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  • 2 weeks later...

If you want a souvenir from RCI, when you purchase one of those 'Drinks of the Day' you keep the cup.

 

I found this out a few cruises before and as a result have a cool Royal Caribbean glass sitting in my cupboard...COOL!

 

Also for embarkation:

 

Have all of your citizenship doc's set out in advance. If you're missing a document RCI will shed no tears for you at the port regardless of what your T/A or anyone over the phone told you.

 

T/A's and booking agent's are there to ensure you buy the ticket. The port agents and port supervisors are there to make sure the company and you are within US customs law.

 

I previously worked for RCI part time as a port agent. There were times people were denied boarding (usually 9/10 times for this) and the supervisors were very unforgiving about this. Down to a point that as a 'hospitality professional' for the last 10 years I would be uncomfortable. Port agents and supervisors are more CBP than RCI even though they work for RCI.

 

This is mainly because RCI is charged a fine (I believe around $2500 USD) per passenger who is mistakenly allowed to embark on the ship. Nearly all port agents are part time therefore if RCI embarks even 1 pax mistakenly most likely unless the agent has tenure they are getting canned. In this economy if its their job (and company $2500 fine) or your enjoyment after you made the error or didnt double check, well they are keeping their job and you'll watch the ship sail out of port!

 

Secondly, if you are unsure about your docs bring everything. Its better to have unneeded docs than too many. Unlike CBP officers at the border port agents arent taught to be suspicious from getting tons of stuff. They are trained to weed your trash from useable citizenship docs they wont care. In addition, if what you brought by itself is not enough to embark, its likely that what you brought while it cant be used for embarkation purposes can be used to get an emergency passport issued and fly to the next port. Its an expensive lesson, one I've watched people learn many times over, but one that can be avoided!

Edited by The C
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  • 2 weeks later...

Be aware that, while you will see the pretty pink, blue and yellow artificial sweetener packages in the food venues, they are not what they appear!

 

At least on my latest sailing (November 21, 2010), all artificial sweeteners were aspartame aka Nutrasweet aka Equal. Read the label. If you have any problems at all with aspartame, you will need to bring your own sweetener (such as Sweet'n'Low or Splenda), or be resigned to using the real stuff (sugar).

Edited by GHarkness
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If you book your cruise directly with RCCL (or onboard), AND you wish to subsequently transfer your booking to your Travel Agent, you have 60 days from the original date of booking to effect the transfer.

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  • 1 month later...

Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Society Platinum and Emerald levels equivalent to Select in Celebrity Cruise's Captain's Club & Explorer in Azamara Club Cruises Le Club Voyage.

 

Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Society Diamond, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club levels equivalent to Elite in Celebrity Cruise's Captain's Club & Azamara Club Cruises Discover in Le Club Voyage.

 

Via Royal's Website

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  • 2 weeks later...

ExoS has the day of the week inserts in the elevator rugs. Take a picture of it first thing every morning if you have hard time keeping photos in order. The day-of-the-week picture will help bookend each day, organizing your photos.

 

The photo Dept. is outsourced. Do with that info what you will- if you notice a difference in the RCI hospitality between the photo staff and the rest of the staff, well... there you go. Had a HUGE problem with this on the last trip.

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On embarkation day, everyone is given a Public Health Questionnaire to fill out and submit when they check in. You are handed a form and then sent over to a table to fill out the questionnaire with pens that are provided on the table. Unfortunately, the pens provided have been previously used by other folks......some of which may be ill and not know it.

 

Click on one and it will bring you to a pdf file that is the Public Health Questionnaire that is handed out in the terminal. There are two forms per page.

 

You can print the forms off and have them ready to be signed once you arrive in the terminal. It's a simple matter of having your own pen with you and signing them prior to being checked in.

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1/1/2003 ~~ C&A extra credit for 12+ night cruise.

 

1/1/2004 ~~ C&A extra credit for booking a JS cabin or above.

 

7/1/2008 ~~ C&A Savings Certificate eliminated from being able to be combined with other benefits.

 

12/31/2008* ~~ Combining Shareholder benefit is eliminated.

 

9/1/2009 ~~ New Pricing Policy put into place where price drops will be honored up until 72 hours prior to departure. If price drop occurred prior to final, cruise fare will be adjusted. If it happens after final payment, an OBC will be issued.

 

12/31/2009 ~~ Elimination of combining any benefits including balcony discount, shareholder benefits, OBC, etc.

 

5/17/2010 ~~ Another New Pricing Policy takes affect..... now only price drops up until final payment will now be honored. If, after final payment, a cabin category higher than what was originally booked is priced the same as or lower than, an upgrade can be requested.

 

6/1/2010 ~~ Combining of benefits reinstated for bookings made on board. This includes an OBC for booking plus either a balcony discount or a C&A Savings Certificate. This does not include Shareholder Benefits.

