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These cards are a huge pain in the neck. I booked a cruise using a $500 card (so, $50 total savings) and then had to spend an ungodly amount of time convincing the next Royal agent I spoke to that it wasn't a travel agent booking and that I had booked directly through Royal. Fortunately, once I had convinced her, she put a big note on my booking, and I've been able to access it directly ever since. I would not jump through these hoops again for a mere $50 savings.

Thanks for the alert - I found the offer and used it today.

My mom and I did a Mediterranean cruise. I was at the time about 50 years old and I am a single woman. We sat at a table for eight, and most of our tablemates were very nice people. But the obnoxious man directly across from me started asking why I wasn't married, and just wouldn't take anything I said as an answer. His wife told him it was none of his business, my mother told him it was none of his business, but every night he would ask again. He even told me he would marry me himself, though I certainly didn't want him and felt quite sorry for his long-suffering wife. I'm still not sure what answer he was looking for!

I've got Global Entry which by-passes the mass lines lined for Customs.

I have both Global Entry and Mobile Passport, and my (admittedly limited) experience so far is that the Mobile Passport lines are shorter. That will change as more people become aware of the Mobile Passport app.

I haven't been on Royal in quite a long time but am on Liberty next week in a JS, also C&A Diamond level. What toiletries should we expect?what is the wash and fold bag?

The Wash & Fold bag allows you to fill a (fairly small) bag with things like underwear and t shirts, for a flat fee rather than a per item price. It can be a good deal, and there's a diamond discount.

edit: I got beaten to the punch.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2045047

Yeah, but I think your list is more current. OP, use this link, not the list I posted above!

Good European itineraries at a reasonable price, and a good loyalty program. And a friendly, helpful crew and staff. I have zero interest in the ships themselves or the entertainment. But that's one of the reasons I love cruising - because different people with entirely different interests can have a great time on the same ship.

What are the discounts that are loaded onto a sail card for Gold members?

I searched and googled, cant find the list of "discounts"

 

 

Thanks!

Not sure this is 100% current, but here are the "coupons" loaded onto your Sea Pass card if you have Gold status.

• Beverage Discount (purchase any wine, beer or soda by the glass and get a second one free).
  
• Glass of Wine, Beer or Soda Discount - receive a 10% Discount.
  
• Seattle's Best Coffee - 25% discount on any coffee beverage.
  
• Johnny Rockets - 2 for 1 milkshake
  
• Photo Discount - Buy 1 photo and receive a 50% discount on a second photo.
  
• Internet Discount - $5.00 USD credit or 10% off any internet package purchase.
  
• 1 Free Casino "Spin to Win" Coupon
  
• 1 Casino Credit $5.00 USD Match Play Coupon.
  
• Bingo Credit - Purchase any bingo package and receive one free Single Jackpot Bingo Card.
  
• Gift Shop Discount - Spend $25.00 USD or more on RCI logo and receive a 10% discount.
  
• Fine Jewelry Discount - Spend $1000 USD on Fine Jewelry and receive a 10% discount.
  
• Airbrushed Temporary Tattoos - purchase any size temporary airbrush tattoo and receive a FREE gold color upgrade.....a $2.00 USD Savings.
  
• RCI Cookbook Discount - 25% off the purchase of RCI Savor Cookbook.
  
• SPA Credit - 10% off any one spa/salon service.
  
• Diamonds International - $75.00 USD off any "Crown of Light" jewelry.
  

It has happened to me on two of my last three cruises - one minibar soda each time, which I know weren't mine because I was sailing solo and never buy anything from the minibar. On my last cruise, I had the steward clean out the minibar on the first day, and I did not get the mysterious post-cruise charge.

There were some children on my Baltic cruise in June 2014, but not as many as I have seen on Mediterranean cruises. If a bustling kid's club is important to you, you're probably safer with the Mediterranean.

I did a solo Transatlantic on the Serenade and had a great time. Traditional dining at a big table, participating in the Roll Call, and trivia were good ways to meet people.

