heyabbott

Bermuda has some of the best golf courses anywhere.

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Does anyone know if the OBC can be used in conjunction with the law enforcement/ military discount?

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pffft, that's just a summer rainstorm. Says the Floridian.. ;)

All surgery is minor until it happens to you

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If you don't mind flavored water the freestyle machines have Dasani flavored. This is what pushed me to get a soda package.

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Someone mentioned you have a corner aft balcony. As such, there certainly would be room. Assuming it's not too windy, you might be able to pull it off. Yes, typically MDR room service is reserved for GS and above. But never say never. Perhaps a polite inquiry at guest services or with someone from room service after boarding might get you somewhere. Of course, there might be an additional fee, which is only reasonable, as this service is typically provided to the more expensive suite cabins. Of course, if I were already spending a little extra for MDR room service, I think I'd just prefer to spend the money on a specialty restaurant.

 

 

 

Ultimately, the specialty restaurant is likely to be much more romantic and enjoyable than dinner from the MDR on a balcony. Instead, just order some drinks and munchies late one night, or do room service breakfast on the balcony.

It's not polite to eat "alfresco " in a restaurant if you get my drift ;)

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I know there's a general room service menu. But if I want MDR food but want to eat on my balcony can I get that delivered? Or any other suggestions? Thank you.

 

 

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You should personally see the Maître d during the day and request a "to go" order, for that evening. Let him know You will pick it up at a designated time and you are not asking for room service. The ship's staff exists to serve the needs of the passengers, not for the passengers to make the staffs' jobs easier. This is not an outlandish request nor is it a difficult one for them to fulfill. In a JS there is certainly enough room to have supper in your cabin.

You can let your cabin steward know and maybe he'll be bright enough to arrange delivery for you. Cash, is there anything it can't buy?

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Pick the best ship, don't think about the ports, unless you're in Europe or Asia

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Does the dealer have to stay on a soft 17?

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Do the menus always rotate in the same order? Was looking at the RCI menu kit (http://www.royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com/download-press-kit/7/), and trying to figure out which night to book for a specialty restaurant. Would hate to miss a meal I want to try though!

 

On a seven night Freedom trip.

IIRC, the Windjammer offers many? Some? of that nights MDR entrees. Never been a fan of WJ for supper, just personal though.

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Does the Park Cafe replace the Solarium Cafe? Is it better, more and better options?

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We get made in Mexico Coke products, including Fanta, at the local grocery store and BJs. Sugar not corn syrup

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Put a blackjack game on your phone or tablet. You'll learn when to hit and stay based on what card the dealer shows. After that it's easy to learn when to split and when to double. Now you are gambling for fun. You may lose in the end, but you'll be able to play a lot longer.

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With Kindle and iPad bringing lots to read on the ship is easy. Kindle for the pool and beach, iPad for everywhere else. My list for next months trip is James Ellroy's The Cold Six Thousand, which I'm reading now, Philip Roth's The Ghost Writer and Thomas Pynchon's The Crying of Lot 49. In case of shipwreck I have James Joyce's Ulysses. In a fiction mood lately. Plus about 6 back issues of The New Yorker. The woman to whom I'm related by marriage is bringing Scott Turow's latest and some girl mags. We have different tastes so we rarely share.

What do you read?

Any recommendations of your favorite books you've read on ships. Anyone like James Ellroy or Ellmore Leonard and care to share some recommendations?

This year I've read 2 amazing books by Michael Chabon, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. And the Yiddish Policeman's Union. The first 2 books of Ken Follet's recent trilogy, Fall of Giants and Winter of the World are fast paced reads of historical fiction and worth the time. The 3rd book is due this fall.

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As long as there are no US ports involved why wouldn't this be a regular occurrence?

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As long as no one wears socks with sandals it's fine.

I wear leather tasseled loafers with my summer suits for summer formal nights. 2 pair of Sperry's, a nice pair of leather flip flops and canvas flip flops for the the pool. Sneakers for the gym.

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Not all westerners agree with the tipping culture.I'm sure Goldstein does. :)

The sign of a successful business model, cut costs wherever possible and shift costs that can't be cut.

Royal has done a marvelous job of acquiring the best ships in the industry. They have set reasonable price points and expanded their demographic. The variable costs: food, drink and labor have been reduced by cutting the quality of the food, making what was formerly included a premium addition and seemingly shifting labor costs to the passengers in terms of automatic service charges and still inferring and suggesting additional gratuities are appropriate. The cruise industry business model is successful because they can get away with this. You can choose to participate by additional tipping. And that's fine. What is equally fine is living by terms of the contract, gratuities are not required. Si if over tipping is ok. No tipping is ok.

