PRC
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Posts posted by PRC
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It has become complicated for them.
Way back when, the cruise experience was basically the same for everyone. You only paid for what type cabin you wanted and any differences were inside the cabin... not outside. The only "special" guests to contend with were the frequent floaters. Now that the model dictates that the cost of the cabin can impact the entire cruise experience (suites), the suite guests are also a "special" group to contend with. (I'm not judging, as people should get what they paid for, as advertized). So you have 2 special groups...who is more special? One spends a lot of $$$ on a single sailing, while the other spends lots of $$$ over the long haul. How do you make them both feel like they are the tops without the other knowing? Is a frequent floater staying in a suite "extra" special? Add into the mix the fact that creating a popular product has caused your frequent floater program to explode in popularity, and you can almost end up with more guests with some sort of status than those with none on a single sailing.
Popularity is a double edged sword it would seem.
As for me, I've been D+ for a while now, and I never use the DL or CL (and since I don't book suites, won't be using the SL either). You're much more likely to find me in the back booth at Sorentos, the cigar lounge, or the Viking Crown, reading a book. Even at my hoped for rate of 3 or 4 sailings a year, I probably won't ever see a Pinnacle Club badge with my name on it. And thats ok, as I like the product, and will sail with them as long as I do.
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If I'm not mistaken, Giovanni's Table is the only specialty restaurant that Adventure has.
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I booked a 10-day cruise on Serenade of the Seas for December 2, 2016.
I'll be walking off from the 11 night the day you board!
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Usually RCCL used the Pan Am pier for ships based in San Juan (embark/disembark).
If you are there for a port-of-call, you usually dock right in OSJ.
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I have a hard time buying merchandise onboard.
Watches for example: If you could take the time to add up the "original" prices of the hundreds of watches layed out on that table in the middle of the Promenade, the number would be HUGE! I then look at this and say 1) if there was really that big a dollar value on that table, would they really have only two employees watching all of it while hundreds and hundreds of people crowd past, pick up, try on, etc? And then 2) I watch them take all this dollar value, stack it in cardboard boxes, then stack those in a closet. I know its a closed environment and all, but it just doesn't add up to me.
I happen to like Invicta watches. I know they are not really high end watches (although Royal and Invicta want you to think they are) and the list prices are laughable, but I like them. That said, I have never bought one on board. Each of mine have come from Amazon for half or less of the "sale price" onboard.
Sorry, guess I'm in a skeptical mood this evening! ;)
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I had heard about this but never got to experience it. Too bad they are doing away with it...more disappointed about losing the location than the food it sounds like. Surprised a Radiance class ship would be making changes that limits seaviews as that is one of the things ppl enjoy about this class of ship!
I am back on Brilliance in Feb, will have to enjoy sitting outside and having lunch as who knows if/when they will get rid of that in the future.
Brilliance already lost hers. Izumi now has that spot.
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I guess we all knew it was only a matter of time...
When Jewel finally gets her refurb this year, the last Seaview Cafe will will be a part of history :(
I for one really liked the Seaview. Its not that the menu was great, and to be honest nothing from the limited selection was really worth writing home about, but it just seemed to "fit" on a cruise.
The Sovereign and her sisters were built in a time where there was usually some sort of extravagant buffet going on most every evening and the never really had anything comparable to the Seaview. The Vision class had the Solarium Grill/Cafe and it soon became the place that everyone headed to after the evening show, etc for a late night snack. The Voyagers and Freedoms all have Cafe Prom and sorrentos of course, but in a way these feel like walking out of the theater in a mall and stopping at the food court.
The radiance class got it right: The Seaview Cafe was way up top. You had to go outside to get there. It had more seating outside than in. It didn't let you forget that you were underway, under the stars, in the middle of the sea. This was cruising!
