nivek82

Earlier tonight I received an "invoice" email from a cruise that we took over Thanksgiving.  I thought it was odd but didn't think too much about it to be honest.  Well I go and check my credit card and all of a sudden I have a pending charge from Royal.  Since it's pending the bank won't do anything with it and my hope is it goes away but it's all very strange.  Maybe I'm being charged a new D+ surcharge?  (Sir we noticed you didn't spend enough on your last cruise so we are going to charge you.)  

Anyone else get a random invoice for an old cruise and a charge?  

Normally we don't get the drink package but thinking about it on our next cruise.  I've never seen such a WILD change in prices.  I looked the other day during a "New Years Sale" and it was buy one get one half off and came to 720 for two people for 5 nights.  Well just checked tonight and it's not listed with any sale ribbon and it's at 673.  

It's rather annoying cause being D+ and getting 30% off I wish I could tell if it's better to buy online or onboard.  Now if only there was another $18 sale (and I was paying attention when it happens) 

They should update the site to list your points.  I get nervous about playing the last night when they send the certs either the afternoon of or the night before.  I like how they have the casino hosts on their site now (wonder if they stole that idea from CC.)  Just looks like it would be not much effort for them to include your points /  status like any other casino site but alas I know it's Royal and their websites.  I should just be happy they have offers on there now. 

FYI I was Prime then lost it back in April of last year then didn't cruise for a while and as I would expect with other casinos the offers dried up.  Got Prime on my last cruise in one week and had offers back on the site about two weeks later.  🙂  Not that big of an offer but hey better than nothing.  

On 1/4/2020 at 1:33 PM, Ourusualbeach said:

you get a $35 credit at Izumi

Per day or per cruise? 

Was looking for any info on this subject and was wondering if you had any updates from your trip.  Looking to possibly get this for a four night but not sure how Izumi works.  Can you go for lunch and dinner or just once a day?  The package says unlimited but not sure if that applies for that place.  

1 hour ago, Host Clarea said:

Brilliance has a kiddie pool with slide.

What Bob said.... For the ages you listed I would do the Brilliance instead.  Now if you can move your weeks around you can do a B2B on the Brilliance.  You leave on a Saturday and depart on a Monday but if you're only 45 minutes away you can do express walk off and get to work by 9 (of course that is if there isn't a fog delay.)  We have done this many times and you do have to remember that second Sunday you have to "work" the next day so it has to be an earlier night than other nights but it's a good exchange for 9 nights instead of 7.

As others have said it's all luck.  My last cruise over Thanksgiving I really had no interest in going into the casino but did on the first night and did well.  I took that money "back" each night either doing well again or breaking even and by the end of one week had made over the 2500 points.  I went and asked the casino host once I had over 2,500 if I would be prime for the rest of this year and next and she put the sticker on my card for that night (it was the last of the cruise) but was still nice to get for one night. 

On 12/22/2019 at 1:28 PM, island lady said:

What you are seeing is the workings of the current (and fairly new) Concierge in the CL, ....Kumar.  He has tried several times to kick out the D+ from the CL....with no signage change...nada.   There was so much howling on my last Rhapsody cruise, he had to relent and let them in.  Sad he is still up to those tricks.  

 

On the other hand, Alan...who used to be concierge in the CL...had moved to the DL on deck six.  He is a far superior Concierge (IMHO).   Also...we actually preferred the DL to the CL...love that sweeping view off the aft, with lots of room for overflow in the "Shall we Dance" lounge.  Not a fan of the layout in the CL on Rhapsody.  

I agree with this. WE were on for Thanksgiving and he had the D+ in the VCL only and our cards didn’t work in the CL door. He did come out for 5 minutes at the start of happy hour but you could tell he didn’t want to be out there. His card even says suite concierge  He did give coffee cards since you could not use the CL but between him and the LA on our cruise I could tell no one cared. We didn’t get notice about the bridge tour and boy they tried to pass the buck between the two of them for most of the cruise. Sounds like we should of tried the DL.   

Adding to the new questions as I couldn't find the answer.  On my last cruise I became prime on the last night and got a sticker, etc.  Now the host said I would be prime the rest of this year and all of next but will I get the "free" cruise this year and next or do I have to wait until April 1st to book the free cruise.  I also took a picture of the points because I'm worried that the last night points won't be counted for some reason.  I "upgraded" the $off cert to the free cruise cert but none of those dates work for me so I'll just use it as a $off but I'm planning some cruises soon and wasn't sure if I got a free cruise before April 1st for getting to prime this year or if that's for "next" year.  

Can the OP maybe give some helpful information to others that might be sailing on LB soon?  Like when did you arrive that you had to wait in line that long?  

We had two formal nights (Monday and Thursday). As Bob mentioned the guidelines are what you feel comfortable in and just a suggestion.

10 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

Thanks for the report, sorry to hear about the lack of service.

No worries. It’s still better than sitting at home or going to work. 😀. 

Bob do you know if you can use the next cruise with a casino certificate?  (Or John)

Here are a few thoughts on our cruise that has one day left. 

