MACE

My post was in regard to Royal doing a trail of adding new Fees, this time in the MDR

Some have replied it's nothing more than Royal cost cutting and and nickel and dimming.

We all know once a mainstream Cruise Line does something like this, others usually follow.

Have you all read that Guests onboard Norwegian Cruise Line ships have begun to confirm a new $4.95 service fee for continental breakfast room service is now being charged?

32 minutes ago, chengkp75 said:

Didn't realize the concept of "complementary" dining equaled "all you can shove down your gullet".

That's why you go to the Gutjammer...

In regard to the trial about the possible start of MDR extra Fees for Lobster Tails and Entrees fleet wide, remember: Royal is Loyal to their Customers and their Money.

Some fun at Royal's expense (pun intended)

Why stop in the MDR for charging extra fees?

Windjammer: Have to swipe your SeaPass Card to get a plate, then swipe it again to exit the WJ

Pool Deck Towel Station: Have to swipe your card every 30 minutes to extend the time of using your Pool Towel. It's a win win for Royal, more money, and cuts down on Chair Hogs

Stateroom: Here's where Royal can make a lot of $$$ on extra fees

-Swipe your card every time you need to open the safe

-Swipe your card for a new roll of toilet paper

-Swipe your card every time you want a fresh bathroom towel

-Swipe your card every time to enter the bathroom, after the 1st three complementary visits per day

-Like the Corkage fee, swipe your card every time you want to open the balcony door to enjoy those fresh free Ocean Breezes...wait "free" fresh Ocean Breezes? Royal may see an another opportunity to charge a extra fee

Royal just might find Endless Opportunities Aboard to Make the most extra Fees possible of Every Cruise Moment...lol

On 12/2/2022 at 12:19 PM, shellunderwater said:

But I didn't learn to type until high school.

 

🙂

lol...9th Grade Typing Class: "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog"

23 hours ago, Mum2Mercury said:

 

Come on, spelling and grammar are elementary school skills.  

To point out the use of one letter, is nothing more than just being petty, desperately seeking attention, and offering up nothing substantial to the subject matter

8 minutes ago, poocher said:

Ok so I shouldn’t mention the extra “m”?

The self anointed spell Police is back. Instead of your frivolous replies, please tell us all here, any thoughts you may actually have, about RCI  and extra costs that may be charged in the MDR

18 minutes ago, CanHardlyWait4NextYear said:

I don't believe most see it as just a "trial". It's about the start of endless cost cutting and nickel and dimming. The road to less choice of food, while at the same time charging more for extras etc. IMHO

Agree

23 minutes ago, poocher said:

Not sure why so many insert that extra “n”. DINNING like WINNING.  DINING like WHINING!

Ah, gotta love the spell Police, you are correct: "Dining"

Back in September of 2000 on the Voyager of the Seas

Waiter: "You want some more Lobster Tails and another Entree?"

Imagine then, if today's new prices were put in place, sure defeats the concept of 'Complementary' Dinning

Just checked their Cyber Monday 'Sale", exact same Cruise Planner prices as their Black Friday 'Sale'

Once these sales are over, I'd suspect the Cruise Planner prices will jump around $5-10 per package such as UDP, VOOM Surf+Stream, the KEY, etc...

BTW for our 2023 June Ovation Cruise to Alaska, the Black Friday Prices to date for UDP @ $66.99, VOOM Surf+Stream @ $13.99, and the KEY @ $30.99, are at the Lowest I've seen since May of this year...

We had already booked a 2023 June Cruise to Alaska on Ovation when onboard a Symphony Cruise in April, and have been monitoring RCI's prices for UDP, VOOM Surf+Stream, and the KEY

The Black Friday Cruise Planner prices for above, are the lowest I've seen since monitoring.

That being said, we've never booked a Cruise only during a Black Friday Sale, supposedly their best prices of the year, for everything cruise related.

Thought's on the current Black Friday Sale which ends @ Midnight, still offering up better discounts than any one day Cyber Monday Sales RCI might post?

3 hours ago, Fun2snorkel said:

We are heading North and the seas have been fairly rough but manageable. Our next stop is scheduled for Baltimore but we haven’t been told if we will arrive early. I think we possibly may slow down after we get out of the rough seas but have not seen or heard any announcements. 
 

we are receiving OBC for 1night of our cruise fare. I haven’t seen anything about refunding Port Charges. 

Sorry for the change to your cruise. Thoughts about just getting OBC for 1 night of your cruise fare for missing two ports? Perhaps RCI should have also considered a FCC

From the Symphony - 2nd Day at Sea April 28th, 2022 from the MDR: Surf and Turf...all was Good!

On 5/3/2022 at 8:16 PM, baelor said:

If you don't mind, how so/why not?

Smaller pieces of Escargot and just not as flavorful, lost that nice tender buttery, creamy, and herbs-like taste.

Another item I forgot to mention was that in both our Staterooms, the A/C was substandard in keeping our rooms cool, on our Deck 8 and Deck 12 Forward Balcony cabins

And to make matters worse, my Cabin Steward, would always take my plastic card I left in the Holder to keep the A/C and Power on, and leave it on the bed

My Daughter and sis-in-law's Steward never removed their card

20 hours ago, MillyBean said:

 

Seriously, I've heard of these gigalos.  Is that really a thing?  Someone to entertain the single ladies?

I'd venture to say Tom was more that a "Gigalo"

The 1st night, he walked up to a single lady and sat down

The 2nd night he walked up to a single male and sat down

Then it progressed to him walking up to couples,  including Senior Citizens,  and just sitting down

Every night, he would just pick a table, sit down and say: " Hi, I'm Tom"

By the look on all those peoples faces, they were a bit uncomfortable with his behavior.

