FPP777

1 hour ago, Darkingnj said:

Yes, yes, yes, and yes, I have all four here at home.  I see you're from Texas, I was actually sipping on Garrison Brothers Single Barrel Cask Strength private pick 125.1 proof from a local liquor store here in NJ.  Will you be Bourbon hunting in St. Thomas?  Someone posted on another ship I believe the Adventure that Blanton's was being sold for $89 onboard...that would be a pass for me...lol  Enjoy your cruise!  🥃🛳️

Yeah, I would have to agree on the Blantons. Even at 65, I dont bother anymore.

My cruise is going to St Marteen. There is a place there on Front street called Gulmohar's. They have one of the better whiskey selections. They have the Gold and Straight From the Barrel versions of the Blantons there as well, but I dont believe you can get some of the more sort after allocated bottles. Enjoy the GB. They are hit and miss, but I have had the cask strength and it was tasty.

15 hours ago, Darkingnj said:

Heyyyy...please save some Bourbon for me...hahaha...what are you sipping?🥃😀

I had some success on my last two cruises in 2017/2018. I found some Blantons, Four Roses, Whistlepig Rye and Buffalo Trace. While I have much better at home, it was nice to find this and much better than some of the standard bourbon offerings. 

06:32 Coffee and Baileys at the Cafe

08:45 Mimosa in the Windjammer

11:30 Bucket of Beer by the Pool

16:30 Bourbon from the Pub

18:30 Bourbon at the Schooner Bar

20:00 Wine with dinner

22:00 Bourbon at the Disco

They know where I am all day. 😆

2 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

Not specifically- something around 30% and up. 
Very unlikely. 

Thanks Biker. Guess we will learn more as it gets closer.

Is Royal saying what the booking levels are for upcoming cruises? We are going mid-October and curious to know if they are up to 100 percent by then.

10 hours ago, YankeesFan4Life said:

I just looked, and I remember seeing either Woodford Reserve or Gentleman Jack as their "better" bourbon/whiskey. Now it's not there anymore, subbed with Buffalo Trace as what I see is their best Bourbon on the list, and I also thought I remember seeing a Reposado or Anejo Tequila.  Now there's not even one!  Patron Silver is the best they can do?  Come on Royal, you can do better than that for $58/day!!!

 

Btw, anyone know if they serve PBR on board???? Yeah, I'm a wine and Bourbon snob, but love my PBR's!!!

The last two times I cruised in 17 and 18, the bar/pub on the promenade deck had Blantons and 4 Roses if you were looking for a bit of an upscale bourbon. I also saw some Whistlepig Rye in a few locations. 

I would imagine lunch at chops on embarkation day is going away. You cant get on the ship in time for lunch on my cruise.. Unless they are extending the hours of lunch.

2 minutes ago, molly361 said:

You are clearly having trouble doing that 

Appears you have an impulse problem as well.

15 hours ago, vjmatty said:

So you ignore her very logical question with a non responsive reference to being selfish. You still haven’t answered poocher’s question about what the issue is. 

OK. This will really be the last response.

You and I go on the same cruise. We pay for the UDP. We both have a reasonable expectation that on the day the cruise departs, our ability to get the desired restaurant at the exact time we want is mostly equal. We both want Chops at 8PM on Tuesday because of a special occasion. So I book a reservation outside the UDP and pay for it. On cruise day, we both line up to make our reservations. You are standing in front of me. You want Chops at the same time and date because of your special occasion. They tell you its not available. Now its my turn. I tell them I want to cancel the reservation I paid for, they say ok. Now I say I would like Chops at 8PM tuesday and they say ok, that just became available. So I get what I want at no additional expense because they refund my money. You dont get it. So I booked the paid reservation until the false pretense of using that paid reservation when I really have no intention of using it. So I get what you should have got. So I called foul that it wasnt a fair thing to do. But I have learned, around here, that is all part of the game. I either get in the game or move on. Maybe that doesnt make sense or mean anything to anyone else, but it meant something to me. Does that answer the question of what my issue was? I truly hope so, because I want to move on. 

15 hours ago, vjmatty said:

You just don’t get it….. they want that night whether they pay for it or use UDP. No one is being deprived of anything just because they change it to a UDP reservation.  You’re making this into a morality “everyone out for themselves” issue when it’s not. 

Your statement is not accurate. They do want the night, but they know they wont pay for it. The plan is to cancel the paid reservation when they get to the person who takes reservation. Once the paid reservation is canceled, they take the now freed time slot with UDP.

Just now, A&L_Ont said:

That’s why this thread exists; someone asked if there was a way and there is as of now. It appears to help you out as well. CC members helping CC members. That’s what community is about. 

I understand what the community is about. You can clearly see that I have been around for awhile. I just dont post as much as some others do. This will be my final comment on the discussion and in these great countries we live in, we dont have to always agree, but we can still get along.

