pcur

On 5/1/2024 at 7:23 AM, Joanne G. said:

Sure, but my understanding from the post by @Kellie in Texas is that the stuff-the-bag special for a flat rate is only offered at select times during the cruise.  Otherwise, items sent out in the bag are washed at the per-item price, correct?  

You label the bag "Wash and Fold Special". Ask your cabin stewardfirst.

23 hours ago, ONECRUISER said:

Last 3 Royal Ships I was on they had us use the regular paper laundry bag. Holds twice as much and doesn't rip like the old wash/fold bags. Hope this is permanent change

I was going to mention that, but didn't really know if was a "thing" yet.

13 hours ago, Kellie in Texas said:

@deltahog I am with you 100%. We've cruised on Princess a couple of times and were able to do laundry during the week, but mostly we've cruised RCCL and have to make do. There is a weekly "stuff laundry in this bag" special that's around $30-35, but seems like it's toward the end of the week so you don't have to travel home with dirty clothes. There are lots of folks on this forum that have collapsible laundry tubs that they bring and wash things out in the shower. Maybe look for dry-fit type shirts that you could wash by hand and let drip dry. My husband got some -- I call them fishing pants -- but they are khaki pants in a very thin fabric that dries really fast. 

You can ask your cabin attendant at any time for the wash and fold bag.  

15 hours ago, firefly333 said:

So in your opinion if someone doesnt like one thing, the food they are wrong to cruise again with royal. I'm not a big fan and been doing more pay restaurants to get around this. Im a very picky eater. I disagree that if someone dosnt think royal has great food they need to stop cruising royal. There are other considerations. .. like no other line gives solos a discount imo. Food isnt the only consideration. No one line is perfect in all aspects.

 

Just my opinion,,there are other things than food to consider before someone says if you arent a fan then you should never cruise royal again. ..again that's why I do more and more pay options. I'm not a fan. And I dont do italian on any line. Ugggh. I dont eat pasta or red sauce. So to you that means quit cruising instead of getting around it. 

Agree. Well, except for the whole Italian/pasta thing:  I really like some of the pasta dishes.

If I reply to a specific question about the Coastal Kitchen, I do so.  But, I leave it out of threads discussing the complimentary food.  It's like apples and oranges:  specialty dining and CK are not complimentary.  Of course, I prefer the food in the CK and specialty dining, but I truly found the food on the Jewel Transatlantic in the MDR to be very good. I mix and match my appetizers and entrees, so I always have something good to eat.  Sometimes it's all appetizers, sometimes it's a second entree as an appetizer-sized side dish. (See above about pasta dishes......😁.)

Oh, and I'm not in the Loyal to Royal "food basket": I really like Princess' food, too!

On 4/23/2024 at 7:22 PM, klb1978 said:

We are currently scheduled on Allure May 13, 2024.  My mom has pancreatic cancer and has taken a turn for the worse.  We had booked this a few weeks ago as a mental break for myself after being told she had 6-12 months.  At this point we feel the end is probably near.  My question is, can I pay a fee and switch my dates to a later sailing? (This cruise is for myself, husband and son)  Yes I know about insurance and that I made a choice not to get it.  As you can imagine this is a very difficult time for my family, so I hope people can just answer my question vs tell me I should have bought the insurance.  Thank you in advance for your help.  

I have felt your pain....literally.  My husband of 52 years died of pancreatic cancer 3 years ago. It's an ugly, ugly disease, and unbearable (but you have to bear it) to watch your loved one go like this.

I found when I contacted RCCL after his passing, explaining the circumstances, they were very considerate. I was offered a refund or Future Cruise Credit. Not in any condition to be planning anything except breathing at the time, I opted for a refund.  My travel agent at the time told me it would be best to contact RCCL directly in this case.

I agree with Ourusualbeach about your credit cards.  They were my next contact after RCCL.

Good luck, and try to focus on the life with her, not the death of her.

55 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

I got covid on my third cruise post start up. I'm very confident that the elevators had a big part in that. People cram into a small space and feel the need to talk and laugh and spread their respiratory secretions further. People just don't think.

That's why instead of wearing a mask full time like I did just after covid, I keep it with me and put it on in crowded situations on a cruise ship.  Elevators being my most "masked" venue....😁

3 hours ago, Jimbo said:

I was talking about the cruise you got off of in September 2023, not a recent cruise you took in April 2024.

 

Wasn't talking about mask requirements either, just wondered what ship you got off of where you got covid.

Sorry, misunderstood your post. 

It was the Adventure, and I probably got it from one of the passengers who I spent time with and had a bad cough in the last week, or on the airplane flying home.  I was wearing a mask on the airplane, but that goopy-cough passenger was directly behind me.  I tested positive 2 days after I got home.

38 minutes ago, Engineroom Snipe said:

I stand corrected, the Solarium Cafe on the port side aft, deck 9, of the Vision.

 

"Girlfriend"?

 

🤔

I thought I saw it in a Solarium Cafe, yes, it was the Vision.

Sorry you're getting so much sarcasm, and not a lot of help.  I expect after the first few post-drydock cruises you'll get better answers.

