JFCruise

Also a Doghouse fan here! Whenever I'm on a cruise with one I make a decent attempt to have lunch there once.

And even if you are not a fan, I don't understand the "hate" for it. It's not like it takes up a big enough spot for another restaurant most likely. More importantly, it is 100% included with the fare. I'm a fan of more included stuff, note more exclusive things on my cruises.

31 minutes ago, Sharla said:

If it really bothers you feel free to cross it out and write Diamond, but this is not at all important. Luggage tags aren't even a necessity as all the porters will have them.

And if it REALLY bothers you you can embed actual diamonds on your luggage tag just to stick it to 'em.

17 minutes ago, AshleyDillo said:

Izumi hibachi is a fixed cost. If you prepay in the cruise planner, you will not have to pay anything additional when you dine there and you will be able to choose whichever 2 proteins you want regardless of the combos given on the menu. Your meal will include salad, hibachi with your 2 protein choices, rice, and vegetables and one dessert choice. You can chose to add sushi or drinks at the ala carte menu price.  If you have a drink package, the drinks will be included. If you have the dining package, there's a $15 upcharge for dining at Izumi hibachi. If you do not prepay for Izumi hibachi, you will pay the menu prices for whatever you order.

When you prepay in the cruise planner to dine at Izumi sushi you can either opt for the $39.99 prix fixe menu which gives you 1 small plate option, 2 large plate options, and 1 dessert. Or you can choose to go ala carte which in that case you will get a credit for up to $40 in (food) menu items. If you do not pre-pay then you pay menu pricing for whatever you order. One of those menu options is the $39.99 prix fixe deal. If you have a drink package, the drinks will be included.

Thanks for the great explanation.

It makes sense, but at least in the planner it is not very intuitive.

One other question - if the Sushi is discounted in the planner, do I still get $40 credit, or just whatever I paid in advance?

I really don't understand the prizing for Izumi. Or it just doesn't make sense for me.

The regular Izumi costs $40/pp (unless there is a sale). For that money, you get 2 options: Either go prix fixe (1 small, two large plates, but not full sized, and dessert). Or go a la carte. Going a la carte means you are paying for anything you order. So are you really paying $40 just to get a seat? Or do they waive that money if you decide to go a la carte? Also - what happens pre-paid reservations (if they waive the fee for going a la carte)? What is pretty clear is that if you use any dining package, only the prix fixe menu is valid.

Similar thing with the Hibaci. Price per person is $70. But looking at the menu, that only gets you complimentary starters and dessert. You would have to pay $70-$75 extra for your actual food (unless the $70 admission price actually covers the classic hibachi options). And if you want sushi in addition, you would obviously have to pay it a la carte as well. For dining packages, you need to pay an additional fee. Is it, again, in addition to the actual food?

Honestly, the app/planner makes a pretty terrible job of actually explaining how it works in my opinion.

14 hours ago, Traveling Mike said:

I also carry a duck in my pockets for the times I see a child that is upset or boarded because the parents are visiting.  Some of the time it helps to give them a duck.

This happened to me once with my kid: We were in the pool area having ice cream on the loungers. Nothing out of the ordinary really, he wasn't upset or anything, but we were facing each other. This dude comes walking behind him/facing me and show me a duck, makes a "quiet" signal, puts the duck just behind my kid, and just leaves. I didn't see him, but when my kid found the duck he was so happy.

2 hours ago, Thumper44 said:

The best part of our day is my wife and I running around trying to imagine where a 5 year old would look (and where they should not look -- don't put a child in danger climbing somewhere precarious or get them in trouble for damaging plants or decorations).

Well - my kid was 5 during our last cruise and to answer your question: Everywere. Absolutely everywhere. Once they find the first one, they want to find EVERY ONE.

2 hours ago, twangster said:

Do NOT hide them in Central Park.  There are cases where kids have ruined live plants rummaging through Central Park with no regard to the destruction they are causing.  

If you are going to hide ducks you shouldn't expect anyone to update you when they find them.  Hide them hoping to bring joy to someone's day but that's it.  

Good point about Central Park - I actually thought it was a good idea but yeah better to not mess around with the plants there. Noted!

I'm not expecting anyone to update us, but it would be kinda fun. If people usually don't do that then it's fine, nothing to lose my mind over.

I have a kid that fell in love with the whole "hiding and finding ducks on a cruise ship" and is super excited to now hide a few ducks in our upcoming cruise. Are there any tips to be found regarding how/where/when to hide the ducks?

We've also discussed the "tag" on the duck. We would love to know if people found our ducks and share a pic if possible, but we aren't big on social media. Are there any recommendations on what is the best and easiest way to ask people to share; if they are comfortable doing so?

42 minutes ago, TonyRide said:

I heard that Rolex doesn't have ADs on cruise ships so I'm assuming they are resellers or they might even be second hand pieces. 

From memory, every ship with Rolex has a 'Rolex Preowned' sign.

6 hours ago, PPPJJ-GCVAB said:

I had no idea about this perk!  But then I never cruise without the Refreshment package so don’t need the discount, I guess!  It’s a nice perk for someone else though!

