Ret MP

Is a b2b2b (7-night cruise, each) considered a 15+ day cruise, or 3 separate cruises? I think I know the answer (3 separate cruises) but I'd like to be sure.

We're absolutely jealous of you. We've only been to Bermuda once and loved it. We want to go back again. Our one cruise there included a Port of Call to Boston and that was something special for me, I love the history of that area. We haven't seen that itinerary in a long time, I'd love to do it again but I'd like to leave from a Florida port, not Cape Liberty.

That, for me, is a good enough reason to place an * in that person's profile. Meaning that any attempt to reserve that type of venue, there are no openings left. I'm sure the "Chef" was just as frustrated as you all were. I really dislike inconsiderate people. This would be a legal form of discrimination and a welcome form of discrimination. JMHO

The KSF is but one thing that increases the amount of kids on a ship. But, as it turns out, at the same time that we feel that there SHOULD be fewer kids on the ship, it's the same time that S. America and other regions of the world have their summer break and/or holidays. And those regions know what the school schedule in the U.S. is and avoid its summer and national holidays, for many reasons. It's very hard to find that sweet spot where there are the fewest kids onboard. We've found that the best time is right after major holidays like Christmas/New Year. I know I've been on cruises that seemed to be totally or very heavily English-speaking families and on occasion, English doesn't seem to be the dominant <for lack of a better term, language. So, I usually look at the school and national holiday schedules of many of the S. American countries and plan accordingly, avoiding summer and national holidays in both regions.

Ya, I forgot about them roaming around with just tablets, no real kiosks in many of the terminals anymore. But, some still do, I think Canaveral still does, unless it's been upgraded since I was there last, last October. Anyway, disregard my previous post!

I don't doubt that's their excuse. Exactly, one of a few of my concerns. MODIFIED FAMOUS QUOTE: Those who are willing to give up a little security for convenience deserve neither. I remember the cards being in envelops with the party's name or reservation # (I don't remember which) on them, and the envelopes in a box aligned alphabetically or numerically, and the Check-In agent went to the box to get the envelopes after completing the required Check-In minutia. If the walk is too long, there are plenty of ways to reduce that. One of the last things the agent did was give you the envelope and ask you to open it, look at the cards, and make sure everything was all right. I believe they MIGHT be reducing time at the check-in in the terminal at the expense of long lines at the Customer Service desk on the ship, which can take much much much more time to get to the kiosk. JMHO

Does anybody know why they got away from issuing the cards at the Check-In counter(s)? It's not a COVID thing. They stopped doing it long before COVID. I liked it better getting it at the counter. Anybody can walk by the cabins and grab your cards, for nefarious reasons of just kids being kids, whatever, not to mention the inconvenience. The current system just provides another situation that requires a trip to the Customer Service desk that is already overwhelmed at embarkation time.

I put any unused OBCs into my slot account, for lack of a better term, then cash it out and then cash the slot ticket in at the cashier cage. Works out great. I've heard that there is a limit to the amount you can do that with. But, I, unfortunately, haven't had that many leftover OBCs and can't verify that. I think the most I've cashed in was $400,00.

Of course! I'm glad that there are others out there that have a sense of common courtesy.

BTW, I also put a copy of my luggage tags inside every bag, to include my carry-ons and I attach the tags to every bag, to include my carry-ons.

I totally and completely agree. Just too easy, and I have control of the accuracy of it and I'm not waiting on the Porter (a non-RCCL employee with no allegiance to RCCL or passengers) to complete a generic luggage tage, taking up time, very little time but time anyway and time is money to the porters which necessitates "speed", not necessarily accuracy or care. I print the tag(s) in color, put my name on it/them, laminate it/them, put them in the clear plastic tag holder (RCCL specific, available on Amazon) with a metal clasp on each (that's become kind of a ritual for me), attach it to the bag(s), at the start of the journey, and we're off to the races. And I tip the porter.

One thing I wanted to say above but forgot, in CK I can't reach over with my fork, elbow still bent (in other words, not a long reach), and pick up a fork full of green beans........, I can't whisper in the ear of the people next to our table and not move out of my chair. In the CK if I wanted to do any of that, I'd have to get up and take a step or two over to the next table.

Well, I hope the Wonder and its crew provide you with a cruise that exceeds your expectations.

Again, boooooooo!

