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lildawgscottFL

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lildawgscottFL last won the day on February 20 2016

lildawgscottFL had the most liked content!

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About lildawgscottFL

  • Birthday January 24

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    steinscott1

Profile Information

  • Gender
    Male
  • Location
    Clermont, Florida
  • Interests
    Travel Enthusiast, Cruise Addict, Harley-Davidson Biker, Labrador Lover, Foodie, Scotch Fanatic, Beer Snob, and Happily Married for 24 Years!

    Booked:

    25-Aug-2017 Majesty Of The Seas 3-Night Bahamas
    04-Dec-2017 Majesty Of The Seas 4-Night Bahamas
    20-Jan-2019 Oasis Of The Seas Western Caribbean

    Previous:

    14-Apr-2017 Navigator Of The Seas 9-Night Southern Caribbean
    14-Jan-2017 Harmony Of The Seas 7-Night Western Caribbean
    08-Feb-2016 Enchantment Of The Seas 4-Night Bahamas
    18-Oct-2015 Freedom Of The Seas 7-Night Eastern Caribbean
    14-Sep-2013 Oasis Of The Seas 7-Night Western Caribbean
    03-Sep-2007 Sovereign Of The Seas 4-Night Bahamas
    24-Mar-2007 Legend Of The Seas 7-Night Western Caribbean
    When I was very, very young, the family went on some NCL ship. I have no idea where, when, what, etc. It was 35+/- years ago.

