Bob_KY

Matt. You jumped on it and so did we (Oasis OTS, January 2018). Please let us know if there are any lessons learned and your assessment. We looked at the wine discounts and sea days' lunches as great selling points. Windjammer visits are at risk.. ?

Steve Davis is also known for his "Thriller" dance class. If offered, we had a blast in May 2017 doing it. For the first time, i went to Steve's Discussion Sessions - very thought provoking.

Of eight RC cruises, consistently, our best service experiences have been with our stateroom service. This one service category could be a distractor - but had always been an "enhancer." Like mom2mybugs, one Radiance OTS bartender remembered my fav drink, greeted me by name, and was always upbeat.

https://m.macys.com/shop/product/kenneth-cole-reaction-lanyard-wallet-with-tracker?ID=3657362&pla_country=US&CAGPSPN=pla&CAWELAID=120156340009319681&CAAGID=14183151727&CATCI=pla-257934207748&catargetid=120156340008478836&cadevice=m&cm_mmc=Google_Handbags_PLA-_-G_PLA_Handbags_Kenneth+Cole+Reaction_Kenneth+Cole+Reaction-_-69538617127-_-pg112089_m_kclickid_dba5a72b-e3f0-42a3-8385-a6360b8fb5f1&trackingid=477x112089&gclid=CN-h2o3I9dQCFRO2wAodTtoJ5w More expensive, but becomes a mini-wallet for me.

Like CGTLH, we did this in July 2014. We had a fabulous time. Our "best cruise. " My only contribution is, if you have the option, spend some time in Seward (Sea & Wildlife Museum ). I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

Another convenience that we use are lanyards. A good way to keep track of your seapass, other cards, and a little cash.

Oasis. 01/21/2018

Thanks DocLC! I thought it tax. Feelng dumb. My last cruise, the baristas made out well with tips.

My understanding from cruise planner. Starbucks kiosk is not included in any beverage package; even the deluxe excludes Starbucks. I went with the Cafe Select card - 15 specialty coffees for $31. This provides my wife and I our morning lattes. We also order 12 bottles of water, delivered to our cabin. We don't drink sodas. For our 7 night cruise this works out fine for us. One thing for the cafe card, it does not include the tip. We collect $5 bills 6 months before our cruise for tips. Based on what we drink, the Refreshment Pkg and Cafe Card would be redundant. It depends on how much non-alcoholic beverages you drink a day. I hope this helps.

Are the bridge tours limited to suite guests?

In May 2017 on the Radiance OTS, the card was in my cabin along with my excursion tickets. They used a hole "punch" to kept track. On the back of the card, there was a place for you to write in your name and stateroom #. Also, i bought one for my upcoming oasis cruise. I don't think you can use it at Starbucks.

I have called twice; my reservation disappearing from "my cruises" and booking confirmations were wrong after payment. Both times the service rep said scheduled patches and upgrades were causing havoc. The problem is at their end.

I second cabradl's recommendation on the specialty coffee card for $31. We did it for the first time on the Radiance OTS, it definitely was a super deal. Already purchased it for our January cruise on the Oasis OTS.

We enjoyed the 7 night Southern Caribbean Cruise that departs out of San Juan, PR. We arrived 2 days early to take advantage of Puerto Rico. Royal has different itineraries departing from this port. We avoided St Maarten and St Thomas because they were regular stops for other cruises we have been on.

Waaaytooo is right. My OBC wasn't applied when i boarded. I was told to wait until "day 2" when accounts were fully established. It wasn't, so all I did was take my email confirmation to the service desk and it was fixed. When you redeem points, like OBC, you have to identify the cruise date and ship. Like DocLC, I have switched credit cards that provide a better rewards program.

Some restaurants (ensure you call first!) allow you to bring your own wine, but charge a corkage fee. I do not see this as out of the ordinary. I like have the ability to bring 2 bottles of my favorite wines on my cruise. The $7.50 cordage fee is still better than the 50-100% markup for the wine on the ship's wine list. Agree with DocLC - let me bring more....

...you have 220 days until your next cruise and you've set out your suitcase and have started to pack. With the recurring "cruise goal" to reduce the amount you pack...

We make it a habit to bring two bottles of our favorite wines in our "set sail" carry-on. Even if they have a fee to uncork a bottle, it is a great way to save money and not compromise on your wine quality.

fiegal2539. Alaska remains my favorite. As a military brat, i was born in Anchorage and for my military career I was able to be stationed at Fort Richardson for 2 years. Love Alaska. My wife would say, too many non-flushing toilets. :-) The view from Alyeska - breath taking or being part of the 20% club to see Denali.. i will remove "activites on board." For cruises with numerous sea days - this may become important (for example, repositioning). UPDATE. RCCL notified me today that my luggage was found and will be delivered tomorrow. Great outcome. RCCL shipped it International Priority via FEDEX.

