DougMacP

They probably would have been embarrassed to charge me for what they did to them.  

I took advantage of the wash and fold special on a BTB on the Harmony last year.  This is how the pants came back.  Apparently you are supposed to choose a different service for pants (wash and press I think).  That wasn't made completely clear.  Wash and fold was fine for tee shirts, socks, underwear.....but things like Hawaiian shirts that never wrinkle when taken out of the dryer did.  

Have NOT SIGNED up for anything yet in Quebec City and yes we are going in a day early.  What would you suggest in Quebec City???   Iam not sure I want to cancel this cruise as I got the completely FREE DRINK PACKAGE as a BONUS so there's a pretty good chance I will NOT be canceling it. 

Who doesn't love free drinks!!!  So if you are going to be there a couple of days...definitely do a tour of the Fort.....Have drinks in Fairmont Chateau Frontenac (you'll probably take the stairs to the top of the bluff...but there is also a funicular).  Have dinner in one of the sidewalk cafes......Walk (and walk and walk) and take it all in....it is amazing.  

Hi Chuck:  You asked a question about the value of loyalty programs.  With the number of cruises you've taken (15) and your age you are really not going to be able to get to the higher tiers of any programs to get meaningful benefits.  I'm in my early(ish) 60's with over 30 cruises and I'm in the same boat.  I'll never be a Pinnacle (RCI), 5 star (HAL) Diamond (Cunard) or Elite (Princess), I'm not loyal to one line and usually pick my cruise based upon the itinerary.  The line with the best benefits for the very top level is Royal Caribbean in my opinion...and those people (Pins...) take their status oh so seriously.  They can cruise in the cheapest inside cabins and get to use the nearly all the suite only facilities and three free drinks a night.  All for a mere 700 points (that would be nights in a regular cabin....or double in a suite)....It's a mortality issue....I won't live long enough based upon doing 2 cruises a year, nor would I go "all in" with any cruise line.       

I did  Quebec City to New York last year on the Zuiderdam and absolutely loved it, it is an amazing itinerary and I love the ship.  Plan to spend a few days in Quebec City and don't miss the mansions in Newport.  We did a "navigation suite" it was definitely not a tin can.  

When looking at the suite perks for Radiance of the Seas I'm pretty underwhelmed.  On the Oasis class ships full suite passengers got complimentary drinks for several hours in the evenings.  On the Radiance it is a self service honor bar with "no fee".  I presume the fee is the gratuity, (why would you tip for pouring yourself a drink?). Curious about the setup.  Do they just leave the bottles and mixers on a table, then you fill out a sheet that says what you poured?  Is there a price list?  

Agree completely that the GS bathtubs are dangerous...  First the bottom of the tub is about 10 inches higher than the floor.  Then the tub sides are very high... So while you can enter the tub using the interior grab rails (essentially pulling yourself up)....exiting there is nothing to grab hold of unless you are tall enough to reach the door knob.  PLUS...(and this is huge)  they have a half glass door that lets a lot of water spill onto the floor. I have zero mobility issues and I was on high alert the entire cruise when showering.  

Andy C....love your observations and concur that suite perks should only be available to suite passengers..  Let the loyalty passengers use the loyalty lounge.  You don't see Cunard diamond level passengers being able to eat in the Queens or Princess Grill.  

I thought the food at the CK was a snooze, especially when trying to eat vegetarian.  The cauliflower steak (and I use that term lightly) was just a chunk of cauliflower with with a lame dusting of spices.  The tofu bland and lacking interest, and the cassoulet, well not really a cassoulet at all, just some assorted beans.   I actually commented to Chaker...(the concierge) and I had a phone call from the restaurant manager and then a personal meeting with the CK chef.  They certainly tried to up their game from then on with some success, but nothing exceptional.  Eventually I went back to the dark side (meat and fish) to keep from feeling deprived.   

The dinning experience overall was so lack luster, even in the specialty restaurants (Chops, Jamie's, 150, Izumi hibachi) that I really had to question the wisdom of doing a B2B cruise.  We were the week after the Presidents Cruise so there were still quite a few Pins on board and the SL service was a disaster....People literally were busing their own tables and going to bar to order.  Often just one waiter for a room full of people....pretty shocking.  The concierges even were pitching in.  I didn't blame the large number of Pins...but the SL manager for inadequate staffing.  The only negative Pin observation was the women you had lost hers and was in the face of the guest services officer to get a replacement.  You'd think it was the Order of the British Empire personally bestowed by the Queen. This woman was on a mission and took her status oh so seriously.   

I was pretty sure I was done with RCI.......and I am with the Oasis class....but a cruise to Hawaii (2019) on the Radiance coincides with a wedding over there.  The suite perks aren't so perky, but I'm a medium ship kind of guy.         

Did a B2B on the Harmony in October...it alternates Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries so the only port repeat was Laberdee (which we loved...).  This was my first B2B in over 35 cruises.....don't think I would do it again.  Two seven days cruises does not equal a 14 day cruise experience for me.  Felt out of sync, just as I'm completely unwinding, one group leaves, and another arrives.  Felt I was trying to pace myself for a 10k race and everyone else was running a 5k.  Additionally had I not been on the Harmony with its wealth of entertainment options it would have had a Groundhog Day vibe.     

