Dizziedi

Unless we get a miraculous free upgrade to GS we will have little opportunity to see him. But if he passes through the DL again I will be sure to wish him well.

JD is in the Diamond Lounge so you will get to see him - and give him a big hug from me, please.

Cheers

Di

Why would a TA want you to transfer a reservation that is already complete. What is in it for the TA and what are the benefits to the customer?

Because the TA still gets the benefits/commission. Unfortunately, we don't get any monetary benefits from our TA in Australia but he looks after us very well and I would like to keep it that way:)

Cheers

Di

I have received some very sad news from JD - he has resigned from Royal Caribbean and 26th August 2016 will be his last day on the Radiance.

For those of you who have had the very real pleasure of cruising with JD as your Concierge, you might like to leave a message on here for him.

JD has stressed that he has loved his ten years with Royal Caribbean and has met some wonderful people but it's time to go.

A sad day for us but of course we wish JD the very best for his future and look forward to meeting up with him somewhere in the World soon.

Cheers

Di

Sorry - double post.

We had an RFS on the Explorer and loved it. As the previous poster said, no noise and huge balcony. The balcony on the RFS is bigger than the JS but the JS one is also big. Only problem was - it was a long, long, long way from mid-ship - especially if you got to mid-ship and realised you had left something behind and you had your heels on:o

Enjoy.

Cheers

Di

Has that changed? When we did the PC on Legend back in March/April of 2015, Breakfast for Suite Guests and PC Members was held on one side of the MDR on Deck #5

 

On Legend, Chops is located on Deck 11 and the WJ is located on Deck 9.

Thank you. I know on other ships we take lunch from WJ into Chops but I couldn't remember what it was on the Legend.

Cheers

Di

Breakfast yes, but not lunch, in our experience.

Thanks. I have read that they do lunch on Port days:confused: but Chops is open for lunch on sea days.

Breakfast is a great perk.

Cheers & thanks,

Di

Can someone please remind me whether breakfast and lunch is available in Chops for suite guests on the Legend.

Cheers

Di

What I meant was he is absolutely fabulous in the Concierge lounge!! he is more than fantastic anywhere. Would follow him anywhere. By far one of the absolute Concierges in the fleet. Just prefer him where I would be - the concerige lounge.

We have cruised a lot with JD in the Concierge Lounge on the Radiance out of Sydney and he is hands down the best Suite Concierge we have had on the Radiance (or any other ship). We have just had the pleasure of cruising with him for 7 weeks as Diamond Concierge on the Explorer and he was his usual magnificent self and really had to be as he was looking after 800 people:eek: (that many Diamonds, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle members) on the Trans Pacific (Sydney-Seattle). He had no apparent or visible assistance from Guest Services either - shame on them!

We are looking forward to catching up with him out of Sydney.

Cheers

Di

So I just got off the phone with RCI Australia. Unfortunately they Aussie rules don't allow you to change Never mind I've got a nice cabin anyway I was just hoping for an aft instead.

 

 

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

I would ring and try and get another Operator/Consultant because it is my understanding that providing there is another cabin available in the same Category you have been allotted, they will change you.

Cheers

Di

If you get a chance, can you ask JD if he will be on the Radiance for the Hawaii to Vancouver run in May of '17?

I will do but I don't think he knows just yet.

I will say that JD loves doing the Crossing;):).

We are on board until 16 May so hopefully things will become clearer by then but I will let you know.

Cheers

Di

We are currently on the Explorer with JD and the very great news is, JD will be returning to the Radiance as Suite Concierge on the 7th July 2016:D

It's going to be a big Welcome Home Juan Diego Miranda-Allen in Australia and New Zealand:):):)

Cheers

Di

Was it the CL or the DL that the letter restricted access to by age?

Both Lounges. It says "The Concierge and Diamond Lounges ..."

Cheers

Di

On board the Explorer now and after some mix up, JD is actually the Diamond Concierge at the moment, not Suite Concierge. I will keep you posted.

BIG news is JD will be returning to the Radiance on 7th July :D:D:D

When we got to our room there was a letter saying:

Our exclusive lounge is open to guests 18 years of age and older only, no minors are allowed in the lounge.. This was enforced on night one:)

Cheers

Di

The best CD we have had was the Englishman on the Radiance on 26 December and 7th January cruises. He was very funny and had the ability to turn what could have been a boring "chat" into something hilarious and I just can't remember his name:o. Can anyone help me out here?

