lildawgscottFL

We went to it last year when we were on our honeymoon. I didn't think it was worth the money. The show was stupid. You just sat and watched and was not part of the show at all till the end when you were able to ask questions. I wouldn't do it and stay with your kids.

The next one. :D

Hello, my name is Brandon and i am a newbie to this forum and to cruising in general. I just wanted to say hello to everyone here, and that this forum seems like a pretty cool place with lots of knowledge and great people. My mother took my on my first cruise this winter and i had an absolute blast, I had the best time of my entire life. I was invited into the Club Royale VIP and also was handed a free cruise for two on my last evening, which i thought was very cool of RC. I am getting ready for my next cruise that will be leaving in late April 2016. Thanks.
Semper Fi.

Of course I tipped! :angry: Put that coffee back in your mouth, sir!  ;)  First, there was an 18% gratuity added to the bill. Second, I almost always leave cash. The bartenders like it better. Third, that receipt was from BEFORE I purchased the drink package. Once I did buy the package, I would put out our two room cards and some cash IMMEDIATELY, so they'd know they were about to get money on top of the included gratuity.
 
Nothing gives bub! Don't you have a bar you're supposed to be at! :P

Yes as you're buying the bottle as opposed to sharing a drink from the package.  Great question to ask, though!

According to the very definition you quoted, sir, a gratuity is "an additional charge placed for services rendered." Your opinion of Royal's business practices may be valid, but do not take your grudge out on the server/bartender. Protesting by not tipping does not hurt Royal - it hurts the crew member. Moreover, the practice of tipping ensures the highest quality of service. If there were no tips, the servers/bartenders would do just enough to not get fired. It is a capitalistic model that rewards productivity and punishes the lack thereof. All I am hearing from your argument is a justification to withhold from someone something that they rightfully earned. If you want to withhold, withhold from cruising until Royal changes their policy. Or, if it is a matter of not being able to afford the gratuity, then perhaps affording a cruise is beyond your means as well. Call tipping by whatever name you wish, but do not call it unjustified. These people work hard (for the most part) and earn the money. What is out of control is the belief that one deserves anything. Everything in life is earned - including the service you receive on a Royal Caribbean ship. If there is no fair value exchange, then you are simply robbing the server of his/her service, and that is morally corrupt.

Of course I tipped! :angry: Put that coffee back in your mouth, sir!  ;)  First, there was an 18% gratuity added to the bill. Second, I almost always leave cash. The bartenders like it better. Third, that receipt was from BEFORE I purchased the drink package. Once I did buy the package, I would put out our two room cards and some cash IMMEDIATELY, so they'd know they were about to get money on top of the included gratuity.
 
Nothing gives bub! Don't you have a bar you're supposed to be at! :P

Yes, but Scott made the point that we should be doing a additional tip. Not sure if that recipt was a package or not but he argued under a package you should tip extra due to the amount your drinking. The more they serve the more they work. So if there's a cap on their tips under the package we should tip extra because of the high volume of drinks they are making for us.I agree with his point, I'm not saying he's wrong. I just wanted to call him on it because he made some compelling arguments on why we should tip extra, really im just playing with him.

The receipt has an automatic gratuity applied already to it. Look up near the subtotal.

Just got back yesterday from the Oasis and it was 57.82 per day.  I ordered every frozen drink I could think of and several I was introduced to several new ones.  At about $12 per drink it doesn't take long to get your money's worth out of the drink package.

Welcome aboard, Todd!!! :D B)

I met up with Billy for a scotch lesson (he's a scotch nut), tried some woody ones and some burnt tasting ones. They were good, he would never let me try the same one twice, always needed to try a new one.
Him and his wife called Royal to see what the scotch selection was only to be disappointed.
But once on board they found some of their favorats in the Champagne Bar, which made them very happy.

Yes, the drinks are charged at regular bar pricing just like in the main dining room.  Of course, if you have purchased one of the beverage packages, that will work here.

Caipirinhas are amazing. There's a Cuban restaurant in DC where that's a tradition for us.
 
Please tell me you don't like Scotch because it's so close to Scott. ;)

Does that mean you'll be updating your profile picture with you in the theater in a white t-shirt, jeans, and slicked back hair and the queen in a poodle skirt? ;)

Usually I'm a Whisky man - Scotch Whisky to be precise. On board, however, I simply cannot resist the Death By Chocolate Collins at the R Bar. I also have a Caipirinha tradition at Boleros. I must have at a least one Caipirinha per cruise. A new tradition is to have a Pina Colada made with Malibu, to be enjoyed in the Solarium hot tub! Preferably, we like to have it on boarding day before anyone else finds out about the Solarium hot tub. If we can be relaxing and imbibing before noon, we've won! Also, Scotch. Did I mention Scotch? ;-)

Just FYI, my wife uploaded the Cruise Compass we got from Enchantment just last week. Matt has already posted it on his blog. You can see some, if not all, of what may be your entertainment options. And, for the record, while it wasn't quite as thrilling as Oasis class entertainment, it was nevertheless fabulous! We loved every bit of it! Still, I can't wait to get on Harmony next January! Grease is the word!

