kymbakitty

In a New York second. I wouldn't even flinch.

You lose that much in your couch cushions and a few lunches in a month.

No question. Unless you don't like a little extra room.

I would find out where you would end up though...that would be my only caveat.

Enjoy!

OMG !!! Lol

 

Table mates AREN'T fun. It's the worst thing for me about cruising.

 

I'm really friendly and social at all times - talking to lots of people - apart from dinner. At dinner I really dislike sitting with others :)

This post made me smile.

We haven't stepped foot into a MDR for a very long time. And we haven't had anything other than a table for two since the 90's. It's not that we aren't social, it's just that we don't feel the need to be social over dinner. There are dozens of other social interactions throughout the cruise/ship, but for us, dinner is still just something we enjoy together.

We were turned off years ago when it was expected to let someone from your table know if you weren't going to make it. While I understand it could be considered courteous, it was something we didn't even want to be in the position to have to do.

Table for two please!!!!!!

Dawn

OP, look at it this way....if you eat anything on the ship at anytime during your cruise, then pay the waitstaff gratuities in full. The money doesn't just go to the MDR waitstaff, but gets dribbled down to all those involved in feeding us. The waitstaff in the MDR work in other areas of the ship...Windjammer, special events where food is served like the Welcome Back parties, deck parties, etc. Heck, I've even seen my cabin steward serving drinks at a Welcome Back party one time.

Make the gratuities pre-paid, then tip extra if you feel they deserve extra. In that way you don't have to go fussing around at Guest Services; you don't have to worry that you have the proper amounts for the intended recipients; don't have to go looking for envelopes....now doesn't that sound alot easier than your idea? :D

Some cruisers still don't understand the concept that you are describing.

Some folks think that just because you don't eat in MDR (we seldom ever go there anymore), or don't need your room cleaned for a day or two, that you should deduct from the tips from the days you told them not to do room.

Oh well. One day the tips will be compulsory so no more skimming off the top to save a few bucks toward Bingo (or whatever).

:/

I don't care whether room service is included for the folks that deliver room service.

It's just not relevant. I'm paying for the luxury of having a staff member cater to my whim (laziness....but I'm on vacation so I can be lazy) and literally deliver food to our cabin.

Funny, I would be slightly uncomfortable opening the door for room service and NOT showing my gratitude for the service (sorry....we've never seen a face of surprise when giving staff tip).

But if the whole tip giving for room service, there is a super easy fix. Don't get room service! There are thousands of guests that have never asked for room service (which is why they most likely are excluded from the pool).

Enjoy!

12 night, GS to CL?

Allure.

Dawn

She gave up trying and just used the Whirlpool

I had a hard time using the shower due to obesity, I have since lost 90lbs and think that I could somewhat manage it. I LOVE everything else about an OS. As far as cruise frequency we have been cruising once or twice a year. With recent financial changes we might be able to increase that to two to three times a year in a Grand suite.

I don't know what they were thinking, I really don't. We were in an OS on the Grandeur and I don't recall it being an issue. And even though it was many years ago (we cruised on Celebrity and Princess for a decade before returning to RCI). We're both the same size so if it was the same size, I'm pretty sure I would remember.

It's a design flaw, IMHO. Not to mention, the handicap bar inside. Both of our arms were heavily bruised at the end of week one. You'd think you'd see it, but when your scalp is filled with soap and your eyes are closed, and you lower your arm and BAM.

When we saw GS with tub/shower combo and not that big of a difference in the layout (dining room table did not get used much), we knew that was the way we'd go....just to avoid the shower.

Tough problem to have....I realize that.

:)

Agree with you about the shower in an OS. My wife is very petite and still had a hard time shaving her legs in the shower. We also have no use for the "third sink" (bidet). The dinning area and balcony however are awesome.

I have no idea how your wife shaved her legs in that shower! At 5'8", I didn't even attempt it.

The separate shower starts in the Owner's Suite.

I can only speak about the OS on the LOS.

We decided to book GS from now on because of the super tiny shower in the OS.

Don't ask me why I had a measuring tape with me, but I did. The shower was so tiny that I wanted to measure it. My DH is not that large....6', 185 lbs. I'm 5'8" and weigh less.

The shower in our OS measured 30" wide. There is also a handicap bar that you hit with your arms, at least for the first week. By the 2nd week, we pretty much didn't move too much (if soap drops--DO NOT BEND DOWN TO GET IT OR DO SO AT YOUR OWN RISK).

