travler27

Just got off the Mariner of the Seas.  I don't intend to get into specifics but suffice it to say this was our first and last cruise on Royal and possibly our last cruise on any cruise line.  It just doesn't seem to be worth the effort or expense.

Thanks to all for the info.  Got more useful information on here in an hour than a few days poking around on the Royal web site.  They really could use some good web design help.  

Thanks.  Probably my fault for not researching a little more before booking.  I just assumed the best on NCL and the best on Royal would be similar.  Lesson learned.  🙂  The Royal schedule just happened to be the one that worked out best at the time.

We fully intend to enjoy ourselves regardless.  👍

Cruise is on the Mariner on 8/26/23 out of Canaveral.  I guess my main point was that I seem to be unable to find the appropriate information from any Royal source.  Thank goodness for the experts on CruiseCritic.  Seems Royal could do better.

Our last cruise was in a Haven suite on NCL.  They contacted me within days of booking and provided me with a single source contact for all my needs.  About the only answer I got from them on any topic was "tell us what you want and we'll make it happen".  Maybe my expectations are unreasonable.

We'll see soon.  Hoping for a pleasant surprise.

We've been on 10 cruises over the years on a few different lines.  We recently booked our first cruise on Royal.  Their web site and communication process seems to be less than user friendly.  A few examples, we decided to change our dining preference.  Can't do it without a call to Royal and getting a little run around from the agent.  Still haven't seen any luggage tags or other documents.  The web site just says no documents available at this time.  We purchased vacation protection from Royal at the time we booked but can't find any detail or coverage contracts on the web site.  We wanted to modify our boarding time and Royal basically says "tough luck".  We have no status in Royal's cruise club but we did book the Royal Suite on the Mariner.  You would at least think they could be a little helpful.  So far, not so much.

Seems like everything on their web site is directed at trying to get you to purchase some kind of add on and is not designed to provide any passenger assistance or information at all.

Maybe the actual cruise will be better but so far, I'm starting to wonder.

Thanks.  Called Royal (don't use a TA) and all good now.  Did get the 5:30 which we like better.

Departing Canaveral August 26,2023 on the MOS.  This is our first time on Royal. 

When booking, I was offered 6:30 main dining or MTD.  I selected MTD but now would like to change to the 6:30 dining time.  How do I do that?

Although our upcoming cruise in August is our first on Royal, we have been on 11 prior cruises, like 1 per year.  Probably not many compared to a lot of folks but enough for our tastes.  At any rate, we have never sailed in anything but a suite.  On our very first cruise we got upgraded by the cruise line and suites is where we've been ever since.  It seems that a lot of the suite perks somewhat mirror loyalty program perks.  For us, chasing points would just not be reasonable.  I guess we just don't cruise enough for it to make sense.

Thanks to all for the information.

Thanks.  I guess everybody is different and has different motivations.  We do drink but if I have 3 in one day I consider it to be a lot. 🙂  At any rate, I just didn't see anything in the loyalty level chart that really rang my bell and was wondering if there were other benefits.

Are their benefits to the various loyalty levels that aren't on the charts?  I just looked at the levels chart on the Royal web site and don't really see any benefit that would get me motivated.  I mean, a free day of internet is not likely to get me to spend the money to upgrade my cabin just to get a few more points.  

I'm sorry but if you can afford the Haven then you can afford the DSC.

That's about the silliest thing I've read in some time.

You decide to go to the dentist or doctor while in port. The bill is $500.

Do you need to pay in cash or will a credit card do?

Actually, that's an unanswerable question. It is totally dependent on what the service provider is willing to accept.

Not everybody has the spare time needed to sit around on message boards long enough to read everything posted so some may have missed the original discussion on this topic. That's probably why Cole missed the previous discussion and why he is not a member of the 10,000+ club

I suspect the rounding up/rounding down would average out to near zero by the end of the week. I'm more concerned with how many french fries I get. :)

Leaving on the Norwegian Jewel on Sept 9, 2017. I plan to ride the Bainbridge Ferry from Bainbridge Island to the downtown ferry terminal with no car. What's the best way to get from the ferry terminal to Pier 66? Seems like a long walk dragging all our luggage. I won't even attempt the bus and Uber is out (no smartphone) so I guess a cab is the only way. Will that work? Any other options?

We had an aft wrap on the Triumph once. Hated it. Because of the way the aft decks were arranged in a sloping manner, we had all manner of trash from above. Cigarette butts, cups, beer cans, roach remnants and even one full drink were dropped on our balcony from somewhere above. I think the late night crowd hangs out far aft to indulge their forbidden habits in the wee hours. Never again.

It is called Capitalism also known as Supply and Demand or the American Way.

You forgot one of the mainstays of Capitalism, Competition. Folks can always go that way too.

I don't know where you guys have cruised in Mexico but the prices in stores are in pesos not dollars where I shop.

Right now it's about 20 pesos to the dollar so know your math before you go if you want to use dollars to buy things.

We live near the border in California so we buy pesos at a Cambio(exchange house) in Mexico.

The rate is a little less than the official rate but for us it is better than using our ATM card to withdraw pesos since our bank charges 3% for changing currency and $5 for each ATM international use.

There are cambios near most ports and the exchange rate should be listed.

I agree that most cruisers don't change any money and just use USA $$s so you'll be OK either way.

Yeah, I expect walking across the CA/Mexico border is different than arriving in a cruise port on a cruise ship. I've never had any reason to exchange currency when cruising to Mexico.

Notice the blurry red print at the bottom "We Do Not Accept Medical Insurance"

We just returned from the Conquest for a beautiful 8 day cruise. Even missing the Dominican Republic it was great.

 

The only problem we had was with the Officers in the dining room.

 

My husband and I have restricted meals. My husband had been for 4 cruises and mine started on this cruise. It became a joke to them which made our waitstaff work even harder to correct their constant mistakes.

 

I actually sat on deck 3 on Tuesday and waited to speak to the matri'd. Sorry for the spelling. We explained to him what was happening. He stood in front of us and laughed in our face. He was extremely disrespectful. This was just on horrible experience.

 

As I said I loved the cruise but Carnival just needs to make their officers learn respect their guest.

 

 

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That really sounds odd as I've heard nothing but praise for Carnivals treatment of those with special diet needs.

Wonder if they'll let you bring a hose on board?

To self insure or not is a personal choice. If you have millions in the bank you have more options than someone living check to check.

A lot of folks, when evaluating the value of trip insurance, simply look at the cost of the cruise itself. The more important expenses are involved in medical treatment and evacuations. Most private health insurance and Medicare are not valid outside the US. Medical costs can escalate very fast. Medical evacuation costs can add up even faster.

A few hundred dollars worth of trip insurance can look mighty small when compared to a $200,000 medical treatment and evacuation payment. But, each person can certainly make their own decision based on their own circumstances. Just don't start complaining if your choice turns out to be the wrong one.

We always get a suite and always get FTTF. It's worth the money to me to access my room when I get on board and to get my luggage early. Others may not think it's worth it. I guess that's why FTTF is optional.

How many bottles can you have waiting in your room if ordered through bon voyage and can you get more throughout the cruise....looking to book first cruise with carnival

Bottles of what?

If you take them in pill organizers you probably won't have any problem. But you might. If you take them in the pharmacy bottle you definitely won't have any problem. Want to take the risk? Your choice.

Your average TSA inspector wouldn't know an oxy from an aspirin if it's out of the bottle.