ccotting

For those Canadians having trouble receiving Azamara emails, beginning Monday, Feb 22, it is offering a CAD@PAR sale. This promotion is combinable with the present one already in place.

 

It appears to be select cruises in the Med and Northern Europe, so I would think limited to the upcoming summer cruise season.

 

No doubt, Azamara wants to ensure the presence of Canadians and their "Sunny Ways" on board. (Inside joke) 😀

We're not getting Azamara emails even though DH and I are both separately registered. We appreciated the heads up!

When I posted earlier about my childhood experience with cruise classes I think the thing that most made an impression on me and my friends was that if we followed the rules, we children would not have met each other.

Regardless of the financial status of each family we enjoyed each other and thought it was stupid we weren't supposed to play together. Play was play and fun was fun. That was important to us.

I offer this to the discussion. If as a suite passenger you have your own restaurant, sun lounge and drinks bar, when do you meet the community of passengers?

Ah I'm so glad I found this thread. I'll now remember to pack tea bags for my cruise next week!

 

I like tea in the afternoon, and my main complaint was that there was no milk out, just cream or a weird dairy substitute, if memory serves.

You have to ask for milk in the restaurants or they do automatically bring cream to the table for the coffee drinkers. Sometimes you will get a staff member who is not on automatic and asks about milk but generally you do have to ask.

The creamers in the rooms that have tea/coffee makers are non dairy (and awful I think). As with the other poster, we would get small cartons of milk to keep in the room fridge but that fridge is not very cold so you can't keep the cartons opened long. We refreshed our milk carton daily. The cartons are only out at breakfast and, if we forgot, we could always ask our restaurant waiter at dinner to get one for us. Generally at the coffee/tea stands for Windjammer I did find an insulated container of milk since many take milk in their coffee. If you don't see this ask the staff.

I think some people misunderstood what the OP was referring to by a "class system." The OP was not referring to social standing or elegance or sophistication. IMO the OP was referring to the something actually called the "class system" that existed on ocean liners long ago. In that system, passengers were divided into first class, second class, and third class (sometimes called tourist class) based on the price of their ticket. Each class had its own section of the ship and its own dining room and its own service staff. Each class was restricted to its own part of the ship.

 

As ocean liners evolved into cruise ships, the class system was eliminated and all passengers had access to all public areas on the ship, including the dining rooms.

 

I think the OP is worried that the cruise industry is moving a little bit towards a kind of class system in which suite passengers have exclusive access to certain parts of the ship. While I do not agree with this assessment, I can understand why the OP may feel this way. Only time will tell how far this trend continues.

 

IMO the people who really want exclusivity do not cruise on mass-market cruise lines. There are specific cruise lines that cater to the well-heeled traveler.

Yep, Gramma took me on my first cruise in 1967 on a P&O and it was exactly like that. No going between the barriers between classes and the staff definitely made distinctions in how people were treated. We children however found ways around it and managed to play together. The staff didn't really register us in the same way as adults and often missed our escapades. But it has set a life long aversion to this system in me. I agree with those who are complaining about barriers to multiple sections of the ship. I think keeping a sun deck free for suites is fine since there is so much territorial ambition for deck chairs but now we are going back to sections of ships, restaurants and such. I sincerely hope the trend does not continue and agree with the comment that if that is what a passenger wants, they should choose a different line. The cruise lines need to make a decision about the level of client and service they want to provide. The recent huge emphasis on suite pax for the mid level cruise lines suggests the margin is pretty darn good for the company and not a good buy for dollar to my mind.

Do it! I feel that the tea that they are currently serving is AWFUL.

And it always has been. That said, taste varies by audience. Cruising out of Southampton last year, most of the British guests were insisting on 2 bags of the British brand in each small pot. And no bag out so it was quite dark by the time it made the table. The staff got so used to being criticized for not doing that they stopped asking what you wanted. For someone like me who takes their tea clear with no milk, more than once I was sending back what the fellow passenger next to me considered quite proper!

I always bring my own now and, I take a large insulated travel cup. Whether using a kettle in my room or the tap at the Windjammer, I can make a nice big cup to my own taste.

Glad this policy has changed since we took our last B2B on Royal Caribbean!

We were not allowed to go back to our cabin until the next sailing folks were boarding. :(

 

LuLu

But sometimes they have closed all the doors to the rooms and someone will stop you. if you tell them you are back to back they usually let you through. It's a big job turning the ship over for the next set of passengers and the staff are in the turnover mindset. They aren't expecting BtoB people. We love doing BtoB and they get better with practice!

Bonnie and team, I walked through the on line process to book and, at the end, it said it couldn't book my reservation because the credit card would not work.

Since the price was zero, I hadn't been asked for a card nor entered one.

How do you book your azamazing evening?

Frustrated.....

Muster drill in Southampton was about 4 pm and progress to it was 3:45. People were still arriving on board but it was clear they were considered late. Then it is done for 4:30 and they have time to open the bars for sail away.

