Kingofwylietx

To determine issue :

Was the scanner the RCL scanner for cards to get off ship or an immigration passport scanner to get into US ? :confused:

They didn't specify which scanner was down. I would only be speculating.

Hoping you can give me some insite on what perks suite guest get from boarding to anything else. Did you feel it was worth the extra money? Our first RC cruise. Thank you!

The full perk list is on the RCCL website. I'll note the suite lounge was open from 4:30 - 8pm each day. Also, there is a perk list in your cabin when you arrive.

It was nice having priority service, more space, and free drinks in the lounge. Overall, I'm not overly impressed by the suite benefits. They are not bad, please don't get the wrong impression. However, Norwegian definitely provides a better suite experience...in my opinion. This was my first time on a Royal Caribbean cruise and we will sail with them again.

We didn't notice a different luggage drop off area for suites. We had the tags on our bags and grabbed a porter to handle the drop off.

Returning, there was a separate area where all suite luggage was kept together. Once you collect your bags, the concierge then helps you avoid a bit of the line to get to customs.

Hi,

Anyone back from Liberty can you give us a report on the updated terminal in Galveston? Curious to hear if it was an improvement.

 

thanks

We got off Liberty this morning. I can't compare the process from earlier, since this was our first cruise with Royal Caribbean.

I will note that disembarkation was slow this morning. They told us that a scanner wasn't working. I don't know how many scanners they have, but folks were not too happy about getting off the ship so slowly. A pinnacle guest said they were running pretty far behind....which seems worth mentioning since they must sail on RCCL a lot to be pinnacle.

Embarkation was pretty smooth. We arrived at the port around 11:15 and were probably aboard half an hour once we entered the terminal. We were in a suite, so our process was supposed to be expedited.

I hope that helps, feel free to ask if there is anything specific you want to know.

We did have a Coast Guard helicopter pick someone up on our way in yesterday. I'm not sure what happened.

All I have to say about walkie talkies on a cruise is, "please don't."

I've seen pax use walkie talkies on ships and it's never bothered me. Quite the opposite, I think it's sort of neat....though it is somewhat rare in my experience. I've also seen all sorts of ship personnel use them. They are not banned, so feel free to take them if you wish.

I guess most people that oppose it are concerned that everyone will start to do it...but that seems unlikely. Frankly, I would expect the younger users to use it sparsely once the novelty of having it wears off. Besides that, today's youth are accustomed to having cell phones, so I would think they may use it even less (than 10 years ago) because they won't want to share their conversation with the whole world.

Our kids are 5 and 9 now, but we cruised with them when they were each around 3. We only did large group excursions, where motor coaches or real buses were used for transportation. It wasn't intentional, it is simply how it worked out.

Travelling outside the US will really open your eyes to how our regulations and laws are intended to keep children (and adults) safe. Generally, if you book through the cruise ship, you'll [probably] be more likely to have larger/safer modes of transport on excursions.

We did travel with our car seats, but that was primarily for getting around before and after the cruise in taxis and rental cars. I don't recall ever taking a car seat on any of our excursions....but again, those all happened to be on big motor coaches.

Good luck and go with your instincts. If a hoopty bubble-gummed-together duct taped car shows up to pick you up....maybe chalk it up to a loss and don't get inside. If it's a nice tour bus, go with the flow.

That's a nice cabin! I had no idea the ocean view cabins were so dang big! We'll have to look into that for next time...

Will the magnets also stick to the walls of the cabins?

We leave on Liberty OTS in a few weeks and I can see the value of being able to attach things to the wall. I have a few large neodymium magnets (115 lbs of force, 1"x1") that would easily hold up some useful items.

Generally, I think it's fine to only quote part of someone's post, as long as you're not doing it to try to take something out of context (and I don't think that was the intent here).

I agree 100%. It's very efficient and quickly shows exactly what you are responding to.

Kristen, I found some great reviews and descriptions by Googling 'Joy of Chocolate Cozumel'

I expect there was other family aboard to watch the kids. Otherwise, I would consider it abandonment for the husband to leave the kids aboard knowing the ship may leave without him or the wife on it.

