Joebucks

Great, just what we need. Another misconception to discuss all over the internet, in perpetuity.

"I messaged my PVP to tell them I'm not cruising. Why haven't I received a $100 balcony offer?! Is this discrimination?!"

A dinner or two together as somewhat "mandatory" would be reasonable. To expect it every day, is unreasonable.

2 hours ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

I can't recall, do any other lines have daily limits?

 

The thing I like about Royal is that, by being Diamond with them, they put 4 free drinks on your card/account every day - to use where you please. In addition to that, booking in a suite, I can get wine/beer throughout most of the day in the suite lounge - and, from something like 5-7pm (or 8?) they'll include mixed drinks in there too. With that scenario, I'd be hard pressed to consider adding in a drink package !

 

Celebrity is much the same - though booking a suite with them generally includes a premium beverage package to begin with, so...

 

Yep - to some degree, the cost of those "included" drinks on both of those lines are built into the cabin pricing. I can see if someone is not a drinker, that they might feel they're paying for something they're not receiving any benefit from.

 

Tom

I agree that Royal has better benefits and the amount of "included" drinks in that scenario would be sufficient for me, without a drink package.

With that said, passing off a suite on Royal Caribbean as a sort of savings is where you lose me. 

We've done it a few times, and it was overall enjoyable. Most of the time, we don't travel in a group. When we do, there's a few things I stand by:

- Do not stay in the same room, when possible. I absolutely loathe cramming a bunch of people in one room. For any of its perceived benefits, it's overall less enjoyable. 

- Not having to commit to the same plans. We'll do a few things together. However, this is what we're doing. You can come if you want. You can do something else if you want. Plan the important stuff in advance and communicate early.

18 hours ago, mz-s said:

 

How many vacation gift shops constantly tell you how great of a deal they are because it's "tax and duty free" etc?

How many vacationers boast about all of the amazing investments they've made on rooms, food, and beverage? 

Breaking news: vacation gift shops are not cheaper than internet retail

What type of answer are you looking for here? No two scenarios are going to be the same. People panic in a true emergency, some panic for no reason. 

So basically, you think you're going to get a discount on cruises by booking your own? 

On 4/16/2024 at 9:35 AM, ninjacat123 said:

What's the difference between Blanton's and my current fav Woodford Reserve?  Smokier? Just curious on what you all think.  Yes, I will try it on my next cruise in September😉

As much as I like Blanton's, there's an increased interest over it because it is hard to find. People wouldn't care as much if you could get it anywhere.

At the same time, I feel blanton's old fashioneds are a sin. It should be enjoyed straight. 

As with nearly everything on the internet, it's overblown.

Try telling a crew member how sad you are because you had your day planned, and no you need to replan it. They will get very sad as they work their 60 hour week for pennies on the dollar. 

On 4/10/2024 at 1:32 PM, Top_of_the_Cube said:

Had an acquaintance who worked at Carnival Corp.  He claimed that since HMC is owned and run exclusively by HAL, there wasn't really an option for Carnival Cruise Line to extend their CHEERS package to that island.

 

Of course, even if CCL did have that option, doesn't mean they would do it.  CHEERS does not work at Amber Cove, which is operated by Carnival Corp.

I still don't understand. They still charge you for drinks and it goes to your S&S, doesn't it?

Regardless, Carnival doesn't have to extend it to anything. I'm sure the real answer contains more complexities. They would likely need to introduce dynamic pricing because included drinks at private islands undoubtably would be a higher expense for Cheers. Only to get complaints by more people who now "know the reason" why their Cheers was so expensive, and wanting a refund if a port is missed. It sounds like more hassle than it's worth as a whole.

Got it on my everyday cash card. Can't let it go to waste!

Just sailed out of Galveston on Royal recently. Package worked on day 1. They said they could only serve certain liquors that had been taxed out of Texas, or something to that effect. It was not the full menu. 

The argument against Carnival citing laws is a silly one. It absolutely is a law that disrupts their normal offering. Citing a law does not have to mean what you want it to be. 

Entitled cruisers, who have never had a hardship in their life, losing their minds over trivial matters? Since when?

On 3/30/2024 at 6:05 AM, CDNPolar said:

 

With all due respect to your comment "which I have never needed", you just don't know when you will need it.

 

I once said to my financial advisor when he was suggesting different types of disability insurance, that I did not plan to be disabled.  His response was that no one does plan that.  It happens.

 

I hear what you are saying, but our credit cards only offer $2,500 per person for a covered reason for cancelling and most of our cruises are over $6K per person.  Huge loss possible there if cancelling was more or less last minute for an unforeseen event.

While your statement is right in theory, there's a reason I said it the way I did. CFAR insurance is really the only thing I'm foregoing. In I don't even know how many trips I've ever taken, never had to use it. It is not something that would bankrupt me. So why would I spend more throughout a lifetime, to insure one of them? 

