3yorkies

Just got off Allure last Sunday. I cruise every 4 to 7 weeks except June to August when the ships are overrun by children.

I ask for a window, not for the view, but to not have others seated by me. I have found tables I like on each ship that are in the corridor areas to the smaller rooms and always ask for one of those. I have a list of tables for each ship. I send it in about 45 days before the cruise and have always had success. I look at my seapass when I pick it up and if it ever were not the table I request then I can go to the MDR and see what table they have assigned and ask to be moved if needed. So far I have always been accommodated.

I just got off Allure last Sunday. I had prebooked and paid for lunch at Chops at noon on boarding day. I showed up and it was closed, just doing reservations for future times. Fortunately I always print off all my reservations and showed it to the maitre d'. He gave me a reservation at 12:30 at Giovanni's and rebooked my Chops for day 3 lunch. I thought I would be charged for Giovanni's but they gave it to me. Both lunches were great! Wonderful start to the cruise.

You have to be out of cabin by about 8 a.m. And you can't get in cabin until about 1:00 or 1:30 p.m. So they have 5+ hours to clean and ready the cabins. The rest of the ship is being constantly cleaned. It seems there is always someone cleaning handrails and elevator buttons, all the high touch areas. It seems more than adequate to me, probably much cleaner than schools and restaurants and stores, etc.

Not sure why people are saying change in comedian. The same two people still show as onboard for show. They did add a show by the comedians in the main theater because the smaller club was sold out, but they usually do this. I prefer the smaller venue and always reserve it.

I have found specific tables (and an alternate) that I prefer on Allure, Navigator, and Liberty. I email rcldining about 45 days out to request the table and get a reply within a week to contact again two weeks out for confirmation. I do that and get a reply before departure, usually in 7 days. I have always printed out the email just in case I don't get the correct table, but it has worked on about the last 10 cruises.

And there is no instance in which I tip those I don't see. When you go to a hotel, do you tip the laundry person and the person that runs the floor cleaner late at night? I don't. I tip the person who comes in and cleans my shower, brings clean towels, vacuums my room, and makes the bed. I would prefer that the cruise lines pay people behind the scenes as any other business does. These are not people that should be "tipped."

Which is why I remove the gratuity and tip directly. I tip those that I have direct contact with---cabin attendant, bartender, servers, waiter and assistant, and head waiter----not the people who do the laundry, any more than I do when I stay in a hotel. By removing the gratuity and tipping in cash I know exactly who the tips are going to. And I tip based on the service I receive. Once I gave the assistant waiter more than the waiter because he was the better of the two and the one constantly coming and checking and making everything right. If it is not a voluntary payment to someone you deal with directly, then it is not a tip---it is a service charge. Since the once a day service, I have been on two ships. On one I never saw the stateroom attendant, got one towel animal, got only two compasses, and got ice about every other day although I left a note asking for the compass and ice in the evening, not morning. On the other one I had my room cleaned sometime midday, but still got the compass and ice every night while I was out and got 5 towel animals. That second room steward got twice the tip that the other one received. In both cases the room was cleaned adequately, but the second one went above and beyond and I rewarded that extra effort.

I just carry my bag on every time. Got tired of trying to find it as it seems to be far from my door. All I fly with is a roller carry on anyway, so no hassle to just keep with me.

My cruises are all casino comps, so no way would I do it. I would get no refund except taxes and port charges and would lose some on my air. No advantage at all, just lots of hassle. Plus I would wonder if my freeplay would even transfer smoothly. I'm on the May 21st Allure, so expecting they may do the same with this one.

Went 2 months ago on Allure . The branzino was wonderful. Going to try the steak in 2 weeks. Bread was good and so was the mushroom risotto. Dessert was just okay.

I always cruise solo and do at least one or two specialty restaurants each cruise, at least to use my BOGO D+ dinners. I have always had a great time solo and find the staff to be especially welcoming of solo diners. Hard to believe they would not be. And I would never want to be seated with others I don't know. Guess the fact that I traveled for business a lot and went out alone every night makes me very comfortable dining solo. I actually enjoy my own company, lol.

I have seen the concierge ask people in swimsuits to leave. Other than that, no.

I liked the Even. It is two blocks from the Space Needle. Not familiar with Pikes Market. But I walked to the SN and also the Chihuly exhibit. Hotel is moderately priced and lots of places to eat nearby. Uber to port was very reasonable from there and only took a few minutes.

I just got off Jewel the 26th. Food was great and I said so in the comments. Only problem was Izumi actually. They didn't have the dessert I ordered and brought me something different without asking, then got pretty pissy when I rejected it and requested something else. But the MDR food was great. Only did one lunch and one dinner at specialty and would not bother in the future.

I am booked on May 21. I was able to book 5 shows on March 27, so almost 2 months out. I started checking on March 25 when I got home from Jewel cruise. So excited that Blue Planet is back. MM was on days 1, 2, and 3, but it was the one show I did not book. Have seen that too many times and not an Abba fan.

Have a solo booked right now over Thanksgiving. Never been an issue and have also done Xmas and New Years. Always use NextCruise once I have my casino instant cruise certif.

I just got off Jewel OTS Saturday, 8 night cruise. I did one specialty dinner, but otherwise ate only in the MDR for one breakfast (slept through the rest), three lunches, and 7 dinners. I would rate my food from a 7 (a couple of desserts) to many 9s and 10s. The Indian dishes were all good, the Mexican night was good with the carne asada. I really have no complaints except the food at Labadee and Coco Cay was no more than a 5 for me. I am happy to have new things to try and to enjoy. Going on Allure in a few weeks so I can try the things I didn't get to on Jewel. Only one negative, and that was that I gained 3 pounds.

I just got an email from Royal on ONE of my two reservations for this, saying it will be refunded within 14 days (so they get to use my money for this time, along with thousands of other's), but that they hope I understand the error and in a gesture of apology they are giving me a $50.00 onboard credit. Hmmm. Wonder if that will be on both of the reservations or split between them or just on one.

Those that claim there is a tip generated from Royal on those drinks for the servers/bartenders are just trying to assuage their own consciences for their stinginess IMHO.

And the latter was what I was watching, as I almost always sit AT the bar instead of a table. Actually I usually stand at the bar.

I will always continue to tip in cash, as I want that person to be the one who gets the entire tip---not have it "split" in a pool. What's so hard about sticking 10 dollar bills in your pocket or bag each day?

Since the only outside area I frequent is the solarium, I would be very, very PISSED OFF about this were I on board. If they are going to do away with the solarium, then they need to provide another adults only outside area for those of us who choose to avoid the over-abundance of children on the ship. You should get at least a 50% refund for this. Sheesh!