Georgeny

Have to laugh every time I see a cruise commercial of a couple dining on a huge balcony area and being served by a smiling server. Let me know when someone finds that balcony and level of balcony service. Cruise ads are so mis-leading almost always showing top suite rooms etc. Forty years of cruising closest I ever got to that was on the Celebrity Zenith, Royal Suite. That came with a butler who did actually set the inside dining table with linen etc and served a full ordered breakfast. There was no balcony then.

That said I really have no complaint of today's room service. I can live with continental for free and 7.95 for eggs etc. Prefer to get call when breakfast is coming, first makes sure wide awake and ready, second makes me check that I haven't left do not disturb sign on door. If you do you will not get order, they will not knock. Also doesn't leave delivery person holding a heavy tray waiting for me to get a robe on and such.

George in NY

That you for a good commentary and the unique drink review, I enjoyed it.

George in NY

16 hours ago, Momto3girlsintheCarolinas said:

Hubby and I have always loved Royal.  It was perfect for us.  Just like other cruise lines, they seem to be cutting corners all over and lowering the quality of food.  It has hubby and I considering changing to another more expensive (or less expensive) line to get more value and a better experience?

 

The MDR menu changes really have me concerned.  

 

Anyone else?

Don't think changing lines will solve anything at this point. All lines face some similar problems financial, staffing, supply! These issues are impacting all the lines to varying degrees. We stopped sailing NCL even before pandemic because they were seeking the records for new ways to nickel and dime passengers. From what I have read they haven't changed post pandemic. We stopped sailing Carnival after pandemic as they seem to have decided to be the cruise line of the crown that find partying and group conflicts synonymous. No idea how Princess has been since we have choose not to fly post pandemic so no Princess available sailing from out area. Celebrity once our favorite line for decades seems just a bit too pricey while also deteriorating to some degree. We would sail them for the right deal.

No in out case we will stay with RCL probably exclusively for now but instead of sailing 4 or more times a year we are sailing once for now, maybe twice depending on how our 9 night Liberty of The Seas cruise in June goes. We only sailed twice in 2021, RCL Oasis and Carnival Legend. Last year only once RCL Oasis. The Liberty only one we booked for 2023.

George in NY

Thanks for the review! Sailing in June on 9 day from NJ. I note that a May sailing for Liberty as just cancelled for a repair, sounded like an Azipod probably.

Again thanks.

George in NY

10 hours ago, fredmdcruisers said:

Of course it is! There are many cruise lines who are providing the experience that Royal used to offer. 

Name them!

Last sailing from Cape Liberty we made was Oct 2nd 2022. Although I could qualify for a handicap sticker based on COPD I have never bothered getting one. Always figured that I can manage well enough compared to many others with more substantial handicaps. After that sailing I decided time to get one.

As we pulled up in line we were asked if handicapped, my reply no. Directed into a baggage line then to the old big lot. Would have been a bit of a problem but I could have done okay except this was a real bad weather day. Heavy windswept rain the kind that soon as open an umbrella it was destroyed. Made it that day but wasn't easy. Also at 11:00am arrival time was already at farthest point of lot.

I can understand why garage has been designated for handicapped. Two or three ships sailing different days they have almost exhausted their parking and no way garage has enough spaces. We are sailing Liberty June 1st this year. The Oasis comes in the 2nd so I presume many spaces will have Oasis cars in them.

When it is one ship like Oasis people leaving empty spaces obviously, now different ships different sailings, well like I said I got my sticker. Still may still not be spaces in garage.

Thanks for the review!😃

George in NY

1 hour ago, Mark_UK said:

Im a D+ and never really used the concierge lounge, what was I missing out on?

We enjoyed the hot and cold hors duerves etc. and up until recently drinks not taken from benefit drink number on card. They did this 12 years ago starting the diamond plus level and cutting out diamonds. Took years to then get higher level. Now again!!! RCL has been our preferred line though we sail others. I honk they should realize that the reason they have so many diamond and plus people is because we sail a lot. Oh well another travel alternative rapidly entering not such a deal arena. Have 9 day on Liberty seas scheduled but will start looking at MSC who is looking to gain market share. 
 

george in ny

1 hour ago, TBurr said:

The latest in RCCL downgrading its produced. First they no longer have the evening cabin cleaning so they can fire half their housekeeping staff, now their elite members lose another benefit.  I think they are learning from the airlines how to alienate their best customers. I recently sailed on Celebrity and found a far superior service, food, product and as an Elite member there they offered a great benefit.  I suggest you consider leaving RCCL since they have left us, and going to Celebrity. I am done with RCCL since they are done with me.

you do know RCL owned Celebrity yes?

