nivek82

Thanks everyone for posting. I am getting very nervous though about reservations. We booked late for an upcoming Harmony cruise and have MTD but only slots open online now are LATE! We normally like to go early (in the normal 30 before MTD early seating) so hopefully we can do that once onboard. I'm also thinking of sending the DL concierge an email a few days before our cruise.

This will be our first Oasis class cruise and so far this whole having to plan in advance and lack of anything available before 9pm is sort of stressing me out.

We booked an inside gty for 3 and was assigned a cat K on deck 3 aft. With the ship so large we were afraid of elevator wait times and most other areas we like are forward so I called up a day after our cabin was assigned and switched it with another cat K no problem. (Though when I called up C&A I didn't mention it was previously a gty.)

Is anyone staying in a plain inside room that might be able to post a picture?

I have never and will never understand RCI math. So 20% off of 55 is 48? (that's what I'm seeing for two upcoming sailings in the next two weeks.) At this rate maybe it is better to see about the on-board discounts. I wonder if the ship's math is any better than the website. :)

it was the non-alcohol... sale was a couple weeks ago.

 

Keep checking your cruise planner, ya never know when things will go on sale

AHH! Ok that makes much more sense. :) I was thinking what a ship of people who had a drink full drink package for $18per person per day would be like. :) PARTY!

What sale had the drink package at $18 a day? Now that's cheap!

Thanks for the replies and glad to see there are more show times. As others posted all I can see to book are things at 10pm and later.

These are great suggestions. I'm also happy to see about booking onboard. Do you know where you need to go or can you use the app?

Was it easy to book things once onboard? There are some restaurants that only have real late times and I'm hoping they will have earlier times once onboard.

This was the list on Harmony two weeks ago. A slightly different selection of wine. I guess some folk would be disappointed that no white Zinfandel was listed. Drinks liberally served from 5pm to 8.30pm, plus of course three drinks loaded onto one's Seapass for use in most bars. Absolutely no need for a Drinks Package...

I hope the Harmony can fit all the D, D+ in that small lounge when she comes over to the US. Or at least have an overflow.

I just did this a few weeks ago. As stated go online to find open rooms then call RCI (if you booked directly) and let them know you want to change. Don't EVER mention it was a gty though.

Once done give it about 5 minutes and check online to make sure nothing happened with price,etc and the cabin changed.

When I did this since I booked directly I just called C&A and was no problem.

I'll add another vote to getting a passport. They are good only for 5 years but the piece of mind it brings is worth it.

We had our DD's since she was 6 months old. (That's why they are only good for 5 years).

Also from what I have seen and experienced myself is that check in is also easier when the kids / parents have a passport.

Thanks everyone for their replies. It would be interesting if anyone that is sailing soon can confirm (maybe a picture) what ships are doing this.

Do they have the freestyle machines on the Harmony?

Interesting. We are D+ so that might explain why the difference in %. I'll see if i can find that Allure post. Hopefully this is something they are rolling out and by the time we cruise in a few weeks the ship will know about it. :)

Today I got an email subject "Here's Your Exclusive Crown & Anchor Society September Newsletter"

There was this interesting comment in there about the drink packages:

PUT BIG SAVINGS ON YOUR TAB

Stay refreshed throughout your vacation

with our NEW beverage packages.

PLUS, enjoy exclusive savings of 30-40%

when you purchase them onboard.

The link went to here:

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/content/shared_assets/pdf/menus/new-beverage-flyer-general.pdf (extra things after this but didn't change the content)

So is this just more misinformation or have they gone back to adding an on-board discount for drink packages for C&A members?

Hopefully the MJ will bring back MN prices!

Off the serenade this morning too. Worst experience in all of our 30+ cruises. They had one of our bags at the lost luggage even though still had the tag right there on it clearly viewable.

The staff from intercruise is terrible and very rude. The woman making sure that the long line kept moving was one of the rudest people I have ever met. She was yelling at a small kid and mother and once they passed this woman kept going on and on about the kid. Not sure why this lady had to be so nasty so loud.

Customs line was terrible long with 3 agents (maybe 4 by the time we exited about an hour after leaving the ship)

I find that most afternoons and nights the wait is too long. Has anyone tried to pre order for night like you can for breakfast? Or "phone it in" from a bar as your finishing up that last drink?

Two important tips:

Pack and Play might not arrive until 1st night.

Bring as much disposable things as possible.

Our DD started cruising when she was less than 1 so I'll add to what everyone else has been saying. The OP had just a bad rep and should try to call back or wait until on-board. A few years ago they would at least put pack in play on the special request section of your invoice. Now that doesn't really mean anything onboard. As mentioned make sure when you first meet your stateroom attendant let them know you need one. One thing I wish I knew for our first cruise with our child was that it can be until the first night turn down service until you get the pack and play. It's not a big deal but something to plan on as a just in case (we sometimes had it on arrival but more often not until that night.) Pillows and blankets on the bed work too if a nap is needed first day before muster.

Also as mentioned bring as much disposable things as possible. We found disposable place mats and disposable bibs to be the best. No need to worry about washing and can leave them behind. :) You can also take 1 or 2 and put into a small bag so you're not needing to carry too much around with you.

Finally I'll toss in an endorsement for the nursery. It's a great service and gives you time to relax and enjoy.

The only thing I dislike about it is when it moves the lounge hours up 430 to 8. 😂😡

5 to 830 is so much better since most of the time you can't get a seat before early dining unless you show up an hour early. (A plus for the loaded coupons)

I'm D+ and got the matching status (Plat I believe) in M-Life in advance of my trip. In Biloxi it's worth it because you get 2 free buffets at the Beau.

In Vegas I didn't stay at any of the MGM hotels because the price was too high compared to others but it was nice to have access to priority lines because of the D+ status. It was funny going to the players club desk and they see the high level then look at my account with this "uh, how the..." face as my point level was WAY lower than my status.

I also found myself playing a bit more at the M-life resorts because of the point multiplier that I got with the elevated status.

To sum it up if the price is right then go for it but don't pay more to just stay at a M-life resort because of the status.

Question about your mtr experience. Where you in MTD or early / late? We are currently wait listed for MTD and it's making me a bit nervous as we have assigned 8pm but have a young child.

Great video. Just booked this cruise this morning (and in the same room what are the odds.) How was the room? How was the DL? I see that the hours are 4:30 to 8 and not too happy about that but will make it work. ;)

Any other *tips?*

Very helpful info for a first time Royal cruiser! We are super excited for our upcoming December trip. Can anyone tell me if there is a way for the kids club to contact us while my daughter is in the program on the Brilliance of the Seas? Do they have some kind of phones or pagers that are used?

Normally they do not give pagers on this ship (or phones.). I did hear the. Say they have phones for special needs but not many. They will call your stateroom and leave a message. Not sure if you're doing the 4 or 5 night but in previous years on the 4 night AO was open on the first night at 8pm.