js

3 hours ago, MommaBear55 said:

Lunch is included, we generally find it's the Italian restaurant that is open

Thank you. I do not see where lunch is included on embarkation but so happy that it will be

with the UDP.
Thank you so much!

15 hours ago, MommaBear55 said:

Yes, that's exactly what we do to get the times we want. 

Fabulous. Thank you. I'm guessing embarkation lunch is not included since not a sea day. Is this correct?

2 minutes ago, TwoMisfits said:

 

It is per day, thus why I mentioned waiting for a sale.  I think the lowest it got on Symphony last month was $180 for a sea day, and $100 for a port day, but it was a sell out, holiday week cruise.  YMMV on how low the price might go...when you see a price you can live with, buy.  If you can't, pass.

 

On my ship, the Key was a price I liked.  The unlimited beverage package for my spouse never was (and I looked almost daily for the last 6-8 months prior to the cruise, since it was an easy click on my computer).  We loved our Key purchase and didn't miss the beverage package, b/c we paid what we wanted to pay for the value we would receive from it.

Thank you. For a sea day, in April in New York, it is $320 for one day. Not doing it and it may not even be so warm the first 1-2 days. I was very comfortable paying that for 3 days, even two so not to stress, not one, that is a silly price. 

I also thought of the Key, just again, so I don't have to stay up to midnight and chose the earliest arrival time (although don't think that will really matter what time I show up), I'll see how low it goes, it's not something I care about and would only use for lunch on embarkation day and get on ship early. I've decided to get the UDP so the lunch won't matter with the key.

We are Diamond and get the drink vouchers, and the price of the UBP is high, but we are getting it. Actually, I will make very good use of it, but my dh will probably break even. If I could just purchase for one person (me) I would and he could use his/my vouchers, but I will pay and be done with that but waiting for a sale or Black Friday or something LOL

Thank you again for all your help. I appreciate it.

8 minutes ago, Another_Critic said:

Per day

1 minute ago, pcur said:

The info should be in the Cruise Planner 3 months before your cruise.

Thank you. I will unpatiently wait LOL

36 minutes ago, MommaBear55 said:

Usually both Chops and Giovanni's are open as well. There might be a rate day that it's one or the other

Thank you very much. I appreciate this.

11 minutes ago, pcur said:

If you go to the Cruise Planner, select Specialty Restaurant Lunch in the dining options, you will see the restaurants available for lunch on your cruise.  I do "fake" bookings for each restaurant just to get to the page that gives you the days and times available.  I make a note of each, and then plan my reservations accordingly.  I go into the restaurant that is open on embarkation day, tell them I have a UDP package, and hand them my list of reservations for lunch and dinner that I would like to make.  They will make the reservations for you while you are eating. I like to give them a tip for doing this, because for my upcoming cruise on the Freedom in Sept, it's 11 reservations between lunch and dinner.

This is so very helpful! Thank you very much! This is what I usually do on NCL in Haven but will do once I board Odyssey. I will write down each night (and lunch) and hand them a tip with the paperwork. This is absolutely perfect! Do I just do this at whatever restaurant I am having lunch in on embarkation (whoever is checking us in)?

Thank you so much again! I appreciate all your help.

2 minutes ago, Billy Baltic said:

Purchase on a port day that you’re not interested in or better again a port day which docks later in the day. It’s much cheaper. 

Thank you so much! I thought that too but on a port day, like Nassau, maybe I could get seats in the solarium.

But wait a minute, I just went to book sea days, and see that the price of $320 on a sea day is per day, NOT for the three sea days. 

Is above correct? If so, forget it. I'll upgrade myself to UDP (since I currently purchased 3 nights and then a Chops + 1night so five nights and have one from my TA but I could do that instead).

Is it correct the price is per day, not per event (sea day or port day).

I am not spending $300 for one day. I sit around all day but my dh doesn't.

Thank you.

10 minutes ago, TwoMisfits said:

 

If you find a sale and the price is one you're willing to pay and this means a lot to you - buy it.

 

I saw folks using them all over Symphony, and they seemed very happy with their purchase (it's not for me, but I'm betting Key wasn't for them).

 

Many were sleeping or reading when I walked by...very relaxed.  

Thank you very much. I appreciate this a lot!

I think you just swayed me to purchase 🙂

46 minutes ago, MommaBear55 said:

Yes, you can absolutely use your UDP at Izumi, Teppanyaki there is an upcharge of $15 for dinner. I don't know if they do lunch. 

Thank you. It's so silly to pay another upcharge with the dining package but it is what it is.

Thank you very much.

20 minutes ago, pcur said:

Izumi (regular sushi menu, not Teppanyaki) can be ordered a la carte at lunch or dinner with the UDP.  My sister and I usually get the UDP and go to Izumi for both lunch and dinner.

Thank you. So Izumi is open for lunch on sea days. So is Players Club (or whatever the sports bar is called, is that correct). Are these the only two places to use the UDP for lunch on sea days?

Do you also make ressies for lunch on sea days? When do I make ressies for dinners? When I get on the ship (which is also silly in this day/age that you cannot prebook).

