FManke

Or better yet, how about, "The Poseidon Adventure." The original of course, not the remake.  :lol:

Ain't that the truth!

Cash is King as the crew can use it for what they need. You also need to realize that their cabin space is very limited, so they don't really have room to store gifts. Something like a small treat from your hometown (e.g., pre packaged candy) might be nice, but money is the best way to go.

Maybe one of those latest "speakies" :) 

I think the fact that they are now charging for something that was "free" has people upset. Even those that never used it or ever planned to use it. Just the idea of "losing" something that they had for free, is upsetting. I think this brings up the general question, should they make everything included and charge more for the cruise, or charge less in general and make more things a la cart?

From what I've read you should dress as you like and not worry about what others might think. Easier said for me. Not so much for my wife!

With the move to bigger and bigger ships. Will there come a point when they get to be too big?
It seems like the bigger ships are concentrating on moving inward, leaving less and less outdoor space.
Does anyone see a point in the future, when you can take an entire cruise and never set foot outside?
I guess you can do that now if you wanted. But I mean, have no reason to go outside. Everything you need is indoors.
A time when ships that are no longer ships, just barges with hotels built on top.

Well, this topic really got the juices flowing, so to speak.  I guess what it boils down to, like so many other things, is personal choice. If you like room service, then order it. If you don't, then don't. If you don't mind paying for it, then do. And if you do mind paying for it, then don't. Be mad, don't be mad. The choice is yours. You have the right to feel anyway you want about this and you are not wrong. This is just one of the many choices you'll have while on a RCCL cruise. Happy cruising all!

Since you are a first time cruiser.....I don't have the qualifications to decide what you might not like.   I have my choices...but you need to experience dining and report back what you loved!!  

Oh sure! Just because they're from Canada, they must like poutine, eh?

Those are probably the same people "reserving" all the pews in church on Christmas and Easter! :angry: 

Those are probably the same people "reserving" all the pews in church on Christmas and Easter! :angry: 

Those are probably the same people "reserving" all the pews in church on Christmas and Easter! :angry: 

Jerel you are breaking my heart! Let me explain....
 
A couple weeks ago on Harmony I was walking on the pool deck on a sea day at about 10am. Quite frankly I have never seen so many towels and so few people at the pool. And then I saw the biggest chair hog in the history of Royal. This person had taken three towels and put them lengthwise across 9 lounge chairs. A gross showing of chair hoggyness.
 
As I stood there trying to figure the audacity a person would have to do that, a pool attendant was close by so I called him over. I told him "ummmm, are we doing anything about people reserving pool chairs today?" He said " If a guest isn't at there chair in a half an hour we remove them." Staring at about 20' of obviously reserved chairs "if you don't remove those towels, I am going to take those towels and throw them out that window, this is stupid.".....and I was serious. The pool attendant removed the towels and there was applause when I continued walking across the pool deck.
 
While in the elevator I thought after doing my good deed for the day "Gee, I wonder if somebody is going to get charged $75 for reserving pool chairs because they didn't get credit for reurning the towels? GOOD! I hope so!"
 
......and now you tell me this and it makes sense. <shakes head>

Are all menus the same for restaurants across the company? For instance are the menus for room service, Chops and Giovanni's the same from ship to ship? What about the MDR?

Maybe they will let people do that for a charge. It would be another income source if this room service fee doesn't pan out.

Mono is correct. But, there is also another reason those are out while in port that heralds back to the days of  the pirates......sort of.  They are for the parents of very unruly children on board. They can show the child the little walkway and tell them that's were the Captain makes misbehaving children walk the plank!  :ph34r: Aharr matey!

According to posters on Cruise Critic, that's the plank that they make you walk for catching booze in your checked luggage. ;)

Also another smart thing to do. Lock the potential lower price in now and then change or cancel later without any penalty.

Oh, ok.  Good to know about that. Gotta love that auto correct. My sons phone once auto-corrected his ex-girlfriends name to Satan. Alas, the phone turned out to be correct!

This is another reason why I book dining, beverage packages, and excursions as early as possible. Price protection. In addition, you can always cancel and rebook if the pricing changes.

I just booked Oasis 2yrs out, but included gratuities in case they go up by the time I'm actually on board.

Oh, ok.  Good to know about that. Gotta love that auto correct. My sons phone once auto-corrected his ex-girlfriends name to Satan. Alas, the phone turned out to be correct!

I think this is where the small print,"prices subject to change" comes into play.

Oh, ok.  Good to know about that. Gotta love that auto correct. My sons phone once auto-corrected his ex-girlfriends name to Satan. Alas, the phone turned out to be correct!