tekguy26

11 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

 

However if they did that then many people would be doing that just to get the free money to gamble with no intention of gambling another nickel.  Not a very good business decision.I still stand by what I stated that the entire amount will be promotional and must be played through.

I think that's why they up then bonus amount exponentially. They have you at sea for 7 days. If you have to sit to play the bonus, you're probably going to reach in at some point and play your own money. They aren't giving you "free money" because bonus money is only paid if you win. This really should be a Gambler Critic post rather than a Cruise Critic one now I think about it...

16 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Read the above terms and conditions.  The entire amount that you purchase is considered promotional and issued in promotional chips or on your seapass.

I've played at enough casinos to know. Im almost certain the promotional value refers to the bonus money. I think the idea is you have you bring all that extra cash burning a hole in your pocket begging to be played. I did call Casino Royale and they didn't seem to have a clear understanding of the promotion.

The restrictions only require you to play all the bonus funds before that can be redeemed. So you can't just show up get your chips bonus and cash out the bonus funds on the spot since those aren't redeemable before being converted to cash from play.

10 hours ago, Host Clarea said:

 

Is there anything that stops you from inserting the slot ticket in a machine, immediately cashing it out, and using that to get cash at the cashier?

I have a good idea of how the bonus money works. But just wondering how they paid credits are issued. Do you get a slot voucher or chips of the purchased value?

From what I understand, you can get the credit value you purchased since it's good as cash. But for slots, the bonus funds are on your seapass card. Those funds cant be cashed out until they're played. So if you have $50 in bonus funds, you won't be able to cash it out unless you've wagered $50. For table games you proabably get some tokens on vouchers. You have to wager them and win to get cash. If you bet $25 of bonus and win, they take the voucher and you keep the win. If you lose they just take the voucher.

If there's no other restriction, then I'd purchase $2000 for the max $200 bonus.

Just noticed something new when I was looking for a deal before our sailing on oasis in January and noticed they offer prepurchase of casino credits before boarding with bonus money. Up to $200 if you purchase $2000 upfront. Has anyone seen this before or is this new?

They have one for slots and one for tables, but I don’t see the difference once you cash out. Only difference I suppose would be how you have to use the bonus money.

This is temping because you are literally taking a cash advance without the costs and earning credit card rewards at the same time. I suppose that’s the same if you they already waive the 5% fee.

Has anybody used this yet?

1 hour ago, sellwingri said:

I just got off Jewel on Saturday and earned a free ocean view cabin.  For the first time ever, my list of options was pretty good....cruises through November 2019 were offered.  Usually, the list doesn’t offer cruises a year out.  

Would you be able to share the list so i can see the dates and ships? I've earned on of these on every sailing so far, and from what I can tell, it's list for the entire year, and it isn't updated each month. So if you earned one later in the year, you only have the option to use the free cruises for what is remaining. Otherwise, take the credit for a different sailing as I've done.

Has anyone received a comp for a 2019 cruise yet? Wondering when they start publishing the list for next year. I went last September, and earned a certificate which only had a few months left in 2017, so I just ended taking the $750 value instead for a different cruise earlier this year. I'm just trying to plan next year's family vacation and want to see if any of the ships are sailing on dates we might be interested in. Thanks.

Have a question for those of you that have received and taken a free cruise from CR where you only paid taxes, fees and Gratuities. Did you receive points for this free cruise?

 

Thank you

I've receive three free cruises so far and each time I used the trade in value of $750 for a future cruise. But I did earn the points. Gratuities and tax are separate.

We don't use our cell phones at all on the ship. It goes in the safe when we get to the cabin and doesn't come out until we leave the ship. Our friends and family know how to get in touch with us in case of emergencies. Anything else can wait. We don't use out in public like in restaurants or stores, we must be in the minority. Common curtesy is a thing of the past.

I dunno, you can choose not to answer calls, but if you're going to carry around a camera anyway, it might as well be your smartphone. I don't get why people buy point and shoot cameras anymore.

I'm actually a "war baby", just turned 73 and I enjoy all the features of my Iphone. the upgraded port terminals like Bayone with their roving agents with Ipads in hand could easily handle mobile boarding passes and Apple Pay.

It probably wasn't clear in response to OP, but I fall under the millennial category. I'm all for online and paperless check-in. But the current process in place offers no real benefit to doing it ahead if time when I still need to approach the same counter as someone who hadn't done so. It could use improvement.

I think it's pretty clear who the millennials vs baby boomers. But the whole online check in process is pointless if you still need to print out a set sail pass and still go to a counter to sign additional documents before having the paperpass stamped.

I really don't see the benefit or how it's more streamlined than just doing it at the counter.

I would be too worried about something going wrong. But if you book with royal they would not leave without you.

That’s very misleading. They’ll make sure you’ll rejoin the ship at their expense, but it does not mean they won’t leave without you, unlikely as it may.

Thanks. I see now. What a pain to have to enter all the info.

 

And wow..what is up with pricing? It went up $800 from last week for non-refundable and refundable is another $500 on top of that.

Of course the prices went up... then they'll offer kids sail free. I find their promos so fake. But in the end, you just need to look at the final amount and decide if you're ok with that price. Seems like the promos mean nothing.

I am a bit claustrophobic but the glass elevators work just fine for me. Thanks for any info.

