CaribSailor

Now that's the CaribSailor I'm used to. By the way, the Carnival ships required strap-on generators because of engine room design and not age. There are plenty of ships out there just as old as Carnivals that don't require them. As for the CATs, they camouflaged them with white paint and a Carnival logo. You won't even notice. :rolleyes: :D

Yeah I hear ya... There are new laws for retrofits after 2015.

Caribsailor, can you give us info and facts??? Please tell me why you make the above statements. When was the last time you cruised on her?? Was there mechanical problems?? Would just like more information to make a judgement call on facts and not on opinions

What info and facts are you looking for?? Something like 2+2=4 and 2x2=4? Was that what you are looking for? As for the generator comment that was for all of the people who took pictures of the carnival ships when they had them on the top deck. You think empress's infrastructure has had a major overhaul in the last well........since it was launched? It would take months and months to bring the ship up to recent standards and with the new maritime laws requiring alternative and backup power I can see a nice shiny yellow CAT generator strapped to the top deck of empress in the very near future. [emoji108]🏻[emoji102][emoji83]

We've cruised on the newest and largest ships, including the Allure, yet Empress ranks among our best cruises ever, and this is why.

 

We don't always cruise for the "newer luxuries". Yes, it's nice to have the extra options that are offered these days, (and we took advantage of many of these on the Allure and thoroughly enjoyed them), but the things that we normally look forward to are the more traditional ones. Beautiful and tasteful surroundings, alternative dining options, venues with panoramic views of the passing scenery, and open decks around the ship. The Empress may be small, but she delivers all of these very well, even better than many newer ships that tend to be closed up and a bit claustrophobic. Her interior decor is indeed beautiful and tasteful. Her open atrium with a glass dome is one of the most beautiful of any ship we've sailed on. She had Portofino's when we sailed on her before, which will now be replaced with Chop's, and she will once again have the Schooner Bar as well as the Viking Crown Lounge with wonderful aft views. We really don't care for much more, specially on a short 4-5 day cruise.

 

Is the pool small? Yes. Fortunately we don't spend much time laying by the pool, so for us this is a non-issue. We will normally hit the pool very early in the morning right after breakfast, or late in the afternoon before dinner (when the pool deck is usually deserted and blissfully uncrowded no matter what ship we are on). Not once did it feel like a sardine can. But I can see how it can be an issue for those who must be there during prime sun worshipping hours in a prime location with a pool view. Glad it's not me though.

 

Just like with anything else in life, one size does not fit all. Some people will not set foot on a ship the size of the Oasis twins, while others will not set foot on the Empress. But for me, having the opportunity to sail on her again is beyond exciting. It's an opportunity to revisit the ship where my wife and I spent our honeymoon. [emoji5]️

Good for you. We have been on a few small ships on other lines in our cruising life so not unfamiliar with what you describe but empress is a bag of bolts. Have fun reliving your fond memories

I don't think anyone would question if she should be diamond or not if she cruised to get there. It is just hard to see a diamond plus member who only cruised once or twice.

A bit bitter?? It is really your own problem. Clearly there is more than one way to skin a cat [emoji78]

Yes. It's terrible. We cruised on Empress right before she was transferred and it was miserable back then. No way I would ever consider sailing on this ship again after cruising with so many of the newer luxuries. The pool is so tiny people are like sardines in a can!

The ship is a complete POS. No idea why people are gushing over it, total sardine can. Talk about a crap infrastructure, there will be a generator strapped on the top deck..

Aww, that's not fair. You can't paint everyone with the same brush. Some of the nicest, most unassuming people we have ever met were Diamond, D+ and Pinnacle. :)

Right.....well life isn't fair.

If your credit is similar to the one I got after my "fateful" Quantum sailing, it is not a BOOK BY, but a SAIL BY. However, working with my TA, we were able to use the credit by booking in the timeframe.

 

In fact, we will be sailing on Jewel this coming February with those credits (not entirely, of course).

