SoFlaCruzer

I know a great one (as I know many that post here do), and a good TA is great to have. At minimum I always have some OBC, and someone that I can rely on for anything I need. And there is no reason for it to be any more expensive than booking directly.

Of course, as mentioned, we cannot post TA's here. But if you find one you like I'm sure it will work out great for you.

We have the train booked direct with them already. Obviously alot less expensive that through the ship.

Originally had July 13 booked, but today the itinerary changed for July 14. I couldn't (or didn't find) change the date, so I easily cancelled the original day and rebooked for the new date. No issues. And we certainly don't want to risk a sellout.

Just off the Odyssey a couple of weeks ago. Don't remember everything, but this is what I do remember:

We had an ocean view balcony. There was a singe outlet on one of the nightstands. The other nightstand did NOT have an outlet (and we could have certainly used it). I plugged an adaptor that gave me power and USB charging options (I use a CPAP, and to charge my phone, IPAD, etc.). My DW had to charge her phone on the desk.

The desk had multiple outlets and we did not even need to use them all. The bathroom had the standard outlet for an electric shaver or other bathroom needs.

Hope that helps

Off the Odyssey a few weeks ago. They had a 70's and and 80's party. I grew up in the 80's and it's my preferred music. However, the crew made a greater effort in the 70's party.

The 80's was in the Music Hall, Adequate dance floor, but less efficient seating (was full when we got and on the second floor you don't really feel part of the party.

The 70's was in 270 which is a great venue. Alot more space, plenty of dance floor. But the same old Village people which is on every cruise. Don't get me wrong, we enjoyed it. I just wished they gave the 80's the same venue and maybe a little more effort.

We are booked on the Serenade World Cruise leg from Southampton to Copenhagen on July 26, 2024, visiting many less common ports. Taking advantage as it is not a traditional itinerary at least on RCCL. Our original plan was to then do the b2b and go to the Norwegian Fjords. But seeing the itinerary it was not really the best, we wanted to switch that to a better itinerary and just stay on our first sailing.

So then we just decided to wait until the 2025 Norway itineraries were released. And as has been discussed, what is offered now is disappointing. Not to say they can't offer more later, but we decided not to wait.

I just asked our TA to instead book the Jewel leaving from Amsterdam on July 6. It has a great Norwegian Fjords 13 night itinerary called "Arctic Circle Tour" that covers most of what everyone recommends (we have not been to Norway).

So we will do an 'almost' back to back. Depart on the Jewel on July 6. Once we arrive back in Amsterdam we spend a few days, then fly on our own to London, and after a few more days board the Serenade on July 26.

We would have preferred to do Norway in 2025. But with the uncertainty of itineraries, and potential environmental restrictions starting in 2026, we didn't want to miss the opportunity. Don't recall us having an almost 40 day vacation since school (I am not retired! but self employed), but DW and I are really looking forward to this.

I decided that for our next cruises (2 booked in 2024) I will remove the prepaid tips from my account, and pay in cash an amount larger than the 'recommended' tips in hand to my room stewards, waiter, assistant waiter, and head waiter (if he provides service). Bartenders already have 18%, but a buck or 2 here and there is possible.

Last cruise not only did we leave the tips on the onboard account, but I tipped an extra couple hundred in cash just for 2 of us. Tipping is out of control, so I will control it myself.

I agree. Just left my review having come off the Odyssey about a week ago. Pretty much the only thing that did not get a 10 was related to actual food. MDR employees, waiters, assistants all 10. But the food was in general subpar. Wife sent back a strip steak that seems was taken off the sole of a boot. One day the pasta Alfredo was so overcooked she was eating water with a little flour, also a send back. One breakfast in the MDR my eggs Benedict were not only very cold, but super well done. Another send back. Don't recall we've ever sent back about 5 meals sent back to being inedible. Note that we are not the pickiest folks, the send backs were really bad.

Not everything was bad of course. Escargots were great tasting even though the could have come out hotter. French onion soup was always good. I was surprised by a great fish and chips. The fish came out it seems straight from the fryer and the breading was on point. Had a great turkey breast. But in general, over the course of the time we have sailed, the food has been in decline. We saw great, good, and bad. Before we usually saw great and good.

After they made the change and added the 'recommended' gratuities to the onboard account, I have always left them there and paid them. On top of that, I always left at least a couple of hundred extra across those employees that served me directly - room steward, dining staff, specific bartenders.