2 minutes ago, poocher said:

You’re welcome, that’s why we’re here, to help 👍👍

And I appreciate that. The whole concept of holding a spot with a paid reservation and then subbing with the udp is genius. I/ll be using that across my entire cruise experience.

1 hour ago, poocher said:

Wow I think you are way overthinking this.  They make a reservation and pay for it.  When they get there, they actually USE the reservation just subbing the UDP for the payment they’ve already made.  I don’t understand what the issue is 🤷‍♀️

Not sure what I was thinking, but what I know now is that if I use this "technique" and I get what I want, thats all that will matter to me. I spend enough on the ship that all the canceled reservations that go back on my account as credit, will be used. I have a whole new perspective.

40 minutes ago, A&L_Ont said:

 

What are your thoughts on real issues that matter like booze smuggling, smoking on balconies, and seat saving. 

Don't do any of that, but I may give it all a try on my next cruise. I never really condoned selfish behavior, but I/ll give that a try.

How about you? 

1 minute ago, Iamcruzin said:

I wouldn't be surprised if they promoted it. They are making extra money that may not have been spent had the reservation not been paid for in advanced.   

They dont make extra money because its refunded when cancelled.

18 minutes ago, Iamcruzin said:

Yes but he is still using the same reservation so it's not being wasted. I think it's genius. It's one of those tips you learn on cruise critic that you store in the bank for future use.

My point never was that it was wasted, but yes, I/ve learned that you have to take care of yourself using whatever tip you can learn here.

9 minutes ago, Iamcruzin said:

It's not like there is only one seat in the restaurant.  I have never been on a ship big or small on any line where someone hasn't walked up to me and practically begged me to book a restaurant at a discount starting at day one. The only time I pre booked before the cruise was for Wonderland because we wanted to go there on my wife's 50th birthday and I knew that they wouldn't be offering a discount for that venu on board. 

So if its not a problem, why book and pay for an individual reservation when you already have the UDP? 

On 6/19/2021 at 5:40 PM, Ourusualbeach said:

I have on occasion paid for a restaurant on a specific day and time when it was very important to get that dining time/restaurant.  On board the paid reservation was simply cancelled and put as a credit to my seapass account and then immediately re reserved under my UDP.

@Ourusualbeachmy apologies. I/ll just get in the game as others suggest. If Royal allows it, just do it.

On 7/5/2021 at 6:47 AM, John&LaLa said:

 

You are making a huge stretch.

 

Ken booked the slot he wanted, not cancelling anything. 

 

It is true that a slot for your typical UDP passenger is gone prior to boarding, but that's just the way it is. Nothing is being tied up to then be cancelled

The way I read it, he did cancel the individual booking that he paid for above and beyond his UDP. Thats ok, just seems everyone is good in whatever process is used as long as Royal doesnt stop you. I/ll just get in the game like everyone else.

19 hours ago, vjmatty said:

 

Then maybe you shouldn't use "your words" but the original words in the post. This is like complaining about somebody buying an airline ticket and then converting it to an award flight when awards become available.  It is the same single seat, just like here the same table reservation with nothing extra coming out of inventory  to be denied to anyone else.

The procedure for making reservations for UDP is clear. He uses another "technique" to guarantee he gets a reservation.

What airline allows you to do that? 

On 7/5/2021 at 11:07 AM, cruisegus said:

Just his money.

 

@FPP777your more than welcome to do the same if you like

You are right. I just need to get in on all the "techniques" and just not care. Every man for himself. I'm onboard. I learned a lot in this thread. 

22 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Read the rest of the post...the last few words..."then immediately re reserved under my UDP""

I read the whole thing. You book UDP, then you book a specific restaurant and time knowing that you will cancel that booking. This way, if the person standing in front of you in line on boarding day wants that restaurant and time, they cant have it because you booked it knowing you were going to cancel and covert. I know life is not fair, and most people dont care, but is that fair to the person in front of you.    

Just now, Ourusualbeach said:

No, i am not saying that at all.  I book the time I want, pay for it and then keep that spot but get my money refunded.  You really should reread my post as it was quite clear.

I did read it. You say, and these are my words, you make a reservation you are not going to use,  so that you can tie up that time slot, that could prevent someone else from taking that time slot.  Is that not what you are doing?

On 6/19/2021 at 5:40 PM, Ourusualbeach said:

I have on occasion paid for a restaurant on a specific day and time when it was very important to get that dining time/restaurant.  On board the paid reservation was simply cancelled and put as a credit to my seapass account and then immediately re reserved under my UDP.

So are you saying you are taking a reservation spot, that you know you are not going to use with that booking, possibly preventing someone else who would be entitled to it first from getting it?

This post makes every other post seem insignificant.. Have  a great time neighbor (from Keller), looking forward to hearing about your adventure.