Sizzlechest

My Oasis cruise booking for 2020 went down considerably yesterday.

5 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

 

You need to use the special cup for the Freestyle machines.

Okay. I wonder if the chip can be peeled off the bottom? It would be easier just to carry that around than the cup.

I believe your room key is what's used to "pay" for drinks at a bar with the deluxe package. How does the Coke Freestyle machine work? Do you need to carry around a special cup or do you just use your key?

14 hours ago, SRF said:

 

I guess you don't know that hand sanitizer does NOTHING again noro?

 

And you are that worried about germs on the ducks, DON'T TOUCH THEM.  Don't even look for them.

The better solution is to put on a pair of rubber gloves and dispose of every duck you find. Hmmm... maybe I'll do that on my next cruise.

2 hours ago, matj2000 said:

It is just an expensive novelty that people will spend a few minutes watching then move on.

 

It takes up a lot of space.

 

Probably will be removed soon to be replace with some new profit center.

 

I am actually surprised that they still around..

I doubt it since the Oasis is getting one.

What was your opinion of the Solarium? Was there enough sun and warmth?

Can't wait for the next norovirus outbreak to be traced back to these things. Maybe it would be a good idea to attach a little packet of hand sanitizer to each duck instead of a tag?

1 hour ago, kernow said:

With Izumi you get an allowance per person if you have the package, I think it's $35pp

The 3 night package is $99 ($33 per restaurant) so the $35 is a wash.

The only advantage of using the package at an a la carte place like Izumi would be if you wanted to go to Izumi but didn't want to use the package for all three other specialty dining visits. You don't get a discount at the a la carte place, but at least you get money back that you would have lost by not using it.

The three night dining package states:

Experience three of our specialty restaurants and enjoy great savings when you purchase the 3 Night Dining Package for your cruise vacation. A courtesy reservation will be made for the first night of your cruise based on your preferred dining time. You will receive your courtesy reservation confirmation in your stateroom on the first day of your cruise. All additional reservations or changes to your courtesy reservation must be made once onboard at any specialty restaurant.

What's a "courtesy dinner reservation" and how does it differ from the additional reservations? What if I don't want to go to a specialty dining location on the first two nights? Also, which specialty restaurants are a la carte? The three night dining package is pretty much useless for these locations.

12 hours ago, SantaFeFan said:

 

Yep, littering on ships seems to be the rage with some people these days. 🤨

There's no way this will spread germs especially among young children who would probably never play with the toy duck found in a public area.

Thank you both. I wasn't sure. I originally had two shows scheduled for the same night, but I'd prefer to spread it out.

Is Spectra's Cabaret the same show every night or does it change? I can only reserve it once. If it's different, but I want to see it throughout the cruise, how do I reserve it?

I'm late to the party, but please do NOT pay the cruise line for an "excursion" to horseshoe bay beach. Take the #7 bus. You can buy the fare when you get off the ship at the visitor center. Bring some cash to take a car ride up the hill for the trip back.

Certain credit cards include trip insurance. Mine does, but doesn't include medical. However, buying medical is a lot cheaper and can end up even better. For example, the medical-only policy I bought has zero deductible, so even if I THINK I'm getting sick, I'll go to the ship's doctor.

1 minute ago, tinkr2 said:

There is no question that the perks have value. Otherwise you would not have purchased the Key. 

And the free drinks have a tangible value. At current drink prices, we save 100 minimum for our 8 drinks  PER day. 

As someone who hops all over, 3 different cruise lines this year and looking at a 4th, I can assure you I miss my perks and the value they have, when on other lines. 

Yes, they have value. Sort of. The Key is a good deal at $19.99 if you're planning on getting the high-speed Internet plan for everyone. To pay that just for preferential boarding, not really. Regardless, people have been loyal to Royal just to earn a spot in front of the line and now they sell it to the highest bidder. Makes you feel cheated, no?

25 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Failed logic in my opinion, but whatever floats your boat. 

 

We sailed 20 cruises prior to Embracing Royal. Carnival, Holland, Princess, Norwegian,  and lines that went out of business.  Our decision to mainly sail Royal was based on positive experience,  value, ships, and Pt Canaveral.  Royal sails from there, it was close to Atlanta. 

 

We only sail if I find value in the sailing. Discounts, perks, proximity to home are all calculated into the equation. 

 

It works well for us

You're basically saying that the "loyalty perks" don't matter because no other cruise line offers what RCL does and you choose to do business with them based on their up-front merits. Or, the long-term perks DO matter to you and you admit to falling for the sunk cost fallacy. Failed logic, indeed.

7 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

I find many of my perks to be very valuable,  even the intangible ones. 

The issue isn't if they have value, although that's questionable. The issue is that in order to obtain those perks, you have to submit yourself to a single company over YEARS and THOUSANDS of dollars spent. Loyalty programs rely on the "Sunk Cost Fallacy." They keep those carrots dangled out of reach and when you finally get a bite, you resist any suggestion that they were not valuable because you worked so hard to get them.

2 hours ago, Micah's Grandad said:

Source of this please

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vista-class_cruise_ship_(Carnival)

25 minutes ago, CRUISEFAN0001 said:

No bragging. Just fact.

 

The point made ties into the thread topic.

 

Loyalty by a customer results in cruise line loyalty in the form of added benefits. Since Royal owns Celebrity too...having almost twice the cruise options that leverage the benefits is a GOOD thing.

I love it when people end up making my argument for me.

I had the pleasure of cruising on the Horizon when it was briefly in NY. It looks like the upcoming Vista class ships are bound for China. NY is getting some Carnival refurb ships that have many of the Vista elements, but I really miss the Havana experience.

4 hours ago, CRUISEFAN0001 said:

Agreed.

 

One other "perk" that comes into play is that Royal's loyalty program is reciprocal with its sister cruise lines, including Celebrity. This provides the means to consider more ships & more destinations while gaining comparable-status perks. Another smart move towards the loyalty of cruise line customers.

You're bragging that you gave the company MORE of your money than the average cruiser?

33 minutes ago, CRUISEFAN0001 said:

Then again...passengers who reach Crown & Anchor loyalty tiers are provided corresponding benefits at no additional charge. 

Pays RCL for cruises to earn perks. Forgoes other cruise lines even when they have better deals and/or service. Claims "No additional charge." Really makes you think.

21 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

I feel very appreciated by Royal. Loyalty can pay off

I payed RCL $19.99 a day for "The Key" and got the same preferential treatment as the most loyal RCL cruisers. Maybe you meant RCL can be "payed off."

Never be loyal to a cruise line. They will never be loyal to you. Besides, things change. I dropped Carnival for NCL many years ago and was very happy I did. I got sick of NCL's constant reduction in quality and tried Carnival again and it was an awesome cruise. I'm trying RCL this year and if I don't like it, I'll try a different company.