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villager70

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Posts posted by villager70

    Ship excursions only?

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    We are okay with the new guidelines  to get the ships back in operation. You've got to crawl before you can walk. Their private islands  will probably be on all the early startups. The ships tours, especially  for first time cruisers will be okay if they lower the prices. I think they probably will to get people to book. They don't have to make a big profit  even if they just get over the break even  margin to get the operation going.  Meals like the open seating breakfasts can use distancing if they open  all decks , not just one. Will also free up more at windjammer. Shows  can also be held in afternoons  and nightly also.  Boarding being staggered and ENFORCED will help and do what some other lines do having all dinning rooms open for open seating lunch doing a lot more distancing then the jammed pack windjammer from noon to 3. Guess we will see what happens in a couple days with CDC. Wishing all good health and hopefully smooth sailing. Nancy & Bob

    • Like 2

    Specialty Restaurant perks for Diamond Plus

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted · Edited by villager70

    19 minutes ago, Tony O said:

    The wife and I are both Diamond Plus. I know one of the perks is the buy one get one free specialty restaurant cover charge. Since we really have never used this perk does that mean each person chooses two restaurants of their choice. Also must they be used on the first and second night ? Thanks

    Hi fellow cruiser:

    The Diamond Plus (1152) is  only for the first or second night. Each card has one  BOGO .  Reservation only taken on board ,unless can be done through Suite Conciege if applies . If you make the first night  for you both and use your card to get BOGO at end of meal, make sure you summit your wife's card the second night. If you use your card the second time discount will not show on there computer.  Bob

     

    Laundry Prices

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    Hi fellow Cruisers:   Has anyone by chance have a  fairly current Laundry/Dry cleaning price list? I think the last I had was about ten years old.  Thanks in Advance if you can locate one. Guess we might get to use one again  after we  had 5 cancelled and Lift & Shifted a few.  Nancy & Bob

     

    Port Canaveral TV Startup report

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

     On the 600am News this  morning Orlando Television Station WFTV channel 9  interviewed The  Port Authority  chairman yesterday  and he stated the port will probably not open for passengers for cruises until at least Jan. He gave the same info that has been  talked about  that they will start with one ship from lines doing short cruises. This does not sound good at all for my next one on  Harmony in Nov.    We have Royal,Disney, Carnival, Norwegian that currently do departures from Canaveral

     
     

      DIAMOND PLUS    78 CRUISES   14  BOOKED   638 DAYS AT SEA                            

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    Port Canaveral Opening Date TV report

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

     On the 600am News this  morning Orlando Television Station WFTV channel 9  interviewed The  Port Authority  chairman yesterday  and he stated the port will probably not open for passengers for cruises until at least Jan. He gave the same info that has been  talked about  that they will start with one ship from lines doing short cruises. This does not sound good at all for my next one on  Harmony in Nov.    We have Royal,Disney, Carnival, Norwegian that currently do departures from Canaveral

    • Like 2

    Boarding Times Delayed on Harmony

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    Did our on line checkin  last week for the Harmony on Nov. 15th. and all showed complete except arrival times which were not displayed. Unable to show boarding passes as normal . This morning and addition showed up and Boarding time appeared with the first starting at 230pm, every half hour until 530pm.  We have had 5 cruises cancelled already and don't plan on this sailing either but this shows it might still be a go. Normally sail  around 430 but looks like they plan on doing a extensive sanitize like they did on the gastro after Nov. 8th cruise.  We always book Jr. suites and  are Diamond Plus   and arrive around ten so will wait and see  when any  details come out. Will probably push back sail  time to around 700.  Wonder if any other Nov cruisers have gotten any boarding delay notices?   Bob

    • Like 1
    • Thanks 1

    Best Price for a Crown Loft

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted · Edited by villager70

    Had one on the ALLURE for 3997.00 for Dec. 13,2020 but lift  & shifted  Crown loft to Dec 12th 2021 TO Harmony . Prices running in 2021 around 6800.    Had a one day rate  on May 7th that  was unbelieveable and sold last 7 Crowns in a couple hours. No on board credit but free grats from agency.

    Husband hates smoke-Would you try Mariner of the Seas?

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    Have been on Mariner  five or six times in last year or so and hadn't noticed any greater amount of smoke  than most of the other Royals we are on. We sailed 11 voyages last year on mostly Voyager class  to  Oasis . Casinos are bad walking through on most Royal ships  and they do use this as a smoking lounge in the daytime instead of going topside. There are mostly non players  smoking also. Hope it is banned like Celebrity.

