Cruisingmama

Just now, OCSC Mike said:

You can get free specialty coffee virtually 24/7 from the Crown Lounge coffee machine (self-serve). No need to use a voucher.

That machine is probably my 2nd favorite perk after the vouchers.

OH RIGHT! Almost forgot about that! thanks!

Thanks everyone. I'm not a big drinker and happy to use the included flavored fountain drinks, so 4 a day should cover all my drinks including my morning latte.   I wanted to make sure I know what the process is and let my kids know they need to let the servers/bartenders know to use the voucher when ordering their virgin pina coladas & johnny rockets milkshakes (they are so excited).

First time sailing as Diamond. Need a little clarity on how the drink vouchers work.

Do I need to tell the bartender/server that I want to use a voucher?

Can I order a drink with lunch/dinner (MDR/Specialty) and do I need to tell them I will be using a voucher?

Hi,

We have a daypass booked. Wondering what the best way for 3 ppl to get to/from the port to the Sonesta Maho hotel and updated pricing if anyone knows.

Also - I read there's often traffic. Any suggestions as to how much time to allot for the trip back? I like to be back on the ship at least an hour before sailaway..

18 hours ago, Pattycruise said:

Check the MDR lunch menu for the apple blossom. I believe it’s served on Day 6, though I’m not on that day.

Yes we had it on day 4 last cruise and went especially for the apple blossom. It was pretty annoying because we don't do MDR lunch since we don't like to spend so much time in restaurants throughout the day. We generally only do MDR in the evenings but the apple blossom was an exception.

I also saw it daily on some recent Coastal Kitchen menus - but that's for the upper class not for us steerage folks..

On 8/26/2023 at 9:12 AM, RCIfan1912 said:

We booked our first GTY balcony for this Oct on Liberty. I'm not super picky at all about cabins especially with the price we got this cruise for. I'm not really keen on an obstruction but from what I understand there isn't much obstruction to balconies on Liberty. Anthem has the huge lifeboats blocking certain cabins, now that's an obstruction. 

We did bid through Royal UP on all the suites. Still waiting to hear something. Just a tad over minimum. 

Booked my first ever GTY balcony on liberty as well. 3x in a room at just over $700/pp. First time booking a GTY but the current prices are insane. I booked this a little over a month ago and now GTY is no longer available for this sailing and choose your cabin price is $1,370 pp... Liberty doesn't have any obstructed OV balcony cabins, which is the only reason I bit (with a refundable deposit though). Worst case scenario there will be a long walk to the elevators which I'm fine with.

We usually also do an August sailing - but RCI has priced me out. Booking MSC for next summer at almost half the cost of RCI's cabin only rate with MSC's rate having drinks and wifi included. 

On 8/25/2023 at 5:49 PM, jbrinkm said:

There's another dessert on the menu that isn't called Crème Brûlée but is essentially exactly the same thing and tastes identical. 

If I'm remembering correctly, it is the Crema Catalana.

Crema catalana (at least MDR version since I never tried it anywhere else) is much much heavier consistency than creme brulee and about 10 time sweeter. I couldn't have more than a spoon and a half (the half was just to confirm the first spoon..) Sent it back. They also took off the menu the apple blossom which I used to order almost every night. The new crumble replacement is  ...

On 8/2/2023 at 10:36 AM, michelle said:

 

And an example of a triple where it tells you if its an upper berth or sofabed
i'm sure these are all not 'absolutely perfect- but its helpful, like when they also added
on invoices the percentage of obstruction your cabin has - 

triple OV balcony on Freedom
Bed Configuration: 2 LOWER TWIN BEDS - CONVERTED TO QUEEN
Available Upper berths - 1

Would be helpful if you would know the bed configuration BEFORE getting an invoice.. For 3 or 4 you have to ask Dr. Google whether there's a sofa bed or pull down depending on the ship/cabin. Really annoying.

If you ask they will bring you robes. They are heavy and not at all soft. I didn't use them and after a few cruises seeing they are all the same type, I stopped asking.  

On the same topic - what about debarkation day? Can you get specialty coffee for a voucher?

1 hour ago, Pattycruise said:

The Presidents cruise was a few weeks ago, with 550 Pinnacles, 1250 D+/D combined I’m sure it was a bit of an increase from the past and there was an earful given about the lounges so it’s fresh in his mind.  Personally I went to the D lounge twice and was able to find seats. 

