springfire

18 hours ago, Host Clarea said:

 

True, but they are usually at the mercy of the casino management as to whcih machines can be used for the group.

We have never had a casino manager tell us which slot machine to use for a slot pull.   We always find a machine the first night, speak with the casino host to let them know about our slot pull, inquire about extra prizes for the group and we make sure the cashier will be able to distribute winnings equally to participants.  The casino hosts on the Jewel and Allure were wonderful and everyone had a great time.  The casino hosts on Celebrity were also wonderful.   Not sure what I would have told them if they said I had to use a particular slot machine.

On 10/13/2019 at 6:20 AM, Billy Baltic said:

It’s suggested attire, not a legal requirement. People of all ages are very capable of deciding what they want to wear. I can’t understand why people get so animated about what other people choose to wear. 

My first cruise was back in 1976, I have changed with the times.  I now leave all my formal clothing at home, it really isn't required any longer for your cruise unless you just really want to dress up.  Dress the way you feel best, honestly the cruise line doesn't care how you dress.

If we tip extra, it is always in cash directly to the person who deserves it. 

Looks like you are having a great time today!

I have arranged many slot pulls, the last one was just two weeks ago on the Allure (we each won $22).  I always use playing cards to keep track of players and so we know who is up next to spin, my wife keeps track of the players names and cabin numbers.   Everyone always seem to have a great time, and many got over their fear of just being in the casino.  When you have close to 100 people cheering for you, you can't help but feel special when you spin.  On a side note, I always keep my card in for the slot pull and the casino manager is just happy that I bring so many people into the casino.  The slot pull is a win win situation for everyone and lots of fun.

2 hours ago, Joseph2017China said:

Yes, I know what it is.  You get wifi, which you can buy w/o the Key.  You get lunch in the MDR with the Chops menu on boarding day, but you can buy that also in Chops.  You get a reserved seat in a show, but for many ships, it is not needed, because there are plenty of "free" seats.  First off the ship in ports, but seriously, I don't ever remember waiting long enough to be worth paying for this.  The rock climbing and flow rider, are something that might be of interest to others, but I would rather do it during a "free" time.  However, that is an opinion, and I would rather not pay for free items.

When you disembark, another nice Key benefit is The Key also allows you to enjoy a nice sit down breakfast and exit much more easily at your own time.

1 day- Leave tomorrow on the Allure

82 days-Independence

146 days-Navigator

We have a Boardwalk cabin in the aft on deck 10 on the Allure next week.  We wanted to enjoy the cabin one last time before they add those slide tubes when Allure gets her refurb next year.

Hurricane Dorian Discussion Number  37
NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL       AL052019
1100 AM EDT Mon Sep 02 2019

Satellite and radar imagery show that Dorian is moving very slowly
over Grand Bahama Island this morning.  The hurricane remains quite
symmetric and still exhibits a very well-defined eye, but there is
somewhat less evidence of concentric eyewalls in Bahamas radar
imagery.  Satellite intensity estimates from UW/CIMSS, SAB, and
TAFB are slightly lower this morning, and the initial intensity has
been reduced to 135 kt.  As Dorian moves very slowly during the
next 24 hours, some upwelling in the deeper waters around the
Bahamas could cause some gradual weakening. After that time, the
hurricane is expected to experience a gradual increase in
southwesterly shear, which should lead to a slow decrease in wind
speed.  However, Dorian is forecast to remain a very powerful
hurricane while it moves near the southeastern United States coast.
The NHC intensity forecast is close to the statistical guidance
during the first day or so, then near the HFIP corrected consensus
model later in the period.

As anticipated, the ridge to the north of the storm has weakened
and the eye of Dorian has only been inching westward this morning.
The hurricane is expected to drift westward or west-northwestward
over the next 24 hours, which will cause a prolonged period of
devastating winds and storm surge over Grand Bahama Island. By late
Tuesday, the weakness in the ridge becomes more pronounced and
Dorian should turn northwestward near the east coast of the Florida.
By day 3, the hurricane is expected to make a northeastward turn
ahead of a broad mid-latitude trough.  The overall track envelope
has not changed much, and little adjustment to the previous NHC
forecast was required.

It cannot be stressed enough that only a small deviation to the
left of the NHC forecast could bring the core of the extremely
dangerous hurricane onshore of the Florida east coast within the
hurricane warning area.  In addition, Dorian's wind field is
predicted to expand, which would bring hurricane-force winds closer
to the east coast of Florida even if the track does change.

