The Fun Researcher

Totally up to you, but for our 9 night March cruise on the Navigator out of Miami, for the first time we ate on land before boarding the ship and showed up around 12:30 - 1pm. 

There was literally not one soul in line at security, and no one in front of us for the check-in process.  Walked onto the ship and all staterooms were available.  We could put our bags down in our rooms and grab our SeaPass cards immediately.  The three hours we could have gained by getting their early were FAR more offset by the convenience at the port, not dealing with the Windjammer madhouse, and being able to go straight to our rooms.

The last time we sailed out of Galveston on the Liberty we showed up around 10:30am and we dealt with the typical crowds, and the Windjammer, etc...   Anyone know if the crowds drop around 1pm in Galveston like we experienced in March on the Navigator?

Dan

1 minute ago, Merion_Mom said:

 

I book them as a solo with no problem.  

Interesting.  They don't show up on the website unless I choose 3 or 4 person rooms.  Also, the Royal Caribbean agent I spoke with said they are reserved for 3 or 4 persons.  I'm not doubting you at all, but how do you reserve them for less than 3 people?  Do you pay double occupancy or triple?

Category 1M.  There are no 2M (dual occupancy) versions on the Grandeur.

Thanks.

22 hours ago, Merion_Mom said:

 

I know that I said to take Deck 4 for an OV, but there is one other option.

 

I love love love love the 16 "Panoramic Oceanview" cabins midship on Decks 7 & 8.  The category is 1M.

 

Almost one entire wall is windows, because this area used to be public spaces like the Crown & Anchor lounge and Card Room.

 

The cabin itself is the size of a balcony cabin,  just without the balcony.  And these are the only OV cabins that have the refrigerator (cooler) in them. 🙂 Unfortunately, the bathrooms still have shower curtains not the tubes.   😞 

I looked into these cabins and all of them on the Grandeur require 3-4 person occupancy.  It's just my wife and I.  Rooms look nice though.

Dan

43 minutes ago, lovetotraveltx said:

Love your review. It will be our first time on Royal Caribbean and we will be on Liberty of the Seas. Two questions: Where do you go for lunch when you board the ship. Also, how did you get to the resort in Jamaica you reserved for the day? Thank you!

The buffet is open, and in the Royal Promenade area there is pizza in Sorrento's and finger sandwiches in the Cafe Promenade.  Can't remember if any specialty restaurants are available to book for embarkation lunch.

-Dan

16 minutes ago, atozser said:

 

Simple! The way they are handled in every other life situation...AFTER you receive a service, you decide on an appropriate tip based on the quality of said service.

 

The cruise lines can try all they want to pretend they deserve special treatment, but it's a game we refuse to play.  Usually, we reduce the 'set' amount and then hand out cash.  Frankly, it's the only sure fire way to know that the employees who deserve special recognition will actually receive it.

Thank you for the education regarding  how gratuities work in every other life situation. I never knew that before.  🙄

I’m interested in the process of doing this on a cruise.   We have  personally been OK with the auto gratuities, and then I add more on top of that if I feel it’s warranted. If for some reason one of the services is not up to standards then I would go and get gratuities adjusted I suppose. 

Back to my original question, you must have to go to guest services and tell them not to charge you gratuities?   Then you somehow determine on your own what you feel is warranted? 

Dan

3 hours ago, not-enough-cruising said:

Any answer you get regarding this topic will be 100% conjecture and supposition and nothing based in fact. 

NO ONE knows how the gratuity system actually works; keeping everyone in the dark and guessing is what the cruiseline depends on. 

One fact I can offer is this: I never pre pay nor do I participate in the daily auto gratuity program. I have never experienced any less service than my regular travel companions who do participate. 

How DO you handle your gratuities?

Dan

37 minutes ago, SRQbeachgirl said:

 

We'll be on the 3/29 sailing too - our first time on Liberty! Trying to decide if we're going to buy a dining package or stick with the MDR. 

We’ve never had the need for specialty dining.  I’ve thought about it many times but then I remember that I can find entrees and appetizers that I really enjoy on every MDR menu.  One of our cruises we’ll give it a try.

Dan

10 minutes ago, Merion_Mom said:

 

I know that I said to take Deck 4 for an OV, but there is one other option.