37 minutes ago, KelJ said:

They put your casino level on your sea pass card so that when you are buying drinks in the casino, all they have to do is see Prime, for example, on your sea pass card and they know your drinks are free.

Never seen that either, always checked in and received a tag or something if had casino drink privilege. But question was not on seapass but on boarding pass.  I have it on my boarding pass and have no casino drink privilege on that cruise !

george in ny

I must admit not usually stumped but I could use some clarification on this being casino related. Although at times we have booked via casino offer this was not one of them. Casinos are an independent contractor item. So why would this appear on my boarding pass? 

George in ny

8 hours ago, lawyerboy5555 said:

When we checked in for Oasis of the Seas, it says "Diamond Plus * Choice" on the version of the Set Sail Pass that is on the app.   That's a new one!  What does the "Choice" mean?   Also, what is the "wellness check" at the pier that is mentioned on the section of Check-In for Arrival Time?  I thought there were no testing requirements anymore.  Thanks in advance.

I will say we have same on our boarding passes. The only thing I can think off is that Diamond ( I think ) and Diamond Plus offer you a small selection of " gifts " such as a bottle of wine, couple bottles of water, a can of beer, in your cabin complimentary. Use to be online and easy to select or change. Years back they changed that to having to call by phone directly Crown & Anchor to select or change. You only have to select once and then automatic don't have to call again unless changing. I'll attach old selection card. This is all I can think of for CHOICE. 

Wellness check is the old card they used to give you at boarding, do you have a fever etc questions. Now done through app day before cruising becomes available I think. Now who ever answered yeah I don't feel well so don't let me on after I traveling all the way to get here? Just modified for covid now.

The argument on whether or not to use a TA has two valid sides. Most of us now a days are now used to making reservations, ordering food, booking hotels and airlines. No wonder not much of a stretch to simply cut out the TA and book your own cruise. The advantage of doing so is being able to deal with the cruise line direct yourself. If you use a TA line will not deal with you directly and will advise you to call your TA. If you call or answer an email directly from line you are often still not dealing with the line. You are dealing with their contracted travel company. Yes it can be complicated.

Whether you book online or through a TA the basic pricing is the same. That said a skilled and knowledgeable TA, not all are either, might be aware of special discounts that are there for you IF you know to ask. In my case after all was said and done my TA not only got me in the cabin I wanted but also got me an additional $1336 dollars off the price by receiving TWO Non Refundable discounts I was not aware of existed.

Most people think that agent is making a pretty penny since we are paying a pretty penny. In honestly being an agent is a nice side line or for a retired person a nice keep busy job. Commissions have been eroded through the years by making pieces of the cost non-commissionable. They were never big enough money makers to make them full time jobs for most. Plus the bennies are few and far between. Most agents find that booking themselves as clients is better deal than getting agent rates since their rates are only available often a week or two before travel. That makes air and hotel rates much higher negating any savings on agent rate.

So to answer your question, because I have a very knowledgeable agent that is also a cruiseaholic as we used to say so I use him. If that wasn't the case I would consider booking myself as a knowledgable cruiser. Even with a knowledgable cruiser and a good agent who knows the produce stuff happens. I give my agent the cabin I want and rely on him to tell me if their is something I didn't know about location etc. Prior cruising agent says I can book same Jr Suite same location different floor $400 cheaper. I searched deck plans, internet reviews etc could not find any reason why less. Despite knowing there is always a reason I took the deal. Guess where the super large ice machine that all the stewards get their ice from was? Directly across from our door! We all know what a large ice machine sounds like dropping ice all night, plus stewards all shoveling ice from all morning and evening. We lived with it but would we get that cabin again, even for $400 off, no! Others certainly would I am sure. Relooking at deck plans realized there was a section blocked off interior side, means general storage work area or machine area. This is often fine but nothing says ice machine 🙂

BTW in this case the cabin number was Jr Suite J4  11626 Oasis of the Seas notice cabins often have little designation like J3 or J4 denoting to line different pricing based on location or some other classification. Cabins now a  days are modular and virtually all the same in size for most part. True unless they modified one to stick it somewhere. I included the dec plan picture. One more caution, when checking a deck plan ALWAYS use lines pages. You will many times see different dates listed as deck plans can change. A lot of these best cabin internet sites don't keep up.

