Todd

It is a service charge and not a daily gratuity, and a very healthy service charge. But as long as it stays a recommend daily gratuity I will keep removing from my ship account. If it is really a gratuity who I tip and how much is up to me not the cruise line. Royal and many other cruise lines needs to wake up and start paying their own crews and come clean with full disclosed  pricing. I believe this will happen in the future like with airlines no long allowed to advertise a net price. It should be the same for cruise travel. 

I agree with Waaaytooo about the food on Royal. Never had a problem finding something I liked in the main dinning room.  Yes Chops is a little more upscale than the MDR and you do get a better steak. It is worth a try but I'm sure you will find more than enough food to be very happy.
 
I would recommend that you look at the drink packages, (non alcohol) because even if you just have a couple sodas (Coke, etc) a day it will pay for itself.  I'm sure you will have two great trips.

Here is the close hotels to the port under four miles.
 
Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, Port Canaveral 1.33 miles from cruise port  Address: 9009 Astronaut Blvd, Cape Canaveral, Florida 32920   Residence Inn Cape Canaveral Cocoa Beach 1.48 miles from cruise port  Address: 8959 Astronaut Boulevard, Cape Canaveral, Florida 32920   Radisson Resort at the Port 1.78 miles from cruise port  Address: 8701 Astronaut Blvd, Cape Canaveral, Florida 32920   Holiday Inn Club Vacations Cape Canaveral Beach Resort 2.23 miles from cruise port  Address: 1000 Shorewood Drive, Cape Canaveral, Florida 32920   Royal Mansions Resort 2.57 miles from cruise port  Address: 8600 Ridgewood Avenue, Cape Canaveral, Florida 32920   Discovery Beach Resort 3.53 miles from cruise port  Address: 300 Barlow Ave., Cocoa Beach, Florida 32931   BEST WESTERN Cocoa Beach Hotel & Suites 3.63 miles from cruise port  Address: 5600 N Atlantic Ave, Cocoa Beach, Florida 32931-3920   La Quinta Inn & Suites Cocoa Beach Oceanfront 3.67 miles from cruise port  Address: 1 Hendry Ave, Cocoa Beach, Florida 32931   Las Olas Beach Club of Cocoa Beach 3.81 miles from cruise port  Address: 5100 Ocean Beach Blvd, Cocoa Beach, Florida 32931

The "official" Royal answer is to allow 14 days for points to post. 

That is because you see and understand the real value in your businesses.....the customers. It seems Royal has growth so large and so fast that they have loss site of this simple fact. Other big name American companies come to mind some  that recognize the changing business World and others that failed to do so. 100 years ago Sears was the only real national retailer in the United States. When I was going up everyone shopped at Sears and had their catalogs, look at sears today. Just because you are big and on top of the market does not mean you will stay there. Royal needs to value customers much more than they do and respect them.   

I have to agree with Todd. The cruise lines are expanding at such a pace that they can't recruit the same quality of people as in the past. While I've had exceptional service of late, I do remember a time (1994) when the MDR servers all had to have prior experience at European hotels before they could get hired. I don't think that level of experience is required any longer.

I know was not a negative comment against you.....I to have swallowed those hooks. Somehow the hook always is easy going in but painful in the end.  

"Deals" should be in quotes with Royal.  
While I understand why the discounts aren't combinable--they need to protect their bottom line--they could definitely offer something to C&A members in addition. Even if it was onboard credit, which costs significantly less than the dollar value of the credit, would be welcomed.
 
To date, though, all of the deals/sales promoted by Royal have been worthless to me as the cabin I've already booked ends up costing more.

I would just book the three nights, it always seem to work out in the end. If you have already paid they will get you in as they do not want to refund.

I know was not a negative comment against you.....I to have swallowed those hooks. Somehow the hook always is easy going in but painful in the end.  

It seems to be well covered already. But as slow as these hundred days will past, you can be sure the days on the ship will fly by. Time is not constant on a cruise ship, sorry Dr Einstein. 

But in no way a better crew..... Thank you for your service.

The love boat did have a major impact upon cruising, it in fact is what made Princess Cruise Lines, before the TV show came out it was questionable if the company could even stay in business. One interesting thing about the TV show and its impact was what happen when the show was on the ship with passengers. Passengers really want to see that but quickly learned the popular areas like the pool bar were closed to cruisers due to filming. Pay a lot of money and have access to only about 2/3 of the ship. Also the interaction between crew and guest is something that cruise lines never allow. (Romantic Private Activities).
 
