pcur

Two things: Look to see after 1/1/24 if they allow advance booking for specialty dining with the UDP. I read another thread recently that RCCL announced this was going to be available. You can book the lunch (look for Jamie's under specialty lunch in your Cruise Planner) for everyone if you have their reservation number. Then, when you get on board get refunded for the payment when you show all of you have the UDP. I have done this several times this past year.

I fly from the West Coast. I use Southwest as my go-to airline, and Alaska for flights to EWR. I've found a one way fare on Alaska from SFO to EWR that can be as low as $129, depending on the time of year I'm flying. I got an Alaska credit card last year, and stretched those points as far as I could. I'm flying SFO-EWR the first week of January, and used some Alaska points for a hotel near SFO so I can grab the earliest (and lowest cost) fare to EWR, arriving around 2:30pm. I also have a Chase Sapphire credit card that I can transfer points to Southwest. I use it for everything, and get double points for travel. So, I will pay for a cruise, and then transfer the double points to pay for airfare at some point. I have found over the last 2 years, since January 2022, I have paid a lot less using these two airlines.

You and I are saying the same thing. The "new" info is they have eliminated Pinnacles in Suites from the count, as being in a Suite takes priority. So, it allows a few more Pinns into the Lounge.

Guess what! I will be on the Anthem 3/17/24, also! Name the place and time! You will recognize me: I look exactly like my avatar.

I don't recommend solo cabins. They are skimpy in size and storage. I cruise solo and usually book a Virtual Balcony, or a Promenade View, to get extra light in the room. I had a VB on the Anthem from 11/26 to 12/3/23, and loved it! My cruise friend came in and said it was only a little smaller than her obstructed balcony cabin, and the second closet was narrower.

My experience with Concierges that have episodes of flagrant rule-breaking, is they avoid direct confrontation. They will usually call or talk to the offender in private to explain what is and is not allowed. I've experienced this personally when there was a problem one night with a man bringing his VERY vocal baby and his 3 year old son in with him. The toddler was running up and down the window sills all across the width of the lounge, and the baby never stopped yelling. I had to talk to two Concierges before the first one "got it", and the man was quietly told the next evening that he would have to leave if his children became disruptive again. On the other hand, I usually don't say anything if the children are there for food, and are gone by 6-6:30. The Navigator last week was like this. A mad daycare atmosphere from 5-6, and then quiet until 8pm. The whole ship had a LARGE number of children, as it was a weekend cruise.

Actually, this has changed within the last 30-45 days. When accounting for the number of people allowed in the Suite Lounge on ships with a Coastal Kitchen, those Pinnacles staying in a suite are eliminated from the "Pinnacle" count. I was on the Liberty, the Anthem, and the Navigator over the last month, and was in the Suite Lounge every night on all 3 ships, and ate in the Coastal kitchen on the Anthem. I'm Pinnacle and I don't book suites.

Ask the podium manager as you go into the dining room.

Between early Jan 2024 until March 2025, I'm on the Odyssey, Freedom, Radiance, Anthem, Vision, and Grand Princess for an average of $90/night (factoring out my solo supplement I pay). Virtual Balcony, partially obstructed Ocean View, and Balcony cabins. I suggest everyone start going on the hunt for a travel agent with group rates. For instance: I tried to book with NextCruise on the Liberty last month. Texted my travel agent who got me the same $100 obc, and a $750 lower rate for a higher category cabin. The prices don't have to be really high; the travel agent has to be really good with group rates. I agree that direct booking with RCCL is not the way to get a lower price.

Way back in the way back a MTD manager explained the whole system to me when they first started MTD.

When you are in the MDR at a specific table, your presence is noted. If you are not recorded in a specific place that can "claim" that portion of that day's gratuities, then it goes to the pooled "Dining Services", and it distributed throughout the no-charge eating venues.

Whenever your room number is recorded, or you are assigned a table, those servers get their portion of your dining gratuities. When you are out and about, and no specific restaurant records you as dining with them, your dining gratuities goes to "Dining Services".

It's my understanding that if you do not eat in the main dining room, then the "dining related" portion of your gratuities are distributed to the "dining services" category. This is all the other eating venues that do not record your cabin number when you go in. Every time your cabin number is entered into the system, the portion of your grats that would have gone to the staff in the MDR, now are diverted to the restaurant where you are recorded as eating that meal. The tips are pooled for the staff in that restaurant.

Thanks for clarifying............

Yeah!! Quantum from San Pedro or SD.............I'm soooooo there!!

OH, HALLELUJAH!!! I'm taping a printout of this to my suitcases for my FLL trips next year. Thank you very much.

The time for a quieter swim in the main pool is early in the morning, and around 4-6pm when everyone is going to dinner.

I was trying to not regurgitate all that I found while looking a flights from the OP's local area, but I did, indeed find the fare that I mentioned. I have flown Alaska EWR to/from the West Coast several times, and find it's pretty much the only East-West (and vice-versa) nonstop, and reasonably priced flight I could find. Matter of fact, I flew that route just two days ago to LAX. Also, you must have missed the part about the Alaska credit card for free check-in baggage in your to post.

