HappyTexan44

Newb here.  How do people get offers?   I'd used my gmail account which I don't check often, but if something might come by email, I'll force myself to check.   I used a TA.   Would the TA get an email? 

Note I don't *really* expect to get an offer.   Our cruise isn't for a couple of weeks and we are starboard promenade deck 7.   So, interior but on the wet side of the ship.  I saw Deck 9 starboard had been drenched.   So, maybe our carpet is mildewing now?   

Also, annoyingly, my gmail is down at the moment, although I got in this morning.  

Also, I really really loved our cabin selection.   I wouldn't want to move to a regular interior.   

My recent experience with checking in.   
We are travelling with friends, and our reservations are linked.   Both of us moms were on the phone app at midnight waiting for check-in to open.  She got in first, and checked in for just her family.   At that point I was unable to use the app, I forget what the error message was.   
I had all our info next to my computer, so I did the full check-in there and still got the 10:30am arrival time.  

The only problem with those is that they only go with PJ's

Experienced cruisers, since it sounds like the interior took damage, will that impact the next cruise?   

It has to beat the idea of "Going Up in Order to Go Down" that is sometimes a forced thing when on a floor nearer the floor that everyone is going to at the same time.  

20 minutes ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

That may be more reality than excuse. At some of the recent lunches with officers I have attended they have discussed how challenging it has been hiring staff since the restart. I don’t think RCI is deliberately short staffing their ships, there is just a lot of competition from other cruise lines. Plus you can’t hire just anyone to be a chef. 

If you do the training yourself, you can hire just anyone.  That was actually why I put chefs in quotes.  I don't have a problem with Royal providing the training for their 'chefs'.   You don't need that many real chefs but you do need a ton of people that can follow instructions. They also hire internationally.  So, either they aren't trying that hard to add staff, or they aren't paying enough (and therefore aren't trying that hard).  

17 hours ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

I like your attitude about RCI staff workload. Unfortunately there are a lot of people on this site who complain about waiters being too slow, bartenders being too slow, cabin stewards only servicing their cabin once a day, etc., which is all directly related to RCI staff workload. 

Or staff levels.  My friend going with us, said that on her last cruise a few months ago that they were short-handed 12 "chefs."   They were still using the excuse of We Can't Hire Enough People. 

49 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said:

Another way to address this issue (which I have been doing since shortly before Covid) is set up as a cash account upon boarding, late the last evening or early the last morning go to GS (there is no line then) look at your invoice, if it's good pay it off with my AMEX.  This way it is impossible for them to add any charges post cruise.

I've noticed though, that they have my CC saved that I used to pay for the cruise booked through a TA.  I noticed it was saved when I did my online check-in.   Then I let them use that same CC as the saved CC in order to complete check-in.   I have plans on changing to a cash account on board, but since they have my CC saved in their system couldn't they just apply charges to that?  

Both those look much comfier than the WJ.  I wonder why more people don't hang out there on day 1?   

7 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said:

 

When you call Royal??? 
 

Right, whatever 

No, when you call the phone number in the email received that looked like a cruise statement.   

Just curious, where do most people go before the cabins are ready?   I'd guess pool and WJ.   Anywhere else?

That Deck 5 Starlounge also looks nice.  

Everyone is super eager to get on.   My friend going with us, an experienced cruiser, said that the only thing keeping her family from arriving at 7am and pressing their faces to the glass is the hotel breakfast.  By arriving early, DH and the teenagers can explore the ship and get started on the  flowrider, etc. right away.  I'm the planner (if you guys hadn't noticed), so I'll be antsy that morning until we are physically on the ship.  Once on, I'll be quite happy to chill and read. 

I read something about some ships doing wine tastings that they don't publish, you just have to ask at the right bar early on Day1 to get on the list, so I might have someone in our group take my seat while I run and check into that.  
 

That looks like a lovely place.   I can grab a place by the window, be out of the way and even have a view.  

I'll be on Voyager soon.   Our carry-on will include 2-3 bottles of wine, One or two 12-packs of soda.  DH's CPAP and medicines.  Plus the normal swimsuits, etc.  I plan on bringing our collapsible wagon and having in it all the carry-on stuff for at least four of us.  My plan is to find a quiet corner with a comfy chair where I can park the wagon while I chill and read my kindle until the cabins open.  Where are some good places?   Looking at the maps it seems the library/game room would be ideal, but it is located with cabins, so I probably can't get to it until the cabins open.  

