FManke

I'd like to see a good, traditional deli. With hot corned beef and pastrami sandwiches. I know it said, "What fun thing would you like to see on board," but I think eating is fun!

What other jobs do they have when not performing?

Thanks for the update!

Flying in the day before our cruise in Oct and I am looking for dinner ideas in Boston. Staying in the waterfront area, but am willing to go anywhere for a great meal. Open to all types and styles of cuisine. Thanks

The specialty restaurants have pretty standard menus for their type of restaurant, at least Izumi, Chops and Giovanni's Table, all of which we have reservations for this Oct. The one thing that the MDR has going for it, is it's diversity. At least for now. If you are dining with a large group, everybody should be able to find something they like. It's kind of just like a plated version of the Windjammer, if you think about it. Restaurants will not keep something on the menu if nobody is buying it. I wonder if this is what's driving the menu changes that people have been mentioning. If not enough people are ordering the roasted duck, they are going to stop carrying it. It's not worth it to them to source, store and inventory products that nobody is eating. My idea of eating while on vacation, or anytime, is to try things that I cannot get or make readily at home. Others just stick to what they know. To each their own.

What were the issues? Cruising there this Oct.

I don't mean to be flip, but it's all fun and games until somebody gets hurt. Or in this case dies. What did Forrest Gump say, "Mama always says, stupid is as stupid does." I'm sorry that somebody died, but unfortunately, I don't think it will deter many.

I have seen all the sales since I first booked our cruise in Feb, and have not seen the soda package discounted.

Thanks guys! I'll be waiting for your reply. 80 days left till we leave! Look forward to the new menus.

I don't know about the discount for D+ members, as my wife and I will be only going on our first cruise. I do know that I purchased our drink packages when they were offered at a 30% discount off of onboard rates. I've seen them offered a couple of times at the same rate since I booked our cruise in Feb. I'm not sure if they will be offered again before you cruise in Sept. I would buy whatever you wanted now to lock in a discounted price. You can always change it later if the price drops. I thought I even read that RC will give you a credit if the price is lower once onboard, but I'm not sure about that. I'm sure somebody here will have the correct info, if I'm wrong.

I've only been to WDW twice. Once in 1976 as a child, and then again in 2006 with my own children. Looks like it's 2036, with the grandkids!

Maybe they will get it straightened out by Oct, when we cruise.

Any sight or word of these changes yet?

I'll have to learn some German by Oct!

I guess better to ask it to be removed to avoid any possible charges. But, I'm sure this isn't fool proof, but should help.

Very true. This like so many others things in life just prove the point that the few ruin it for the many.

True

I know that both of my boys have been to Universal and loved it, although they are much older than your child. I have always thought that Universal was geared to older kids, but I could be way off. From other postings that I've read about the RC/Universal package, I'm not sure how many perks you actually get for booking them together, except for convenience. If my kids were that age again, I would opt for Disney. Just my opinion.

Weren't they doing away with stocked mini-bars? I thought I read that here somewhere?

I'm assuming this means that there is water placed in the cabin, and is charged to you if you drink it? I guess some would assume, if it's just sitting around , it's complimentary?

What about the handles on the soft-serve ice cream machines? Sorry, I've probably just ruined somebodies vacation.

I know what you mean rjac, nothing beats live music. Both of our sons are musicians, and we love to see them play any chance we get. You mentioned that the dropping of poolside bands were for monetary reasons, but they employ bands throughout the ships at night? I guess if they were to cut a band, it would be the poolside one. Don't a lot of the musicians pull double duty performing though?

What was your best RC service experience ever? Who and what made it so special? This might be a hard question for some of you to narrow down to just one, so I apologize in advance. Tell us what we can hopefully look forward to on our first cruise.

I agree tiny. If people stop buying the packages, if this is implemented, RCCL will be forced to change the policy, or pay dearly with lost revenue. There are a lot of people though that will continue to buy it, even though they will complain about it. As my dear dad likes to say, "crap or get off the pot!" You can't have it both ways. If you want something to change, you have to make a change yourself. Pick a lane and stay in it.

I think there is room for both. There is a number of cruisers that don't get the drink package as mentioned, because the value isn't there for them. But of you offered a punch card like the coffee card, I think there would be a number of people who would be interested in that. There is such a huge mark up on liquor that they would still make a ton of profit by discounting the price. If you limited the number of drinks, the profit potential per drink would be higher than the unlimited drink packages. And like everything offered with the cruise planner, they would get their money up front, usually months in advance. Just my thoughts.