Starry Eyes

Yes, we had that experience on Jewel. It was made worse because that dining room has a single entry/exit. By the time each side of that entry hallway is lined by queued MTD folks (reservations on one side, no reservations on the other) there is only a narrow middle aisle for those exiting the MDR, those returning from rest rooms and people trying joining their MTD friends already in line. It can get too crowded, increasing the grumpiness. If Royal would get it’s IT up to snuff, that issue would be solved with a virtual queue with MTD signaling for tables via the app and if there is a delay waiting comfortably in a bar on their balcony until being notified via app that their table was ready. Also traditional diners could have the option to RSVP, so when they have other plans the seats could immediately be released for MTD diners.

We had a “what's the point of picking your dining time...” experience today. We had confirmed early dining for our Wonder cruise (never waitlisted). We wanted to check our table location when we arrived on the ship, but we discovered we had somehow been magically moved to MTD. Ship personnel blame shoreside. I don’t care whether ship or shoreside or IT is to blame. We are inconvenienced as we do not currently have a table.

Of course, when one is willing to stay over 100 miles from the port, the number of pre-cruise hotel options is far greater and thus one is more apt to find a variety of price points.

The 1 billion was the profit for the 3rd quarter, not for the 12 months. Total revenue for 3rd quarter was 4.2 billion.

It sounds like your dd has earned lots of points, perhaps as many as her parents if she went on just as many cruises. This thread is not talking about kids like that. There are people who have only been on one or a few cruises as minors yet they are D+ (for example) because their parents made D+ before the child turned 18. They can pass that status to their significant other.

I’m not aware of such a tool, though some people track prices on their own cruises Prices can vary by ship and sail date (dynamic pricing), and generally prices have risen over the last couple years. If you really want the 3 day or UDP, you may have to buy it at the best price you see for your cruise and consider that the best deal you can get. Alternatively, do some math (adding up the value of the specialty meals you really want), decide what the package is worth to you, and only buy if it meets your threshold.

95 cruises all over and I have been asked for ID as well as seapass card….Most recently we were asked for photo ID to re-enter port area in Bermuda just weeks ago. There were passengers digging ID’s out of their beach bags as I sailed by with my ID ready, as I knew Bermuda checked ID. Each time the Bermuda authorities looked me in the eye and addressed me by name after checking my ID.

Well, by that same logic they could make everyone D+ after one cruise, because then they’d be inclined to book another Royal Caribbean cruise…Is that actually how loyalty programs are supposed to work?🤪

They opened it at about 9:40 for our late October cruise.

Newbies without a D (or higher) spouse book cruises. For a newbie with a D spouse, it is a better value. Other loyalty programs do not give spouses and GF or BF matching status, yet those businesses manage. If the couple is having marital problems, they should see a counselor not a TA.

I’ll go further. Linked accounts should not gain status, so de-linking would not matter as much. A new spouse or relationship can be gold while the partner is D, D+ or whatever. The latter could use their vouchers to buy a drink for the newbie. With the vouchers lounge access is not such a big deal. The minor children can earn their own status based on the number of cruises they actually sail rather than automatically gaining the parent’s status; many kids cruise enough to earn status anyway. Notify the current ones that their status will be grandfathered for specified length of time (a year or two, perhaps) then they will revert to their own status based on their own earned points.

I’d point out those cruise were released for sale some time ago. If certain cruises sell better than other, the prices of the remaining cabins on those high demand cruise will be higher than cruises experiencing lower demand. Sometimes the cruiseline anticipates higher demand before releasing the cruises, in which case the prices are higher from the start (holiday cruises, special itineraries, for example). This longer itinerary may have started with slightly higher prices, sold well and now have substantially higher prices. Also, google to see if there is a partial ship charter. Sometimes a big group willing to pay $$$ can influence the pricing and perhaps even the itinerary.

I did not want to imply the kids could not handle an embarkation meal at Chops.😉 My question was whether they’d really enjoy the long meal right then or be itching to explore. I meant take the personalities and past cruise experiences into account.😀

That was true many years ago when MTD was first introduced. The policy was changed several years ago. Royal evidently was not scrubbed the old info from the internet.

If your party was all adults, the Chops plan would sound great. With so many kids, it is less certain. So kids would enjoy a leisurely meal at Chops as soon as they board while others kids would probably be antsy. As you seem to think the kids will want to explore, I’d go to WJ before it fills and perhaps select a different day in Chops.

If you were referring to my post, I wonder if you were intentionally missing my point about logo items. I’m not going to look for them on eBay.

Yes. I assume the personnel would be very careful, both to care for people’s property and because they will be blamed if a bag does go home with the wrong person or is missing. Such diligence would make for a slow process. No wonder the poster who suggested such a system does not want to pay for it or participate in it.🤣🤣🤣

If the port hires personnel to check luggage tags as you suggest, the port will increase port fees on all passengers to pay those personnel. So even if you roll your own bags off, you would pay if your suggestion is implemented.

Yes, I remember those gifts and the snack boxes. I never complained, though at the time we had more hats than we needed, lol. I think we still have have a couple of the hats. I think those hats were a very good investment by RCI. We often wore them while doing yard work and such. Over the years at each of our homes neighbors who know we are cruise enthusiasts also likely also know that Royal Caribbean is a favorite cruiseline. They are less likely to know the cruiseline we sailed a lot back then that did not give us that wearable swag. Those hats lead to many conversations about our Royal Caribbean cruises. It was probably the cheapest, longest advertising Royal Caribbean ever purchased. I think Royal Caribbean should try to inexpensively plant it’s logo on the heads and backs and living rooms (as hats, t-shirts, collectable coasters, etc) of it’s most loyal cruisers.

Yes, it is easy to confuse those gifts, especially for those of us who have been receiving D+ gifts for years.

Times have changed. The welcome aboard beverages (which previously could have included Coke at D and beer at D+) are now all just water. If you want Coke, you either need to select a 6 pack of Coke as your one of you D+ amenities or use your D voucher at a bar for a can of Coke or carry up to 12 Cokes from home. I checked…the D+ amenity option is a 6 pack of soda. See link below. https://www.royalcaribbean.com/content/dam/royal/resources/pdf/cas-amenities-feb-2023.pdf

Plusgrade had no way to know if you might cancel your bid, increase your bid or just hold steady if they had waited a week or two. As you were thinking of increasing, it is just as well they are not mind readers.

For us that was not an issue, though we certainly try not to forget items in the cabin. The distance is an issue for some people. Everyone needs to make their own choices.

It was quiet. Come to think of it, that was another reason I chose 1598. An old post said 1598 was quiet and I could not find any info about my other option. Congrats on the upgrade. It sounds like you have two decent choices…an especially sweet RoyalUp win

When we had a similar choice on a sister ship, we took 1598. DH especially likes to sit in the shade, and the extended area of the balcony in 1598 tends to be shady….perfect We liked having the extra balcony space. We had no issue with the long walk to the cabin, though others might.