LobsterStalker

7 hours ago, pyrateslife4me84 said:

This is almost every cruise, now. Even the app will list a time and then a week out, that time will move up 30 minutes. Not sure why they still tell people at booking that early dining will be at 5:30 or 6 pm when they know it’ll be 5 pm. 

Because they would rather disappoint people after they board instead of when they are making their vacation decisions 

JMHO

On 2/28/2024 at 4:59 PM, smokeybandit said:

Some ships have that.

Most all ships now have that !

22 hours ago, Starry Eyes said:

When I read that blog article, I thought they planned to squeeze in three faster seating (trying to get diners out in 75 minutes, and leaving a bit for leeway and cleaning) and push back late a bit.  For example on ships in earlier dining cultures: early at 5:00, middle at 6:45, and at late at 8:30.  Or on other ships maybe early at 5:30, middle at 7:15, late at 9:00.

Sooooo , This is 1 area where I think the geniouses at the helm need some help . How about with 3 dining rooms , have 3 separate dining schedules ...??

Deck 3 : Early 5 P.M , Mid 6:45 , Late 8:30 ....More relaxed , Traditional

Deck 4 : Early 5 P.M. ,2nd 6:15 , 3rd 7:30, Late 8:45 -- 2 and 4 tops only to allow for shorter dining times 

Deck 5 : True MTD ! 

So many possible variations to fix the current system which many believe is broken . 

Personally don't feel 3 times set at 5:00 , 6:45 , and 8:30 would fix most peoples complaint .

Cheers

23 hours ago, doghog said:

We'd like to see RC got back to 6:PM and 8:30 PM TD and same times for MTD. We hate the later start time for MTD and not thrilled with the 5:30 start time for early TD. But we've gone back to early TD. We don't cruise on the huge ships. Freedom class is the biggest we've been on. 

...Exactly my position

1 Thing to add is that it is not always 5:30 , but sometimes much worse at 5:00

Cheers

19 hours ago, 2wheelin said:

With all these comments I just started to consider this for our March cruise. Please tell me more. Are there better/different free food choices than the buffets? Is the lagoon area good for snorkeling? Pictures look like it is more sheltered by rocks. Will the ocean be too cold in March? Is it an area you can come and go to other beach areas easily if you have friends with kids?

Was there twice last week . I'll share my thoughts .

Most of the positive comments so far I would agree with . There are some Cons I would add however .

Windy side of the island: . On the first stop , the wind which was by no means extreme was blowing hard enough that the infinity edge could not be enjoyed at all . anywhere within 10 feet of the edge had water constantly whipping up into your face .

Food: . Though some have stated a few new options ( coco shrimp , A very good chicken sandwich,  pizza ) , the lack of a buffet for those that may want some chicken , ribs , self made salad etc. certainly limited options.

DJ: also of note was the DJ that was always available (and a big draw) at the Oasis pool has been removed forcing anyone who wants that to book a $$ venue to enjoy it . This to me makes hideaway not just an upsell as it should be , but at the same time taking away what once was a free service feels like another typical money grab .

It was a 50/50 for us based on our 2 days . 2nd day was beautiful . First day due to the breeze , made it much less enjoyable. Took a walk to south beach that day , and you wouldn't have known it was breezy at all .

5 hours ago, SeanGR said:

Its not that there are kids thats the problem. 
its absentee parents and kids in what should be adult areas problem.

what crappy parent brings their kids into bars so they can get wasted?

who allows their kids to do cannonballs in a small swimup bar area?

what parent ignores “adult only” events/venues and brings thier kids?

Exactly ! 

So many people on here seem to grasp onto 1 point (usually the wrong one ) And think there are never any valid concerns that may trump that point . Kids behaving properly or improperly is  not the main issue  . Parents behaving as poor parents with no regard for other cruisers IS the main issue here . We fully understand the whole (kids will be kids) when vacationing , and sometimes that means they may be a little more rambunctious than we may like. That's understandable.  If all these cheerleaders really believe that watching a 10 year old Diving into a hot tub over and over while parents watch and laugh , is just something that should be expected because it's a "family" cruiseline , I can only imagine what kind of parents they themselves must be .

There are SO MANY  other examples of unacceptable , ( and dangerous ) , behavior from children , and adults , and the cheerleaders think you NEVER have a right to comment or complain .

Ridiculous

Cheers

1 hour ago, soremekun said:

A transatlantic interests me but I couldn't last that long in the air (flying there or back home).  I absolutely hate flying.  I wish I could be unconscious during flights. I fly fairly often but just cannot shake this flight anxiety.

2 words to get you started

..Airport Lounge !