I was never a fan of Bobby Brown but did like Becky.

I am looking forward to Graham Seymour on the Explorer - he has an excellent reputation.

It also helps if the ship has a personable Captain:) - Like Captain Rob from the Rhapsody and Captain Borsheim (the best IMO) ex-Radiance but now back at Royal on the Voyager. Captain Rick Sullivan is also very nice.

Cheers

Di

Oh no, Sergey is a concierge now? We met him on the Legend of the Seas last spring as a Loyal Ambassador. It was his first assignment as an Ambassador. Although he presents a professional attitude, lets just say that he had alot to learn about Royal's procedures.

 

We were due a block on our sailing, but never thought to ask Sergey about it. On our following cruise, we were told that we should have received one.

We ended up calling Crown & Anchor, and they sent us a block in the mail.

We met Sergey on the Legend last year also - and you're right about him having a lot to learn (a lot). Please tell me he is not the new Concierge on the Radiance. We were so disenchanted on our last Radiance cruises with Willy that we went to the Diamond Lounge with the wonderful Katya and now she's gone to Genie School. Thankfully we have JD back on the Explorer:)

As far as the blocks go, you reminded me that we should have got another one on our last Radiance cruises but what is with Top Cruisers getting a bottle of cheap Champagne - where are my crystal breast implants:eek:

Cheers

Di

We had JS 8086 on the Legend - Hawaii to Sydney and there was absolutely no noise from above. I am a very light sleeper and if I can't get an aft facing JS on the Vision class, I don't do the cruise. We have had an OS on the Rhapsody and got noise so won't be doing that again. We have also had the corner aft wraps on the Rhapsody - no noise.

We have JS 8584 (I think) whatever is next door to 8086 for our next Legend cruise.

Cheers

Di

The decision by Diamond not to proceed around the bottom of the South Island earlier this week was a good one.

 

It appears Explorer of the Seas had to remain overnight in Port Chalmers due to very strong winds.

 

They were scheduled Dunedin - Tauranga; but marine traffic now shows Auckland as destination.

 

Not often a cruise ship would do Dunedin - Auckland.

Hi Angela, can you email me when you have a minute. Will be in the BOI in a few weeks on the Explorer.

Cheers

Di

According to his FB page, Juan Diego is leaving the Anthem to join the Explorer in Australia on Mar 30. We were looking forward to seeing him again in Sep on the Anthem. :)

Yes, I got an email from him and I am so happy because we board the Explorer on the 30th March for 7 weeks:D:D.

Cheers

Di

Brilliant - it's twice the size of 8168:D

Enjoy!

Cheers

Di

I just happened to take photos of 8168 on the Radiance for a friend who was thinking of booking it - hope they help:

Cheers

Di

Why oh way do people quote an entire long post?

Anyone reading the comments has read the original post. We don't need to scroll past it over and over.

Just to annoy you:rolleyes:

My biggest take-away from this cruise is "Never ever take a 'holiday' cruise again". That being said, I have (in the past) taken a Christmas/New Year's cruise on another cruise line with nary a problem. However, on this particular one, Royal Caribbean took no heed of their own policies and changed them at the whim of the Captain to suit the demographics.

 

My biggest complaint has to do with what they deem their 'Solarium Pool' and referring to it as a 'Quiet Zone'. Nothing could have been further from the truth. From Day 1 to Day 5, the Radiance's Daily Planner noted, "The Solarium pool, hot tubs and the Solarium area are reserved for guests 16 years of age and older only". Another handout on Day 1 also stated, "This policy enables all guests to share equally in the enjoyment of the facilities." Ha! Not so. On Day 2 of our cruise, the rules changed to allow children to use these facilities between 10-12 and 2-4. That meant that those wishing any kind of Quiet Zone were relegated to the other times of the day.

 

I must point out that after Day 5, the Daily Planner now noted, "The Solarium swimming pool, whirlpools and sun lounges in the Solarium pool area are reserved for guest 16 years of age and older. During times of bad weather and select hours, the ship may permit the Solarium Pool to be used by persons under 16 years of age for certain periods." However, only on the first two days was there inclement weather, yet the Captain and his Executive staff (their term, not mine) decided to call this a 'Family' cruise. It seemed there was now over 650 children on the ship.

