RCCL Secrets they don't tell you about

[crb04]

I have mixed feelings on this:

 

1) I'm not completely sure it's true, though it does sound like it would make the accounting simpler and it's believable on that account.

2) I do want to reward the person who gives me good service.

3) If I charge the tips to my room, then pay the final bill with my RCCI VISA, then I get double points towards my next cruise (because it's an RCCI purchase). Do what's best for the bartender, or do what's best for me?

 

Or get cash from the casino (using your RCCL Visa--shows up as "entertainment" charge) to pay tips =>cash for service personnel AND double points--best for both? ;)

[josephz]

I agree that the main thing about any trip is to accept that there are going to be line-cutters and the like, and to not get upset over little things. My experience with RCCL was that the passengers were terrific, but RCCL seemed out to cut every corner that they could:

 

.we were supposed to get a nightly midnight buffet and we only got one which was salads, cold sandwiches, and desserts.

.the dance floor had no band; it was a loudspeaker system (not a dj)--same music every night for four nights.

.the one night steak was on the menu, we each got one red potato; I asked for more and were told there weren't enough to accomodate the request.

.another night we had shrimp scampi with four shrimp still in their shells which we had to peel ourselves in the hot sauce...

 

This was on the Serenade; I eventually got half the money back. Have others had experiences like this on RCCL ships?

[Driftwoodgal]

Merion Mom,

 

My phone cards put a smile on my servers and stewards faces every time I give one out. I normally buy a package deal from Sam's Club and get 60 minute cards that will give them 10 - 15 minutes talk time to home. I hand them out to everyone that I tip at the end of the cruise, and to others that seem to help us out on our cruise. I haven't heard a complaint yet about getting a card, in fact have the staff member come back to me and tell me thank you again as they used the card to call home.

 

In case some are confused, I give these just as a special thank you, not there regular tips. They get those at the end of the cruise as well.

[melissa593]

Deck 2 right in the middle I think--fortunately they are oceanview cabins so there is a window (I booked a year in advance but since we needed connecting cabins, 1 to sleep 3 people our selection was rather limited -- as was our budget) Hoping for the best (and really don't plan to spend too much time in the cabin anyway, maybe earplugs will be a good idea along with the nitelite/room deoderizer!

Melissa

[ISABELLA]

Bring your own coffee pot because their coffee is like mud. I found a coffeemaker with a plastic mug instead of a glass pot that I am bringing. I also found out recently that our RCCL balcony does not have a dining size table, so I went online and searched for "rollup tables" and ordered one ($19.95+shipping) that is perfect size and height. It arrived in three days. It is a nice collapsable table that sets up quickly and will be perfect for dining. It came with a canvas bag with a shoulder strap--light and easy carrying. It is sad that RCCL doesn't carry these for Room Service Dining on my balcony. Oh well, I figure the table will be great for holidays when you are always looking for another table.

Do you also bring BAR-B-Q grill?

[crb04]

Do you also bring BAR-B-Q grill?

 

You mean there won't be one available in my suite?! Alright, that tears it--off to write a letter to Richard about the missing necessities...;)

[LeftatGator]

Where can I find one of these tables? I haven't found what (I think) you're talking about. BTW - what's the size of the table on the balcony and how much larger is the roll up?

 

Jim

[hithere]

Where can I find one of these tables? I haven't found what (I think) you're talking about. BTW - what's the size of the table on the balcony and how much larger is the roll up?

 

Jim

 

Can I jump in? I first posted about these tables last October. I was scared to post about them because I had never heard of anyone using them and I thought I would be given a hard time about bringing "furniture"... sort of like the person above. Why it should bother anyone else what YOU bring aboard is beyond me. Anyway... My husband and I love balcony breakfast dining and the table was fantastic for that. You can see my Feb post with pictures of the table and how I used it on the Mariner.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=88776

 

Since I posted I've rec'd thankyou's from MANY people who have taken this table and been able to enjoy eating on the balcony. You go for it! :)

[crb04]

Actually, I agree wholeheartedly with bringing table if it will make you more comfortable/cruise more enjoyable. We brought a narrow-frame, inflatable camp bed since rollaway wouldn't fit in D1, and 18 yo DS and 13 yo DD weren't inclined to share the sofa bed. We checked it as part of our airline baggage allowance. I also caught a little flack here for it, but as you say, so what? Water off a duck's back ;) As long as it's allowed and doesn't harm anyone else, more power to ya...

[herecomesthesun]

Merion Mom,

 

My phone cards put a smile on my servers and stewards faces every time I give one out. I normally buy a package deal from Sam's Club and get 60 minute cards that will give them 10 - 15 minutes talk time to home. I hand them out to everyone that I tip at the end of the cruise, and to others that seem to help us out on our cruise. I haven't heard a complaint yet about getting a card, in fact have the staff member come back to me and tell me thank you again as they used the card to call home.

 

In case some are confused, I give these just as a special thank you, not there regular tips. They get those at the end of the cruise as well.

 

I did not mean to put down your very nice gesture. I just read on a cruise website that the best way to express your gratitude to cruiseship staff is to give them cash only. If they did a superb job, simply tip them more in cash. Again, this is just what I read, but it makes sense that they should be able to use the money in the best way for them. Its like a birthday present - you absolutely love it when someone gives you a memorable and thoughtful gift, but it is often more practical when they just write a check. :rolleyes: If you are having great results with giving phone cards, that is awesome for you and I commend your thoughtfulness. If it is supplemental to the normal tip I don't find anything wrong with it but I had heard that is not what the staff exactly prefer.

[herecomesthesun]

I thought that the balconies came with tables and chairs. Are they that impossible to use to eat?