Thank you.

11 minutes ago, BK79 said:

The only reason I would book is if i needed shade, or if a couple hundred didn't really mean much to me. The locations are not the best and you shouldn't have a problem getting chairs on that deck.

Thank you. I want shade and willing to pay for it. I don't see too many umbrellas on the top deck. I do see coverage in the solarium, which is where I would prefer to be, but I don't want the stress of making sure my dh and I have a lounger. I already get up early for the gym so I have the rest of my day to hang, and don't want to wake up even earlier to get the gym done and then go find seats.

I'm up and out and my dh usually 30-60 minutes behind me. I'm so torn.

Hi.

I see that if you get the UDP (Odyssey), you get a lunch credit on sea days. I'm guessing this credit cannot be used

at, for instance, Teppanyaki or Sushi place? 

If I get the UDP, I still need to pay upcharges for certain restaurants, is this correct?

Thank you.

Hi all.

I'm just brining this to the top.

Do any of you have pros or cons of why you would want/not want a casita?
I had hoped to book possibly today. I do not want by the pool, I want the deck above the

pool. Has anyone rented?

Thank you so much.

1 hour ago, ajtaylor29 said:

We sailed on Odyssey for our one and only Star class experience (so far?!) and our genie reserved us the "best" casita (his definition, not mine!) which was right by the main pool, right by the pool bar. We did NOT enjoy it at all! Way too crowded, people walking around us the whole time, scooting their chairs so close to our little roped off area that we could barely stand up.

If we did a casita again we would definitely go for one deck above the pool (that's where most of them are) where you could have a little privacy.

Since we're not huge pool people, we only stayed out there a couple of hours, so i'd say if we'd been paying for it, it wouldn't have been worth it.

But - if you're a group and/or you plan to stay out there most of the day, then i think it WOULD be worth it! No fighting for chairs, or position.

I think you can pre-purchase it, then when you board you go to the activities desk or the excursion desk and ask for them to reserve the one you want.

And yes, if going to the Solarium you might have to get there early, depending on the weather outside....

Thank you. I would prefer to be the deck above pool. We enjoying having fun but like you, dont need the crowd and loudness of being right at pool. We usually sail Haven on NCL but my TA had a great balcony group rate, we are 20 minutes from port, and we decided to come back to RCCL so trying to do “Haven Lite” on RCCL lol

I was going to pre-purchase today or tomorrow so wanted to get some reviews. I wake up early for gym but just dont want to have to wake up even earlier to stress about chairs and shade. 
 

Thank you for taking the time to respond. I appreciate it. 

Hi.

Thinking about booking a Casita on Odyssey or sea days.

Does anyone have any experience with booking and locations? I went on youtube and did a search here

but not too much comes up for research. 

I will be in a regular balcony cabin so not suite status if it matters, and guessing it does, when choosing location.

I don't know where they are located but I do not want one by the kids pool.

If we just did the Solarium, would we need to get up and out very early for the chairs? I do not want to stress about relaxing LOL

because we just hang, sleep and drink during day.

Thank you all very much.

On 5/29/2024 at 3:44 PM, Merion_Mom said:

The free room service was a perk of the Key for a while right after ships started sailing again after Covid, but it no longer is.

Thank you so much!

1 hour ago, Another_Critic said:

IMO, it makes absolutely no sense to purchase the key for a MDR lunch and embarkation.  But, you can do whatever you choose.

 

From want I've experienced only the earliest check-in time is no longer available at 8 AM the morning when check in opens.  Also note that the earliest check in times may have to wait to board while the next times may not have to wait.

Thank you very much. I'm guessing I just won't purchase.

1 hour ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

Just an FYI, I cruise on RCI 1-2 times every month. It has been well over a year now since any port I have cruised from has verified check-in times. So if you are buying the Key for an early embarkation, keep in mind a lot of people like you will show up earlier than their check-in time without paying anything extra. You will be able to use the Suite/Key entrance, which might save you 10 minutes or so. But if everyone in a Suite/Key shows up early at the same time, you might not save any time at all. Normally a few speciality restaurants are open for lunch on embarkation day. 

Thank you. Yes, I don't remember ever being asked about our check in time but we also usually sail NCL Haven so don't worry about setting it up. I think I am not going to purchase.

1 hour ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Sailed out of Bayonne 3 weeks ago and no one payed any attention to the boarding time.  We were on board shortly after 10:30am

Wow! 10:30 am, that is absolutely fabulous!

2 minutes ago, Another_Critic said:

The MDR is not open to all passengers on embarkation day.

Ahhh, thank you. So if I got the key, I could pay for MDR lunch and early embarkation. So if I don't want to purchase a specialty for lunch, my only other options are buffet and solarium is this correct?

I just now thinking not sure if I wanted to pay for a specialty for lunch since we will have dinner each night in one, but maybe for the ease of lunch and embarkation.

We enjoy being disconnected from our cell on cruises. 

Thank you both.

No, we won't be using the Flowrider and not even sure we will use the internet package.
We have adult children so we just give them the phone of the ship in emergency and then

call them to say hi when we are in port(s).