50 minutes seems long enough to get in touch with the family members and get needed documents from the cabin. He didn't look terribly concerned or like he was worried the ship was leaving....which is why I suspect he already worked out a plan.

The orange is reeeeally good! Maybe it's a Dallas thing, I had one last night. :D

That's always a smart move.

The only noise we noticed on the aft of the Sky was when they used the thrusters in port. They only use them for a minute or so, though you'll definitely notice it. No big deal, but it's nice to be aware of it.

As RCL regulars they have likely paid their general gratuities throughout their cruise life and have probably helped many staff along the way.

.

Thank you. I've eaten at Chili's so much in my life....by your helpful logic....I, too, no longer need to tip. Trust me, I've paid my general gratuities, been a waiter for them, and surely helped many Chili's staff along the way. You just saved me a bundle, good buddy.

To be sure I do this correctly, should I provide a list of all the many different locations where I've eaten, so my current waiter/waitress will know where to get get their portion of my previously spent tips for their current work and efforts? Or, do I just tell them that I'm exempt? I bet it's the exempt! Right?! I can't wait to smile at them and excitedly shout "I'm exempt!" as I dig through my pocket change to hand over the exact amount of the actual bill.

You've opened my eyes to a lifestyle I've not been aware of!

Okay, okay....my post was tongue in cheek. However, I hope by looking at this from a different perspective you may notice that the person in front of you didn't get any benefit from your past tipping. Surely, nothing I type will change your opinion...but if you normally tip bar staff...it seems appropriate to tip them even when the drink is free. In the end, your choices don't effect me, so have fantastic cruises whichever way you go about it.

We had 8277 and loved it. The NCL rep recommended deck 8 for the larger balcony. I recommend you go with deck 8.

I've posted pics of the cabin & balcony in another Sky aft penthouse thread. My avatar is a pic I snapped as we were sailing away from Miami.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2207142

The overhang is sufficient. Note, if you stand at the rail....turn around and look up.....everyone above you can see you. However, that is only the case at the rail, step back and have all the privacy you could want.

The tv is connected to the stereo, just select the right input on the stereo. In port, you have FM stations. At sea, you can pipe the bridge cam channel for music (80's stuff iirc). Also, the bedroom and living room speakers can be selected independently.

Have fun, I know we had a blast!

In my current roll call, my fellow cruisers refer to me by my username even though I have wrote my name there a couple of times; I think it just makes it easier for lurkers and infrequent posters to follow the thread of the conversations and by default, make them feel more included.

 

On another forum, my username is Sir. It adds a bit of formality and politeness to all my discussions. I've been on it for years, so anytime anyone types to me....they always begin with "Sir". :p (I didn't choose that name for that purpose, it just worked out that way).

I should change my name on here to Dear Sir. I suggest everyone else do something similar and soon we'll look like the nicest group on CC!!

I wouldn't call having to go out of your way to Aruba small.

Who wouldn't want to go to Aruba? :p

you can see real identities and pictures of people on that other platform and those groups aren't quite as nasty to each other. Not because they're nicer, because they're not anonymous.

I have to say, your comment is very relevant to sooo many threads on CC....

In the case of a medical emergency, does the ship head to the nearest port, or do they have to go to nearest non-US port to comply w/ the PVSA. Personally, I'd rather be dropped off on an island that's a US territory for medical needs.

I don't think PVSA is part of the conversation during a medical emergency. If you are near the US, then the Coast Guard will probably pick you up via helicopter (rather than the ship take you to a port).

You (not the ship) may run afoul of the PVSA due to this, but surely you'd rather be alive than save the tiny fine. The ship won't change its final destination because of your illness, so the ship won't be in violation.

I won't overcomplicate it. I do love these conversations, mostly because of all the scenarios that people come up with! Once you understand the PVSA, it isn't complicated...it's actually very simple. It's just that a couple of small restrictions make it seem that way.