[crb04]

I thought that the balconies came with tables and chairs. Are they that impossible to use to eat?

 

The one we had was very small--could put a plate on it, but not much else and not high enough to use as dining table. We did move coffee table to balcony, bigger and more room for breakfast plates and glasses, plus gave us a little more walk space in cabin. We have JS booked for next one and from pictures of the room and balcony I've seen here, seems like that one has a bigger table.

[LeftatGator]

These are great! Anyone have any more?

[Driftwoodgal]

Herecomethesun,

 

Thanks for your post about the cards possibly not being wanted. I have done this on three cruises now and have talked to crew members that weren't getting the cards (dance company etc) They told me that the crew do like the phone cards. I am sure that if some one doesn't have a use for the card they can trade it for something else with another crew member. The other reason that I give them out is people remember you when you do something out of the ordinary.

[Westie1]

I was just on NOS with rcl and they gave me bonine pills. I picked them up in the waiting room of the sick bay for free.

[DONNA2]

Just a note about the missed opportunity on purchasing the photos, this was on RCI website:

How can I get copies of the pictures I bought onboard?

 

Image Photo Services operates the photo department onboard all Royal Caribbean ships. For additional copies of photographs from your last cruise, call (800) 772-3470 or (305) 476-3666, e-mail customerservice@imageservices.com , or write:

 

Image

c/o Image Photo Services, Inc.

2085 NW 87th Ave, Suite A

Miami, FL 33172

 

To make copies of the photographs purchased onboard, a release form is required. The photo release may be printed from Image Photo Services' website.

[ata1976]

To make copies of the photographs purchased onboard, a release form is required. The photo release may be printed from Image Photo Services' website.

 

Thanks. I couldn't get that link to work but if you go to www.image.com I found it from there. You fill in your name and the date of the cruise and it will form a letter for you to print good for 30 days.

This is very helpful because I have tried to copy some at walmart before and they said no.

[rdillon2]

Quick question for those that give out phone cards - on several of my cruises I bought phone cards to use to call home and NONE of the phones anywhere near the docks would take them - have you seen phones where you could actually use the phone cards? Can they be used on the ship?

 

Just curious - I ended up saving the cards and using them at home.

[kenandlaura06]

Or get cash from the casino (using your RCCL Visa--shows up as "entertainment" charge) to pay tips =>cash for service personnel AND double points--best for both? ;)

 

Clever!

[Jukebox Eddie]

RCCL needs to follow NCL and add hand sanitizing machines outside all restaurants, casinos, and clubs. I will be bringing my own hand sanitizer spray bottle because ships always seem to have some virus onboard. I was amazed the only hand sanitizers on RCCL are where you board the ship. The fact that there were no sanitizers for the Windjammer Buffet on LOS really amazed me. Gross thinking of people with dirty hands handling food and utensils.

 

just got off the brillance this month, and there are hand sanitizing machines all over the place!

[Merion_Mom]

I agree that the main thing about any trip is to accept that there are going to be line-cutters and the like, and to not get upset over little things. My experience with RCCL was that the passengers were terrific, but RCCL seemed out to cut every corner that they could:

 

.we were supposed to get a nightly midnight buffet and we only got one which was salads, cold sandwiches, and desserts.

.the dance floor had no band; it was a loudspeaker system (not a dj)--same music every night for four nights.

.the one night steak was on the menu, we each got one red potato; I asked for more and were told there weren't enough to accomodate the request.

.another night we had shrimp scampi with four shrimp still in their shells which we had to peel ourselves in the hot sauce...

 

This was on the Serenade; I eventually got half the money back. Have others had experiences like this on RCCL ships?

Nope, and I can't imagine WHERE you read/were told that there was a midnight buffet EVERY night. And I have NEVER been told that I couldn't have more of ANY food. As a matter of fact, after the first night, my waiter always remembered that I didn't eat rice or potatoes, and made sure that I got huge helpings of various vegetables, even different each night!

[Henrik_Keller]

Two things come to mind right now (I’m sure I will remember other things later ;) )

 

Ok…. If you go to those “This-is-the-shops-we-recommend-in-the-next-port-of-call-shows”, you know, where the cruise director tell you which shops are trusted by the cruise line, then come a little early and remember to sit on the first or second row. The cruise director will always have some freebees that he/she throws out amongst the audience. So if you plan to go to these shows anyway, why not get some free gifts while you are there? ;)

 

Another thing (at least on Voyager ships). If you find something in the shops on the Royal Promenade that you like, but don’t need right away, then wait.

 

During your cruise there will be different sales every day on the Royal Promenade. One day t-shirts will be on sale, the next day it will be watches, the next day it will be jewellery and so on. You can save some money if you wait for the right day.

 

That’s all for now…. Maybe I will think of something else.

 

Happy cruising to everyone going! I’m not jealous AT ALL :D

[eeniemeenie]

josephz...interested to know how you went about getting half the money back. i have had similar experiences but have been unable to elicit much response ,leave alone a refund.

[PTarbay]

Aren't they all digital now? So it shouldn't matter if someone else buys it; it should still be available for another purchase, right?

When we couldn't find certain photos on the wall they were able to pull them up at the desk and print them

[tinabinab]

Just a comment for those purchasing phone cards to use as extra tips. If you want to give these, I suggest buying them before you leave the states.

 

We purchased a phone card on our last visit in Cozumel and it turned out to be a fake card. We purchased from one of the largest stores on the beachfront and were so upset to find out it was a phoney card. (If you've been to Cozumel, you've probably shopped at this store - its the large two story one that sells liquor and clothing upstairs, lots of glassware and souvenirs downstairs.) Unfortunately I don't remember the name of it...