JoeFan

On 6/6/2022 at 4:02 PM, sandebeach said:

I just got the Congratulations email, got our Royal Up for our July 16 Symphony cruise. Bid $100 over minimum and went from a guaranteed JS to a Crown Loft Suite. 

This sounds super early. I thought it is usually closer to sailing.

I am on Symphony on July 23 and we just got our bid in. I am thinking I am super late 😞

On 5/8/2022 at 10:19 PM, SNemeth said:

Husband and I cruised April 4th on Independence out of Port Canaveral using Certificate of Recovery.  The process is a little different and there are a few extra steps, but we had no issues boarding.  You must have the positive lab test results during the 11-90 day time frame and they must be a PCR test.  They will not accept any other test.  We had lab results from our medical record at the hospital where I work.  In addition we had a letter on letterhead from a Nurse Practitioner that outlined the dates we tested positive, our quarantine dates and the providers certification that we were recovered.  This letter can be written at any time after recovery.  When we arrived at the terminal before we were let inside each passenger had to show the proof of vaccination and negative test.  Our kids had the negative test and we had the COR.  Those with the COR were given a sticker to wear and told we needed to wear in until we boarded the ship.  Once inside we proceeded to check in where those with a negative test were given a review and sent to the security screening.  Husband and I with COR had to wait for what appeared to be a supervisor to come over to review the PCR test results and letter.  They then had to scan the documents into the system using the Ipad they were using to check us in.  Once that was done our experience boarding was just like everyone else.  We did pack Emed tests in our carryon so that if there were issues we could go find a corner to do a test, but it was not necessary.  

Thank you.

I was hoping we would be able to upload all of this prior to the cruise.

So I guess we have to wait until boarding?

On 6/8/2022 at 8:20 AM, 4everAfamily said:

The speciality restaurant waiter does not get the 18% gratuity. If you leave an additional cash tip, he/she gets to keep it. I want the actual waiter to get a gratuity to show my appreciation for service, so I leave cash. 

So does this go to the server or is it extra revenue for RC?

We always get the UDP and the last time the gratuity was not added to the cost of the plan so we tipped very well. My upcoming cruise in July did add 18% so I feel this is a sufficient base if the server does actually get this pooled, if not I would like to know if I need to still tip the same.

Where I am at odds is though with the automatic gratuity as we never go to the buffet or MDR.

Does speciality get a share of the automatic? 

3 hours ago, LarryHD2 said:

Are the kids aged 21+?  Passengers under 21 have to be adjacent to, or across the hall from, the parent (or 21+) cabin.  For across the hall, the kid cabin can't be more than 50% forward of the parent cabin.  We ran into this rule with our 18yo and 20yo staying in an interior across the hall from our JS. 

 

I asked what if two 20yo's got married and wanted to honeymoon on a cruise and was told that isn't possible.

 

Anyhow, I wonder how they handle this during the RoyalUp process if you're bidding for both cabins, or even one.  It probably throws a wrench into things as they have to find adjacent cabin upgrades.

 

I will be curious to find how this works for you as we're sailing in 40 days.

 

 

18 and 19.

I will look into it.

1 minute ago, Biker19 said:

Only the people in the cabin which bid/won get to move to the suite on paper - not all four. You could put the four people in there, but the other two wouldn't get the suite benefits.

But the flyer says this.

"Bids are priced per person and based on two guests per stateroom. Only the first two guests will be charged, even if four are sailing"

I guess I could move 3 into the room bidding and leave one in the room not bidding?

I think I know the answer to my questions, but just posting anyway for clarification.

I currently have two connecting balcony staterooms with 2 people in each. Mom and dad in one room and son and daughter in the other.

Each room reservation received an email RoyalUp invitation.

I assume they are treating each individually.

So if I bid on both then I could potentially win both and have two rooms on differnet ends of the ship.

I guess the positive in this situation, is to just bid one of the rooms to updrade to something like Grand Suite 2 Bedroom and if I win, I would only have to pay for two people?. Then could the 4 of us stay in this room and we just don't use the other balcony room? I get that only two of us would get the "Suite" ameneties but that would be ok.

Edit:

I just noticed this in the flyer.

"Bids are priced per person and based on two guests per stateroom. Only the first two guests will be charged, even if four are sailing"

So all 4 of us would get the suite perks?

Is this still true?

What would happen to the balcony that doesn't bid. Does it just sit empty? That sounds silly. 

Hi,

Has anyone done the Marvel Day at Sea this year? I am looking for feedback on your experience.

Mostly if the experiences are the same or have been severly cut. 

I know capacity is way down but how are the lines and waits?

On 11/23/2021 at 4:25 PM, BirdTravels said:

If you want an honest answer, I would save my money and not do any.

 

With the reduced capacity, the island is uncrowded. We have been to CocoCay 4 times since restart. (Full disclosure, 2 of the 4 times were at the Coco Beach Club). But, we found that the socially distant loungers on chill beach were just as good as the club. Close to food. Close to a bar. The last time we were there, the Freedom and Allure were both on the island at the same time and it wasn't crowded. For us, hot dogs and hamburgers were better than the $199 lobster we had at the club. 

I hear you. This cruise is Symphony next July 2022 and I am expecting capacity to be way up. I still think we are the only ship there that day. And we have the UDP so we will be eating very good. A hot dog and hamburber might be a nice break.

I am in the same boat.

I need some help.

My Coco Beach Club finally went down from $198 to $99 and there are 4 of us. So I am paying $396 for Beach Club.

I wonder if the Beach Club is the way to go.

Would you choose for roughly the same price, Oasis/South Beach or Chill Island Cabana over the Beach Club? And which Cabana?