 

I love love love love the 16 "Panoramic Oceanview" cabins midship on Decks 7 & 8.  The category is 1M.

 

Almost one entire wall is windows, because this area used to be public spaces like the Crown & Anchor lounge and Card Room.

 

The cabin itself is the size of a balcony cabin,  just without the balcony.  And these are the only OV cabins that have the refrigerator (cooler) in them. 🙂 Unfortunately, the bathrooms still have shower curtains not the tubes.   😞 

I'll definitely look into those panoramic OV's.  Thanks!

14 hours ago, alex_drew said:

Just off Grandeur in cabin 3086.  Would not do this cabin again because of the late night sounds from music (drums) in the Centrum (above).  Loved the same location on deck two, 2086, which is quiet and just slightly off of the elevators which take you straight up to the pool/solarium location.  Also, on deck 4, we have stayed in and are booked again in 4052, which is half-way down the hall between forward and aft elevators.  You will not hear any noise from the Centrum in this location and it is half-way between the theatre and the dining room.  Love being on deck 4 because you can walk straight down the hall to the dining room and the R Bar and all of the Centrum entertainment are just a few steps away.  These are all ocean view cabins, just fyi.  I've not stayed in an inside, even though we really spend very little time in our cabin.  

Thank you.  We’ll plan on deck 4.  👍🏼

Dan

18 hours ago, OnTheJourney said:

Each to his own! I can't imagine booking any cruise without a balcony. Curious as to what the "light pollution" is you refer to? Definitely the best thing to be out on the open decks, but while in the room I think it's really nice to be able to see what there is to see without always taking the time to go out on the decks (which sometimes are closed due to wind / weather). Also nice to just pop in and out while still in pajamas, etc. early morning or late at night just to catch some fresh air without the hassle of getting dressed to go out on the decks. 

Yeah, we've had balconies and just don't use them much.  The balcony space is small and I'd rather be on a pool deck or walking promenade deck.  I totally understand why people love them, but for us it's a waste of money.

We tend to stay up late each night (midnight+) so we enjoy sleeping in.  The light that bleeds past the curtains impacts that.  I love the pitch black of an inside cabin.  Makes for great afternoon naps also.  We spend very little time in our cabin.  Basically sleeping and getting ready for dinner.

Dan

 I honestly can’t remember a cruise when the escargot was not offered every night.   We’ve only done Caribbean cruises though

Dan

Has anyone noticed an appreciable increase in size of the cabin between the Oceanview and an inside? We aren’t one of those that appreciate a balcony. We would rather be on the open air decks of the ship and I don’t like the light pollution of the balcony.   So the only reason we would get in Oceanview is for a little larger cabin, but it doesn’t seem much different when I research it. Thanks. 

-Dan

Thank you!

-Dan

Thank you Bob

-Dan

Thank you.  Any advice from anyone else regarding cabin location?

Dan

Never been on this ship but looking for some advice from you experts.  We're planning an interior or oceanview cabin, probably around deck 4 on the Grandeur.  (but will choose other decks based on advice)

We typically choose forward cabins, but that's on Freedom and Voyager classes.  Any benefit to for or aft on the Grandeur?  Noise, proximity to venues?

Thanks in advance.

Dan

If you prefer the really small ships like the Brilliance then Celebrity may be your best bet.  If you also like the size of the Solstice class then I would try a Voyager or Freedom class ship on Royal.  They feel comparable in size hto me and have the wonderful huge inside promenade and lots of open views to the sea.  For us they are the sweet spot between mega ship and small ship.

Dan

19 hours ago, vacationlover_mn said:

Just as an FYI, our Jamaica excursion went way down in price for our Feb RCI cruise.  If anyone has booked RCI excursions, I recommend reprising ASAP!

You're right, the Martha Brae bamboo rafting dropped about $20pp!  However, I checked with my family and they still want to do the private tour with Ricardo Riley of Liberty Tours Jamaica (including Martha Brae rafting, Rose Hall tour, Scotchies lunch, and who knows what else) for about twice the cost.  🙂  I'm o.k. with that but if I were looking for a nice single excursion, that price would have been great.  Thanks for the heads up vacationlover_mn

Dan

56 minutes ago, Anton said:

I'd wager that a lot of those 21,000 packages were bought by soda and coffee bar people who saw it as a savings over the refreshment package price.  So they are primarily going to be getting sodas, coffees, virgin drinks, and now maybe a couple more liquor drinks or beers than they normally would order.  It's certainly not like RCI is going to have to double or triple load out each cruise with more beer and liquor. 

