Thesandman12

11 minutes ago, DragonOfTheSeas said:

Thanks for the clarification. I don’t want to provide that information as I said, I just heard some of it. I was not in a place where it was easy to hear.

Since you are on the ship, out of curiosity, how is the Crown lounge working out, not that it makes a difference. Looks like some changes have been made, appreciate the pictures. We board next Monday. We like the ship and it looks good from your shots.. Take care have a good first part of the cruise.

Well when you look at cruises on RCCL, I'm not so bright, answer may be simple.  Example, cruise is 8,000 for 2, I understand that is a non refund price, then at the bottom is the cruise and cost, then below that is a, you are savings, say 3,000. Now is the cost above inclusive of the savings or is the savings to be subtracted, if so why is it not subtracted. I need to go back to school or just to old to book a cruise.

Amen to the 2 hours before

you will be alright

8 minutes ago, Grumpella said:

Yes I did give him $120. Maybe you British don’t tip, but we Americans do. Lol

I was just curious pure and simple. People should tip whatever they want, whatever floats your boat, so to speak. We were on a cruise once with 3 kids in their own cabin. That attendant worked his rear end off in that room and he got a heck of a tip. I always tip extra to the cabin attendant, how much depends on them. I always tip on individual drinks, we use vouchers, so no tip, they do not get it so I make up for that. Reverse of that  is, if I have a complaint about someone, I keep it to myself.

4 hours ago, Grumpella said:

I know this is a touchy subject, but just asking, so don't bite my head off.  lol

 

I just got off Anthem of the Seas last Friday.  I was in an inside studio cabin, 14 day cruise.

 

I paid the regular gratuities and then gave my room steward an extra $ 120 in cash.

 

He seemed disappointed with the extra amount.  The only thing extra that he did for me was put on an extra topping on the bed before I arrived, as I requested before the cruise because the beds are so hard.

 

Thank you in advance for your opinions.

Just curious did you really give 120.00 above the regular, or is that a misprint.

3 hours ago, Tntt said:

I know this board is filled with individuals who have cruised to various places, so I'm just seeking advice. In 2025 my spouse and I will be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary and we would like to celebrate it on a cruise.

 

We have also cruised alot but mainly the eastern caribbean, but we have never seen the western caribbean, however I also would like to sail Alaska. The issue I have with alaska is we would have to fly to seattle because we live on the east coast and we are looking at a 5 hour flight and neither one of us are fans of flying long distances and we know western caribbean will be warm and alaska may be cool and rainy  however , everyone is telling me an alaska cruise is worth it. So I am a little torn about should we book a 7 nt western caribbean or should I just book the Alaska cruise. Just curious about what my fellow cruisers think, what are the pros  and cons between these two cruises. What would you suggest if you were me? 

We have done both type cruises. We found Southern and Eastern Carib. to be much better than western, that is just us. Alaska, in my opinion, is much better than Carib. It is said that toward the end of June and most of July, there is less rain, but it can rain anytime. We have sailed all 3 summer months. Some times a little rain and cooler, but weather did not take away from the cruise. We always fly nonstop if we can. We will fly to a hub that has a non stop spend the night and catch the non stop the next AM, that usually cuts down on a single long flight, depending on the hub location. We always fly in to the cruise port a day or 2 before the cruise. We did our 25th and 50th on ships. We booked our flights to a hub ourselves and then booked the nonstop through air2sea, save money. Hope this helps.

congrats on the 25th.

Even if you do things very well prior, there can be a glitch. have someone from the group go to the dining room right after boarding to confirm and get your table, have your printed copies, and res #s and cabin #s.  There is usually a line, and usually someone not quite nice. Be very nice and respectful and you will get what you want. It never has failed me.

On 6/9/2023 at 5:43 PM, cinnamon said:

Due to being widowed it’s some years since I’ve sailed on Royal. With my late husband we were Diamond Plus status. If a friend or my Goddaughter cruised with me now would she be able to come into the Diamond Plus lounge with me?  I can’t find an answer to this on the RCCI website. 
Thanks for any replies. 

It can be done, who you know, how nice your, add a similar explanation that you said, nice ,nice, nice. Tip, possibly, if they let you do it, tip definitely.

On 6/4/2023 at 11:19 AM, latebuyer said:

Can i ask when reservations open for mtd so i know for next time.

I do it pretty much right after I book it. My TA books on my booking as well. I print it out, take it with me, and go to the dining the minute I board. Never had a problem. But you have to approach being nice. you be surprised how many are not.

2 hours ago, orville99 said:

In more than 100 cruises on RCL on every class of ship, we have never been turned away from MTD if we went there regardless of where our dining was originally scheduled.

Same here so I guess 2 of us are special.

48 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

You aren't bound by same airline for a round trip via Air2Sea. 

