LB_NJ

I am shocked, I just got the upgrade email. Upgraded from OV to family veranda.

I have a TA on RCCL and they have been NO HELP on getting good airfare back to the US. I have a TA with RCCL in April and they have been no help with one-way airfare back from Europe. Quoting over $600ish a person. If you even think about RCCL get a quote on airfare before making a change. You will have to call the 800# since the website is no help.

Yes, all the payments show Cunard. I just feel more comfortable with the official confirmation from Cunard. Unfortunately, I am dealing with a large TA that does not quite get it. I think next time I will book directly with Cunard.

I have not seen payment information on the Cunard website. Most cruise lines don't post payment info when you book through a TA.

Prices are going up due to demand and inflation. Also, the closer you get to sailing the higher the prices go, assuming the cabins are selling at a reasonable pace.

The apps really don't get updated until much closer to sailing.

The TA gave me their receipt however, just in case would like "the official booking confirmation from Cunard", just in case.

FYI, if you eat at the Verandah (any idea why it has that name?) some of the items may have a charge over and above the flat fee. We travel in Britannia our preference is to eat breakfast in the MDR on a sea day. We almost always eat dinner in the MDR. Menus are posted for the dining rooms so you can decide for yourself if there is anything you like before entering. Also, while I have never traveled in QG it has been said that you can order what you want even if it is not on the menu assuming they have the ingredients in stock. Others can/should more fully expand on this. FYI, some of the booking options include a dinner at the Verandah or Kings Court Pop-up. Afternoon tea is included and can get busy. The "basic" afternoon tea is included in the price of the cruise. You should attend at least one afternoon tea.

I booked through a TA. However just to be sure is it possible to get an official receipt from Cunard that shows I have fully paid for the cruise?

You don't need the app to check in however, it is very useful once onboard and I think the health questionnaire that has to be filled out may only be on the app.

Snow/blizzard is possible. Bringing a shovel is actually not that bad of an idea. Try to park inside if possible.

I think it is a website glitch on the Move-Up website. I had 3 bids in to move from OV to various Verandas. When I go to the Move-Up website and put in name and booking number it shows 2 as expired and 1 as pending. It does not provide a link to modify/cancel the offer that still shows as pending. Has anyone seen this before. Is this just a glitch. I don't mind that it is still pending if that is true, I bid under a $1000 to move from OV to Family Veranda on a 10 day cruise so would be happy to get it. Any suggestions on whether I should try and contact the Move-Up people to get this straightened out? I am more than 45 days out from the cruise.

\I thought about an upgrade for a cruise booked directly through Celebrity. The price they quoted me was higher than what they advertised on their website. I would have had to pay the difference between what I originally paid and the price they quoted. Also, any promos (eg, OBC) that you originally had go away and are replaced by what is available now. Anyway, it is worth a try. Contact whoever you originally booked with (i.e., Celebrity or TA) and ask for a quote. You can always say no.

The cruise ship itinerary says Nice France however I think it is probably Villefranche. The Royal Caribbean ship holds over 2,000.

Our ship will be tendered (7AM to 7PM) in Nice in May on a Saturday. Thinking of just doing Nice on our own (we like to walk) for the day. Is this a reasonable option? From this thread it seems that there might be enough for a leisurely day.

There are certain things they can do if you tell them the day before. I like to have a low salt diet and they have let me look at the menu the night before and pick out an entree to make low salt.

There may some very small effect of speed on cost. However, the number of different types of entrees really doesn't impact speed. The only impact is if they put a small timer on each table and tell people they have to be out at a specific time. The number of entrees doesn't really change how long people take to decide what to eat (unless they cut it down to four entrees: meat, chicken, seafood, vegetarian), it does not change how long it takes the waiter to take the order, it does not change how long it takes to carry dishes to the table, it does not change how long it takes people to eat dinner. The impact of a smaller number of entrees is the size of the kitchen staff, fewer entrees = less kitchen staff, and to some extent waste in the kitchen (making too much of a particular entree). They could cut down on the waste by just making people order the day before.

It really depends. Some things are cooked/assembled in advance, not to order (like a stew). So, if they already have a huge pot of something they really can't make a change to the ingredients. If they assemble/make the plates for each customer, then they have been very accommodating in the past for my special request. For your specific question I don't know if Seafood Linguini Alfredo; I assume the Alfredo sauce is made in advance however I don't know if the seafood is all added when the sauce is made (my guess), in which case they would not be able to accommodate you, or if each order is assembled one by one with the seafood put on the plate (the kitchen staff puts a couple of scallops, a couple of shrimp and a couple of mussels on each plate) and the sauce added just before serving.

I really doubt it has anything to do with speed. I am sure it is all about cost. The fewer items on the menu the less you have to stock overall. If you have 7 things on a menu you have to make enough of each, so you end up making more. If you have only 3 things on a menu it is more predictable, so not as much extra. I assume they will also downgrade the Windjammer in a cost cutting measure. Royal will continue to do this until people stop booking cruises.

You can do that however, if you show up at a popular time you may to wait in line for perhaps 15 minutes in order to speak to someone who gives you a beeper to wait another 30 to 45 minutes. They will give those people with reservations priority. Think of a land-based restaurant where they take reservations, and you just show up. If not busy fine. If busy there will be await.

Assuming they even know the rule. Depending on the port all they may know is that an individual is not allowed to carry on more than 2 bottles. The only people who know you are carrying on wine are the x-ray people. How often do they have passenger lists where they check off names of who brought on wine? Just don't put the wine in your 14-year old's backpack.

Will the classic entrees be eliminated from the buffet. Can always eat in the MDR and then go to the buffet. Two dinners. Can't see how this saves Royal money unless the plan is to eventually eliminate the MDR.

Why would they improve the quality. That would cost them money.

I heard this rumor on the Celebrity web site.

They are hoping that somebody not yet signed up for the cruise makes a purchase. They get a lot more money by selling the cabin outright rather than a move-up.