I saw those negative posts, too, and cancelled for another cruise. 

On 4/23/2024 at 12:21 PM, js said:

 

OMG REALLY!!!! Thank you! I thought I read it would post 2-3 weeks in advance.
I'm sailing April 2025 so this would be so helpful to have now. Thank you and I'll keep looking!

I actually called the Customer Service number for posting the BofA points, and asked they be posted immediately so I could use them.  I had them the same day.

5 hours ago, MJSailors said:

@pcur Thank you for your kind and insightful response.

We have taken close to 20 cruises

beginning in 1987 on the Big Red Boat.

Our last cruise was June of 2024 on Celebrity Summit. We had stopped cruising during the years of Covid, but decided to take a chance and take a trip to Bermuda.

I contracted Covid on that cruise. I had intestinal symptoms that resolved in two days.Fatigue remained when we got home,so, I took  a Covid test and was positive.

It took me two weeks to fully recover.

We would like to take another cruise, but we are a bit leery about getting on another ship.

My DH is concerned about Covid given our ages and health conditions. I would be willing to take another cruise, but he has to have a positive outlook before we consider booking another one.

Today, he was looking for info regarding health situations on cruises and thought that mask mandates were back.

I did not have the same thought, hence the “discussion”.

MJ🙋🏻‍♀️

Sounds like me late last September with COVID after my cruise.  Since then I have been on 6 ships with no health problems except temporary stuffy sinuses from the a/c in my cabin.  Have your husband keep a mask with him for crowded conditions, and go cruising!!!

Keep up with the vaccinations, too.

5 hours ago, Jimbo said:

Jewel?

I just got off the Jewel on 4/20. No mandatory mask requirement.

On 4/23/2024 at 7:25 AM, Bullet100 said:

Let me start by saying we've been on approximately 35 cruises. Most of them have been Azamara,NCL,Royal Caribbean, Celebrity with one MSC included. The food quality and selection on RCL borders on par with MSC which is pretty bad. The prime rib was fatty and as tough as shoe leather. The NY strip steak that the gentleman next to us looked like a door stop and he stated it was uneditable. There is no comparison to NCL whatsoever. We tried Chops hoping for a better steak experience but it was just a bit better. Definitely not with the 190 up charge. In the future it will be NCL,Azamara and Oceania only.Bye Bye RCL !

OK, so the FOOD hasn't gone downhill fast; the BEEF has.  I cannot speak to that, because I don't have much beef in my diet anymore.

However, after being on a ship 1/14/23 when the "new" awful menus started, the food has definitely IMPROVED since then.

I was on the Jewel from 4/5 to 4/20 for her transatlantic crossing with two friends. It was their first cruise, so we ate in the MDR every night for 15 nights.  The food was very good-to-excellent.  I was especially happy to see on this cruise, at least, the lobster tail was larger and much more flavorful.  My friend is a vegetarian, and thought the Indian food was outstanding in the MDR and the Windjammer.  Caveat: she is a world traveler, been to India many times, a former Peace Corps worker, so she knows her international food.

Food is subjective, but I am not picky, been eating RCCL food for 5 decades, and I think it's not at it's peak, but definitely had good food this past cruise, and seen it steadily getting better since January 2023.

11 hours ago, jcc1025 said:

This is just an opinon from a service business point of view. If they allowed the package people to reserve a spot ahead of time it would take up all the key slots. Then people who only want one night would look, see the time slots were all full and not purchace the dinner. So they would lose that business. They already have our committement to dine in a specialy dining spot and so would lose possible additional revenue. My feeling is that block out individals slots for single dinners for each night so as to not upset people who might dine one night and like it and decide to do additional night. We have never had an issue getting a time within a half hour of our desired time when we book on line with the UDP. I know some will not like the idea but if it was my business our yours I think you would do the same thing. As long as you book your reservations early, that is the first thing we do when we board we have never had a problem. 

The specialty restaurants compete for the Unlimited Dining Package buyers, as they are guaranteed income.  People that want a single reservation still have many, many options for dining at their restaurant of choice.

My sister and I like (because she's fussy) to get the UDP.  I book us for lunch the first day, pay for it, and we have the charge reversed when we show up on Day 1.  I also hand over our list of reservations we would like to make for the rest of the cruise, with a tip, and our specialty lunches and dinners are booked by the time lunch is over. I would like the convenience of doing it in advance, but having them made around noon on embarkation day is plenty early enough for now.  

Even if you don't eat lunch in a specialty restaurant the first day, it's open for you to ask they make your reservation(s) for the cruise; you don't have to wait until dinner time.

Actually, this is a perfect forum to post this information. Cruise passengers stopping in Cozumel last week and this week, can be aware of the situation, and be on the alert for the man.  

It takes a village, people...................................

Unfortunately, I cannot stand the smell of the "new" products they provide. Strong coconut fragrance.  So, I take my White Citrus products with me in travel cosmetic pouches. Nutaki Travel essentials is the name on Amazon. I found the large pouch was more than enough for 2 weeks.