Don't leave arrival too late. If you are not already in Southampton, the highway traffic can be awful. And you want to get to your room and freshen up before you need to stand for the drill for a half hour.

Strange, last time we were on Radiance they used the grill. The Cuban was my favourite!! Along with the roast beef roll of course!

Did you ask about it? Only guessing but thinking that there must have been an equipment problem. I loved the Cubans on the Radiance and the tutti salad in the Park cafe.

We had an aft cabin for our transit and it was wonderful. Watched most everything from our own balcony. No worries about juggling with the camera hogs!

Our last cruise was on Explorer, we used our coffee maker in the junior suite daily and it had a starbucks blend that was the correct amount for a mug. We enjoyed it.

The 'Seattle's best' packages were, i agree, not properly suited but it appears they have left the building (boat?)...

We had no trouble with plugs, the coffee maker has a Euro plug and it works on your desk where there is an outlet, I just pushed it to the side for the morning make up routine. Not a problem.

They do give you awful non dairy creamers. We got a carton of milk from the windjammer each day or ordered an extra one with room service breakfast. Unopened they will keep fine in the fridge overnight but I wouldn't try for more than that as the room fridges are not very cold.

We are in a grand suite on the Allure on 11-very close to the Diamond lounge but we are only gold status. It would be nice to go grab a drink/snack at the D lounge and take it back to the giant balcony during the day, but I doubt if timid me will even try.

Ask. What's the worst that could happen? Someone says no... Lot worse things in life. Don't be shy to ask. You may get a yes!

Sorry, hotel director!

Maybe things have changed, but on our Serenade cruise in 2010, we received a pretty good military discount on a junior suite.

 

We are sailing over Memorial Day this year; an extra little OBC would always be nice!

Never seen it before but would be nice! Note this perk is available to Canadian veterans too.

RCCL does not give shipboard credit for Military. However on occasion Military Discounts will appear on select cruises and it varies regularly. You'll have to do a mock booking and select "MILITARY" under "Exclusive Rates" to see if it applies to the cruise you're interested in booking.

When it does apply it is not broadly based but specific to certain categories of stateroom. Essentially it is a form of 'sale' to market staterooms that are not fully taken up. It never applies to junior suite and above.

RCI does not provide a blanket incentive like Princess.

I believe Concierge lounge guests can also use the Diamond lounge. We have used both on Explorer and the Diamond lounge can expand into the bar area depending on the volume of guests but no matter what, both lounges will be very busy. Take any empty chair and take the time to meet your fellow cruisers.

Both the concierges in either lounge on Explorer are wonderful.

The concierge lounge doesn't have windows and I much preferred the opportunity to look out at the sea from the Diamond lounge.

We very much enjoyed our trip on Explorer. Do take advantage of your chance to get a tour of the Bridge and the galley. Try the sushi making class, it's so fun. And don't miss the ice show. When we were aboard one of the ice show stars was Brandon Mroz, a US national silver medallist. As a suite guest you get priority access to the ice show and can choose lovely seats.

Wish I was going with you!!!

Plan your visit. You only get 1 discount so pick your most expensive spa treatment first. I have known it done for more than one but that is a mistake, the rules are a 1 time only discount. Not that we complain when it happens to us!!!

If your ship is offering the tours there should be a card in your room...it will tell you the date(s) and time(s) of the tour & they ask you to return the card by a certain date...If you don't get a card you can also stop by the LA to ask if they are giving the tours...sometimes things don't always get delivered to your cabin as they should...

 

I type to slow...;):)

As a Diamond plus we have had the offer and not. On our last cruise we were back to back. First cruise we got the paperwork for the ask, second we didn't. When we questioned the loyalty ambassador we learned that on the second cruise there were thought to be too many Diamond Plus to offer this benefit and so it was offered only to those with 350 points and above. We were able to get a tour but not to the bridge, the Galley tour which had fewer subscribers. It wasn't that the cabin staff were remiss in their duties, it's the choice of the loyalty team about what the ship can manage.

If you are interested and the paperwork doesn't come in the first few days, ask. For the Bridge tour you must be security cleared in advance of the tour so you have to have gotten your ask in time for that to happen. Once you are approved, you can't substitute your spouse or fellow traveller if you change your mind.

You can take pictures with permission but you can't enter into the bridge workspace, that is, the part of the U shaped control area because that is a safety issue for the crew to be able to action quickly. And, before someone writes in to say they have seen it done, I have too. Poor duty officer got a bollocking from the captain after!

We were on Explorer in September and noticed this too. Smart casual is resort casual. More dressy. When we were on Jewel to the Baltic (08? I think) the British crowd were very into jacket and tie for smart casual while the US community would wear a golf shirt and dockers. It's a cultural difference and, for that reason, given the preponderance of American cruisers, it may have seemed politic to eliminate the distinction.

Another change is the luggage rules on the airlines. I used to be able to bring 2 suitcases free not so long ago, not anymore! And so passengers don't want to have to feel required to bring many changes of clothing for the cruise experience. All you have to do is note the complaints on the threads about formal wear.