    • Like 1

    US halts passport services

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    We sent our renewal in  on certified mail and they received it March 5th. They received  check  and bank got notified on payment.  Checked on line two or three times and says  being processed. Also on their site said anything received after March 20th would be delayed. Ours there 15 days earlier and  old ones sent, and nothing received. Goverment in action.  Bob

    Fort Lauderdale port parking

    in Florida Departures

    Posted

    Have used them appx. twenty times in last   6 years. Great service for airport & Cruise parking right outside gate on Eller drive. Have like 23 shuttles. Go on line and cheaper.  If you join club (for free) free day every ten. Also if you cancel prompt refund to credit card. They  are in appx five other states.   Bob & Nancy     Will be there in Sept,dec. and feb.  

    The end of the buffet - Especially the Windjammer

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    We  eat in the windjammer  for lunch usually only when we have to on port days. Breakfast in the dinning room and lunch. I can remember when some offered lunch in dinning room at embarkation. Do a  open seating lunch and Breakfast  in all three dinning rooms starting at 700 to 1000  & lunch  1100 and run to 200 or so. Just put a few more offerings on menu.  Can  do a  served by crew evening  as not the demand in windjammer at night as lunch and breakfast.    Bob & Nancy

    From Mr Bayley - NO buffet

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    Posted Vickie Freed Statement on Buffet

     

    Royal Caribbean to Cut Traditional Buffet Once Cruises Resume

    Windjammer on Brilliance of the SeasWindjammer on Brilliance of the Seas

    May 15, 2020

    aaron-saunders_130x130_11.jpg
    Aaron Saunders
    Cruise Critic contributor
     

    (12:45 p.m. EDT) – The traditional cruise ship buffet is about to go overboard when sailings resume, according to Royal Caribbean executives.

    In a virtual Coffee Chat call with Royal Caribbean's senior vice president of sales and trade support & service, Vicki Freed, president and CEO Michael Bayley conceded that the hygiene changes that will go into effect because of the COVID-19 pandemic line will likely strike down the standard buffet offering, which has been a staple of cruising for decades.

    "I think in the beginning, there will not be a buffet…that's how I see it," said Bayley during the session. " We will utilize the space, we will utilize the Windjammer, but in all probability, it won't be a classical buffet. It will be something more akin to a restaurant."

     

    The news has generated significant buzz on Cruise Critic's message boards, with opinions from both buffet loyalist and those who are ready to move on.

    "Will be very disappointed if they do away with the [Windjammer, Royal Caribbean's onboard buffet offering]," writes Ashland. "Why can't they just use servers like they do when there's a Noro outbreak onboard?"

    "Oh man... that's the last plastic straw!" says Rocket3D. "What's next...no bars?"

    Others, however, say they won't miss the buffet experience.

    "I find the experience of eating at Windjammer restaurants and other buffets somewhat disgusting and only eat there reluctantly if there is absolutely no other choice," says LibertyBella. "Eating becomes a competition and a race instead of an experience to enjoy."

     

    "My thoughts — we will all be so glad to get back to cruising that whatever Royal comes up with will be accepted," writes Lady Hudson. "I am not a big Windjammer person so would not be a big loss for me. Unintended benefit — less noro[virus]?"

    While Royal Caribbean has not announced exact plans for the Windjammer buffet aboard its fleet, Bayley stated that any changes to the casual eatery would have to be made with the coronavirus pandemic in mind.

    "I think the key focus on dining is making sure that our guests have plenty of choices," said Bayley. "That choice has to be put through the lens of distancing, and safety and health."

    Royal Caribbean already had hand sanitizing stations on every vessel outside the Windjammer buffet, and some ships had full-service handwashing stations located at each entrance. During a sailing on Explorer of the Seas in early March, the line had employees stationed outside the Windjammer with large containers of sanitizer, making sure everyone used it before going in.

    These changes, however, are also mandated in part by the "No Sail" order issued in March by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which was extended in April to last for a period of no less than 100 days [July 24] as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

    Other changes to Royal Caribbean's sanitation and hygiene practices have not been revealed yet. Cruise Critic will report on these, when the line releases them.

     
     
     
     
     
     
    • Thanks 1

    Miami Terminal A Parking & Luggage checkin

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    Just wanted to thank all again for taking your time and posting this infomation. We started on these boards in 2004 and changed  info so  now on March 2006. People like you are what makes these boards so great. Hopefully we may meet on one of our adventures on maybe we can furnish some info  for one of the other cruisers.   Nancy & Bob   The Villages , Florida

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