Each and every time I tried to do it, they said no. Same with Business, if a 1 stop flight both flights have to be business. I guess it boils down to who one talks to. If you get what you want then great.

15 hours ago, notscb said:

I'd suggest you put that route into google flights and on the first page that pops up, click the "track prices" tab and it'll keep an eye on it for you, as well as email you when the price fluctuates. Booking through the cruise line is a risky business, one that I would avoid at all costs.

Well we have been on 40 + cruises and never had a problem with A2S

When you book Air2Sea, one way is one thing, round trip you have to use the same airline. Fly into Venice and out of BCN works fine, but you have to use the same airline. Research all airlines first.

prices , times, etc. Have your ducks in a row. Example we booked A2S from Tampa to Quebec one way. I wanted Air Canada, when I called and asked, they said United, they have a certain order in airlines to offer first.  I asked for Air Canada, the said ok, and gave me 2 choices, one of which was mine. Business was 1800 and we got it for 595 with A2S, 2 people was less than 1800. Our flight home I booked myself, out of NJ, price was ok. Once booked you have to keep checking on your flights, things can change without notification. I have always found A2S cheaper and they have to get you to the ship. Start checking early, no telling when they open for your cruise, it is not real easy but worth the effort. If you are he first to book price is lowest, depending on # of seats at that price, then they start going up. Too long an answer, sorry

We did it. It was good the guy was good and pleasant, many pictures. Many levels to buy, anywhere to small amount to a lot.  You can buy a drive, so you can make your own book and not buy theirs. some pressure to buy something but not high pressure. They take a lot f pictures so many are really good, he kicks out the bad.  You can do it and walk away, if you are willing to walk do it.

If you are MTD, you can go on line and schedule your time to dine. It is a pain to do and it is 50/50 to work. The advantage is, you can print it out, take it with you. Right after boarding go to the dinning room and check if they have it down, if they don't, show them you have done it on line be nice about it and about 95 % of the time I get what iI booked.

On 1/8/2023 at 9:12 AM, vision14k said:

I did, couldn’t find any hard ones.

Really, my mistake. I bought metal ones in the past don't use them anymore, did not work out for me for a number of reasons. I went to thick, semi hard, plastic. One set for luggage and one set that fold in half RCCL tags go into, with wire hangers that screw together. Have not had a problem for quite a few years.  Good luck

look on Amazon

On 12/15/2022 at 12:56 PM, Wineaux007 said:

My guess going over for drydock and coming back in November 2024.  I'm looking at the Nov 2024.  JS is around $2600 for a D+.

So this would not fit a B2B or is that still a possibility. price is still 26

On 12/15/2022 at 12:56 PM, Wineaux007 said:

My guess going over for drydock and coming back in November 2024.  I'm looking at the Nov 2024.  JS is around $2600 for a D+.

I did not see that

21 hours ago, scrosso said:

Hi Qq for anyone who has experienced this before. 

 

We have a suite and as I understand it that means we have a different check in line.

1. Do we have to still board at our assigned time?

2. Our children (4 years old), and another family member are in a different cabin but not a suite , can they check in with us (bookings were all done together) or do we all need to go into the regular line.

 

Thank you in advance 

Be nice act like you don't really know the procedure and you all will get on together.

Table mates are important. We got it as a bogo, when getting on the ship and it was great. You better like wine, lot of it and great wine as well. We did it several times on the Brilliance, look up the menu to make sure it is OK for you.

The minute you get on the ship go to the dining room. Tell them what you want, and more than likely you will get it. It does not hurt to be friendly and nice. We have ALWAYS gotten what we wanted doing it that way.On line has never worked for us. Quite the opposite for us, we got more personal service at a table for 2. Big tables are visiting with table mates, not so much the waiter. We got to now our waiter and assit. waiter better as well.

I think the prepaid or recommended paid are enough. If you do not add additional, that is OK as well,

should not feel stressed about it. Having said that, we sometimes ask for additional things, and we have sometimes required assistance/help.  We may ask for extra set of towels, extra pillows, spilling something in the room, etc. When our room attendant goes above and beyond, for whatever reason, I do tip more. I know when that happens and I think others do too. It is a personal thing. I can tell you I have always felt right when tipping more, and right when tipping required. I have seen people cancel the prepaid tips on the last day day cruising. We had our kids in one cabin, separate, from us, and I guarantee we tipped more.

10 hours ago, rennyn said:

Maybe a dumb question, but do they always payout in cash? Is there a point where it's a check of some sort? If you finish your cruise with like $5k-10k in chips or on your card, for example. Mostly just wondering because I do spend time there and sometimes wonder about dealing with these things if you arrive at a destination far from home with more cash than you'd prefer to carry, etc.

cash, at sea no taxes.