firegal2539

MamaKeys, I, as well as another blog member WAAAYTOOO, had either two or three cruises cancelled. They cancelled my first on, put me on another, cancelled that one, put me on a third one and cancelled that. Listen or read carefully about the offers the cruise line gives you. If you don't pick the two or three cruises they offer to switch you do, you can book your own or your TA can book another cruise but it will be at today's price. Your cruise that was cancelled might have been booked a year ago, which would have been less the today's price for the same cruise. You end up paying the increase cost and only get OBC for the trouble. After 3 cancelled cruises I was offered a 14 day Panama Canal, but I had to go on the date they offered and I did, a great cruise, no extra cost. I think RCCL knew after three cancellations that they had better do something amazing and they did. Candie

What WhiteSoxFan said is correct. On the larger ships they have reservations for the shows a month or more before sailing and they book fast. I usually make my reservations online because you have to stand in line and the seating can be pretty bad. Since I am a long time cruiser, I believe in booking excursions way before the cruise, but I also like to book private excursions not offered by the ships. You have to be very careful doing this and I wouldn't recommend it for a first time cruiser. My first time in any port I usually do an excursion that introduces me to the port city and the culture, after that I venture into other excursions. BTW, the specialty restaurants offer reservations online, so if you want to book any meals at one of these restaurants, I highly advise to do it before getting onboard. On my last cruise in March on the Liberty, every specialty restaurant was booked full before we sailed and the ship was not taking any new reservations. Candie

Monctonguy, I do what you do. I walk the ship, at least the parts they let me into. I find where the library, internet cafe, etc. are. By the end of the first two hours I have my bearings and can pretty much find everything from there on out. I love to people watch. I usually find a window seat that over looks the Royal Promenade and watch the crazy people. It is funny to me that you can usually tell the first time cruisers right away. Candie

WAAAYTOOO, so sorry I haven't been on the blog since this post in May. I started a new at home business and am working about 12 hours a day. I am not complaining I am loving it. The only thing is it interferes with my cruising. This year I have only taken 2 cruises and have a 14 day in October. The last two years I have taken 8 cruises per year and I am missing it. I have only booked one or two in 2019. Anyways, the Liberty was wonderful all the way around. The casino was very nice and the finally got answers to several questions about my rank/standing in the casino and explained how to move up. There were several jackpots won in seven days. Hopefully I will have time to get on the blog. Candie

Todd, I just got off of the Liberty OTS last Sunday and the Connoisseur club was still there. We did not have a 70's party, don't know why but there wasn't one. I don't usually attend those kind of parties because I have to use a cane and I tend to get pushed around, banged in to and I don't want to take a chance of falling. I can't remember what they had instead. There was very little Royal Promenade stuff too, which really surprised me. I will say that this cruise, because of the ship and my cabin is probably my first or second best cruise and I have taken over 40 cruises. The only comment I had was the Cruise Director left a lot to be desired. He just didn't have the normal cruise director personality, he was quiet, very quiet. Candie

I don't remember if the zero charges were on it, I don't think so.

My last cruise in February I went to a kiosk and printed that information myself. I got the same statement you did on the last night but I received one through email after I got home with all charges on it.

Tony, Raye, and Anyone Else, I spent about 30 minutes on the phone with RCCL Club Royal because I am on the Liberty the first week of May and wanted to know my ranking. Of course, they couldn't tell me. What the representative did tell me is the new ranking system and what each level is called and what you get for the level. I am going to list them below. Just remember this is just one representative's information and somehow it will change with each rep you talk to. Step 1 is called Choice and you need to get from 1 to 2,499 points on a cruise. With the Choice level you qualify for rewards certificates and point redemption. Step 2 is called Prime and you need to get from 2,500 to 24,999 points on a cruise. With the Prime level you qualify for the Choice benefits and the convenience fee waived and free drinks in the casino. Step 3 is called Signature and you need to get from 25,000 to 99,999 points on a cruise. With the Signature level you qualify for the Choice and Prime benefits and priority check-in and one (1) comped device for WiFi and a short comped cruise. Also the rep stated she thought there would be Signature events on the cruise. Step 4 is called Masters and you need to get 100,000 points on a cruise. With the Masters level you qualify for the Choice, Prime and Signature benefits and two (2) comped devices for WiFi, priority seating pretty much everywhere, usually a 7 day comped cruise, special Masters only events, dining, meetups, etc. I hope this helps and as I said it is only what one rep told me. Supposedly RCCL is suppose to email all Casino Royale members before their cruise and let them know what their level is and what they qualify for. But if they don't just go to the Casino Host/ess. Hope this helps. Candie