Rates are set by the line and no agent can discount THEIR commission. Some offer gifts or on board credit but these are purchased by them online just as you would and cost the same. For years lines, air and sea, wanted to get rid of agents since their commission comes off lines bottom line. Airlines did for most part by making it virtually non-commissionable for agents. Between that and all the problems with cancels etc made agents virtually refuse to deal with air. Cruise lines found that they needed agents to SELL the product. Doing it solely by themselves didn't work. So using an agent adds no cost to you. And cruise reservationist are generally no better to deal with because you are the customer.

Sorry for long answer, you got me on a bad weather Sunday with nothing to do but read boards LOL.

George in NY

First thank all for your responses.  Later in evening my TA get ahold of reservations and made another reservation for the Jr Suite I wanted without question and even got a better price. He told me that they are so screwed up that all bookings depend now on if you get a reservationist that knows what they are doing coupled with the reservation system and how it working. From posts on RCL Boards I am told that the RCL system was having multiple outages and various problems most of yesterday. No matter my agent called later and was able to  courtesy hold exactly what I wanted without any difficulty. I will deposit after reviewing.

Cruising in all aspects has been a changing environment in the 38 years we have been sailing. After retiring from my first career one of my keep busy things was working for a cruise travel agency. At that time lines used printed brochure's with prices that were always DOUBLE what you usually sold the cruise for. Much like these BIG SALES giving large discounts for supposed short time. Notice how often they are extended. This particular cruise start price for my want is over $8000 but discounted by various  things to half of that. Somethings almost never change but when they do never in customer favor. Added NRD Non Refundable Discounts almost as good as some businesses gift cards that never get used increasing margins. That is why so many businesses only offer gift cards or in cruise cases Future Cruise Credits instead of real refunds when they can. Travel industry famous for that be it airline or hotel.

So was my whole thing manipulating inventory of system and staff problem? Probably both, they are overwhelmed land staff wise at this point I would bet. Inventory control has always been a legitimate element of reservations. If sale wasn't going as well more inventory might be opened up etc.

Cruises, it's a business and it is marketing.

George in NY

9 hours ago, Scottee25 said:

 

Surprised your TA has never heard of this. This is very common on this class of ship. I have experienced it with this class on numerous occasions.  Questions I have for you...

 

If you attempt to do a mock booking on Royal's website for this sailing does the cabin show available when you select:

 

2 Passengers?

 

3 Passengers?

 

4 Passengers?

 

If you answer No, Yes, Yes then that would confirm that the cabin you want requires 3 or more people. I get that you were talk something by someone on the phone. I would also venture to say if you call back, you'll get a different answer. It's the nature of the beast with Royal's call center staff; they simply are not adequately trained on all matters.

Select was TWO passengers showed on inventory. My next post will followup as resolved.

Georg in NY

2 minutes ago, HaveWeMetYet said:

I believe if you pay for the cruise entirely at booking or once it is payed off then you can't transfer it.

 Sorry I must not be communication well, this is NOT a paid or even yet deposited booking, this is a hold with a deposit date. Nothing being transferred.

1 minute ago, orville99 said:

You can book direct and then transfer the booking to your agent. I believe you have 60 days from the booking date to transfer the booking.

 

Reservationist said now will be their booking. As I pointed out not new at this. Note I have a reservation HOLD pre-deposit but that cabin was not available as being held for FOUR person booking. Would not allow agent to book that suite did another on that floor. For a couple reasons don't wish that one location, adjoining etc.

Background, been cruising since 1980, was even a cruise only agent long ,long, ago. Have sailed multiple lines through years. I use a cruise agent who is excellent and a friend of 40 years plus. Point I am not new to making a darn reservation. Have sailed 4 cruises post pandemic since opened up.

