Dcun201

Thank you @thrifty99 for spending your spare time emailing corporate for us.  Well at least we know what to expect from the unlimited package now.

Yeah it was through my FB instant message, I can post screen shot of my whole convo if you like. 

Here are the screens of my convo.

14 minutes ago, tomservo said:

 

That does seem to confirm everyone's understanding of how the package is supposed to work. Maybe you could request a refund for the package since you did not receive what you paid for?

I tried asking for future on board credits but got shot down because the manager did approve my request albeit on my 4th day of sailing though.  I was just more mad about the experience I had.  No one on vacation especially on a cruise wants to get denied to a restaurant while you out with your significant other.  It was a little embarrassing for me to argue with the host manager in front of my wife and have all other dining patrons looking at you.  

21 minutes ago, mickeygirl78 said:

Wow, I was on Harmony w/ the unlimited dining plan on 10/13 and it was great.  I would have been very upset with the way yours worked.  I didn't want multiple visits but we did do sabor late afternoon for snacks a couple times before our dinners without issue.  We got Izumi Hibachi w/ only the $4 up charge if we wanted two proteins.  It is awful that people don't know what to expect in advance.  I had heard things on other ships about the Hibachi fluxuating rates, so I had gotten it in writing from Royal about it being covered for one protein - I printed it and brought it with me incase they tried to charge more (luckily they didn't).  I'd suggest anyone going in the future bring lots of print outs with them just incase. 

Yea this was my first Royal Caribbean cruise so moving forward I would definitely bring all my printouts of the packages I bought. I guess a new HD came on board after your sailing because the whole policy changed within two weeks.

Well I just got a response from RCI on FB here is their clarification on the Unlimited Dining Package -

Royal Caribbean International With the Unlimited Dining Package. guests can dine in any restaurant on their sailing as many times as they like based on availability. Packages include service charge and food portion only for dinner and, when available, lunch service.

Thank you @thrifty99 for emailing them.  I hope we get a response back from them soon.  Do you guys know who the director for Harmony was? Was it Mark the one that does the entertainment show every night?

38 minutes ago, katiel53 said:

Our experience in Hibachi was not like you described at all.  The Hibachi meal

 is included with the UDP, but if you choose to eat in Izumi (the sushi area) then the $35 credit applies.

 

Did you actually go to Hibachi or are you posting from what many believe is posted on the website.  It is broken down on the website and it is confusing.  We have done Hibachi on Harmony and Allure and both have not had the $10 uncharge.  We do not do sushi ever.

We only got the $35 credit per person for the hibachi side and yes I ate there and the sushi on another day.  Were you on Harmony or a different ship? 

1 hour ago, Cruise a holic said:

We typically purchase the unlimited dining package as we prefer the specialty restaurants.  However, since even watching what we eat- and walking as much as possible, still manage to gain a few pounds.  Why would we want to have dinner twice in the evening?  

 

We might enjoy lunch at a specialty restaurant if available, and dinner at another- which is still much to many calories!  Have to skip desserts and bread of course!  LOL

 

Will be on the Harmony in a few weeks for the 4th time- love it!

It may be too much if you ate full blown meals but I would like the option to come in a specialty restaurant for just espresso and dessert or to Sabor for chips and guac. I usually dine late at 7:45-8pm for my main dinner time so I have a lot of time through out the day. 

During port days if you have the unlimited package you don't have a "lunch" credit so if you eat at 3pm that would count towards your only "dinner" credit for later in the evening.  I usually come back from port early before 2pm.  Windjammer works but we paid for Unlimited and I would love the option to dine wherever we like.  The workers were awesome but management need to get their act together.

4 hours ago, Snit13 said:

What did the ship's Restaurant/Bar Manager say?  I bought the package for Brilliance in April and would love to know the rules.  LOL.

I called the Dining Manager and he didn't believe me that the fine print on the Unlimited package says you can dine multiple restaurants in one night. He told me he has to pay his cooks and there's no way he can accommodate multiple dining visits in one day for everyone that has that package. I told him that's not what the fine print says on the official site and he invited me to meet him at Central Park to show him the fine print.

Fast forward he didn't end up meeting me, but he sent his assistant manager and I showed him the fine print. He agreed the fine print state you can dine multiple restaurant per night but says there is a mistake with the fine print online. He agreed to honor the package just for my cabin and that was the end of it. 

It was already the 4th day so I was already over it. I ended up not even bothering to go during mid day for small apps/tapas. The experience was already ruined and the workers were not even trained about the Unlimited dining policy. They were still thinking it is the same as the Ultimate package which had the dining limit.

During the day Johnny rockets 90% empty and Sabor usually only had 1 or 2 party. I couldn't even go there just to get guac and chips just to hang out doors without burning a lunch or dinner "credit".

I just got off the Harmony and had the UDP package. On this specific ship you could it go dine one specialty restaurant during lunch and dinner per night even though fine print on the UDP states you can dine as much as you want all night.

For Izumi you get $35 credit per guest. So if you do the hibachi you will be paying $10 upcharge since the cheapest protein was $45. Tip to avoid the charge is if you have a party of 2 you can share a protein and have some left over credit for a sushi roll or other a la carte apps since you both combine will have a $70 credit. The cook still gave out two fried rice and veggie portion to both shared diners. 

For the specialty restaurant you can order as many apps and dessert as you like but you are only allowed to order one MAIN entree. If you would like to order a second one they will charge you $10 upcharge per extra main entree. Some waiters do let you order extra mains for free but ymmv.

I tried the MDR for formal night, the quality of the food ofcourse was not as good as the specialty restaurant. Service was great though. I find the windjammer dinner buffet to be a little better than the MDR. Especially when they have theme food nights. The windjammer's themed food was always great!

UNLIMITED DINING PACKAGE 

Savor the savings with the Unlimited Dining Package! For one low price, you can enjoy multiple entrees and visit multiple specialty restaurants every night of your sailing. And as an added perk, this unlimited package also applies to lunch at specialty restaurants on sea days. Plus, enjoy a discount of 40% off bottles of wine under $100 and 20% off bottles above $100 while dining in specialty restaurants..

Even their official site does not list about the 1 restaurant per night limit. Either the Harmony crew needs some kind of retraining on the policy of the Unlimited package or we are missing some wording somewhere. 

Yeah that was my understanding as well. I even went to guest services as and they also told me 1 restaurant per night as well. 

Just returned from my Harmony Cruise that sailed on Nov. 3. and they were not honoring the unlimited portion of the dining package.  The crew members were only allowing us to only dine once during lunch and once during dinner. That was the old Ultimate Dining package policy but the fine print on the Unlimited states you can dine as much as you want and at any restaurants you as you like every night. I bought the package so I can do small apps mid day and then dinner later into the evening but of course the crew member said I already used my credit for the day already when I went in for apps earlier.

I had to argue a bit and the manager finally let us dine for that night. That whole ordeal ruined my dinner experience for that night.  It is my first time sailing with Royal Caribbean so what are the rules to the Unlimited package for dining multiple restaurants on the same night.

Thank you for reading my semi rant.  I want to confirm with you guys on the policy before I do a formal complaint to Royal Caribbean.