fonemanbob

What ever you desire. We have seen the whole gamut of tips.  Coins,1`s ,5`s,10`s, 20`s.   We did a private tour in Athens last year and gave the driver 20 and the guide 50.  It was so worth it.  Otherwise we decide after every excursion haw much we leave.  Their is no real set amount to give.  We did tip in the restaurants also while over there. Again that is personal preference.

We bring 2 bottles of wine and buy wine every cruise.  Like Todd W stated nothing worse than getting a bottle of nasty tasting wine.  Then again they do let you taste it before pouring a glass. That works out very well.   I cover the cork screw with a piece of lead so the x ray machine won`t detect it.   Works every time.  Did I just say that. Silly me. Too much vino I guess.

my wife and i have the drink package but will still bring on our 2 bottles.   It's more of the convenience of having wine we both know we enjoy  for in the evenings on the balcony or while getting ready in the room without having to run out and get some from the bar.    nothing worse than getting stuck with a skunky wine at the end of the night, so we play it safe for those occasions.      I've inadvertently turned her into a wine snob (as far as our expenses go) and she's particular as to what she likes so we've gotta keep momma happy!    she never poo-poo's my uncontrollable cigar purchases so far be it for me to keep her from wanting something from our little top-shelf wine cooler lol

Nothing worse than a perfect chain to wreck a perfect cruise. Only to get a perfect rash to remember some of the many IMPERFECT things Royal does at times.  

The beauty of having a travel agent gets us an extra $50 O.B.C. and a bottle of wine and a specialty dinner. All of that is in addition to R.C. on board credit.  If you don`t have a T.A.  then get one. No cost to you. And a good T.A. at a reputable company is so beneficial.  If you booked thru royal just get a T.A. and transfer the reservation over. 

We got off the Allure on the 7th and we were given the old style cup.

We always leave ours in the room when we leave the ship.  They are such a low quality they are not worth taking home.

We always get the insurance. It is so worth the peace of mind.  We have witnessed 2 helicopter and 1 boat  pick up of ill passengers over the last 4 years.  Anybody young or old can get injured or take ill.   Dunn`s River Falls is notorious for causing many injuries.  It`s like that slogan.  Don`t leave home without it. 

We always get the insurance. It is so worth the peace of mind.  We have witnessed 2 helicopter and 1 boat  pick up of ill passengers over the last 4 years.  Anybody young or old can get injured or take ill.   Dunn`s River Falls is notorious for causing many injuries.  It`s like that slogan.  Don`t leave home without it. 

Sad it has taken all these years to come out.  I personally have asked that question many times.   Getting a state discount is a joke also.  Or a senior discount or a disabled discount.  And so on and so forth.  To all who have served : THANK YOU.

Best put. From A to Z.  I say go for it.  Most people dress up quite nicely.  And go to several photo ops.  We  have gotten some awesome photos over the years.  

Sad it has taken all these years to come out.  I personally have asked that question many times.   Getting a state discount is a joke also.  Or a senior discount or a disabled discount.  And so on and so forth.  To all who have served : THANK YOU.

Sad it has taken all these years to come out.  I personally have asked that question many times.   Getting a state discount is a joke also.  Or a senior discount or a disabled discount.  And so on and so forth.  To all who have served : THANK YOU.

Sad it has taken all these years to come out.  I personally have asked that question many times.   Getting a state discount is a joke also.  Or a senior discount or a disabled discount.  And so on and so forth.  To all who have served : THANK YOU.

Items were found on Amazon and being overnighted.  What a concept.

Items were found on Amazon and being overnighted.  What a concept.

Sad it has taken all these years to come out.  I personally have asked that question many times.   Getting a state discount is a joke also.  Or a senior discount or a disabled discount.  And so on and so forth.  To all who have served : THANK YOU.

Sad it has taken all these years to come out.  I personally have asked that question many times.   Getting a state discount is a joke also.  Or a senior discount or a disabled discount.  And so on and so forth.  To all who have served : THANK YOU.

Perhaps Dunkin Donuts and Hardee`s will be added due to budget constraints from the crane accident.  Aqua theater might become a rock climbing wall. Who knows just speculation. 

Perhaps Dunkin Donuts and Hardee`s will be added due to budget constraints from the crane accident.  Aqua theater might become a rock climbing wall. Who knows just speculation. 

The photo packages may seem pricey but actually can be a great value.  Watch for specials on them.  Or have a camera  with you and have someone take your picture everyday.  That will give you extra options.  We do it every cruise.   More than once we have had ships photographers pictures taken only to find that none turned out.  That`s another story in itself.  Then again we have had some awesome pictures on our cruises as well from the ship photo shop.  

Having lived in Orlando for 10 years and now moving back to Florida avoid I-4 at all costs.  DEFINITELY take the 417 and get on the road by 7:30 a.m.  Starbucks in Florida are like churches in Tennessee.   There is one on every corner.  The  beauty of getting to the cruise terminal early is you are able to get a good parking place as the garage is all but empty from the passengers that just arrived that morning.

Not crazy at all.
Royal Caribbean has a loyalty program called Club Royale.  You are automatically enrolled in this program if you use your Sea pass card at any casino slot machine or table game.  There are tier levels to this program and based upon your play level (frequency, time spent playing and average bet values) you can advance to higher tier levels.  The higher your tier level, the more casino offers you will receive.  You can “win” certificates while on your cruise and also receive offers through the mail and by email.  If you are rated at the tier level of Prime or higher, you will receive a complimentary cruise.  You must requalify every year.
The onboard casino host will not know what offers you have (other than any certificate that he/she will offer you) but you can call Club Royale any time to find out what offers you are eligible for (888-561-2234) or go online at Clubroyaleoffers.com and see what offers you have.  The problem with the online list is that there are no details about the offers so you generally have to end up calling anyway.

Our 4 main reasons we book future cruises the first night on board are:  Reduced Deposit, Cruise Price, Cabin Selection, and last the fact the appointment book for Next Cruise will fill up fast.  Also if you get a good agent they will recommend reasons for a certain cruise, or cabin selection, ship, etc.   The reduced deposit allows you to book several future cruises for that attractive $ 100.00 per person deposit.  For the past 3 years the wife has already said again we are not booking any future cruises this next cruise.   L.O.L.    I can bet the farm we will be booking more cruises on our next cruise in Sept. 

My FCC has been issued for the Oasis cancellation.  This is a day earlier than they stated in their email.
My situation was complicated because I used a previous FCC to pay down this Oasis sailing.  
True to their word, they re-issued that original FCC and my total FCC from this Oasis cancelation is in fact 100% of the cruise fare.  FCC calculations never include port fees and taxes so those are out of the equation as expected.  
They have applied this new FCC to a Panama Canal booking I had.  That booking required a $450 deposit because of the 16 night length.  With this Oasis FCC applied to that cruise they are refunding a portion of my Panama cruise deposit because I have now over paid it based on the combined $450 deposit and Oasis FCC.    
FCC cannot be used to pay taxes and port fees on another booking so for the price of taxes and port fees I am getting a free ocean view Panama canal cruise.  This new cruise comes with $50 of OBC.  
In addition to that, my Oasis FCC exceeded the cruise fare portion of my Panama canal cruise so I am left with $156 in residual FCC that I can apply to yet another cruise.  
So while I did "lose" some OBC and other perks on my Oasis booking, I am thrilled with a full refund plus a Panama Canal cruise with $50 in OBC for the price of ports fees and taxes.
Should I live blog that cruise?  Hmmm.