so many questions.......first time on RC

my husband and I have been on 2 Celebrity cruises and LOVED them, last one back in 2010. I have been on one short RC cruise like 11 years ago (was like a 4 day cruise) on one of their older ships and was not impressed at all in comparison with Celebrity.

We have been reading about these mega ships and I sort of wanted to go on it for years as my other friends told me Royal Caribbean are amazing as long as you get on one of the newer ships. So we wanted to stay local so are going on the Allure of the Seas (we are on the east coast) on the eastern Caribbean cruise that is leaving on August 14th. we are excited but worried it will not be as good as celebrity. We do not have kids (of course we do not mind kids and are still working on having some of our own, haha) so we hope this ship has enough fun things for us to do. A few questions I have is the following:

1. Are the beverage packages worth it? They seem very expensive. My husband and I normally are not a big drinkers but on vacation we drink more.... so a basic day on vacation would be probably like several glasses of wine with dinner, maybe an after dinner cocktail, several beers/ cocktails during the days at sea on the boat or even after getting back on the boat before dinner (this is all each). My husband likes espresso (i am not sure what falls in the category of "specialty coffee" and i will just drink regular coffee but i love green tea. We also like to have sparking water but could deal with just club soda if they have it. Usually we order a bottle of pellegrino with dinner but we are do not really drink juice or sodas. Definitely need good filtered and/or bottled water daily as I personally drink a ton of water. Do you get it free on the boat or do you have to get the Evian water to even get water on the boat. I guess I am trying to figure out what you get for free....like is the water in the boat already filtered or you can get bottled water from the bar cheaper than the evian? Honestly my favorite water is club soda with a lemon. Should we go al la Carte or drink package? Also I heard that their is a Starbucks which my husband was excited about. However are the prices jacked up on the coffees there? I know it is not included in the beverage packages. Also is the gratuity built in already or do we need to tip with every drink we get even if we have the drink packages?

2. We have "my time dining" which is fine, not worried about this but what types of food are served just in the main dining room. Is there a menu or do you have to just eat what they are serving that night? Like my husband cannot eat beef so just wondering, he has a food allergy so sticks to chicken and fish. Is the food in the main dining rooms good? I am sure we will do 1-2 specialty restaurants but hope to keep the cost down by doing regular dining.

3. Any healthy options for breakfast, like does the spa have a breakfast selection area (Celebrity did) and it was healthier with yogurts and fruits. We like more healthy foods for breakfast and lunch and not the typical buffet style so is there another option on this ship or is it extra to eat breakfast in a nicer/healthier place?

4. About the internet....there seems to be two different versions of Vroom, one with streaming, one without. We both have jobs that unfortunately we will need to check on things once a day or so. Is it best to get the "streaming" one in terms of speed. and if we each get for once device (like each of us has one device) can we switch it between devices as i have an iphone, ipad, and laptop but do not need to use all 3 at once. My husband only has an iphone and Ipad but our goal is to not spend all day on our gadgets and "unplug" our-self but we need to be able to get texts or emails in case of emergencies. my husband says we should just get it for one device and switch so did not know if we can do that and how well it even works?

5. is room service free (to order food), it was on Celebrity but that was years ago so just wondering

those are my first basic questions. I am nervous about this huge ship but also very excited as well. We got a balcony room so happy about that as i love the ocean so much so I need to feel like I am on a ship. ANY advice or help is VERY welcome as i am trying ot make plans.

... 2. We have "my time dining" which is fine, not worried about this but what types of food are served just in the main dining room. Is there a menu or do you have to just eat what they are serving that night?....

Main Dining Room menus:

http://www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com/press-kit/9/culinary-press-kit/

1. Depends. If you are not big drinkers they are probably overkill.

2. My time dining rocks. There are always healthy, fish, chicken, and veggie choices. Food is subjective, but we always love it.

3. There are tons of choices for breakfast in a few different venues.

4. Don't know about Internet. I go on cruises to unplug so only need it for occasional email checks.

5. Room service is free, mostly, but most people will do a coupe $$ tip.

Tom

BTW, you will love the ship and RCI. Welcome back!

oh i meant to ask about daily gratuities. i know we have to pay so much per person per day as on our last cruises...how much is it?

1. Depends. If you are not big drinkers they are probably overkill.

 

2. My time dining rocks. There are always healthy, fish, chicken, and veggie choices. Food is subjective, but we always love it.

 

3. There are tons of choices for breakfast in a few different venues.

 

4. Don't know about Internet. I go on cruises to unplug so only need it for occasional email checks.

 

5. Room service is free, mostly, but most people will do a coupe $$ tip.

 

Tom

Thanks for the food advice. So in the regular "free" dining room, there will be options? We will not just be subjected to two choices each night? is there an actual menu? i remember on our first Celebrity cruise years ago there was only two choices on the menu each night in the main dining room so we had to choose one so that is why I am asking.

Also, if one was not to purchase ANY drink package....what drinks are available for free?

Thanks for the food advice. So in the regular "free" dining room, there will be options? We will not just be subjected to two choices each night? is there an actual menu? i remember on our first Celebrity cruise years ago there was only two choices on the menu each night in the main dining room so we had to choose one so that is why I am asking.