Plus, those 21,000 packages are spread out over LOTS of different cruises.  I suspect the impact will be minimal.

Now, back to Crown & Anchor speculation and the Diamond Lounge fiasco!  Grab your pitch forks!  😉 😎

Dan

17 minutes ago, Merion_Mom said:

 

I can't quote his exact words, but this is pretty close.

 

"We know that in that time frame (Tuesday night, roughly 5 PM to 11 PM), we would normally sell about 75 drink packages on the website, across all cruises.

 

That  night, there were more than 21,000 purchases."

If they sold roughly 21,000 more than normal in that time period, and at a cost of $8,000,000 that is about $380 per package.  I wonder if the number he's referring to is revenue, or actual profit loss.

Who knows how much they actually lost.  I wonder how many actually drank more than $18 worth of liquor each day, considering RCCL's actual cost of that liquor.

Edit:  You're right Bob. Hard to calculate.  How many of those 21,000 wouldn't have purchased at all at normal prices, and how many pulled the trigger on the $18 deal who were going to purchase at full price anyway.

Dan

Awesome replies.  Thank you very much!

Dan

I prefer the darker blue as well, but I assume RCCL doesn't want people confusing their brands.

The light blue on Royal definitely looks cheaper IMO.

Dan

Great no-nonsense report which hit all the key points.  Thanks!  We're also on the LOS again in March. 

Loved the ship last time we cruised her.  It was our coldest cruise by far, (Dec 31 2017 - Jan 7 2018) which started with a rainy cold 49 degree day in Galveston and only warmed up to about 79 tops by the time we got to Costa Maya.  Still loved it though due to the solid staff, food, and well maintained ship.  Fellow passengers were great as well.  

LOVE Finis by the way.  Saw him on the Independence back in 2014 I believe, and he was awesome.

Have you sailed the Enchantment before?  We're considering it for next summer (Key West, Coco Cay, Nassau).  Impressions of the ship, staff and food?

Dan

18 hours ago, mugtech said:

True, but every day on NCL is the all you can drink for $20 challenge as a result.  Non drinkers still help pay the difference.

I'm sure there is some of that.  However, when I price out NCL versus RCCL for roughly comparable ship, cabin and itinerary, I don't see NCL being higher in cost.  In the majority of cases seems to be lower.

17 hours ago, Seville2Cabo said:

I think celebrity just started charging a daily fee for beverage perk

2 hours ago, Iamcruzin said:

Don't give Celebrity too much credit. They now charge an additional $14 pp a day for that free drink package. So on a 7 day cruise that's an additional $196. It's a charge not a gratuity.  There pricing structure is a mess right now. Some cruises you are paying more for the free perks included than if you would book and purchase them separately.

Sorry, I was thinking of the old way they did it, where if you booked a balcony or higher you got to choose at least two free perks with no upcharge.  When we did that on the Equinox we chose the $150pp onboard credit (which covered our gratuities, with extra to spare for other things like Sushi on 5), and the drink package (with no additional daily fee).  THAT was a great deal.

You are right, I forgot that they changed the perks.  Now any cabin level can purchase the perks but they definitely aren't free anymore.  I just priced out a 7 night cruise and to add the 2 perks is $499 per person (This also gets you the refundable deposit),  If you choose the alcohol package as an option it's an additional $16pp per day for that as well.  So in total if you want to get two perks, one of which is the alcohol package, it's an upcharge of $611 per person!  Terrible deal for us.

Dan

I have the Escargot every night, except when they have the scallops appetizer, then I'll swap for that.  The strip steak is a good alternative for me if I can't find something on the nightly offering, but that's typically only once per cruise.  I can't remember which menus, but I think for me it's Pimiento and Pomodoro.

It's nice knowing you have something you can fall back to that you still enjoy.

How is the Spaghetti Bolognese?  I do enjoy a good bolognese sauce.

Dan