Cru1s1ng2009

13 hours ago, Ret MP said:

Totally disagree.  But first, I am a good tipper, I tip extra a lot, and I've never removed or adjusted my auto tips.  

 

However, I do believe people should be able to remove a portion of their tips if they received less than excellent service or at least less than expected/customary.  I don't think making people mad just for the sake of making them mad is a civilized thing to do.  

I understand what you are saying. However, there are people who spend their lives looking for things to be wrong so they can tip less. They are usually ones who have never worked in the service industry. Having worked in it, I see it all the time. 

13 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

Seems a bit childish....

yeah, I really am. not gonna lie. 

45 minutes ago, Engineroom Snipe said:

This horse started fast out-of-the-gate and still has plenty of furlongs left. It is already being whipped by the jockey. Just count the amount of entries in such a short time period.

 

😁

oh I was def one of the jockeys then! I think i made half the comments last night. 

12 minutes ago, DragonOfTheSeas said:

I like proof of life photos too. When my daughter told me about that several years ago I really laughed. But her kids have been very good about that. Anytime they’re away with friends. They always send her a picture every day. No young person wants to be caught in with their parents every day. But they all Snapchat. So it’s no big deal for them to snap a photo to their mom.
 

Yeah some of those pictures are really funny. they will look for the most amusing thing to photograph. Sometimes it’s only part of their body on the picture. 🤣 

 

Swimming with the turtles was terrific, and I thought that would be the highlight of the trip. But swimming through the two schools of fish with them all around me was very surreal. I think that’s my highlight.

 

i love it! I would feel the same way. 

1 minute ago, BND said:

18 months ago, we definitely were sailing.  We were on HOTS in early Nov 2021 and  cruises had started before that by several months.  We've done 8 cruises since restart and food isn't the same, even before the new menus.  It's less about "taste" and more about quality slipping, but as we were told suppliers (particularly in FL) who mainly provided product for the cruise lines went out of business during Covid due to lack of business. 

 

As is the norm, this has gone off topic a bit.  

we can only beat that dead horse for so long, LOL! 

4 minutes ago, lovesthebeach2 said:

 

We boarded our first cruise after the shutdown In early August 2021, so we were cruising 18 months ago, and everything was as good as pre Covid…food, service, quality, etc.

 

Since January of this year, after the new menus, there has been a definite difference in the quality and preparation of the food. We cruised a NYE cruise on Jewel and everything was great, as usual. Our 10 day cruise in Feb was the worst food we’ve ever had on any ship ever.  Not only was there certain meats that were more expensive that they eliminated (for whatever their reason) but they even cut the vegan choices to only 1 per night, with no vegetarian choice. Many nights the food was over cooked and cold, not even warm.  We left the MDR a couple of nights and went up to the WJ to eat and we’ve never done that ever. Not every ship will have good service or good food, or good service.

 

What has happened in not just cruising, is that travel, entertainment, restaurants, etc have gone up in price, some faster than others and quality and service has not. 
Our only choice is accept the changes and enjoy it for what it is……or don’t cruise. There’s many kinds of vacations.

Yeah i last sailed on NYE and it was wonderful. I go again this week. I really hope it is still good. 

i am like @DELTABLUE and mainly sail out of bmore. those tables behind park cafe are not there in either. 

Your snorkel photos are awesome! I would just die if i saw a turtle. 

I love the proof of life photos. 😅

6 hours ago, Haljo1935 said:

??

long before COVID and for only about 6 months, they stationed someone at the bacon tray in the WJ and they would put 2-3 strips of bacon on your plate so you would feel greedy to ask for more. 

I, or one of my friends or family would go up with an empty plate and tell them, this is my bacon plate and make them load it up. then we would all share at the table. No waste. 

Bacon Plate😅

7 hours ago, PWP-001 said:

Are you?  I don't know you or haven't gleaned that from your posts

sorry. i was hammered last night. i got some moonshine at a festival and was sipping on it. dont drink and argue on CC!😂

7 hours ago, Ret MP said:

I haven't cruised with the new menu, YET.  And, I'm not a big fan of the MDR, anyway.  But, looking at the new menu exhibits shown in CC, I can say that I'm not impressed with the limited options and the so-called" theme nights.  It has nothing to do with quality or taste, obviously.  There are only two things that I go to the MDR for when I do go: the French Onion Soup and the Shimp Cocktail.  Those two items aren't available on every menu, every night like they used to be.  I don't know if you can ask for them even if they are not on the menu.  But, I've read that they do not accept special/off-the-menu requests anymore.  So, I'd be greatly disappointed, regardless of the quality and/or taste.  

repeat. sorry.