 

Also, if one was not to purchase ANY drink package....what drinks are available for free?

See menu linked in post number 2 above.

Beverages included with basic cruise fare: tap water, coffee, hot tea, iced tea, lemonade, milk, juices with breakfast.

See menu linked in post number 2 above.

 

Beverages included with basic cruise fare: tap water, coffee, hot tea, iced tea, lemonade, milk, juices with breakfast.

I saw that link and it was much appreciated but it downloads a press kit and i cannot find the menu options...am I doing something wrong?

Is the tap water filtered on the boat? can you get cheaper bottled water? I drink so much water so this is important to me. is it just basic coffee that is free (but is it good?).

For drink packages, here is what you do: first (or second..) day, drink what you want and pay as you go. The next day, check you stateroom tv for how much you spent. If it's more than the daily cost of the package, you buy the package for the rest of the cruise. You don't have to have it for the entire cruise.

We went on Allure, adult couple, no kids, enjoyed it very much. Try the flowrider!

oh i meant to ask about daily gratuities. i know we have to pay so much per person per day as on our last cruises...how much is it?

If you chose My Time Dining, the gratuities (dining and housekeeping) are added automatically to your total cruise fare, and will be part of your final payment. No need pay extra except for alcohol. Gratuities for alcohol are automatically added at 18%. If you wish to add more it's up to you.

My Time Dining is held in one of the main dining rooms on the ship. Some ships have 2 levels of dining rooms, some 3. One of the levels will be specific for My Time Dining, the other(s) will be for Traditional dining. The menus will be the same as in the Traditional dining room. Only difference is the flexibility of when you want to eat versus early and late dining.

There will be a menu posted outside of the main dining room for each meal they have. They will have breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus posted. I believe the touch screens near the elevators will also show the menus.

Unless something has recently changed, room service is free up to a certain point of time. I believe until midnight. Then there's a small charge for the service.

Tom

I saw that link and it was much appreciated but it downloads a press kit and i cannot find the menu options...am I doing something wrong?

 

Is the tap water filtered on the boat? can you get cheaper bottled water? I drink so much water so this is important to me. is it just basic coffee that is free (but is it good?).

Pardon me, I posted the wrong link. Try this:

http://www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com/download-press-kit/7/

Only regular coffee is free. Specialty coffee is extra.

Also enjoy the Adult Solarium with large capacity hot tubs that overhang the ocean. The Royal Promenade, Central Park, and Boardwalk areas are awesome. The casino at the time I was on it was 1/2 smoking, 1/2 non smoking.

The main theater production shows are top notch. Aqua Theater and rock climbing walls are a must. Zip line was just so so. Flow riders are a must. There are several for fee restaurants to choose from if you so desire. An ocean view balcony is what we stayed in and enjoyed.

You will have a great time on a great ship.

I see you like Celebrity. We did try the Celebrity Silhouette for a change. It was nice, but wasn't for us.

Tom

If you chose My Time Dining, the gratuities (dining and housekeeping) are added automatically to your total cruise fare, and will be part of your final payment.

Tom

I don't believe this information is correct. You can prepay your gratuities if you wish, but it is not automatic. Just because you select MyTime Dining you don't have to prepay gratuities.

Daily gratuities are added to your Seapass account on a daily basis. It is around $13 per person per day for a non suite staterooms. This includes cabin steward, all dining venues a d miscellaneous behind the scenes people. Does not include room service.

To original poster, you indicated that you thought beverage packages were expensive but would perhaps have several glasses of wine with dinner and several drinks during the day - to me that would indicate that you might benefit from a package. Drink prices are from around $8 up with a large majority in the $10-12 range, plus an 18% automatic gratuity.

Free drinks include ice water (tap not bottled), coffee (not specialty), hot tea, iced tea, milk, chocolate milk, hot chocolate, lemonade, fruit punch, flavored water, breakfast juices (not fresh squeezed).

Room service is free almost all the time. Food is free, but there is a delivery charge of around $5 after midnight.

AT dinner in the dining room, there are "daily specials" and an "all the time" menu...there are more than 2 choices nightly...usually 7-9 different entrees....maybe more... Things like chicken, steak, fish and pork are available EVERY NIGHT....and then there will be 3-4 "daily" offerings.....your choice!

To original poster, you indicated that you thought beverage packages were expensive but would perhaps have several glasses of wine with dinner and several drinks during the day - to me that would indicate that you might benefit from a package. Drink prices are from around $8 up with a large majority in the $10-12 range, plus an 18% automatic gratuity.

 

Free drinks include ice water (tap not bottled), coffee (not specialty), hot tea, iced tea, milk, chocolate milk, hot chocolate, lemonade, fruit punch, flavored water, breakfast juices (not fresh squeezed).

I agree with this - especially based on what you say you will likely drink while on vacation.