Ship is still in great condition. 

Crew is getting used to US sailings. 

Elevators to the VCL don’t work. Only one worked most of the cruise and the other appears to be broken today. 

The ship might as well have a Suite lounge not a CL as D+ can’t access the CL. Kumar does keep the VCL open for D+ and P but only walks out at 430 to talk to anyone. You can tell he only cares about suite guests. 

The loyalty ambassador doesn’t care about anyone. We didn’t get any notice of any tours and she pawned us off to the CL host who as I’ve already noticed only cates about his suite guests. 

The captain is a hoot but is only here for a week. Captain James sounds like someone’s uncle and from how he’s made announcements maybe from the liberty. Still a hoot to hear. 

Got a MTD seating and for the first time I think we were given an assistant waiter as a waiter. Always wears the assistant clothes and say she he cleans the dining room overnight. He’s been ok but a few nights we have had to skip desert as it has taken too long. 

I guess if your a normal passenger not a bad ship. If your looking for anyone to care about your status unless your pinnacle this isn’t the place for you. I’m still happy I choose this as we had to go this week because of a kid in school and the reduced number of kids compared to Harmony or Symphony  is good but still not sure if this is the ship for us. 

I was Prime during the first year when the time they used was 18 months (or longer) and not just a year.  It was nice and the free cruise was an added perk.  While it was nice to have the free drinks I did start to see how much I was spending vs how much a drink package is.  For us I think things are swinging back the other way of maybe getting a drink package and going back to shows at night, etc.  Now will I stop going into the casino, NOPE but limit what I spend probably.  The smoking in there doesn't help either but it goes with the area.  The thing that gets me is that Royal has really done a great job updating their program and games in the past few years.  Years ago it was easy to try and skip the casino as they had just old worn out games.  Now they have the more modern (and what appears tighter) but it is more enjoyable playing the newer games.  

Hope you had a great last day. Thanks for bringing us along and all the pictures. Sorry to see this end but it also signals it’s my turn to board.  😀

Thanks again for the review and ride along.  Quick question did you have your seapass given to you at the dock (on the first leg) or was it waiting at your room?  I know the newer ships have the keys at your room now but wasn't sure if the Brilliance went to this or not.  

Enjoy your turn day. 

Great review.  We join the ship the day you leave and we too are doing a B2B.  Thanks for the parking idea.  I've cruised out of Tampa a few times but never heard of that site but if it's just right there then sounds like a winner.  Looked like it was on the shopping side of the Chanelside parking garage but for as you put it about half off looks like it's a win win.  

Look forward to reading your adventures. 

I have to agree with some of the posts before me.  They are still a company and need to make $.  Yes it's a shame that some of the "benefits" are going away but they do make sense.  For example... limit lounges (or drinks) makes sense for cost, limit or remove reserved seating makes sense because I've often seen this area not used as I think many more D,D+,P don't go to shows anymore (according this thread they are too busy drinking to attend shows 🙂 ) If they can make more money by selling things like "the key" or suites then go for it.  If it keeps the basic fare down then I'm all for it.  I agree if they limited or removed the free drinks but increased the package discounts they would get more people buying packages (and to be honest I think they would be real happy if the whole ship bought a package) and less lounge crowding.  To the OP (or anyone that is mad about the lack of reserved seating) have you ever talked to a concierge about this?  Seams that if it was something real important to a few people that a good concierge could take care of that.  Then again if shows are important then getting to the theater early should be standard.  Except for major production shows I've never seen theaters close to full and there are not that many "bad" seats.

Not really sure why not. Probably because the person didn’t put it on there and i forgot to mention it. I don’t think they would go back and apply it so not that big of a deal just a learning for next time I guess. 

Great report.  I love how they have that virtual balcony in the DL.  Would of been nice if they had the same on the Harmony's DL.

I just booked a cruise though the casino and while they were nice to combine two coupons on our cruise (one for me and one for DW) I'm thinking something might of been less than desirable than it could of been.  First I noticed that even though we are D+ our C&A balcony discount wasn't applied.  I'll let that one go since they were nice enough to allow two coupons to be used at the same time. Second and the one I have a question for the casino experts is I noticed on my invoice the normal code that I've had on previous cruises isn't there:

YHO7-Club Royale - Casino

Should I be concerned about this line is missing?  There is another code for the casino coupons and was booked via the casino but this is the first time I've not seen this code listed.  Not 100% sure what this code stands for but if I've learned anything over the years with RCI is to know what you're to get and ask questions.  I'm Prime level and do I need that code on my invoice or are they not using that anymore?  

Just checking to see what anyone's past experience is.

Thanks everyone for their responses on their passport times.  We are keeping an eye on ours as the post office lost one of ours so we seam to be about a week apart.  Cruising at the end of March and I was getting worried it was going to be too close but if they keep with the times people are showing here should be ok.  (hopeful) 

Too bad they aren’t clear if you will earn points on the initial amount. As others state if you wouldn’t get points on the initial amount then it’s really a non deal.