 

10/18/2010 ~~ 60 day limit to transfer booking to a TA from date it was created. For a NC booking it is the date the NC booking is activated and not the date it was created.

 

1/12/2011 ~~ cut off data from when C&A actually did the transition from credits to points.

 

1/21/2011 ~~ Points go into affect for all cruises departing after this date.

 

From Investor Relations Page...........

 

Combinability?

Please note that as of December 31, 2008, the Benefit is not combinable with other onboard credit offers, general loyalty offers, “dollars off” promotions and savings certificates. For bookings made prior to December 31, 2008, the Shareholder Onboard Credit is combinable under certain conditions. Please direct queries to investorrelations@rccl.com and a prompt response will be forthcoming.

Edited by cruisenfever
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  • 3 weeks later...

Certificates for Family & Friends will be given out when a NextCruise (Decide Later) booking is made.

 

When making a Future Cruise (now known as a Decide Now) booking you will no longer be given Certificates for Family & Friends.

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Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited (RCCL)

On RCCL: Per the Can vs. Fountain Soda Package(s): [FSP/FSPs]

Per the Can: Soda is $2.25 & Room Fridge 15% Tip Included U.S.A. Funds before 15% Tip $1.95 U.S.A. Funds

FSPs [incl. 15% Tip]:

[18+] Adult $6/Day U.S.A. Funds.

[17 & under] Child/Kids $4/Day U.S.A. Funds.

No Tax Added for FSP/FSPs: Purchased via RCCL’s website &

Purchased @ sea in international waters

Tax Added for FSP/FSPs:

If purchased while @ port on day #1.

 

Included in the FSP is the following:

Thermos Cup(s) for the Soda, you get to KEEP For both Kids & Adults; a Coke sticker (Or Coke Brand) on your Sea-Pass card.

If you purchase the fountain soda package(s) on the ship,

Or:

Thermos Cup(s) for the Soda, you get to KEEP For both Kids & Adults; As well the written Coca-Cola logo will be integrated into your Sea-Pass card in the lower left hand corner; The Thermos Cup(s) WILL be placed in your room ahead of time your Thermos(es) [insulated Mug(s)] will be placed in your Stateroom inside of a plastic sleeve(s) plus there will be a paper indicating how many people in your stateroom have pre-ordered the FSP/FSPs.

If you order the FSP via RCCL’s website after booking with them via Royal Caribbean's websitethe FSP price will be listed in Local Funds NOT per day BUT the total amount for the cruise.

The cruise line has a rule regarding the FSP:

You cannot share your Sea-Pass card with FSP with another person; but this rule is NOT enforced the majority of the time. There are two exceptions to this rule first being Minor’s [20-18] & second being Child’s [17 & under] FSP for more on this see FSP note [20 & under].

 

ALSO Of Need to Know:

Re: Ship Purchasing of FSP/FSPs

If you purchase the FSP on board ship a Coke sticker or Coke brand will be placed on your Sea-Pass card or your child's depending on who it is ordered for; as for the thermos cup(s) you will have to take you from the area they have set up for FSPs sales or they will give it to you after you sign the receipt for the FSP/FSPs.

 

Refill Machines for Public Use:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1235188&highlight=refill+machine

 

It’s my understanding that this will be made FLEET wide @ some point in time BUT they are starting on the smaller ships first, there is a Bar Code or a Chip in the Bottom of the thermos cup you get with the Soda Package the machine of course has to read the Bar Code or a Chip before it will work.

 

FSP Note Minor’s & Child’s [20 & under]:

There is a partial exception to the no sharing rule not being enforced with FSP it only comes in to play with any Minor’s [20 & under] FSP; Child & Minor Sea-Pass cards [20 & under] have one or two holes punched in them depending on the child’s age; one if they are under 21 the USA legal drinking age two if they are under 18. Due to this a parent may not be able to purchase the FSP/FSPs for their child/children and then use their child’s Sea-Pass card to order sodas for the whole family with said Sea-Pass card as your server may ask to see the whole Sea-Pass card.

 

FSP Pricing Adult [18+]:

$34.50 USA Funds for 5 Days $41.40 USA Funds for 6 Days

$48.30 USA Funds for 7 Days $55.20 USA Funds for 8 Days

$62.10 USA Funds for 9 Days $69.00 USA Funds for 10 Days

$75.90 USA Funds for 11 Days $82.80 USA Funds for 12 Days

$89.70 USA Funds for 13 Days $96.60 USA Funds for 14 Days

 

FSP Pricing Child [17 & under]:

$23.00 USA Funds for 5 Days $27.60 USA Funds for 6 Days

$32.20 USA Funds for 7 Days $36.80 USA Funds for 8 Days

$41.40 USA Funds for 9 Days $46.00 USA Funds for 10 Days

$50.60 USA Funds for 11 Days $55.20 USA Funds for 12 Days

$59.80 USA Funds for 13 Days $64.40 USA Funds for 14 Days

Edited by Swath
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Junior Suite Enhancements Since: 21 January 2011