I don't have a clue what someone that is moderately overweight would do. I started showering in exercise facility on week two.

The tub is huge. Never got in it though. Neither one of us did or ever do. Personally, I see it as a design flaw, given the general size of Americans. Maybe it wasn't built for American's though.

Went on cabin crawl on saw GS and when we saw bathroom, with it's large tub/shower combo, we knew it was GS's for us. Plenty of room and you can petition the bedroom off from living room, which is why we get suites in the first place.

Enjoy!

There is a brochure in the Guest computer area with a diagram of the hotspots. It ill be places like Windjammer, Viking Crown, etc.

 

 

Since Allure has never been on a transatlantic revenue cruise, there is no experience. Figure more than the 7 day charge of $190.

Yeah, true. I should not have been so specific. We are booked on Allure's TA in 2015, but I just figured that she's sailed 14 days before somewhere....but maybe not.

Oasis will be doing the TA soon (maybe already did in April). I'll watch for threads on it after the fall.

I'm guessing $300, but it could be more.

Anyone know what Allure may charge for unlimited WiFi on Allure for transatlantic cruises?

I'm thinking this will definitely be the biggest ancillary expense.

I have never had to wait very long for a refund. I have been surprised, but any refund that I have ever asked for has been posted in a matter of days.

I think that is the exception with all our new technology.

I never have to wait more than a few days for any refund to post. I still hear the spiel about it it "taking up to two billing cycles to post."

Dawn

....and many of us "do" prefer the WJ (buffet).

There are just as "many" that don't eat buffet style period. Not at home and not at sea. It's just not how they choose to eat.

Lots of options......try everything at least once.

:)

sorry it's my first time cruising and not sure how things work. we are thinking about eating mainly at the windjammer for the buffet but i would like to eat one night in the MDR. hope this explains better

If this is your first cruise, how did you decide to eat mainly at the Windjammer? I mean, it's okay, but it would be like eating at an all you can eat mediocre mid line restaurant every night and with the various options made available to you on a cruise ship, it doesn't make sense.

The tips are the same no matter where you eat...you don't remove dining tips just because you eat meals in Windjammer (I'm not saying this even crossed your mind, but it sometimes is the opinion of a new cruiser until they realize it doesn't work that way).

There are a lot of places to eat....don't limit yourself to the Windjammer. It's not bad, it's just that there is a lot more to offer.

Enjoy!

Does the windjammer staff get a share of the MDR waitstaff's tips? How are they generally tipped?

 

 

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This is one of the reasons you don't remove tips because "I only are in the MDR twice."

We always book MTD knowing full well we won't eat in MDR...we rarely do. But the tips remain in place because those same folks are doing things for us day in, day out.

Dawn

We figured we'd never get to experience the Oasis/Allure because we don't take 7 day cruises and we probably won't ever do a Caribbean cruise again.

So when we found out that they were doing TA cruises, we figured we'd finally get to experience her.

Waited too long to book fall of 2014, so we are booked on the Allure for 2015.

We can't wait....

Off topic, but I never knew people actually rented churches for weddings. I always believed couples were married at either the bride's or groom's church and then offered a monetary gift to the priest, minister, reverend etc. Weird.

I don't know where you live, and it is probably a wonderfully idealic town.

But we have an entire generation that not only have never stepped foot into a church growing up, they have no connection to a church now that they are grown ups.

Do people really think that everyone automatically has a home church? Very sweet...but so out of touch with reality today. I know so many folks that wouldn't even have an answer if I asked them, "where is your church?" They wouldn't even know how to respond.

I have a church. And my monthly tithing is probably the only indication of it....haven't gone in over a year and the monthly tithe is automatically taken out of account so I don't even write check anymore.

So no.....hundreds of thousands of couples getting married don't have a church.

:(

LOL I missed that one. Too funny!

 

Now, if RCI started selling birth cruise packages where your guests stood around to watch the delivery, and the package included photography, this analogy might make sense.

Oh my, could you imagine? Don't say it too loud because if there's money in it....

It would give new meaning to birthing in/on water!

I don't have photos of my daughter being born, and that day wasn't ruined for me....

My husband and I are cracking up laughing at this post.

Um....not quite the same! I can't recall the last time anyone offered to show us their album from the birth of their child, or, the last time we saw a really nice 8x10 frame on someone's wall or mantle taken from the day of birth! Very personal wonderful moment, no doubt, but those pictures are probably better shared with very few people.

Cracking up....thanks for the chuckle.