But I do really like the classic features like wood and brass. My Uncle was a interest man and he collected  many things, he had a big interest in the S.S. United States, and had many items from the ship. Among his purchases were the Captains Cabin Furniture which he had restored,  displayed in his office and the original ships model, in his home. I would look at that model over 8' in length and very detailed. I would look at that model and wished the ship was still sailing the World. A interesting purchase from the ship was the steam whistle, that was mounted atop his business and was sounded every July 4 th or on special days. Then it was someday I will go on cruise ships,  40 years later it is several times a year. I get on a big new Royal ship and it takes your breath away, but I still miss the old classics of trans ocean liners. 

The love boat did have a major impact upon cruising, it in fact is what made Princess Cruise Lines, before the TV show came out it was questionable if the company could even stay in business. One interesting thing about the TV show and its impact was what happen when the show was on the ship with passengers. Passengers really want to see that but quickly learned the popular areas like the pool bar were closed to cruisers due to filming. Pay a lot of money and have access to only about 2/3 of the ship. Also the interaction between crew and guest is something that cruise lines never allow. (Romantic Private Activities).
 
But I do really like the classic features like wood and brass. My Uncle was a interest man and he collected  many things, he had a big interest in the S.S. United States, and had many items from the ship. Among his purchases were the Captains Cabin Furniture which he had restored,  displayed in his office and the original ships model, in his home. I would look at that model over 8' in length and very detailed. I would look at that model and wished the ship was still sailing the World. A interesting purchase from the ship was the steam whistle, that was mounted atop his business and was sounded every July 4 th or on special days. Then it was someday I will go on cruise ships,  40 years later it is several times a year. I get on a big new Royal ship and it takes your breath away, but I still miss the old classics of trans ocean liners. 

The love boat did have a major impact upon cruising, it in fact is what made Princess Cruise Lines, before the TV show came out it was questionable if the company could even stay in business. One interesting thing about the TV show and its impact was what happen when the show was on the ship with passengers. Passengers really want to see that but quickly learned the popular areas like the pool bar were closed to cruisers due to filming. Pay a lot of money and have access to only about 2/3 of the ship. Also the interaction between crew and guest is something that cruise lines never allow. (Romantic Private Activities).
 
But I do really like the classic features like wood and brass. My Uncle was a interest man and he collected  many things, he had a big interest in the S.S. United States, and had many items from the ship. Among his purchases were the Captains Cabin Furniture which he had restored,  displayed in his office and the original ships model, in his home. I would look at that model over 8' in length and very detailed. I would look at that model and wished the ship was still sailing the World. A interesting purchase from the ship was the steam whistle, that was mounted atop his business and was sounded every July 4 th or on special days. Then it was someday I will go on cruise ships,  40 years later it is several times a year. I get on a big new Royal ship and it takes your breath away, but I still miss the old classics of trans ocean liners. 

The web is the best place to go when looking for price. But you always need to be smart, many fake or counterfeit items. So use your credit card and if item is fake dispute the charge, counterfeit means the credit card company refunds every time. With things like diamonds GIA certification. Retail diamonds are a triple key item (3 times the cost of the jewelry) and that is after going through several middleman. With web purchases the high costs of retail stores and several of these middle guys are cut out.

But in no way a better crew..... Thank you for your service.

If you knew how well they are paid compared to what they can earn in their home countries you would say they are overpaid. The Worlds a big place, people need to stop thinking everything revolts around United States standards.

It is not the amount of the increase. It is more about exactly what these fees are and the number on increases within the last year.  Royal really needs to start paying the staff and stop looking at the outdated model of tipping to correct this issue.

If you knew how well they are paid compared to what they can earn in their home countries you would say they are overpaid. The Worlds a big place, people need to stop thinking everything revolts around United States standards.

If you knew how little these hard working people get paid you wouldn't be complaining.

You should not feel bad.  If anyone should be feeling bad it is Royal for rushing to put programs into place and then not following through or changing them. Royal needs to understand they are in this business full time, paying guest are not professional travelers and need to rely on the information provide. Royal needs to take care of and value the guest or their big nice ships will be empty. This is 100% a failure on RCCL. 

But in no way a better crew..... Thank you for your service.

But in no way a better crew..... Thank you for your service.

This is one of those questions that I will never understand. Since beds and comfort in them is so personal really no way to answer.  Matt may be so tired after, everything he does that he could sleep on the floor.  Another may require a very very soft bed, or a little soft.  It is kind of like saying how good are American Made Cars, so people will think great, good, average, fair, poor, or anything in between.  Even if everyone here says they are great you still may not like the beds or the other way around.