I opted NOT to get a package on my recent Med cruise, and by the second or third night I was regretting it (and because so much was pre-paid I had brought only spending money for the ports, so for me going back and buying one wasn't an option at that point). Not that I wanted to get rip-roaring drunk, but the ability to grab a cocktail now and then or have a couple of glasses of wine at dinner would have been amazing. I've decided that from now on I will just buy a package for the convenience factor (unless it's included as it is on my upcoming Celebrity cruise). Or at the very least buy myself a lot of OBC. :)

Thank you everyone. I think i might go for the premium package- drinks...but my husband likes specialty coffees (just espresso) but said he could do without on the cruise, he only has like one per day so not sure it is worth upgrading to the Ultimate.

If you decide to go with no drink package...how much more expensive are they to purchase on the actual cruise? i am asking because I already called RC direct and they did not even know the answer to this.

Lets say for instance after day 3 we want to order a drink package as we now know how much we are drinking. How much would it be more (as it says 20% off on website right now if you buy it but is that just a gimmick?)

Also, any internet tips about my questions on the internet?

Thank you everyone. I think i might go for the premium package- drinks...but my husband likes specialty coffees (just espresso) but said he could do without on the cruise, he only has like one per day so not sure it is worth upgrading to the Ultimate.

 

If you decide to go with no drink package...how much more expensive are they to purchase on the actual cruise? i am asking because I already called RC direct and they did not even know the answer to this.

 

Lets say for instance after day 3 we want to order a drink package as we now know how much we are drinking. How much would it be more (as it says 20% off on website right now if you buy it but is that just a gimmick?)

 

Also, any internet tips about my questions on the internet?

It would not be at the pre-cruise price but the standard per-night price.

Also at least in the past there has been a requirement that there have to be 4 days remaining on the cruise to purchase the package - however, on the Brilliance Med/Venice cruise I was just on they offered it I know with 3 days remaining. Not sure if that's because the last 2 days were sea days or an error in the Cruise Compass or not.

No advice on the internet as I'm in the "unplug when on vacation" club.

The dining will be similar to any other cruise you've done. There will be several menu choices every day, plus they'll have some standards they serve every day, like a chicken breast.

As for drink packages - when we were on Celebrity I did the equivalent of the Royal Replenish. It includes water bottles and specialty coffee. I drink A lot of both. Since that trip was port intensive, I chose to pay for the occasional alcoholic beverage. On another trip I did the Premium Package which includes alcohol. I liked the convenience and no big post cruise bill. Pretty much with the drink prices now, all you need to do is drink 5-6 drinks and the package has paid for itself.

Water- People will say all kinds of things about the ships water, it's fine to drink. You can walk up to any bar and get a glass. We've also brought refillable water bottles you can fill in Windjammer. With the drink packages you can get the water bottles. If you do the packages, since you mentioned coffee watch the package you get, if you're getting an alcohol package, I believe you need the Ultimate to get the coffees too. There's also different rules with the Starbucks and the drink package.

We've also brought refillable water bottles you can fill in Windjammer.

Just as a note with this (I refill my own bottle as well - just not directly from the spout), PLEASE use the provided glasses to fill your bottle and don't put the bottle itself up to the spout!! There are signs up stating "no filling of bottles" but I saw so many people ignore that on the Brilliance. It takes so little time to grab a glass and fill it, then pour that into your water bottle - even if you have to fill the glass twice. And it's so much healthier for everyone!

Internet - if you are just doing things like checking email, get the surf package.

I opted to get the 2 device package. This way both my dh and I can connect one device. I know DH will have his phone, laptop and iPad and he can choose which device he wants connected.

Pardon me, I posted the wrong link. Try this:

 

http://www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com/download-press-kit/7/

 

Only regular coffee is free. Specialty coffee is extra.

 

Thanks for posting this link. It has me salivating and I still have quite a few more sleeps until sail away. :)

 

 

4. About the internet....there seems to be two different versions of Vroom, one with streaming, one without. We both have jobs that unfortunately we will need to check on things once a day or so. Is it best to get the "streaming" one in terms of speed. and if we each get for once device (like each of us has one device) can we switch it between devices as i have an iphone, ipad, and laptop but do not need to use all 3 at once. My husband only has an iphone and Ipad but our goal is to not spend all day on our gadgets and "unplug" our-self but we need to be able to get texts or emails in case of emergencies. my husband says we should just get it for one device and switch so did not know if we can do that and how well it even works?

 

If all you are doing is email plus some browsing on the internet, then "streaming" will be overkill; my experience of regular VOOM on the Allure is that it's very good. You can connect with as many devices as you wish, as long as it's only one device at a time per paid connection. Your husband is right; you can share one connection between the two of you. Should you nevertheless decide to go for two paid connections, make sure that they are both on the same name. By the way, on some sailings there is a discount offered at around 30% when the connections are purchased in advance on the RCI website. If offered on your sailing, you'll find it on the same site where you can make reservations for entertainment and specialty restaurants.

Enjoy the Allure!

Okay, I am somewhat tech illiterate and would never get my money's worth out of internet packages on board. Plus, for the most part, I like to "unplug" on cruises and live in the moment .

My question is are there usually places near ports i.e. coffee shops that have wifi that I could possibly plug into should I experience Facebook withdrawal? The ports in particular are Astoria, OR, Santa Barbara and San Francisco, CA, Victoria, BC and Seattle, WA.