scorpluvsdolphins

Add one to your cabin and move the solo person to a JS. At least you can eat dinner together. 
Order from room service (free sky class), from the MDR and/or CK for lunch. You have a table outside to eat. 

On 3/28/2024 at 10:41 AM, chengkp75 said:

This is an urban myth, port dockage fees are generally for a 24 hour spot.

Thanks for the info. 
Doesn’t the USA charge the cruise line for each person that doesn’t return with the ship?

50 minutes ago, grandgeezer said:

Just using the base fare is the thing that’s useless. The biggest variable is the base fare, on a regular basis it changes daily and sometime more than once, it’s called dynamic pricing.

It doesn’t give you a true picture of what the cruise cost. Including taxes and fees gives you the true cost, the gratuities would make it even more accurate, unless you plan on stiffing the crew.

On the 15 day cruise mentioned that would add $120 p.p. which is $18 per day p.p.

If doing it your way, makes you feel like you’re getting a better deal, go for it.

 

 

I will. Thank you. 
I have over 150 Royal cruises. 
I use spreadsheets. 
If someone doesn’t pay auto gratuities, it doesn’t mean they are stiffing the staff. 
Thanks for dropping the flight argument. 
Glad you got that one. 

14 hours ago, grandgeezer said:

It should everything you have to pay, along with the base fare because you have to pay it to take the cruise. That includes gratuities, taxes and fees, and port charges. If you aren’t paying for all of these, share how you do it. 

It shouldn’t include it as port charges and gratuities vary depending on the ports and how many nights. 
Why would I want someone to list a cruise that includes flights?

I don’t fly, so the information is worthless. 
Data wouldn’t include variables, only base fare. 

On 12/28/2023 at 8:10 PM, grandgeezer said:

Why would you exclude tips? For most people pay it, the people who would remove them would be accurate when it cost for total price.

Also, if you want to be accurate, it should include all other costs, such as airfare, hotel, shuttles, meals, and all other money spent to get a true cost of the vacation. In our case, it would be an extra $1,500+.

100% disagree. 
price should ONLY include the base fare. 
port charges vary, not everyone takes flights. 
price per night should only include base fare. 

2 minutes ago, Morecruisesplz said:

This is the speculative part of which you have no actual knowledge: and remove auto gratuities

I’ve been standing next to them when they tell the concierge or GS to remove their auto gratuities. 

2 minutes ago, Morecruisesplz said:

No need for rudeness. You have no idea what they are doing... you are speculating. They could be tipping on top of auto tips. Yes, you are observing something but then you are speculating about their total activity. Do not confuse what you are doing. Assuming is another word for it.

Unless you can prove they are not telling the truth, I’ll believe them and what I see when I dine with them. 
I find writing the word, speculation to my comment, rude when you have no facts to back it up. 

3 hours ago, Another_Critic said:

This entire thread.  No one on this thread knows how tips are allocated, unless you are the person responsible for allocating tips to the crew.

First of all the comment speculation was in a response to my post. 
2nd. When Pinnacles and D+ hand someone cash and remove auto gratuities, there is no allocating to be done by the cruise line. The person is allocating their cash, therefore knows to who it is being handed. 

3 minutes ago, Morecruisesplz said:

  4 hours ago, scorpluvsdolphins said:

I’m definitely not a novice to Royal with over 150 cruises.
Many, many Pinnacles remove the auto gratuities especially on Oasis and Quantum class ships. They eat in CK and tip every meal. If they do go to the MDR, they tip every meal and tip the head waiter at the end of the cruise. They give the host in CK a tip at the end as well as the CK manager. 
If they go to the WJ, they leave $1-$3 under the plate or give it to the person clearing away the dishes. 
How do I know?  I’ve witnessed it.
The cabin stewards prefer cash tips. Many Pinnacles give the cabin steward $5pppd or MORE. 
Cabin stewards prefer $70+ cash for 2 people for a week, than auto left on and $20+ cash. 
Many Pinnacles bring specific gifts, snacks, candy and quality chocolate that crew want or requested on top of the cash tips. 

Many D+ are following suit. 

Again, please specify what is speculation?

Maybe you don’t know what speculation means. 
Seeing with your own eyes Pinnacles tipping everyday this way on a cruise is an observation, not speculation. 
 

17 minutes ago, Morecruisesplz said:

Speculation 

What is speculation?

11 hours ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

How do my comments not make sense? Most main line cruise lines have established a system where a significant number of their employees depend on tips. I don’t know any land based business that has a similar compensation structure, so your question about land businesses is irrelevant. You may not like the way cruise lines use tips to pay crew members, but the fact remains passengers who remove gratuities screw over crew members. It’s been a long time since I only had 55 cruises, so you are definitely a novice in my book, although I realize people with less cruises than one would likely think otherwise.  

I’m definitely not a novice to Royal with over 150 cruises.
Many, many Pinnacles remove the auto gratuities especially on Oasis and Quantum class ships. They eat in CK and tip every meal. If they do go to the MDR, they tip every meal and tip the head waiter at the end of the cruise. They give the host in CK a tip at the end as well as the CK manager. 
If they go to the WJ, they leave $1-$3 under the plate or give it to the person clearing away the dishes. 
How do I know?  I’ve witnessed it.
The cabin stewards prefer cash tips. Many Pinnacles give the cabin steward $5pppd or MORE. 
Cabin stewards prefer $70+ cash for 2 people for a week, than auto left on and $20+ cash. 
Many Pinnacles bring specific gifts, snacks, candy and quality chocolate that crew want or requested on top of the cash tips. 

Many D+ are following suit. 

