PompeySailor

3 minutes ago, mramella said:

In the Gratuities Breakdown picture above, I noticed Dining Staff gratuities amount is $7.25 per day. We have the Unlimited Dining Package on our upcoming Icon cruise (March of '23), for which I've already paid the 18% gratuity. We do not plan to go to the MDR or the Windjammer. I think I might go ahead and remove the gratuities and give my Statement Attendant cash. That seems fair to me, since I've already paid 18% for the UDP.

Totally fare and above board and legit 

💯 agree with you 

11 minutes ago, travelberlin said:

Agree 100%

I agree 18%

27 minutes ago, HxFx said:

Shoot! I am on deck 6 next week. I would think only folks under the running track would hear anything. Oh well, I'm not normally a super light sleeper so hope it won't wake me!

I think the majority of us are on 6 

it is a great location if the joggers jog on after 8 (if they are considerate)

See you onboard (schooner or pub) 

Happy Days!

39 minutes ago, firstimer2009 said:

I’m a bit of a nut about cabin location too.  Had an aft balcony on Alaska cruise which was beautiful but the noise of docking at 5am and motion would cause me to never book that again.  

Joggers on Deck 5 at 5:30am on Oasis class ships do my head in and wake every cabin on Deck 6

Always one inconsiderate health freak 🏃🏻‍♀️ running bare foot or flat footed

Should ban track usage until after 8am at least (after 8 I’ll have to suck it up)

I saw a video recently of padded floor tiles on Princess balconies.

All ships should use this so you don’t have to listen to PAX or crew dragging tables and chairs above cabins.

Well Done Princess - nice touch 

10 minutes ago, pcur said:

However, if you track the prices it can be worthwhile to purchase the UDP.  I did with my sister on the Vision last year, and we averaged $15 per meal for both lunches and dinners combined.

 

Right now I'm tracking for all my booked cruises, and it's running between $24 - $35 per meal.  This is lunches and dinners.

Agreed

Like you we total up the price if we had purchased as a single reservation.

Add in lunches and all dinners and we typically save $150 - $225 from buying the UDP as opposed to single purchases

MDR for us we will do when we just get a 3 night package, otherwise we utilize Solarium Bistro or CK on the Big ladies 

For us the UDP or packages with the ability in the future to lock in days and times is so refreshing and makes it more of a complete offering, rather than 1/2 a product 

47 minutes ago, marci22 said:

Save time and just ask Jimbo.

We stay in some unique suites, not sure if Jimbo is a suite dweller 😎

15 minutes ago, Tudy said:

So having read on post #1 that people with the UDP can prebook dining reservations on Wonder of the Seas, I called RCI to see if I could book, because I do have the UDP.

 

Answer: No sirree, bob. The poor girl read and reread me her scripted lines. "Passengers with the UDP do not need to make reservations. They just need to show up at the restaurant where they desire to eat when they desire to eat."

 

I told her this was not true. And she repeated. I told her I have had the UDP many times and that is not true. And she repeated. . . .I still don't believe her. Guess I will be making my reservations as soon as I board.

I highly doubt that any CS reps have been informed of the New press release regarding UDP yet.

I doubt there are many in the RC offices who also know about it 

If I had an upcoming Wonder sailing and I had the UDP  (The criteria currently required)

I would be calling in and checking the app and cruise planner daily 

Might be worth contacting Exec offices to find out what day GUINEA PIG testing starts on Wonder 

Good Luck

3 minutes ago, marci22 said:

He is also a savant with cabin specifics/locations. 

That is one thing we have tried to master lately and are very picky on where we bunker down on a ship these days 😄

We were going to go on Quantum for Alaska 2025 when I saw itineraries posted yesterday 

Not one JS or JY are in a location we like, so that cruise is not happening 

And didn’t want to splash on a GS (flights  needed)
 

We are wiling to look elsewhere because the cabin does not fit our needs 

Its a shame but after having a few cruises with noisy locations and lack of sleep 

Cabin choice for us comes before ship and itinerary 

Lots of research and YouTube videos before we book a certain cabin / suite 😎

56 minutes ago, marci22 said:

If you book your BOGO precruise, as described here, I think the worst they will do is say you have to cancel and rebook at the onboard price. I really don't think they will say, 'you booked at home and you are supposed to book onboard so no dinner for you!'

They were trying to sell me specialty dining multiple times a day, every day, on my last cruise. The capacity is there.

Exactly

Regardless of PCP or buy on board

Day 1 and Day 2 in our experience of speciality dining at the 5:30 - 6:00pm range are dead quiet.

And I’m talking the last 15 cruises we have done 

Either way it is done, Royal are achieving what they set out to do 

More people paying extra for food and reducing numbers in MDR

The difference in buying on ship and PCP is less than a free D+ drink coupon 

That’s the reality of this process 

Don’t sweat it, we didn’t and enjoy a zero bill 

(waiter got their exact $$$ amount tip, regardless of PCP or Buying on ship

So everyone is a winner 🏆 

4 hours ago, lovesthebeach2 said:

So you pre-booked online 1 specialty dinner for each of you and when you got there for dinner you told them you’re using the BOGO and they accepted it? In other words they were only expecting 1 person to show up and two came instead?