Note, before anyone fusses about wagons taking lots of room in the WJ, I don't think I'll even go there on embarkation day.   We'll have the free hot breakfast at the hotel, and I love breakfast.  Then we have early dining so I'll probably skip lunch.  I am looking for a place to chill that isn't the WJ.  

34 minutes ago, cruisinconniebean said:

Same thing happened to me from my recent Odyssey cruise.  Just called Royal to dispute the charge and hopefully will see the refund in 7-10 days. I wonder how many get these charges and don't dispute it--must be a pretty penny they are making on it.

Probably the real reason Royal goes through the bother of checking out towels.   

I was talking to my sis-in-law last weekend and she mentioned that her ex-boyfriend is still paying for her DirectTv even though they broke up 10 years ago.  
 

8 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said:

 

This makes absolutely no sense. How is a scammer going to benefit by adding a charge to your Royal final folio statement? 

hint: they aren’t, they can’t, they won’t. 

The scammer, "And what is the credit card number for the refund?"   

Phishing works be pretending to be a legit company.   

10 minutes ago, Tatka said:

 

Soup? I did not see a liquid in this dish.

I was speaking of Post #129.  That looks like a thin liquid in that photo.  

That lobster mac and cheese looks like a broth-based soup.  

On 1/21/2024 at 8:28 AM, A&L_Ont said:

When multiple people on my roll calls are bringing a hundred each they are not as cute. 

My daughter will be doing her level best to take care of that.  Although, I'll probably try to mandate a "No Duplicates" rule.  But then you add in that are a great many kids on the ship.  I guess I'll see whether the ducks litter the ship.  

I've been giving the duck display a lot of thought.  Most displays are to keep dust and hands off the display, so those won't work.  At the moment I'm thinking of getting wood ceiling molding all cut to the same length.   Then drilling two holes on each end, and putting knotted twine through the holes.  I've seen something similar with bigger wood to hang plants in front of a window.  

How could these guys be offensive?   They are as cute as a kitten.  

 

Why is it a problem?    Are they a tripping hazard?  Do They make you find 5 before you get off at port?  I think lots of stuff other people do are dumb, but that just means I don't do those things.  

This was one reason I decided to get a passport book even though I don't see us going out of the country again in the next 10 years.  From now on I'll have one document proving both ID and citizenship in my married name.  
I also made my married name by middle name, and it has been helpful as a bridge in various places.  That hadn't been the intent though.   I didn't have a connection to my middle name, my maiden name died with me, and it was my evil plot to force DH into learning to spell my maiden name.  

That is adorable!   And a reminder of the cruise.    If you just found it, it must have been very well hid.  
We had thought daughter's love for ducks might have faded, but no, it is stronger.   Now we are thinking of a display case as a birthday present, and a friend of hers gave her a rubber duck advent calendar.  
We have THE CUTEST ducks purchased to hide.  She is one that would have littered the place with ducks, so we got a 12-pack, and she is going to try to keep some of those.  


 

2 hours ago, Keksie said:

My husband is as much of a large case packer as I am.  His shoes are huge, so even if he only brings a pair of dress shoes and a pair of sandals they take up a lot of room. His clothes take up a lot of room and even his snorkel mask is big.  So even with less items his bag is as full as mine.  

My husband likes to pretend he doesn't bring much.   He'll set a pile of folded clothes onto the bed and say to "add it to my clothes".   But, then you add his sleep machine and his duffle is full.  If I do add his clothes to mine, he is annoyed because he has to dig though mine to find his.  

4 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

Last cruise was close!  When I put my large suitcase on the scale at the airport it came in at 49.6 LBS.  LOL.

 

I told DW that all souvenirs were going in her suitcase.

One time on a scuba trip to Belize (pre-family) I knew my bag was going to be way over-weight.  Choosing iron for my dive tank had *seemed* like such a good idea.  I looked around for a worker that looked likely.  I asked for assistance with my bags and gave him a $10 and two $5's.   He grabbed my bags and went over to a ticket window with someone behind it but off to the side where they weren't helping anyone.  He handed my bags across and over the weight-check thing, he said something, and then palmed the other guy I assume the $5.  Presto, my bags were checked and I didn't even have to wait in the long line.