SuperPlanner

Hi all! 
Going on the Wonder and want to try ALL the specialty restaurants. Trying to figure out what I may need to book before boarding because it risks selling out and what I can wait until boarding or even day of and still get a spot. Would like to dine between 5:30 and 6:00 each day to catch the early shows with the kids.

I've heard Mason Jar for brunch and Izumi Hibachi can sell out even before boarding. What else tends to get booked up and which pretty much always have availability?

Thank you!

44 minutes ago, Matt said:

Yes, they added that on Wonder. It's located near the high roller area (anyone can get food).

It's  not so much a buffet as a few snacks, similar to Crown Lounge.

@Matt  Do you have any pictures or have any examples of what would be on the buffet? I've unfortunately never been able to access the Crown Lounge

By the way, totally fan-girling that you responded! Thank you for all your awesome advice! Never miss a video!!!!

I saw a youtube video that said there is a casino buffet on WOS? Is this accurate? @Matt

I have watched tons of videos and understand that prices are variable for things like UDP, photos, etc., and the golden rule is to buy as early as possible because you can always return and re-buy at a lower rate if it drops. However, I just paid the price of the whole cruise so would like to wait a little bit to purchase the additions where I can. BUT I don't want to miss out if there is a crazy price that comes out for just a short time. Therefore, wanted to try to collect "data" on the absolute lowest you have ever seen certain items so that I can grab them at their lowest without just going out and purchasing everything now. Not sure which route we are going for dining, so we don't plan to purchase everything below, just curious about all the pricing. THANK YOU!!!

What's the lowest you've seen (with what I see currently, minus gratuity):

* (Non-alcoholic) Refreshment Package: currently $29.99 per day, total $209

* The Ultimate Dining Package on a 7 day cruise (Wonder of the Seas if it matters?): currently $225 per person

* 3 night dining package: $112.99 per person total; (question: will they let us use for only dinner or can use for Mason Jar brunch?)

* Chops+1: not listed but saw on a previous cruise or $84

* 5 or 10 photo package: currently 10 photos $119

* Arcade credit: currently $25 of credit for $19

* Voom internet (1 device): $19.99 per day, $139.93 total

Just booked! So psyched!

We are sailing on Oasis soon. Was wondering if the family-friendly comedy show is a completely different show than the regular comedy show or just a toned down version? Worth seeing both (one with our kids and one without?)

1 hour ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Warning:  hijack in progress…

Speaking of multiple entrees, last night (Explorer) Dan and I asked for a third entree to share - we wanted to try some portobello mushroom thing they had on the menu.  I was waiting for the server to tell us that he would bring it after we were finished with our “first” entrees, but no push-back at all.  He brought all 3 of the entrees at the same time.  

I read somewhere that if you want to order another entree and ask for it as a "share for the table item" they tend to be a little more lenient. Not sure if that's true but sounds like that maybe happened for you.

11 hours ago, Ditchdoc said:

What am I over looking?

Current pricing from the RC site for Mariner on May 12.

 

Chops +1 (25% off)                          $83.99

Considering Izumi as the +1. When Izumi is selected, in the information it states:

"For ships with these venues, Teppanyaki/Izumi Hibachi is included, with a $15 surcharge."

 

So the price Chops + 1 is $83.99 plus another $15 or $98.99 total.

 

On the other hand, if you price each specialty restaurant separately:

Izumi (15% off)                 $45.95  (There does not appear to be any surcharge)

 

Chops (15% off)                $49.95

 

Total                                      $95.90

 

It cost $3.09 more to reserve Chops +1 than it does to reserve individual restaurants.

Am I missing something?

My Chops shows as $54.99 and Izumi as $50.99. Not sure if that's why the amounts aren't making sense...?

For us, we are thinking of doing Chops and 150 Central Park which would come to $108 pre-gratuities. Doing the Chops+1 saves us about $20 a person.

Which do you like better:
CHOPS or 150 CENTRAL PARK

Right now we have a reservation booked at Chops. We are considering whether to purchase Chops + One deal in order to add 150 Central Park for much less than adding 150 CP separately. But what we ultimately want to do is somewhat dependent on what reservations we can get at Coastal Kitchen for dinner (we are in a JS). If we purchase Chops+One and end up deciding to just do Chops, can we cancel the deal and get it refunded? Can I keep my current reservation to use at Chops for Chops+One if we decide to go that route or just use as its own if we are able to go to Coastal Kitchen and opt out of 150 CP?
I'd make a last minute decision but I'm worried about missing the discount we have currently for Chops and what is available for Chops+One...

Any thoughts, advice, appreciated!

On 3/22/2023 at 5:04 AM, ScottD said:

Oasis has a few old school video games like pac man that were free. Plus pool. But then there was some basketball and football toss games right outside, but they were pay per play games 

Do you know if they would accept arcade credits for those pay per play games?

