kifler

On 1/9/2020 at 8:31 AM, BNBR said:

Almost no difference other than all dining is anytime/freestyle.  And certainly nothing you need to be worried about or concerned about.  I'd say go in to the sailing and embrace any little differences and enjoy it.  That's part of the fun trying new things.

 

The only negative for us is that we do drink packages and the NCL one just isn't that good.  More limits on liquor and they don't include bottled water.

We're looking forward to it! I'm just hopeful that they've got some good beers (we're beer snobs) stocked and ready to roll. We got the free drink package thrown in (sans tips of course) so if we have to pay a buck here or there, we'll still be quite content.

Redeemed a free cruise (10 day Southern) aboard Gem - I've never sailed NCL before but have a handful of cruises with RCCL under my belt.

Anything that I should know or be aware of? It'll also be our first time cruising out of New York.

Thanks Bob, we are traveling in a group of eight and requested a table at a window. We were sent a confirmation of table 278. The sketch the staff sent wasn't conclusive of the location.

How did you go about requesting the window table? Email? Would you mind sharing the address?

Loving all this.......our son is in the cast of Mamma Mia! A photo of the show cast would be fab if possible! Will keep me going until we embark at the end of April . Thank you for all this info

Can't wait to see it in May!

So I am super jealous of all of you going on the first 7 day Eastern sailing this coming Sunday. I have to wait until the end of July!

 

I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it if someone brings back and scans the compasses to get an idea of what will be happening on our cruise (yes, I'm begging).

 

Thanks and enjoy your vacation!!!!

Will do my best to remember.

If there is anything else you'd like, let me know and I'll try my best to deliver

I believe that the main pools close from 3-4 AM or thereabouts for daily maintenance.

You can find posts from me over the last 8 years where I've stated that I don't get the concept of pre-inaugural, pre-pre-inaugural, post-inaugural, pre-pre-pre-post-inaugural cruises and the like. The concept is insane.

 

 

 

You shouldn't pay extra to be a beta-tester. You should fear it on many levels and be excited you get to be a person cool enough to work out the bugs. You should know that things are going to be funky and you'll be the guinea pigs for some of the services.

 

 

 

The problem is: people clamor to be the first ones on a boat and have no concept of what they are signing themselves up for. The company can run as many tests as they want and all the simulations they want, but they won't REALLY know what's going to fail until they do full-scale runs with real, unpredictable human beings.

 

 

 

"Only YOU can prevent forest fires!" - Smokey the Bear

 

 

 

Only YOU can stop this. Stop paying extra for beta-testing and eventually it will be more profitable for the companies seek you out to help them. However, as long as people are willing to not only pay to beta-test, but pay DOUBLE OR TRIPLE normal fares to do so... they will. Duh. Mo' money, mo' money, mo' money!

Finally, some sanity in here.

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So people were mad because they didn't get gifts that they expected but were never directly promised to them?

Eeesh people, first world problems right there.

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My wife and I had a great experience with "on board" credit during the Maiden Voyage of Quantum of the Seas. I received $100 for booking the cruise. Then I cashed in 50,000 points from my Bank of America Visa Credit Card for $500.00 "on board" credit. Then because of glitches during the first two days of the cruise, RC added $650.00 in "on board" credit to my account. That made a total of $1,250.00 in "on board" credit and we enjoyed spending it all. Some people pointed out that it could be cashed in at the casino but we just had a great time spending it. We also got two $700.00 ($1,400.00) certificates for a future cruise with RC and I'm working with my TA to cruise on Freedom of the Seas in August of 2015 using that to cover half of the cruise towards a Junior Suite. Yeaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!! - Royal Caribbean. :)

Careful, we're all going to be lining up to rub your head for good luck soon! :D

My experience has it that (in Europe) it's 'Chandon Brut' made in either California, Argentina or Australia retailing for USD$17, appx GBP£12 or AUD$24 per bottle. To be fair (not normally in my nature) the winery is owned by Moet and Chandon.

The purest in me wants to clarify that Champagne is only considered as such when grown and manufactured in the Champagne region (as told to me, oddly enough, on a Domaine du Moet et Chandon tour).

Last I saw, you could get Piper-Heidsieck ($14.50), Veuve Clicquot ($14), Mumm Cordon Rouge ($11) as Champagne selections; it may in fact be a different selection on ships that feature the Champagne bar.

As mentioned, if the price per glass is over your package allowance, I believe you just pay the difference; can't confirm as I spent the night with my friend Mr. Bottle instead.

Sold as an “inaugural cruise” but was it was not. I believe that RCI should be ashamed of what they did on the Quantum sailing on November 23, 2014. They advertized one thing and didn’t deliver. I like many complained to agoldstein at rccl dot com and got a token “I’m sorry”.

 

I believe that we were owed much more.

You believe you were owed? In what sense? Did the boat not deliver you to every port in a safe manner?

Sure, it wasn't THE inaugural cruise as they had a 3-day sailing as a pre-inaugural but for Pete's sake, please stop thinking you're entitled to everything because you bought a ticket for a cruise; it just so happens that while you're on the boat, you're sharing it with over 4000 other people.

