The Fun Researcher

There are only a couple of Elite benefits we're looking forward to next week, our first time Elite on X.  The Elite breakfast (if we're up for breakfast) and the laundry service.

I wish X did the 4 vouchers daily like Royal.   Happy hour from 5-7 doesn't work for us.  It's when we're typically getting ready for, and at dinner.

Fortunately we got the "all-in" for a reasonable price this time.  Can't wait to sail X again, only 8 days!

8 hours ago, ESweets said:

Thanks you for your review! I love hearing some good reviews as we will be onboard 12/19. May I ask about the current entertainment/shows? 

see you on board!

OP or others, how is the condition of the ship. Been a while since drydock. In good shape or is there more wear and tear than normal

Thank you for the review!  We’ll be sailing her in 9 days.  Is there still twice a day room turndown?

12 minutes ago, time4u2go said:

I've been thinking the same thing. It was always an option.

34 minutes ago, cruiseboy89130 said:

You always had the option to lock out the 2 times service - so raving about it -  is just stupid!

I might be missing the point.

For those that liked twice a day service, and now have no option other than once a day (and don’t like that). …What’s stupid?  

2 minutes ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

There was a short period of time when all-inclusive was the only option. However, it wasn’t that long before that went away. Now there is an option to add all-inclusive to most bookings but it isn’t required.  My reduced bookings comments is based on what I have heard from TAs (I never use one but two of them live within a block of my house) and more importantly what I have seen when booking cruises. Right now fares on Celebrity are significantly lower than RCI, especially comparing new ships for both cruise lines. I am still amazed what people are paying to cruise on Icon and now Star, not to mention current prices on other RCI ships.

Thanks.  This upcoming sailing will be the first time our grown kids (now 16-22 yrs) will sail X.  If they really like it we'll definitely be looking at X more for future bookings.  The elite benefits aren't as good as Diamond on Royal, but if the "all in" price is still good then it doesn't really matter.  My main concern is the lack of activities and entertainment vs Royal.  Of course, X has some nicer amenities vs Royal, so we'll see what they think.

1 minute ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

That’s a good example but I think their reduced bookings was likely a factor too. I have been cruising on RCI and Celebrity for years. For the majority of this time cruises on RCI, in general, were significantly cheaper than Celebrity. Right now, and it’s been this way for awhile, the opposite is true, which is why I have a half dozen cruises booked on Celebrity over the next five months. I think Celebrity made a big mistake moving to all-inclusive fares. Based on what I am seeing in their cruise fares they still haven’t recovered from this move. Granted this is just my opinion. There could be other reason(s) why fares on Celebrity are overall pretty low these days. 

Not arguing, but reduced bookings?  Haven't heard that.  We have a sailing with them in 9 days, so I've been over in that part of these boards and hadn't seen that.  We love Celebrity too so happy to sail with them to mix things up.

We had a gap sailing Celebrity from 2017-2023 so I don't know the booking changes they made during that time.  Did Celebrity ever have it where you HAD to choose the all-in and couldn't just choose the base fare?  For our cruise Dec 19th we have 4 bookings and only 2 of the 4 are "all-in"  The others are base fares.

3 minutes ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

What did Celebrity change based on complaints? The one big change I know Celebrity made fairly recently was eliminating the all inclusive fares (WiFi, drinks, gratuities) for all bookings (it is still an option for most bookings). But that change was made because bookings significantly decreased when they implemented this change. RCI is not going to make any changes based on complaints when their bookings have never been better despite price hikes in every area (cruise fare, excursions, packages, etc.)

For one, adding back the "classics" and other popular items back to the MDR menu

I typically use both.  App to quickly lock in our arrival time for our multiple bookings, and then later I use my laptop to fill in the rest.  I really should take a look at trying the app for all of it.

With so many cameras around the ship you would have to be pretty stupid to try stealing on the ship, especially since the victim would certainly know and report it.  Of course, stupidity runs in those that steal... so there is that. 🤣

6 minutes ago, HappyTexan44 said:

All this talk about skunk weed makes me extra glad for our promenade view rooms.   I'd be ticked if I'd paid for a balcony I couldn't use.   
 

One of these days we'll try one of those out.  We're happy sailing interior or Balcony.  Balcony really isn't that big of an upgrade to us.  I know, I know but we like the outdoor spaces around the ship rather than sitting alone on our balcony.  I do like being able to quickly and easily look out at port in the morning.

23 minutes ago, Scottdalfonso said:

That comment about being an empty space wasn't about ice cream.... it was about the sky pad area. 

Well that's true as well. 😂😂  Aren't they removing that as well, if they haven't already?

23 minutes ago, prmssk said:

Except a later post admitted it was one incident at the pool (not Eden) which makes me wonder if even that was still an exaggeration. 

Yeah the whole thing didn’t really deserve to be discussed here on Cruise Critic and was just ripe for arguments.  Was a disaster waiting to happen 

Before this thread gets deleted...  from what I recall it wasn't really about the speedos, according to the OP in that other thread, it was about the over the top butt grabbing and tongue kissing in Eden.  I will say, I don't really want to see that in public either, no matter who you are.  I'll leave it at that. 

