ampurp85

That is only if you are in port for first seating. OP didn't specify port days and first seating. Since MTD doesn't open until 6:45 it might be possible to seat them on this one special instance.

OP....That video does not mention what you stated. I have never heard of this and that particular blog I belong to. The owner of that blog always says if you will be more than 15min late and you have traditional dinning, then you need to go to WJ.

No if you are prime or above, you can get drinks as long as the casino is open. I usually stop in and get a couple of drinks before dinner or a show without playing.

I did Halloween in 2021. There were crew members dressed up as well as guest. Because this was right during the restart, they had small get together. The ship was very decorated.

There are no shows to reserve on Mariner, if you don't have a UDP you can book specialty reservation now. You will be able to print boarding passes at 30 days.

I got this email in April for a Freedom sailing, it is a moot point as none of the request were honored. I know a few people who have continued to receive them and still not honored. They say the QR code works better but still not 100%

I agree it sucks that you have to wait to board to get reservations. I am currently stressed because I have to coordinate a group of 8, all with the UDP, for an Oct Allure sailing. But in their mind, it is the tradeoff for the discount. Plus let's be real, Royal's IT is a mess. I feel like it would be a sh$%show to try to allow people with the UDP to book. I am not saying because they treat the reservations differently but because they would need special codes.

Royal accounts for people with dining packages. They then account for people who purchase individual reservation. You are being counted as two separate covers. Now if you don't request a refund for holding the spot you are fine, but if you do, you have screwed them out of a paid cover, which they may not have time to try to fill. This is a loss of revenue for the restaurant and staff. You are saying you will pay twice for connivence, when most people don't and request refunds.

That could be the case if Oasis is sailing out of NJ......could be. I have yet to be on a ship where the first night the casino opened at the time the compass states. I say 90min to 2hrs after sail away is the norm.

Not 5ish, that is usually the time the casino bar opens. The casino itself will usually open after 6 if the ship leaves at 4 and around 7 if the ship leaves at 5.

I enjoyed the food but the noise and hubbub is not worth the extra cost.

Harmony has JR but no Playmakers. Izumi/Hibachi has lunch offerings on sea days. If it is your first time, do them all. I prefer 150 CP to Chops but on an 8N, you can try them all and possibly not have to do doubles. Be advise that Hibachi is a $15-20 upcharge on top of the already paid UDP price and it has to be booked through Izumi and no other kiosk. Unless you are D or staying in a suite, then the concierge can help.

Not really sure that is the case. I have done RU twice; once early in the restart and then this year. Both bids were minimum, and both won, maybe days after I placed them. So, I knew in weeks, not last minute. But in general, there is no rhyme or reason to RU.

I only place min bids and have won 2/2, so I don't think what you bid matters. But you should only bid for what you want and what you ae willing to pay.

Be careful with this as they are cracking down and charging the cancelation fees. They have found that people who do this hack mess up the reservation listing.