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  1. You said the above, but you also said "I never had that “omg I’m on a cruise” excitement, and I wasn’t even sad to pack up and head home " - and that's why I'm nervous! How can I set my expectations any lower than "omg I'm on a cruise" - that's the whole point! If it doesn't make me feel something exciting, then I will remain loyal to Royal.
  2. Thanks, Kristen! That was quite an effort you put forth for us! I'm even more concerned now about my upcoming NCL cruise.
  3. I would have polished off the bottle! The drink package + single-malt scotch = heavenly indulgence!!
  4. What they said ^^^ Navigator is the "no brainer" option! Especially if you're a newbie! Enchantment is more subdued (aka less to do, older crowd), but it is still wonderful for a "seasoned" cruiser. The Navigator-class and Freedom-class ships are, for me, the sweet spot between getting a whole lot for your money while not spending a lot of your money (a la Oasis-class and Quantum-class). It will be a big win for you!
  5. Could not agree more! And, it is absolutely not cynical. You are simply being objective and merely reflecting the unfortunate reality of a certain percentage of people. We see it every day, regrettably. On the flip side, we also have coworkers who are true teammates - people I tip share with willingly and enthusiastically. And, I have seen people like that working together on Royal. That is when you know you have found a great bar!
  6. @FManke confirmed: they only share with each other - no longer do they share with other bars (as per the lead bartender at 270 on Anthem)
  7. I remember once I was told by the R Bar lead bartender on Freedom about how the tip sharing worked on board. He said a few different bars all shared together. However, the last cruise I was on (Navigator), that R Bar lead bartender told me that was not the case for them. She said they only share with each other - not other bars. I have a message into one of my friends, who is a lead bartender on Anthem at 270, to gather more information for you.
  8. I am sorry. I really was not aiming at anyone in particular or meaning to offend. I do understand that "rude" angle and I feel that is a problem with cocktail service in the MDR. You are 100% correct. Personally, I will not leave the table to get a drink. I will either bring one with me or wait until dinner is over. It is unfortunate, but that is the reality of cocktail service in the MDR. Again, I apologize if you thought I was calling you out specifically.
  9. Sorry for my delay. I had taken quite some time to write you a lengthy reply on 08/10, but it got deleted and I got pissed off about it, so I closed the browser and left the room! I apologize that I have not gotten back to you until today. To make a long reply short, I am not a fan of the upfront, large tip. A little extra on Day 1, just to show them you're serious? Okay, I get that. But, not the whole week's worth in one shot. Besides, you need to shop around for the best bar and bartenders. It could take a little time to discover that. Just remember that, like branding, repetition is key. They may get all excited on Day 1 with a big tip, but the emotion wears off. Give them a medium tip and then continue to tip throughout, and you will get better service. You need to keep hope alive! Keep them guessing, "Will this be a small one or the big kahuna!?" It is the basic Pavlovian response! If you do not drink alcohol, how does your generosity toward a bartender benefit you? What is your end game?
  10. Speaking as one in the industry.... NEVER USE A COCKTAIL SERVER!!! Granted, that is an overgeneralization, but for the most part, it is true. (That includes the MDR.) First, they are slower. Three reasons for that: they are not the ones making your drink the bartender making the cocktail servers' drinks will always prioritize the guest sitting directly in front of him or her over the guest he or she cannot see at the cocktail server's table; the cocktail server has to walk around the lounge, pool deck, etc. while the bartender has everything he or she needs at his or her immediate disposal; the cocktail server can only visit one table at a time, whereas the bartender can make several guests' drinks at one time, especially if the guests order the same cocktails. Second, cocktail servers are almost always less capable, which is why they are still servers and not yet bartenders. Sometimes, that is not their fault. They may be new or young or just have not been trained yet. However, I like the pros! Bartenders are usually the pros! And again, that, too, is a generalization. I have met my share of crappy bartenders. However, on the whole, servers work their way UP to become bartenders. Thus, by the nature of that merit-based system, bartenders will typically be better than cocktail servers. Third, cocktail servers do not make your cocktails. That may seem obvious, but most people do not even consider that fact. Thus, they have no control as regards the final product's quality. As much as the company (in this case, Royal) wants there to be 100% consistency between every drink at every bar on every ship, we all know that is an impossible standard for many reasons. At the end of the day, all you care about is your own personal drink - it had better be the best it can be! (let other people get bad drinks ) The way to ensure that you get a great drink is to bond with a bartender. DO NOT MISTAKE ME HERE. Tipping helps, but if you are a jerk, you will likely still get a bad drink. Remember, bartenders are people first, bartenders second - treat them as such. They are not slaves. They make a choice to be there. They can make a choice not to be. So treat them with respect. And then also tip them well! Just because you have the drink package, does not mean you will get the best drinks. Someone who tips well can make not having the drink package go a long way. Additionally, I do not merely want the best quality drinks; I also want the best service. I want to skip the line. I want them to remember my name. I want them bending over backward to make sure I am happy. And so on. There is only so much a cocktail server can do. A bartender, on the other hand, can have a significant impact on your cruise vacation - particularly if that bartender is also the lead bartender. (Pro Tip: learn who the lead bartender is very early on in your cruise. They know things!) Fourth (and final for now), unless you are sitting far away from the bar and have a good reason not to get up (broken foot, etc.), get your lazy butt up! On every ship I have been on, the bar is never too far away. Hmm? It is like Royal planned it that way. The bar is a very social place - both with the bartenders and with your fellow guests. It is a cruise! Do not isolate and insulate yourself - mingle! Make it a party! Make memories! Make lifelong cruise friends! It is much harder to do that from your lounge chair, your MDR table, or your theater chair. The Europeans have the pub culture figured out. They got it right! So do as they do and mozy up to the bar - your cruise vacation will be better off for it in countless ways. And leave the MDR for dining!
  11. bingo! nail on the head! tail on the donkey! (insert cliche here)!
  12. Hey girl, hey! No way! DRF was so much fun!!! Yes, it's true, it's jamming with people. Yes, it's true, they're trying to sell you stuff you don't want at every turn. BUT! It's a memory I'll have forever!! After all, how often can you climb a waterfall? https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B41VaJKWq_l0NC0zd3RVNjZqQ0k/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B41VaJKWq_l0TWwzbzFJMEptcG8/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B41VaJKWq_l0T25JS201NmlVSGc/view?usp=sharing
  13. Jack Daniels is the McDonald's of booze - it's ubiquitous, it's reasonably priced, it tastes fine, but nothing to write home about, and it's got brand recognition. Thus, every bar carries it, just like they all carry Johnny Black and Smirnoff and Bacardi. Unfortunately, it's not the bars' fault - it is the fault of the uneducated consumer. Hence, I drink Jack when they have nothing else available, and Smirnoff and Bacardi - NEVER JWB!!! Yuck!
  14. If I ever found Ardbeg Uigeadail, I'd be in heaven! I did find Talisker Storm though on Harmony (or maybe Navigator). But, it's like you're alluding to, make friends with the bartenders! They can find things that they can hide away just for you. My R Bar staff was the best and they did that for me!
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