KWofPeth - well it happened. A wonderful cruise just completed, the Radiance OTS Hawaiian 12 night (repositioning to their Alaskan itineraries) - disembarkation put a damper on the overall experience. Mistakes happen, but this is followed by RCCL customer support's lack of urgency, inadequate information, We purchased "ship to Vancouver Airport" transfers - this includes luggage delivery to airport. RCCL lost two pieces of my luggage. I waited for 2hrs for an update at the airport from the RCCL Airport Representatives. No updates. The RCCL Airport Reps said they were waiting on an update from their "supervisor." I completed the paperwork and left just in time to get through customs and get back to the USA. At my first opportunity, I called RCCL Customer Service (had to send them a copy of my copy of the paperwork I completed in Vancouver) and they logged in my "lost luggage." After more than 72hrs and daily inquiries, all I have been told (very politely) is that a case worker has been assigned and he will communicate with me once he has an update. This predicament happened to over 10 other people on my cruise - which indicates to me that there is a bigger issue here deserving of a priority effort to resolve. My simplistic view: 1 - luggage still on ship (heading for Seward, AK), 2 - luggage at pier, or 3- luggage stolen. #1 & #2 should be accomplished quickly (prompting an update from RCCL?). My expectation was concrete case work progress updates, next steps if luggage not found, overall timeline, and subsequent claims action. After all this, should I have to pay for a service that wasn't fully rendered? Embarkation/disembarkation Experience was added to my criteria in determining my "best cruise." 1. Cruise Expectation, goals. (Mom2mybugs) 2. Companionship (sharing memories) (fmanke, tiny260) 3. Itinerary (ports of call) (prc, tiny260, neaxan, Mworkman, Matt, JLMoran, DocLC) 4. Ship (tiny260, neaxan, DocLC, Matt) 5. Crew. (this was not reinforced with any responses) Keep it? 6. New discovery/experience 7. Ability to Relax (mom2mybugs, rjac, coneyraven) 8. Activities on board. (this was not reinforced with any responses - may be redundant with "ship?") Keep it? 9. Embarkation/disembarkation Experience. 10. Price. (DocLC, Matt)

Your post will make the time until we set sail fly by. We are in CLS #1728 on Oasis in January. Suite category CL1 versus CL2 definitely have different views. BTW. Royal is changing stateroom "categories" codes. I wanted to be smarter on the "codes" and their definitions. I went to Crown & Anchor web site, found it, by ship and effective date. Armed with this and a deck map - i am ready for "next cruise." Some posts do not rate the Coastal Kitchen very high. What was your experience?

Update 2. Starting this out, I thought of a decision matrix or decision tree. Wrong. Like the March Madness NCAA Tournament, the best 5 basketball players (criteria) on one team don't always lead to a national championship. Each player could be the Cinderella that leads to being the best. So, below, each criteria, based on its own intensity, novelty, and cruise personal goals drive to being "the best cruise." Refining criteria. 1. Cruise Expectation, goals. (Mom2mybugs) 2. Companionship (fmanke and tiny260) 3. Itinerary (ports of call) (prc)(neaxan) 4. Ship (tiny260)(neaxan) 5. Crew. 6. New discovery/experience 7. Ability to Relax (mom2mybugs) 8. Activities on board Some overlap with the over-arching of cruise expectation, goals. Good words of perspective that eliminated a criteria - (KWofPerth), "Embarkation/disembarkation can be likened to a road trip. They have to be endured in order to get to where you want to be. But the trip there is a LOT more fun than the trip home." For my wife and I, 5 days til "set sail" and new memories. Bob

Peter, You get double C&A points for a grand suite. The "doubling" starts at junior suite level, but that level you are not afforded all the suite amenities. My wife and i set sail in 5 days - i will give an update about our first time in a grand suite. We are so ready... luggage packed and weighed. Our favorite wines sealed, and my back pack - almost there. R, Bob

Tiny260 , fmanke. Both are soo right. Best memories are those we share.

Food for thought. Pun intended. 150 Central Park and Chef's Table are both elegant and delicious. We did the "salt" tasting at 150 C, wow. Unique. Chef's Table was cozy, limited experience, with the chef using his creativity to serve us "one of a kind" dinners. I think he paired wine too. BTW. We always take two bottles of our favorite wines. They will uncork and serve in the mdr. Or you can host a "happy hour" in your cabin/suite. Your cabin stewart will bring you extra glasses and wine cork screw. Just ask.