belmontcrew

This was 2019 so not sure if it still applies. We also had a group of 12. We had to book one party of 8 and one party of four with a notation that we wanted to dine as a group. Checked our reservation as soon as we boarded and we were a table of 12. I don’t understand why they had to do it this way, but they did and it worked. 

Just sharing our recent experience with a 10:50 am flight on a Sunday out of Orange County.  Ship self disembarkation was scheduled to start at 7:45 A.M. on Discovery.  Actual start time ended up being at about 7:25.  I would say we were in the top 30% of people in line.  We were in a cab at 7:36 and dropped off at John Wayne at 8:10.  We both have Pre TSA so there were only 2 people in front of us at security and we were to our gate by 8:25.  I will say the non-TSA line stretched from security all the way down the interior of the terminal and was really long.  Had we been running late and without Pre TSA, that could have caused some stress.  Everything hit very well for us and we had no issues. Had we missed our flight, we did have several later options, although none were direct.  

I thought I remembered someone posting 3,300 for the week of 4/10, but that would be hard for me to believe as only two of the three dinning rooms are being utilized. Maybe I have it confused with another week. 

I would be curious as to any details on the disembarkation process as well.

Thanks.

I had called Princess Customer Service and at first the rep was going to let me book.  After he had my reservations entered, he realized it would not accept it unless I paid.  He then said that I could not use the OBC on a Specialty Restaurant, but then backpedaled on that.  I will just wait till I get on board, but it is very frustrating that we can't do this.  Most of the prime dinner times will be taken, but we have no other option.  

We received the OBC when we booked an excursion and found a lower commercial price…thus we received the difference plus 10% as the OBC. I don’t think it even shows till we board. 

We have an onboard credit for our upcoming sailing. We wanted to use that for a couple of Specialty dinner reservations. However, making a reservation in the Medallion app will charge our credit card. Is my only option to make a reservation once we board?  
 

Thanks for any help. 

If I self disembark, what time could I expect to be off the ship and in an Uber or Cab?  I pulled up Google Maps, now 7:35 AM PST, and it is showing a 36 minute drive to John Wayne.  I have up to two weeks before my flight to change departure time, so I have some time to think about it.  I fully understand I am counting on the ship getting in with no delays and traffic cooperating.  

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This is our first sailing on the West Coast so we are not familiar with drive times and ease/difficulty of disembarkation at San Pedro. We are scheduled to return at 6:15 am at Pier 46 on a Sunday. SWA just changed our flight out of Orange County from 1:20 pm to 10:50 am. Is this doable?  Thoughts would be greatly appreciated. 

Arrival at Coco Cay. An Osprey having breakfast. 
 

Challenger was on our flight a couple of weeks ago to FLL pre cruise. 

1 hour ago, #1TravelMom said:

Yes, I know the life vests are required. I have read that they will not allow you to snorkel without them. I just would like to know how much they cost to rent. I don't need the cost of all of the gear, just the vest.

We snorkeled there with our own gear in May. Unless it has changed, there was no charge to add just the vest. We did see several people though without.  I don’t think it’s enforced. If you decide to get the vest you will need to sit through the video before you head out. 

You can snorkel with your own equipment at no cost. They do recommend getting a snorkel vest and we were not charged for this either.  I did see several people who looked like they were using their own gear that did not have the snorkeling vest from Royal. 

13 hours ago, not-enough-cruising said:

however it appears they are raising the package price AND more people are buying them; in this reality there is no financial reason for a vendor to reduce their price

Just curious as to how you know more people are buying them at the higher price?  I wonder if that was the discussion in the last marketing meeting. “People, we really need to raise the drink package from $49 per day to $56 because way more people will buy it at $56  What were we thinking?”  😜.  All kidding aside, maybe they are trying to put the screws to all of us that did not get in on the $18/day goof. 

1 hour ago, GloriaF said:

Yours is a bargain.  Price for water park or zipline package for our cruise in November is $90+ 

I looked today. $88.99. About a 30% increase in 2 months. Crazy!!!!

It could be the rep used the TA reservation as an excuse that she could not book a table of 12. I will report back if the TA has any luck adding the other couple. If they can’t, that would mean the response on Twitter was incorrect which would be par for Royal...different reps giving different answers. 