Did as always do, looked online at RCL and picked a cruise and cabin. June 1 st 2023 9 day Cape Liberty NJ. Liberty of The Seas. Called my agent advised him to hold cabin I selected, then I would as always check calendar and with my wife, the boss of me. Agent holds cabin a Jr Suite as always but advises that the suite I want is not available because can hold up to 4 and will not give it to 2 of us. WHAT??? This is standard Jr guess couch opens. Never heard of such a thing neither has he.

I tried to call C &A hoping that they could fix this, we are Diamond Plus and hoped that would help. Crown and Anchor number switched over to reservations. Reservations said couldn't help but gave me another number 1-800-327-6700 top call customer assistance. I called that number and got the recording that they were backed up yada yada and I could try their webpage etc. We all know the drill now a days.

Few minutes later reservation lady I had spoken too called my house phone and she nicely said she could give me the cabin I wanted and make reservation right now. I asked if this would then be same reservation number and my agent booking? NO, have to be direct now, deposited now. I thanked her for her assistance but declined the offer. Obviously the suite is open but only if I book direct online or by phone, not through my agent. As I am sure many of you know, if you book online or direct you have to handle your own booking. If book through agent only agent can handle which is what I want, I do not wish to spend phone time with call in centers etc.

POINT, cabin is open but as a customer I can have it but ONLY if I go direct through them! Two people or four people no matter it's maybe if THEY book it for me. Wow, playing with what's available too I believe. Not so nice there RCL.

George in NY

Our condolences and thank you for providing such an informational posting. I am sure many cruisers have often thought of doing this but didn't actually realize it was possible or that it was done so eloquently. I am sure he watches over you thankful for the love you have shown him.

George in NY

Good Morning, Have really enjoyed sailing with you again Radio!

I don't normally read the daily activity sheets but I scanned one today and noted in the what to know section, " Body Cameras " are worn by some security personnel. I am saddened to see that even cruise lines have had to go to this level of security.

In the 1980's I was introduced to the fact that two Gurkha's provided security on our ship. Being a small 500 passenger ship ( normal size back then ) they were easy to spot even without their traditional garb and although not visible I was informed they were never without their famous Knifes. I was also told that they were there for crew security ships having so many various nationalities onboard. Many of those were warring adversaries on land in their homelands. But that all were terrified of Gurkha warriors and put their personal animosities aside rather than tangling with a Gurkha.

Doing a fast google as recent as 2015 they are apparently still used on many cruise ships including Cunard and Silver Sea. Again they are retained mostly for crew security activity not passenger. These should not be confused with normal security staff members that are often simply crew in security shirts.

Next time you chat with an Officer I would be curious to hear if they are still using Gurkha's onboard for the more serious situations with crew. 

Safe Home

George in NY

Not going to miss you this time 🙂 all set up on webcam awaiting your arrival.

I love Central Park especially in the evening but WHO can sit in the chairs they have and actually get out of them? Okay I am not the smallest or most flexible guy but geez, sit in these chairs your almost eye level with table top. Feels like your are 12 years old.

George in NY

I missed sailing too 😜 having to watch breakaway instead.. oasis 19.4 kts now. Fiona must be on captains mind. 
 

Have a great second week radio! Still following. 
 

George on NY

Radio, GREAT STUFF as always! Love the high quality videos as we sail vicariously through you 🙂

Question on Nassau if I may. It has been noted that it is a pretty long walk from Oasis dock to terminal street area. It appears that they have now installed coverings at least to shade from sun. As someone that has some respiratory problems long hot walks are not in my wheelhouse anymore. Is walk as much as it appears distance wise?

Also curious, do you still have to leave ship on B2B and reenter/checkin for second sailing? As many sailings as we have done through the years Linda and I have never actually done a back to back. But we have seen groups of B2B'ers walked through pier side terminal area.

Thanks

George in NY - Oasis 10/2/2022 we're ready!

20 hours ago, Georgeny said:

 

Am I correct that if docked at CT 1 you are a simple walk to Grill and shops?

 

George in NY

Thanks! That would be great to stretch legs a little on land. Have seen the Aqua Theatre show but want to see again it's just so good! Hope they get the repairs worked out. As always great job on LIVE review, we missed you!

George in NY

15 hours ago, Radio said:

I have many more pics and vids to upload for Day 3, but the signal quality is not working. I'll try again tomorrow. Been there many times but never at CT1.

 

Radio

Am I correct that if docked at CT 1 you are a simple walk to Grill and shops?

George in NY