As Plat and Emerald, you get 2 vouchers for a 50% off "coffee beverages". I often get an iced whatever or 2 during a cruise. It's not an earth shattering perk but it's certainly nice. Especially since I never get any sort of drinks package.

I'm gonna be honest. I was excited the first time. Used the robe. Once. Never again, they honestly felt pretty cardbordey. 

But hey maybe you have better luck than me.

The nicer perk of Platinum, to me, is the 50% coffee beverages.

A few months back I called RC for a re-pricing of a cruise. While doing so, the agent lady noticed that one person in my party of 4 had their birthday a few weeks after our cruise. She asked me if I wanted for her to "note" it in the reservation and I was like "um, sure". Note that their birthday is 2 weeks after the cruise, not during.

I also told her that my wedding anniversary is a few days before our cruise and she noted it as well. When I got the confirmation PDF, both events were noted. Now - I have no idea what we'll get. Probably a cake and the waiters singing happy birthday...but who knows. Either way we weren't planning on celebrating either onboard so if nothing happens whatever.

But all of this is to say that, yes, you can still have special events noted in your reservation.

@mills10 thanks for coming back. I'll definitely keep your comments in mind. We are doing Turo in Sitka, Skagway, and Juneau.

I am going to Skagway later this year, and I got inspired by this excursion.

https://www.shoreexcursionsgroup.com/tour/self-guided-jeep-to-the-yukon/aksgjeep

However, instead of doing this excursion, I have rented an SUV on Turo and will just drive up and down the highway and will plan a few stops. This probably isn't for everyone but I prefer taking things at my own pace and actually enjoy driving.

It really doesn't matter that much. Worst case, you can always go to the C&A ambassador onboard and get it sorted. Just make sure that your key card does have your correct status.

I was able to "match" my wife with my status onboard and instantly enjoy the benefits. My kid for some reason still shows as gold, however his benefits match my current status.

18 hours ago, Ryan79 said:

Both cities have ample parking. If you were wanting to do this in Ketchikan, not so much. 

Do either city have meters/paid parking? in downtown?

20 hours ago, mills10 said:

Our cruise leaves on the 12th and we are doing exactly that! We have rented a car via Turo in both Sitka and Juneau.  I'll try to remember to come back here after our cruise and tell you about our experience.  

That would be great! I also rented a car in both cities in Turo.

I have an upcoming cruise that will stop in Sitka and Juneau. I wanted to rent a car to move around those 2 cities and be able to go to the Mendenhall Glacier (in Juneau) and the Fortress of the Bear (Sitka), plus be able to move around.

But I'm not sure if anyone knows what is the parking situation in these 2 cities, especially downtown. Maybe it's too much of a hassle where it just makes more sense to take a taxi or some other transportaiton.

For reference, we are 3 adults and one 5-year old, so it's more convenient to not buy per-person shore excursions.

I don't see why this would be bad at all.

Imagine a family of 4. Royal very openly advertises 50% off second passenger and kids sail free. The "sticker" price is $300 pp. This will assumes the first adult would pay $400 and the second one $200 because of the 50% off. Which means that the cruise should be $600 for the whole family. Great deal (yes. I know cabins for 4 cost different than cabins for 2. Let's keep it simple).

But the reality is that different - because Royal doesn't put the port fees and taxes on the sticker price. Those are also in the small lettering of of the KSF promo. If PF&T are 100 per passenger. Then the $600 cruise you thought you had is actually $1000. That's almost 100% more.

With the new pricing, royal would have to say that each passenger is $400 - or $800 total. Not much to do about the KSF thing unless you read the small lettering, but the initial shock should be less.

IMO - it's worth booking with an agent just for the fact that if you have any request, question, concern...you can just shoot them a text or email and not have to listen to Pompeii on loop for 10 minutes.

2 hours ago, dmattinson said:

I'm agnostic to the ducks but I truly wish that people who claim them, take them back to their cabin, and then throw them out or leave them behind wouldn't participate.  Waste of resources and stolen joy from someone that could have enjoyed finding them.

About 2 years ago, I found a duck. I took it to see the tag, then put it back because I thought "I'm a grown man, I really don't want this duck".

A few days later my kid found another one and was incredibly happy about it. I should've given him my duck. I'm stupid.

@smokeybandit It doesn't annoy me enough to pick up the phone.

Hi everyone,

Long story short - I had 'linked' a friend's cruise to my own account. But now - I don't want them linked anymore. However I haven't found a place to "remove" their cruise from mine. Is that possible?

Yes - she would get charged the regular amount. I know it sounds unfair, but it's just easier to deal with.

I can't imagine being a waiter in this situation and then having to tell a customer "yeah...um...you didn't pay for that so you can't eat off the regular menu. Also, don't share with her please."

A little anectdote that might help you:

I am not celiac or gluten-free at all. But I was once having breakfast in the MDR and the server came to the table offering bread. She did the regular thing: We have this and that and whatever and gluten free.

Now I, out of sheer curiosity as I have never tried gluten free bread asked for one. The next time she came around with bread I asked her for a regular bread. She was SOOOOO insistent that it was no gluten-free. I think she tried to deny me like 3 times before I was able to explain that I was just curious about the GF bread.