Hi! Wondering how we register for ice skating (not the show, the actual skating) and laser tag? If not until onboard, how/where? 
Also, wondering if there is a way to "guess" when they will take place...we are on a 4 day on Oasis (which never happens so there are no itineraries to compare to) and have only so much time to get to a lot of shows and activities so want to make sure to book everything ASAP. Are they typically offered port days or sea days, night or daytime? Thanks!

**Bonus question, how strict will they be on the age requirement of 5 for laser tag when my 4 year old will be 4 months away from turning 5 and is taller than most 5 year olds? 

My family is going on the Oasis in a JS in a little over a month. In addition to the pre-paid gratuities, we plan to tip our room attendant at the end but thought it would be nice to put together a little gift bag of items when we arrive. My kids wanted to put this together and came up with some ideas like candy or snacks they cannot get on the ship, a phone card to call home, a fidget spinner, but would love some other ideas of what would truly be used and appreciated by cruise staff. 

Thank you!

On top of the 18% added to the overall cruise, refreshment package, and specialty dining, how and how much do you tip over and above that? 

Drinks - with the refreshment package, my understanding is you are not given a receipt to sign where we can add tip but we'd prefer to avoid having to carry cash everywhere unless necessary. How do you tip for (mostly non-alcoholic) drinks and how much?

Specialty dining - do we add tip over and above? again, does that have to be cash? How much to tip for family of 4 (two under 10)?

Coastal Kitchen - only going once, no receipt to sign, has to be cash?, how much for family of 4?

Room service - extra tip?

Stateroom - we will leave cash but wondering how much you leave on top of the 18% in a junior suite?

Do you tip at any of the quick service places?

Do you tip anyone at lunch and breakfast?

1 hour ago, ScooterScott22 said:

Agree with the above two points and will add it never hurts to check in and ask.  There is really no specific expectation on how busy it might be on one night at one sailing.  Since there was a recent thread that mentioned no pinnacles on a couple cruises.  That is one more item that can influence how busy CK will be.  We have only used CK about 10% of the time when we have been Sky or Star class so even people in suites with access may not use it as often as others.  Good luck getting a spot, enjoy your cruise.

How do I know if I have Pinnacles on my cruise?

How hard is it to get into Coastal Kitchen with a Junior Suite on night 1? We have the earliest boarding at 10:30 and planning to go there as soon as it opens for reservations and hoping for an early reservation. Some people have said they tip the maitre'd...if so, how much?

I bet overselling is less about selling the same cabin twice as miscalculation/estimates of room occupancy. For example, if they typically assume that 50% of the 4-occupancy room will contain a family of 4 and the other 50% a couple with just two people, but this time 80% of the cabins were used by families of 4 and only 20% by couples, they could be over the overall passenger limit within selling a room twice.

Just upgraded to a JS. Set sail pass updated to include room number but does not include the words suite, priority, or sea class anywhere?

10 hours ago, Bowen said:

I think if you really want a great chair then you should probably lay your things on it before breakfast.

And that's why there are never chairs for other people when they want. If people only used the chairs when they needed them, there wouldn't be an issue. Many people say sit anywhere else but I have kids who need at least some visual supervision by the pool. Going to another deck is not an option.

Are the end times for the WJ and MDR the last time you can sit down or the time you need to be done by? Can we sit down just before it closes and still have a leisurely breakfast and get off as late as possible?

One of my kiddos is a VERY picky eater and will likely be eating pizza before or after each meal instead of what is served in the MDR. If my husband and I want more than one app or entree at the same time, can we "order for her" even if she won't be eating and waiter would be able to bring out multiple courses for us at the same time that way? Similarly, if our son orders from the kids' menu, can we still do the above for him with an extra app or two we want to try? Not trying to break rules, just wondering if this is a legitimate solution for those of us with littles....

4 hours ago, EddieC said:

@SuperPlanner I had asked a similar question in another thread and then did some digging in the Cruise Compass section on the blog and found this from a recent 4 nighter on Serenade. Hope it helps. 
https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/cruise-compasses/serenade-of-the-seas/sat-02182023-0000

I've looked through compasses a bunch of times...maybe I'm missing it but they don't put the MDR theme on there?

We were thinking of bringing gummy bears and rainbow sprinkles to turn the free ice cream into a more special treat for the kiddos!

7 hours ago, barjpoe said:

Yes, was on her last week (4-nighter) they had just started them

Do you remember what menus you had? Was it Welcome Aboard (Day 1), Caribbean (Day 2), Mexican (Day 3), and Italian (Day 4)? Or did you have French in there?
Thank you!

I was planning to get each of my children an arcade pre-paid package to save money via the sale and that is going to be all that they will be allowed to use. But I've seen a lot of people say they don't recommend the arcade package because you can get cheaper on board. Is that true? Is that only for teens though? What are the cons to purchasing this as it is at a discounted price?
Thank you!