items total as I recall (two appetizers, two mains, one dessert). Almost insulting to offer it. While simultaneously in the other half of the dining room the Key members are eating very well!

 

 

 

Thank-you Cactus! Excellent information. Canaveral is tricky because of the time/ distance to MCO. This tour fits the bill.