Did you only choose days 1 and 2 or further out?

 

Have all ships accepted this?

 

We’re currently on Odyssey and I tried to use our BOGO for lunch at Giovanni’s and no matter how hard I pushed they wouldn’t budge. He kept saying why wouldn’t I want dinner instead and I said it’s too late for me to eat that much. 
Other ships we had no issue doing that. I wish it was more consistent across the fleet. 

If you read my posts, only ever done once a few weeks ago and as already posted for Day 1 and Day 2 and for Dinner only 

I don’t really want to quote myself again 😎 

We never tried for lunch - See above 

For those concerned about trying to beat the system 

Please explain how a PCP is any different than an onboard purchase 

(maybe $10 max difference) and with all the dynamic pricing who cares 

look at this way the odd $3- -$4 difference in cost Royal are making back with their increase in gratuities 

It all balances out in the long run 

WAKE UP - How many tables with only 1 chair do you see in ANY restaurant 

a BOGO by its definition is not

a BOGOFBNUYGOTS

We have only done once with 💯 success rate and two ZERO receipts 

Will be doing again on Monday 

Happy Days !

If you can’t beat them - Try a different way - I said that 😉
 

@Jimbo I am now your advocate 🤪

Watch out for this scam that has been going on recently 

Open your mind (and eyes)

Stock photo so must be real 

1 minute ago, HBE4 said:

 

Definitely the Bionic Bar Robots.

 

Why?

 

They need their palms greased occasionally. 🤣🤣

I didn’t tip the bionic bartender once and the next time I ordered a drink they knocked the plastic cup over and my drink went all over the place .

Robots have feelings too 

East coast are all tucked up in bed, bring on the West coast barrage 🤪

1 minute ago, HBE4 said:

 

I may or may not, depends on how much you tip me.😉😇

Your tip of the day: 

Wear red and green socks 

Left for go Right for stop - to confuse people swap them on a daily basis 

How did I do ?

8 minutes ago, njdealguy said:

 

You forgot about the captain!

 

And if a ship of 5,000 passengers all pay $10 to all crew, that's $50k in tips earned by everyone for a 1 week cruise! 

2500 crew $20 bucks each YIP YIP Yorary ! 🥳
 

I will be paying $20.50 per day soon

$20 a week ain’t going to cut it 

5 minutes ago, HBE4 said:

 

Are you tipping him based on the excellent service he has provided in the past, the current excellent service you received today or for the promise (hope) of excellent service you may or may not receive in the future?

 

Do you know if he shares the tip with all the behind the scenes people that have enhanced your mail delivery experience?

 

If you don't tip, does the USPS step up to make the difference or will that be the responsibility of your neighbors?

 

Have you been shamed/bullied by online forums to tip more than you wanted to?

 

I love tipping threads too.

 

 

I wish I had all the answers - I am but a mere observer 🍿 

Mail person - my bad 😳 just incase 

You raise some very interesting points which I would need to contact USPS HQ to find out and clarify 

Do you have the CEO’s email 😉

7 minutes ago, gerig said:

It shouldn't have any impact on BOGO.  I always book dinner for 1 person on nights 1 and 2 of the cruise.  One night is under my name and the second night is under my husbands.  I always get the dining time I want and don't need to rush around to the restaurants when I board.

Exactly how we did it +1 👍🏻

18 minutes ago, ValerieJo said:

Thanks Graham.  Just want to make sure I understand what you’re saying.   For example, if I book Chops (pre cruise in the planner) for the first night for 1 person, but Doug and I both show up, I’ll be able to use my D+ BOGO and he’ll be free?  

That’s exactly how it worked for us 

and on the second night we used Nikki’s  and repeated the process.

Not sure if necessary, when I booked Chops for one , I did in my name for Day 1

Then booked Giovanni’s for one, in Nikki’s name for Day 2

When we  boarded I went to chops and told the Matre D we would be PCP + BOGO 

Also made sure they notated that for day 2 as well, all 😎 

We had no issues and x2 ZERO receipts 

(Waiters got their cash tip like usual)

Thanks to @Jimbo for this tip, as we had never used our D+ BOGO’s before  for dining.

I just tipped my mailman for delivering my daily post 

Now I know in the future my mail will be delivered as usual, with a ribbon on it 😜

Forgot to add - I love tipping threads 🍿 

4 minutes ago, livingonthebeach said:

 

Oh ok then - it won't be available for my upcoming Navigator cruise this month. Too bad. 

Nope 

1 minute ago, travelberlin said:

Great news. With this change I might definitely consider booking the UDP. I did not like the stress associated with having to be on a long queue on the first day just to try to book the preferred times. I assume that there is also a limit on how many cruisers can book UDP on a particular cruise.

Don’t think they will over book it 

Royal don’t over book 😉

Edit: They only overbook cabins not dining (YET)

I don’t see UDP being booked much more than it already is

a slight up tick maybe 

Not many are willing to shell out $500- $1000 for a 7 night for 2 when all the other food is free

11 minutes ago, livingonthebeach said:

I went on my CP and can't find where there's an option to book times for the UDP. Is this starting the day Icon first sails? January 27, 2024?

It says aiming for right after Icons first sailing  or a few days after in post #1