If roll calls are getting smaller and less active, I wonder if it may also be related to the sizes of the ships. Certainly, there are probably lots of reasons. However, I can imagine that going to a M&M would be less attractive today than it was in the past. Today, there are just so many other neat and fun activities vying for that same time.

You are joking I would hope!!

Yes, I am only joking. :D

I think RCCL have to many D, D+ and P's, It time this should be revised maybe to the following

 

180 = D

360 = D+

999 = P

 

And I think should apply to all members (so if your D+ with 359 points you should be kicked back to D)

They should let everyone keep their status, as it has already been earned.

However, they could limit the number of each status holder per ship, via a quota system.

D = 50 pax

D+ = 25 pax

P = 5 pax

Once the itinerary reaches the above quota, no more of those members are allowed on that specific cruise. If a pax still wants to cruise on that itinerary, they will have to go without their status. However, to be fair, they will still accumulate points on that voyage.

Problem solved. :p

I reserved the 9am shuttle with Galveston Express Shuttle. They did tell me that the 9am shuttle service will drop me off at IAH, 11am.

I would, at a minimum, consider using a taxi to get to IAH. It is about an hour and 20 minutes to drive from the port to the airport, with no traffic. The shuttle must be stopping at Hobby Airport along the way to drop off other passengers.

While a cab isn't the cheapest transportation, it is probably much less expensive than missing your flight. So, it's something you might consider and help keep the stress level down.

After thinking about it though, who brings THREE electronic tablets on a cruise?:eek:

Me, wife, and 2 kids = 4 iPads. We take them with us on cruises. We all have games we like to play, even after a full day aboard the ship.

I think I have read all the posts in this thread...did I miss where anyone actually has any factual first-hand knowledge of how the ratings are actually interpreted or used? I saw a lot of guessing and name-calling...but I don't think I saw anyone who really knew what was going on. I did see where people understood various scales, but I didn't notice where they had any authority or ability to prove that RCL really used that scale.

Is this entire thread conjecture and supposition...or did I miss something?

I can't imagine that corporate really wants everyone to blindly put 10's...that sounds like something the people on the ship are doing to get higher ratings. If people are manipulated/guilted into putting 10's, then it becomes a useless survey...no matter what method of interpretation is used. The survey then only serves to show which ship/workers are more persuasive/compelling in getting their pax to rate/rank them more highly. Surveys are only useful when people respond honestly.

This isn't directed at you Bob but just a statement to the "not wanting to hear the speech" / "I can't be bothered with this" crowd:

 

I think most people here know that the people who work on the cruise ships are mainly from Eastern Europe, Asia and Latin America. They often leave their families behind to work contracts that are 4-6 months long in which they work 12-14 hours a day 7 days a week. They work hard. Everyone brings this up every time a tipping thread is created here on Cruise Critic. A majority of their pay relies on gratuities paid by passengers. It is a hard life especially compared to being on vacation as a passenger.

 

For people to WHINE about a short speech that a crew member gives about a survey is UTTERLY DISGRACEFUL.

 

The simple behavior here is easy: You politely listen, nod, and respond "Absolutely will do it", and smile.

 

You don't cut them off, threaten with bad scores, or any of this other drivel.

 

It consumes maybe 60 seconds of your time while you are enjoying the spoils of being on a cruise. Where is your humanity? Or do people not have that anymore?

 

If you don't like the labor practices of Royal then bring it up with their senior management.

You appear very invested in this survey. Do you work for a survey company? :p

I don't know, with 100% certainty, how they use the feedback. I'm going on my first RCL cruise in June. It doesn't sound like you only hear one short speech. It sounds, from this thread, that you hear it all the time and everywhere towards the end of a cruise. In that case, I wouldn't consider it the least bit disgraceful to not want to hear it again....to the contrary, it's disgraceful the staff is allowed to try to manipulate the pax survey answers.

Frankly, a better solution would be for the captain to get on the intercom and tell people how the survey is weighted and politely request everyone to remember to fill it out. They could do this once or twice, on the final night.