Yenom

On 2/6/2020 at 12:09 PM, Merion_Mom said:

To add to YV’s correct response:

 

Grandeur’s final cruise is March 26, 2021. 

 

Enchantment will undergo an extensive drydock before she arrives in Baltimore. 

 

We have been “promised” “at least” one more specialty restaurant. 

 

I think that they’ll add both Giovanni’s Table and Izumi. 

Until you said something, I didn't realize that Enchantment didn't have Izumi (I love sushi).  I haven't been the Enchantment since they had it going out of Baltimore right after the cut & stretch. I remembered it having more (like Boleros), since it was bigger. I'm surprised that they haven't added Izumi and Giovanni's Table just like they are on Grandeur. I see mention of the Chef's Table on the Enchantment, but I can't find it on the Deck plan. Where is the Chef's Table currently located on the Enchantment? Is it as nice as the Grandeur's Chef's Table? I have found the Chef's Table to be a great experience on the Grandeur at the right price (and with the right people).

On Enchantment, I wonder if they will just duplicate how the Grandeur is setup with Izumi on Deck 12 and changing the space to include Giovanni's Table and the Diamond lounge on Deck 5?

2 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Bummer that I can't read this on my phone. 

 

I thought everyone abandoned this ridiculous font

45 minutes ago, rolloman said:

Settle down...it really bugs you doesn't it? Are you a gold member? You seem overly obsessed with something that does not pertain to you. It is not free by any stretch of the imagination. There are a ton of folks who sell their soul to get to the Diamond level and it costs them. 

 

340 points is an unidentified level with a couple benefits.  A few years ago they created Emerald level, now that was a waste. Time to jettison it and in its place identify the D++ level. As I said before, it is a status level...No strives to be employee of the month for the plaque. 

(I got the privilege of becoming Emerald for 2 cruises instead of becoming Diamond as I originally planned. Eventually, they had to let me become a Diamond, since I kept on racking up all the extra nights vs the old point system (haha... they will not keep me from raising my C&A status).

I certainly could benefit from the 340 level, since that is where they lower the single supplement to 150%. I also would love the "Bonus Gift" and "upgraded bathroom amenities". What is that anyway? Do they give 2-ply toilet paper (I have been known to sneak a a few good rolls TP onto the ship from time to time).  

************** BELATED NOTICE ******************

I'm thinking that I should have posted this notice a long time ago. A notice that I'm finally graduating to D+ after my upcoming B2B. Why you ask? Because they booted regular Diamonds out of the CL's right before the cruise that I became Diamond. Sorry to all the D+ members out there. If I ever get close to becoming a Pinnacle, I'll try posting sooner and delay my promotion to Pinnacle status as long as possible. The only way that I ever have and probably ever will see the inside of any of the CL's is when I book a suite. I like the CL as a suite perk, but it usually isn't worth the money to upgrade to a suite. 

Respectfully posted with a little jest.

P.S. - Am I missing something? What is so special about the CL? Is it something about the actual space or the free drinks and food? Whenever I see a thread similar to this, I start getting a serious case of FOMO.

OP - I could not agree more. I actually found Freedom to be a bit on the large side for me and have never tried any class larger. I prefer Radiance (love eating breakfast OUTSIDE at the Windjammer) and Voyager class ships.

Quantum Class has outdoor seating at the Windjammer at the aft of the ship.

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Hi all,

 

Can't find the info on the RC webpage. Do both guest in same cabin needs to get the drink package or only one? My wife does not drink alcoholic drinks and would like to get the non alcohol package.

 

Thanks

Both of you do NOT have to get the drink package. You are allowed to have just one person in the cabin purchase the Deluxe Package. Enjoy!

~Ryan

It's been a few years, but the last time I went there I walked the entire island as my day activity (I didn't realize until it was too late that I also walked through an area that probably wasn't open to cruise passengers). I saw a multi-unit house away from the regular cruise passenger area that had people living in it. I have to admit that I was tempted to "accidentally" miss the last tender back to the ship (now that I knew it was a livable island). I figured they would welcome the extra help with running things, but figured my family might get worried if I didn't make it back to the ship (yes, I'm kidding about missing the last tender for all the haters out there. I know jokes don't always get interpreted as they were intended on here).