Is this the number you called?  866-592-7225

Also, you can email all your questions and concerns to special_needs@rccl.com

1 hour ago, FamilyCruiserUK said:

From the UK i struggle to understand how people do NOT have travel insurance for any holiday outside of your country, and a cruise ship is outside of your country. The cost of medical care on cruise ships as far as i know is not covered by your home medical insurance. 

 

My travel insurance for thee of us for world wide travel for up to a year is £157 surely its worth paying that compared to a visit to the medical centre on the ship. 

Agree.  It's been discussed extensively here on CC that many of us buy annual travel insurance for the price one would pay to insure one trip.  Go more than 100 miles away from home, you're covered.  For $188 a year, that's $15 a month.

 I live in the SF Bay Area.  If I decide to drive to Monterey to the aquarium for the day, my travel insurance covers me.

Yes, many passengers dress very casually every night at dinner, not just formal nights. It's a personal choice. 

On a 7 night cruise there are 2 "dressy" nights, so one pair of long pants and one collared shirt is good for that, if you want.

I have a "wardrobe" of lanyards with slim wallet purse/card holder that I bring to match my clothing.  I also wear masks in crowded situations on board (came home with COVID last September post-cruise).  The masks are blingy to match the lanyards. 

(If you are ever on a ship and see a woman that looks like my avatar wearing a blingy mask....it's me)

I have a door magnet a friend gave me that says: "Some people wander looking for the meaning of life.  Some of us are just looking for our cabin.  This is your cabin, Peggy."

All of the above is available on Amazon.

On 3/24/2024 at 9:56 AM, AGE_Texas said:

We’re going on our first cruise in December with Royal Caribbean and I got an offer to purchase The Key that allows your priority access on embarkation, debarkation and excursion days among other perks like priority seating at shows, 20% off speciality dining, etc. it also includes internet access.

The main reason I’m interested is because I don’t want to have to wait for hours to get on/off the ship with my little ones. But not sure how long the waits really are. 
 

It’s $24.99/day pp. internet a la carte is $17.99/day pp so figured it’s a pretty good deal. 
 

Thoughts?

First of all, do NOT take into account anyone else's boarding experience.  It varies widely.  For instance:  I am Pinnacle.  I show up at a dock this past January, and there's no Suite/Pinnacle entrance like all the other cruise terminals I've been through.  I stand outside in close to freezing temperatures until someone finally gets the HUGE line (about a block long) moving.  Next morning I wake up with a frostbitten ear!  So, easy-breezy is not always the case.

I would consider upgrading to a suite. Compare the add-on cost of the whole family paying for the Key, vs Suite amenities:  priority check-in and boarding, lounge access with happy hour food and free beverages every day, priority tender boat access in tendered port, free wifi, priority debarkation.

Yes, there is usually a specialty restaurant (or more) open on embarkation day. Yes, your UDP works on day 1.

The best way to know in advance is to go to the Cruise Planner for your cruise online (not the app).  Go to dining and look for "specialty restaurant lunch", then click on the restaurant(s) listed.  Go through the reservation process to the point you see the days the restaurant is open for lunch.  Day 1 will show in the list if it's open that day.

Your choice as to whether you make the reservation, then show up with your UDP and have the cost credited back to your card/obc, or however you paid.  I've done this several times successfully, ESPECIALLY if I hand over my list of preferred reservations with a tip, and ask them to make my other reservations for the whole cruise.  Don't forget day 1 dinner, as they automatically select a restaurant for you, and you may want another one.

2 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

No one here knows the story with those people. Am I surprised that some here have no sympathy? No, not surprised at all. It is a frequent occurrence with people here on CC on many different subjects. Those that actually enjoy seeing others in distress, whatever the reason may be and look at it as entertainment, what can I say other than it speaks volumes about yourself.

I agree: entertainment about someone else's misery is "bottom of the barrel" IMO.

I've experienced being panicked and stranded overnight at the end of a cruise, with a very sick husband.  Wouldn't wish that on anyone else, ever.

1 minute ago, BecciBoo said:

 It's really nice to be totally unpacked at 2pm

 

We choose to check ours, I hate to schlep bags around, we always get the earliest arrival appt. times so I know our bags are first on the ship, hence almost always waiting for us when we enter the room...and we are always unpacked  by 2.  My BFF says they live out of their opened luggage on the couch and never pack or unpack, but with my OCD I must have a place for everything and everything in its place hidden away.  Our cabin is always neat as a pin.  I'm a bit strange like that....🙄

I'm joining your "a bit strange like that" club, BecciBoo!

I HATE lugging my luggage around with me on embarkation day.  I keep a change of clothes in my tote bag, and keep IT as lightweight as possible, too!  I'm unpacked my 2-3pm, as I don't consider myself starting my cruise unless all my stuff if put away, and also keep the cabin (as a cruise friend once told me) "pristine".  It's my Grandma talking in my head: "Peggy, what if you die and they have to come into your cabin to pack, and it's a MESS????"  (Yes, it's the old-fashioned "always wear clean underwear" statement.)

Yes, they are.  Contact Special Needs at RCCL: https://www.royalcaribbean.com/resources/guest-special-needs