 

Sad to say, I should also point out that their Adventure Ocean facilities for children were unable to keep up with the demand and many youngsters were told there was no room for them.

 

Royal Caribbean's Guest Conduct Policy also addressed issues pertaining to 'parental and guardian responsibilities' and 'dining areas dress code'. These policies also went by the way side. Even on formal nights and in the Specialty Restaurants, persons were seen in tank tops and flip flops, although the Dining Room Dinner policy noted that they would not be permitted. During one particular lunch, a toddler clad only in a diaper (with father in tow) was seen running in the main dining room right by 'Mr. Washy, Washy' and nary a word was mentioned by cruise staff.

 

If you're of like mind and, based on the above, I suggest you consider what you're looking for in a cruise before even thinking of boarding one where the Captain and his staff condone any kind of behavior and 'rules' are only put on paper and not enforced.

Hi Audrey, having cruised with you on this one and having done the NYE cruise three times before on the Radiance, this one was way out of control in relation to the kids. The Family Time in the Solarium was a disgrace and there was such an uproar (led by you lol) that they didn't dare repeat it on the 7th January cruise - just as many kids, if not more.

The reason I was not happy about the Solarium being turned into a playpen was because adults without children had paid their fares (and a lot more in a lot of cases) and had nowhere to swim whilst under this banner due to the main pool being wall-to-wall kids - not to mention the whirlpools.

I will say that the kids on the 7th January cruise were overall better behaved (just) but by the end of it were just as bored and up to the usual tricks - you know, bell ringing, riding the lifts, etc, etc.

Everything you said was right and even though it was School Holidays, sadly there doesn't seem to be enough of us that believe that kids should still have to behave themselves and parents need a kick up the backside for not supervising their kids. We expect kids on board in the School Holidays but that doesn't mean they should be able to Rule.

Royal needs to (as do other cruise lines) find an answer as to how to entertain the young teenagers because they are the ones that are bored and roaming the ship(s) unsupervised and most indignant if you ask them to stand up in the lifts:rolleyes:.

Royal needs to also lower the 1am curfew. I don't know how many times I have heard parents saying that they didn't know what time their kids got in:eek:

Maybe next time we should form packs of adults and roam the ships and ride the lifts - maybe not, we would get kicked off:D

Finally, if Royal wants to make it a "Family Cruise" then that's how it should be marketed so that unsuspecting Internationals and any other adults or first time cruisers wishing to travel without kids are forewarned.

Rant over!

See you in Vancouver:):):)

Cheers

Di

The same woukd apply to direct booking with RCI in that they may ask fir a new deposit but they credit your new reservation with the cancelled deposit within days.

Hi Hugh, no they aren't doing that anymore. It is getting more and more frustrating dealing with them. You now have to cancel the "original" booking and pay a "new" deposit and then await the return of your deposit from the cancelled booking.

We are now booking and paying the deposit and then I transfer the booking to our TA. Why do I then transfer the booking? Because I can't stand dealing with Royal over the phone anymore. If we decide to cancel, then Paul cancels and the deposit is repaid by Royal directly into our credit card - within about 48 (or so) hours.

Cheers

Di

This "CASH" business is a problem if you are b2b cruising. My husband's CC has always covered both of our accounts. When we did a b2b on the Radiance in December/January, my Ticket said "Cash" even though we had filled out the online "form" correctly. I rang Royal and they told me I had nothing to worry about.

True up to a point. Check-in was normal; they swiped the card for both.

Come the second cruise - Problem - All of a sudden I am a cash customer and could I get Guest Services to understand? Nope. They just wanted me to ring my Bank as "my" bank had rejected the card. Explaining the situation to them was like banging your head up against a brick wall. Eventually, one of the girls understood the "problem" and "cleared" the card immediately and sent me a bottle of wine for my trouble:cool:.

As we are about to do a b2b2b, I wrote to Royal asking them to address this problem as again, my online check-in states I am CASH. The letter I have received back from them is just nonsensical.

To keep my blood pressure from boiling over at Guest Services,:eek: we are going to put the CC through twice on the online checkin, ie I will give my DH's cc for his ticket and then use the same card for me - just where it states "name on card" I will insert his name. Can I suggest you do the same. If that doesn't work, we will use two different credit cards.

Cheers

Di