nivek82

Thanks Bob. Anyone have recent compass for the 3 night?

Is the make shift DL in the VCL still making people swipe cards? And if they do are they limiting to 3 drinks per night like the Empress or is it just to "survey" as they say. Also anyone recent know the hours of the "event?"

Depends on what ship and where the room is. On the Enchantment, Grandeur and I think a few others there are inside rooms that are set sideways (7015) and the pack and play works well in those since you can put it in front of the closet between that and the bathroom wall. On most other ships you can place it at the end of the bed but it's a trick to get out of bed (basically you have to use only one side) to use the bathroom.

That said we had one in a room on the Monarch (talk about no space) and it worked ok for a short cruise.

Another thing you might want to think about is how sound does you child sleep? If they wake easily it might be better to get a larger cabin (such as a balcony) and place the pack and play in front of the couch (and you can continue conversation, drink out on the balcony.) If they sleep past anything then save the $ as the extra space really doesn't give total privacy and you can use that $ to pay for the nursery. (BTW we loved the nursery we would take our child just before dinner bringing bottles with us and they would feed her and she wouldn't have to sit with us in the dining room.) Also they would turn the lights off and let the kids sleep most of the night away.

Ok so it wasn't just me. I knew they used to do the one off special night buffet by the pool (MN after Nassau) or in the promenade (FR's Freedomfest) but I haven't seen those in while (and to be honest I can't stay up for the one on the 3 night cruise anymore either)

Add another one to the list of people that have booked the day prior. Did this once years ago on Majesty. As others that have we live close enough to drive. I haven't seen this thing recently but I was starting to wonder how cheap the December cruises going to be this year with many eastern routes changed to western.

This is also someone that's wondering how cheap will the 12/3 on LB get with it's new 3 nights in Nassau cruise.

If you do book late keep in mind you don't do any type of on-line check in. It's not a big deal but does cause an out of the normal occurrence at the port as you don't have a set sail (they will most likely have to look you up), no signed contracts (have to do the old paper ones), probably no assigned dining (can be done on-board.) Again none of that is an issue just causes some of the staff to ask extra questions cause it's not the normal they are used to either. :)

I believe the corresponding status match expires after a year since I received notification that I was downgraded in my Matched Mlife tier. Never called up to see if you can get it reset by calling or just a one shot and you need to earn the level back on your own.

Yes you can have the status matched again. I've had the status matched for a few years now and I think one year the status changed and most years in October the status reverts back. I've had luck sending an email to memberservices@mgmresorts.com with my mlife and C&A numbers asking for the match if you don't need it quickly.

I think it's a great benefit to be able to get Platinum (since I'm D+) for the free parking, express lines, no resort fees (in Vegas) and free buffets at the Beau (in Biloxi)

Also to add it looks like currently total rewards is matching Mlife status in Las Vegas so it's possible to get "double matching" if you first have your RCI status matched with Mlife then match your Mlife to Total Rewards. :)

Depending on time of the year the lack of pre paying can backup the people trying to leave early. In November off the Harmony it took over 30 minutes to exit the lot because everyone has to pay.

We tip nightly. My thoughts are if I worked on a ship I would want the cash for any port stop or free time I get. As mentioned by others it does also appears to help but not all the time. Depends on how busy it is.

I've seen the odd hold amounts as well. On our last cruise we had only two holds put on one the last night for the total (as it was only around $50) the other was midweek for $7 for 1 hour night fee at the kids club. The other hold came off a week after the cruise but to me it was odd and sort of funny that their systems decided to try and post that small amount instead of the others.

I agree with the OP that this could of been handled much better. I know that many of us check that last paper briefly before shoving it into the suitcase but I guess there is another reason now to take a second and look to make sure it shows a 0 balance before going to that last breakfast.