I saw a lot of folks wearing smart casual on Explorer even though the messaging was casual, folks enjoyed freshening up and dressing nicely for dinner. But no requirement takes the pressure off of those who are luggage challenged or just not comfortable with a more formal style of dress. As previous posters noted, the message is still there for the speciality restaurants.

Just a quick question regarding lounge vs. 3 evening cocktails. If there is any change that involves removal of lounge privileges and keeping the three evening drink vouchers, is the issue that three drinks is not enough or the loss of the lounge privledge DURING OTHER HOURS OF THE DAY? I don't understand how "where the drinks are consumed" (in a DL/CL or some other bar) can matter.

 

Thanks

 

M

I know everyone focuses on the drinks but I don't think it's just about that. It always amazes me how many folks line up for the nibbles as soon as they are put out. You'd think no one had eaten! And, as has been previously mentioned, many folks very much value the access to the speciality coffee machine. On our recent Explorer cruise, the British lined up constantly for coffee from the machine. All day The 'tea' generation has moved on. For our poor concierge, a constant stress that the machine would break down as it had done more than once. For some, it's a quiet lounge to get away to while the room is made up. For others, it's the access to the concierge to help with guest relations issues or, to do their final check in for the plane trip home. The lounge crowding forces people to meet as they grab any vacant chair. Friendships form with other folks who value cruising and have travelled RCI. And the concierge makes announcements about how things will happen in port or for ship events (the good ones do anyway...). People feel cared for. They will miss that and using a drink coupon in a noisy lounge isn't going to be the same. This is where the marketing and loyalty staff need to think hard about any change. The package of support is what builds the loyalty. Not the liquor.

It has to be on a cash account and although you can add a credit card on the reservation later in the sailing, that's only for anything above and beyond your credit. They will not refund any leftover credit to that credit card. I tried twice with no luck.

Just back from a trip in September. We were able to have the credit returned to our credit card. They did say it could take a couple of weeks to show on the card account and their preference was to cash out. We took some in cash as we needed more exchange for the next phase of our trip and the rest was returned to our card.

I would say some of this is probably the preference of the accounts manager within each ship. It was clear that they preferred we cash out rather than having the funds returned to our card even though that card was used to place the credit on the account through RCI. It may be an additional layer of complexity for staff in the way they journal their accounts if returned to the credit card.

We've both used the wifi on our iPads at the same time with the same login.

Just returned this morning. You can cash out anytime on your last full day at Guest Services. Got $845. back in cash.

We returned in early October. No charge to cash out at guest services and no trouble. Can't speak to the Casino Great exchange rate and most appreciated.

Not sure how the US Amex works but for the Canadian Amex you can stack promotions. Also, you can get OBC for each room that you book up to 3 rooms per sailing. And, there is no limit to the amount of times that you can receive the OBC per year. I had a Family Connected Jr. Suite on the Quantum in March. I received $300 for the Jr. Suite, $200 for the balcony and $100 for the interior connected room. The only stipulation was that the booking had to be through Amex travel (mine was transferred over) and I had to pay for each room with my Amex.

As a Canadian, I got rid of my Platinum Amex just this year because I was not allowed to stack promotions among other things.... The OBC for Crown and Anchor was not combinable with that of the Platinum. The card wasn't worth the extra fee to me because most of the things they promoted that supported the additional cost were not available to me.

If I could have had the support you describe I would have kept it. Interesting you were able to do this. I complained mightily to no avail that I knew others had this level of support based on cruise critic comments. The customer service response was not exactly warm or concerned.....

US based cards are a different situation and it frustrated me enormously that I was not receiving the same support as the US card clients since the advertising in Canada pulls on those benefits which I think is misleading. What you have outlined is what the US folks get. Well done you but don't assume it will be continued.

Only the Radiance class ships have them. I love them myself. But Rhapsody is a lovely ship, a "happy" ship and we enjoyed our sailing with her.

The additional cost steak, steak and Lobster and filet was available on our recent cruise on Explorer. While we did go to Chops we didn't do the pay extra in the main dining.

The meat was excellent on this cruise, perfectly cooked and tender every time. Best I've ever had on an RCI ship. The Exec chef is German and he has a precise method for the meat, you choose medium well or medium rare. He did do some speciality for folks but I think keeping the number of variations down improves the ability of staff to deliver. The chef noted that to achieve full delivery of the mains in the MDR he had 20 minutes for each main meal set. A huge achievement given about 700 or more diners each set.

Another point is where they source. This cruise had british beef and it was excellent. We have been in some tropical climes where sourcing has been more problematic and so you get food that has been frozen longer (dehydrating and not the best for tender meat) or generally tougher beef.

It's so disappointing when the food is not good quality. We have had some cruises like that too. I had one where the fish actually was off when I ordered it. Should never happen. So my sympathies but, take heart, it isn't all the ships. Give another ship a go.