Remember that if anything is more that the $14 limit, you get credit applied for the $14 and you pay the difference plus 18% on the difference. We found a few wines that we want that were $15-$16 so it cost only $1-$2 extra.
The price is going to bounce around every couple weeks so you didn’t miss it. Even if you buy it and it goes lower, you can cancel it for a refund and rebook.
What do you mean RCCL doesn't charge a daily gratuity for its booze package? RCCL charges somewhere around $70 pp/pd plus 18% gratuity. On a 7 day cruise, the drink package for 2 costs usually between $1100-$1200. On NCL, its $305.20 for the package gratuities.
My last two cruise have been on Royal and I felt like the vibe was similar as NCL. The only time I was on a NCL cruise that felt like a party was a spring break cruise out of New Orleans. A lot of college spring breakers on that cruise. The second spring break cruise had almost none so it might have been a one off.
Is it? On the RCL board its asked if its safe from time to time and some people are concerned that 2 armed rent a cops and a tall wall is not enough to keep out the unrest if they really wanted to get in. I had no issue going to Labadee in December but here were a couple of threads being discussed before I went.
https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2890469-labadee-haiti-stopsaffected-by-local-unrest/
Based off your map, are you telling everyone not to cruise? Mexico, Belize, Honduras and Jamaica are all on the bad list. Haiti is do not travel so should we avoid Labadee? Is the DR ok? How do we know that Haiti risk won't makes its way into the DR?
Also, if the price of your category went down, you can ask for FCC in the amount of the difference. While they claim this is not a set policy, they have been giving it pretty regularly.
Check your credit card perks. I have Chase Sapphire and that comes with travel insurance as long as 100% of the costs is charged to the card. They cover $10k per a person up to $20k total. I had a Europe trip planned and had a death to an immediate family member and had to cancel. I was able to get 100% of my costs back with no push back for the company. Just needed to submit the receipts and cancellation policies.
Every guest 21+ now gets the UBP so the system assumes everyone in the room is eligible. Once you enter the guest information before booking, the system will remove the gratuities for 3&4. Also, it will change guest 2 to the soda package.
Why 5 drinks a day? The cost is $21.80 per person per day. 5 drinks means each drink costs $4.36 after tip is added. The cheapest beer is $7.20 after tip. That means if you drink Bud Light, you are pass break even once you drink 3.
There is no standard if you have a package since you already paid for tips when purchased. It’s up to you if you want to give an additional cash tip but there is no expectation that there will be a tip and most people with the package do not tip extra per drink.
If a bartender goes above and beyond, I will tip an extra $1 or $2 but not on every drink. At the end of the cruise, I usually tip a couple of bartenders $20 each if they were my go to bartenders.
No not at all. At the last night of the cruise, I will usually tip crew members that I feel made the trip special.
I always hand the stateroom attendant a tip at the end.
No need to upgrade the drink package unless you are big wine drinkers or want higher end whiskeys. Anything you want above the $15 limit is just charged the difference plus 20% on the difference. Most of your drinks fall in the limit. Just make sure you ask for a brand you want and don't leave it to the bartender to choose the cheap stuff.
Not sure what cabin you booked but if you have 2 specialty dining credits you should be ok. Its a mass market cruise so MDR will be hit or miss but nothing will be terrible. Upgrading to another 2 credits is not too expensive though if you want to go that route.
Go to Syd's on nights the house band is playing. Its probably the most fun you will have on a cruise ship.
If you are a fan of dueling piano shows, they have Howl at the Moon in the Headliners comedy club on a couple nights.
Don't let your 17 year old think he is too cool for the ropes course. Its one of the best ones on a ship and has "walk the plank" which is a beam that goes out over the water.
Skip American Diner. Its not worth a use of a credit and not really worth the extra money.
The daily says its Adult Karaoke Madness in Syd's today. The singers in the band in Syd's are the one that run the karaoke and they perform a couple of songs between guest songs.