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We have had a couple of them and have had no problems using them. In case you are not aware the 40% usually means that you will get 40% of the cost of the cruise that you are on (base fare) to be used on a future cruise. It is not 40% off your next cruise fare.

 

We also go a letter while on board verifying it and then received the certificate via email a few weeks later

Initially, I didn't understand that the % off was based on the cruise price that you received the certificate for.

The above scenario is similar to what I also experienced in my situation. When I was ready to book my next cruise, I just called the C&A line to have them take care of getting the booking done with the proper credit. It was a little longer on hold than usual to get it done, but overall a pleasant experience.

No, just cruising.

Hahaha.... Glad to hear. I was wondering the same thing when I didn't see you posting. I've been doing more reading than replying on this board for years. Like me, I'm guessing that there are plenty of people that read the various questions and think "what will Bob Say". If you say it, it is a comment I take seriously.

Enjoy your cruise! They (Cruise Critic and Royal Caribbean) should pay you to cruise, since you are huge resource for both new and experienced cruisers.

Thank you for all your informative posts!

~Ryan

Thinking of getting the Alcohol Beverage plan-but worried about the possible weight gain that might go with it. Has anyone had a weight gain or a higher weight gain with an unlimited alcohol package?:eek: Thanks

I eat and drink a lot more than normal when cruising. However, I'm also not sitting behind a computer for 10 hours a day. I usually do a ton of walking on a vacation and actually loose weight. I hear of people gaining weight on cruises, but that has not been my experience. I would say that weight gain or loss will not be correlated to the drinking package. It will be based on your overall all intake vs activity. Take the stairs more and walk a few laps up top each day. You can have all the fun you want and not worry so much about weight gain.

Quite possible that the second poster is completely unrelated to the first and is just posting their comments about how they were also shorted on the conversion.

You are exactly correct. I thought it was fitting for me to join in on the conversation. Until Bob posted the actual conversion, I never really thought much about it. I do remember calling when they did the conversion to see if they would give my 1 more point, because the conversion made me 1 point away from Emerald. As you probably guessed it, I was not given the extra point and had to wait to complete another cruise before moving to the Emerald tier.

~Ryan

I agree with you, it seemed they added the fudge factor to keep people close to the next level. Here is the formula they used:

 

Conversion from old cruise credits to cruise points:

If credits were 1-4, points = credits * 7 + 1

If credits were 5-7, points = credits * 7 + 3

If credits were > 7, points = credits * 7 + 13

 

 

Bob, who is thrilled when he can contribute to a Eureka moment.:)

Of course I had 7 points at the time. I seem to always be just a little short to get the extra boost. I now have 90 points, so I will finally get Diamond benefits on my cruise in November (If there are any left - hahaha).

~Ryan

Which cruise are you on? Our final payment for ours was last week and this was announced day after our final payment was due. If they make changes my thoughts are they shouldn't be after final payment when people can't cancel. Our cruise is 11/27 which is the effective date of the change.

 

 

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I'm guessing that you didn't book directly through RC. I'm on the same 11/27cruise and my final payments aren't until 09/13. It does appear that RC did try to give a little heads up to their actual final payment date. Albeit not much time, I did want to bring up that point. This would probably be a extra point in the Pros column for booking directly with RC.

That being said, I was looking forward to trying out Dynamic Classic. It has been a little while since my last cruise, in which they just implemented new features to the drink package. It wasn't the greatest experience, but you can quickly learn how to make the situation work for you. The people working on the ship generally want to make you experience the best that it can be, so don't be afraid to ask for variations to a menu. When there was an escargot shortage, I eventually got the attention of the head chef and asked if they could do a similar appetizer using baby mushrooms (It's really all about the delicious garlic butter they use). Anyway, he not only made my the adjusted appetizer for my table, they made them available for everyone that wanted them on that sailing. It is just one small example on how they try to accommodate all our wants.