4 minutes ago, TexasRon said:

I tipped everyone on our Mariner cruise last week.  Drink servers, waiters, cabin attendant, etc.  Some got more than others; how they split it in the end is their agreement with the employer, but I gave it to the individuals.  The tips probably amounted to $300-$400 overall.  

 

I was just so glad to be on a cruise...

I don't want to turn this into a dreaded tippin thread. I know tipping is personal but, are saying you tipped an extra $300 to $400 over the automatic gratuity and drink plan 18%?

15 minutes ago, DCPIV said:

 

I hear you, and you make a good point.  Also, I apologize for implying that you (or anyone else who might do what you do) are being stingy or anything like that.  I did not intend to do so.

Thanks. I think the staff deserve to be well compensated. They work long, hard hours away from home and family. And I think RCI preys on the generosity of their guests. If this is a money grab from the cruiseline that's fine. Just call it something other than gratuity as that would imply that money gets handed over 100% to staff. We all know hotels tack on fee after fee to generate revenue, but they don't call it gratuity.

1 hour ago, DCPIV said:

I know this isn't what you were asking, but I always add some manner of tip when we have UDP (along the lines of the aforementioned $10 or something like that).  If nothing else, it helps me sleep at night.  

We tipped a $20 at every speciality on Harmony for the 3 of us.

1 hour ago, DCPIV said:

I know this isn't what you were asking, but I always add some manner of tip when we have UDP (along the lines of the aforementioned $10 or something like that).  If nothing else, it helps me sleep at night.  

When we sailed Harmony, we never set foot in the MDR or Windjammer yet we kep the automatic gratuities. Since the UD on Harmony didn't have 18% added like the drink packaged we tipped very well every meal at speciality. The took such great care of us.

But now they are calling out 18% gratuity and adding it to the BILL. So I won't not tip, I was just curious if I tip at speciality, plus the 18%, plus the automatic gratuity. I like to be generous but my wallet has a limit. 

So does RCI keep the tip or do they pass it 100% to the pool?

I know tipping is a lightning rod. But I did have a question on the Unlimited Dining.

On my Harmony cruise 2019 when I purchased unlimited dining, the 18% gratuity was included in the price.

And I just purchased UD for my Symphony sailing Summer 2022 and it was the price plus 18%.

The question is does this 18% really go to the staff or is this just additional revenue for RCI?

In my cruise planner for Symphony 7/23/22 sailing there are very few dining options and the one thing I am most intersted in is the unlimited dining.

I know it is a way out for this sailing, but Black Friday is coming up and I read there are usually some good sales. Is this dead or does it usually take some time to get items added?

3 hours ago, UNCFanatik said:

I am still waiting on my cancellation notice for my july 17th sailing on symphony

 

For those of you who had Symphony sailings cancelled, did you get 125% offer on cruise planner purchases if you transfer them to another sailing?

Login to your cruise planner and you will see you rvoyage has been cancelled.

If you plan on Lifting & Shifting or requesting a refund, you better get moving as they are only giving you 7 days or you will automatically given 125% FCC.

3 minutes ago, At Sea At Peace said:

 

I agree with the NY Yankees unique situation (and it is the most unique as they are studying vaccine lots, vaccinators etc.).  However, not 'all sports teams are vaccinated.'  There is a strong resistance to vaccination by a good % of athletes.  

I was rushing to type this and meant to say the 9 people that tested positive were vaccinated I believe.

2 minutes ago, At Sea At Peace said:

 

Yet we are watching the golf tournament on TV live, with crowds and competitors?

You ducked and missed the point.

2 minutes ago, catlady66 said:

The fully vaccinated golfer who was leading by 6 strokes yesterday tested positive & had to withdraw. Remind me again why people are getting vaccinated? 

For people that are vaccinated and asymptomatic aren't testing, so no positives. This is highlighting a huge problem with breakthrough infections.  All sports teams are vaccinated but are still undergoing frequent mandatory testing. Look at the NY Yankees, they had 9 vaccinated players and staff test positive. 

2 hours ago, Wilson said:

Not happy about it, but lets get real. We walk around unvaccinated people all the dang time. Unless you lock yourselves in your home. The crew has been out of work for over a year. Real world problems!

Yes we walk around all the time, but you get to go home. What happens if now there is an outbreak on the ship and your vacation gets cut short or you now must quarantine in your stateroom. Also what are the health protocols, do I a vaccinated person now need to wear a mask where a fully vaccinated cruise I don't? Think bigger picture here.

My family of 4 is fully vaccinated and looking forward to cruising.

The only problem I have with Royal going the unvaccinated route is what the health protocols will be.

I would be angry if now having unvaccinated will make the cruise go from mask free to masks required for all. I don't see how they will be able to handle vax no mask, no vax must wear a mask.

Does anyone know the full health protocols for these sailings?

I L&S Symphony from 2020 to 2021. And now my 7/31/21 cruise is cancelled and I need to L&S again. I was looking to go to the 7/9/22 sailing but oh sorry that is 3 weeks and we only allow 2 weeks.

I have a right mind to take a refund and never sail this freak show again.

And you must decide on your L&S by June 11 or they will automatically issue you FCC.

I will be a two time L&S loser.

My Symphony 7/31 sailing is a L&S from last summer. Now to push it off another entire year.

I wish they would let us pick a cruise this summer.

Does anyone else with a Symphony sailing in July feel scammed? Like Royal has know for some time that there was never a shot at July cruising, especially with the dry dock and going the test cruise route over the vaccinated route? You figure if they were ready to sail in July 1 then the test cruise would have been sooner than Aug 1?