Wineaux007

1 hour ago, Tigermad said:

Hi. Not sure if you are still active on here. I’m staying in 3144 next year. Does it have the larger window? Thanks. 

Yes.  There are a couple of service closets across the hall in that area, but didn't hear a thing when the attendant was in there.

We booked with ziptransfers for a pick up to the airport for a cruise ending in BCN.  They want 55 Euro for an 8-pax van for  2-3 couples.  Try to share with another couple or two.

3 hours ago, RichYak said:

This is my understanding as relates to the room steward. Dining room and bar staff pool with their respective DRs or bars. I'm not sure about butlers, but I think they keep for themselves.

Bartenders at the Martini Bar and Sunset Bar, and the like, normally pool tips, so if we tip a certain bartender at the end of the cruise, it seems to always go into the tip jar.

We did Anthem TA this past Spring, and we were  constantly bombarded in both the MDR and Windjammer with loudspeaker announcements during our dining reminding us how great the food & service was, and requesting high marks on the survey.  It seems they were in competition with other ships in the fleet.  It was really annoying.

2 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

The crew will happily accept anything they receive.   They can have it converted and applied to their onboard account.   BTW - For most positions the person you give it to are required to turn it in to the pool for all staff members in the particular pool. . e.g. Dining Room Pool, Room Attendant Pool, Bar Tender Pool. 

WOW, is this something new?  It was my understanding that if you leave on the automatic gratuities and at the end of the cruise hand an envelope with something extra, they get to keep it.  

I thought if you removed automatic gratuities and gave them cash, they had to turn in any cash tips to the pool????

1 hour ago, Teeara said:

Usually Terminal C.  This is part of a larger video I took, but this was shot from Montjuic Castle that is opposite the Moll Adossat cruise terminals.  It shows the locations of the 5 terminals.  Royal usually uses Terminals B and C, especially for the larger ships.

 

 

Well, if we were docked at both Terminals B and C, the duty free shop would have been in the forward Terminal (B).  If we were docked at both Terminals C & D, the duty free shop would have been in the forward Terminal (C).  Either way, there was a long walkway connecting both terminals/gangways once you past security.

49 minutes ago, Teeara said:

I don't believe so.  In 2022 there was no shop in Terminal C from what I had been told.  We all boarded in Terminal B and that is where the shop that we know of is located.

We embarked on Harmony in Barcelona a few years ago, which took up two terminals.  One terminal, no shops, but the other terminal had all the shops, from soup to nuts.  We embarked in the terminal without the shops.  Once we got on board, a friend told us about the shops in the other terminal, so we got off, picked up a case of water, several bottles of wine, a couple bottles of spirits, and some other goodies.  There was no security to get back on board the ship, so we boarded with all our "stuff" and walked directly to our stateroom to drop it off.  

There must be some agreement with the local authorities that they would provide the initial security, and then we were free to purchase from their duty free store without fear of anything being confiscated when we boarded the ship.  

33 minutes ago, IDL said:

I assume the issue is they don’t have to go containers available as they surely couldn’t be worried about a glass of OJ or a bagel that is available at the buffet anyway.  Have taken food and beverages to go from the buffet and spa cafe without incident. 

Just get a to-go coffee cup and lid from Al Bacio and bring it in with you.  They will think you are bringing in your coffee with you.  Then pour whatever you desire into the empty cup.  Shouldn't be an issue leaving with your juice or bloody mary with it.  

The price pre-cruise in the Planner is anywhere from $15-19 a day for the entire cruise.  I don't think you can purchase just 1 or 2 days pre-cruise.  

I noticed when I go to the IT desk during the cruise to transfer my two free days to my wife, it is very expensive.  The $35 a day is somewhere in the ballpark.

You can buy a pack of 100 plastic straws at the grocery store for around $1 of so.  Bring your own with you on the cruise.  I wouldn't mess with any straws that I had to clean.  Use once and throw away.  

I agree that the Viking Crown Lounge (where they have the rotating bar) over to the far right area would be very quiet in the AM.  In the PM, there are a couple of conference rooms, and I would bet one of the two would be vacated in the late PM/evening.    The only time I've seen those conf rooms fully occupied was on a TA where they had a sewing/knitting group set up 24/7.  

