S.A.M.J.R.

The app on my tablet (Samsung Galaxy Tab 4) told me I needed to update a couple of weeks ago. Went to the Play Store, only choice was to uninstall. Still not available for that device (when I go to the Play Store via computer, only device I can install on is my phone). Regarding the password fun, because of what I read here, I tried the app, no good on the password. Try on the computer, no good on the password. Change password to the exact same one (already had a capital, a number, and eight characters), and all is good. Can log in to web and app.

Good for you? Bottom line is what I judge on. I don't care about OBC if I can save money on the Cruise. Without knowing what your TA would have offered for our particular cruise, we dont know if they get you a better deal.

And I'm supposed to know that how? 😉 That's why I said "more precise", not "precise". If someone tells me to do something in "90 days", I'm going to think "3 months". Obviously it can be off by a couple of days, but it's a quick (and fairly accurate) guess. And of course those are "months in advance also". 😉

90 days (normal PiF date, isn't it?) *IS* "months in advance". Three to be more precise.

My recent horror story... Final payment due 4/14. I'm going to be on the road for business, and decide to pay (to my TA) last Sunday (3/31). I use their online form and submit the payment (not expecting it to go through until Monday, but that's fine). Three reservations, so three payments. No big deal. Sunday night, I get a notification from my CC that one charge went through (but not for the full amount of any of the rooms), two were declined (more in a moment), and another charge was questioned. The two that were declined were because of "wrong virtual card" numbers. I use virtual card numbers for any orders online. They're locked in to just that vendor. The one charge that went through was to Royal, the declined charges were to the TA. OK, create a virtual card for the TA, fill out the forms again. Now charges go through for the TA, not for Royal. I ended up having to do partial payments and make sure I put the TA amount on it's card, and Royal's amount on it's card. Took me until Wednesday(?). I will NEVER wait until the day before, much less the day of final payment. You just never know. Now, I know people are screaming "why is the TA charging you extra! I'd never use them again!". All I can tell you, is even with their "extra charges", they saved us over $1K on the trip (may have been more, I'm not sure when I was price shopping if Royal was including gratuities in their total). I don't care who gets my money, I'm trying to find the most cost effective deal.

Wonder if he didn't have a choice on the topic. TPTB said "you've never been on a cruise! We'll pay for one and you write about it!"

I was assuming you meant "dock", but also thought "if that's an actual nautical word, it's REALLY funny".

OK, I'm still a teenager at heart. I laughed at this.

Why does it matter?

I'm sure that uses extra fuel, but so does having to go faster to get to the next port on time. If you have to go 250 nautical miles in say 14 hours (5p - 7a), you can go ~17kts. However, if you're delayed for an hour, you now need to go 19kts. Not sure what kind of mileage they get out of the engines, but that obviously uses more fuel, which means bigger cost. My numbers are just made up and I'm sure the ship engineers will be along to correct me.

For those of us who travel the day before, and are in a hotel, what are you doing in the hotel? I'd rather get on the ship, and start eating, drinking, and exploring. After all, it's already paid for. 😉

I agree it's a shame they use the towel charge, but if they didn't, I think you'd see a LOT more towels left in ports. And, it does take up crew time to gather towels left around the ship (which you'd also have a lot more of if there was no charge). So, how do you, as a company, fix this? 1) Use scanners with sea passes? 2) Use a "card" system (every cruiser is given a card. Turn in the card, get a towel. Turn in a towel, either get a card or a new towel. At the end of the cruise, turn in the cards and no charge. Missing a card? Charge.) 3) Don't do anything and write off the labor charges and replacement towel costs? 4) Don't do anything and increase fees to make up for the added labor and replacement towel costs?

I remember the previous threads. I think Royal made a mistake (computer glitch), and it wasn't intentional on their part. Therefore, it wasn't "Bait and Switch" (as was claimed before). Offering a complete refund IS a valid result if you wanted to cancel. I *DON'T* think cancelling the cruise on you is a good move. However, if in some of your correspondence with them, you threatened to file a claim or to go to the media, I can almost understand it. I mean, why take the chance? I do remember you saying, after I had suggested using the non-refundable air and doing something else in/around Miami, you vehemently said you didn't want to do that. Going on a cruise with another vendor is a good option too. I hope you enjoy your trip. Thanks for updating.

Some people don't like wearing them. I feel they have at least a couple of benefits. I was wondering which way the thread was going to go when asked about "fun items" to bring. 😄

Same thing we ran into, we just went with private shuttle vs RCCL transfer. I agree it seems VERY expensive. We've done shuttles from WDW to PC for about 60% of the cost and not much difference distance wise.

So like Greyhound? Doesn't look like they service Galveston. Or private bus? Contact one of the companies.

What do you want? Bus? Plane? Train? Helicopter?

Didn't feel like repeating myself... There's a list with links of transportation company's I found. We're a party of eight, so if you have less, you might be able to find others. We booked with liveryhouston.

Yea, that's the problem with "witty" titles. You don't know what's in them.

Being discussed here:

As you indicated, the customer doesn't know what happens to the money and it's really none of their business. Glad you agree with me! 👍

The point is the customer doesn't know what happens after the money has left their pocket. The server can keep it all, they can share it with others. The folks who say "I want to give cash so I know who gets it" are just fooling themselves.

You'd have to pay SOMETHING. IMO, just like a cruise fare, how it's broken down doesn't really matter. what the total cost is does. Quote 1 Booking fee: $50 Tea/Coffee Service: $150 Total: $200 Quote 2 Tea/Coffee Service: $200 *Numbers all made up.

OK, when you tip at restaurants, you do so one of two ways... Cash Leaving cash on the table, you have no idea what happens to it. Maybe the server picks it up, maybe the bus boy picks it up, maybe the hostess does. Even if you hand cash to the server, you have no idea what they do with it. They may keep it all, or they may "share" with others. Credit Card. You REALLY have no idea how the company disperses it. Just like on a cruise.

Refreshment package was a decent sale. ~$24/day (+18%).