Annelle

https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/cruise/cruise-ship-color-status.html

I started this thread to put suggestions so RCC can read it and take action on it. (and yes, RCC read Cruise Critic)

I've asked specifically not to answer/explain/comment the suggestions for RCC, as I want them to answer.

However, instead of posting suggestions, everybody is giving their opinions, to explain why it it this way and why it should not be the other way, basically ruining the purpose of this thread.

So please, once again, post only suggestions in this thread.

No comment, no opinion, no explanations, only suggestions.

Thanks!

Thanks for the explanations.

However:

-If Disney as Canadian at par offers, so can Royal Carribean

-I get that some ships cannot enter some ports but there are dozens of ships and many different ports. You can also tender.

-You can change the itinerary and swich port of calls.

This post is for a Royal Carribean CEO to read and hopefully take action on some of our suggestions.

If we are answering for them, they wont do anything.

So please post only your suggestions of what you would like to improve and let's keep our fingers crossed that we will have a RCC answer us

Dear CEO of Royal Carribean....

1) Why are we always visiting the same ports in the Carribean? After my 5th cruise, I am really tempted to try a new cruise line to discover new ports.

2) And why all the differents companies are having their port of call on the same day, crowding all the excursions? (ex: 6 ships at Nassau).

3) It would be great to have Canadian offers (or at par dollars) for Canadians cruisers. With 32% exchange rate, a 6000$ cruise cost Canadians 8000$, before any activities, excursions or beverage package. So a family cruise can quickly add up to 10 000$. That is not something we can afford regularly.

Here's what we do:

1) Subscribe to the Royal Carribean emails to keep track of the sales

2) Reserve your next cruise online. Bets choices of cabin and you have a credit onboard. And the earlier the cheaper.

If you're not sure, just book and transfer later to another date/ship/itinerary. You get to keep the onboard credit.

3) Since we're always sailing with Royal, wedesigned Cotsco as our travel agent (need you Costco member number). At least it gives you Costco credit.

4) Everytime there is a sale (specially if there is a kids sail free sale), call and ask for price adjustment (we usually end saving between 300$ and 600$ more)

5) Start looking 100 days before a cruise. Since cancellations have to be done 75-90 days before the cruise, sometimes you get a deal for an upgrade. We once got a junior suite for 500$ more than a balcony.

And dont forget to enjoy your cruise !

Independance of the seas will receive a trampoline park and a laser tag.

Do you think Simphony of the Seas will have the same?

Even in the summer, the weather is highly unpredictable in Alaska. You might be lucky or have rain the whole cruise.

It is usually quite cold and windy, so it's unlikely that you will spend lots of time outside. And you will go crazy if you have to entertain three kids inside the ship for a whole week.

So Disney or RCL, for peace of mind.

You can also let your daughter spend the day at the kids club to enjoy some well deserved adult time.

I would suggest to let her spend a few hours there everyday so she gets more familiar with the counsellors.

Came back yesterday from Alaska on the Infinity.

Older ship, but great cruise.

We enjoyed:

-Cafe al Bacio for coffee, cookies and desserts.

We always end up passing on deck 5. Twice a day.

-Qsine (You have to try it once and come hungry. Try the M favorites)

-Tuscan restaurant, always perfect.

-Indoor salted water pool.

-Constellation Lounge for the view

-Movies on the Rooftop terrace or just watching the sunset from there.

-Watching the Hubbard glacier form our balcony with some champagne.

If you need anything, just go see Kirsty the Captain's Club Hostess. She will take very good care of you.

Enjoy!

Think of Celebrity as an hotel boutique and of Royal as a chain of hotels, each with their usual guests.

If you travel with tween or teenagers, go with Royal for all the activities on the ship: pools, special activities zones (ice skating, climbing wall,flowrider, etc),outdoor movies,great entertainment. Younger kids wont see the difference and older teens/young adult will be able appreciate more the quality of food and service.

The Royal bigger ships are crowded, pools totally packed on sea days so you can only stand in the water against other guests. Food is between so-so and good, service is average. Pushing aggressively sales: shop, bingo, drinking packages, photos. They are many adds on the intercom through the day. Nickling and diming on everything.

After cruising a few times on Royal, we are less interested in the bells and whistles. Doing the 10 seconds zipline or the climbing wall once is enough for us.The biggest difference are the shows that are really great on Royal.

We loved, loved, loved Celebrity food and service. There is few annoucements on Celebrity and they are not pushing the sales as agressively as on Royal.

They usually have an online booking promotion where you choose your perks: free drink packages, internet, onboard credit or gratuities. Number of perks depending of the cabin you choose. We got the classic drinking package (best value for us) and unlike Royal, everything is included inthe package: alcohol, coffee, water, juice.

You can transfer your fidelity level from each company. However, for the same level you get much much more on Celebrity, not only as free perks but as special activities.

If you are going on Royal, I would suggest the Oasis class, with a few specialty dinings away from the crowd. On Celebrity, the new Edge seems amazing.

Bottom line: it depends what you are looking for on your cruise. :)

Thanks!

Could you if people were dressing up for supper?

We were on Anthem last March. We rented a car for the 5 of us (shuttle was right at the port) and bought tickets in advance with AAA discount. You dont need a guided tour.

First thing to do when you get there is to take the included KSC tour bus. When you come back, visit the rest of the buildings. One day was not enough to see everything. Reserach on line first. And dont forget to try the Space Dots Ice cream :)

Only problem with the rented car is that the office closes at 4h30 so you have to pay 10$ per person to go back to the terminal. So we dropped the kids at the port and we paid 20$ instead of 50$ to get back to the ship. (allow a good 30 minutes to drop the car and call the shuttle back)

For 5 persons, renting a car was worth it, but do your own research. Uber might be cheaper

Enjoy your cruise

Thanks!

RIght now, Royal has a BOGO at 60%, so you might be able to upgrade for the same cost or less.

There's also a drink station coffee/tea/water/lemonade beside the pizza place across from the coffee place [emoji4]

 

 

Is the drink station free or only included with the beverage packages?

Hello

There was no minimum hours asked by Marcus.

The reason we took a taxi is that we did not want to spend most of the day in public transportation with so little time there. That was a great decision!

It tooked about 50 minutes from the ship to Crystal Caves and then 25 minutes from Crystal Caves to Horsheshoe Beach, total 125$ with tip.

My only regret is not to have asked him to pick us up form the beach as it was total chaos to go back to the ship. There is only one line for bus and taxi, so we end up waiting at leat 30 minutes under burning sun, some people were almost fainting due to the heat.

As I said, Marcus is well educated about the island, know his way inside out. He studied in economy and lived in Canada, so we had interesting conversations about everything.

I highly recommend him and I am sure you will like him as well.

We were there last week.

I ask for a few quotes for taxi beforehand (all the same price), but I chose Marcus Jones since he was very professional in his answers.

Turn out to be a great choice!

Marcus is very well-rounded and we had wonderful discussions with him.

We went to Crystal Caves, he waited for us and then drove us to Horsheshoe Beach.

He even made a stop to the Aquarium so the kids could see the big turtles in front of the Aquarium

You can reach him at: msaccounts@logic.bm