The Fun Researcher

Yes

Yes I believe so but you may want to confirm. For instance, we have a five night booked on the Equinox for December 2023. My wife and I have a balcony cabin and the up charge for the “all in” package (total, not each) was $480. $175 of that pays the gratuities for the two of us leaving $305 total for the both of us for Wi-Fi and unlimited drinks. I would have to price out what the drink package will be on Royal for a five night cruise for two people. I know it’s way more than $305 (and don’t forget that includes unlimited Wi-Fi throughout the cruise as well for both of us) Dan

Thanks for that. Wow, exactly one occurrence each of more interesting itineraries. Otherwise Nassau, Coco-Cay, Cape Canaveral. Spit rinse repeat. Boring. Oh well Dan

My family eats a lot of French onion soup at various locations and multiple cruise lines and LOVE RCCL's. Go figure. Dan

Escargot have been on the menu every single night of every Royal Caribbean cruise we've done going all the way back to 2012. Dan

You might be a good candidate for Celebrity.(if you haven't tried them already) Their upcharge for the "all in" package that includes unlimited drinks, paid gratuities, and wifi, is significantly less than the price of Royal's drink package alone. Dan

I do think it's time for RCCL to break their ties with Johnny Rockets. They can do so much better. It's tired and just isn't competitive with other cruise lines. Having to pay for what's on the JR menu just baffles me. Dan

Given a choice of the two, I much prefer table cloths. I respect your opinion. Can't argue that.

Not to derail the thread but I've complained about the lack of good late night food options with Royal ever since our second cruise. (The first cruise on the Freedom in 2010 at least had really good paninis every night as well.) Finger sandwiches and pizza are very lackluster especially by about day 3 or 4 of the same dang thing. I love the AMPED ships with Playmakers now. I'm willing to pay a few dollars for some good gastropub type fare. Other lines like NCL kill it with O'Sheehans though. Wide menu, 24 hours, full service, complimentary. All lines have their plusses and minuses though Dan

I don't think those tables look nearly as nice as the MDR tables with the white cotton table clothes. Maybe it's just me, but looks cold. Dishes clanking on the table surface, surface cold to the touch... I'm being picky but it is a significant difference to me Dan

I was in a particularly persnickety mood when I posted. 🤣

Our favorite cruise of all time was on the newly AMPED Navigator March 2019! It was a 9 night Southern ABC and Labadee itinerary with amazing weather, amazing updated ship, and wonderful food and crew. It just checked all the boxes. Love the Viking Crown Lounge area. Dan

I thought the question was answered with the very first reply. 🤣

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It could be for any of those reasons, or all three. Just looking for your opinions. Dan

That would be a bummer. I don't necessarily need a filet or ribeye cooked from Chops. I think those upcharges are at least $20. That NY Strip steak got the job done on that rare night that I couldn't find an entrée on the main menu that I liked. I'd even settle for a decently cooked sirloin. I just don't want to pay more for something we had complimentary. Hopefully they will accommodate. Heck, maybe I'll see what Asian or Indian cuisines they are secretly offering that night.

You're right about that. Lot's of 50s style locations going in back then. (Mid MI area) Hard to believe that was 22-32 years ago. IMO it's time to reinvent JR into something more competitive with other cruise lines and more widely appreciated by Royals guests. Dan

I have seen the D lounges in the Viking Crown Lounge area on Voyager and Freedom class. That is a beautiful area overlooking the pool deck, but really no different or unique than when it was all just the Viking Crown Lounge. We'll be Diamond after our March cruise so just trying to get a feel for what ships might draw us more or less to the Diamond lounge. Personally I don't think we'll use them much other than perhaps a good coffee in the morning. Dan

I'm not knocking why you like it, at all. Makes total sense. Just doesn't jive with our likes. However it almost forces me to bring up venues like O'Sheehans on all NCL ships. 24 hours, full service, better and wider menu (IMO) including burgers and fries, and complimentary. They really do a great job with that. However, don't get me started about the abysmal pool decks on NCL, or the layout of their ships, etc. All cruise lines have their plusses and minuses and we've yet to have a bad cruise. At least with Royal I can just ignore JR, but since you asked LOL...

Was hoping you'd reply John with all your experience. What makes Allure unique? (nevermind, I looked up some videos, and WOW. What a beautiful space) Also, if you had to pick a class of ship that, in general, has good D lounges what would that be? Dan

I just don't get why Royal charges for Johnny Rockets, and especially how much they charge. Take out any comparison to other cruise lines and it still stands out to me as a mediocre burger joint, which to me doesn't deserve any upcharge. I love Royal's MDR and Windjammer. I think they've nailed that. Sounds childish, but I just feel that Johnny Rockets is a stupid out of place venue the way it's setup. Dan

Just wondering your opinion, and why? Dan

Johnny Rocket's has never made sense to me, ever since our first sailing in 2012. I mean, you are charging for burgers and fries, neither of which are anything to write home about. I also don't get the 50's décor and vibe, it just doesn't mesh to me. (just my opinion) Celebrity has complimentary burgers and fries at their Mast Grill right there by the pool, Carnival has Guys burgers that are FAR superior, etc... My main confusion about Johnny Rockets is that it's a "paid for" venue. Royal can do far better IMO. Dan

Yuck! Makes me think of a cafeteria. Why suggest making dining in the MDR less special? Dan

Not having that strip steak really sucks. There is always one night in the MDR where I just don't care for the main entrée options. (I don't remember which menu day it is). I would default to the strip steak. Maybe we can still get something by request? Dan