RCI may or may not see specific complaints about a ship on a website like CC.

If I had a specific complaint that I wanted RCI to address, I would point it out to them directly rather than expect them to find it online.

I don't recall seeing any place for luggage storage there.

Difficult to know what info to trust when a rep from the cruise line itself tells you something you believe is inaccurate.

She said you get your loaner band (no change) at check in. I kinda knew that was not correct....

The cruise line reps are often poorly informed about what actually happens on the ships. Since for the most part, they don't actually sail on the ships, this isn't 100% surprising, but yes, it would be nice if they were in possession of more accurate information.

I don't think our Alla tour guide ate with us in St. Petersburg or in Moscow.

I have cruised Royal Caribbean in the Mediterranean both with kids and without. In my experience, even on the cruises with a lot of kids, the kids were quite well behaved. The ports are more crowded in general in summer because more people are traveling, whether by cruise ship or other method - but I greatly enjoyed cruising the Mediterranean in both summer and fall, and would encourage you to just go whenever you can and have a good time!

I've never done it, but it says on my account page that it would cost me 175,000 points and up, not 125,000. That's a lot more Drury points than I am ever likely to get. Also, it seems to be an interior cabin, which is not a deal-breaker for me, but might be for some.

As there are so many retired and older people on TA's, I wonder why they say they love to relax and read, etc. I do that every day at home. Still seems like a lot of money just to go across the ocean and eat at a moments notice.. Originally we thought it was a good idea to do a TA due to the low cost, but it all adds up , especially when not many perks at all are offered and airfare has to be included, either getting to or coming home from Florida.. We just save up and do a few Caribbean cruises now in the winter.

I can't answer for retired people because I work full time - so when I say I love to read and relax on a cruise, it's because those are not things I get enough time to do at home, plus I don't own an oceanfront balcony on which to do them! TAs are not for everyone, but when I add up the ports I get to visit, the joy of hanging out on my balcony, and the price, it works out to be a good experience for me. I don't care for Caribbean cruises personally. Life would be boring if we all liked the same things!

If it's similar to the "Joy of Chocolate" tour that my mom and I did at the Discover Mexico museum, it will include grinding and making your own chocolate while learning some facts about chocolate in Mexican culture. We enjoyed it.

Thanks - I was not aware of these!

Pros: I get a ton of reading done; progressive trivia every sea day; lots of time to get to know your table mates and make new friends; sometimes TAs stop at ports that are not on the usual itineraries (for example, I went to the Faroe Islands); plenty of time to try all the activities and specialty restaurants you've been meaning to try; and the price per day is usually terrific.

Cons: possibility of rough seas, at least in the fall on the Northern itineraries; it can be a long trip if you don't like your table mates.

As for airfare, since American Airlines allows for one-way trips using frequent flyer miles (at half the miles of the round-trip itinerary), that's what I do.

I've never heard of porch swings on any Royal Caribbean ship.

It's entirely up to you, but there might be land-based kinds of vacation that would be less expensive than paying the full adult cruise fare for a seven-month-old who will have no memory of the experience. I totally understand why you would want to have your baby with you, but I think there are better vacation options than cruising with babies.

My wife, college daughter, and I are on the May 22 Serenade sailing out of Copenhagen. This will be our first time on a ship without a Royal Promenade.

 

My habit is to get up early in the morning and drink *some* Diet Coke and catch up on my e-mails.

 

Where can I get soda in the morning on the Serenade?

 

Is the Internet service as bad as people say?

 

Many thanks for your thoughts.

 

Matt

Cafe Latte-tudes also has cans of soda.

I did a transatlantic on Serenade out of Copenhagen and liked the ship and all of the staff very much. The WiFi I didn't like so much.

On my recent five-day cruise, the internet package was $20 for one device. I used my Diamond $40 to buy internet on the last two days, and did without internet for the other three days. So I did not buy anything, and still took advantage of the Diamond internet perk.