33 minutes ago, Snowbird_in_training said:

Is Royal concerned about losing your business?  Not really.  Ships are sailing at mostly full capacity.  

Agree with most of what you said but this particular part is flawed.  Most ships now sail with a high percentage of guests in the Diamond and above categories.  If it wasn't for these loyal cruisers the story would look very different as far as such high demand.  Royal very much appreciates and needs the loyal cruisers.

25 minutes ago, Mum2Mercury said:

I've only sailed Disney and Royal Caribbean, but I've been cruising since 2004, and I've never known of this.  What ships offered it?  

Agree.  Maybe some mixed memories.  Pretty sure it happens(ed) on other cruise lines (Princess and Holland for instance), not Royal.  I could be wrong.

7 hours ago, cruiseboy89130 said:

It is an empty space now - not used at all!🙄

Well that's sad. However, I never saw it well utilized when it was an ice cream shop.

2 hours ago, time4u2go said:

Actually they will wait up to a point. If there is an excessive delay, then they will arrange for you to join the ship at a later port at Royal's expense. 

 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/will-the-ship-wait-for-guests-on-a-shore-excursion#:~:text=When you book a shore,at no expense to you

 

37 minutes ago, Tlbecker1 said:

We were 2-1/2 hours late coming back from Paris on a Royal excursion and they waited for us.

I can see having the ship wait or transferring you to the next port is a really big deal for some cruisers.  Kind of like paying that extra premium to have the insurance built into the excursion.  The more we cruise the more we’re willing to take that risk but I really can’t imagine the stress and hassle of left at port and having to figure it out on our own.  It’s why we’re so careful when we head out on our own

11 minutes ago, Denversail said:

Do they?

Do you know differently?

17 minutes ago, robmtx said:

Another change - 

Many complimentary experiences, such as Northstar, iFly, etc., now feature paid extended experiences or paid primetime slots. They continue to offer complimentary times, but the "best" times now cost money.   It's still, in my opinion, pretty easy to find decent timeslots for the free rides, but just know that those spaces are limited.

Depends.  Those complimentary ones can be REALLY hard to get.  They were opening up the iFly slots at a certain time each evening (for the following day) throughout the cruise on our July Alaskan cruise on the Quantum.  You couldn't just go on embarkation day and book a time for later in cruise.

I'm very tech savvy and still had no luck finding an open timeslot all week for iFly. (Northstar was down all week and has been for months prior and since).  It was not well managed unfortunately.

Add another...

Elimination of the paper Daily Compass (we still ask our room steward to bring them daily and it's been granted)

I'd rather peruse the next days events and circle things, highlight things, etc... on paper rather than looking at my cell phone screen.

1 minute ago, steveru621 said:

 

I didn't try to choose an arrival time only.  

 

I do not see the point if 90% of my check-in info is auto-filled.

One reason... If I do this at midnight 45 days before the cruise (in order to get an early check-in)...  I don't feel like staying awake to fill in all the information for the three+ reservations that I'm typically managing before I can go back to bed.  I much prefer just clicking a timeslot for each reservation, going to bed, and taking care of the rest later.  The app allows for that.

3 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said:

Checked in on the website Monday for an upcoming Voyager sailing, nothing changed from the last dozen or so times I have checked in-time slots were offered

Were you allowed to simply choose the check-in time, and nothing else, or were you required to go through all the steps before you chose a time?

6 minutes ago, steveru621 said:

I just checked in last night for B2B Odyessy cruises in January.

 

I used the website, and the arrival times were there. I entered my passport info (no scan option).

 

It shouldn't make any difference, but I used Chrome. Easy...

Were you allowed to simply choose the check-in time, and nothing else, or were you required to go through all the steps before you chose a time?

35 minutes ago, Mum2Mercury said:

I'd argue that society has become "less sophisticated".  More rudeness, more me-first behavior.  

And that fear is grossly over-blown.  Aside from the handful of all-day excursions (Tulum Ruins being the poster child), most people return hours in advance of sailing.  And don't we all know how to read a watch?  No, the cruise line has convinced a lot of people that they're in GENUINE DANGER of missing the ship (!!!!!) if they put a toe off the ship without a Royal Caribbean excursion.  

Wait, you're assuming everyone on a cruise acts responsibly? 🤣😀  

I think some like knowing they will be rounded up when needed in time to get back in time.

Personally, we rarely book any excursions through the ship anymore.  Maybe 1 in 10 now

Pretty specific, but how about Deck 7 Prime Veranda rooms (the ones on the rear hump)...  refurbed?  We'll be in them in a couple of weeks.

1 minute ago, smokeybandit said:

Because many

1) Think excursions are only available through the cruise line

2) Don't feel comfortable with booking excursions direct

3) Don't feel comfortable with or don't want the hassle of getting transportation on their own in a foreign country

...and the fact that Royal guarantees that the ship will wait for you if you are late.  That is a BIG one.