rt1092

15 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

 

I would not use the word "OBC" at the casino cashier.  Just tell them you want a cash advance against your onboard account.  You can probably still get cash if you say you are playing one of the live games, like craps or blackjack.

They don't give you cash anymore. If you want chips (table game play) you get chips at the table. They are regular chips not promo chips and can be cashed in. 

Today is the last day of the sale. I cancelled and rebooked 3 weeks sale a bit.

5 hours ago, MaritimeR&R said:

According to HD on both Serenade and on Adventure, the white tubes are considered the upgraded toiletries for JS or thos C&A with more than 340 LPs.  Others get the bar soap and shower canister filled with all-purpose shampoo/body wash. Only full suites get Christopher & Banks or L'Occitane. The directive was sent out about a year and a half ago. 

 I first experienced this in Feb. 2018 on Serenade and questioned it in a letter to Miami. I was told basically if I receive anything other than the white tubes when i am not staying in a full suite, then my stateroom attendant is not doing his/her job correctly. Apparently, though the directive was sent fleetwide, there are some HDs and room attendants that choose to ignore it.

This is correct. Over 340 points you get the white tubes (made in China). I really wouldn't put them on my skin.

Bring your own.

Royal does not take lightly people scamming to get free drinks. 

I know of a pinnacle member that was removed from the ship and banned for life. For shaving the premium drink sticker from one seapass and putting it on another on  B2B cruises. They were warned but paid no attention, even got nasty with the server.

15 minutes ago, Want2Cruise 701 said:

 

Are there noise issues with these cabins from the service closet?  On symphony, the deckplan doesn't show a cabin so I'm assuming it's still a closet?

On decks 12, and 14, they have the inside cabin next to them. On decks 10, and 11, there is no inside cabin next to them.

They can be quite noisy at times. But mostly during the day.

5 hours ago, Host Clarea said:

 

I can't tell you if this is available in Miami, but I have read about leaving a firearm with the local police authority.

If the spouse is in Law enforcement. Call the local PD and see if they can allow you to leave your fire arm under lock and key there.

To all those that say just leave it home. Some circumstances require a law enforcement official to carry. All states have a different set of rules for law enforcement. It's not a normal concealed  carry 

1 minute ago, John&LaLa said:

I did read that the service closet next door on Oasis/Harmony is now a cabin.  That's a plus

Yes much quieter 

Yes longer balcony on 229 and 629 cabins

2 minutes ago, vacationlover_mn said:

We hope to be diamond in two years... Hope perks aren’t done by then!

If people would stop complaining and use common sense they won't change a thing. 

One problem is that once some people get to D+ or Pinnacle they forget there time as a Diamond like it never existed.

12 minutes ago, mk-ultra said:

 

Oh, I have a ton of offers.  I probably mis-named my  demoted tier (Select instead of Signature), but the reality is that the level of play I've had for the last decade playing table games no longer bumps me into Prime.  I've never had to approach a casino host to have my table-play rated.  This last year or so is the first time I've never been credited with table-play.  I'm counted in and counted out at start and end of play.  CR has had a lot of changes recently.  I've got a September cruise this year on Allure.  It'll be interesting to see if it's scored any better.

 

I'd gladly trade my prime for your Signature if they would let us.

10 minutes ago, mk-ultra said:

 

Oh, I have a ton of offers.  I probably mis-named my  demoted tier (Select instead of Signature), but the reality is that the level of play I've had for the last decade playing table games no longer bumps me into Prime.  I've never had to approach a casino host to have my table-play rated.  This last year or so is the first time I've never been credited with table-play.  I'm counted in and counted out at start and end of play.  CR has had a lot of changes recently.  I've got a September cruise this year on Allure.  It'll be interesting to see if it's scored any better.

 

Signature is not a demotion it's a promotion Prime = 2500 points  to achieve Signature = 25,000 points to achieve. Prime gets an inside cabin (once),  and then an internet discount (every cruise). Signature gets a balcony cabin (once) and free internet (every cruise). Both have free drinks in the casino.

You don't have to approach the host to be rated, just to find out how many points you have earned. The points are there whether you go to the host or not. But if you play like you say you are leaving at least $100 in free play on the table by not contacting the host.

The only other tier is Master (not counting choice which gives you nothing) for that you get a Suite.

On 4/20/2019 at 6:50 AM, Thorben-Hendrik said:

Heard they will close all DL starting July 1st!😱

A month ago. I was told by a double almost triple pinnacle that as of April 9 Diamond plus and down would get 5 drinks per nite No DL only SL. He said he had the inside scoop. 

Well Apr 9 has come and gone with no changes.

Don't believe rumors. Royal doesn't care how crowded the lounges get. Nobody is forcing anyone to go there. If it's too crowded for you leave and come back another time.

18 minutes ago, mk-ultra said:

 

The whole points system is really confusing right now as well.  I'm a table-games-only player (blackjack), and I'll usually put out $1000 a night and play for ~4 hours at $25-$100 a hand, often playing two spots for double that when things are slow.

 

Until a year or so ago, table play was scored pretty well.  I've been Prime for a long time with Casino Royale.  That's changed though.  On my last two cruises on Allure and Oasis... I didn't get a single point for playing the tables.  I received 170 points for the incidental (i.e. just killing time) money I spent on a few slot machines.  Got demoted from Prime to Select recently.

 

Natch, it's really not a big deal.  If I'm on a ship, I'm playing for fun.  The perks did take some of the sting out of this though, and if you're a table player, they're pretty much gone.

