Mixyestspitlik

On 12/12/2018 at 8:01 PM, Ramjet1997 said:

We recently returned from an 8 night cruise on Adventure (Nov 24-Dec 2) which started off very badly in the so-called Diamond Lounge....as some of you know the lounge only seats maybe 90-100 people.  I am sure that anyone who experienced the following story can confirm the events.  Add to the fact that the same regulars started reserving their seats about an hour before the happy hour actually begins.....so the lounge seats are basically spoken for before it even opens.  These people (similar to pool chair hogs) made sure that all of the lounge was "taken" before the 4:30 opening time.  The "overflow" was of course the Viking Crown lounge to handle the other 150-250 people who showed up at the starting hour-4:30.  Around 4:45 a RCCL "group coordinator" closed off 80-90% of the VCL for a "private party"- he literally went from table to table and told C&A people to leave the overflow area because there was a "private party".  Almost immediately loud obnoxious ethnic music was blaring through the speakers for this private group, without any regard for the C & A Diamond & Diamond Plus members in attendance.  It was obvious that the LOYAL C & A members were no longer welcomed, except for maybe 6 or 7 small tables by the bar.  This episode put many C & A members in their place real quick, and many simply left without saying a word.

 

The reason I bring this up is the recent announcement concerning the "for a fee, the KEY" program.  I noticed that at least 3 of the Key benefits listed were items which had previously been included in your "Diamond Plus" benefits:

 

1.  Priority Boarding (thought we already had this)

2.  Reserved seating at shows (thought we already had this)

3.  Priority Debarkation (thought we already had this)

 

And the "complimentary internet" is NOT complimentary if you are paying $25 per person for "the Key"!!

 

It has become clear to me, and many others on this particular sailing, that loyalty to Royal Caribbean no longer means anything.....the benefits that come with being a "Loyal to Royal" are being slowly diluted....Only if you spend MORE MONEY and BUY your way into the benefits which were promised to many folks years ago.  I am sure that shareholders and people who buy "skip the line" tickets at amusement parks will applaud this never ending money grab.  While we have several upcoming cruises with RCCL, it is fairly obvious that slowly but surely they are taking away your loyalty earned benefits, one by one.  Unless, of course, you want to pay more.....and more.....and more.....and more......The future will tell if the smart loyal members of C & A will continue to support RCCL, or look elsewhere..........

Loyal to Royal is a joke. I pledge no loyalty to any cruise line. Only thing I pledge loyalty is to my wallet. If I can get a balcony cabin on a nice ship with a good itinerary and it just happens to be with the competition, then I sail with that cruise line. Win win for me.

16 hours ago, George C said:

I always liked entertainment on rccl , started cruising with them in late 80’s and I do think entertainment was better , one of our first cruises the entertainment was Al Martino who sang godfather song and many other hits and acdemdy award winner Red Buttons. But love ice shows , aqua show, pub performers and schooner bar piano players , we always can find some music we like. We also do other lines but normally come back to rccl for the entertainment, will try msc yacht next November. 

I sat a bar on the promenade. It was dark in there and they had a cat up there playing a guitar singing nothing but country songs. Never went back as I am no fan of country music. But the country music lovers were whooping it up. That was their place to kick back and chill.....

Just now, Mixyestspitlik said:

you can use the hot agua from the stations

 

available at Amazon and it is a prime item.. Go to your local grocery store and get #2 cone filters. Bring a few a extra styro cups from home.  The set up is as easy as depicted on the above image....Place your desired amount of coffee in the cone, from a styro cup gently pour hot water...that's it......Fresh cup of coffee each time

4 hours ago, vacationlover_mn said:

Oooo, that is a great idea!!  What is your plan for heating the water?  I might want to try this, but I don’t want to use hot tap water...

available at Amazon and it is a prime item.. Go to your local grocery store and get #2 cone filters. Bring a few a extra styro cups from home.  The set up is as easy as depicted on the above image....Place your desired amount of coffee in the cone, from a styro cup gently pour hot water...that's it......Fresh cup of coffee each time

On 12/5/2018 at 3:07 PM, prmet said:

Down from Freedom last week and the shows were terrible. I remember when all nights were incredible shows and man they are poor now. Last few time we cruise were on Carnival and the shows were lame and we said "remember those RC shows? We need to get back to those" well we did and were worse. Of all seven nights I liked one, the last night, (Once upon a time), wife tought even that was meh. I mean the comics were good but, The main show two nights a standing comic? At least Carnival have a lounge for them and the main theater for productions.

