Coda_Sarah

On 12/16/2022 at 11:11 AM, WAAAYTOOO said:

That used to be my experience as well....until I learned to cut them off before they ever start with the selling.  It has been my experience that if you let them know up front that you will not be purchasing anything and you do not want any sales pitches, they will honor that.

same here...the last 5 years or so they are so much better.  I have told them as we are walking back, I am not interested in buying products.  I never had anyone still try to sell at that point.  They have been great. 

On 12/3/2022 at 10:01 AM, ChessE4 said:

You might want to re-read the post by Xaa.  Izumi Hibachi was reported as a surcharge.

We have found that eating specialty lunches reserved on cruise planner has been a better value for us than the package or a la carte dinners.  At age 5, our son was fine with the Main Dining Room for dinner.  Whatever you choose, have a great cruise.

Thanks for redirecting me back.  I missed that.  

On 12/1/2022 at 2:36 PM, JohnK6404 said:

(1) True... you cannot make reservations pre-cruise if you purchased a dining package (eg. Chops+1, 3-Night Dining, Unlimited Dining). Generally speaking, only a la carte restaurant reservations can be made through the Cruise Planner prior to the sailing.

(2) We've had the same experience as @SpeedNoodles in the past. We've always been able to book the restaurants of our choice without issue once onboard (at least within 15/30 minutes of the time). It's one of the first things you will want to do once your board the ship. You can stop by ANY specialty dining restaurant and make all of your reservations at one time since the specialty restaurants share the same reservation system.

One of the reasons we love to grab that earlier boarding window is so we can explore, relax, and make our specialty dining reservations and get them out of the way. Everyone that has purchased a dining package will be doing the same thing at some point after they board, so the later in the day on embarkation day you wait, you will find the availability will start to dry up a bit.

Did you make a reservation for Izumi from a different specialty restaurant? I read in another thread you have to go directly there to make a reservation for their restaurant.  For any other restaurant, you can go to any kiosk upon boarding or any specialty restaurant for any other reservation.  

I'm asking because we want to make a reservation at Izumi for their hibachi meal.  So I figure I should just head straight there to make all my reservations.

Okay, so no surcharge for Izumi Hibachi, 150 Central Park, and Samba Grill, correct?

Can someone explain how the cruise transfer works?  We have never done it before.  This would be a transfer from pier to airport on the day we get back.  I'm pretty sure we will book with Galveston Saltwater Moms, but I was just curious how it works.  Are there set times they pick you up or?

I'm really looking forward to it.  I wonder what this means for Sabors.  I'm looking forward to trying Sabors for a lunch on our 7 night cruise next year!

2 hours ago, Noah382 said:

Can anyone tell me if I purchase The Key for both myself and my wife, do we get two internet devices, 1 per person? or is it only 1 internet device? 

yes, it's 1 device per key so yes,  your wife will get to access 1 internet device and you will be able access 1 internet device

Okay, thank you for that.  We are sailing out of Galveston so I wonder if anyone knows how they do it there.

I had a problem with the app the last time I tried checking in.  It just wasn't available.  I was able to jump on the website from my laptop and check in a couple of minutes after midnight.  We got the first boarding time.  I just wonder how reliable the app is for online check in? 

So far the cruise sale is a big bust (C&A).  No price differences.  I thought I saw $600 off for suites, but the discounts I see are the same ones I have seen for weeks.

We are planning to purchase the key for our Allure cruise next year.  Can you help me understand suite and key program priority embarkation?  (asking about suite too because we may upgrade to a suite and drop the key).  You still have to do online check in, I get that part, but if I wanted to arrive early and my check in time is later, does the key (or say suite access) allow me arrive early because of the benefit? Or is the only benefit: priority embarkation mean you have your own line to enter terminal as opposed to the masses.

Thanks in advance....

On 11/14/2022 at 10:16 PM, AshleyDillo said:

Yes, they have laptops at the kiosk and can access all of the restaurants with the exception of Izumi. That one may or may not be accessible from the kiosks. I've experienced it where they were able to book me at a kiosk and other times where I had to visit Izumi to make the Izumi reservation.

