Skyesong

I'm booked to go on Voyager, and talking with a friend yesterday she said she went on Voyager last year, and when she got to check in, they told her that they had switched her into a different cabin because someone wanted two interconnecting rooms. She wasn't happy with the cabin she ended up in because it was quite noisy.

I'm booked into a room that has an interconnecting door to the next room (8220). I booked it because it was one of the only ones available at the time that had a sofa bed in it. Could we show up and check in and be told to move? Can I refuse to move if I don't like the room that they are wanting me to move into?

How are the 'points' calculated? I'm going on my first cruise later this year and plan on playing roulette.

I also think some people just like to bring others down. I put up on facebook that I had booked a cruise on Voyager, and someone immediately got on and wrote this whole long diatribe about how awful it was. I've actually banned her now from discussing it with me. She's a born whinger, and nothing is ever good enough for her.

If you go into things with a bad attitude, you shouldn't be surprised when you get back what you give out.

My son is donor conceived, so I always travel with his birth certificate showing no father, and a notarised copy of a letter from the clinic. Better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

Thanks OpuaKiwi! That sounds like something I would find very interesting.

Thanks Lucy.

Not sure my 6 year old boy has enough hair for braids lol!

I might just take my son off the ship and chill out on the beach for a few hours.

Thank you for posting about your trip. We're going on this cruise in December.

I'm just wondering if you noticed much that could be done on Mystery Island for someone who doesn't swim/snorkel. I'm taking my 85 year old aunt with me, and whilst she is fairly spritely, she's very much a non swimmer. I'll also have a 6 year old with me. Trying to decide whether it's worth getting off the ship there, or just having another day on board.

Thank you.

We still haven't done our first cruise yet (302 days to go!), but a number of years ago I went to a small island that we have been going to for years. Every time we go somewhere, we always spot someone at the airport and say 'they're the ones!' and you just know you will run into them everywhere. So I spotted this lot within about two minutes of being at the airport. First up they had a tantrum because they wanted the exit row seats, but were refused because of their age and they got given to me instead. Then we get to security and they had another tanty because the line I was in moved quicker than theirs. Security quietly stepped over and took them off for an additional search (haha!). There were a few other incidences with boarding and then they stopped by the exit row and argued with me to try and get me to move until the flight attendant told them to sit down and brought me a glass of champagne 'for dealing with all the inconvenience' whilst giving them a glare. Finally we get to the island and they push themselves off the plane first. They get their bags about ten seconds before mine, and they shove me to get into the immigration line ahead of me. Only for the chief officer to come over and greet me, and takes us out of the queue and processes us through straight away without waiting. Their heads exploded.

Why do I have a feeling they've probably been on a few cruises?

First time cruiser here, and an Aussie, so not completely up with the finer details of tipping. I've included gratuities in my booking, and don't intend to change that, but what would be the usual tip for the various people serving? Cabin steward? Should you tip the staff at the kids club?

I also read somewhere that someone tips their room steward on the first day so they get good service throughout the cruise. Is that usual practice?

Thank you.

How do you join the Casino program? We've booked our first cruise for December and I plan on playing on the tables. Do you join before you go, or will they sign you up when you first play?

Thank you for posting the drink menu.

We're cruising on Voyager for the first time this year, and I was assuming I would buy the drink package for me as I'm a wine/sparkling wine drinker. But the fine print on the package says drinks up to $12, and most of the items on the wine list are over that. If you buy the drink package and buy one of the higher priced drinks do they just charge the difference to your account, or do you have to pay the full price? The drinks package is probably not much use if you're limited to just a couple of options for your drinks.

Put the 14 year old and the 9 year old in one room. Have one room to yourselves.

I hope it's not mandatory. I've been skating (competitively) since I was 5. A helmet would just be weird.

I was watching some youtube videos of cruises, and it looks like everyone the ice rink has helmets? Is that mandatory?

I can't imagine that they would likely have anyone on board who is qualified to care for an adult of that age. I've not been on my cruise yet, but I also can't imagine, even if they would care for her, that they would allow you to go off the ship for the day and leave her behind. You would need to be easily accessible in an emergency. I can't wait to use the kids room, but would never go off the ship and leave him behind.

Thank you Bob. I'll make sure I get cash. Good way to stick to a budget at well ;)

When playing the tables (roulette being the game of choice in my case), do you need to put down cash to get chips? Or do you request the amount you want and it gets charged to your account? If you can put down cash, does it need to be in US dollars? (I'm sailing from Sydney).

We'll be cruising on Voyager of the Seas over New Years (depart on the 30th). New Years Eve and Day are scheduled as cruising days. Is there anything special that usually happens onboard for New Years? I presume it would be considered a more formal night?

Ok, got onto them and it's all sorted. When I booked, it turns out I did it on their US site, not the Australian one. The customer service operator has given me the booking number and assigned it to the My Cruises area, so I'm able to log in now and see my cruise!

Phew! Big relief! 307 days to go!

No, nothing has appeared online yet, and still not receipt. Money has been taken from the account. I am in Australia, so customer service only open Monday to Friday. Needless to say, I'll be on the phone at 9am tomorrow morning trying to find out what is happening. I'll be so upset if money has been taken and no cruise booked.

Questions from a newbie...

1. It's my son's birthday the day we depart. It's not essential, but is there anything that can be done about a little cake with dinner if I let them know in advance? Or will anyone bat an eye if I take a small cake on board with us?

2. My son has a drink of milk when he goes to bed each night (often 2). I will take his cup with us for this, but will the room steward be able to get us a bottle/jug of milk to keep in the room fridge? Or alternatively, how annoyed would he get with us asking for his cup to be filled up with milk each night?

3. Drinks - Can you get a bottle of wine to take to your room if you want to sit on the balcony and have a quiet drink or do all drinks have to be consumed in the bar areas?

Thank you in advance.

I hope it's just a glitch! I've been wanting to go on a cruise for a long time and finally in a position to book one, so I hope it's all ok and my room has been booked!

Definitely nothing in the spam folder.

I'll wait until the morning and give them a call on the number trojan3000 provided. It seems like a weird glitch somewhere as the money has definitely been taken from my account.

I booked through the Royal Caribbean website and direct with their website. The money has been taken from my account for the deposit for the cruise (1350USD - about $1750 AUD).

I have no booking reference.