Double Cruise Points (Nights at Sea)

Tea and coffee service en-suite

Terry bathrobes (For use on board)

Bathroom amenities

Walk-In Closet

A Bathtub NOT a Shower Stall in the Bathroom

Suite check-in line @ embarkation

Silver SeaPass® card for recognition

Edited by Swath
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Crown & Anchor Society Levels

21 January 2011



 

Gold: 3-29 Nights at Sea



Platinum: 30-54Nights at Sea

 

*Emerald: 55-79 Nights at Sea*



 

Diamond: 80-174 Nights at Sea



 

Diamond+: 175-699 Nights at Sea



 

*Pinnacle Club: 700+ Nights at Sea*



 

*NEW LEVEL*: 21 January 2011

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Junior Suite Enhancements Since: 21 January 2011

Double Cruise Points (Nights at Sea)

Tea and coffee service en-suite

Terry bathrobes (For use on board)

Bathroom amenities

Walk-In Closet

A Bathtub NOT a Shower Stall in the Bathroom

Suite check-in line @ embarkation

Silver SeaPass® card for recognition

The JS Enhancement Program has been in effect since Jaunary of 2009. When it was credits instead of points, JS cabins have been receiving double credits since January 1, 2004.

 

Just for clarification........not all JS cabins have actual walk-in closets. You will only find those on Radiance class and above.

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You are more than welcome and thank you for your kind words. See you on board Enchantment......and with the weather we have been having the last three weeks.......April 2 can't come soon enough.:)

 

 

You are so "Welcome", I too agree, April 2, cannot come soon enough ;-)

 

Have a super day, and again 'Thanks' for all super bits information,

Sue

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Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. [RCCL]

Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Caribbean_Cruises_Ltd.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RCCL

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/

http://www.royalcaribbean.co.uk/

http://www.celebritycruises.com/

http://www.azamaraclubcruises.com/

http://www.oasisoftheseas.com/video.php?ship=oasis

http://www.rclinvestor.com/phoenix.z...&p=irol-irhome

OR

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix....&p=irol-irhome

 

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. [RCCL]

Royal Caribbean International, U.S.A.

*Celebrity X Cruises, U.S.A. {Originally Greece}

Pullmantur Cruises, Spain

+Azamara Club Cruises, U.S.A.

CDF Croisieres de France

TUI Cruises (50% Ownership), Germany

 

*Also referred to as: X or =X=

Due to large X logo on ship’s Smoke-stacks/Exhaust-stacks

+Azamara Club Cruises [8 December 2009]

Formerly Azamara Cruises [4 May 2007 - 7 December 2009] was created when RCCL Decided to take two ships that had been intended to expand =X= and create a brand new Cruise Line

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Crown & Anchor Society Levels

21 January 2011



 

Gold: 3-29 Nights at Sea



Platinum: 30-54 Nights at Sea

 

Emerald: 55-79 Nights at Sea



 

Diamond: 80-174 Nights at Sea



 

Diamond+: 175-699 Nights at Sea



 

Pinnacle Club: 700+ Nights at Sea

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We have done this in the past on other ships, but due to conflicting posts regarding RCI, I decided to ask them directly and here's what I just received via internet chat on 3/27/11 @ 10:50am

 

Hi, are you allowed to bring a case of bottled water/soda onto the Oasis of the Seas?

[10:45:26 AM] Thank you for the great question but no, you are not allowed to bring your case of water or soda. You can purchase your unlimited soda package and bottled water package from us.

 

Hope this helps others looking for this answer. I also asked about the fuel surcharge (4/23 sailing) and so far they haven't implemented it yet.

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  • 4 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...

Cruisenfever thanks for all the wonderful helpful hints. I also printed off the Public Heath Questionnaire and that will save time. Keep all those hints coming. For all the other posters thanks also as this has been a great site to visit and get information.

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  • 1 month later...

Hair dryers are provided. There is a dispenser in the shower with soap/shampoo. I take my own shampoo. If you are in a suite, then usually you will be provided with upgraded bathroom items--including lotion, cotton balls, qtips, etc. Robes are not provided in every cabin but you might be able to get on upon request--no quarantee.

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Some people are not aware (particularly first-timers) that there is plenty of room under the bed for suitcases, shoes etc. Also check behind all the mirrors for those little hidden cupboards!

 

Power points on Independence take US adaptors and also European ones.

 

An extension lead (power strip) is useful, particularly as the sockets are quite near the counter top and some plugs do not fit.

 

Also we have found that a small air freshener is extremely useful for the bathroom :eek:

 

Regards to all

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