time4u2go

Do you require internet service on the cruise?

I can't imagine paying the price of a specialty restaurant to eat a turkey dinner but maybe that's just me.

I suspect that that's probably true. Maybe there's still digital copies that can be accessed.

Have you called Royal Caribbean? What did they say?

I guess it really comes down to, would people rather board earlier and debark earlier, or would they rather board later and debark later. I personally prefer the "earlier" option. Once debarkation day arrives, the vacation is over, and I'm ready to just head home, and have no desire to prolong staying on the ship. Another consideration is that people staying in hotels pre-cruise have to check out by a certain time (like 10:00 or 11:00). If they can't board until 13:00 at the earliest, then they have to have somewhere to go, over lunchtime, while waiting to board.

From the answers in this thread and another one related to once a day service, it sounds like people that have brought it up have gotten mixed results.

That doesn't make sense. TNF is provided by Amazon, not ESPN. What game was shown? Was it an NFL game? How long ago was it?

I don't think I'd even pay $57 to eat at Chops. I feel like the quality has gone downhill in recent years.

Interesting that you can use it without an internet connection. Given your example, what happens if you try to spend $60, since it doesn't "know" how much is actually left?

I agree with everything you said. However, I was responding to this statement: "Does Royal Caribbean make it easy to choose to remove them - not really." This statement wasn't about whether it was easy to discover that they can be removed. It was about whether or not it was easy for someone who has chosen to remove them to do so (which it is).

Yes there is. From that same website comes this: "the guest may request to modify the daily amount at their discretion by visiting Guest Services" I'm guessing you didn't see that part? You cannot remove the gratuities before your sailing, but you most certainly can remove them during the sailing, as stated on the website you provided. You have a choice...they are optional.

You can choose to remove them, or you can choose to leave them in place. That is the definition of optional...being able to choose.

It sounds like it's the same as always, plus the champagne and lobster tail.

See post #583 in this thread.

Why do you say this? All one has to do is ask guest services to remove them.

Is it the same people?

I can't speak for others, but this is most definitely not true for me. I can easily afford the auto gratuities and I definitely think twice about them, especially since they've cut service and raised the gratuities.

Sounds like in addition to early and late cleaning, they need to introduce "My Time Cleaning" (MTC). 😉 😁

I'm curious... How much did that cost? For how many people?

Of course they do. What else do you think they'd do, leave the cabin empty?

100% speculation, but it could be dementia-related.

I agree. That's why I think the tips should be included in the fare.

Great point. That's why it's nice that they have the opportunity to make significantly more money working on a cruise ship than they would at home!

I honestly don't understand how you came to this conclusion. I'm pretty sure that nobody on this thread has suggested that the crew members should not be paid.

So do you believe nobody should ever make a negative post on Cruise Critic?