datolim
-
Posts
606 -
Joined
Content Type
Forums
Store
Blogs
Downloads
Events
Gallery
Posts posted by datolim
-
-
I agree with you about going onto this trip with different expectations. This will be our 10th overall cruise and I’m sure it will be incredibly different from anything we’ve experienced.
I read your trip review, it sounds very similar to what we are doing. We will arrive in Shanghai, stay there for three days before getting on the cruise. On the cruise we will go to Nagasaki and Hakata. We will return to Shanghai from the cruise and go to Beijing for a couple days and then return back to Shanghai and fly out. I have a feeling the weather is going to be very similar to what you dealt with. Thanks again for sharing your trip report.
Here is my 2 cents. Since you have decided already keep your expectation really low. How low do you have to go, I would say lower still. Go for the experience and not the enjoyment. Your health and sanity comes first. Comfort and enjoyment maybe for another time and place.
I am saying this as an Ethnic Chinese from SG. Together with our brothers in HK we would not go on the JOY. We speak the same language but we behave differently. So best of luck to you.
-
Thanks for the reply. As a follow up question did I see a sleight of hand by RCL.
On the Mariner I see the dinner menu says 20% off wine. So I ask for a bottle of house wine. One guy came up and ask me red or white. I did not pay much attention to him after that and he might have said the NZ wine is on special and after discount and grat. it is total $60. When I went to the viewing gallery on the 12/13 floor I did not see the wine in their wine list. I remember paying $9 net for a glass of wine there. So I don't think I got the bottle of house wine I ask for. Did RCL sell me a much more expensive bottle of wine, maybe one they have overstock and tried to dispose off.
-
2 bottles (750ml) per cabin are allowed. A corsage fee may be charged if you want to consume them in bars or restaurants including the MDR or WJ.
Beer and liquor are not allowed.
Sent from my STH100-1 using Forums mobile app
Ken I had a half finished bottle of wine on the last night. I told them to keep the bottle for me as I will be back on the ship next month. They refuse to keep the bottle for me. Do you know what is RCL policy on this.
-
I am on Mariner twice in the last 2 months and will be on her every month until she leaves for the US in March. I am not one to write reviews so you can field your questions here but not tell all about Mariner.
-
I am not sure about cruising with RCL again.... I had a bad encounter with something(What happened onboard, stay onboard so I don't want to talk about that. hits: staff from activity department(outdoor activity)I guess this situation only applies to Asian specifically.
I can feel all of the crew members onboard are doing their best to make all guest happy, except one or two....:( I can understand that not everything is perfect....
Thanks for reminding me, enjoy you cruise:)
Wow it must be a really bad experience to write RCL off on future cruises. Do enjoy the rest of your cruise. Mention of Asians only on a mostly Asian cruise is difficult to comprehend. I have some bad encounter with some non Asian staff myself but maybe it was not so bad or I just have a thick skin.
-
I just want to alert you on the terrific terrific sales promotion from the Next Cruise sales office on the Ovation. You get US$200 OBC and 20% discount on your TA price which in my case was already 20% less than the RCL website price. So I ended up net paying US$430 for a 3N cruise balcony.
The $200 instant OBC I cash it out in the casino paying a 5% or $10 charge for this. I only found out about this on the last night about 2 hours before their closing time. Don't have a chance to spend this on board and had I known about this earlier I would have book multiple cruises.
-
I have a half finished bottle of wine and RC would not keep the bottle for me for my next cruise next month.
-
This is in addition to the C&A balcony discount. This is directly from RCI's website. Not sure where you got that information, but it is not correct.
To Ken's reply C & A discount now cannot be use with other discounts.
-
I see from the MarineTraffic you are out on eastern Taiwan now. Aren't you suppose to be in Japan. Do tell us what is happening.
-
This is in addition to the C&A balcony discount. This is directly from RCI's website. Not sure where you got that information, but it is not correct.
Well one of us is correct and one is wrong.
-
OBC is now the biggest reason. I have never felt rushed, but we did know what cruises to book. They rarely have any deals that you cannot get online or a TA. They will automatically transfer the booking to your preferred Travel Agent. For me it's certainly worth any small hassle.
I don't know about anyone's financial situation, but I would not throw away $200. BTW OBC is not just the first day. The other odd thing you may see is an early bird drawing for an additional $2-300 OBC.
Onboard credit per cabin
- 5-7 night cruises
- Interior/Oceanview: $50
- Balcony/Junior Suites: $100
- Grand Suite & Above: $200
[*]8-10 night cruises
- Interior/Oceanview: $100
- Balcony/Junior Suites: $150
- Grand Suite & Above: $300
[*]11-14 night cruises
- Interior/Oceanview: $150
- Balcony/Junior Suites: $200
- Grand Suite & Above: $400
[*]15 nights or longer cruises
- Interior/Oceanview: $200
- Balcony/Junior Suites: $250
- Grand Suite & Above: $500
- Interior/Oceanview: $50
PLUS, EARN UP TO $100 IN ADDITIONAL ONBOARD CREDIT OR DOLLARS OFF
WHEN YOU BOOK MORE THAN 6 MONTHS IN ADVANCE!*
What you are referring to as "Oboard credit per cabin" is the standard C & A benefits which you get off on on board.
