Riley

RC does not always update - I check with the web site of whichever Government Health Department I'm going to (just checked online yesterday I don't need a test any more to enter Canada...) Though you always need your Sea Pass card to enter/exit at port, some ports also do require an ID.  I've never seen them check at Cozumel but I usually have it available anyway. It's a great use for that expired driver's license.

150 on Wonder was spectacular. Highly recommend.

Quick note: in Mallorca the Hop On-Hop Off bus stops right outside the terminal exit (look for the red sidewalk stand across the street when you go out the doors) but it can be a LONG walk from the ship to the terminal exit, depending on where the assigned berth is. 

16 hours ago, twangster said:

I was charged for jeans this past summer.  

Oh DUDE that is unfortunate. Sofry to hear.

1 hour ago, twangster said:

It depends.  What are you laundering?  How much clean laundry do you have to live on while dirty laundry is out being cleaned?

I get some free laundry courtesy of my status with Crown and Anchor (CAS).  That includes socks, t-shirts, underwear, shorts.  The free laundry doesn't include things like long pants and dress shirts.   The two category of items are handled differently. 

I tend to utilize the free service with 3 days remaining since it can take 2 days for the free laundry to be returned. I like one day of safety buffer.  Then on cruise #2 it's time for more free laundry earlier in the cruise.  That gets me through for the items that are free.

The paid laundry is usually next day service but there often is no break for multiple items so no advantage to waiting and gathering a bunch of stuff like with free CAS laundry items. 

If I bring 3 pairs of long pants I can have one in the laundry while two are in my possession.  By the time one comes back, it's time to send another out.  I sometimes only wear long pants at night to dinner then I put shorts back on after dinner, so I can wear them a second time on another night unless it's been a hot and sweaty sort of night, then no second use.  Consequently paid items have a different cycle compared to those items I get for free through my CAS perks.

I wouldn't trust the RC Laundry service with dress shirts, but you can absolutely send long pants (as well as jeans) in as part of the C&A freebie. I know they don't list them on the sheet so I just write in "pants, 1 pair" (or whatever) in the blank space.  Never had a problem or received pushback. 

Thanksgiving is also an American-only holiday (at least on that date)...  but they do have a specialty dinner in the MDR that features Turkey.

We stayed at the Hotel Continental and enjoyed it.  Right on the Rambla, an easy cab ride anywhere in the city (my recollection is it was about $12 to the Gaudi cathedral area) with nice rooms and a complimentary 24-hour of "heavy snacks" (salads, cold chicken legs, cured meats and cheeses, hard-boiled eggs, oatmeal or cereal, toast and jam, etc. depending on the time of day) and drinks (coffee, tea, juices, soda, still and sparkling water, and a local beer on tap) with which we were able to make quite decent meals.

It was comfortable, clean and they have a tiny sitting area overlooking the Rambla which - if you can get the space - is a wonderful place to sit with a glass of beer and watch Barcelona stroll by.  It was also quite cost-effective, especially with food included.

You can bring back cases of booze (though good luck if you're flying) - you just have to pay the duty on it. Similar to when I was in college and we'd drive to Canada for decent beer... travelers have to stay overnight to trigger the duty-free exemption. We would drive across the bridge, buy a few cases, drive back and declare at customs what we'd just done. About $4 later we would be headed home with our cases of Brador.

8 hours ago, instaGator said:

Me too.  I might have to make (and bring) my own personalized Out Catching Thrills magnet.

Great idea! We are very careful to move our magnet when we enter or leave the cabin so the attendant knows when we are in/out. I also make sure on Day 1 that they know when our dinner time is - the easier I make it for them, the more service we seem to get.  

How do you check? 

You'll have a terrific time! If you can, fly in a couple of days ahead of time, as Barcelona is worth a day of exploration. NOTE: if you want to see the interior of Gaudi's famous cathedral, get ticket sin advance... if you can't get inside it's still worth walking around the outside, and there is a park and reflecting pool across the street that is truly pleasant. Stay near or on the Rambla and take taxis around - they are inexpensive and easy.

