mickeychicky

Guess it all all depends on the bar, bartender and other factors.  I've ordered 2 drinks at once if I'm sitting at a bar and the bartender recognizes me.  If you are ordering and walking away and coming back "drinkless" within a few minutes and you are doing this constantly than maybe.  But never experienced a time limit in between drinks on any cruise, and that goes for Carnival (because they do have a 5 minutes time limit in between drinks if they want to enforce it).

On 9/12/2023 at 7:21 PM, taglovestocruise said:

We have had a package on every cruise over the last ten years, about 20. There has never been a pre reservation made.  

Well they added it to our cruise calendar, the two people going, the time...just no restaurant.  So, as the others have said I guess it's a "HOLD" and we'll go when we get onboard to reserve the restaurant.  I mean if there a reservation hold, who's to say the specific restaurant they want isn't going to be booked already for that night. 

When I booked it for our cruise, TWO people at Royal Caribbean told me the first night reservation THEY PICK, which is usually always Chops, and then we reserve the other two nights when we board.  They also said there is a notice/letter that is in the cabin with the first night reservation information.  We picked the day, which was Day 2 at the the time which was 9pm but the restaurant info will be in the cabin.  Is this ONCE AGAIN the wrong info from Royal?

That's the "punishment" for saying NO to a Sorrentos fee.  They've already raised prices in Playmakers and a few of the specialty dining venues.

3 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Since this is a Royal Caribbean forum it is always best to post what happens on Royal and not other cruise line.

Is this better for you?  It's the same response no matter how you want me to spell it out.

It's probably cheaper to leave as is, or else you might be charged a "single occupancy surcharge" or they could very well tell you there is no cabin available for single occupancy. ...I would leave it as is, NO MATTER WHAT OTHER PEOPLE'S PAST EXPERIENCE HAVE BEEN.   Every line is different, and the "rules" are always changing depending on who you get.   

Just now, Ourusualbeach said:

I've never had a booking repriced when changing from a double to a solo for clients on Royal.

That's why I said "might" and "could". Every line is different, and the "rules" are always changing depending on who you get. 

Kinda like the rule  "if one person buys the alcohol package EVERYONE must buy it".....depends on who you get on the phone. 

40 minutes ago, BillB48 said:

Thanks, the double points would be at least some benefit.  Guess I'll have to give them a call.

It's probably cheaper to leave as is, or else you might be charged a "single occupancy surcharge" or they could very well tell you there is no cabin available for single occupancy.  They did that to me on MSC even though there were plenty of cabins available, just not for one person....I would leave it as is. 

When they ask for your opinion, it's already in the works to figure out how to charge for this. 

Make it another Johnny Rockets type situation?  If so, they'll need to step up the quality of the pizza.

Make it a pay per day thing? Pay once and come back anytime during that day.  I don't eat Sorrento's like a meal, I will grab a slice or here or there, late at night coming back from the casino on my way to the room.  I'm not gonna pay EVERY time I stop by and grab a snack.  Again, the quality of the pizza is not "charge" worthy. The Disney-Nickel-and-Dining has made it way to the cruising industry.

Look at the new NCL Viva, they charge to play mini golf now.  Let that sink in.

Freedom class....they are "mini" Oasis class ships which is my favorite.  I prefer the bigger ships over the small ones.  Don't like the layout of the smaller ships and there is not as much to do. 

1 hour ago, Ms411 said:

If we hadn't seen a crew member when we were in Costa Maya, I don't think we would have found our way out of the port area. I won't do a Western Caribbean cruise again.

You just have to know how to get out.  All the way behind the pools (red arrow).  They lock all the other exits unless you are with a cruise ship tour.  There's a long story on this on Maya Chan's Blog. http://box5202.temp.domains/~mayachan/nothing-makes-sense/

13 hours ago, Ms411 said:

Royal Caribbean negotiated with the port management a few years ago that their tours meet closest to the ship so private tours meet a little further away. When I did a Western Caribbean cruise I was shocked at how far you had to walk to get to anything that wasn't owned/controlled by the ship and how they kept locals out.

 

 

They have made it extremely difficult to even leave the port in Costa Maya if you aren't doing a cruise ship tour.  You have to "find your way" out the back of the port, and then attempt to leave the security gates on your own.  We go to Maya Chan Resort only when in Costa Maya and they pick us up at a little store outside the port where they wait for us, but now I am hearing that is not even allowed. 

Does anyone know what or where the "Sugar Mill" is at the Crown Bay Shopping Mall?  Restaurant? Bar? The giant windmill I see in photos? 

We have an excursion we booked thru travel agent and our tour company is actually Sunny Liston and they meet us at the Sugar Mill in the Crown Bay Shopping Mall if we are docking there, which I'm pretty sure we are since its Wonder of the Seas.

On 7/24/2023 at 5:58 PM, TTEllis said:

Nobody's leaving without you.🙄

Don't get buried up with some cornball ship tour. Get out and see the freaking island. Go to one the beaches mentioned above close to Crown Bay don't go on some cheese overpriced canned ship tour especially on St. Thomas. Your killing yourself.

I've done the ship tour before, and we enjoyed it.  We did "get out and see the freaking island" and we did "go to one of the beaches mentioned".  And as far as being overprices, yes it is, but I also don't do business with "top rated" excursion companies that don't even take the time to response to an email, direct message, or answer their phone.  Sound a bit tightly wound, perhaps a cruise would cure that.

Best bet is to stick with a cruise ship shore excursion for this trip, I think we are doing that. Can't leave without us if we do that!