 

 

 

It certainly can't hurt to ask.

 

 

 

Good Luck.

 

 

 

Mike

We have been issued 2 credits from RC. Yes I should have said it is a sail by date but both times I just called and asked for it to be a book by date and it was not a problem at all.

It's book by date. They will extend if you ask nicely. If the first person says no call back or ask for a supervisor

All the reviews? There are a few bad on almost every ship. I will say I booked Freedom for last spring because how much I enjoyed it the cruise before and it didn't disappoint. Well, there was the Chicken Cordon Bleu in the main dining room one night, but other than that!

How was the celebration of the big CC anniversary? Wow 10 years?? I'm sure you are doing something very special for 10 years of membership to cruise critic.

I would rather be on a ship with dogs than kids...but to each their own right.

 

 

 

For some people, their dogs are like kids to them or maybe the only companion they have in life.

 

 

 

Based on my experience I have seen with dogs on board, they are much quieter, well behaved and cuter than most kids.....actually compared to a lot of adults on board as well...lol

 

 

 

That should get some responses....but its my opinion just like those who don't like or think dogs should be on ships.....fair is fair!

Perhaps you should go on a line that is NOT family oriented then.. It's your own fault that you choose to go on a cruise line that caters to kids...everyone has a choice right?? I mean unless you are some weirdo who has a Shrek fetish. And if that is the case I wouldn't want you around my kid or my dogs..[emoji12][emoji41][emoji108]🏻[emoji23] [emoji90][emoji240]

Keep you ankle bitters at home.. Nobody wants to see your precious rags or fufu on a cruise ship.

Point 1, citation needed. Just because OP wants to cancel a cheaper cruise and book a more expensive cruise doesn't mean it brings the cruise line more money. Properly planning a cruise requires making sure well in advance that the cruise line is managing things properly. Food, alcohol, crew, scheduling all the services to properly manage crowd flow and control -- these are not things that are so easy to change. It surprises me that cruise lines don't charge more as cruises get close, but maybe it's easier to add than take away.

 

 

 

If the stateroom in question that wants to be removed from a cruise close-in is occupied by passengers who are rewarded with amenities or perks, the ship also has to manage those changes -- do they need an extra bottle of wine? One single stateroom doesn't sound like a lot, but I can imagine the headache of making changes closer in and I can assume it isn't just "oh, we'll make more money, let's go and change all this stuff and spend manhours doing it."

 

 

 

Point 2 -- one of my businesses schedules custom jobs up to 2 months in advance. I am very very specific with my customers that once they approve their job and pay for it, that's the end of that. I schedule labor months in advance and if a customer decides to make changes, it can screw up workflow and add hours to my life to make those changes. I've had customers want to double their orders and complete them on the same dates and I've told them there's no room for workers to do the work like that.

 

 

 

I think OP probably would get some movement if they called back and talked to a different CSR, I'm sure each CSR has their own personal policy for helping out. But without knowing what RCI has to do to prepare for each stateroom and without knowing what it takes to make these changes, I can't agree that just because OP wants to spend more money that it would bring in more profit for the cruise line.

Is that the 1st chapter? Lol [emoji15] I challenge you to answer with 2 sentences or less. [emoji83]

OP did you call back and try again??

Hopefully they do.. I would hate them to be misguided based on some cruise critic cowboy/girls pulling out a RC rule book from 1965.

Well said.

 

 

 

It's not like they were asking for a straight cancellation without penalty - they were asking them to change something that would bring the cruise line more money. If there is not a way for the computer to effect that, and if each employee is not empowered to do that as a courtesy, then there ought to be...

 

Offhand I can't think of a business that wouldn't find a way to let the customer spend more.

Agreed.

You did ask for something that no one expects or gets

This is not true. I know 2 couples that were able to move their cruise from Oasis to Allure a week before sailing with no penalty. Call and speak with someone else.

