compman9

1 hour ago, Iamcruzin said:

Sounds like you can use an "Alice" at home and not a Genie at sea. Personally I wouldn't know what to do with a Genie. We are not even high maintenance for the regular room steward.  Just give us fresh towels and keep the soap dispenser full. 

DW and I discussed this on our walk this morning. Apart from show times and dinner reservations, which the concierge has always dealt with if we needed help, we genuinely could not think of one thing we would ask a Genie to do for us.

We go on holiday for the adventure, having someone hold your hand to get in an elevator and accompany off the ship, seems utterly bizarre. 

Part of the fun of a cruise is walking around aimlessly on a ship, doing your own thing without interference.

On 9/25/2021 at 12:01 AM, John&LaLa said:

 

They only work half the year

Are they not allowed to work for the other half of the year

2 hours ago, kernow said:

I think you should have had it by now, try the live chat on the website, they are very quick.

Great advice, thanks. I have done that

On 9/21/2021 at 11:18 AM, gavvy said:

Has anyone received the Testing email yet to book the pre-departure tests for the October 9 sailing, or is it too soon? Should arrive soon I think

I haven't received anything from Royal about my test yet, should I be worried?

I would call, but the wait time for someone to answer seems to be about 40 minutes

On 9/18/2021 at 8:04 PM, poocher said:

I was gonna roll my eyes at this but my grandson has informed me that they are an essential food group. I know my son would order a bag with a sandwich from room service every night 🙄.  I imagine you’ll find them somewhere. 

Your grandson is a wise young man

Here's a review of the Park Cafe chips

https://www.chipsandcrisps.com/lays-classic-potato-chips-review.html

31 minutes ago, Yorkshire-Pudding said:

According to the British Butler Institute which recruites and trains Royal Genies, the positions are 2 stripe (whatever that means) and the monthly salary is $2,150 per month and contracts are for at least 5 months.

So, three cabins at an average of $500 a week plus that monthly wage and two contracts a year is around $90k tax free with full board thrown in

That's a very good job anywhere in the world

1 hour ago, Biker19 said:

Plan to eat/bring lunch before check in.

Thank you. That's probably the funniest comment I have ever read on CC

I ask because we have been given options starting at 2.30 which is about three hours after DW starts getting grumpy because she needs her lunch 🤣

Such a shame. It is s stunning setting for a lounge of any description

Instead of that pointless walkway past the stupid robot gimmick bar, they could easy have a (Celebrity) Cafe al Bacio style terrace all along the route above the Royal Esplanade

I have seen this image on RCI's website, under Anthem of the Seas, but I  am pretty sure it's at the back of the Music Hall. 

The image itself has a hyperlink describing it as the Allure, which was on deck 11 when we were in it last January

31 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

Have you checked in and decoded the SetSail pass barcode? You may have an assignment (the last 5 digits after the dash is the cabin #) but not know it and that assignment may have caused the change in what’s available to bid. 

Hi Biker19, Yes I did, thanks. It seems they provided my lowest category RoyalUp and in the same email it allowed me to bid again. So, they did assign.

I was sent the original offer on Sunday, and it is now Wednesday, so fingers crossed for another three days 😉

2 hours ago, Biker19 said:

What category do you have now and have you confirmed your cabin # lately?

Ocean View Gty (unassigned as yet) Does this make a difference?

Thanks for the review

Looking forward to 9th October 

Can't wait to hear the bong when we board

Here's a weird one for you.

I bid on the four categories I was offered.

I have just received an email cancelling my bids, but with an offer to bid again.

They have removed the next two categories up from the cabin I booked and replaced them with suites.

The crazy thing is the two other categories remaining from my first bid offer have the dial set as a maximum below what I originally offered 🤪

6 minutes ago, F27TW said:

 

What's the function/purpose  of it ? 

I have no idea, but I would presume it will operate as a screen so the shows could be more dynamic

I am available for other great ship design ideas 😀

Has anyone ever received two Royal Ups?

So, they upgrade you and then offer another bid option?

I went through the UK website to book a trip this morning.

There was a box where I could put my FCC # in.

The price was not adjusted, but I presumed this was a glitch and would be rectified when payment was taken. No biggie.

I received an email this afternoon saying that as the cruise was fully paid, the Future Cruise Certificate was not applicable.

Is this normal? 

If it is, why is there no information about this on the website - If there was not an opportunity to put the numbers in, I would have called and maybe reconsidered for a different cruise

Have any travel insiders heard anything about revenue cruises to China from Europe yet

19 hours ago, Norwich Cruiser said:

Each to there own but I’d much prefer Venice over Ravenna every day. 
 

The Venice port is easy to get to from Marco Polo airport and Piazza Roma is only a couple of minutes on the people mover for about two euros and the ground staff excellent.

 

 

 

Most major cities are overpriced tourist traps but you can find excellent sensibly priced cafes bars and restaurants in the side streets.

Indeed, but have you been to San Marino, Rimini and Bologna? I look at it as a three for the price of one stop. Venice is wonderful, but having been there upwards of a dozen times, I like the change to a place with far more options.

Ravenna is a much better departure/arrival port than Venice, especially for long haul travellers wanting to see a chunk of Europe.

Bologna is a lovely city, San Marino is a unique country experience, and if you want a jet-set era style beach experience Rimini is a short hop.

Venice is an over-priced tourist trap, but with, it has to be said, the best departure trip cruising has to offer.

An update.

I called Royal, who said I missed the deadline for lift and shift. I told them I did not receive the email, and asked if they could forward me the copy they sent. They said they couldn't and I should try customer services.

I tried customer services, and went through the same routine. They said it was a stock email and it was sent as a mass mailing to everyone's address so couldn't send me the copy I was sent.

I checked my email account several times to confirm. No email.

I then received my 125% future cruise credit.

So, I presume that's that.

I booked a cruise over DW's birthday as usual. The lift and shift option next year is more expensive than this year's by a significant amount. So, Royal are unable to prove they sent an email. And although I am able to prove I didn't receive one I have to like it or lump it.

It's not a massive deal, these things happen with big corporations, but it does explain why my views differ from some on these boards. 

Royal are a vacation provider to me. Nothing more nothing less. This is why while I would use, and enjoy, their services, I would never recommend them of promote them to anyone else.

On 4/18/2021 at 1:07 PM, Ourusualbeach said:

The cancellation announcement for the Jewel was done in March 25, 2021.

 

The deadline to lift snd shift was April 8.

 

125% FCC will automatically be issued and you have until June 30, 2021 to request a refund instead of the FCC 

 

 

 

I have never been notified and would still like to lift and shift - Where would I stand (before I call for an almighty argument)?

To answer a couple of questions from above:

I was booked on the 18th July cruise from Stockholm on the Jewel

I booked directly with Royal

My email address is with AOL

The same ship is not matchable, but the Voyager is there on a similar date next year, which I am happy to shift to, but it shouldn't be up to me to tell Royal they have cancelled my cruise!

I was looking at my cruise planner when I learned my July cruise had been cancelled - Royal have not emailed me to tell me this

Is this normal?

I have no idea when it was cancelled, so will the lift and shift etc., offers still be operational?

Thanks

I also did some research into this and actually booked one for the maiden voyage that has been cancelled

Some seem better than they might be because they are above a restaurant or smoking area

In the end we considered the davits issue and the inconvenient positioning and picked cabin number 6180

I stand to be corrected when someone does actually get to stay on the ship, but I did spend a lot of time on this, so I think it's the best of the obscured cabins