I am just off a sailing, and I probably spent double the amount of recommended tips when you add the cash I handed out in person. I always want to make sure that those that give me good service are rewarded, so cash in their hands is king. I wont stop that. But I am leaning towards having automatic tips removed from my account. And I will cover in cash more than those amounts. 

Drinks already have 18%, and an extra buck here and there is good for the bartenders. Dining room server, assistant, head waiter, and room steward will probably get 1.5x - 2x the 'recommended' tips, in cash, from me in hand. Does this mean the maintenance guys, the cooks in kitchen, the security guys, and all other areas wont get a "tip" from me. Maybe. But when RCCL determined the amounts originally they said X for waiter, Y for assistant waiter, Z for room steward, etc. So I will be tipping those that give me direct service and rewarding them better than with auto tips.

Oldest: Monarch

Newest: Wonder

Favorite: Wonder

Wife and I just love the huge amounts of activities on the Oasis Class.

Honorable mention: Radiance. Perfect class for Alaska!

Last year we did a Transatlatic on the Wonder, and we booked a guarantee interior (we were going full budget) because it was extremely cheap. When Royal Up came I bid non aggressively and got bumped up to one of those interiors that have a "virtual" balcony. Not much of an upgrade of course, but it was like $20 each on a 14 day sailing.

So we get to our "virtual" balcony interior, unpack, and are just about to start heading out to an early dinner when our cabin phone rings. They say its from the front desk and that if we were interested in an ocean view balcony. Since my wife answered I thought it was a prank or that she was pranking me! Well, no, it was an actual offer. They did say I had to move quickly (within 30 minutes), and they would send someone to help me move my bags and bring us our new sea pass cards. 

We immediately just dumped everything back into our bags as best we could in 10 minutes. So much for nice, tidy, and organized. Someone came but without the new seapass cards. We moved our stuff (other deck and other side of the ship...) and I think it was the stateroom attendant that opened for us after the person that helped us move spoke with him. Once everything was moved my wife stayed in the room while I went to the front desk and got our new seapass cards.

All I could muster up was a "thank you!" and I actually asked if something specific triggered the upgrade. After all, I had bid for an ocean view balcony, but I did not win nor was I obviously charged. I had won the smaller upgrade. The front desk person said she didn't know, and I didn't feel like asking anymore, so I quietly exited stage left very grateful/

We are Diamond, nice but nothing spectacular. The ship was not full, and the lowest passenger deck had no guests. This was still soon after the pandemic. So I never knew what triggered it but maybe the ship situation assisted. We had a very nice sailing in an oceanview balcony which basically cost us the same as a guarantee interior. With ships more full, and higher rates, I'm not holding my breath on this happening anytime soon. Royal Up it is for our Med cruise next month and let's see what happens. After that trip, not doing interiors anymore :o

Hi,

We are experienced cruisers, but we are also going on an MSC Divina for a 3 night weekend cruise (Ocean Cay). Will be our first cruise on and MSC, so I cant really answer questions. We did get matched to the equivalent of RCCL Diamond, even though I don't think it brings anything special for this sailing.

We wouldn't typically do such a short cruise, but there are about 12 of us going, so it had to fit everyone's schedule. And we got a friends and family discount so it was really inexpensive. Maybe because of this "family" rate we actually got a boarding time of 11:00AM. That surprised us.

We are just going with no specific expectations, but just that it will be a different experience. Just spend alot of time in the pool and in the beach. And then having some adult beverages in different lounges.

RCCL Diamond was matched to MSC Gold for both wife and I. We have never cruised with MSC, but will do so in a few weeks.

1 hour ago, sowhat said:

From the captain 

I was on the TA. I must have missed the announcement, but it seems like a reasonable number. Some of the shore excursions we did had cancellations - and they were due to COVID.

In Spain, masks were (and I assume still are) mandatory in all public transportation, of course including the tour busses.

We are on the same sailing - so following along. We lucked out. We booked an interior cabin, and AFTER we had unpacked and almost as we were headed up to Hooked for our fist dinner, we got a call from guest services and they said they had upgraded us to an ocean view balcony. That if we could pack and they would send someone to help us move!

We are Diamond members, and we had bid on royal up to the ocean view balcony, but were not successful. So we were more than pleasantly surprised when we got it complimentary without even requesting any upgrades. Obviously the ship is not nearly full, so there are plenty of available cabins.

