Clear Laker

For FWIW, you can call the RC Visa Cruise Credit Department and ask for you onboard credit to be applied to your cruise account earlier than 14 days prior to departure.  It helps with making Cruise Planner purchases earlier during sales.  The reason they wait in posting is that if for some reason you had to cancel your cruise, you lose your Onboard Credit as BOA considers it a non-refundable gift certificate.  You have to work with RC to get it applied to another cruise.  In the old days you didn't get the credit until the second day of the cruise.

For FWIW, you can call the RC Visa Cruise Credit Department and ask for you onboard credit to be applied to your cruise account earlier than 14 days prior to departure.  It helps with making Cruise Planner purchases earlier during sales.  The reason they wait in posting is that if for some reason you had to cancel your cruise, you lose your Onboard Credit as BOA considers it a non-refundable gift certificate.  You have to work with RC to get it applied to another cruise.  In the old days you didn't get the credit until the second day of the cruise.

A PNR # is a 6 digit A/N code that is used to identify you, from purchase to you boarding in all of the airline systems.  It goes back to the days when Travel Agents booked tickets for you.  The problem with reservation #s it is usually unique to the organization who sold you the ticket.  i.e. Air2Sea, Priceline or the specific airline.  The PNR code as it is known, is what is unique to you with each airline with all of that airline's systems.
As stated, some airline's systems allow you to use multiple ways to look up your reservations (name, reservation #, PNR code) ... some don't.  The PNR Code is the industry standard for all airlines.

A booking # (PNR Code) is generated when your flight is paid for.
When we have booked with Air2Sea we did it through our Travel Agent.  She provided us the PNR code.  We then went directly to Delta and selected seas and entered our SkyMiles #. 
How did you book your flight?  If nothing else contact Air2Sea and they should be able to provide you the booking #.  Are you sure it is not on your receipt?

Ships are dangerous......so are airplanes, trains, automobiles, movie theaters, malls, Walmart, schools, concerts, night clubs, riding a bike, riding a motorcycle, scuba diving, foul balls at baseball games, swimming, hurricanes, tornadoes, mud slides, forest fires, ice storms, earthquakes, getting too close to wildlife, boating, guns, poor diets, obesity, smoking, alcohol, second hand smoke, vaping ......
 
I guess I'll just assume a fetal position in my basement and hope for the best.

The glass is tinted like car window tint.  You will not be full on sun, but if you have fair skin or plan on a long visit I would recommend sunscreen.

Kind of ironic.  Cruise ships account for a very, very small number of ships sailing the seven seas compared to the tankers, container and cargo ships.  
"Fixing" a few dozens ships looks good, ignoring thousands of others is typical media and society in general.  
Go to marinetraffic.com.  How many cruise ships do you see versus all the rest?
Green = Cargo
Red = Tankers
Blue = Passenger (including cruise ships)
But let's single out the cruise ships because they generate clicks for "news" outlets.  Cargo ships?  Not so much.  

 
 
 

We were on an Allure cruise.  There was an organized group of 650 singles.  They had many events throughout the week. 
Were you looking for RC organized singles meet ups?

I think, in addition to the drink packages, one has to also realize that it's easier for people to spread the word about things. 15-20 years ago, if someone got drunk on a ship and cause an issue, few people outside of that ship ever really heard about it. Now, someone can post their experience online and blast it to thousands and thousands of additional people.
It's kind of like network news...are bad things happening more in 2019, or are we just hearing more about what has always been happening? I think the latter.

This topic has been discussed a bit here of late and I thought I would share my experience today.  As many of you know, I track pricing on my bookings.  Many have asked lately what happens when a cabin is "sold out" and if it would still be eligible for a re-price?  I have had very good luck with this situation in the past.  You can see how I go about doing it here. 
Yesterday I noticed that the current August promo includes KSF up until December 2020.  We have the Villa booked on Harmony with 5 kids on that reservation under the age of 12.  That cabin is obviously "sold out" as there is only one of those on the ship and we have it.  I did a mock booking yesterday morning and checked it against my records and there appeared to be a price drop on the suites overall with the KSF promo.  Later in the day, I emailed my TA and heard back this morning.  Saved an extra $1315 with KSF even with a "sold out" cabin. 
The reason why I am sharing this is not to say that this will always be the case, but it does pay off to check and ask.

@Twangster is currently live blogging on her. 
Lots of great pictures to see.

@Twangster is currently live blogging on her. 
Lots of great pictures to see.

I don't blame you for being upset about this. I'm someone who believes that principles and communication mean something. If I were you, besides the survey, this would be a time I'd email Micheal Baily 's office. ( [email protected] ) I think it would be proper in this case to let them know your C&A status and that you not only sail in suites, but that you are also a star class customer (even if not this time).  The fact that 2 out of 2 crew members were of no help or just didn't know is inexcusable. You should find out the hotel director's email and copy that office.
Now that I got this off MY chest, you let it go for the time being and love every minute that's left on your cruise---it will be over all too quickly. Good luck and have fun!