One of the best Seaview memories I have happened on the Radiance in Alaska (2008): We had spend the afternoon at Hubbard Glacier and the evenings entertainment was the Osmond Brothers (well, 3 of them. No Donny and the eldest had passed on). We hit the Seaview for a snack and just as we were ordering, the Osmonds showed up. After two shows they had the munchies too! It wasn't anything "star struck" or such, it ended up being 3 guys just sitting on deck with everyone else, laughing, swapping bits of BS and whatnot. I got the impression that they really did enjoy leaving the "performance" behind and just kicking back and having a nice evening like everyone else.
I'm gonna miss you Seaview Cafe...
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Sometimes you want things placed on your Seapass bill instead of purchasing in advance, maybe to use OBC, maybe just to spread the dammage by paying for the cruise before and for the expenses after. This is why I never book a drink/soda package ahead of time, nor do I select MTD (I never use the MDR anymore, but I don't want to prepay tips).
For specialty restaraunts, I have sailed solo quite a few times and know that I will be given a 2-top, so when sailing as a two-some, I make the reservations for one, and add the second person once onboard. This way half the cost of the evening is deferred to my seapass.
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My last renewal took 18 days from send-off to receipt.
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I'll have to go with Barrachina. W.O.W.
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Did Christmas once on Majesty. Lots of fun but I suspect that NYE would be a blast!!!
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We did Alaska back in '08 on the Radiance. We chose the southbound, flying up to Anchorage and spending the night. The next morning we took the train down to Seward (a GREAT experience itself!) and boarded.
The itenerary was great, having perfect weather at Hubbard Glacier. Juneau, Skagway, Hoonah (Ict Strait Point) and Ketchikan were all fun.
Our only issue was that when we arrived in Vancouver to depart, hurricane Ike was paying a visit to Houston, so we sat in vancouver for 4 days trying to get home and wondering if the house was still there (it was)!
The loyalty ambassador and staff were wonderful, knowing we were going to have this problem they were helping us secure lodging and transportation in Vancouver!
Wanted to go again this summer but oh well ;)
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Chops was available earlier, I think it was due to Porto's going away and Giovanni's and Sabor being newly constructed.
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Liberty in Feb? standard 7 night.
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I've seen them show up 6 months or more out, and sometimes less than 60 days!
Right now I'm having to watch my next Liberty sailing in February, as its getting a Sabor and Giovanni's during the January Drydock and those have not been posted yet. Right now only Chops is available online.
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Agreed, the total cost is the bottom line.
I'm not a "Hyatt Regency Pier 66" kind of guy, but their park & cruise package was really not bad that time. Only about $40 more than the Holiday Inn Express' package just down the street (both needed a taxi return). A basic hotel on 17th st. plus pier parking was about $60 more.
Of course that was then, and FLL hotel prices change weekly!
Another consideration is which terminal your ship will be at. Since Indy was alone that day, we got to use termainl 18 (new Oasis/Allure), which has garage and surface parking right there. 21, 22, 24, and 25...the parking is not exactly close. 26, 27, 29 are a little closer to parking.
Besides 18, Royal usually uses 24, 25, or 26.
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Have never parked at the ports garages, but have left the car with hotels in FLL.
Last Sept. we stayed at the Hyatt Pier 66 and left the car with them. The "Park & Cruise" package included shuttle to the pier, which was a 4 or 5 minute drive including the security gate.
On the return, a $11 cab ride got us back to the car. From clearing customs to putting our luggage in our own car was about 15 minutes.
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Traveling as a Single - Deals?
in Royal Caribbean Discussion
Posted
Radiance Class has a few solo cabins, very tiny! I've never stayed in them though.
I've sailed solo many times, sometimes at 2x (double occupancy) rate, sometimes 1.75x, and some at 1.5x. It varies by individual sailing, and of course with the prepetual never ending BOGOHO pricing its sometimes confusing to see what the actual rate ends up.
On the plus side, sailing solo gives you double C&A points. In theory they are to pro-rate that to the fare you pay (2x, 1.5x, etc) but I've always received the full 2 points per night no mater what single supplement I paid.