6 hours ago, Vacationdreamer<>< said:

like one user, one device?

we can just log in, check email, log out?

Thank you. 

yep. share the log in, only one device can be on at any given time. 

2 minutes ago, PWP-001 said:

Actually we probably agree on more things than you believe simply because you've missed the nuances in my posts.  Several times your remarks as you characterize me are off, but it just wasn't worth clarifying. 

cuz i am a dumb peasant. 

you are really looking for people to jump on your ship. you should charge a fee at this point. 

just do one then. My DD and i share. only one can be logged on at any given time but if it is just to chece emails etc you will be fine. 

4 minutes ago, PWP-001 said:

Maybe limiting Shrimp Cocktail to certain nights is mimicking words posted here that Carnival only has bacon every other day.

 

When "Chef's Nightly Selection" is Fried Chicken one night and Lasagna another, it's a pretty sure bet the next new menus will feature Meat Loaf and Tuna Noodle Casserole.  

OMG we agree on something....

but remember they didnt do this after Bacon Plate. 

12 minutes ago, Ret MP said:

I haven't cruised with the new menu, YET.  And, I'm not a big fan of the MDR, anyway.  But, looking at the new menu exhibits shown in CC, I can say that I'm not impressed with the limited options and the so-called" theme nights.  It has nothing to do with quality or taste, obviously.  There are only two things that I go to the MDR for when I do go: the French Onion Soup and the Shimp Cocktail.  Those two items aren't available on every menu, every night like they used to be.  I don't know if you can ask for them even if they are not on the menu.  But, I've read that they do not accept special/off-the-menu requests anymore.  So, I'd be greatly disappointed, regardless of the quality and/or taste.  

i agree on this. I can eat french onion soup every night. but it isnt a deal breaker. but i am not everyone. 

I might feel differently once they limit bacon to every other day. 

I actually remember the bacon plate issue. Anyone else? 

28 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said:

Taste is a funny thing, but you will certainly find more repeat cruisers disappointed with the new food than those that feel it is equal to 18 months ago

18 months ago none of us were sailing, right? I dont know, i have only cruised 3 times since they reopened since covid. 

but if we are talking pre/post covid, i feel (just my opinion) the food still tastes the same. might be served differently, but the flavor is still the same to me. Again, JMHO. 

Just now, not-enough-cruising said:

Oh, the food tasted nowhere near the same, quantity is never an issue because because food is "bottomless"

my bad. i must be a peasant also then.

8 minutes ago, Marie51 said:

It’s my granddaughter and she’s 14 years old now. She’s been on three cruises. Many people with autism suffer from sensory overload and noise and crowds become overwhelming. If she has a window to look out of it’s much easier for all of us. Will be taking her on her fourth cruise in September.

Before Covid when everyone had to gather for the muster drill they would let her do the drill in her cabin and have been very accommodating to her needs.

that makes sense. I was just wondering what the accomodation would be. My DD was a paraplegic so we had different accommodations. As someone who didnt have a kid with that type of disability, i couldnt figure out how the window mattered. Now I do. thank you!

46 minutes ago, ReneeFLL said:

What a funny question.🙄 It still doesn’t change the fact that they have gone down food wise.

what a funny response😉

it still doesnt change my question. And last time i checked, the food still tastes the same, it is the quantity that may be the issue? You tell me.... 

i was about to ask for this. thanks so much! We will be there Saturday and it will be far to cold to swim. shopping in hamiton it is!

2 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

Lol you know I've cruised since the new menus. I'm not sure why you are telling me this. Actually on oasis not so good but radiance was really good a week later. I sat near the kitchen I think and food was hot, fried fish crispy, steak cooked right.  ..I thought the food better on radiance.  Best since restart. 

 

For me it's a comparison. I'd trade some things for bacon at breakfast. My treat when I cruise. Carnival is still skipping it every other morning in the buffet.  I have the 14 day journey carnival booked, and I know food hasnt improved. .. I did 3 on carnival after covid and decided rcl is better for me.

 

I'll have more choices when I move to florida. 

bacon only every other day?!?!?! OMG I hope RCCI doesnt read this. Bacon really is important on vacation. 

I cant wait to move to FL when I retire also. 

9 minutes ago, ReneeFLL said:

They have cut the quality of the food and some of the better items are limited or no longer on the menu.

have you been to the grocery store lately? If they didnt i would wonder why. 

1 hour ago, Marie51 said:

We have used assistance for an autistic child but you did not say what kind of assistance you will need. I sent an email to the dining room manager about 3 weeks before the cruise asking for a table by ourselves next to a window and we got just what we wanted. They are also very helpful if you have special dietary needs.

may i ask how the window helps with your ADS Child?

what kind of assistance do you need?