Nanarrow

Is this still about the 10$ tip at Chops? If I send you 10$ will you please stop the ranting?

3 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Never said that glaring didn't happen.  My opinion is that it is overblown. Oh no, someone gave me a dirty look.  And it's not just Pinnacles that might be glaring. Maybe suite guests glare at me. Maybe D+'s glare at us when we go to DL. Did you ever think of that. 😉

 

Luckily for me your opinion on where I can go, is not Royal's opinion or policy. 

We are D and we travel in suites. We have been welcomed in the Suite Lounge with open arms by so many Pinnacle members! We email with several couples we met on our last few sailings. John I think you are on to something 🙂 ...there can be glares from anyone, anywhere. Who really cares, it’s a measure of one’s character of how people handle situations like this. One can turn snarky, or they can smile and be friendly. We try and be friendly and kind to everyone, it has paid off in wonderful friendships! All the lounges can be wonderful, if ohe doesn’t choose to think negatively.

Maybe just once we can not go off on a tangent and not tell people how they should spend their money.

To the OP- I think it is appropriate for you to tip as much as you would like to in cash- or keep the tips auto or on prepay. 

We go the way of the green path. The Bakery in the area of the green X. We’ve used this path twice and it works fine. This is simply a shorter alternative than the yellow path. The shop vendors are very tame in this port- so to walk through the center of courtyard it is not hard.

the “cut throughs” referenced are big wooden doors- do not try and use them/ they don’t save time and it will be a hassle.

Good luck and enjoy!

2 hours ago, SRV FAN said:

Just got our email instructions for our upcoming visit to Maya Chan.... reading thru them, it seems very complicated. Almost like TOO MUCH INFO. It seems like a LONG walk to the meeting place. How long will they be there after we dock? Do we need to rush off the ship to meet our taxis? I've read that we can just get off at our leisure & take a cab.... but I just wonder how they will be there actually meeting guests.... any insight on this would be appreciated! THANKS!!

The walk to the pick up area is a good walk- made longer because the pier is long.

I am partially paralyzed and can make this walk. Cut through the Bakery, go to the right, and you will end up outside the port. There is a sidewalk in the center of the street- use it. It is only a few blocks. 

The pick up is on the right.

Don’t complicate it. The walk is worth it. 

I love this ship. She is pretty, clean and in nice shape. The crew is exceptional. Chops is wonderful- And the service is wonderful as well. I like Izumi- very nice experience. I love Martinis- and the Lavender Martini is really nice.. it is a laid back cruise. Trivia is fun, Bingo is not. I wasn’t thrilled with the band they have on right now-their accents while singing and their use of iPads for lyrics threw me. 

(Three of our party got influenza - we started feeling it the day we disembarked. So I’m dealing with a cough from that. But that can happen at a grocery store or restaurant) the ship is laid out well, and you won’t get lost. She’s is the perfect size for me. Enjoy! (The crew is fantastic!)

I pre-book with Black Hat Cozumel. They are a great company and we use them for the entire day.

I have met a lot of very nice people on cruises. Many have been Pinnies. 

The status level doesn’t matter.

However...We got rudely snubbed by a group of Pinnies on our last cruise during trivia. I actually knew 4 questions they got wrong- if they had included us- they would have won...their loss! I may or may not have told them so.(nicely ofcourse)

I was on Rhapsody last week. They held the first Formal night on night 2 (key west). 

We use specialty dining- so I can not answer the other posters question about MDR and drinks. We Didn’t use our 3 drinks, we had cocktails in the lounge before our dining reservations.

If you give exceptional service I’ll be happy to give you a ten...if you ask for high ratings- I don’t consider that good service.

i answer truthfully. 

1 hour ago, BNBR said:

 

Keep in mind that Maya Chan is a little slice of paradise run by a couple of expats and their son who is there year round.  That's the charm. I'm not surprised that their site isn't perfect or up to date.  It's that low key vibe that makes it so special.  Same reason wooden chairs, as much as you dont love them, but having commercialized home depot plastic lounge chairs is never going to happen at Maya Chan and thank God for that. It's a total eclectic authentic Gilligan's island Mexican beach hangout vibe.  Same reason it's just a cool little pool and not some crazy resort pool. 

 

 

Exactly! This is exactly what makes it perfect! I truly hope they never change a thing! I’m almost disappointed they added the pool! I love the very low key traditional beach vibe. I dislike the manufactured “experience” beaches. I love Maya Chan.

As for the two person situation- it’s totally fine- where ever they put you! You’ll love it!

6 hours ago, nelblu said:

 

Yes, we bid a couple times on wooden horses with ethnic names attached.  The horse was usually kidnapped from our cabin and later returned for the dress up for the race a few days later.  Won first place once.

We bought horse on the Majesty one cruise...1996 I believe. We paid 300$ for that horse! I remember some crew members coming to our cabin with a huge brown bag full of decorations and markers, tape, a feather boa, metallic streamers to decorate the horse. We were instructed to bring it everywhere with us-MDR, bars, the pool...and talk it up, “sell people on your horse”...it was a memorable cruise and the horse race next to the pool was a blast! 