But the stateroom size doesn't make you hyperventilate :')

Technically prohibited, but usually allowed.

Best answer. I have personally stopped by Walgreens on my way to the terminal and grabbed a couple of cases of water. The porter will tag them and it just magically shows up in your room. Buying Evian bottle onboard is just ridiculous.

This has not been the case for us.

 

 

If we buy two 1-device packages, we get two access codes.

 

If we buy one 2-device package, we get one access code.

Maybe it's just the tekguy in me talking. But with a single code, you go to the royal-wifi landing page and enter the code. You're on. Whoever was logged in last would get disconnected. I think a layman can understand that logic.

When you allow a fixed number such as, 3 - 4 devices to share a code, it gets a bit more complex to manage. I don't think they have the IT resources to manage that. It's not to say they don't do it, but based on my experience, I say it's unlikely. But then again, I've always just requested individual plans because it was easier to assign the cost to friends.

You get one access code for a 3-device package. Not related to stateroom number.

 

You get charged by the number of nights.

 

Onboard prices:

 

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=55188055&postcount=105

You're not paying by the night per se. It's the cost of the package for the sailing.

Not sure how far out you are, but there are usually some good deals I found with Voom. In both cases it was cheaper for me to buy two single devices than a 2 device package. But I'm almost certain they provide a unique code for each device.

delete -I am too slow M

What's a M? :halo:

I tried to do a price check on our 3/28/19 sailing out of Baltimore and the option to book a refundable deposit wasn't there. Did something change in the last few days or is it just an IT issue?

To be honest, I thought it was a policy change and they were going completely nonrefundable. Talk about making "waves" in the industry. But as it turns out, you need to add passenger details and proceed to the checkout to add an optional cost to make the booking refundable. So now they're just making it difficult or more work for people thst just want to browse prices.

Is anyone else not getting an option for refundable deposit? Although I book the non-refundable option, I am no longer seeing the refundable option when looking at different cruises.:confused:

Yes I had the same problem. It's not the browser. They changed the way the bookings work now. If you select a room, it will price it out for you as nonrefundable. But if you're just checking out prices, the next part is a pain. So you need to fill in all the passenger info (fake is ok), then at the checkout, you can self a refundable option by adding more money.

The old way was definately easier but u think they're trying to drive everybody to nonrefundable by the looks of it. Hope this helps.

People find all sorts of ways to bring booze on board the ships. A couple if times on Oasis, they asked me to open my kids water bottle and they did a sniff test. I don't know who would be despicable enough to use their kids drink bottle to boot leg alcohol, but I guess it happens enough for the to check. But our kids are 4 and 7 now, but when we were younger it wasnt a problem bringing baby food.

Thank you both! 1 more question....until I think of others... ;-) If we do a dining package, then do we reserve the kids with us on the ship? The first night of our cruise will be our anniversary and since Adventure Ocean won't be open, we were going to treat the kids to a specialty restaurant with us. I think I'm just going to go with the TA I liked. We could def use the grocery money, but it's nice to have peace of mind this being our first cruise.

My experience with specialty dining is book for all parties if you want the same reservation. Everybody is charged as adults and they'll adjust the price when you get the check. Unlike a table for 3 which can usually swat 4 or 5, a table for two may not be as flexible and may require waiting if a new table is required.

That can be an accurate explanation, and it you really want one of those staterooms, you can book via the TA.

 

However, that explanation would not explain why staterooms that are available on RC's UK website cannot be booked by calling RC directly.

It's possible they hold certain rooms for certain regions as well. From what I heard, the currency conversion is way off (significantly higher) from what one would pay in USD. It's like shopping at Amazon.ca or Amazon.com. You can pay different prices for certain products even though it's the same company.

I'm pretty sure everybody needs to have one printed. Because when you board each person needs to get their pass scanned since you don't have a physical cd on hand yet. This has been my experience on my last three sailings on Anthem of the Seas which uses the online check in.

But to be honest, people like to have their sea pass on hand, but I found it wasn't that much of a time saver since we had to stand in line to have our printed passes validated. At that point, anybody not holding one could just get theirs printed on the spot and their photo taken.

I've used other sites to search for rooms as well. I don't know why cruise lines don't just make it simple by giving you a deck layout and showing you all the available rooms. It's likely they don't like to do this since people may not book sooner if they see a lot of vacancies.

But anyhow, I found some connecting balcony rooms on another site. I called RC to ask for these rooms. The agent asked if I found these through a TA website? I told him yes. He says, TAs request a block of rooms which only they get exclusive access to. If they can't sell those rooms by a certain date, they get retuned to RC then become available. But that's usually closer to sailing. That was there explanation.

How can they roll out a tier program, that the benefits are good for a year, only be on some ships? Most people cruise on all different ships thought the year. Does that mean they will be entitled to tier drinks/benefits on one but not the other? I think she just didn't know, and that was the easiest answer at the time.

You're so right. Even if I could take a cruise every year it might necessarily be with RC. They told me certificates are one year, but the status is based on last 18 months. The agent tried to tell me it's like regular casinos that require your account to be active at least once a year. Not exactly the same since I can drive out to the casino and play, and don't have to commit 7 days on a vacation.

I think they're forgetting the fact that it's vacation first, casino is entertainment. It would be foolish for me to spend $5000 at the casino to gain $750 credit for a future cruise....