Thank you!  That is helpful.  We plan on doing on niight at Izumi Hibachi so maybe we will go directly to Izumi to book our 2 other reservations too.

On 11/12/2022 at 9:01 AM, FireFishII said:

Someone correct me if I am wrong.  When I was on Allure of the Seas, I entered on Deck 5.  This is the Royal Promenade deck. Along the Promenade, there will be dining kiosks set up.  There are there only for embarkation day.  I don't know if there were any in the MDR.  I stopped looking for the kiosks after I had set up my dining reservations.  There are also lots of staff around in that area that can answer any questions you have.  

The kiosks on deck 5 (embarkation) have the ability to make your reservations for all of the specialty restaurants?  I thought we had to go to a specialty restaurant to do this.  

I didn't see it, but did anyone catch where Key guests will go upon arrival?  

On 11/5/2022 at 9:44 AM, AndyPandy said:

Yes I was wondering if to tell them in advance of the itinerary.

Oh!  Now that is also a good question.  

On 11/6/2022 at 12:16 AM, BowTieBrigade said:

The menu I’m seeing for my Christmas sailing on Allure show the same items for lunch and dinner. 

Thank you!  That answers my question  

On 11/5/2022 at 2:58 PM, OCSC Mike said:

Menus are in the app.

Never mind...someone else answered.

We are planning on Sabors for lunch.  The post has me thinking that I have MDR reservations at 5:30.  I may end up using one of my specialty restaurant reservations that evening so I can have a later dinner. 

Is Sabors lunch and dinner the same? 

5 hours ago, AndyPandy said:

Added question, same topic. In a suite. When I booked direct, I booked traditional dinning, at a set time. I am booking speciality restaurants, and using CK. Second RCCL cruise, just getting to know things like CK.

I wouldn’t want a waiter in the MDR waiting for me each night and not turn up.
 

So should I inform then and how do I inform them? ( No Travel agent).

Or do they get reassigned to My time dinning quickly.
 

PS Not a question re gratuities I did pay them, but I know they cover the full ship breakfast lunch etc so happy to pay those. 
 

Thank you. 

I'm glad you asked this question.  I am planning spending 3 night in specialty restaurants and a night or two in CK. I think it makes sense to let your MDR staff when you will not be there.  This will be my first time probably missing the majority of MDR seating.  

I wish they would make an announcement about this so people aren't speculating about whether they can pre-book entertainment on board.  It just leads to frustration.

9 hours ago, AshleyDillo said:

At the actual Starbucks locations on the ship, yes. If they sell Starbucks food items, they'll take the gift cards.

that's nice to know.  i think i would rather pay for it through my starbucks app than add it to my onboard account.  I usually have money loaded on my starbucks app.  Thanks!

4 hours ago, AshleyDillo said:

You can use this app or a Starbucks gift card to pay and earn points. You can not redeem stars onboard.

You can use the starbucks app with preloaded cards on it to make your purchase?  You don't have to use your ship onboard account?

Its a bit of a hassle, but I always tell them when ordering a non alcoholic drink to use the refreshment package, not my CA diamond coupon.  Better to be safe than sorry.

On 10/26/2022 at 5:54 PM, Bankai said:

Is free all-day room service still included with The Key?  I haven't seen this advertised, but if free all-day room service is included, that would be a really nice benefit, and might make it worth the extra cost.  Has anyone used The Key for free room service, and if so, what ship?

No free room service is no longer being offered under the Key Program.  It was a perk during COVID, but it stopped a few months ago or even longer.  

On 10/18/2022 at 4:00 PM, Galveston Steve said:

The Port requires the ride share companies to sign a contract with the Port and pay access fees if they want to operate on Port property. Uber refused to sign the contract several years ago.  With the new cruise terminal, Uber has decided to negotiate a contract with the Port.

and are they still negotiating?