What a ridiculous idea !  Either have an expedited boarding or don’t bother.  This kind of thing just infuriates me.  Why put the passengers and the staff into a situation like this with no resolution ?  Just take the signs down and forget it.  If nobody is going to monitor or enforce it, the program is worthless.  I hope you give them a horrible review for this.

Fast Track Boarding...Fail #2!
One of the reasons I wanted to get off today was to check out Fast Track Boarding again. Today Royal got it correct in that the first gangway (coming back to the ship) was dedicated to Fast Track Boarding.  Here is the signage for it. 


This was about all Royal got correct. ?
For research purposes, I asked the crew member at the podium how it works. If guests who qualify for Fast Track Boarding would by pass the lines coming back, or if guests who don’t qualify would have to use the other gangway? The crew member at the podium had no clue. I pointed to the sign and he said, “Oh that, that is nothing. It doesn’t mean anything.”  Ok, classic Royal. Let’s roll out something and not give everyone the memo. 
Upon our return to the ship, the lines were quite long at the Fast Track Boarding gangway, obviously because this was now the first gangway.  We got in line and did not notice them re-directing anyone or giving anyone priority. After we got to the podium, we asked another crew member about the process. He too said, “Oh no, you just get into line with everyone else.”  So Fast Track was slow track today.

Thank you!  Very Interesting.

This is a prime example of the difference between cruisers who use the ship as a means of transportation and the ones that use it as a all-inclusive resort. Still others pick and choose parts of both. Isn't that the best part of cruising? Choices?

I would agree that is most likely the case.  That works best for maximizing revenue for the company, BUT not increasing the customers satisfaction.  This thread, I think, is about what would make us the paying customer's experience more enjoyable not increasing Royal's bottom line.  They are very good at that on their own.

Overall I'm pretty pleased with Royal which is why I am here.  This is how to make it better:
Keep cruising affordable.   Improve the website. Add free texting across the fleet using wifi based chat applications such as iMessage, WhatsApp or FB Messenger.  More airlines offer this now for free.  Time to allow it on ships.  Stop trying to build chat into the Royal app and let people use what they use already.  Royal talks about making vacation stress free, communicating with loved ones on board and at home makes vacations stress free. Migrate all ships to O3b Voom and leave the 1980 satellite technology where it belongs, in the past.  Add technology to allow mirroring phones and tablets to cabin TVs Eliminate the Diamond happy hour binge drinking nightly event by removing it from the Diamond Lounge.  This would solve the "How many Diamonds can you cram into a phone booth" effect in the lounge every night.  Keep 3 drink coupons but expand the hours of use and quality of choices.  Give Diamond members 30% off drink packages, move Diamond Plus to 40% off and Pinnacle to 50% off drink packages.  Even at those rates there is still profit to be had.  Currently many guests at these C&A levels don't buy drink packages or drinks at all, relying on the nightly happy hour for drinks.  These changes would increase DX revenue and reduce happy hour costs, a combined win-win.   Deal with chair hogs by actually enforcing the rules and do so consistently across the fleet Add USB outlets to all ships, add power outlets by the beds Clarify dining package rules.  State exactly what is included, apply this consistently across the fleet Make all rules consistent and apply them consistently across the fleet.  Be consistent with every thing across the fleet. Make Sea and Sky suite class available on all ships with consistent benefits across the fleet.  Star class can remain exclusive to OA/QU. Smoke free casinos across the fleet.  If Celebrity can do it, so can Royal.

I have worked in Information Technology for over 30 years was many of us here do.  In the years we have been cruising, Royal's IT department has always had a way to go to reach the best practices standards employed by others.  All tasks involving technology are rapidly evolving.  RC is not a small uncomplicated business. 
Our answer for anything other than Cruise Planner purchases … use a Travel Agent.  It costs nothing and they will work with RC for you.

I have worked in Information Technology for over 30 years was many of us here do.  In the years we have been cruising, Royal's IT department has always had a way to go to reach the best practices standards employed by others.  All tasks involving technology are rapidly evolving.  RC is not a small uncomplicated business. 
Our answer for anything other than Cruise Planner purchases … use a Travel Agent.  It costs nothing and they will work with RC for you.

I have worked in Information Technology for over 30 years was many of us here do.  In the years we have been cruising, Royal's IT department has always had a way to go to reach the best practices standards employed by others.  All tasks involving technology are rapidly evolving.  RC is not a small uncomplicated business. 
Our answer for anything other than Cruise Planner purchases … use a Travel Agent.  It costs nothing and they will work with RC for you.

Woodwind

Of the major lines only Norwegian Cruise Lines allows this.

Prepay gratuities and cruise planner items (speciality dining, internet, drink packages,  and excursions) prior to your cruise.  It will allow you to budget for the most common additional expenses.