jcc1025

We live on the west coast and have chosen to sail out of Galveston on Royal the last several years since they were not sailing here. We still love the port snd city even if it is a pain to get there. We are looking forward to seeing the new terminal and have a large family birthday party schedule for next year on Allure since that is our favorite ship.

We were invited onto Naviagor for their covid shakeout two day cruise last November. We live in Long Beach and are D+ so were excited to see the ship here. This ship has gone through what Royal calls a amplification. So it has been upgraded in several areas. The pool deck has been redone with a newe Lime & Coconut two level bar. Players sportsbar has been added. New specialty resturants have been added, which are very good. We tend to spend our nights in the Pub if the music is good, lots of fun folks in there and always a fun time for us. The free taco bar at the pool deck is great and the adult shakes at Johnny Rockets are also worth a try. We went back in August and are going again in December, its close so easy for us but the upgraded ship is great.

They will reserve a dinner for the first night of the cruise. You do not have to take it, as soon as you get on the ship go to any of the resturants and they can change and make reservation for any nights, times and resturants you want.

While we have moved from formal to a suit on formal nights, mostly for the pictures my wife wants with family and friend we booked specialathy resturants all the time. On Oasis class we always book 150, not everyones first choice since it is kind of a foodie choice over Chops, but we have gotten away from a lot of hearvy meat dinners and we love 150. We have been to many rearlly good resturantes in our life and 150 matches them. The other option if your into it and willing to spurge is the Chief't Table, We tried it about 4 years ago it is both a fun time with the guests and an amazing multi course dinner.

We do the same, take an assortment of $1, $5 and a few $10 for shore excursions. I usually wait until the middle and end parts of the cruise to tip the bartenders. I know from talking to them that cash tits at individual bars are shared amough all the bartenders at that bar. I usually add a dollar to two to individual drinks during the cruise. I know that some would say I over tip but I worked in the service industry and know how hard the front line people work and deserve them all. I really get mad when I hear some guest say they are not going to tip becuse of some small issues that happen one time as an excuse to not tip.

Still the best zip line in the Carabbean. I little pricy but worth every dime in my opionion.

Usually they will offer Chiefs Table two or three nights on a seven day so there should be multiple dates. Given how close you are should should be able to see the availible days on your sign in app. Enjoy, we love Chiefs Table.

Agree, we have been on four different ships since last August and each has a few little differences in this procedures. I beilve they are still working on the long range process so don't take exactly what you read hear as fact. Its all close but you may have a small change depending on the ship and sailing. One thing for sure the app works and is a great addition even for those of us who are old folks and tecnickly challenged at time. The good news is there are lots of crew member who will provide insutructions and you can be up and running in a heart beat.

Yes you can go to the muster station and check in and have the agents at the locatation give you the speech and check you in. The app is important because that is were there cruise compus is each day and how you can reserve dinner or shows.

For all the bad things the pandimic did for cruisers, the new muster drill procedures are an amazing improvement. I don't know if the pandimic had not occured if the change would have happened. It forced us to find ways to reduce crowds and there was no crowd worst than standing on those decks with a couple of hundred of your frinds crowed together for the muster drill. Congratulations to Royal for comeing up with this solution.

We have spent a lot of time there as well. Nice location but kind of a long drive from Ensenada.

Yes, we were on the Radiance two day shake out cruise in LA in Feburary and they have the flat screens in the rooms now. Enjoy.

We book out far, ususlly the best price. We usually book our next cruise while we are on our current cusise as their are some exxtral credits for doing that. If the cruise price dropes prior to your cruise you can call the reservation number and they will make an adjustment. Royal updates their marketing program each Tue-Wed. and depending on the cruise and how full the ship is the prices will change some but usually early is always better.

We agree, we used to book the large tables and have meet some great people and had interesting talks with them during dinner. Shared live stories and daily activites. Of course you had the occassional negitive couple but not that many and if its really bad you can always do Windjammer or go to one of the resturants. The interaction with other cruise guest can be a really fun time.

We sailed Mariner in 2010 before all the upgrades. A great ship, have fun everyone. Loved Labadee as well, if you have the chance its the best zip line in the caribbean.

Yes, now that they have moved back to the west coast we are duing some of the short cruises and did a couple of the two day shakeout crusis. Current price for our December cruise is $75 and we have a seven day scheduled out of Galveston next year that is currently $77. I would be suprised if they did not move a NYE package up above the average.

The package will change from week to week. They post new pricing on Tuesday or Wed. of each week usually. The price will change between $75 and $80 depending on the week. If you book one and it drops in the future enough to make it worthwile you can cancell your orginal purchase and repurchase at the new price. Did this once and its easy but means checking the price on a weekly basis.

We do also, but for our grqndchildren there are so many more options designed for them on the Liberty/Oasis class ships that us choose those when they sail with us.

While we usually sail on the larger class we do like the smaller classes. We were invited to sail on the two day shakeout cruise on Radiance this year in Feb. out of LA and it was wonderful. We sailed Radiance to Alaska the first year she was in service and our returned reminded us of how much we like the class. Lots of glass views of the ocean and it does not have all the toys so a more relaxed sail. This is the ship that made us love the Chanpaign Bar. Both the large and small ships have their plus and minus you just need to judge what your are looking for, but if you don't have kids and looking for a great relaxing cruise the Radiance classs is outstanding.

Seems to me that the bottom line is that if you don't like the price, don't buy it. Purchases are always price/value propositions. You have to make a personal decision on the cost and if its not up to your vaule then don't buy it. I never understand the need to discuss this stuff on these boards.

Agree with others, I have cashed points several times for free crusies, which are for window staterooms. Since we book a balcony or JS they discount the price based on the standard window stateroom and that credit does not show up until a short time prior until the past payment date is due.

Another options that we have used before is to book the package. Watch the prices and if it dropes cancel the original booking and repurchase. Their is not going to be some massive savings they move it a couple of percentage points but sometimes if the ship is not full they will drop it some prior to sailing to try and intice people to sign up.

We were on the three day Navigator in August and are going back again in October. We have the dinning package and think it is worth the money if you are looking for a nice dinning experience each night and the food was very good. In addition, and they don't say this but some other locations like Playmaters lunch are also part of the package which is a fun place with some good food and service. I am a Windjammer fan but on a cruise we like to have a special dinner experiece that these three offer and a couple of them are newer RCCL spots. We have also done Chiefs' Table a few times and in you just want to do one special meal would recommend it. Its a wine paring menue and many aimed at the more foodie fans but it is a great experience. Have a great cruise, it is a fun ship.

It was on our last cruise in August.

We are D+ on Royal and have sailed out of Galveston many times. We think these ships have a good balance of quite and fun locations and like the size. We are excited to be going out on Allure, our favore class on RCCL when they start to sail out of the new terminal next year.