Key Messages:

1. A prolonged period of catastrophic winds and storm surge will
continue to affect Grand Bahama Island through today and tonight.
Everyone there should remain in shelter and not venture into the
eye.

2. Life-threatening storm surge and dangerous hurricane-force winds
are expected along portions of the Florida east coast and Georgia
coast, regardless of the exact track of Dorian's center. Water
levels could begin to rise well in advance of the arrival of strong
winds. Residents in these areas should follow advice given by local
emergency officials.

3. The risk of life-threatening storm surge and hurricane-force
winds continues to increase along the coasts of South Carolina and
North Carolina. Residents in these areas should follow advice given
by local emergency officials.

4. Heavy rains, capable of producing life-threatening flash floods,
are expected over northern portions of the Bahamas and coastal
sections of the Southeast and lower Mid-Atlantic regions of the
United States into Friday.

FORECAST POSITIONS AND MAX WINDS

INIT  02/1500Z 26.8N  78.3W  135 KT 155 MPH
 12H  03/0000Z 26.9N  78.7W  130 KT 150 MPH
 24H  03/1200Z 27.2N  79.1W  125 KT 145 MPH
 36H  04/0000Z 28.1N  79.6W  115 KT 130 MPH
 48H  04/1200Z 29.3N  80.2W  110 KT 125 MPH
 72H  05/1200Z 32.0N  79.4W   95 KT 110 MPH
 96H  06/1200Z 35.4N  75.1W   85 KT 100 MPH
120H  07/1200Z 40.7N  66.8W   75 KT  85 MPH...POST-TROP/EXTRATROP

$$
Forecaster Brown

We always transfer our bookings to one of our Travel Agents.   We compare our approved travel agents and we use the one that gives us the most OBC and perks.   You are leaving lots of money behind, if you are leaving your booking with Royal.

19 hours ago, AnnaNicole said:

Agree.   Triple - daily gratuity, cruiseplanner purchase gratuity, and dinnertime gratuity.  Yikes.

 

 

 

And all that gratuity money goes straight to Royal and Royal does whatever it wants to do with our gratuity.  

2 hours ago, Esmerelda said:

Obviously,  hard liquor has no carbs, as well as dry wines, etc.  What do you like to mix your alcohol with, soda water?  

This is the first time I have cruised since we began Keto last year.  I only drink wine at home. 

 

I appreciate any replies that are related to this topic.  Thanks! 

Not only are we on the next cruise with you but both my wife and I are also on the Keto diet.  My wife will only have a wine and I will usually have my drink over ice with no mixer.  Some people have suggested diet coke, that can be keto friendly.  I agree, most mixers would take you out of Ketosis real fast.

We have done ATV tours a few times in the caribbean and we have never been asked to pay a $500 deposit or anything approaching that.

4 minutes ago, wolfcathorse said:

Aug 18 is a possible rotation date for Capt Tore to rejoin Allure. So if they do a 10 week rotation, and if I have Capt Ron's start date right, then Capt Tore should be back this Sunday.

Thanks for the update!

Does anyone know if Captain Tore Grimstad is currently on the Allure?   

31 days to before we cruise on the Allure and 112 day and we will be on the  Independence 

1 hour ago, Cruisegirl6 said:

With the price increase, I can see people going back to smuggling and there are many more ways now because there are plastic things to put liquor in and the detectors won't find them.

So true!  

$65 a day for our Indy cruise in December and $59 a day for our Allure cruise next month, we will pass on the drink packages for both cruises.   It has been a long time since Royal had good prices on the drink packages, not counting the $18 a day mistake that some were able to take advantage of.

Royal wants $59/day for our Allure cruise next month and $65/day for Independence cruise in December.  Reality is we will not be buying the drinking package at those prices.   We will adjust by bringing two bottles of wine with us when we board,  use drink coupons, use the discount for wine deal with specialty dining, and taking advantage of a couple of private excursions that include drinks.  We will still buy a drink or two.  We will have a great time on our cruises with or without the drinking package.

It is not a matter of how many cruises but how many nights we are out on a cruise.  This year we will do three cruises, 9 nights on the Jewel of the Seas, 7 nights on the Allure and 4 nights on the Independence of the Seas.  In 2020 we have a 25 night cruise cruise on the new ship Enchanted Princess.  We now enjoy combining land and cruise vacations, allows for the best of both worlds.

We purchased The Key for our Independence of the Seas 4 day cruise in December.  The cost was 19.99 day, so for the two of us the cost of The Key was $160 for our cruise.  We cancelled our two device internet that we had purchased on sale for 20.99 a day, so this saved $84.00.   Since we will get to eat a nice lunch at Chop's on embarkation, that is a big plus and worth $40.   