Just off the Symphony 4/23/22 Cruise

Overall the Food was good with 3 exceptions in the MDR:
1) The Escargot wasn't as good as it always was on previous cruises

2) Only half my Chicken Cordon Bleu had Ham, Swiss, and Lemon-Dijon Sauce.

3) Tried MDR for Breakfast one morning, the portions shrunk and the Corned Beef Hash was better in the WJ

14 minutes ago, hollon said:

if you got off at 9:00 AM, did you go to the airport afterwards, if so, how long did it take you, were ubers easy to find?

We did a Post Cruise stay at Rui Piazza Miami Beach Hotel. Took a Taxi - the lines were very long! We waited and snaked through the line for at least 30-40 minutes plus for a Taxi. First one we got said he didn't want to take the 3 of us because of our luggage, and we were redirected to a holding area to wait for a van. In hindsight, we should have called for a Uber XL, while waiting in the line to clear Customs

My Daughter and I decided to treat her Aunt/my Sis-in-Law, to her very First Cruise

They shared Balcony Cabin 8170

I got a free upgrade from an Interior with Virtual Balcony to Balcony Cabin 12160

Our Check-in time was 2:30pm

We got to the Port of Miami at 11:45 and was advised there was no longer a scheduled Check-in time, or special areas for C&A Diamond+ and below to Check-in

We were onboard at 12:15 in the WJ for Lunch

Here follows those Shipboard Observations and Experiences

-Captain Announced we were 5000 passengers strong

-Lifeboat/Safety Drill a breeze, watch the App video, check in to your Muster Station and done

-Crew Staff ship shortages due transfer of crew to other ships (ex Wonder) and/or training of new Staff

-Solarium Bistro was never open

-Parts of the WJ not open/staffed on various days

-No Bar Waiters on Deck 16

-AWESOME Bar Staff the whole cruise at the Trellis Bar! Knew your name and your Drink

-Great staff @ the Park Cafe

-As always, long lines 1st night in the MDR for Reserved My Time Dinning (got better as the Cruise went on)

--We had My Time Dinning and had the best waiters all Cruise long at table 694 - Waiter Ved and his assistant Ridhatus

-There was a Cruise Gigolo in the Diamond Lounge every night named Tom, who would just walk in and sit down at your table

-The Diamond Lounge Concierge was Awesome for any help you needed, especially with any type of reservation help

-Calling Guest Relations for OBC and Account issues was fairly quick to be resolved

-The Voom/Stream Service and Royal App were awesome

-You can request the good 'ole fashioned Daily Paper Compass

-Towel Service was never opened at their advertised start time

-One Flight Show Canceled due to Technical Issues

-Last HIRO show canceled Friday 4/29 due to Weather (book the 1st show, if that is canceled, the next one gets put on your calendar)

-Hairspray not Performed but expected back very soon

-My Daughter and sis-in-law had a great Cabin Attendant, mine not so great

-Booked a Alaska Cruise at Next Cruise for the 3 of us, they messed up our reservation dates and Cabin Assignments (Alex)

-CD Kevin kept giving out false information that for every POC and disembarking at Port of Miami, masks were required

-Disembarkation day was Easy. We had #65 9AM off. You can leave your luggage in your cabin, go eat, and go back and wait there, till the TV showed your number being called

Great Cruise, we converted a newbie to be Loyal to Royal!

Update:

Just got my upgraded cabin assignment to 6D Ocean View Balcony Port Side 12160. Interesting how this happened today: Still showed original 4V Interior with Virtual Balcony #8442 this afternoon before I called C&A to ensure they saw the reference in their system re: the upgrade. Luis said yes, but it could still take to check-in at the port to get my new cabin assignment. After I got off the phone with him, I decided to do check-in online (waited this long because I still haven't received my renewed Passport Book in the mail (used my Birth Certificate/Driver's License option to check-in)), and after doing online check-in, I immediately saw the new cabin assignment upgrade to the balcony

8 minutes ago, FTLCruiseGal said:

When will you know?  Is the new room in your cruise planner?  Inquiring minds want to know…..

Just checked: Still shows Interior Cabin 4V 8442 with Virtual Balcony:

Just got this email today regarding my 4/23/22 Cruise on the Symphony and Interior Cabin 4V 8442 with Virtual Balcony:

Action Required

• Please review the information below regarding Royal Caribbean’s latest update for your upcoming sailing.
• Due to recent updates to Royal Caribbean’s Healthy Return to Service Guidelines, they are needing to make changes to how guests are spaced out onboard to ensure proper distancing.
• Because of this update your original stateroom is no longer available, however you will be relocated to a complimentary upgraded stateroom.
• As you can imagine, with many staterooms affected, updating your stateroom assignment may take some time, even up to the date of your sailing. 
  • Because of this, you should refer to your reservation directly on the Royal Caribbean website for the most up to date information.

Curious to see what that complimentary upgraded stateroom will be?

I'm gonna say our Cruises resume August 1st, not because that is what CCL is doing but because of the CDC "No Sail Order" guidelines and RCI wants one week to sort things out:

The CDC extended order went into effect April 15:

The extended Order is in effect until one of the following occurs:

• The Secretary of Health and Human Services’ declares that COVID-19 no longer constitutes a public health emergency, or
• The CDC Director rescinds or modifies the order based on specific public health or other considerations, or
• 100 days have passed from April 15 which will be July 24th