Starry Eyes

And/or to the lower level of cancellations as the covid situation evolved.

Relax. I merely asked your point of comparison when you said Viking cost a bit more up front. Clearly you were comparing Viking to your GS on Royal Caribbean. Obviously the vast majority of Royal Caribbean’s passengers sail in lesser accommodations, so they perceive a greater price gap between the two companies. For most of us, Viking is more expensive now. And it is a different style that suits some people better than others right now. I’m glad you are enjoying it.

OP, the check in date for your December cruise is approaching. Once you check in and have a set sail pass, you’ll be able to try the “bar code trick” (assuming you don’t get an assignment by then). Royal may have already set aside a stateroom for you, even though it has not officially been assigned; if so, the bar code trick will suss it out.

It is fairly uncommon, though Royal did over book a few cruises as this year as mentioned by a PP. in those oversell situations, an email went to multiple customers asking them to respond if they wanted to be placed on a list as possible volunteers for nice move-over deal or refund. I think they received enough volunteers with flexible plan. Our plans are pretty flexible. If they made the right offer, we’d move to another ship or departure date.

“A bit extra upfront” Do you mean a bit extra upfront compared to Royal’s current full suite prices? If do, that would be a lot more upfront to those accustomed to Royal’s cheapest cabins.

I do not why you were given 5 credits in 2011 (credits from suite, solo, long cruise, being linked to a person with more credits, clerical error, etc), but it was not because of your Celebrity cruises.

Nope. While has been some reciprocity, Celebrity points definitely did not count towards C&A 20 years ago.

Yes. You’d pay the difference between the current price for the suite and what you paid for the balcony. It does not help you if the balcony price has risen since you booked (some people have thought/hoped they pay the difference between the current balcony price and the current suite price)

There’s a Cruise Critic Chaplain? I didn’t think we needed one. OTOH I could understand the need for a referee once in a while and perhaps the need for a laugh track for some of our inside jokes and ongoing, good natured debates.😀

Your genie should take care of your arrangements.

Like you, I’d like to hear the announcements, but I can image others complaining an announcement into the cabin awoke napping babies or children and perhaps some adults.

It would be nice if they would post the Captain’s announcements on the app so people who are unable to hear (or discern) them can read them (or replay them if they want to do an audio file)

Mariner-new style this month

Everyone who orders a drink hands over their card. Those with D+ or PC cards are served. Those without are asked to leave. Those who do not order drinks (and are not recognized as D+ or PC from prior interactions) could be carded. Hanging around a lounge for long if you could not order a drink wouldn’t seem like much fun to me, so they might leave without being carded. If “cheaters” are embarrassed by being asked to leave, they are not likely to repeat. Even if one’s card does not open the door, it does not seem difficult to follow someone else into the lounge after they swipe to open the door. So, if someone wants to sneak in, they probably can.

That’s true. Plus, even though some people are given more vouchers per day (4, 5 than 6) as they move up in the the loyalty system, the passenger may not choose to consume more drinks. Some of the drinks may be lower cost items (water, soda, juice). As a D+ couple, DH and I receive a total of 10 vouchers per day. On the rare day we use them all, the tally usually includes 2-4 cheap soft drinks or waters. Thus when we make Pinnacle, we will notice the bump internet more than the bump in drink vouchers.

No, not at D. At D+ one can select from a list of amenities, including bottles of wine. The amenities increase as the D+ gains points.

Agony🤣….a cruise on Voyager of the Seas is not agony. I’d be willing to go in a broom closet. It varies, but on some cruises at some points in time the savings are substantial. Also if balconies are nearly sold out, balcony gty may be the only balcony booking option available to the customer; take it or leave it. When we booked Odyssey, a balcony gty was about half the price of any selected balconies (including the obstructed categories). We were prepared for the worst cabin but ended up pleased with our assignments

Ken, If his DD does change her last name on the cruise reservation from maiden to married, will she still be considered an original occupant/name on the reservation? So, if for some unforeseen reason her husband could not go on the cruise with her, would having changed her last name impact her ability to take a friend or relative in his place?

I’ve sailed in 8262 (port vs starboard). It was an excellent location.

I wouldn’t be concerned about noise from the stair/elevator lobby. Your cabin should be about three up from the entrance from the guest hallway toward the stairs. You’ll make a U-shaped route from your cabin to reach the elevator entrance. The location should be pretty convenient. Of course you’ll have foot traffic past this cabin as other guests go back and forth to their cabins…hopefully they will be reasonably considerate, but you can encounter considerate or inconsiderate neighbors anywhere.

Wow. Dynamic pricing seems to have worked in the customer’s favor.

I agree. If you are comfortable sharing the cabin number, we can give you a better idea of the likelihood of noise. If you don’t want to share the entire cabin number, the last three digits will give us a decent indication (though some decks have more elevators/stair congestion than others).

My invoices for balcony gty just say GTY (and I have been getting assigned balconies when appropriate). Of course, my inside gty invoices also just say GTY🤪 (those are always assigned insides as expected). So, the passenger simply cannot tell from an invoice alone. If you remain concerned, you could call (and ask letter code booking category. Oceanview balcony gty are generally category XB. Maybe call the C&A desk this time, especially if you think of a loyalty question, too😉

When I looked there weren’t any CB or 4D cabin currently available, so even if our assignments suddenly became official, neither of us would be trying to trade to another cabin. Of course after the assignments are official, a 4D cabin might open up, as there are so many of those. I expect to stay put.

I checked in for our 12/3 Wonder cruise this morning. The bar code suggests we will be assigned category CB cabin on deck 11 forward. In the past our neighbors in connecting cabins have been reasonably quiet. Hopefully that will be true again.