Sept 2023 tour - two of the three ports have shore excursions listed.

27 minutes ago, WAYNO said:

Update...  Royal no longer is allowing my Wife and I to share points.  We don't always cruise together, so they have taken away any points, from both of us, if we didn't earn them together in the same cabin.  On our latest cruise, my Wife booked a room separate from me, so we could bring family along.  She is not given credit for my room, nor do I get credit for her room.  Bottom line, in the stroke of a keyboard, they've taken 14 points away from me.     I'm tired.  They win.

Fighting the good fight is tough!

If I am reading your note correctly, you booked two cabins, so each of you should have gotten your individual points. You would not have also gotten each others' points - a 7-day cruise would result in 7 points if you shared a cabin with another person (regardless of whether it was your wife or not) or 14 points if you sailed solo. BUT you would not have gotten your wife's points added. Status is determined by whichever spouse has a greater number of points - the Dearly Beloved has more points so I get to use her status (even if I'm solo) BUT if I am solo the points awarded accrue to me, not to her. Does that make sense?

1) Liquor laws vary by state - I do not have to provide multiple IDs when I order multiple drinks in Illinois. Also in Illinois bar tenders can legally drink on the job. No, it is NOT the (only) reason I moved here.

2) As others have said, diamond etc. vouchers can be used in any variation, including buying multiple drinks at the same time. Inside the Diamond Lounge they used to check that people getting the drinks were also D on up as part of transitioning from Happy Hour to e-vouchers loaded on our cards, but the last several cruises? No. 

3) It ALWAYS helps to tip your bar tenders and stick with the same ones.  Yes, they are careful to use jiggers when pouring drinks, except for "Oh, this bottle is almost empty anyway" (welp, it is now) or "I'm swamped and that looks like a double to me" (it was about a quadruple) or "you wanted a floater, didn't you? I distinctly remember you ordering one". Or even "Why Riley, you still have six drinks on your card today. Would you like another drink?"

I know Valpo is a Celebrity port, so maybe it's another glitch. I'd LOVE LOVE LOVE to be able to do more cruising in South America.

My iPad has fit into each safe on all the RC ships so far - it's an iPad Air (several years old) and I have it in a Logitech carry case/keyboard. Sometimes I really have to jiggle and angle, but it's aways fit.

Agree with both the handwashing and the "sanitize before eating" option... depending on how close the nearest sink is, the DB and I take turns washing our hands an extra time AFTER we've gotten all our food but before we unroll the cutlery and sit down to eat.

For Transatlantic cruises there is usually an ATM that dispenses Euros. Alternately, Guest Services can change money, though you a) pay an unfavorable exchange rate and b) they usually cap it at $50 or $100 per cabin. 

On 3/7/2023 at 9:19 AM, barjpoe said:

Sounds like the D+ free drinks wouldn't be available either

 

Depending on what you're drinking, you can always load up ahead of time. We use the paper covers from the bathroom tumblers to keep glasses of wine of booze "fresh" from the night before...

Laundry is included in the fare (not booked but I have longingly read everything including the fine print) but - depending on which leg - Visas would be interesting to coordinate.  

I have had chicken bites, fish and fries on Ovation and never paid.

Enjoy "Ovation" and as a note, most of the offerings at the "Fish and Ships" snack bar are complimentary, even if it's listed as cost-plus on the app.... their lobster roll and a couple other items cost more, but their fried fish, fried chicken bits and chips are free and good for a mid-day snack.

Yep - I have negotiated quite close to departure but they simply offered the difference as onboard credit. It wasn't a big drop (think the difference ended up being $111) so I was fine with that.

Seattle Express Shuttle picked us up from our hotel and got us to the terminal in great order.  The vehicles are small buses and pick up from various hotels in the area for about $20 per person (I bought a round trip ticket for airport dropoff at the end and don't recall if that was one way or RT). They did a terrific job and for small parties I recommend them.