The Fun Researcher

Just depends on where you like to lounge in your room. Our last cruise in June, my sister's family and ours would gather before dinner in my parent's balcony cabin. Yes it got cramped, but I'm not one to turn down some wine in their cabin. LOL They liked having the bed near the bathroom so it made the balcony feel more like an extension of the adjacent "gathering" space in the cabin. Our upcoming Alaskan cruise on the Quantum we have 6 balcony cabins spread among 16 family members so we'll have a smorgasbord of options. I like either for different reasons.

Jumping on here. How about the Quantum, Balcony #11154?

Wow, o.k. Folks get charged wrongly for towel charges. Royal's system is far from foolproof, and results in erroneous charges. THAT'S the issue. Sure there may be a couple of bad apples that leave towels on excursions, or take them home. (It's beyond me why someone would want a generic blue towel that's been washed over and over again already.) In reality, talking with fellow cruisers over the years the charges on average are not correct and require the passengers to go to guest services to correct.

Fortunately we've always checked our folio the evening before we leave, or the morning of. We've had pool towel charges show up (which are significant) despite the fact that we had always returned them. Such a pain to stand in line at guest services for errors in their clerical work.

Right now the extended versions are sold out for our July Quantum cruise. How exactly do you reserve timeslots? Do you have to be on the ship for this? Do you have to go to where the north star is physically located or can you do it all on the app? When do they open time slots on embarkation day? I just want to be ready for when things open up so I can get the best options available. Thanks

That’s the way it’s supposed to work

I don’t disagree. I was just kicking around some thoughts.

Just chiming in again. Even though I agree that there are issues with the current setup of reciprocation and grandfathering, I can say I have NEVER (that I know of) been impacted on my cruise by how many D, D+, or Pins are on any given cruise. It's been a total non issue and hasn't impacted us at all. I'm curious if that will change as we get Diamond in March and then start having access to the lounges and benefits.

This probably deserves it's own thread as we're diverting from the OP's original question but... Speaking of C&A members who "Inherited" their status through their parents, spouse, etc. but don't have enough point on their own to be D, or D+: Off the top of my head (haven't thought it through too much) Downsides: Crowded Diamond and Concierge Lounges. (this seems to have eased with the 4 or 5 anytime vouchers). Seems that Royal is already addressing Concierge lounges and removing access to D+. This might be a direct result of "too many" D+. (not sure if a lot of D+ are inherited or not) So many D and D+ on any given ship. I see this being probably the biggest downside. The cost to Royal for all the drink vouchers and other perks starts to add up to the point that it cuts into the bottom line. Does this make the program less attractive to Royal, or is the loyalty benefit outweigh the cost? Benefits: Those that didn't "earn" their points get to have very nice perks for life (Royal's benefit) These benefits keep cruisers more loyal to Royal, bringing in profit to Royal for each cruise taken. ...and hopefully these individuals eventually earning their status outright.

Yes, they do. Mocktails, soda, bottled water, etc...

OP, would you or your husband consider searching for a cheap three night cruise before April ? That would take care of your soon to be 18 year old son and get him Diamond. Although, I am guessing it would be too difficult to squeeze In before or after your March cruise

We have a similar situation where our youngest (now 15) will be Diamond when he turns 18 because we are turning Diamond this year. However, our two daughters are 21 and 18 already. All of the kids have 46 points on their own (and will get another 7 this year) so eventually all our will get there if they continue to cruise with us.

Pretty sure I had the same conversation with my wife and it went over just the same. 😂

Bummer. How far away is your cruise? Sales change regularly if you keep checking once in a awhile

Sure, buy the one that comes with Water, Coke or Diet coke 🙂 😁😉 I don't see just the cooler.

Thanks for posting this OP! I just grabbed a bud light bag and six pack for the same $43.99. Yes, good deal considering ship prices and the fact that you get a souvenir cooler as well.

I remembered to put the toilet seat down the other week. Does that count? I jest, I jest

Makes me chuckle. What I see with their acronym is V. I. F'ing P. Like "Don't mess with me, I'm VIF'ingP baby!" 🤣

Still there for our March Anthem cruise. Would NEVER consider purchasing this though. As stated earlier not nearly enough benefit to cost ratio

Yes

I think some parents think of a cruise as Mom and Dad's own little getaway despite bringing their kids along. They tend to let the kids "have their own fun". I have no judgement about that but it's just not how we cruise. We tend to do things together as a family, and our kids occasionally go do things on their own, which is happening much more now, but our kids are college and high school age. When they were younger (e.g. 7-13 yrs old) they rarely were running around the ship on their own. We're not helicopter parents by any means, but it's just not our family style. When my wife and I want "Mom and Dad's own little getaway" we found someone to watch the kids, and then we go with our other adult friends. Dan

One big assumption in this thread is that you are "stealing someone else's GTY cabin that was in a better position". How would you know that? How do you know that someone else wouldn't rather have had the cabin you were assigned with the original GTY. People choose locations on ships for ALL SORTS of reasons. Close to elevators. Mid lower ship for less motion. In the back to be closer to dining venues. Up top to be closer to pool deck. In the front so you have less vibration from the engines. etc... stop saying that you are stealing someone else's prime location. People choose spots all over the ship for various reasons.

Reminds me of our first cruise on the Oasis back in 2015. Same deal. Young children and adults up until extremely late like 2 AM and later. Same thing, Sorrento’s was swamped and the promenade was loud . I’m used to Freedom and Voyager class ships where the promenade actually calms down late in the evening, not a madhouse.

This conversation has gotten very specific 😂

Fred, it’s called research. This is not cheating. Just because a given party decides not to research their opportunities on a cruise doesn’t mean that those that do are cheating. I am guessing that most of those who book a guaranteed cabin are happy with just that, a guaranteed cabin. Anywhere on the ship in the category that they booked. So be it. Those that know that royal allows you to switch to other, albeit limited, cabinet locations within your category are not in the wrong. If it were so, Royal would not allow it. Plain and simple. Cheating. Pff, as if. We’ve never booked guaranteed cabins, but we’ve run into similar situation’s during our many Walt Disney World vacations where people think we are cheating for various reasons, but really it’s due to their ignorance and lack of research and planning.