As to the other poster who said out of all their cruises they still think about the one with a CC issue. I would agree we are the same. In our over 30 RCI cruises I still think back to our first B2B where our CC wasn't transferred over correctly and my DW sat at a bar while I went back to GS with my CC. (for some reason at that time the seapass account wasn't even converted to a cash account it was just denied at the bar.) Come to find out on b2b they (did at the time) key the b2b card info manually. They first told me my card was declined and let me call my company who said "uh we don't see any activity" It was then they checked the computer and found they miskeyd the #. Had a good laugh with the bartender and DW got a free drink from him for the troubles (even though GS didn't care or offer anything for their mistake) Like I said this was close to 30 cruises and about 9 years ago and I still think about it.

Thanks for posting the menu. It doesn't look that bad and worth $8 for a different lunch on the balcony. I wonder if there is other fine print that limits the amount per order for $8 (as the posted menu only says per room)

just off Oasis last month...30%

 

However, I got 3 different answers from 3 different "upsellers" between the terminal and boarding the ship. I knew the correct answer, but asked anyway. I got "20%", "40%", and, actually "you can't get a package because you are Diamond +. You get free drinks loaded on your card." WHAT?

 

Kind of hilarious, kind of sad, but indicative of the standard cc response re: RCI customer service: " if you don 't like the answer you get, ask someone else...";)

I think I would of asked for the 40% knowing it was only 30%. I love the comment you couldn't get it because of D+.

We received the certificates for the $ off on our last cruise. It looks like that is not combinable with any other rates (C/A, or casino) is that right?

Also according to the host on the FR we earned enough for VIP on the next cruise but I have a feeling that varies on ships.

I just wonder if I should try to use the certificate on a short cruise or longer cruise. I don't want to loose the VIP status on a short cruise cause I'm not sure I could get 1,000 points on a short cruise like I was able to on a 8night.

Interesting cause we were on last week as well and they said there was going to be a minor dry dock before they come back to San Juan and get the small kids water slides. Not the big ones just the small set.

It's the ship. We got 2 out of 3 and they were all together on the dock. Already asked guest relations but they don't care until after 7pm when they say all "should" be delivered.

Because we don't have the proper attire for the venues.

Well as reported it's true the upselling is in full force. Twice at lunch while sitting to eat we were approached to book special dining. They also mentioned it after the muster drill.

Too bad in for the first time in 30 cruises we are missing one of our bags.

Since it's the bag with dress clothes no restaurants for us. 😩

The real problem is going to be not having access to the CL or DL for the week. (Oh and yes the missing clothes)

Inn on onboard as well. Good we were able to start early but no so good is no elevators working. WJ is the most empty I've ever seen it.

I think they are going to test out a new elevator package on this cruise. 🤔

$600 OBC sounds like a reasonable expectation for one hour missed.

Anyone know what makes one qualify for the casino rate? I only heard about that via here so I called up and qualified for one. We booked it but not sure if I had enough points for drinks or not. I sent the casino host an email and got the same thing that was listed here about points. I'm guessing that if it had to be 1500 points on the last cruise I won't but could of been close to 1000 points.

I guess I'll find out when I board.

In November on the Harmony AO was open at 8pm. I also think that the nursery might of been open earlier (my DD is older for that but for what ever reason I remember seeing it opened thinking how cool that was early on day 1).

I've always gotten an unopened can of soda from the CL/DL with no problem.

This has been our experience as well (except for the Harmony DL) but all others normally I ask for a can as we are ready to leave (or I notice the crew is cleaning up before locking up) and at that time is when I present my tip for the night. After a few nights normally we are given the cans without asking at the end of the night. :)

What hours were they running the cocktail hours in the DL?

The slot machines were listed to be open all the time on sea days. Ok port days things closed while in port though but I do remember seeing no closing time on the slots (but never was up that late or early to see for sure).

I do know the slots were open around 8am on sea days and the tables normally around noon.

Are they ever served in cafe promadade (like on Freedom?)

That's odd. I wonder if it's roped off or just not blowing the jets / water around. I could see them not wanting to have the sprays going with people walking around on the deck with luggage but completely closed off seams wrong. On the Harmony the kids area was open as soon as we boarded back in November.