Since this will be the first week of the new dining on the Anthem, I wouldn't be shocked that they will be willing to cook things from the previous menus. If there are dishes that you wanted to try, just ask. If you don't want to be in the same dining room every night, as if they would rotate you through the 2 MTD restaurants. It might even be a good excuse to try a pay restaurant or two. The last cruise I went on, there were people going around the main dining room offering buy one, get one free for Chops. Even if not offered, I have no problem going and asking if they will do the similar deal again. Worst case, they say no. Either way, I will have a wonderful time just being on a cruise. A day cruising is always a better day than working.

Thanks for the fast reply! no drink limit sounds amazing! however that raises a second question...

 

On Carnival: Order a margarita, wait a mandatory 5 minutes and then order a shot of tequila to add to my margarita. This was allowed and the bartenders would even ask me 5 minutes later if I was ready to add a shot to my drink.

 

On RC: Order a margarita, pay...and then immediately order a shot since I'm doing it one at a time?

 

This doesn't seem right. I feel like the 5 minute wait time at least gave the illusion that yI was ordering two separate drinks to get around ordering one very expensive drink. Like taking advantage of a perfectly legal loophole.

 

But without that wait time, it actually feels like I'm not only cheating, but throwing it in their face while doing it!

Why not just ask for a very strong Margarita? I have been able to order just about anything I want in a single glass. My go to drink is all vodka with a splash of cranberry juice (It is VERY light pink, not red). If your goal is to have a margarita with double the regular alcohol, just ask for it. Most bartenders are there to make your experience the best that it can be. In my opinion, when it comes to the bar experience, RC is better than Carnival.

I called the C&A desk to update a few things for future cruises. I asked about changes to the drinking packages and they did confirm that they would be changing next week. If I want the current packages, I need to purchase them this weekend. Not a big difference for the Ultimate Package, but they might be dropping the discount. I guess I'll just purchase them and save a little money. Does anyone know if they will do the 20% pre-cruise discounts on the new drink packages?

That being said, when they originally came out with the drink packages, the gratuity was included in the price. They are pretty good at raising prices without making a big deal about it. I'm now Diamond, so it's probably not worth the cost anymore from monetary perspective. I just love cruising and not worrying about what everything costs or which bar tenders are "hooking me up". I'm a good tipper with or without the package, so I usually have a drink being made for me without having to even ask. My next cruise can't come fast enough.

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wow! I didn't realize they were able to see your picture when they swipe your card!

Your picture comes up on their screen when they swipe your card. I also find that they are pretty quick to learn people's names. One of the reasons I love cruising. Most of the workers make you feel like you are longtime friends.

Do they still give you the receipts to sign with the new drink packages?

I got them about 25% of the time.

I never understand why some of the questions come up every time this topic is raised. Maybe someone can explain.

 

I purchase a drink, and I know that a certain amount of gratuity has been added. I choose- for entirely personal reasons- how much more I would like to add. And then I go on my merry way.

 

Why do people wonder things like "how much goes directly to the bartender?" "Do they split it?" "Do they pool tips?" "What if I give more? "What happens at a complimentary reception? Do they get tips?".

 

I guess it kind of throws me off. I run a business. People come in and pay for the service they provide. They never grill me as to how much I pay my receptionist. They never ask how much I pay the people who clean my office, or if I give them bonuses or gifts.

 

And for the most part, people don't do this on land based resorts or restaurants. Sure, there is some discussion about tips at restaurants being pooled. But nothing compared to what happens around here.

 

I don't mean this as a knock, I am genuinely curious. What is it that compels people to want to know in great detail exactly how staff is compensated? Why is this salient information for a cruise, when no one seems concerned elsewhere?:confused:

For me, it's the knowledge that many people in the restaurant/bar service industry make most of their compensation from tips. Real world example: My sister worked as a server for Friday's during college and they would assuming she was getting a certain amount of money based on sales. She was then expected to tip-out (pay to others that helped her do her job (ie. bartenders, table cleaners, etc.) a certain percentage of her sales. Because she worked at a location that catered mostly to college students on the weekend, she was often left very small (if any) tips. However, she still tipped-out based on her sales. There were many weeks that she would only breakeven and my parents would send her extra money on top of what they were already giving her to live off-campus. Unfortunately, servers and bartenders are not typically paid minimum wage (it's an allowed exemption in the minimum wage laws). Therefore, it is common for people to inquire how servers are paid. There are restaurants and bars that make sure their people are getting liveable wages. Unfortunately, it is more common that servers and other waitstaff have to depend on tips to earn above minimum wage.

