The Fun Researcher

56 minutes ago, bonsai3s said:

Cruiserchris2009...agree with everything you said...regrettably, those that have been cruising for many years can see this, but new cruisers don't. I remember when Chops was $19.

 

Random things that have been cut/removed over the years (that I liked and can still remember):

 

* Chocolates on the bed in the evening. We would literally take some home as a reminder of our cruise.

 

* Speaking of carvings, what about the ice carvings? Who remembers that?

 

* Free sushi in the Windjammer.

 

* Chefs actually cooking by the pool...last time I saw this was on the Legend of the Seas.

 

Happy sailing!

 

 

It really hits home when you see so many listed like that.  I left the ones that we miss in your quote above.

In addition...

* Lamb Chops in the MDR

*Twice a day turndown service

I have no affinity to Ben and Jerry's.  There are plenty of good brands out there. 

I like the new look better, but that's just me.

Been sailing since 2012 and can't remember when someone on their phone has bothered me.

Sure it can happen, but I can tell you this, there is no way that a major cruise line is going to start blocking cell phone usage... either calls, texting, surfing, etc...  if anything they are racing to see who can provide the most access.

The problem isn't cell phone access, it's rude and oblivious people.  Rude and oblivious people exist everywhere.  

If you want the old style of cruising, you have to pay for it.  I imagine that style still exists on the likes of Oceania, Silversea, Regent, Viking, etc...

The price of cruising has come down drastically (relative to personal income) compared to those years past

1 hour ago, jelayne said:

Mashed potatoes and carrots.  

1 hour ago, LB_NJ said:

My wife ordered it in the past and was very happy 

Thank you both. I tend to fill up a little bit on the starters so it is fantastic to hear that there is a smaller, quality entrée like this.

14 minutes ago, S.A.M.J.R. said:

I think you missed my point.  It doesn't matter whether RCI calls it a tip, service charge, or increases the base fare.  Think of it as part of the cost of the cruise.  IGNORE what RCI calls it. 

Oh ok.  Thanks for the clarification.

The factual side of my has a hard time rectifying that.  If they call it a gratuity it’s hard for me to ignore that.  
 

I can however just consider it part of the cost of cruising, which is how I’ve approached it since we’ve started cruising 

Happy cruising!

No

Are you all talking about the MDR?  There is a 4oz filet on that children’s menu?

if so what sides come with it?

It will be far more similar than different. Enjoy!

2 hours ago, S.A.M.J.R. said:

I don't disagree with what you're saying, but why not just factor the auto-grats as part of the fare?  

Let's say your room is $1000pp for the week.  Now add in auto-grats.  That's an additional $126 if I did my math right.  

 

What difference does it make whether they say "take your base fare and add auto-grats" or "we've included gratuities in the base fare"?  Either way, you're paying $1126.  

 

Or, remove the auto grats, hand the room steward $50, head waiter $40, and assistant waiter $36.  

 

I think too many people are caught up in "it's called a TIP!"  Realistically, what difference does it make?  "But if I don't get good service, I don't want to encourage them"  What are you going to do if the Flowrider attendants are rude?  What if the CD isn't entertaining? 

Oh yeah, I’m totally cool with rolling all of the gratuities into base cruise fare. Agreed.  
 

I was just trying to think of ways to make the $18 per day more palatable by rolling the “other services” portion into the cruise fare because we don’t directly deal with those folks and in normal Service sectors those are not tipped positions.  It would knock down the auto opportunity to more like $12 per day. However, like you say, I’m happy to roll all of it in 

We'll be there in a couple of weeks.  Don't have any excursions planned at the moment.  At most Junkanoo beach and souvenir shopping.  For being the busiest cruise port in the Caribbean, Nassau is SORELY lacking in excursions.

I really wish they had more good all-inclusive options like Cozumel for instance.

Sad.  It's a very hard way to learn that going out 3/4 miles from shore is riskier.

Dan

Reminds me of Royal and their pesky towel charges.  (despite our diligence returning them).  I mean, who wants a well used beach towel that is just a little better than sandpaper anyway!

We just upgraded at $6.99 per day per person as well.  Really depends on what you want from the drink package and what brands you prefer.

For us, the selling point was the addition of Red Bull and smoothies.  A Red Bull alone is $6.50, so if we each get one a day (which we will) that alone pays for it.  The rest is gravy.

It will also be nice to try some of the higher end spirits that I don't feel like purchasing an entire bottle of back home.

Delete.  Sorry

Very nice to see, in writing, that 100% of gratuities goes to the crew.

Regardless, and I've said it before, I'm not o.k. with a category of "other hotel services" on that gratuity list.  Roll that into the cruise cost and only have two categories, Stateroom Attendant and Dining Room.  At least we interact with those crew members and they provide service directly to us. 

That change alone would drop the auto grats to around $12 per person per day.  Yes, you would pay more in the base cruise fare to make up the difference, but I think that's a better way of handling that category.  Royal is abusing the purpose of gratuities IMO.  My $0.02. 

Seems like they are doing this backwards to me.  Don't folks want a quick breakfast on port days so they can head into port or excursion?  Windjammer is great for that.

Sea days are when you would have more time to order breakfast, wait for your food, have a coffee, relax...

... and lunch (or brunch) are still only available in the MDR on sea days correct?

I think it works on the app but not from a computer.  That is to say, as soon as the window opens to check-in, I normally just choose the earliest check-in time available and then save the rest for later (passport number, photo, onboard payment method, etc.).  The app lets me do this but I think it it more cumbersome using Chrome or Safari or such

How many days away is your cruise?

Yes, cost of Specialty has gotten out of hand IMO. 

Of course, there will always be those spouting...  They won't reduce price until passengers stop paying it!  Some truth to that.  There will always be macro economics at play in all areas of the ship.

Late night food options...  completely agree.  Something I've complained about for years.  At least you are on a ship with Playmakers.  Sure you have to pay some, but I LOVED having wings later at night in Playmakers.  Re. the buffet, it would be nice if they kept a small portion of the buffet open late at night like Celebrity does for a few popular late night options.

Overall, would love Royal to do much better on this fleet wide.  Pizza and finger sandwiches get old fast.

All cruise lines have their benefits and drawbacks.  One of the things I LOVED about Norwegian was O'Sheehans, a 24 hour full service restaurant, complimentary, with a broad menu.  (However, don't get me started on the abysmal pool decks on NCL ships.)

2 minutes ago, lovesthebeach2 said:

They denied it was their ashtray, and said the room attendant must have put it there.  Problem solved

If they only realized how stupid they sounded.  Yeah, the room steward put it there.  🤣🤣🤣

23 hours ago, The Fun Researcher said:

I just booked it for my two daughters (22 and 19)  as well as my mother-in-law on our Equinox sailing this month.  I really like that you have a forever keepsake.  

Scratch that, now, my wife is also signed up. We now have three generations of ladies in our family doing this glass blowing!  Can’t wait to see what they make!

Wow, been a while. Forgot that Liberty doesn't have Izumi.  Enjoy the sushi class and eating the rolls after.

LOVE playmakers.  I wish all ships were updated with this venue.  Royal sorely lacks in later night food offerings around the ship, and even though there is an ala carte cost, I love the option of pub food later in the evening. (particularly the wings)

Finger sandwiches and pizza get old fast after a couple of days.

I just booked it for my two daughters (22 and 19)  as well as my mother-in-law on our Equinox sailing this month.  I really like that you have a forever keepsake.  

Man I hope this isn’t becoming prevalent. I have not smelled pot on any of our cruises to date. Hopefully I didn’t just jinx myself.