cruisegirl1

You may bring flowers. We bring flowers every cruise since they stopped the flower cart years ago. 

20 hours ago, BND said:

It was a technical drydock which means mechanical and maintenance issues including some cosmetic stuff.  They usually do carpeting, upholstery during technical drydocks (that's what Vision's is also). Our steward on Vision last week said they were pulling up and replacing carpet in the hallways.  What they didn't do on GR and aren't on Vision is adding anything new such as venues.  It's a great time to deep clean and replace carpet and broken items.  They had already started some things when we were on Vision the last two cruises.  There were shipyard contractors onboard working on cabling in hallways, etc.  They were onboard both cruises as we saw them during turnaround day of our b2b doing the same thing we were, walking off and back on.  

Thx - not expecting any new venues, but she does need a few cosmetic changes.  Sailing next week and anxious to be on board the first  RCCL ship we sailed back in 1997. 

M

If you book about 12:30 you will be fine, as long as there are no ship-wide boarding delays.  If there are, staff will know and accommodate. If you are cutting it close, do the muser after lunch.

Keep your eye on Key prices and if you get can it, simply cancel lunch.  Just be aware that everyone in your cabin ( 2 adults/2 teens) will have to purchase the key. 

M

18 hours ago, gumshoe958 said:

That’s the trouble with Google.

 

Type in “Do I have to wear a mask on a cruise ship” and this is what you get:

 

 

Click the link and you’ll see Google has just taken a selective quote from a similar question on CC 6 months ago, and presented it totally out of context.

 

You can see why people get confused.

I thought if it was on the internet, it must be true!  😄

M

In our experience, we have only been able to make CK junior suite reservations day by day. Not specific days during the cruise. Your experience may be different.

edit to add-this was not for icon, but two other oasis class ships. 

m

We’ve been on deck 14 mid ship, and it was very loud because of the pool band/pool games. It was only a problem in the mid to late  afternoon when the band plays. Other areas  of deck 14 might not be so bad.

m

March 2025. Talk about insane!  
 

Was the dry dock for mechanical or cosmetic updates?
m

Prices for my upcoming cruises for an Over the Water Cabana at Coco Cay Beach Club 

March 2025, Icon is  $5,599 Plus Bahamas Tax, over 6K.

February 2025, Wonder it is $1,999.  

July 2025, Adventure it is $2,799.

M

Adventure July 13 replaced Labadee with Grand Turk. 
 

What Biker19 said.  If you will be unhappy with ANY cabin in the guarantee category, a guarantee is not a good choice. 

You may be able to specify (and pay) for an ocean view balcony guarantee vs a neighborhood balcony guarantee when you book your cruise.

M

What Sunshine3601 said, plus you may ask the cabin attendant for extras.  

M

1 hour ago, smokeybandit said:

Does this belong in the noro thread?

You win the post of the day!!!!!!

M

1 hour ago, Ourusualbeach said:

LOL, I have found just the opposite, I've lost track of how many times they have not charged me for my drinks on the island.  Sometimes those written slips of paper get lost.

Shhhh.  Next we'll hear that our cruising experience "is enhanced" and there is a new bar system at Coco Cay.  😀

2 hours ago, chfenton said:

Thank you both for your replies.  Sounds like calling is obviously best way to redeem.  So to be clear, let's say if I go to the website and see the price for interior is 699/pp for a particular cruise and the balcony is $799/pp for same cruise.  To be clear, in that circumstance I could book the balcony cabin for $100/pp - is that right?  Thanks again.

Not always, Royal has strange math.  They sometimes use a lower price for the interior than what is showing online so the upgrade is more.  As you suggested, calling is best.   It might be a good idea to have a first and second choice ready when you call.

Good luck. 

I read several reviews when Icon launched and  wonder  how many who said the meal was worth the nearly $500 ($400 plus gratuity) for 2 had it gifted rather than actually paid for it?  I'm sure it is good and who wouldn't give a gifted $500 meal a good review. 

M

12 minutes ago, kwokpot said:

No worries. Since my Ovation cruise will be the first time in a JS on a ship with CK I just wanted to confirm what the rules were. I'm planning on going directly to CK once we board to see how many dinner reservations we can make there. I did make My time dining reservations for the whole cruise as backups for nights we can't get a CK reservation.

Sometimes they only make them one day at a time.  That was our recent experience on Allure, but we were able to secure a reservation for each night we wanted.  We sometimes prefer a few dining rooms or specialty menus  to CK.  

Enjoy your cruise.

M

16 hours ago, MommaBear55 said:

At 70, I must still be a kid because I like the Effectors, I find the technology fascinating. I'd much rather go to that then anything resembling the Temptations or the Rat Pack

16 hours ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

That's the part I liked. Everything leading up to that, not so much, but I'm not into Broadway (or stage shows in general) so that's likely as much on me as anything.