59 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

The number of guests is the issue in making the reservation in advance.  On board the ship you can get a table for 12.  In advance you can only make a reservation for up to 10 guests.  I know this because I have a group of 12 that I booked and I could only book them as a 10 and a 2 just like you had to do.  It must be combined on board.

What I know is that when I asked if I could book a table for 12 the rep said yes. It was not till I gave the reservation number of the couple booked with the TA that she said I can’t add that one. I have since reached out to Royal on Twitter and they have informed me that the TA can call and add the couple. If I find out that this does not work because the limit is 10 I will report back. 

1 hour ago, Ourusualbeach said:

That is absolutely correct.  You  can only reserve for up to 10 guests.  Even if all 12 had been booked by the same person you could only book 10 of them together.  

The number of guests is not the issue in making the reservation. I was told we could get a table for 12. The issue is with the couple that booked through a TA. I was told they could not be added till we boarded. I would like to find someway to get them added before we arrive. 

I tried to book a dinner reservation for our group of six couples. Five are direct and one is with a big box TA. I have all reservations numbers. Royal CS only allowed me to make a reservation for 10 and a reservation for 2 at Chops. They said the reservation under the TA could not be added to make a party of 12 (they currently have room for 12) and that we would need to stop by Chops on the first day to make changes. I asked if the TA could call and add the the party of 2 to our party of 10 and was told no....needs to be done once onboard. 

Does this sound correct?  I am concerned that there is the possibility that once we get onboard, they will say they can’t accommodate a party of 12 any longer at which point we would want to cancel altogether. They have allowed me to book MTD (once linked) and shows for the full group, but the Specialty reservation is an issue for some reason. It should not be this difficult.  Any suggestions/help would be appreciated. 

On the Navigator our waiter told us they have a table that will sit 16, it’s just not advertised. 

5 hours ago, cb at sea said:

The tip is included in the COST for the specialties.  No worries!

When you book onboard an 18% gratuity is now added. 

22 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

 

You are not forced to pay the automatic tips.  Just go to Guest Services and request they discontinue automatic tips.

I have no issue with the automatic tips. No need to discontinue. 

1 hour ago, Host Clarea said:

 

Your automatic daily gratuity does not cover dining staff in extra cost specialty restaurants.

Thus I am having to double tip. I’m paying a gratuity for the specialty restaurant staff if I book onboard and also to the staff in the MDR for service I never received. Is it a huge amount...no it isn’t. The point is that I should not have to pay both. If Royal did not add the 18% I would be inclined to tip the specialty staff anyway. The fact that they now want to nickel and dime me with the added gratuity makes me inclined to nickel and dime right back by removing a small portion of my daily gratuity for that day. If the gratuity is included if you book specialty prior to boarding, it should be included if you book onboard as well. 

8 minutes ago, cruisegus said:

 

I do, from Royals web site

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/specialty-dining-package-gratuity

 

This is the issue I have here. If I book a specialty restaurant on board, Royal is adding an 18% gratuity when I Am already paying my gratuity for the day which includes the dinning staff. In essence, they are getting to double dip on tips for every specialty dining reservation made onboard.  I would certainly be inclined to remove a portion of my daily tip for that particular day in this case.  

2 hours ago, Cruisegirl6 said:

I personally wouldn't chose that deck:

1- public area/space above on deck 12 (chaise lounges that willl be moved alot and deck washed down during the night, pool, fitness center....alot of traffic and possible noise) There are not any public areas above these new cabins. The Panoramic Ocean rooms are on deck 12.  The spa is above the interior rooms; but our kids never heard anything. 

2-  The doors be kept opening due to the flow of traffic and my concern is that it may be too warm in the hallways Never noticed that the hallways were any different in temperature than any other hallway. 

3-  I also be concerned that it be too noisy with the traffic flow There is very little traffic with these rooms. Depending on the room that was selected, you would have no more than 5-10 cabins beyond your stateroom. It’s probably much less traffic than most staterooms would have. 

 

I only like cabins that have cabins on top of me and no public space.