We usually sail NCL Haven, but had a lot of BoNY OBC and a really great TA group rate, didn't have to fly and decided to get back on RCCL for a change of pace. However, we are tying to do Haven Lite on RCCL LOL

Maybe I'll just purchase a lunch for embarkation. Is the MDR open for lunch for everyone?

I guess I was only purchasing for not having to stress about an early arrival time and room service LOL I'll just stay up at midnight (if that is when I can chose an arrival time when opens) and be done with it.

Thank you both again very much!

Hi.

My dh and I will be on the Odyssey in April 2025 from Bayonne.
I was thinking of purchasing the Key so I don't have to stress about boarding group (we will arrive and go on

in one of the earlier groups, we are also Diamond) and can have a relaxing lunch on embarkation.

I thought I read on here that the Key also includes complimentary room service but I do not see that listed 

as one of the perks when I go to purchase.

Does anyone have any experience with above?

Thank you.

Thank you all so much! I went on this weekend and lunch popped up! Will sit with my dh and decide which one we should book because we are trying to avoid unnecessary crowds when we can.

Thank you.

On 5/13/2024 at 2:49 PM, leaveitallbehind said:

Yes you do, which is why in our case we look at the total drinks combined each day for both of us to justify the total cost for both packages - not just which one of us may end up buying a couple here and there.  We would never together buy the 10 -12 drink combined daily difference between our vouchers and drink package breakeven to justify it.  Again, just our experience. But there is the ease and variety of beverages included to perhaps make it worthwhile

 

Enjoy your cruise.

Thank you. I appreciate your taking the time to respond. I appreciate it.

On 5/13/2024 at 4:38 PM, alishac said:

They were also doing this in Port Canaveral last July on the Wonder. I got all the reservation times I wanted and it only took about 5 minutes, all before I'd even boarded the ship!

I hope they have this at NJ pier next April for Odyssey! I would LOVE to board and not have to run around like the old days. I can't believe that RCCL doesn't still have the online booking for dining packages.

On 5/13/2024 at 4:45 PM, rdhed said:

The deluxe drink package includes bottled water, specialty coffee(just not the freestanding starbucks or at least that how it used to be-there are other places to purchase), and soda. If you can get a can of soda I am not sure. I feel like whenever by DH gets one they bring it in glass(but website says cans). Website also says sparkling water is included-if its in a bottle no clue. From the website these are the included beverages. 

• Vodka: Absolut, Belvedere, Grey Goose, Stoli, Tito’s Handmade Vodka
• Rum: Bacardi, Bacardi 8, Captain Morgan Rum, Malibu Miami Club
• Gin: Aviation, Beefeater, Bombay Sapphire, New Amsterdam, The Botanist
• Tequila/ Mezcal: 1800 Avion Silver, Camarena Gold, Patron Silver, Del Maquey Vida Blanco Mezcal
• Scotch: Chiva Regal 12 Year Old, Dewars 12 Year, Glenfiddich, Johnnie Walker Black, The Glenlivet
• Whiskey, Bourbon/ Rye: Buffalo Trace, Canadian Club, Jack Daniels, Jameson, Makers Mark, Whistle Pig Rye
• Cognac: Hennessy VS, Remy Martin VSOP
• Spiked Seltzers: Truly
• Beers: Domestic, imported and craft beer brands
• Wine by the Glass: Iconic varietals from California to New Zealand
• Non-Alcoholic Beverages: Can and fountain soda, fresh and bottled juices, premium coffee and teas, bottled and sparkling water, Johnny Rockets Shakes, Desserted Soda Floats

Thank you SO much! I really appreciate this very much!

39 minutes ago, barbeyg said:

We did embarkation day specialty dining lunch on Odyssey recently, so I know it can be booked. We booked in advance, when there was a sale.  The lunches are less expensive than dinners, and at times, you can grab a nice sale.  

Thank you SO much! I haven't seen any say we can book for lunch so I will keep looking. I sail April 2025.

Hi.

I am sailing Odyssey and have 6 nights of specialty dining (one from TA, 3 night and a 2 night..Chops plus chose your own).

Anyway, on embarkation day, can I book a lunch in a specialty restaurant either once on or prior to the cruise?

Thank you.

20 hours ago, ajtaylor29 said:

Coming back to comment on my own dumb post. (i can't figure out how to delete or i'd do that?!?)

I don't think anything has changed, i must have read wrong....

I understand that there has always been an upcharge to dine at Teppenyaki (hibachi) grille. We've paid it before and i don't have a problem with that - it's an entertaining meal/event that we enjoy when we go but we don't go every cruise!

The other specialty restaurants are still all included. I do understand that with both Izumi sushi and Playmakers there is a food credit allowed per day. We've eaten at both venues multiple times and i don't think we've ever exceeded the daily amount!

 

Thank you. I appreciate your taking the time to write out this response.

19 hours ago, LilBlackDress said:

If you want to do the Hibachi, Yes
Other than that, No

Thank you. Yes, I know the hibachi, was wondering about Wonderland but now see there is no upcharge.