Cheers

5 hours ago, ChutChut said:

How are lots of people affording these prices? Credit card debt is at an all-time high, most older Americans don't have anywhere near the retirement savings they should, the majority of Americans don't have $1,000 in emergency savings, car loan delinquencies are at pre-Covid levels and rising, and salaries haven't kept pace. Moreover, there's a stealth debt no one can really gage - the buy/now-pay/later as those companies don't report to credit agencies. Just don't get how people are paying these prices....

I believe you solved your own mystery 

39 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said:

That is all…

.But wait.... there's more 

9 minutes ago, Crazy planning mom said:

We will be sailing on the Symphony out of NJ this Fall.  Would it be better to schedule seeing the Aquatheater show when we are further south or as soon as possible?

I usually try to book it first thing in the week so when it gets cancelled they try to reschedule later on . 

However if I was out of NJ , I would probably go with the second available option in hopes to start that clock in a bit calmer waters . No guarantees of course but Odds are definitely in your favour further south

GL

Cheers

P.S. One time we were cancelled 3 times and never got it in at all. That sucked

2 hours ago, Denversail said:

We have made it to the beach club. The weather is nice just a little breezy. We have blue skies.
 

When we were exiting the ship they insisted we had to get towels. I even said we are going to the beach club and he still said we had to get them from the ship. I shouldn’t have listened they have towels here. Now we have to lug a bunch of towels around with us that we didn’t need.
 

We will just be lounging until our lunch at noon. 

You can turn your towels in on the island

2 hours ago, meansun said:

The unlimited dining package would offer some relief (probably), however, that would be an additional $654

Some relief maybe , but from what I read from others that is also going to be a challenge getting times you want at specialty this late in the game .

FWIW , also agree with FIREFLY That MTD is a disaster on royal . That's also my 2 cents , you're almost up to a nickel 

Cheers GL

2 hours ago, DandDM said:

Promenade was already busy!

Busy with who ? 

were you not the first ones back on board ?

During check in one of the questions ( As a Canadian) is for an address of where you will be staying if you are going to be in the US longer than 8 hours after you depart the ship ... What is the correct answer when you are going back for the following sailing ?

Thx

13 minutes ago, Denversail said:

This entire situation is all Dupable’s fault. I took Pup Pup in for his dental this morning. Why did I do this? Dupable that is why. 
 

I knew that I needed to get him in. I planned to do this in March after my trip. In mid January Dupable forwards me an email saying our vet is offering 10% off dentals in Feb. Well Wolf had just spent a lot on a dental for his dog a few months before so I knew how expensive it can get. I decided I should jump at the opportunity. I soon find out they only do them on Thursdays and today is my only option. I decide to take the risk and the discount would make it worth it.

 

They ended up needing to extract two of his large molars. So he now has sutures in his mouth. He needs medications and has restrictions for the next few weeks. I’m leaving one dog that won’t eat and another that has just been sown up and is on drugs. 
 

The best part was when they handed me the bill. It showed I was getting a $40 discount. So I take a page out of Dupable’s book and ask them to check the math. Last time I checked $40 is not 10% of $1350. The woman immediately says let me get the office manager. The woman comes out and very sweetly explains that the fine print notes that the discount is only applied to the basic cleaning. I counter with it feels a little bit like false advertising. In my head I’m now thinking Jesus, I sound just like Dupable. So I plant a smile on my face and thank her for explaining. Then I go to hand her my payment. She now starts explaining to me that the amount charged to my card will actually be 3% higher unless I have another form of payment. Now I’m just flabbergasted. I was just at this vet a few months ago and I knew I had used a credit card. I use them to buy everything and I’m well aware of places where I won’t want to. She explains it is a new policy they just implemented. Lucky me. Like mother like daughter I simply handed them my credit card. I wanted my dog back!🤣

It is ridiculous that people need second jobs just to take care of their pets.

Lmao !!  ... guess what 3% of 1350 is ?

Cheers

14 minutes ago, ATG said:

Captain just said maybe midnight or 2:00 am.

Lookin less and less likely that they will be able to salvage a stop at Labadee if that is the timeline. They could maybe make up some time but leaving 7-9 Hrs after scheduled departure will make it tough . If that is the case He Probably won't be in any big rush to get off anymore .

GL

Or if this is accurate hopefully I'm wrong... 

"New update I’m sure you heard: might be leaving between midnight and 2 am. Still expected to be in Labedee on schedule"

Will be interested to hear in a couple days how it played out 

Cheers

22 hours ago, Twenty2020 said:

 

I have not seen that for a while on a lot of Oasis class ships. Every GTY option has just been 'balcony'. 

that is all you see online but there are different categories that you do not see online available if you call or use an agent

2 hours ago, 2chiefs said:

Absolutely true!! Our first cruise was in 1996 in an inside cabin on the Monarch of the Seas and we paid $2600 for two (for a 7-day cruise)! We can still find prices that low for OV's and sometimes Balconies today. Of course we didn't know what we were doing so we probably overpaid somewhat.