:)

The only time we might have some snacks is if we've taken the train and they just happen to be in my bag. Otherwise, snacks are so unnecessary. We have gotten a trail mix in the Viking Crown on a couple of ships in the evening. After eating 3 meals every day plus an afternoon snack, we don't need anything else. Our goal is not to gain weight.

We rarely eat 3 meals a day. Just way too much food....especially if you are not an early riser. I thought we were not typical, but come to find out, there are many folks that only eat two meals a day on vacation/cruises.

So yes....if you are actually eating 3 meals a day, I don't know when you would want a snack.

Some of the healthiest, most fit folks I know eat every few hours. Not a lot, but every 3-4 hours without fail. They tell me it keeps their blood sugar from spiking.

We are usually gone for at least two weeks at a time. And my DH loves See's Candy. He believes it is some of the best chocolates in the world (seriously). So he always take 2 pounds (hand selected, of course) and shares it with housekeeping. I don't think they care, but he lets them pick their own piece every day.

:)

No, pay was set by the CBA [collective bargaining agreement]. It was slightly higher than I'm making now, but it was a set hourly rate with increases of course as time goes by.

Don't even try to make sense out of it. I've worked for the state since 1989 and I've been on both sides. You have no idea what transpired. They may have received a phone call telling the managers that they will fill the position with "x" no matter what they wanted to do.

You are certainly entitled to set up a meeting to discuss your interview with them to find out where your experience might have felt short, or what you can do to improve this or that, etc. You must be in a position to receive and not defend though.

Also, while it shouldn't matter, is it possible that they had a better interview? Some folks that have all the experience and would appear to be shoe ins just don't interview quite as good as someone less qualified on paper. I know someone that didn't get a position they used to do because they had an awful interview....odd.

There is something waiting for you around the corner....you just haven't been shown that yet.

Good luck.....good things are waiting for you.

Dawn

.....Additionally, we may only eat on the MDR 3 nights maybe 4. Between restaurants and WJ we can 'eat out ' half the cruise. In 3 prior cruises we have never had breakfast or lunch in the MDR.....

Many folks don't eat in the MDR period, but that doesn't mean that you don't grab a cup of iced tea here, or soft ice cream there, piece of pizza in place of dinner. Those folks that serve you in the MDR serve you throughout the ship--even if you don't happen to witness it.

We've gone on two week cruises and never stepped foot into the MDR other than one salad bar lunch. We wouldn't dream of removing the MINIMUM tipping amounts.

We purposely select MTD so it is all taken care of before we leave.

I'm surprised people are still paying tips based on piece work. You'd have to do a lot of your own washing of dishes, cleaning out your own toilets, emptying out the garbage, etc., to make up for the couple of bucks that they request.

Don't make same mistake we used to.

I spent a considerable amount of time finding a free shuttle to port.

Found one...nice place. Walked up to the shuttle (think sardines), turned around to look at husband and he was laughing. I knew right then and there he had ZERO intention of getting on that shuttle. We laugh about it today.

Pick a hotel for whatever other reason other than transportation to/from port. Taxis are so cheap and readily available.

I've never lost, but it's never been my goal.

One time, many years ago, I was on Weight Watchers, and I went on the cruise (14 nights) starting out counting points.

I was journaling.....all kinds of things. I journaled what we did that day, the amazing sites in Europe, and yes....daily points.

Thank goodness it only lasted three days (the counting of points, not the journaling). A couple years later I was reading my journal. A part of me was very sad for the young woman (me) that was so concerned about 10 pounds than I actually took previous time to even consider dieting while on an amazing vacation with my husband.

I know a woman who is probably the most fit and cleanest eater I know. She said, "why in the world would you even bother trying to diet when you have the entire 50 other weeks in a year." I never dieted again on vacation....life is way to short to pass up a desert on a cruise. If we could only see what the women on the Titanic would have ordered if they knew.....

I exercise 5 days a week, just like home. We never take elevators and are pretty active. But I know the alcohol calories get me too because I rarely drink alcohol when I'm at home. We usually only eat 2 meals a day--this is actually very typical of seasoned cruisers. But I still gain.

Enjoy!

.....One child was even permitted to climb on the support poles that are near the windows overlooking the boardwalk. (Of course, she was a "well-behaved" angel to her family. Because, after all, aren't they all.:rolleyes:)

Who in their right mind would allow their child to climb on support poles???? That's crazy.

If I saw that, I think I may have to record it. Someone surely would be interested in seeing that, even if the concierge does not.

Ugh.....