As far as RCCL. I did ask a few bar tenders about their compensation on my last cruise (Thanksgiving Week 2013). They did say that the packages made their tip income noticeable drop. Before and after the package, I personally give a dollar or two for each drink order that I make. I get great service and I'm sure some of it has to do with tipping. However, I would venture to say that the biggest reason I get great service is that I treat everyone as I would want to be treated in their position. I would want to be tipped, so I tip them.

Never brought a multitool, but I can see where the knife in it may cause a problem. I normally pack my corkscrew, that has a small knife, in my checked bag but haven't sailed Royal yet so no idea if I'll be able to get away with that. Since we're talking about tools with knives, anyone know if they'd get in a tizzy over the corkscrew with a knife blade? The corkscrew is far more dangerous.

 

The picture gives a relative size of what I'm talking about.

1) The corkscrew w/blade about 1.5"

2) My newish Old Timer slightly longer than the corkscrew

3) The Swiss Army knife I'd like to take

4) My Great Grandfather's old Kabar folding 2.5"

5) My rescue knife 3"

 

Here is the part from RCCL's website about sharp objects:

Prohibited items:

Sharp Objects, including all knives and scissors. (Note: Personal grooming items such as safety razors are allowed. Scissors with blade length less than 4 inches are allowed.)

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/customersupport/faq/details.do?pagename=frequently_asked_questions&pnav=5&pnav=2&faqType=faq&faqSubjectId=333&faqSubjectName=Onboard+Policies&faqId=2608

I'd love to bring a multi tool with me. You never know when u could use a pliers or screwdriver. Is this something that can be done?

My luggage was sent to the "naughty room" on a cruise last year because of my very small multi-tool and my corkscrew with little tiny knife. I was very annoyed, since it was in my luggage for the last 5 or so cruises with no problems at all (I like to travel prepared). Anyways, the person in charge of security explained to me that no tools were allowed to be brought on the ship and advised me to get a different corkscrew (when that one was scanned it looks like a big pocket knife, not a corkscrew - he showed me the scan). After arguing that I have had these two items in my luggage for my last 5 cruises with RCCL, he allowed me to just take them with me and not to bring them next time. Needless to say, I brought a different corkscrew (that looks like a corkscrew in a scan) and did not bother bringing my multi-tool again. No problems on my last cruise.

Odd thing happened on the Majesty in November. Never happened to me before so I'm wondering if any of you had seen this before. We always use cash on our cruises and on the last night we had a couple of hundred dollars left over. We had a few hundred dollars of on board credit when we first stepped on the ship - some was on board credit from cash we put on and some was credit from booking while we were on another ship and from price drops. So anyway, on the last night I went down to cash out the remaining amount of money and I was told I couldn't have it that I'd have to spend it or lose it. Wish I could have seen the look on my face, it must have been priceless. I told him he better find someone that can give me my money back. He did and I got my money but has anyone seen this before? I've never heard tell of losing your on board credit if you don't spend it.

I had almost the exact same situation happen to me about a month ago. I think they are just used to so many people trying to cash out of the non-refundable OBC's. Although I used a credit card for onboard charges, I added cash to my account during the beginning par of my cruise. Realizing that I was going to have a couple hundred dollars left in the end, I went to guest services the day before the last day to cash out of some of my cash and just leave the OBC for the final tips. They tried to tell me that I couldn't get my cash back, so I reminded them that the cash was originally mine and they can use my OBC's for the spending that has already taken place & tips. Once they printed out my statement and could see that I made a cash deposit, they apologized for their mistake and immediately gave me the cash I requested (no fee for getting my cash back from guest services).