I'm personally in the middle, but criticism of those who will not tip is wrong

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Just a question...does the majority of your salary depend on tips? Theirs does.

Why is the majority of their income dependent on tips?

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Wow!:eek::rolleyes:

Maybe be apples and oranges, but who else leaves a couple of bucks on the table at Chick fil a ? Who puts an extra 5 in the sushi chef glass in addition to the waitress' tip? Do you leave 3-5 dollars for the hotel made each day? Everybody leave 15% at Starbucks, Rita's, DunkinDonuts, Maggie Moos, McDonalds?

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Wow what a ridiculous analogy!!! You must really hate those "big tippers":D:rolleyes:

What I find amusing on these message boards (the other information found is indeed very useful) is the need of veteran and longtime cruisers to almost befriend and adopt the ship staff to the point that normal tipping that occurs in restaurants and hotels at home is taken to absurd degrees on ships. The constant praise of the staff's efforts and the recitation of the staff's lowly status and low pay and long hard working conditions. As if the goal of the cruise is as much raising the poor third world workers' income as enjoying ones self. And if it isnt clear by now, the US is becoming 10% 1st world country and and a 50% third world country.

By all means continue this outlook of overtipping and over compensating for poor labor relations, but might I suggest that if the cruise line doesn't pay their workers decent wages with decent working conditions that the consumer boycotts the cruiseline. Kathy Lee Gifford's clothing line and Nike have been subject to boycotts for poor working conditions in the third world.

I know what a bartender has to do to earn a tip over the 15% they've already charged me, but my wife wouldn't approve and the bartender's are never that cute. In addition to the 15% service charge on all drinks, we are charged nearly $24 dollars a day for the minimal service at the service Windjammer twice a day and minimal waiter service for my wife and I at dinner in the MDR. THere's not much added value to a waitstaff in the MDR on what is basically a prix fixe menu served banquet style.

All I require is to take my order correctly, serve it hot and spaced well. And bring some peanuts with my beer

After following this forum for the past few months i decided to sign up and share my feelings on cruising from my aspect with a young family.

 

I've been on 4 cruises all over the carribean. 2 with carnival and 2 with royal carribean.

 

I just got off the Grandeur of the Seas yesterday (July 18, 2014). Here are my honest opinions.

 

We drove 8hrs from outside of Toronto to save on flying costs usually associated with our florida cruises on the past. I would definitely drive to Baltimore or New York in the future! This is with 2 kids below 7!

 

Getting on and off the ship was the quickest and best by far. 10/10.

 

The food was below what i received on my last Royal Caribbean cruise (Freedom). I actually had better food on my Carnival cruise. Surprising i know!. 6/10.

 

Entertainment. Worst cruise I've ever been on. Im sorry if this offends anyone but i found the entertainment geared for people in their 40+. Us being in our late 20s found it bad. 1/10.

 

Kids clubs. Here was the bright light for us, our kids never wanted to leave. 10/10.

 

Staff were awsome. The 2 cruise directors (paul and other guy from Canada) were funny and i found myself watching the morning show 2-3 times in a row. lol. All staff were very friendly and helpful. 10/10.

 

I hope this review helps someone else in our same category.

 

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We are taking this cruise in 3 weeks. Even though we're in our early 50's, the only entertainment on a cruise ship thats ever been worth seeing has been the comedians geared for adults only. Not interested in a Broadway review or elevator music rock.

Which were the worst 2 days for dinner in the MDR?

How was the competition for pool chairs? Did you have to get up early to claim decent seats? Was the a time during the day when it seemed to clear out a bit?

We choose the cruise based on the Port of Baltimore's convenience. Maybe thats not the right way to go

Tipping in advance or 'greasing the wheel' is just bribery and it's just as wrong as two people sharing a drink package.

Is the last night of a 7 day cruise a good night to at Giovani's Table? And the best night to miss the MDR?

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There are several options for dessert. We had the new menu on Navigator in June. The new appetizers are great, especially the warm goat cheese salad and the bacon. Sounds weird but the pork belly bacon is like a meaty sparerib without the bone. They have a new way of cooking the steaks which we didn't like as well.

 

 

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Since there is no open flame cooking the steaks can't really be grilled. Nothing else cooks a steak as well as open flame grilling, even flame broiling can't be done. No matter what else they do it can't make it very good on a ship.

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I work in Baltimore and drive by the dock on my way home. Guess what I saw at the dock at 4:45 this afternoon? Grandeur of the Seas. We leave 3 weeks from today.

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Where's the soft serve machine on the Grandeur? On the pool deck near WJ? That's where it was on the navigator but there was no machine on the Enchantment

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