Connecting staterooms with the wooden doors opened to close off the alcove are probably not magnetic.  

As D+ you can get continental breakfast offerings in the Crown Lounge in the morning, along with your free coffee, cappuccino/espresso.  The selections vary from ship to ship.

38 minutes ago, artvlay said:

So if I'm D+ they will give me an unopened bottle of wine in exchange for five vouchers?

Yes, and a $14 a glass bottle of wine.  At least they did on Anthem at Vintages.

On 7/31/2024 at 5:10 PM, cruisegirl1 said:

Never recall just 4  - that is a huge benefit  

 

At the  return to sailing, when the  vouchers started, some ships  allowed you to use 5 vouchers for a full bottle of wine.  Rarely have we found this to be allowable any more.  It wasn't available on any TA's we've been on since the return or even on  recent Anthem sailings.    You can use one voucher to get some % off a bottle of wine.  

 

M

My apologies.  We had dinner tonight with our friends who used the vouchers for a bottle of wine.  I thought it was 4 vouchers, but they told me it was 5 vouchers they used for the whole bottle.  

You can't log on to their system unless you disable your VPN.  After connecting,  reconnect your VPN.

1 hour ago, cruisegirl1 said:

Never recall just 4  - that is a huge benefit  

 

At the  return to sailing, when the  vouchers started, some ships  allowed you to use 5 vouchers for a full bottle of wine.  Rarely have we found this to be allowable any more.  It wasn't available on any TA's we've been on since the return or even on  recent Anthem sailings.    You can use one voucher to get some % off a bottle of wine.  

 

M

The friends we sailed with did it on two nights on Anthem from Vintages.  

On Anthem TA last April, you could get a bottle of wine with 4 vouchers - evidently they consider 4 drinks per bottle.

On 7/10/2024 at 4:15 PM, Blockschip said:

My understanding is that Philadelphia will be served by at least one cruise line starting in 2026 or 2027.

Someone told me it was NCL.  We'll see.

You can get a PIN for your credit card, but you don't need one.  European credit cards use the chip and pin and Tap, whereas U.S. credit cards will either use the Tap or insert the chip card into the reader, then sign -- called chip and sign vs European chip and pin. No PIN for U.S. credit cards.  If you have a cc with a pin, you can use it in an ATM, but it will be considered a cash advance, and you will pay interest from  the day of transaction.    This is different from the debit card/pin where the funds come out from your checking account. 

If you want the sun on your balcony, port side on a Westbound, and starboard side on an Eastbound.

I think 900 Euro is a little overkill.  Just about all places in Europe take credit cards, but not necessarily AMEX.  I would bring a VISA for those merchants who don't take AMEX.

I would bring Dollars for on board tips to your favorite bartender.  You can leave extra tips to your room attendant & wait staff at guest services on your on board account.

1 hour ago, jwlane said:

Exactly---why do they need a Euro adapter?

You don't.  This thread was about using the 220V, if I'm not mistaken.  If everything you have is 110V, you are in great shape.  For those who have multiple devices, the 220V adapter gives you more options.

3 hours ago, jwlane said:

As I look closer at the adaptor in my photo, I realized it's plugged into one of these.

That's all 110V.  Won't work in a 220V outlet.  Will fit in one of two plugs on the left in the photo by the desk.

49 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

 

I tavel with both of these as well as a adapter that gives me one USA-A and two USB-C outlets.

 

This one one gives  me one additiional USA style outlet as well as two USB-A and allows me to use the otherwise unused European adapter on the ship. 

 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FJWLLDB

 

This one gives me three USA and two USB-A.  One thing to note is that this is wide enough that it May cover up the 2nd outlet in the picture posted by @jwlane.

 

 

 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BHVKPC3

 

Between these three items, I find that I am more than able to plug in all my electronic devices and charge my wife and I's mobile devices. 

 

Since retiring I have found I do not take as many electronic devices. 

 

Neither one of these has the USB (C), the smaller one.  I only see the USB (A).  My watch uses the smaller one.  The ones the OP showed have both.  I would go with the the one with the ground.  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C8NWLY86?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1