On 7/19/2023 at 11:36 AM, kristap said:

Hello all! I will be going on Wonder of the Seas on Sept 3 of this year, but we won't dock in St. Thomas until 12:30 (leaving at 8:00pm).  Does anyone have any tour+beach excursion recommendations?  Godfrey has not responded back to me, which makes me think he might be sold out.  I'm not really interested in a shopping stop, but I would like to go to the overlook and get a Bushwhacker or Banana Daquari, and I'd like to go to a beach for a couple of hours, preferably not Magen's Bay because of the cost with MB.  Any recommendations for tours?  Are there tour operators in port for such a thing?  Thanks! 

I am in the same situation as you, late arrival, different date.  I too emailed them on 7/16, facebook messaged AND sent a message on their CHAT link on the website.  No response.  I won't be using them.  If you can't take the time to respond to messages, that tells a lot about how they run their business.  And for those that say "I'm sure they are busy".....so are all the other popular companies that do shore excursions but they take the time to respond.  Sunny Liston is another one I am looking in to, and if that fails, I will just use Royal Caribbeans Shore Excursion.  I have also watched YouTube videos with people reporting the taxi's are VERY expensive just to go to Magan's Bay, like one way Per Person was $20 something dollars.  If that's true, seems like they are taking advantage.

11 hours ago, taglovestocruise said:

Make your reservations as soon as you board for all three nights. You can go to any specialty restaurant to make all your reservations.  With the unlimited plan you are given a credit for Playmakers , Izumi's and pay a up charge for Hibachi Grill.  When you make your purchase online you are asked to make a night one reservation time, that is only a placeholder and is rarely done. Just make your first stop on boarding day a trip to any specialty to make all your reservations. Prime times fill fast. 

But if its the 3 night dining plan ONLY and we go to Playmakers or Izumi and don't want to waste one of three we have available, can you tell them to NOT use one of the 3 we have available and just ala carte instead?

Never bought the dining package and it seems there are so many rules to keep up with.

If you buy the 3 night dining package that is basically three meals right?  Doesn't have to be dinner, it can be lunch correct?

If it's purchased for the sole purpose to dine at COVER CHARGE Places (i.e. Wonderland, Chops Grille and 150 Central Park) and during the cruise you go into an a la carte place, like Playmakers or Johnny Rockets can you tell them NOT to use one of the specialty dining credits we still have available? 

I would not waste a specialty dining purchase for an a la carte place when you only are getting $20 credit towards your food.That seems like a waste.  It really wouldn't matter if the UNLIMITED DINING PACKAGE was being purchased but when it's only a 3 "night" package seems more sensible to use it at a place that has a $40/$50/$60 cover charge.

18 hours ago, BND said:

Well, you don't send a bc with a renewal, just the old/expiring passport.  So, that might be their problem.

This was for a NEW passport.  I am saying if you need a renewal for next year better start now. The not sending the BC back was just another example of a delay. 

18 hours ago, BND said:

Well, you don't send a bc with a renewal, just the old/expiring passport.  So, that might be their problem.

I know, they mail each back separately but the birth certificate hasn't made it back yet and the passport was received two weeks ago.  Good thing people have multiple certified copies of birth certificates hanging around the house.

So basically, if your passport expires next year some time, you better start the renewal process now.  And don't expect your birth certificate back.  I know someone who hasn't gotten theirs back yet and their passport came a few weeks ago after an 11 week wait.

I am only getting $100 off a cruise.  Which isn't really helping much with how much the cruises are now. 

On 3/7/2023 at 8:30 AM, CC Help Michell said:

I noticed a couple of posts about the title of this topic, so I edited it to say "alone" instead of "along."  Thanks to those who pointed it out.

 

CC Help Michell

Thank you

1 hour ago, Homosassa said:

You are not being penalized as a solo cruiser.

 

MC, like many cruise lines, have solo rates that are the price of cabin for two plus sometimes an additional charge to make up for the projected revenue of a second passenger's on board purchases.  Sometimes a solo rate is offered that is 75% of the cost  for two passengers in the room .

 

MSC has good rates and they keep them good by deleting the possibilities of many fare churning games played by passengers.  What you book is what you pay.

 

It was a common practice for solo passengers on MSC to avoid the solo passenger fare to book a ghost passenger that would be a "no show" at embarkation.

 

There were several posters on this forum who boasted about his practice. One woman in particular would give the number of cruises that she booked her niece in the room with her knowing the niece was not ever going to come. 

 

MSC was aware of the scam and added penalties to the T&C.

 

If you can't find a solo cabin at the Bella level, try going up a level.  There may be a solo rate for that cabin. 

I can go to Royal Caribbean, put in 1 for # of travelers and, unless that sailing is Completely Booked, I will get a cabin that is charging me DOUBLE OCCUPANCY, and it would be my choice if I want to pay double for 1 person. 

MSC doesn't even give me the opportunity to book 1 person at a double occupancy rate (which I would do because it's still cheaper than a RCCL cruise).  It's either a SOLO rate, or a 2 person rate and you better have 2 people that go or you'll be charged EVEN more than the double occupancy rate you've already paid. 

It's not a scam if I AM PAYING FOR 2 people and only 1 shows up. I would have paid more than a solo cruiser fare anyway when I booked. 

2 hours ago, LTCruzer said:

Unless you must go on that specific date or ship for some reason, I would find another sailing that is showing solo rates. There should be other options available that are less hassle to book.

My sister and her husband are already booked on THAT one.

16 minutes ago, MsTabbyKats said:

@mickeychickyIf you book another person, would it be a real person with a real passport #?  And then the person is a no-show at the pier?  This may be a different outcome than booking for two, and then canceling one prior to check in.

Yes its a real person with a real passport, they just aren't going on a cruise with me.  And if I can't cancel them off of my booking then I can't pre-purchase a drink package for just 1.  I would have to buy for 2 with one being non existent.