I have rented all my scooters for Special Needs at Sea. It is in your room waiting for you when you board. There are some places that scooters can't go. The MDR is one. I know people will say they do but as soon as you arrive at the desk it is driven away and put at the front of the MDR because there is no room in the dining room. You are not allowed to park it in any hallway because carts and people can't get by. Some bars/lounges don't allow them. You can move all over the ship but I find some times the scooter can be a pain to get on and off the elevators and into certain areas. Don't get me wrong I am glad I had the scooter for all of my cruises but sometimes they can cause problems. Oh, you can't take it off the ship. The crew is not allowed to help with driving it off of the ship on the gangway or helping load it on or off the ship.

Garnet21, I have been a solo cruiser for the last 10 years and I love it. I love the meeting of new people (friends) when eating in the MDR. I have met so many people that I still keep in contact with and have even cruised with again. The only problem I have found is one cruise I was seated with a family. Everyone there was related in one way or another and I was the only oddball, so I asked the maitre'd to switch me to another table and it was perfect. I don't want to sit alone, I want to mingle and talk. My last cruise, a few weeks ago, I was the only woman with five men, that one was fun. Give it a try, I think you will enjoy yourself.

I just got off the cruise from hell, Grandeur, January 2, and 250 passengers had Norovirus and 150 more had an upper respiratory infection. I am highly allergic to hand sanitizer, too much alcohol, so I buy a special one from Amazon that costs over $14 a small bottle. Passengers sure get agitated when I don't use the sanitizer as I enter the MDR or buffet, but I can't. While on the Grandeur I talked to a woman who noticed a couple in the buffet coughing and sneezing and covering their mouths with their hands and then getting stuff from the buffet. No joke, she took their picture with her phone and brought it down to Guest Services, showed it to someone there and asked that they find them and quarantine them for the rest of the cruise. SERIOUSLY, what would be your reaction if a crew member came up with a picture of you coughing in your hands and told you that you now needed to stay in your cabin for the rest of the cruise. I just don't believe people any more. I don't even know what my reaction would be. Candie

You have to do the White Pass Railway in Skagway if you are stopping there. It is about 3 to 4 hours long and it is amazing. You learn so much about Alaska and the gold miners. I also did the dog sledding but it was cold and didn't enjoy it. But the coldest excursion was the helicopter to a glacier. I was a popsicle by the time I boarded the helicopter to go back. I would definitely say you can skip the panning for gold, that was a terrible excursion and a big waste of money. Candie

Just coming off of the Grandeur January 2 cruise, (yes that cruise) and was promised my cruise certificate before I got off in Port Canaveral. Never got and on the morning of debarkation went to Guest Services and they couldn't help. Was told that the casino staff was unavailable and to call CR, which I did. They reduced my certificate, that was originally $300 (according to the casino hostess) to $100 and was allowed to apply it to an existing cruise. For the first time in my life I didn't want to argue with a cruise line, so I just took the $100 and used it. Candie

Coneyraven, The CD is Bob Leininger who is the oldest CD I have ever sailed with, he is 57. Nothing wrong with his age but not for a CD. The only time I saw him was on his TV show. He didn't attend anything else. The AD was Tornado Tanya. Bob spent most of the time on his TV show plugging his book about being a CD that is for sale on Amazon . Candie