I stand corrected - the technology of Effectors 2 is terrific.   Every time I watch it, I sit in a different area to enjoy the technology.  Close up was the least enjoyable. 

M

4 hours ago, twangster said:

I'm just going to say I'm highly offended (not really) that as a Pinnacle I only get 6 drinks per day versus D+ that get 5 drinks per day.

 

D+ is 175 pts and P is 700 pts.  So basically D+ is 0.25P or P is 4D+.

 

If it takes 4 times the points to go from 175 for D+, to 700 for P, then clearly P should get 4 times the D+ drinks.  Instead of the 20 drinks that P have earned, we get one lousy stinkin' drink compared to D+.  Way to recognize those "most loyal top cruisers" as they like to say at top tier.

 

D are getting the most bang for the point registering 0.05 drinks per point, while D+ are nearly half that at 0.0285 drinks per point.  Meanwhile P are getting screwed at 0.00857 drinks per point! 

 

Based on the D 0.05 drinks per point, D+ should get 8 drinks per day and P should get 35 drinks per day!  Oh the injustice!  

 

On a serious note, I'm afraid to tell my doctor I consume 6 drinks per day or 42 drinks per week on a 7 night cruise.  My doctor would go overboard if only he knew.  So I'm not overly concerned about this tragedy of inequity within the CAS.  As an old guy my consumption has gone down and it's not uncommon to get drink fatigue in mere days now so this "rip off" isn't nearly as dramatic as my words make it out to sound.

 

But come on man!  Throw the more loyal cruisers a specialty coffee or an extra drink or two so I can get some extra bottles of waters to make up for the fewer bottles of water that get delivered to my cabin upon boarding now. 🙃

 

Or maybe take some of those 29 drinks they are "stealing" from Pinnacle combined with the 3 drinks they are "stealing" from D+ and give Emerald one drink per day.  That'll give them a taste of the D life.  Seems like that would be a pretty big carrot to dangle in front of the donkey to keep them motivated and a reason to climb the ladder faster and it would give Plats something to drive for that is attainable for less frequent cruisers.  Plus it would make the tween Emerald tier something other than just awkward. 

Don't forget that  many Pinnacles have way more than 700 points.   I have no idea what the average is, but on many cruises the top 3 cruisers  all have in the high 2000 points.  Except for Internet and a free Pinnacle cruise ( and one for every 350 points)  there is little difference in upper tier D+ and Pinnacle.  These two groups share the same amenity list have the same "cheers" meal, BOGO, wash and fold and more.

So by your math, the P drink benefit is worth even less.   Frankly the drink  benefit is wasted in me.  Don't get me wrong, I like a drink or two,  but 6 is overkill for me.   

M

We've had a variety of cruises recently and there is no reasoning regarding the hairdryer type.  We had a recent Enchantment ( old ship)  B2B and moved a  few cabins away ( same cabin class) and had the newer dryer in one and the "hold button" type in another.  

M

We find Wonder to have the weakest entertainment of the Oasis class ships. 

M

 Matzo will be available, but to be on the safe side, you can always bring a box with. If you are observing Passover, you might consider some Passover packaged cookies/candies as I don't recall the availability of kosher for Passover baked deserts.     There has been a "Passover" cooked meal with Matzo Ball soup, Brisket, carrots, but I don't know if the food was  Kosher for Passover or even Kosher.  I know the Channukah meal offered on many ships is not kosher. 

There are Kosher cruises during the year with an extensive array of freshly  prepared  kosher foods.  A designated venue is closed to the public and certified Kosher with properly prepared foods.  There is even a pizza oven  at Sorrento's certified  Kosher .   We sailed in January  and there was a large group requiring kosher meals.   Solarium Cafe was designated for the group and closed to the public during the cruise.  There was a hefty food charge for the meals, I want to say an additional $70/day/ per person.

Other kosher meals  ordered for general cruising will be a frozen  and heated for passengers. 

M

There are generally three or so MDR lunch menus   You can pull up any ship on the app and take a look at MDR lunch menus to get an idea. 

MDR lunch is open on sea days. 

M

On 4/10/2024 at 2:00 PM, Another_Critic said:

I was a special section of the MDR reserved for Diamond and above.  Usually the same MDR menu, but occasionally they would have some special items (e.g., chocolate breakfast items).

 

In addition, free cappuccinos and lattes.

That Diamond (and up) breakfast was a nice touch and is long gone. It was at a time with relatively few D and up members.  I can't recall the timing of removal, but it might have been discontinued even before there was a Pinnacle category.  There was a daily special item on the standard MDR menu, and also provided in the D section. 

Can you imagine if they had that today, it would include half the ship population.  You would get better service in the NON D and up section.  😀

Thanks for the walk down memory lane. 

M

Just now, livetravelcruise07 said:

It's an 11 night Mediterranean cruise! 

A great cruise for a balcony.  Enjoy

M