My card covers up to $10k per person and $20k per trip of cancellation for sickness, severe weather, and other covered events. I will not pay extra "in case I can't go." CFAR doesn't even cover the entire trip either. It covers about 50-75% of expenses that wouldn't be refunded otherwise. So I'd get back port expenses, taxes, and other fees without insurance (and who knows, maybe even something a future credit or something else if I pursue it). With something I have never had to claim, why would I pay hundreds of dollars to get back 40-60% of my cruise? Those numbers do not add up.

Insurance is a lifelong waste to 95%+ of people. There's a reason it is one of the few remaining things we buy that someone is getting recurring commission on. It is extremely profitable. I maintain the minimal amounts to protect myself from catastrophic loss. That is what insurance is supposed to be. Not to solve your every inconvenience. I can't even count how many times I have facepalmed about the amount of people who swear by travel insurance because after years of policies, they saved $500 or so on one event. 

On 3/30/2024 at 6:13 AM, d9704011 said:

Does that include leisure travel, in addition to business travel?

Yes. Plus, I have money saved in an HSA should I even incur a medical expense. I've grown tired over the years of paying for fear insurance that got me little in return. Instead, I self-insure and pay myself in an account that is always mine. It is never denied because of how or where I get sick, or how I claimed it. 

On 3/30/2024 at 7:29 AM, jimbo5544 said:

I think your assessment is spot on.  The burgers in windjammer are the worst I ever had had on the seas.  Most was just meh…

Maybe I'm a little biased because burgers and tacos are amongst my favorite foods. Getting great quality ones, complementary, and right there at the lido, just far and away does it for me. Happy as a clam. Not that I didn't find anything good in the windjammer, but I didn't particularly enjoy having the venture into the buffet for my only option.

On 3/28/2024 at 8:17 AM, nydney1 said:

Random Thoughts:

Is a free drink that much of a perk if you have the drink package or a free drinks Casino deal?

Absolutely. 

Maybe that "free drink" can also offer a 10% or so Cheers discount. Perhaps they could stimulate people to use their "perks" to buy more.

Also, free drinks in the casino are usually only good in the casino, right? It wouldn't hurt to be able to get one outside of it. 

Honestly, my question may be broad and not what they are looking for. I just want to hear what the future looks like. What might change, what to expect, etc. 

As with anything, it's about the math and assessing your true needs. There is no "better" in every scenario. 

Personally, I do neither. My credit card includes travel insurances and my employer health insurance has international coverage. It would be silly for me to buy insurance for CFAR, (which I have never needed) to be insuring 50-75% of my trip.

1 hour ago, skywalkr2 said:

I have heard this a few times.   Do you have any details?  For the extra cost that RC charges, I am just still confused on how their MDR can do sub-par work.

I found the MDR and Buffet to be "about equal" for lunch and dinner. Some some trade-offs here and there, and splitting some hairs to draw a line in the sand. Carnival's Sea Day Brunch selection is vastly superior to Royal MDR breakfast. Complementary "Deli" on Royal is like 4 rotating, pre-made, light options, compared to the heft of the Carnival Deli. I found the Pizza to be higher quality on Carnival. Royal's pizza screamed of pre-made. Carnival has garlic, cheese, oregano, red pepper flake, and chili oil to put on it. Royal has tobasco, cheese, and oregano in the tiniest containers I've ever seen. 

My Royal ship was a Voyager class and didn't have any extra non-specialty venues than what was listed above. Some of the larger ships do. However, Carnival's ships all do. Having Guy's, Blue Iguana, Deli, etc. it wasn't even fair. The burgers in the windjammer were awful, dry, buffet burgers. Same with the breakfast burrito in the MDR vs a make your own, delicious burrito from BI. I couldn't even get a taco at all. Not that there would have been a good option. 

I'm not going to sit here and say "everything was inedible and terrible." However, like you stated for the price difference, it certainly wasn't a more premium experience, it wasn't even equal. There were many times where we found ourselves wishing we were on Carnival as there were no other options open than the pizza (in the middle of the day). 

For all of its faults, I find it harder to select non-Excel classes in the future. There is so much more to do, see, and eat. It doesn't get boring. We spend a lot of time in Serenity, and absolutely loved Excel's Serenity. 

The price, the amenities, the people, the vibe. It's a value and experience that is tough to beat.

11 hours ago, Sgwscruiser said:

How do you know this 

They were all there for priority boarding and ensured everyone was aware

14 hours ago, BeachChik said:

Loyalty to a cruise line just to have a certain status and a few “perks” that aren’t worth much is so bizarre to me. Especially when you read something like what was posted above where they say other lines go to ports they prefer. 

Marketing is a powerful tool. There are people out there who will choose to spend $5000 with a company because of a $200 "free item." Even if the next company was $4000 and charged the $200, WHO WANTS TO BE NICKLE AND DIMED?!

I just recently returned from a Royal Caribbean cruise. I can unequivocally say that the food was way better on Carnival.