 

I drink free in the casino.  I barely use 2 of my vouchers, maybe 3.  If I remember I grab the remainder of my D+ drinks and give them to my stateroom attendant as an added tip.  Some like soda, some like beer. 

From what I hear he got an earful about the terrible food at the MDR yet he's not asking any questions about that...

Never thought to give drinks to my stateroom attendant. Great idea. Do you ask them if/what they would like or do you just offer? Have to try that.

On 7/31/2023 at 4:27 AM, ScottD said:

Sounds like it depends. We plan on asking for night time service, so they have the room cleaned up and beds made after dinner- If they don't come and put the couch back up after day one, I'll just do it myself, but hoping they at least come in and do that real quick when we leave for breakfast

If you have to do that, you might as well keep a proportionate share of the gratuities for you outstanding service..

2 hours ago, WAYNO said:

Sorento's is a place to get a snack when everything else is closed.  The pizza is far from great, and the sandwiches are not much better.

Would I pay extra for them?  No.

Would I forego a cruise if they started charging for Sorento's?  No.

I was asked ten different ways on this survey.  I could not answer any differently, regardless of how the question(s) were asked. 

Were you asked if you would forego a cruise if there were no free late night food options?

Would you pay for sorrento's if that was the only late night option open?

3 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

In related news, MSC is now charging for additional MDR entrees

https://www.cruisehive.com/another-cruise-line-adds-main-dining-room-charges/108281

oh boy. cruising is never going to be the same.. I'm glad my kids got to experience some of the good times..

**Edit - cruising will only be the same for the affluent who care not about spending (some of those who are affluent still want value for their dollar). 

1 minute ago, Cactus527 said:

A pizza package! Such a great idea!!!! But hopefully not one RC looks into further...

Pizza package, el loco package, park cafe package, towel package, ice package, milk package, cabin cleaning package etc etc etc

2 hours ago, Al Miller said:

Record earnings! Best quarter ever! You hear this and you think "Whew!" Maybe now they can stop the death by a thousand cuts that is killing my desire to book anything new. Nope! Let's see how fast and how far they can gut the core experience.

This company under Mr. Liberty has me very much questioning my loyalty to cruising in general. They are going to keep pushing this and in five years they are going to wonder why all the repeat business has dried up.

Yup. My sentiments exactly. Last week, after coming back from my 10th RCCL cruise in 3 years was the first time I started researching land vacations... Options are VERY VERY attractive - especially with pricing and amenities offered, large sprawling rooms, enormous resorts with highly rated animation teams, pools you can actually swim in without having to rub into a stranger, Hot tubs with ample elbow room and NO ADD ON FEES!   Also looked into NCL and even Carnival which are also coming in at much less.  After my last cruise on Oasis in July I don't see the added value in paying for RCCL "enhanced" experience...

Personally I think more cold weather ships with indoor water areas for families are due. Anthem is the only ship now with an indoor family pool and that is being replaced out of NJ with the Odyssey - which baffles my mind. November through April you have back to back (other than January) 7 night cruises with 3.5+ days of no "outside" time unless you are wearing a coat. Defeats the entire purpose of "escaping" the winter.  Certainly won't feel like a vacation - more like being snowed in - in a crowded ship with lots of bored children and stressed parents. I also anticipate the solarium adult only rules will not often apply... But I digress.  For NE winter and Europe sailings (especially shoulder season Europe) - Would be smart for them to build a few more cold weather ships having a nice combination of the Quantum/Oasis class features with indoor water retreat for families and some new bells and whistles.  

A few smaller ships are also due - but I think there's some time for those yet.

3 hours ago, Llombard said:

Just came off Quantum.

Requested special meals, which were confirmed 6 months ago and also 2 months ago, in writing.

We were a group of 24 people, so there should have been 480 meals, however none of the meals were received and only about 30 meals for the 10 day cruise were there.

Repeated emails to RCCL have been met with SILENCE, which is infuriating.

Bottom line... since RCCL no longer provide special meals requested, they should say so upfront.

Wow. Sorry that happened to you. Your entire group ordered special meals? What did you end up eating? How did they accomodate?

Let me share my experience with three separate accounts that I know of:

1st person - hasn't sailed since December 2019. Previously prime (earned on two cruises). Receives every single offer Royal sends out monthly/weekly daily. Offers vary from OV-Balcony. Currently 7 (unexpired) offers on their account.