OP- Don't worry about the L2RFC (loyal 2 Royal freak crew) who can't believe that someone would ever have something negative against their child.. I mean favorite cruise line. Its amazing how people are so obsessed with this crap and spend their days and nights replying to threads only to criticize and stalk you to see how many times you posted or when you joined this forum to justify whether or not your post is credible. What a bunch of weirdos. Just by a quick glance at the last page or so of the thread it is the usual cheerleaders/diamond members/+, self appointed moderators and ambassadors that pull out the rule book/scold you for even having such a request of THEIR beloved.....ummmm... Cruise line???

Just let the people who run Royal continue to do so.. They are keeping their shareholders happy and at the end of the day that is what matters [emoji12]Everything else is just a reaction to fluctuating markets. If and when the cruise market slows again you loyalty freaks will get the attention you so desperately desire, until then you are not and will not be the main attraction. They understand THEIR customer very well and tier/market accordingly regardless of these opinion boards which are hardly peer insights. But then again, everyone likes to play CEO.

My significant other (unmarried) gets my benefits as well and I think it's ridiculous, personally. Also think it's ridiculous that minor kids would get it as well.

 

Reward programs don't need dilution by excess members who haven't earned that status. Am I happy my SO will get diamond perks? Sure, but I don't like the idea of excess crowds due to people taking advantage of it.

 

IMHO the family match is wasteful and harmful to the program's value for those who actually earn the points one way or another.

And so by your own words you are ridiculous, wasteful, harmful and taking advantage of it. Lol. Not sure royal would be happy with their #1 most recently self appointed ambassador acting like that.

So how would the quality compare to that of a 5* hotel? Food wise is a big deal for me, am looking to book my first voyage early next year so any feedback would be gratefully received!)

About a 2-2.5 at best if you are looking to compare to a true 5*.

So much for your investment in cruising lol. And actually the program has served its purpose.. Get you to spend more $$$ while painting the picture that of a better cruise experience once you become that shimmering, glittering beautiful, sparkling ever so close Diamond member. I bet you pictured yourself in the diamond lounge hamming it up with your fellow Royal royalty sipping away on glass of Jordan or XO... Haha seems someone in marketing deserves a raise!!!

We stayed at beaches in Negril last year and for 3 of us it was about 10k

Can someone tell me where folks are allowed to smoke outside on the Anthem? I have heard it is on Deck 5 mid-ship starboard side. I am a non-smoker but have breathing problems. We are in a Spa Jr Suite on Deck 7 and I am concerned about smelling smoke on my balcony.

 

 

 

Thanks,

 

 

 

Fred

Book an inside cabin [emoji6]

Starting Spring 2016, the "Star" class suites get the Ultimate Beverage Package at no extra cost.

Thanks.. Guess I should pay more attention to those lovely black booklets RC keeps sending us.. The wax paper doesn't burn very well. Thanks Bob good news!

And your a prime example for the title in this post, thank god you don't frequent the CL....:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

I think you are heading down the wrong trail again...haha.. Watch your step...[emoji108]🏻[emoji41][emoji83] is there any particular reason you always take things personally forum jockey?

I think the only logical addition to the benefits is a discounted drink package. Discount by $15 per day based on the three drinks that are currently added (allowing $5 per drink as the current offering is limited). Suite guests should be offered same.

 

It would further reduce crowding in the lounges and would sell more drink packages. I believe it would be a win for RCCL and the customers.

 

Oh yea, and free cruises. One free 7 day cruise for each paid day sailed. :)

For the amount of money we have paid for some suites the package should be included.

Actually you had it right the first time. Bottom dwellers and bottom feeders was primarily addressed to the guy who called me a name I didn't even understand and one other guy. Your interpretation regarding lower tier C&A people never occurred to me. I was after the snarky attack dogs, not my fellow cruisers.

Typical diamond/+ behavior... You are a prime example why we do not go into the lounge...

Keep on pretending....oh great one.