I'm not sure if their initial screen on their computers show an itemized statement. I've learned just to ask them to print me out an itemized statement and then they can see a true breakdown of what cash has been deposited, what OBC's are available, and the list of everything that has been used. I think some of the TA OBC's are refundable, but I also think that most of RCCL's OBC's are non-refundable (I mainly use mine for the automatic tips).

We are thinking about the Ultimate drink package on the Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas, but the fine print is a bit worrisome.

 

Most things make perfect sense, such as no minibar or room service.

 

But THIS is the red flag:

 

- Specialty beers as listed on bar menus

- Super premium category beverages

 

It used to be there was "well drinks" and "premium drinks". They have now added a "Super premium category". What exactly is THAT?

 

With "beer"... do we get "Bud or Bud Light", and everything else is "specialty"?

 

I see that we get "premium wines by the glass (up to $12 value)" On land, that would get you a pretty good glass of wine just about anywhere except New York and San Francisco! ;-) But how about on the ship? Can that buy a decent glass of Chardonnay?

 

I'm not even sure if we would drink our money's worth, necessarily, but I like the idea of an "all included" package so that I don't obsess with the price of a presumably over-priced drink every time I want to have one.

 

But I am going to be really annoyed if the "Ultimate" package is not appropriately named, and I'm going to be limited in my selections, or be stuck paying an additional upcharge to get decent drinks.

 

I read one comment from someone that suggest they had supplemental bar bills in the hundreds, even AFTER the so-called premium package. Is that an isolated incident?

 

Is this truly a high-end package they are offering?

I got the Premium Beverage package after it was "enhanced". I was told that the only difference between the Premium and Ultimate package is that the Ultimate package includes the Replenish Package items (ie. fresh squeezed orange juice and the other differences). As far as alcohol, I was told that there wasn't a difference between the Ultimate and Premium Packages. I got everything I wanted the 10 nights I cruised. It was nice to be able to try more than the house wines at the various venues (you CAN use the package in "for charge" dining venues (I used it in Chops and Izumi)). As far as regular mixed drinks, my most common drink is Grey Goose and Cranberry and it was included in the package. I also tried just about all the specialty drinks from the champagne bar menu with no problem (or extra charges). I love the new Premium Package and the addition of bottled water made it an especially good deal for me to have during my cruise.

If I'm not mistaken the Premium package for $55 includes bottled water now too!

Correct! That was one of my favorite enhancements that I experienced on my last cruise.

If we are drinking at the same venue consistently and we have the same server, we will either hand them a $5 every couple of days or an envelope with a larger gratuity towards the end of the cruise.

 

We play trivia a lot so are often at the Schooner bar where most of the ships hold trivia. Usually we are drinking soft drinks, but we compensate the attention.

 

I don't know if it's true, but my feeling is that if I give cash, they need not pool it. If I'm wrong, please don't disillusion me.:D

After speaking to one of the great bartenders on the last cruise, I was told that all the automatic tips have been broken apart more and more and the people you think you are tipping get much less now than they used to. It is my understanding that only a portion of the tips being pooled get distributed to the people servicing guests. Since I paid extra tips the whole time in cash, they did let me know that they get to keep everything that they received in cash.

Fortunately, they get paid more than they typically would be paid in their home country. However, the take home pay that they receive now is less than they used to get. It sounds to me that all the automatic tipping is just gives more control to RCCL over their employees' paychecks.

When the bar is crowded, a REALLY fast way to get your drink order taken and fulfilled quickly is to stand there with a few ones in your hand visible. :)

So true! Another tip is to talk to the bar tenders and find a few that you like the first day. Gave them a few extra dollars the first day and had AWESOME service the whole cruise. It was especially nice when the Viking Lounge was packed and I only needed to get eye contact with a bar tender from across the room. By the time I made it to the bar, they handed me a drink. Of curse they got an extra dollar or two every time as well. The Premium Drink Package is nice, but great service makes it even better. It was nice to only have to sign about a half a dozen slips the whole time during my 10 night cruise.