2nd person - recently earned prime (earned on two cruises) and sailed after that. Has not redeemed annual tier benefit (not yet available). Has a summer sailing booked with trade in value for an earned certificate and three weeks ago booked a comped balcony offer. Up until the comped balcony booking, received every single offer Royal sent out, same as 1st person above. After booking the comped balcony, no offers. Currently 3 (unexpired) offers on their account.

3rd person - has been prime for four years and receiving all Royal offers until May of this year. After 3 cruises this year, person is more than half way to signature. In May offers began to stop and person had to call in order to fix "email issue". Every time email issue was fixed, after 1-2 weeks, new offers would appear. Email issue seemed to reoccur and multiple calls resulted in offers coming up again after 1-2 weeks wait each time. In July, person booked 1 2023 summer cruise with trade in value from earned certificate, in August person booked comped balcony offer for winter, and also redeemed the annual prime benefit for a last minute weekend sailing while paying for an upgrade from interior to balcony. So three cruises booked, one of which was from a comped offer. Since mid August, no offers. Multiple calls and reps checking - there is no email issue. Currently 0 offers on their account. Royal is just not sending offers to this account. 

From that experience, it seems to me Royal is concentrating on those who are either new or haven't sailed in a while and no longer marketing to their loyal customers but again, just my opinion. I did read in other groups that some people have over a dozen booked and still receiving offers, so YMMV.

Would love a lazy river or just any kind of pool that actually resembles (as much as is possible on a ship) a large resort style pool. Having separate small pools just seems a waste of space - they are all just so very crowded all the time and to me uninviting. Kids will go in any water container though  I also much prefer the enclosed solarium on the quantum class AND every ship should have an indoor pool because weather happens everywhere and in every season.. I also think the concept of the boardwalk could be expanded upon. Perhaps instead of having the one area on deck 6 to have it as an actual wraparound boardwalk somewhat like what NCL does with their waterfront but instead of just eateries to have different activities and features. 

On 9/9/2022 at 9:08 PM, Pattycruise said:

This appears to be dated as of 9/9/22 on the ClubRoyale offers page.
IF YOU HAVE CRUISED WITH ROYAL CARIBBEAN AND PLAYED WHILE ONBOARD UTILIZING YOUR SEAPASS CARD AS RATED PLAY AND ARE NOT RECEIVING ANY OFFERS FROM US, PLEASE PROVIDE US WITH YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION TO UPDATE YOUR MARKETING PROFILE SO WE CAN SEND YOU OFFERS. OFFERS BEGIN AT 200 POINTS EARNED PER TRIP.
DISTRIBUTION OF CLUB ROYALE OFFERS IS BASED ON GAMING HISTORY, TIER STATUS, AND/OR NUMBER OF BOOKED VOYAGES ...

Not sure if this has anything to do with it but as soon as I booked 3 cruises (over the next year) my offers STOPPED. Was getting 3-4 offers monthly up until that point.

Best time to jump in the Jacuzzi

If it's just the one bag, self carry is your best option. If you are lugging multiple large bags and/or need your hands free because of children etc. then self carry may not be the best option.

12 hours ago, twangster said:

Surveys are not anonymous.  They know who each respondent is.  They track which servers in the MDR were assigned to your table.  When you answer the survey questions about the MDR it is directly reflecting on the MDR waitstaff who served you.  Same with your cabin attendant.  Any survey questions about your cabin will reflect directly on your specific cabin attendant.  

Thanks. What about the windjammer? I've had windjammer staff ask me to complete the survey but I don't see how this could be linked to me/them?

Here are a few of my questions:

When you rate a service, be it MDR/MTD, windjammer, bar, guest services - How does Royal know which staff member to reward/warn if you don't give a name attached to said rating.

Maybe MDR is not a good example because you get same servers every night, but MTD/windjammer - what I always choose, may give you same servers and may not. This assuming of course that each survey has a unique link that identifies survey to guest. And I have had multiple MTD/Windjammer staff "remind me" of the survey.

Another question I have: If you rate the food quality less than 10 but service 10 - do they still get reprimanded? Maybe just the manger or perhaps this goes to the chef/cooks or staff responsible for procurement? I've had wonderful interactions with managers at dining venues where food was less than expected but I did not attribute this to the staff I interacted with. More of food quality/selection issues. I'm always hesitant to give poor ratings which would hopefully have RCCL strive to improve because I don't want the wonderful crew to miss out on otherwise well earned opportunities.

If anyone has any good information on this please share. I always fill out the survey and make sure I mention everyone's names who I had positive interaction with. I feel they deserve it and it's the least I could do (other than tip a little extra at the end).