Just to give some perspective: the poo-ing on the pool deck is something I have NEVER seen in 50 years. But, I had my son do that at age 2 at a soccer game................the other parents thought it was hysterical. I did NOT walk away from it. The one thing about life I expect is that things will change. So, I find my own ways to adapt, and see if I can still enjoy what has changed. I've started tracking the Unlimited Dining Package for all my cruises. I may not continue, because I'm finding the quality of food in the MDR is improving after the monumental screw-up from the menu changes last January. Windjammer is improving slightly, too. I have found the UDiningP to be as low as $17 average per meal, accounting for all available lunch and dinner reservations. $166 extra for my Sisters' Cruise next September is acceptable to me, and keeps my picky sister happy. I was talking to someone yesterday taking the little golf cart tram back to the ship in Nassau: she and I agreed we LIKE only getting cabin service once a day and in the evening. This way we have the ENTIRE day to do what we want on our own schedule.

I agree, once removed. I'm on the Anthem now with a travel companion who also gets balcony cabins. She has an obstructed balcony now and says it's just fine. She is mid-ship in x660, which coincidentally will be my cabin next March. I found her cabin to be quite roomy, and the obstruction was not a problem. She's very happy with it. Plus, it's mid-ship, so close to the elevator. I tease her, because I have a "virtual balcony" 3 decks above her. My view is better that hers! Yesterday, I had a lovely view of the Colonial Beach / Lighthouse area in Nassau. Today it's the sky with fluffy clouds and REALLY calm water. This VB of mine is at least 4-5 ft wide, and floor to ceiling high. BIG view. The only negative I've experienced in this b2b is I walked out of the bathroom yesterday morning to get dressed and was FREAKED for a few seconds by the heads of two crew staring at me!!!! They were cleaning the camera lens.......😁

I found, after much hunting and pecking on Alaska's web site, that they have nonstop flights to the West Coast for a very low price, from Newark, NJ. My nonstops to/from SFO have been as low as $139. So, if you can find a low cost flight up to EWR, it might work. Right now from EWR in mid-July, flying on a Friday, the fare is $249 one way. Get a "MAIN" seat, which includes seat selection and refund options. Also, get yourself an Alaska credit card, even it you only spend $5 with it. If you have it with you when you check bags, they are free.

You have to click on "Reserve" and when the page refreshes it gives you the days and times.

Yes, you are correct! My bad: I was pricing PV rooms just before posting here. I love my Virtual Balcony room here on the Anthem!

Truly unfortunate situation. The OP was obviously (after I read this entire thread) using an "elephant gun" approach. I've been in few very unfortunate situations with RCCL. Once at the end of a cruise where most passengers were stranded in Barcelona with no way home on a Spanish holiday weekend. RCCL chartered planes to get us home. The other incident was when my husband passed away. No questions from them: 100% refund or FCC for all my bookings. So, it was too slow coming, but their eventual compensation and added perks in this situation were reasonable, IMO. I am a make lemonade type of person: I would have realized the cruise was not happening, I would be reimbursed, and said to myself, "Self, you have a NEW vacation in Australia instead of a cruise." IF the cruise was a closed loop, I would book something until my flight left. Or, if it was a one way cruise, I would have booked a flight out far enough that I wasn't paying huge amounts for it. (And, this is an example of why we should all have trip interruption/cancellation insurance)

I am on the Anthem now for a b2b (2 weeks). I love me my Anthem!! I agree the entertainment is not inspiring, especially the huge amount of talent available in the New York area. But, this is just personal preferences on my part. I like ensemble productions more than stand-up or single performers. The most amazing show I have seen in years was on the Liberty before Thanksgiving: In the Air. Fantastic show. I am very happy with the once daily room cleaning, and I prefer evening. I don't have to be out of my cabin at any certain time, and can come and go anytime I want without being concerned my cabin steward might be in there cleaning. No waiting around during the day to get in my cabin. I leave for dinner and come back to a clean cabin. I think the Anthem is a gorgeous ship. So sleek and well appointed. My current "home" is an inside Promenade View cabin that is very large, beautifully furnished, with the gigantic live feed view outside the ship. I very much like the Promenade and Via areas, and have never considered the number of shops. With thousands of passengers, I'm sure somebody is going in and out. I cannot fathom why the word "cheap" would be used to describe this ship, but everyone has their own likes and dislikes. The Windjammer, IMO, is one of the BEST in the fleet, but I have only been on two of the super-sized ships: the Anthem and the Odyssey. MUCH, MUCH better laid out than the Oasis class. The Anthem's WJ has lots of separate stations, which keeps the traffic flowing. The food there is excellent, which is pretty much the opposite of what I've experienced in the last year on several other ships. I walked in yesterday for late breakfast, walked up to a counter, the lady was preparing EXACTLY what I wanted: avocado toast with smoked salmon. I thanked her for it, too! Added fresh cut fruit, a fresh kiwi for me to cut, and I was at a table within 5 minutes from walking in the door. Yes, it was very crowded. Back for some scrambled eggs and bacon, eating those within a few minutes, too. This Windjammer keeps the people moving with it's design. I appreciate that. Also, a 15 person line for Asian food is pretty normal for all ships, and actually pretty small considering the number of people to be fed breakfast on the Anthem. I'm not too sure about tables and chairs in walkways. I haven't experienced that any time I've been on the Anthem. However, I know that passengers in general on all ships tend to leave chairs sticking out from the table when they get up. It really does impede others' ability to walk through. It's like walking through a maze in the eating areas. If the reference to the pool staff is the lifeguards, I appreciate them. There were multiple child drownings before the attendants were added. Glad to see them.