Pitcruiser

14 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

 

 

I would say that my poll indicates otherwise. Almost 69% of respondents say that they dress up to some degree for formal night.  Most commenting who do dress up, say they enjoy it.  When I first started posting on CC's Royal forum, prior to my 2018 cruise on Liberty, I was led to believe, like you, that formal night was dead.  My previous experience with royal was 2008 so I was surprised because back then it was very much adhered to.  I expected the number who adhered to recommended dress codes to be very limited.  That expectation was wrong.  Most people participated to some degree. My non-scientific opinion is that there is a very vocal minority on CC that doesn't want or like formal night and every anecdotal exception is amplified to make it seem like that is the norm.  The opposite appears to be true.

This is one of those topics that always draws differing opinions.  I used to love "Formal Night" where many people dressed in formal clothes.  Only 15% of the poll respondents indicated they wear formal clothes now, and the sample population for this poll is basically frequent cruisers who are on this board.  My last cruise I was over dressed wearing a blazer - most people who "dressed up" had on polo shirts and Khakis, and those who didn't were wearing shorts.  Just the way it is now.

Always wore a tux, then a few years ago changed to a dark suit as more and more people stopped dressing.  Last cruise just wore a blazer, slacks and tie and even then was dressed more formally than most people I saw.  Formal night is dead as a concept.

Last cruise on Allure we ate all our dinners in the CK.  CL for cocktails and just move over to dining side for dinner.  Nice relaxed atmosphere and decent food.  Better for breakfast than fighting with crowd in Jammer.

Saw everything from shorts to tuxes this summer on "formal" nights. They did ask that you wear long pants in the Coastal Kitchen but don't know if anyone was enforcing the request. I used to wear a tux years ago, then went to a suit, and now just take a blazer, button down shirt, slacks and a tie. With that on I was probably on the dressier side. Take the tux if you enjoy wearing it and want to dress for a special night, but don't take it because you feel you have to.

I had this problem earlier this year. Looked around and discovered that after I fully paid for cruise RCCL had charged my account for prepaid gratuities because I had Mytime Dining. In talking to customer service they said this was a bug that happened sometimes because they used to mandate prepaid gratuities with Mytime. Since I was going to use onboard credits from my RCCL credit card for gratutities of course didn't want this. Customer service cleared the gratuity charge, amount due went to zero and I could print Setsail passes

Remember the elaborate ice carvings and beautiful displays for the midnight buffets when we first cruised in the 80s. They would let you in an hour early to take pictures, then you lined up again to get in. We always took pictures and then went to bed! Had to be a ton of wasted food.

Park Cafe open and free - get the roast beast sandwich

My daughter and I both had CK filet first night and thought it was good. Other steaks not so good

When we were on the end of July we sailed a couple hours late first day, and returned to Port Everglades very early (12:30am) where a crane and workers were waiting. Our time in ports was not affected. We were told by staff that they had been having problems with one of the propulsors and that the next sailing would be delayed until midnight while they worked on it.

Hadn't cruised in a few years and really noticed the constant selling that seems to be the rule now. The thing I really objected to were the phone calls to the cabin selling stuff - spa and Chops. Just think they have jacked the price of some of the specialties like Chopped to the point where they can't sell it anymore.

We did wave runners there a couple times when our kids were younger - they had a blast driving (must have drivers license)

Just off Allure - reserved rows were for Pinnacle and Grand Suite or higher guests - staff members guard holding signs with picture of the sea pass cards that can use the sections. Go in deck 3 main entrance to theater for reserved seats - not balcony entrance on deck 4/

Just like main dining room, CK has dishes that are available every night (left side of menu) and dishes that change every night (right side of menu). Food was generally very good except for steaks which were tough and fatty. Concierge suggested and made reservations for us each night in CK to lock in time on first night of cruise, then we adjusted during the week. She also made comedy club and spa reservations for us. Don't do specialty restaurants anymore - but they sell them like crazy for the first few days of the cruise. Get to shows at least ten minutes before start which is when they admit people without reservations. They have good reserved seats for suite guests for Mamma Mia, ice show and water show.

Given your interest in history be sure to leave a little time to visit the Barcelona Cathedral and walk through the Gothic Quarter

Different view on Sagrada Familia - frankly thought we bought tickets to tour a construction site - very much unfinished. Family all agreed looking at it from the street would have been enough. Barcelona is a fun city - we stayed in Hotel Havana right at top of Las Ramblas and had easy walk to everything we wanted to see. Enjoy your cruise!

Coastal Kitchen is nice use of space on Allure. We did not really like the atmosphere in the suite lounge in the port side of the space - nice view but the furniture was a little shabby and the people in it ignored dress codes, had kids running in circles and it was noisy. Guess we are getting a little older - we prefered the Diamond Club and hung out there. Think that space is actually nicer for a lounge. I do wonder how much longer they will have Diamond Clubs - the three free drinks on our cards each night might be a stalking horse for just forcing us out into the bars.

What color will my seapass card be for someone who has never been on a single night's cruise before? Is it thin and yellow like a post-it note?? Will I be shunned as I walk down the hall and have people run in the opposite direction?? :D

 

Lisa N.

You will have to carry the plates of cruisers with status in the Windjammer, give up your pool chair if in a prime location, and stand on your chair and sing your school song on formal nights:D

I think on Allure it was first day at 10:45am. Not into drinking at that hour - was barely out of bed so did not go. From experience they will give you a drink, have some speeches from senior officers, recognition of most frequent cruisers (always someone with 300 plus cruises). Was fun the first couple times so you should go.

Actually our plum suite card got us into all shows with reserved seats except for the comedy show. Also got pool towels without a scan and access to a reserved beach at Labadee. Status level is printed on card. We preferred the Diamond Club in the evening to the Suite Lounge, but ate a lot in Coastal Kitchen.

Fyi just off Allure in grand suite. When we checked in our seapass cards were not there and they had to print replacements at checkin. I had watched them show the wireless cards attached to the preprinted cards for the people next to us and asked where our wireless access cards were. The checkin clerk asked if we had purchased wifi - told him in grand suite and included with amenities. He seemed confused and told us to talk to the wireless sales people onboard the ship. We went to their desk at the clocktower on deck 5 and they quickly gave us our cards. Take a picture of it and you will have it on your phone if you are switching devices. Fast wifi - wife had no trouble streaming Netflix. Only problem was when we docked next to Liberty in Cozumel. Code showed as unauthorized and we had to call and get new codes - guessing we were picking up Liberty router which could not authenticate us. Concierge in Diamond Club told me it happens every time they are docked by Liberty.

Just sailed in Grand Suite. No booking email but did get welcome email Monday before cruise

Happened to us on Eastern Med cruise a while ago. Forward port side of ship affected - toilets did not work for three days. Originally gave us $125 onboard credit, then as problem continued and protests mounted gave us 25% credit toward future cruise. Kind of like being back in scout camp - had to hike to a public bathroom aft of midship in the middle of the night.