nashirak

We, too, were on a Mariner 4-night out of Miami. Ours was back in March. I’d say probably 50%  of the people dressed up for the “dress to impress” night. I brought my suit, but ended up leaving the tie in the room. 

So question related to this since my current booking is the first cruise that we've booked far enough out to watch for price changes.

My current booking shows to be the same price but Royal has added $300obc. I'm currently getting a $200 C&A discount. Can a TA keep my C&A number on the reservation for points/perks but not take the discount so I can get the OBC instead of the discount? (300 OBC vs 200 discount)

Small caveat about shows: you DO need to reserve a spot in the COMEDY VENUE. The big venues (aqua theater, main theater) have suite-reserved seating, but the small comedy venue does not and you will need to reserve that ahead. 

22 minutes ago, blueridgemama said:

 

I'm confused? If you can afford a suite why would you even consider The Key? Most people considering The Key can not afford the many thousands of dollars extra for a suite.

Depends on the ship and sailing. Our next cruise is 11 nights, so the key at the new price for two would be $814, another $200 and I can just upgrade to a grand suite. So it just depends on the situation. 

It it wasn’t a blanket statement meant for everyone in every situation 👍

Simple supply and demand. It was selling out quickly pre-cruise, so they’ll raise the price until the hit a diminishing return. I was on the fence at 20/person (we usually get internet anyway since we leave little ones with grandparents and want to be reachable), but for that price I’d rather just book a suite when on oasis/quantum. 

They are 500ml bottles. 

We’ve never had any complaints on the beds on any of our cruises, but it all depends on taste/preference. 

6 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

I believe the issue with drinks is if you are not at the bar. Is the waitstaff carrying RFID readers now?

The only time we weren’t at the bar to order was at a restaurant (we brought our cards to give). But having to take it off constantly would be annoying. 

My wife and I enjoyed having them on Harmony. We were in a GS so they were complimentary, but we found use for them. My bathing suit pockets are iffy at best, so it was nice having the wrist band since they let you keep them on when riding the flowrider and slides. No issues at bars getting drinks, just hold out your arm and tap the reader. We took our cards to restaurants anyway so we didn’t have to fumble taking the wristband on/off to order drinks. 

Of course, like anything on board, anything that costs extra you have to decide for yourself if it’s worth it. 

I have had no complaints for drink quality on any of my cruises. The simple drinks (rum/coke, bourbon/coke, etc)actually tend to be on the strong side. 

I was able to book it several weeks ahead on both my Harmony cruise last April and my Mariner cruise a few weeks ago. Both were in the planner all the way up until embarkation. 

There are these near the pool bar.

I would think either the Schooner bar or Bamboo room for similar ambience (this is based on a quick google search on the alchemy bar). Most of the different bars onboard will have unique offerings to that location. 

As mentioned, the adult only solarium area is quiet, they don’t play their own music. Just hot tubs, a smallish pool, and a dedicated bar. There are also some cushy chairs and platform-type beds you can lounge on near the windows. 

As for food, I didn’t have a meal there that I didn’t like. Order more than one appetizer/entree if you want. Lunch in the MDR is hit or miss, breakfast is always good. 

The suite lounge has a full bar available for purchase 11a-11p. Soda and bottled water available for free all day. Cocktail hour from 5-830 with select cocktails/beer/wine for free. 

As far as free beer/wine all day, YMMV. When I was onboard last April, there was no free beer/wine all day. Some have said there is. It could be either way when you get onboard. 

5 minutes ago, fred30 said:

 

I guess this means they do a better job getting someone drunk than making them beautiful.

Wait, doesn't doing the first one cause the second one? 🤣

I also recommend diving/snorkeling. DW and I used subway water sports and were very pleased. We would use them again. 

I was on Navigator’s last cruise before she repo’d away from Galveston, also without passengers. I asked some of the crew the same question. They do clean some (but that is always happening somewhere on board), train, rest/downtime. 

My wife and I slept great on mariner recently. We’ve slept great in the Nav and Harmony, too. 

My wife and I just did our first 4-night on mariner. We needed a quick last minute getaway, and this was the easiest to logistically do with leaving a two y/o with grandparents. We drive to my wife’s parents on Saturday and drop off child and spend the night there, flew to Miami on Sunday and spent the day there, cruise Monday-Friday, spent the rest of Friday in Miami, flew back Friday night and had the whole weekend to pick up daughter and head home to unpack/laundry and whatnot before work on Monday. 

So while we prefer longer cruises, the Monday-Friday cruises are definitely in our back pocket while we have little ones that won’t be cruising with us until they are older. There was definitely a younger crowd on board, but it was also prime spring break time, so there was that too. 

We enjoyed 150 Central Park. That said, my wife agrees with Bob (host Clarea); the only reason we went to an upcharge restaurant was because our TA gave us a free voucher. 

I had no problems doing this for my wife and I on Mariner last week. 

I would be surprised if ships the size of quantum/oasis class can dock there yet. They are still adding bollards out beyond the end of the pier. Even Mariner had to send all her bow lines aft of their ports. Nothing can tender with the walking bridge in place. There is a temporary one that takes you across right at the harbor entrance, the permanent bridge is still under construction. 

Not that I have noticed. Some of the newer/bigger ships have those types of offerings in the Vitality Cafe. I haven’t noticed anything like that those on any menus I have seen this week. (Besides the fresh squeezed OJ)

Can you tell if that signal is from the ship or land based wifi hot spot?

It’s not fake news, the pier really is open for some ships that don’t need the farther out bollards. We are here right now. Captain also said there will be another ship at the pier tomorrow. I’m also posting on the WiFi at the snorkel beach.



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