I LIKE the way you think (and write! ) ;)

I only cruise every other year but I make it a point to post here before and after our voyages. I really have to shake my head at the crowd that submits posts like:

I'll never book Royal again! I was disgusted that the 'JUMBO' shrimps we're 3 millimetres smaller than my last trip. The outrage!

or

Can you believe that I had to wait in line at the Windjammer? I decided to go to lunch at 'rush hour' and I had to wait?! I mean, I've graciously given Royal Caribbean 5 weeks of my life so I shouldn't have to way for the working class to peruse the buffet selections. I scoff at this! I'm HIGH CLASS DAMN IT!

Seriously though, if you go on the cruise with a group of people and have a legitimate issue (ask yourself, is your vacation really ruined because the steward forgot which way you wanted the toilet paper to face?) then take it up with guest services. If it's really troublesome and causing you actual bonafide stress, then speak with Guest Services and it'll be triaged with the rest of the guests concerns. They'll work hard to ensure that it's handled appropriately, on the other hand if you're demanding a full refund and credit for a future cruise because you asked for a steak to be rare and it came out medium-rare, then you should probably stay at home (but the rest of your group is welcome :D)

Liberty of Sea of New Jersey July 2015

 

Reading many negative reviews about RCL service food and maintenance issues. Does RCCL read these posts and address the concerns

I was pretty nervous for my first cruise after reading these forums - the disgruntled folks made me think that somehow our Captain would aim for an iceberg in the middle of the Caribbean that was placed there by a waiter who didn't like us - all in all, after cruising on Liberty, I was hooked.

It's the only 'luxury' vacation I take now (aside from backpacking for months), I won't go down South for a week to a resort when I can experience a number of different countries aboard a fine ship.

I always wonder about the number of people on the CC RCCL forums that are so negative. If you dislike RCCL so much, why are you on their CC forum?

Never understood that myself either; people spend so much time complaining, I wonder at what point they actually begin to enjoy their vacations.

Cruising on the Allure Mar 8, 2015. The only affordable flight coming home on the 15th does not leave until 9pm. What is there to do in Ft. Lauderdale all day. We will still have our luggage. Any ideas? Thanks

You could also cab to the airport and check-in for your flight but not go through security (which means no more lugging bags around).

Just booked for May 10, 2015 with for the ladyfriend, my friend and his better half. Previously sailed on Oasis (2012) & Liberty (2009)

Hacksaw?!?! That's ridiculous.

 

You need a plasma cutter.

Just mention it ahead of time and it can be a kids event in the cruise compass.

Construction on the High Seas! $25/pp

Come see what it's like to be an actual ship builder by modifying one of our state of the art vessels. Kids will learn the value of hard work, Occupational Health and Safety practices, and get a complimentary RCCI branded saw! Hurry, this event always sells out fast!

During my first trip (2008 Liberty of the Seas) a friend decided that he had time to sit down for a Subway sandwich in Washington-Dulles. When we got to the gate for departure, the plane was already boarded but the ramp attendant felt like being a diva and ripping up our tickets in front of us.

I immediately called TD and asked about trip insurance as we weren't sure if we'd be able to make it to Miami prior to sail away. The agent told me that if my trip was disrupted, I'd be compensated. Even after telling them the situation we were in, by purchasing the insurance I'd be covered (which surprised me). I bought it over the phone while in the airport but was fortunate enough to make the standby list for the last flight to Miami.

I was so overjoyed, I tipped the flight attendant $5 for a couple beers split between my buddy and I and they returned with a full meal and more beers on the house because of the tip.

I know i been putting this off forever, and hearing a story about a friend of a friend missing a trip abd losing out on their money, made me think i better get something now. But I wanted to sign up for the Cruisecare insurance. But when I called today it said it was not for Canadian Residences but I combed over that whole fourm and havent seen it ? Maybe I am missing it. Anyone else know the truth ?

Bring a hacksaw, problem solved :p

Friend and I are going to be getting our better halves a week aboard the IOS in May for Christmas. In order to 'wrap it up', I was going to print off some pretty boat pictures and include a sample compass from the Eastern journey.

So far, everything I've been able to find is in 'issu', some flash driven web app that won't let me print them.

Might anyone happen to have a copy in .pdf/other printable format? I tried searching but unfortunately everytime I click, it says the link is broken.

Let me see if I got this right....her father and husband were denied boarding because they were late getting back to the ship. Maybe it's just me but it appears she is asking the cruise line to waive the late boarding regulations (that are printed on literally every cruise document) just for them? I think the RCCL agent was correct in saying that if they did it for them, they would have to do it for everyone. But maybe it's just me....

Something else doesn't add up - they were 'forced' to pay $120/day to park the car but then flew to Detroit?

I think the idea behind these is after x amount of Wow cards, the staff member can recieve a bonus.

Just a sidenote, I'm guessing you're looking for customer service?

If you do send something like this in, you might want to send it registered. At least you'll know if they've recieved it.