RoperDK

I have a casino question. Don't know if you spend time in there, but if you do, can you get cash downloaded to your slot machine from your onboard account to gamble with?  Most importantly, is it "free" or do they charge a 3% fee for the cash?  What about the table games? On other cruise lines I am used to getting cash on slot machines without a surcharge, but not so from the tables.  I heard that the Harmony was allowing the downloads to slots for free, but that is not our previous experience on Royal. I hate to travel with lots of cash, so that would be great news.  Plus, I would get extra credit card hotel points!  

Another CK question, if you don't mind.  The app menus show this (I'll just pick one entrée to make it brief) -

Day 1 - filet mignon

Day 2- prime rib

Day 3 - spiced chicken breast

Day 4 - lamb loin

Day 5 - grilled duck breast

Day 6 - lobster

Day 7 - veal chop 

Is this the CK order for this itinerary?  I am asking because normally day 2 is a sea day and the 1st formal night in the main dining room.  On this itinerary though, Coco Cay is day 2 and the first sea day is day 3.  I was wondering if CK switches up the prime rib and spiced chicken breast nights to match up with the MDR formal dinner?  It looks like the day 6 lobster night aligns with the 2nd formal night in the MDR.

I'm trying to decide on a specialty restaurant lunch and/or dinner and want to pick our least favorite meal choices for those times. We pick healthy options at home, but on a cruise we splurge with more beef and lamb. Since you've dined at CK many times, which are your favorite nights and how does this Harmony CK compare to past cruises? Again, thanks so much for your time.      

9 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Spoke with Ace this morning.  CK manager. He said he always accommodates JS passengers for dinner. He will fit you in.

 

Keep in mind, Harmony has a bigger CK footprint than Oasis and Allure. More tables, more waiters, etc..

Thanks so much.  I have been wondering about the JS situation.  We are very flexible with our dinner times so am glad to hear that the CK manager works the JS folks in.  Happy belated birthday!  Enjoying your live review.

On 8/2/2019 at 9:39 PM, CruizinKittie40 said:

I'm from Enterprise, Alabama and love your username!  I graduated from TSU but am more of an Auburn fan than Troy fan LOL

CruizinKittie40, you will enjoy the temperature change in Alaska.  Bring layers and you will be fine.  The scenery is amazing.  Enjoy your cruise! Sorry about this, but just have to say......Roll Tide!   

Following along.  We will be on Harmony with this itinerary next month.  Unless our Royal Up bid is accepted, we will be in a JS.  We will try to get in to Coastal Kitchen for dinner as often as we can.  If you have the opportunity would you ask if JS people are getting reservations fairly easily?  I know it depends on how many Pinnacles are onboard and how many full suites are reserving, but certainly there must be a "normal" success rate for JS reservations. Much appreciated. Enjoy your cruise!   

How much do you usually tip?  I will have to be pushed onboard for the first time next month.

Hope that you and your family have a wonderful cruise!

18 hours ago, actuarian said:

Many cruise lines are participating now but not all.  For example, I am pretty sure that Disney does not participate and I do not think Carnival participates yet either.

Carnival is starting to offer paid upgrades now.  I actually like the way they do it.  Under your booking they will offer an upgrade for a set dollar amount and tell you the exact cabin you will be getting.  

1 hour ago, RickAinley said:

 

No doubt that some good financial modeling is happening on the bids. If I bid $300 to the JS, then you bid $800 then they get the same cash as me bidding $1100 to the OS, however if I was to bid $1500 then they get more and you stay put, but if you bid $1000 then I move to JS and you move to OS.  🙂, all hypothetical of course.

 

Really a giant shell game lol. 

 

I find it a bit fascinating to think about the upgrade scenarios and how they optimize their profits.  It is obviously a money maker because all of the cruise lines are participating now. 

2 hours ago, DrivesLikeMario said:

Our offer was from a GS to an OS for $800 pp.  WAY more than it was when we originally booked! 

If you are on the same sailing as we are, then that is strange that my JS upgrade would be the same as your GS upgrade to OS.  We got a good price on our JS during a flash sale.  The 400pp upgrade cost for a GS would still price out nicely for us.  We are going to bid, but very happy with our JS so no problem either way.  

47 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

 

Don't forget to factor in the "free" VOOM with the GS or better.

Thanks Host Clarea. I had forgotten about the VOOM benefit (which we have already purchased for our JS). 

54 minutes ago, RickAinley said:

Oddly enough my offer email just landed, we are 60 days out on HOTS. We currently have an Ocean Balcony View. 

 

Minimum bids are

• Spacious Ocean View $150 p.p. (Err, why)
• Ultra Spacious Ocean View with Large Balcony $200 p.p.
• Junior Suite $300 p.p. (Seems a J.S. is a bigger room so I can dangle my feet over the bed)
• Grand Suite $700 p.p. 
• Owners Suite $1,100 p.p.

At this stage, probably no bid. Would these minimums change as we get closer or that's it?

 

Thanks

 

 

 

We are on the same HOS cruise and I just received the Royal Up also. We are in a JS and our offers are - 

Aqua 1 bedroom  $1100pp

CL  $800pp

OS  $800pp

GS  $400pp

I am tempted to go for the GS to get into Sky class, but I love the location of our JS on the hump on deck 8.  Also, our traveling companions are not Sky class so we don't want to "ditch" them to spend time enjoying the suite amenities.  Just hope that we can score a dinner or two in Coastal Kitchen.       

Following along. Headed out on the same itinerary in Sept.