My first cruise 07 Navigator , $1367 for 2 Promenade room. Got me hooked for sure !

Cheers

2 hours ago, jean87510 said:

We definitely are in the just add the grats to the cruisefare camp and end the debate.  BUT you will have the usual people boasting how they carry cash and tip every person a la Jimmy Conway in Goodfellas regardless of auto grats added.  So this will never end because people have this mindset they have to pay the salaries of the poor sad ice cream girl, the dishwasher and the guy who wipes the handrails and the rest of us shouldn't dare to cruise because we are cheap.  But it does make for good reading.

To be clear as I've stated , I'm still paying auto grats, though I'm uncertain for how much longer... This is where I find the psychology of these threads interesting though . You lump yourself with as you state "the rest of us" , when it seems to me you Are  in the camp of people with the mindset that IS paying the salaries of the poor ice cream girl..... etc. Because it seems , to me at least , that's what Auto Grats are doing 

It seems to me that many don't realize which side of the argument they are making .

Always provides good entertainment though .

Happy tipping!... (or not)

Cheers

1 hour ago, taglovestocruise said:

We have a local Mexican restaurant we have have gone to monthly over the last 22 years.  After the pandemic they went to a mandatory 18%, two years ago they added a addional  5% service charge. That was it, we have not been back in 2 years.

This is an interesting example. (IF) you had the option of reducing or eliminating that mandatory % , likely you as a loyal customer of 22 years would still be frequenting the establishment regularly , and likely tipping as you felt appropriate based on history and service ....

Cheers

15 minutes ago, yogimax said:

16 hours ago, cruzsnooze said:

The tipping on a cruise is a rip off and the cruise company keeps a portion of it. 

So you are accusing RCCL, a major multi-national corporation of lying and theft?  Do you have any proof that the tips are not going to the staff?

He stated the company keeps a portion of it which has been widely reported as fact. They keep a portion for "Administration Fees". Outside of that the facts around how they are distributed among the crew and what portion actually end up as a subsidy to their actual wage so that RCI does not need to pay the full wage , Yeah...those facts remain cloaked in secrecy it seems . 

I have not yet removed auto grats on any cruise , but I am tipping more and more to that side of the fence as time goes on. Starting to feel raising my cash tips to steward and servers may do them much better in the long run .... And I do believe 20 years ago that is who it was suggested that we tip ... When did it change to tipping (ie paying wages) for all positions on the ship ? Record breaking  profits and skyrocketing fares , while guests gratuities subsidize wages ..? That is not in the spirit of what a gratuity is for in my opinion

But ... maybe I'm wrong , haven't figured it out for sure yet. I'm sure it will become clear as mud by the end of the thread ! 

Cheers all !

26 minutes ago, deliver42 said:

I haven't been there yet, but I've seen some You Tube videos, and the music wasn't loud. The area is large and there are plenty of lounges quite away from the music. The pool is also heated, which I like, and supposedly there is a 2000 person limit .I really don't know about that.

If capacity is actually that high , it should significantly impact crowds on the rest of the island.

....Either that or they'll upgrade the dock for a 3rd ship . 

Cheers

10 minutes ago, deliver42 said:

I haven't been there yet, but I've seen some You Tube videos, and the music wasn't loud. The area is large and there are plenty of lounges quite away from the music. The pool is also heated, which I like, and supposedly there is a 2000 person limit .I really don't know about that.

2000 sounds like a lot.

Where did you hear that 'supposed' information ?

15 minutes ago, Denversail said:

I might question the amount but not where it was going. I think that is what I find odd about all the tipping post. I could see myself creating a fuss if I thought I was being taking advantage of or overcharged but how the tips are distributed? I just think the argument is self serving and not for the actual concern of the workers. It is just BS. If you don’t want to tip accordingly then don’t. Stop trying to pat yourselves all on the back for it. 

Semantics...

If not for people feeling the amount was too high , they wouldn't be so apt to wonder where it is going.

Anyhow , Happy Cruising

Cheers

4 hours ago, RCCL Fan said:

 

I'm sure others can verify, I wasn't trying to suggest that,   I just was sharing my memory of stopping by twice and there was no music. I don't know if it was tactical, a change in service, or my one off experience.

Understood . And I wasn't implying you were trying to suggest anything. I have been there several times over the last couple years , And the DJ is always hyping up the crowd with the party in full swing ! . If that was not not the case then something is off. I only Hope my (suggestion) is not the case .

I'll be making to stops there in a couple weeks...May have to sneak out of Hideaway for a walk to confirm 

Cheers