So we rushed and threw everything back into suitcases even with the coat hangers. The restaurant closed at 9:00 (our reservation time) and they said they could only hold it for 15 minutes. So my wife rushes up to grab the table while I wait for help to move all our belongings....I made it to the restaurant by 9:15 (my wife had already ordered for me) and had a nice dinner. I was sweating though!

After dinner, over to guest services to retrieve our new key cards, and start unpacking.....again.....but did we complain, heck no! Just a little more rushing around night #1 than we thought. As I write this I am looking out at the not so calm sea, and my wife is taking a restful nap, and life couldn't be better (maybe a little calmer seas, but it is beautiful).

10 hours ago, Baowen said:

I paid $322 for the Wonder TA. So that ends up being $23 a day.  On my recent Navigator cruises I have paid $169 for a 7 day ($24 a day)  and also $199 for a 7 day ($28.50 a day).  I find it absolutely worth it!

 

Beth

We also got in at $322 Net for the 14 day TA. We've never done UDP, but with plenty of see days there's a chance to max at 22 specialty restaurants with all the lunch options, if so desired.

2 hours ago, Starry Eyes said:

You seem to have already given up on your RoyalUp bids though your cruise is still 2-3 weeks off with cabins available.  While nobody should count on winning vis RoyalUp, neither should they give up so early.  Were your bids already rejected?  If so, I would try to submit new bids asap. If not, be patient.  Many time people are upgraded just a few days before departure; that is when my bids have been accepted.

Thanks. All Royal ups I bid on were set to "expired" or "upgrade unavailable" and when I tried to get back in it said "not eligible for upgrade". I'll sit tight though and check daily since we do have the 2-3 weeks to go. I'm still looking forward to a great vacation.

Thanks everyone for the responses.

Our travel partners had to cancel, but we of course are in our original connecting cabin (interior). The second cabin got cancelled and they received future cruise credit. When we saw the layouts much after we had booked AND paid in full, we saw it does not show a sofa or chair (just a desk chair) on the website's virtual tour. We are not thrilled to sail in a room with basically just a bed. We don't mind interior as it was a budget option, but assumed a sitting area was available in every stateroom category. Our bad I suppose, but we had no reviews, feedbacks, nor pictures from the Wonder at the time we booked.

We tried Royal Up, and I bid generously (close to max) and did not get any of the upgrades on 4 different categories we bid on, up to ocean view balcony. However these bids even at close to max were still much lower than outright paying for them at todays prices. We got in at about $2K for a room that is $3K today (numbers rounded). Cheapest room today is hovering the $3K.

So if we are stuck with it so be it. It wont ruin our vacation! But a cabin with no sitting area (based on the RCCL room virtual tours) - ugggghhhhh.

Thanks

Hi folks,

We have a connecting interior room on the Wonder TA departing in a few weeks. Our travel partners had to cancel, so it is just my DW and I. We have no need for a connecting room anymore. In fact, looking at the layouts it appears the connecting rooms lack a sofa and just have a desk chair (to make space for the extra door). A regular interior works best for us at this time.

We booked through an agent. She could not change it as per RCCL we would have to pay extra to get to today's prices (we booked early, so we paid much less than current rates). When we called RCCL, they of course referred is back to the agent. At today's prices, our connecting room is actually a few bucks more expensive than the regular non-connecting.

Has anyone had any luck "downgrading" after boarding? In reality it is more of a parallel move, but RCCL has all these categories. Of course, I assume there will be cabins available,

Thanks

Enjoying the review. We board her in a few weeks for the TA to Barcelona! Got the dining package and we are foodies, so Wunderland certainly seems like a place to try more than once! 

Margot is on Oasis, don't know how long, but you can remove the "should be".

Living in Miami has its privileges :)

Now that I think about it, why don't I cruise more often!

I had no issues on Oasis a few weeks ago. Sometimes I chugged a beer (it was hot outside!) and ordered another less than 5 minutes later. Never once did I get a second look.

Quite a few times I ordered multiples within ten minutes and I had zero issues. I probably averaged about 15 drinks a day throughout the week. I like my booze and I only sleep about 5-6 hours a day, so plenty of time :)

2.5 days!!!!!

Thanks much! Cant wait. Almost under a month...

We are sailing the Oasis on July 23 (7 Day Eastern Caribbean). I haven't had any luck finding the compass.

Does anyone know what day The Quest usually takes place? I have heard anywhere from the second day, to the next to last day. Reason I am asking is because as I book the shows, I don't want the times to conflict.

Thanks in advance