Cruising was so simple back then! We didn’t need video screen and water slides to be entertained! The entertainment was in the interaction!

So yes, I remember horse racing. And earlier than that- Song of America..late 80s/early 90s....Keeping your jewelry (that was borrowed from your mother- her good stuff) in the pursers safe, and going to sign out pieces to wear for the night. Packing our cocktail dresses and sundresses in hanging bags with tissue paper. And the room attendant always helping us repack. Having our hair done every night (differently)at the salon for supper. I remember the nightly uniform changes of the waiters. The huge amount of cash for tips and bar bills. Falling desperately in love with a casino dealer who taught me how to play roulette- as he taught me the slang that went with it. Hitting golf balls off the ship. I remember when Labadee was nothing but an island. Where they had a banana boat ride! I had an amazing time cruising with friends in my very early twenties and beyond. And yes I know I was privileged, and I’m grateful to have the experience.

Is Elvis Pinto the cruise director? I saw on his page he had transferred, but I’m hoping he is still on for our sailing next week! He is so much fun!

if he is not there, can you let me know who is?

I could not complete the 5 day when it was on my planner.

what I did was buy the 2 day and the 3 day. :) 

I wonder...could I buy the Bogo 2 day and a 3 day package? Its a few dollars more, which I do not mind- but the ultimate is 376$ more (I am buying for 4)

Hi there,

We are sailing on the Rhapsody in a Suite on Jan 5th. I went in my cruise planner to purchase a 5 day dining package- and it is no longer available. (it was there last week- but the site was being wonky)- I called Crown and Anchor and they said there was nothing I could do- except by the 7 day package. (which I really do not want to do). Do you know of anyway I could work this out? Anyone I could call? Has anyone experienced this before? Is there a solution? Thank you so much for any info.

14 hours ago, Desert Cruizers said:

I set up a financial spreadsheet on my computer for bills, any cruises I am paying off, i set up my own personal payment plan after deposit. I normally will use the other acct for the payments so they are not coming out of the household acct. i work out what are comfortable payments based upon the amounts I put toward a cruise. I also try and pay off  in 2 to 3 large payments. This will depend on your income etc. I try to get the final payment under $2,000 and will call into my TA when I wish her to call the cruise line to run final which is normally 1 to 2 months early. Recently I have booked a cruise or two since 2014 so haven't built up the other acct. 

I think you misunderstood my post. However I am sure your experience would be helpful information for a new cruiser.

Now that we are seeing the financing options when looking to book new cruises, do you believe that RCL will eventually go to a financing only structure, and do away with customers making payments on their balances with no added charges? 

We ate at Chops 3 times on Rhapsody in April 18. The service was outstanding. It was quiet, well paced, friendly, and efficient.

The steaks are not Ruth Chris- but they are quite good, and we go to get out of the mad rushing of the wait staff, the noise of the room, of the MDR. The sides aren’t as large as they used to be, but they are good. It’s the ambiance of Chops and Giovanni’s that we truly enjoy.

Between here and Trip Advisor, the reviews are stellar. It sounds like a very nice day. The question I have is that I am not a big drinker. One drink, possibly 2, would be plenty for me. Knowing that would it still be decent value to spend the $120 for 2 people?

Hey Rick,

Maya Chan isn’t a huge party spot. It’s very relaxing, laid back, low key. Drinks are included, but the lunch is amazing, the owners and staff treat you like family. Hang out, play Jenga, paddle board, sit at the bar and talk to other guests, and the staff, get a massage, climb up and charge your phone in the tree house, go in the water- lay on the floating platform, or in the chairs...its definitely not all about the drinks. The place is so relaxing, I never wanted to leave. Do it! Worth every penny!:cool:

Honeymooned 96 on Majesty.

We have a Grand Suite on the Rhapsody and I am looking for a list of suite perks for Vision class.

Bob- do you have a list or can you share a link to one?

Thank you!

I wish this info was easier to find on the website.

Do I have to make reservations to park at the port? Does it get full? How does that work? Thanks so much for your help and suggestions!

You can pay online:

https://www.porttb.com/parking

Or you can pay there...we have done both.

We drive in, unload and my hubby drives into parking and walks up and meets me. Literally 5 mins.

We get to the port fairly early(like most) no problems with finding a place to park. :)

Hampton Inn Ybor is a good choice, as is the Barrymore...we drive to the port and we have found that we prefer to park at the port. It is safe, and literally 30 feet from the terminal entrance. We hated having to get on the shuttle back to a hotel to get our car.

So we now have a LaQuinta we stay at thatvis 15/20 mins from the port- and we park at the port. It is almost exactly the same amount of money.(and to us it is easier)

Cabins on deck 8 can be noisy in a lot of places. I’d avoid deck 8 unless you’re in a suite as that’s where all of them are, but they’re at the front of the ship where it’s pretty quiet at night under the Windjammer.

Speaking from experience, avoid 8534 at all costs.

I did thoroughly enjoy GS 8514 and have booked it again for a transatlantic in April.

Why avoid 8534? I have stayed in a JS that vicinity with no problems. I’m curious.