As for Comedians, CCL is better. Same with live bands. CCL is better. I have seen CATS and Grease. They were good. Same with aquatic show. RCCL comedians are not good enough

count on having others there. I did it with others not part of my group. We worked very well together. I had a blast.

The royal app isn't good and it is a shame given their resources. 

On 12/8/2018 at 4:07 PM, vacationlover_mn said:

I am a big coffee fan.  My favorites are a skim latte at Peetes, Dunn Bothers, or the Boo (Caribou).  I get the bev package, and I actually like the lattes at Park Cafe...

You are indeed quiet the cafe aficionado....I have never tried any of what you listed. Basic coffee and cream guy...LOL

On 12/7/2018 at 2:42 PM, CNickMN said:

I take my coffee black, but I've found on Royal I have to put a little milk in the coffee to make it taste OK. Let's just say it's not great coffee. At best, it's a caffeine-delivering system. But I've never tried the room service coffee. I'll have to try that next time. Or maybe I'll switch to tea for the cruise. You can't screw up hot water, right?

a caffeine-delivering system.......I like that!!

On 12/7/2018 at 4:25 PM, Bee Guy said:

LOL. I think that you may want to be a little more discriminating on how you pick your fights.

Fights? Hardly. Merely stating opinion with others doing the same in kind. RCCL  coffee is garbage. This might bother the "loyal to royal" crowd.  They are free to defend their love of RCCL coffee just as I am free to offer scathing criticism of it   No harm done. Regardless,  I will continue to sail RCCL. Their disgusting coffee is not enough of a deterrent to convince me otherwise. I am brininging my own coffee, filters and a collapsable coffee cone from amazon. 

4 minutes ago, dcgrumpy said:

It's good enough for me. What do you mean by skimping on cream? On Allure last month I never had coffee in the MDR but everywhere else that had free coffee had the little individual cups of half & haf.

😂😂😂

They had milk readily available in the metal container commonly found at coffee stations. None had creamer or even half and half. You had to ask for half and half which was the individual packets, if you will,  like the ones found at 7-11. This wasn't always the case. 

14 minutes ago, topnole said:

I don’t understand how they skimp on the cream?   You can pour your own at the cafe or windjammer?   Maybe in the MDR? Just ask for more.  

 

I think coffee is a personal taste thing.  I know many who really dont like Starbucks but other line up to pay extra for it on the ships.  To each their own I guess.  

They 

14 minutes ago, topnole said:

I don’t understand how they skimp on the cream?   You can pour your own at the cafe or windjammer?   Maybe in the MDR? Just ask for more.  

 

I think coffee is a personal taste thing.  I know many who really dont like Starbucks but other line up to pay extra for it on the ships.  To each their own I guess.  

A cheapskate will look to skimp wherever applicable.  I've read post on many such forums where they disclose that they didn't tip at all or tipped a buck per bag. Not wise at all. 

On 11/27/2018 at 10:51 AM, JAMESCC said:

People make me sick with not tipping the crew. I have too many arguments on here to count over this. These people sacrifice so much for their families just to make your cruise/vacation a pleasant one. Treat them correct and tip them correct Don't act as if crew members are your personal assistant and slave either. I agree with you my friend. 

If you can afford to cruise then you can afford to tip. Cheapskates/skinflints, don't complain when your bags don't appear for hours on end or don't appear at all. 

The coffee that is brewed/served on RCCL is horrible. It is bad, nasty, and to boot they have been skimping on the cream and or half and half. For the money that one pays to cruise with the mighty RCCL, you would think that you can at minimum, have good coffee. I have been on several RC cruises, all different ships, and the coffee has been not bueno at all. There are cruisers bringing their own travel size creamers just to make the coffee palatable. I let them know in post survey cruise. I'm sure others have as well. One individual who is Diamond status tells me that it has been that way for years. I also cruise with CCL and I can drink their coffee any time of the day.

On 3/16/2014 at 9:02 PM, Naomi John said:

These views/pictures would not have been possible:

 

 

 

 

Taken on March 4, 2014. Cove Balcony, Magic.

I will be on the Horizon October 2019-Cove Balcony. I was a bit apprehensive at first. I did a little research. Confirmed that mid ship lowedr decks is where you feel the least movement. Being this close to the water affords opportunities to view/photograph aquatic animals like dolphins. Cove Balconies are shaded and are more private. Pros for sure.  If the water is rough then that door gets shut and it goes from a balcony to oceanview.  This will be a first for me so I look forward to sharing the full expierence.