Starry Eyes

Per that link, “Guests may only use status match comparison one time, even if they belong to multiple loyalty programs.” So, if we status match, we get one cruise at the high status, then if we take a second MSC cruise we back at the bottom (our earned status)?

WooHoo. Good catch. The cruise obsession pays off again. Now, after going to the trouble of scoring early times, repeat after me: I will not let it bother me if the people staffing the port pay no attention to arrival times, allowing people with late check in times to just line up, too. Been there, watched frustrated people.

I can’t imagine how anybody could be confused, LOL. It was nice to test today for Sunday cruise, though not having to test at all will be nicer still.

Add your set sail pass to your Apple wallet or scan the bar code if an Android user. Numbers should appear under the bar code. The numbers to the right of the dash represent the cabin you will be assigned. If your cabin has not yet been determined, gty will appear after the dash (keep checking back for the assignment; it will show up sometime) Check in starts at midnight (some people report their’s was delayed a little bit, so do not get discouraged at 12:01). I believe it is ship time zone.

Thanks for sharing your experiences on your recent cruise. I have a few follow up questions if you are willing. Do you know what time did MTD opened on you Adventure cruise? What time(s) were your reservations? How long were the reservation/no reservation lines at your reserved times?

I understand, but you work with the tools you have on the bigger cruiseline. You seem to have a good attitude, so you’ll be fine. Since your party anticipates a table alone, the waitstaff will allow you to set your own pace through dinner, so you can move quickly if you have a tight timing for a show or slowly if you want a leisurely dinner. As poocher mentioned, you could consider the UDP, though if you are on Adventure as I seem to recall, I’m not sure you’ll find enough specialty restaurants to make it worthwhile. It is worth a look; maybe the menus and price will be right for you.

You do not gain (or lose, for that matter) extra C&A points from a successful RoyalUp bid. You receive the points based on the cabin you booked not the upgraded cabin for bidding. On the other hand, if you upgrade to a suite that comes with perks such as free wifi and suite lounge access, you do get those perks.

“Slots” as in seating capacity. Only so many people can be assigned to early TD and so many to late TD. Once all the tables are filled in early and late, no more people assigned to MTD can switch to TD; they will remain assigned to MTD (or eat in other venues) even if they have tots with early bedtimes or brittle diabetics who eat on rigid schedules or whatever

Yours was just one of many such threads since the restart. There were even some before the shutdown, as the new system started on some ships long ago. Many of us are startled or disbelieving when we first learn of the changes in MTD starting time. Some, like you, discover it before the cruise, and can learn about the new system and make the best selection for their families from the available options before the cruise. It is worse for those who learn about the change on board after all the traditional dining slots are filled.

Thanks for that feedback. If the same situation ever happens again, I won’t even waste everyone’s time by calling. That adds a new caveat to the summary: in the North American market, gty assignment changes are routinely allowed if a new cabin in the exact same category is available for booking for your size party.

In the past if a cabin in the exact same category was available I have switched without difficulty under US booking rules. I did encounter a problem this week for the first time. Two people booked in balcony gty XB were assigned category 3D, a cabin that can hold 3. Per mock bookings, many category 3D cabins were available for booking by parties of 3, but they were not available to parties of 2. Our assigned cabin is located next to a blank space on deck plan (?noise issue?), so I called three times to try to swap. First CSR sounded new. Second one sounded unsure then cut me off. Third one said no 3D available until I pointed out the three person capacity. He then searched and acknowledged 3Ds were available but said the system still would not allow him to make the change. As DH and I are not very noise sensitive, we decided not to waste more time and kept the assignment.

Guarantees can be assigned anytime from right after booking until day of sailing (though most are assigned before day if sailing). For example, our balcony gty for our cruise this weekend was assigned 6 days before sailing. On previous cruises we received assignment earlier (weeks before the cruise). Have you heard of the barcode trick to check for cabin ads on you set sail pass?

A CSR recently asked me if I wanted refundable when I booked a gty.

I’m considering a (relatively) last minute booking of a Bermuda cruise from Port Canaveral, but I am concerned about the authorization process. Can you offer opinions: how far in advance you need to book&submit TA to be comfortable you’d get your authorization in time? 30 days? 20 days? 10 days?

Are you going to book another JS gty to go for a triple?

I am sorry this happened. It is important to change reservations rather than cancel them. Our booking experiences differ though. When I booked online, I there was an option to select a refundable deposit as described by others. In my case, it did not seem worthwhile, as the increased fare was more than the change fee; I understand that means change the date/ship. When booking by phone recently, I was also asked (then asked again to verify my answer) if I wanted the refundable rate. I remember this well because it was a last minute booking, already in penalty phase (I did not pay more for refundable deposit 🤣)

If you are collecting C&A points to gain status for you and hubby (linked in C&A system so both spouses benefit), then you may indeed want an adult booked as the solo. That solo will get an extra point per night. If you do this, the same spouse should always be the one booked as the solo to maximize the effect for the couple. OTOH, If a suite with suite benefits is involved, you have an incentive to get the adults into the same cabin to reap those benefits. You did not mention that, so I presume not. If you decide you want son booked in cabin solo, he should be in a cabin adjacent to or directly across the hall from his parents. You need to call to make such reservations; you cannot do them online. If your current booking is nonrefundable, it may not be worth it to make changes this time. You can get “extra card” for to open your husband’s cabin from guest services. You’ll just carry two cards; perhaps you’d do that anyway so you could go to son’s cabin.

That would be memorable cabin as the noise and vibration are pronounced even for those further from the anchor. It’s been a while since I’ve heard it though as more ships use GPS positioning systems rather than dropping anchor.

As I recall, years ago there was a Royal GGG ad style that included more specific cabin categories (for example D,X rather than just balcony) and also single supplement. There may have been fewer cruises on sale on typical weeks then, so allowing more space per cruise was not an issue. Later the list was made more compact, though with less info on each cruise, as seen in the pre-shutdown example.

If you are thinking of showing up before your scheduled arrival window, you may want to specify the ship&embarkation port. People on recent cruises from that port can then share their experiences to give you the closest approximation to your boarding day. Or do you mean can you show up without doing on line checkin?

And if you book a suite gty, you really should expect a JS assignment. Once in a while somebody gets assigned a full suite, but when you book a suite gty do so expecting a JS, then be thrilled if you get more.

It is not that straightforward. There may be more OV cabins you cannot see. There can be shadow inventory the cruiseline does not show anyone. There may be available cabins TA can see but you cannot. Some cabins may be held for different numbers of passengers (for example, I am waiting for a gty balcony for 2; there have been few or none of those for a while yet plenty if I enter 3 guests; they may soon give me one of those as cruise is 7 days out). Some people in OV’s now may decide to pay the difference and get a balcony if the price ever looks good to them, opening up OV cabins. And then there is RoyalUp, where somebody in an OV bids and gets a better cabin, opening up an OV cabin. So, long story short, if you booked an OV gty, the odds are you will get an OV.

Those are all possible, with “somewhere in between” being more frequently reported. I’d say about 3-6 days before the cruise might be the most commonly reported time.

Great attitude. As long as you can adjust to dining later, MTD should work out just fine.

Doesn’t it feel odd when you know more than the CSR? Have a chuckle, call back and hope for better luck next call. I usually call the C&A line, though I can’t guarantee the knowledge base will be better.