The Queen isn't a derogatory or condescending term. She is the Queen of our castle. She even bought a plaque for our wall (yes, she bought it) which reads...
 
"When the Queen is happy, there is peace in the kingdom."
 
Believe me, I wish we were equals. At least she's a benevolent ruler.

Just FYI, my wife uploaded the Cruise Compass we got from Enchantment just last week. Matt has already posted it on his blog. You can see some, if not all, of what may be your entertainment options. And, for the record, while it wasn't quite as thrilling as Oasis class entertainment, it was nevertheless fabulous! We loved every bit of it! Still, I can't wait to get on Harmony next January! Grease is the word!

Just FYI, my wife uploaded the Cruise Compass we got from Enchantment just last week. Matt has already posted it on his blog. You can see some, if not all, of what may be your entertainment options. And, for the record, while it wasn't quite as thrilling as Oasis class entertainment, it was nevertheless fabulous! We loved every bit of it! Still, I can't wait to get on Harmony next January! Grease is the word!

Premium Package is only 49$/day company wide.  In the US anyways.  With gratuity, it is just over 57$/day.  Well worth it IMO.  

Just go to their website: http://www.soualigadestinations.com/soualiga_destinations/Welcome.html

The 14th

Well, add another one for us! We may be addicted. Harmony, Jan 2017.

This is the review I posted on TripAdvisor for Soualiga Destinations Boat Tours in St. Maarten

**********************************************************

After we did our Speed Boat/ATV/Jungle Trek excursion in Belize, we didn't think anything would ever again top that experience. We've had to wait nearly 10 years for something to compete. The Soualiga Boat Tour has done just that!

On the morning of October 22nd, we walked down to Dock Maarten. Captain Bob was all business at the dock, but he has been nothing but professional and helpful from beginning to end. He had a lot to manage that morning, so I can easily overlook any curtness. Besides, from all the reviews I've read, he was a fabulous captain back in the day. And that's okay, because we had Captain Mike and he was great!

Before I go any further, I have to say that the lunch they provided was one of the best meals we had during our entire cruise vacation. I really didn't know what to expect, but the creole mahi, red beans and rice, and salad were delicious! (Even if the city was hosting a protest that day. A little unnerving, especially if you bring the little ones. Of course, there is no way I'd ever hold Soualiga accountable for that. Just mentioning it, because you always need to remember that you're entering a foreign country with their own ways of doing things. Stay with the group and you'll be fine.)

Back to the trip.... Captain Mike's boat was awesome! He told me that his type of boat is what the government agencies (DEA, FBI, etc.) use because they're powerful and sturdy. We were flying! And bouncing! But, when I pulled him aside to ask him about the power and ability of the boat, he said she was doing about half of what she could handle. He said that he needed to throttle it back so we wouldn't get hurt. It was a rush! I wish we could have gone faster. The 14 other people onboard with my wife and I all had a blast! The boat was also clean and well cared for. I even saw Mike maintaining the hull while we were anchored at Pinel Island. Very fastidious!

Along with providing an amazing vessel, Bob and Mike also provided everything we would need to enjoy our stops: snorkel equipment, floating noodles, etc. Plus, there was plenty of cold bottled water, soda, and beer.

As for the stops, they were paradise. Pinel Island was probably my favorite, but that might be because it was the first stop, and the most leisurely. The snorkeling at the other stops was fantastic! We saw turtles and all sorts of fish. The waters were clear and warm. Mike also pointed out a lot along the way, like St. Barts - home to the rich and famous! We also saw King Kong island.

And, of course, we made the quintessential stop at Maho to see the planes! What an experience! I'd say that seeing it in a boat is better than on land. True, you can get closer to the plane standing on Maho Beach, but Mike had a surprise in store for us. As soon as we saw the landing, he swooped around to the other side of the airport so we could see the takeoff! That may have been more amazing, because that plane had no room for error - it would have hit the mountain! What a sight!

As you can tell, we loved this experience. We highly recommend it! I don't write a lot of reviews, but I was too impressed not to say something about the Soualiga Destinations Boat Tour.