- 5-7 night cruises
-
To be fair to their staff l think you need to do all your homework on the RCL website before you talk to them. It is so much easier for them and you if you zoom in on the cruise you want and the RCL website price. You will find that their NRD comes with their current sales gizmo like 50% off 2nd pax. The RD is without the sales gismo and is actually cheaper cheaper. Go Figures.
Booking on the first day comes with $100 OBC. Apart form this there is no advantage at all with booking on board. Don't forget to ask them for the guarantee cabin which only show up in their website and it is cheaper.
-
Vietnam ship tours are not user friendly or value for money. lack of docks for walk on and off. Bad roads and distant from tourist sights. Feed back I get and personal experience is not good.
-
They were talking about where in the cruise planner they could find the place to make reservations.
Ken no reservation required. All they do is to cordon off an extra table for her. When I was there only about 15% of the tables were cordon off.
-
if i remember correctly it was not in the dinning area. I think it was listed under activities.
mdr
-
It is a rip-off. Not worth $1. Same MDR breakfast but they cordon off a section for paying guest. Only difference is you kids get to have their photo with the DW characters. If you plan it well and arrive early you all can get your photos and videos during the promenade parade with the DW characters.
-
Bingo:) I am from Hong Kong and i believe you are from Singapore. lol ( your user name starts with SG)
We planed to eat in one of the complimentary dining room last night but long queue made us ended up in the buffet. ( hate the queue)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Once the door opens the line just walk right in. You can go after the line clears and you always get an empty table.
-
I was on Ovation last month to Vietnam. I assume you are local to know how to take the shuttle. Took the taxi from Kowloon station to Kai Tak CT. Yes traffic really bad and took 1 hour instead of the planned 15 mins.
Funny they don't change the menu in the MDR. So ended up eating escargot and lamb shank for 3 of the 5 nights.
Pixels show is free in spite of the sign in the WJ on first day. Just have to line up before the show starts.
-
On the Mariner it is free buffet like WJ for breakfast. But paid speciality for lunch and dinner.
-
I get the same message in my cruise planner. It also says I might get more when I go on board. Curious what else is there.
-
I agree, I just priced a 7 day southern Caribbean on Jewel in April, for 1 person = $1127, 2 people = $848...that's like a no brainer!?! Obviously, just book it for 2 people and just have one person "not show up". I mean, for that big of a price difference you could pay for somebody to go. I don't understand why RCCL would do this, such a big difference like this at least. I know the whole "people will spend money onboard" argument, but will they really spend nearly $300? Yes, I do, but I've traveled with groups who didn't even spend $200 between husband and wife.
That is about the same as what I posted. It seems RCL don't want solo cruisers. Reasons must be it is bad for their bottom line. So if solo still want to go on the ships RCL want them to really pay for it. In this part of the world Costa don't accept solo.
So I would always check the price for 2 before I book solo and not assume it is just less 1 pax taxes and gratuities.
-
Just check my cruise booking again. 2 pax balcony $917, solo cheapest balcony $987. Never see solo guarantee for balcony, window or inside.
-
SG007, I hope you don't mind me asking some questions on the Ovation separate from Next Cruise. We are interested in a cruise out of Hong Kong but there has been very little information on these boards about the experience. Can you let me know:
1. Did the specialty restaurants have special Asian menus? One review mentioned that Wonderland was a high-end Chinese restaurant, and a few reviews have mentioned a special whole fish menu item at Michael's Genuine Pub.
2. What is the Golden Suites program? Is it for GS and above only?
3. What C&A benefits were offered? We are D+ and understand the Diamond Lounge is used as a VIP gambling room.
Many thanks in advance!
1. Yes They have special Asian menus. Wonderland offers a 10 course meal for $70+ which includes the famous Peking Duck, steak and seafood. Don't know about Michael's Pub.
2. I am not up to that level so maybe others want to take this one.
3. Others may want to take this one.
-
I can imagine a social or philanthropic group, not wanting their group prices 'advertised' and open to the general public and wanting to keep the promotion that they are offering available only to their 'members' for example. On the other hand, if it is a group that the TA put together for the purpose of 'reduce rate offering' that is something else and probably large TA's do that. I just don't know if I believe that is right to be able to do.
From what I can see from the postings here RCL marketing operate differently outside the USA.
We don't have the same price offering for cruises and any additional discount or entitlement is what comes out off the TAs pocket.
Here in SG the TA price is 20% lower than RCL. RCL has a local office here and if I go down to their office I will get the local TA prices. But if I phone the local office number the line jump to the RCL office in the UK and I get the RCL website prices which is higher. I have not seen any price competition from the local TAs so my guess is they are not allowed to advertise the pricing.
As an interesting sidebar RCL appears to be awfully generous and nice to the local TAs here. When I made my booking on board The guy says he will inform my TA about this booking. I ask him why and if my TA will get a commission from this booking. He said yes. My TA did zero work on this booking and still get a commission here. I told him my TA is doing a very bad job and I don't want to use them anymore. He made me sign a waiver with reasons given to release RCL from their commitment to their TAs here.
Is the NCL Joy really that bad for Americans??
in Norwegian Cruise Line
Posted
Glad you found out about Dream Cruises. There is another thread in CC under Other cruise lines and you will find the Getting Dream thread there. You will probably find their sailing from HK and SG less stressful and more to your liking. If I can described it as sanitised China cruises. However the parent company is a casino company and like JOY it is using the cruise ships to cash in on their casino business.