It's been a few, too many, years, maybe a decade or so, since I visited a Sabor, so I can't remember what I ordered, specifically. But, I will say that the Guacamole was great. No, not the prepackaged one, the stuff they make at your table. And the Margaritas were good too. Oh, I especially enjoyed the Tequila shots (but that's not venue-specific, but the atmosphere made it better). And, the bar there was the only bar on the whole ship that had Sol Beer.

Yep, food and service is soooooo subjective. We've only been to Hooked once and that was on the Symphony. We absolutely loved the food and service. In fact, the Mexican Cocktail was the best I've ever had, anywhere, except for Elmo's Steak House in Indianapolis. One thing that is Bitter Suite, when Harmony goes into drydock for its upgrades, as I've heard it, they will remove Sabor (Boooooooo) and replace it with Playmakers (well, okay). And they will add Hooked (YEAH!!!). I read that on the Internet, so I know it's true!!!

Bottom line for me: I tip based on service/performance, period. The status of the family back in their home country has nothing to do with the amount of gratuity to individuals, period. Good service, good gratuity, bad service, bad gratuity, period. Yes, I am curious and get to know those who serve me on a cruise ship. But, I keep in mind that they know just how many of us Americans, Canadians, Europeans, and Australians, et al, are suckers for a sob story. Not all crew members will inflate their family's situation(s), but some do, just to work on our sympathetic shoulders. And my way of helping is to give generously to charities that help the masses, not just a few individual families. If a person has a horrific situation back at home involving family, you'd think they would work harder to earn the largest gratuity possible.

Exactly! For the OP: If you only LOOK at the menu, you may be underwhelmed. But, there is a lot more to it than just the paper or digital menu. ATMOSPHERE is the main reason for us. Not that we spend every meal there, not even close. But, we do enjoy it a lot, now. That wasn't the case many years ago. It has improved as the years went along. I like the service, we usually have a team of about 3 or 4 servers hovering around us just waiting to make our experience a fantastic one (Tiping generously may have a lot to do with that). Is it ALWAYS perfect? NO! But, it sure beats the MDR, I'm not a big fan of the MDR, obviously. As stated in another post(s), food is subjective and I'll add the perception of good or bad service is subjective, too.

Yep, it goes something like this: Employee: I'm sorry sir/ma'am, you are over 60 years old and the cut-off safe age is 60. The person over 60: Well, I'll never visit your business again. Like the person over 60 is going to get younger and when they reach 59, again, they won't do business with that business.

True! But, the general public only knows that a person spilled McDonald's coffee, burned herself, and sued McDonald's for HER mistake. And they thought the lawsuit was ridiculous, at face value. I personally feel that the lady, as I stated above, has some responsibility.

Very very very good example. Tragic, for sure, but not RCCL's fault. I forgot all about the one.

I've looked at just one of the excursions available on my next cruise. I don't see the word "ADULT" on the page at all. Also, they have a minimum age of 18 for drivers, many have their license at 16, Is that discrimination? The maximum age is 60. Is that discrimination? Or is it just trying to limit liability? I think the latter. I MAY feel like I can do almost anything, I'm 72 in a few weeks, but I have no real way to know if my muscular/skeletal system can handle the rigges of an ATV on unimproved roads. Once again, I am willing to let the businesses regulate and manage their liability the way they feel they need to as long as it doesn't involve the illegal variety of discrimination/prejudice. What about theme parks that have height and weight requirements, is that illegal discrimination or risk management? I think so.

Yes, the woman was about 85, if I remember correctly, the top wasn't secured properly, she was treated like s*&^ after the fact, and a whole host of things that weren't in the media's facilitation of it but not all the facts. But, as I always said when I was an instructor for the U.S. Army's Traffic Investigation Course in Germany, an accident is a series of actions that lead to the accident/event. Without one of the individual actions, the accident wouldn't happen. Now, I'm not blaming the old lady, but if she had checked the lid and secured it, the coffee wouldn't have spilled. And probably a whole host of other actions that could have been avoided. I put the blame on both sides, but not necessarily 50/50. Also, as a truck driver, the company could hold its drivers responsible for an accident even if not charged or found guilty. They called it accident avoidability. If you were doing this, or that, or the other thing, you could have avoided the accident.

Believe me, I know the ins and outs, and details of that case, it was just a premise or generalization of where we are today.