S.A.M.J.R.

If it's non-branded, what are the points good for?

Those with a phone in their face could be using the app, playing a game, looking at pictures, or a lot of other things that DON'T require internet.

My only point is I think your "2000 devices/day @ $15 each for every ship" is high. I doubt they're selling that many. That is ~50% of guests using a device. I could be wrong of course.

I think you assumption of how many devices is WAY high. That would be half the capacity. Which means a cabin with three or four people in it are buying two packages.

On our first cruise in 2013, before we left, they brought the helicopter and landed it on the dock. I'm assuming they went to a hospital in Haiti.

I wonder if that's something arranged through your TA. We've always paid standard gratuities ahead of time, never gotten a discount. I believe when MTD first came out, you had to pre-pay your gratuities, not sure that's still the case.

Please explain.

If you know side by side cabins face opposite, can't you use various websites that have pictures of cabins and extrapolate the one you're in?

Are people taking helicopters to the port? Jetpacks? Small boats? EVERYONE has the option of bringing sodas on board. If you're flying, you just need to arrange a stop or delivery between the airport and pier.

And it may happen to Royal. If they see their revenue slipping, they will either lower their charges or add benefits.

Believe it or not, I agree with you. But, if they're getting enough inexperienced cruisers who don't know "how good it was" with twice a day service, or "how good" the food was, or whatever made cruising special "back in the day", there's a chance they will maintain. Only time will tell.

Isn't that the point of ANY business? Charge as much as the market allows for a product. AND Royal is selling ships at 100%+ capacity. So, please tell me, as a business owner, what are they doing wrong?

Got it. So the FAQs that you quote only apply to sailings from the United States. If you sail from any other country, you need to look up those FAQs. 😉

It doesn't say "cruises from Australia". It's part of RCI's FAQ, therefore it's policy. Since you always follow policy, you shouldn't bring surge protected strips.

Here you go... https://www.royalcaribbean.com/aus/en/faq/questions/can-i-bring-an-extension-onboard?country=AUS So I assume you'll stop bringing your strips/blocks that have surge protection.

Until you got this invoice (which I agree gives one the impression they're getting a 0% obstructed view), why did you think your view would be unobstructed?

Many years ago DW and I were flying to Florida for a cruise. About a week before I realized I couldn't find my DL (yes, we were using passports, but DLs are easier to work with). I went to my DMV and got a new DL (at the time, they could print out at the office). So we go on the flight to Orlando. We check in with my parents who were staying with our kids. My dad asked "did you forget something?" No. "Are you sure?" Yes. "Where's your DL?" In my wallet. "Oh, we found it on the scanner bed." I had scanned my DL so I'd have an electronic copy and left it on the scanner. Fortunately DLs were easy to replace. I tell this story just to reiterate about turning your house upside down looking for the passport. You never know where you might have put it.

Wonder is currently the only ship slated for June 5th. We were there last July on Mariner and Allure was also there. Waterpark was SUPER crowded in the morning, after a couple hours, the tower was almost walk on (it was for the lower slides). The group raft ride was still quite a wait in the afternoon.

Why do you need loyal customers if you have people that are ready and willing to take their place, spend more, use less, and not take up the "perks" that loyal customers do? Totally agree. Of course, when I posted that I was told I "don't care about the crew".

Why should Royal (any company) make a change back as long as they're selling cruises at 100%+? If enough people stop sailing, Royal does one of the following or both: * Decrease prices * Increase perks

That 'whoosh' you heard? That was my point flying by you. If you (general) go on a cruise and withhold tips (whether reducing or eliminating), that hurts the crew. Royal still gets their money. If you don't like a policy a business holds (whether cruise, airline, restaurant, store, whatever), don't do business with them. Seems pretty simple.

I think the solution is VERY easy, but no one will do it. If you don't like the increased gratuities OR if you don't like the cutback to a single "cabin service/cleaning" a day, DON'T CRUISE. Hit Royal (and other cruise lines) where it hurts. If you take away or cutback your tips, Royal will know, but will they care? You're still cruising. They're still getting your money from the cruise, your money from the specialty restaurants, your money from the drink packages, your money from cruise excursions. Who doesn't get your money? The people servicing you. Those people who had absolutely no say in the increase in gratuity. Those people who had no say in the cutback of cabin services.

Just know there is a decent chance Early is booked and the other cabins will be put on a wait list.

No, they keep doing this stuff because they HAVE to. Whether it's medical emergency or weather, it's beyond RCI's control. I think that's the difference. I will agree if there's something WITHIN RCI's control that forces an itinerary change, THEN passengers would be entitled to something.

Read post #24. That's not what they meant.