12 minutes ago, Bigmike911 said:

I am a long time voyager on Cunard, and have taken one voyage on Princess. Living in the Greater Houston area I am considering a voyage to the eastern Caribbean on Carnival Vista out of Galveston next year. I usually book Queen's Grill accommodation (their top) on Cunard, and am a Diamond Tier loyalty customer, and with those come a lot of benefits. I don't mind paying extra for food, drink and services, but my experience on Princess was less than satisfying. Here are my questions?

 

How large are the largest suites on Vista and what are they called?

 

Where are they generally located.

 

How big are they?

 

Do the suite bathrooms have tubs, showers or tubs with showers? 

 

On Cunard, I am provided with spirits of my choosing (Johnny Walker Black Label in my case) for my suite. I was not able to even buy it on Princess which was very disappointing. 

 

Can you order canape's or the like for consumption in your suite before dinner?

 

Does Vista have any special events or make special accommodations, for their suite passengers, as they do on Princess?

 

I am fortunate enough to be able to pay for life's little pleasures so money is not a major issue, but being an old guy getting things I am used to is.

 

Thank you for your help. Please remember I am interested in Carnival Vista, and in Suite accommodations. 

The Carnival Vista doesn't have many levels of suites.  You sound like the upper suite which is a Grand Suite is what you would be interested in.  They are 345 sq ft with an 85 sq ft balcony.  They are mid ship on deck 7.  They have a tub/shower combination.  Carnival doesn't offer suite amenities like other cruise lines do.  There is no mini bar set up, free drinks,  or afternoon snack deliveries.  No special dining room or "meet the Captain" or sail away on the helicopter pad events. Carnival has a good value product.  Not a luxurious product at all.  If you were disappointed with the suite experience on Princess, then Carnival may not be what you are looking for. Celebrity has nice suite amenities and Royal Caribbean "Star Class" is wonderful.  Star Class is only offered on Oasis and Quantum class ships.  Of course those ships don't sail out of Galveston.  Good luck and happy cruising.    

3 hours ago, Ombud said:

Just talked to Princess. It's official. Princess will NOT ship a medallion to me EVER. Something about not shipping outside USA (even though I live in California which is in USA)

All I can say is oh my.....weird and frustrating.

10 minutes ago, CatLadyFemme said:

So sorry for your loss.  Jasper is a beautiful kitty.  A difficult time.  Sending hugs your way.   

Can't wait to hear more!

5 hours ago, Snit13 said:

No, they are rubbery because they are not Maine Lobster tails.  They are what we always called Florida or Bahamian and never could get excited about them.  Stone Crabs, that's another story.  Many, many moons ago there was a restaurant in Miami called "Captain's Tavern" and one night a week they served 2 whole Maine Lobsters for $9.98 and the line was always long and the lobster was always awesome.  Not as good as when it came right off the boat and was $3.00 per lobster in Maine.  We each had 2 for breakfast one Sunday.

I grew up in the South Miami area and we loved lobster night at Captains Tavern! The lobsters would hang over the edges of the plate. I skipped the salad, bread, and sides and just ate lobster.  What a treat. Stone crabs are the best to me.  We try to time our trips to Florida to coincide with stone crab season.        

I vote for the Conquest class ship. Our last Fantasy cruise was not to our liking at all.  I know people enjoy the ship, but we go on newer ships now.  I particularly dislike the cabin size.  Smaller bathroom and no sofa.  It is really cramped.  Lots of balcony cabins to choose from on Conquest class. 

I think I already know the answer, but are those cabins noisy because they are right below the pool deck?  

On ‎7‎/‎2‎/‎2019 at 6:35 PM, coevan said:

 

 

50 years in the restaurant business, never had a customer ask for Worcestershire sauce. How do you have your steak cooked? 

Lol. I put Lea & Perrins on just about everything. Especially beef, lamb, and bison. It has always been available, even in the finest of steak houses.  I like my steaks cooked on the rare side of medium rare.  I have always been able to get it in the steak house on Carnival.  

Following

2 minutes ago, MARCELENA said:

The upgrade is free since they messed up on my original room. 

We currently have a balcony on the 6th floor. There are rooms above us on deck 7 and the lanai below us on deck #5 

Yes they are offering free spa access 

Just worried about motion sickness even though I get the ear patches. Also worry about walking down to decks 3-4-5 for the night time events and dinners and casino.  Also coming back from excursions will take forever to get back to the room.

I know how long elevators take on the cruise ships so that is alot of stairs- HA.. 

I have to make a decision today 😞

I don't know where your balcony cabin is on deck 6, but people can see you on your balcony from the lanai deck and if you are near one of the hot tubs then they can see in to your cabin.  It can also be noisy around the outside seating areas.  We won't book a balcony on deck 6 for those reasons.  Some locations would be more problematic than others.  Don't know anything about spa cabins, so can't help you there.     

I am interested in menus because I have some food restrictions and like to see if there will be something available and that I like or I will make different arrangements.  I also like to book a specialty restaurant if I find a particular night not so interesting in the MDR.  Nothing worse that having reservations at the steak house and finding out one of your favorite menus is being served in the MDR. 

40 minutes ago, coevan said:

 

 

Maybe they can answer for them selves or it was after 10am

You can order anything off of the regular room service menu 24 hours a day.  We love a BLT for breakfast and know others that like a grilled cheese.  We just call it in. Haven't used the door hangar in years. Never had a problem.  We usually order between 7 and 8 in the morning.