 

To check your table points you have to go to the Casino Hosts desk It will not show on the machines (unless the hosts convert them) It sounds like you got a promotion to Signature  there is no select. Check with Casino Royale at casinoroyaleoffers.com put in you C&A number and your name. You probably have a free balcony cruise waiting for you. Plus a lot of other offers..

Here are the reasons that you would not do a guarantee. 

Need a specific cabin such as close to elevator.

Need a cabin near another. As kids or relatives traveling with you.

In years past if you wanted to gamble on an upgrade (guarantees are not eligible after assignment).

Other than these I can't think of anymore reasons.

I use guarantees whenever I can. I've never been disappointed. As soon as they assign a cabin (you have to pay attention and look often) I change it to a cabin of my liking (if I didn't like the cabin assigned) .

I have 4 guarantees in the pipeline between now an Feb 2020.  

Every dollar I save goes to another cruise. (18 sofar between now and Feb 2020)

5 minutes ago, ownedbypets said:

Our only experience with non diamond guests in the diamond lounge was about 10 years ago.  Our kids, all diamond members, were with us. Our son was the only one that was 21 and he had brought along a friend. After the second night the concierge asked me why my son didn't come in and have a drink. I told him that he was drinking with his friend and the concierge quickly said for both of them to come and enjoy the lounge!  On that cruise the diamond lounge was empty, so it was very nice of him to offer. I don't think it would happen today.

I've seen them make exceptions even this year. But don't expect it. Be happy if they allow it.

39 minutes ago, NJ&Ozzie said:

 

We're at the Prime level for now.  Still debating whether the benefits are worth it.  Guess it depends on the losses.  

 

So now I am confused.  I know we are paying for gratuities. But are grats prepaid along with the taxes when you book the free cruise?  Or do we pay them the usual way - daily on our account?  I'm hearing both ways now.

NJ 

Some Casino Royale people try to get you to pay upfront for the tips. But it is not mandatory. Just tell them you will pay later.

26 minutes ago, NJ&Ozzie said:

 

We're at the Prime level for now.  Still debating whether the benefits are worth it.  Guess it depends on the losses.  

 

So now I am confused.  I know we are paying for gratuities. But are grats prepaid along with the taxes when you book the free cruise?  Or do we pay them the usual way - daily on our account?  I'm hearing both ways now.

NJ 

My wife and I are both Prime members. We each get a "free" cruise and free drinks in the casino. One of our free cruises is July 12 on the Ovation 7 night Alaska cruise The cheapest inside cabin went for over $3200 for 2. The other is an 8 nighter on the Adventure ABC islands cheapest inside $1500 for 2. Last year we did the Harmony and the Symphony in July for our freebies and upgraded to a JS for $400 and $600 both times. We like to drink a fluffy drink before going to the room. So it saves us at least $100 a cruise. 18 cruises equals $1800. 

We are not high rollers but cruise a lot and it adds up. We actually get back almost as much as more we spend in the casino. We probably spend between $50 and $100 per cruise (entertainment). 

If you want to take someone in to show them and sit and have a coffee in the afternoon. I doubt anyone would care. But not during happy hour.

4 hours ago, LBumb said:

Last week on Rhapsody diamond lounge was empty

some night 6 people

I believe more and more get drink package and dL is losing appeal

I wouldn't count on that. The upper tier members tend to gravitate to the big ships especially in the off seasons, due to the fact that with balcony discount you can get a neighborhood balcony almost as cheap or cheaper than an inside. Plus a lot of upper tier members do the T/As and surrounding cruises. 

The lounge can be crowed one week and almost empty the next. On the better priced cruises it is almost always full. When we get our "free" cruises from the casino. Price is not an object. So we tend to take expensive cruises. With less upper tier cruisers. On our first cruise as Pinnacles we would up 3rd highest cruiser On the Harmony in July. The DL was empty every night. 

Been on Oasis class almost 40 times. But our first Quantum class will be on the Ovation in July.

6 minutes ago, sellwingri said:

You can play .05 in a slot and be Choice.  Never heard anyone that’s Choice get a certificate for any amount so you were lucky. 

A Choice member can earn the Dollars Off cruise certificates. If you earn 400 points you get $100 off, 800 points $200. And so on. 

I would check with the casino host, and not rely on them delivering the certificates to your room. You can go online and check you standing and offers. clubroyaleoffers.com .

I wouldn't expect anything. We were on our 89th cruise with Royal. Before the upgrade fairy finally visited. Got upgraded from and OV to a balcony. And that was before the bidding thing.

3 hours ago, Ferry_Watcher said:

If luvteaching doesn't mind, I am going to expand on her answer (boots on the ground background).

 

On HAL and Princess days (Sa, Su, M) passengers have the option of either having the porters take their luggage, or walking into the building into the luggage hall and actually handing it to the longshoremen who feed the luggage thru the security scanner.  It has been my observation that a majority of the passengers arriving for HAL & PCL (in private cars/ Uber) will opt to wheel their own bags into the building. 

 

Fridays, we have Celebrity and RCL.  The luggage procedure is different - all the luggage (except carry-on) is taken by the porters out in the driveway area and taken to the ship.

 

Tuesday is Carnival.  Porters are only available until 2 PM, and any passenger arriving after that time is responsible for transporting their own luggage on to the ship.  (At least this is what the policy was in 2018).

 

Hope this answers your question.

Thanks. Sounds good. That is the way they do it in Florida. Hand the driver and the porters a tip. Then on to the ship.

Easy Peasy. 

At the piers in Florida the porters take your bag as soon as you get out of your transportation. You leave them where you are dropped off. Then they load them on to carts and take them to the ship. 

Is pier 91 in Seattle different? Do the porters take your bags in the building, then you check them in?