Downlining also know as a "partial cruise" is when you disembark early.  We are attending a wedding in Hawaii in Sept 2019, and the Radiance has a 10 cruise leaving from Vancouver BC to Honolulu.  What a great way to get there I thought.  Since the wedding is in Kona where the ship stops the day before the end of the cruise we'd like to get off there.   Called RCI reservations and they said you have to be booked before you can make the request and they are usually denied.  Since the ship embarks in Canada there is no violation of the Passenger Services Act.  Has anyone successfully done an early disembarkation?  Conversely, has anyone made the request and been denied?  

Here is the stated partial cruise protocol https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/partial-cruise-request

7 minutes ago, micruiser2002 said:

Whether pants are included or excluded it should not matter.  All they need to do is remove and fold everything as soon as it is dry and not let it all sit in a dryer all bunched up.  Sorry this is not acceptable.  I had the same issue one time and went to guest services and they had the whole bag pressed for me.  Also not sure what over stuffing the bag has to do with it either.  That also should not matter.  

It isn't like it all came back "stuffed" in one bag...it didn't.  I probably should have complained.  

I don't remember seeing that!  The pants come out of the dryer wrinkle free....all they had to do was "fold" but they sort of accordioned them, and then folded.  Considering the size of the Wash and Fold bag, you don't save that much money over the standard wash and press service.  

Since RCI doesn't have self serve laundry I took advantage of the $34.99 bag of laundry Wash and Fold service a couple days before the end of a B2B cruise on Harmony last week.  This is how my cotton cargo pants came back!!  Everything in the bag was wrinkled.....glad I didn't need them for the cruise.  Be warned.  

That should have been “spectacular” production shows...and they were!!

5 hours ago, DougMacP said:

 

 

Unless you’re traveling with children, or require spectator production shows, 

Currently finishing B2B on Harmony. 54 Pins first cruise 25 this. They haven’t been an issue. The lack of basic service in the Suite Lounge has been. Many nights (not all) Tables aren’t bused for 15 minutes, no servers for the same amount of time. The concierges were actually clearing tables the other night and taking drink orders. Not their jobs, but they’re right there seeing what is going on. The abysmal passenger to crew ratio sets the stage, even for the suite passengers. No consistency in service. 

Unless you’re traveling with children, or require spectator production shows, people really need to consider the cost and benefits of a suite on RCI, Especially on this class of ship, Versus more standard cabins on an all inclusive line. Lesson learned. 

A 14 day cruise has a different rhythm for me. Slower in the beginning or my liver never makes the finish line. By having the Pres Cruise first (therefore in racing terms going out fast) is this cruise sort of a let down or are you just taking a mid cruise breather?

The website is very clunky and was / is a constant source of frustration for me. You can look forward to having to re-sign in repeated times when trying to book things, and never use your "back" button on your browser in excursion section or it takes you all the way out. (click on the small shore excursion line right above the description of what you were just looking at) Not your fault!! But the good thing is you have plenty of time to get things done before your cruise.

Life Is Good.....why is the sofa covered? Ah....didn't see you had a dog when I posted it. Reminded me of my sofa (shared by two doggies).

I'll never be a Pinnacle, 5 star Mariner, Elite, or Ambassador, although I'm mid tier on most of them. I have a wandering eye when it comes to selecting a cruise. I'm loving your posts and Andy C's earlier thread. I'm doing the Harmony B2B starting Oct 6th for the Mega Ship experience. In a GS, and as long as I get a few drinks during cocktail hour(s), and a reservation at a decent time in the CK (after 7:30ish) I don't mind sharing with the Pinnacles. Think the first cruise will probably have a higher number of P's since some may be adding a cruise after the President's cruise. Try not to exhaust the staff. What I've noticed about cruisers at the top loyalty echelon of any line is how seriously (humorously?) they take their "position". You definitely have a much more balanced and humorous approach. Looking forward to more posts.

P.S. yes I did notice the sonic-care picture earlier....but dared not repost it.

Going through RCI website entertainment section I don't see ISkate listed, but it is referred to elsewhere (below) It sounds pretty unstructured....(like choreography is a bad thing?). Worth attending??

BLADES OF GLORY

Watch our skaters let it all out in iSkate, a rule-breaking, no holds barred show that throws choreography out the window and lets them freestyle jump, stunt and thrill their hearts out to hit jams.

DougMat, do you get free drinks during cocktail hour for being in a junior suite? I didn’t when I was in a junior suite.

 

Andy, great review too bad you have had hiccups along the way but despite all it seems you are having a good time.

 

Enjoying your review and pcs.

 

Thanks

You don't get the cocktail hour(s) in a junior suite

Doing a B2B October 6th and 13th in a GS....because #1 Wanted to do Harmony (we are small to medium size ship folk) and #2, 7 days isn't long enough for me to unwind.... Concerned about crowding in the suite lounge and Coastal Kitchen, which were two reasons we upgraded from a junior suite. Not buying the drink package we were going to take advantage of the "cocktail hour(s)" in the suite lounge. Now I wonder..

Reading the reviews on the Harmony a common complaint are the elevators or lack of enough of them. Is it really that bad?

The laundry and dry cleaning is a game changer!! You can cut your packing in half on a lot of items...plus you can come home with mostly clean (other than the last two days of clothes). Our favorite suite perk.

You should have a few days worth of appropriate clothing for San Diego depending on what time of year you leave. I always travel with a wind proof rain shell. After a couple of days westbound you'll be in tropical wear until about the last day or two eastbound.