After enjoying the above, The Key is still costing us about $36.   The ability to drop off our bags and not drag around our wine is easily worth $10.00 to me.  Having a nice breakfast  and an easier way off the ship the last day is easily worth the difference for us to purchase The Key.   Having priority check in, priority seating and private hours on Flow Rider and hopefully Ice Skating made purchasing The Key an even better benefit.

We have a cruise on the Allure next month and the cost of The Key is  $29.99/day, total cruise price for two $420.00.  The cost of the Key on our Allure cruise would be a waste of money as it seems very overpriced.   We agree with others who said, The Key is a better deal on shorter cruises, not so much on longer cruises.

1 hour ago, GEORGIEGIRL said:

First let start by saying my wife and I are both D+ on RCCL. We typically cruise 3-4 times a year (long & short ones). Over the past 3 -4 years we have also cruise 1 time on Carnival (Paradise), 1 time on NCL (Bliss) and 2 times on Celebrity (cant remember the names right now). We have been cruising RCCL ships for 20+ years now and have been on almost every class, size and multiple itineraries throughout the world (ex. Eastern, Western Caribbean, Hawaii, Repositioning, transpacific,  Alaska, Baltic Isles, etc.. 

 

I say this to give you a perspective as to what overall opininion I have regarding RCCL food.

 

I will also add that as I have gotten older my food tastes have changed as well. That being said, when I step foot on an RCCL ship these days I no longer have any expectations regarding the food other than will be plenty available. In years past I used to look forward to the "Dining Experience" as far as food quality, taste and presentation goes. Now, I just go with the thought, I hope it wont be too bad?? Sometimes I will deliberately go to the windjammer to eat a meal because the food is just not that great anymore.

 

They have definitely changed (lowered) the dining experience in the main dining room over the past few years. I am not questioning the quality of the ingredients that they use, I just don't feel that the presented end dish is that great anymore.

 

I have filled out several surveys for them and I never get any feedback from them. I will however say that the food on the other cruiselines that I mentioned earlier were incredible. Since "Celebrity" is an RCCL company I know that they can do better on the quality of food served in the main dining  room they just appear to not care to do so.

 

That being said, I will still cruise RCCL ( I have 3 cruises booked before the end of the year) and I will still enjoy my vacation because my moto is, and always will be, "THE WORST DAY ON VACATION, IS STILL BETTER THAN THE BEST DAY OF WORK".

Well said!!!

8 minutes ago, gospelle said:

Clearly you haven't read the entire thread, that's okay I often don't either. But let me refresh...

1. Cannabis is not illegal here in Canada. I'm boarding in Canada and going to Canadian ports, not entering USA until day 7. Nobody is going to arrest me for having cannabis at the port of embarkation even if I chose to bring it. (If there were a US Customs pre-clearance at any port, it would be clearly noted to remind passengers that cannabis was not allowed, in which case I'd have opportunity to toss it long before I ended up anywhere where it was illegal).

2. I've made it clear I don't intend to bring anything unless it were allowed under RCCL policy and I've made it clear I wouldn't bring it to USA. I'm not about to jeopardize my cruising and I'm not an idiot.

3. I've read the guest conduct policy, it does not reference cannabis.

4. Many industries that serve Canada have clear policies now that cannabis is legal here. Airlines and airport security for example allow possession of cannabis now (if you're travelling between Canadian airports, but it is not allowed if you are flying to or from another country). I am simply curious to know if it would be the same for my cruise ship between Canadian ports.

5. I'm not surprised some folks chose to belittle my quest for information and harass, some of that is typical with online stuff, but usually one can wade through that and get to an answer here because Cruise Critic has proven time and again over the 19 years I've been a member to repeatedly be faster at getting information than calling into the cruise lines. (not this time)

6. To head off the reply I know is coming... In 2002 Cruise Critic had a database failure and lost all of the posts and info on everyone so that's why it says "member since 2002", not because I'm high and don't know how to count to 19.

 

Happy Cruising everyone.

 

You have done a nice job of explaining yourself here.  Good luck with finding out the answers.  The laws are changing so quickly.  Here in Miami-Dade County,  they  have just announced they have stopped prosecuting minor marijuana cases.   

Nice Review!!!  Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for the review, enjoyed hearing about your experience.  We will be on the Allure next month.   We are staying in a Boardwalk Balcony at the end.  We wanted to enjoy this cabin one more time before they do the renovations and add the slide to the back.