10 hours ago, hollon said:

Was blades good?

It’s good. The second 1/2 is better than the first half. 

4 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

So when cabin service was cut by 50% the allotted amount stayed the same. Interesting.

False. Cabin stewards were making $3.55 pppd. After the one time a day service started, they make $3.05 pppd

They have more cabins. 
less staff for Royal to pay, feed and house. 

1 minute ago, njdealguy said:

With the figures you gave think will stick to the auto gratuities, yours exceeded what the auto one would be!

Correct. When you cruise in a suite, people usually tip more. 
it may be more, but it’s going to all that serve you. 
You do know that suites get cabin service twice a day. The cabin stewards get a little over $6 pppd in the auto gratuities. 

If you keep on the auto, CK waiters, host and maître d’ will get nothing. 

Most people in a suite aren’t on such a tight budget, that they can’t give a tip to all the people in CK. 

7 hours ago, neverbeenhere said:

Blue Plant - good enough, a bit preachy

Momma Mia - People like it, long...

Aqua Show - very good(the "clown" could go) --- Watch practice - it is better

Ice Show - below average for RCCL(Yes, it's RCI)

Comedy - depends week to week

Love and Marriage - same as comedy

Quest - tiresome, better if you have co-traveler on the floor

 

 

The Ice Show is gone. It was “Monopoly”. 
They replaced it with “I Skate” calling it Blades. Before C, all the ships had a show and an “I Skate”, where the performers chose their own music and choreography. 
The Aqua Show is the best in the fleet, “Oceanaria”. 
Mama Mia is great. 
Blue Planet is one I can only see once or twice a year. 

On 11/1/2023 at 7:17 PM, njdealguy said:

Hi going on our first cruise ever on allure next week for 4 days in sky class crown loft suite and contemplating whether to remove the auto gratuities (which would total about $225 for the 3 of us) as will not at all step foot in the MDR.  Thinking if this is sufficient tipping for a 2 adults and a child:

 

Room steward: $15/day so $60 total

Coastal kitchen waiter: $10 per meal so $30 per day for 3 meals

Luggage porter: $5 per bag during embarkation and disembarkation

Suite lounge or other bartender: $1 per wine glass or beer, $2 per cocktail 

Those amounts are low for a CLS. The cabin steward should be getting a minimum of $7 pppd, $21 per day. 
In CK: breakfast is $8- $10 for 3 people; lunch is $10-$15 for 3 people and dinner is $15 for three people. 
Don’t forget to tip the concierges. 
Bar service amount is fine. 

On 4/24/2023 at 12:45 PM, NightOne said:

 

They told me that changing to all benches allowed them to get like 262 more people in the Aquatheater. (Don't quote me on the number but it was significantly more people)

 

Intense ... not much diving? Did you watch the show? Tons of diving! Compare it to OceanAria and it is like tons more diving than that one. 

 

Intense refers to the women's heart rates during that show. Nonstop action.

Unless they changed OceanAria show since 10/2022, there is more diving on the Allure than the Wonder. On the Allure they actually dive headfirst into the water, not feet first. I didn’t see one dive from the high dive that went in head first on the Wonder. What about the trampoline? No jumping from the trampoline to the walkway area on the Wonder. 
The tightrope and flyer were very good on the Wonder, that’s it. 

On 4/5/2023 at 2:19 PM, topanga49er said:

Hi.  You will love Wonder.  Don't want to hijack this review, but thought I'd add in our own thoughts.  We were just on 3/19 and it was amazing!  Everyone can find little things they didn't like, but we were very happy overall.

 

First time with Deluxe Beverage pkg and would not do it any other way again.  So convenient, so easy and really makes sense to try out all things alcoholic and non.  We also did the 3 specialty dining instead of the ultimate dining pkg.  It worked best for us bc with four port days sometimes you do not want to run back for a big meal.  We only had two sea days; maybe would do ultimate specialty dining if we had more sea days.

 

Did not eat at main dining room so could not speak about that.  Two nights in coastal kitchen were fine; Paid for hooked additional and it was just ok:  Note: all the menus on line show a two pound lobster.  New menu is only 1.25lb lobster.  Kind of bummed about that, and waiters were very pushy for extra tip.

 

Chops was excellent, Izumi sushi was good with amazing service, and we loved Wonderland.  We felt a bit rushed in there, and the Mad Hatter was not around but overall very cool.  Will go back.

 

Shows were good. 365 and Intense were best.

 

Comment on the suites:  We had the 1 bdroom ATS on deck 11 with a balcony next door for our girls.  It was very nice, loved the large balcony views and room was spacious with a ton of storage.  But last time we were on an Oasis class we were in CLS, and I missed being on 17th floor.  Something calmer and less frantic and trafficky up there.  Yes, very good problem to have, but thought I'd mention it bc price is very similar for CLS and ATS, and have seen posts with people wondering which to go with. CLS feels more like a suite if that makes sense.  Walk to room was not bad; I'd heard a lot of concern about that but did not bother us.  Suite sundeck was great and Kenny was an AMAZING concierge.

 

Royal was very good about crediting back excursions on coco cay due to bad weather.  Loved the coco cay beach club lunch even in the rain.  Kids thought the thrill park was "meh"; lines too long and slides not as good as on the ship.

 

Flowrider lines were not bad, and they gave everyone 4-5 minutes on it.  Lots of fun.  Overall amazing.  If you have any questions happy to answer.  I would have done a separate mini review, but not sure how...

 

 

100% disagree about the Aqua show. It’s absolutely the worst of the fleet. 

Ice Show, 365 is the best in the fleet. Voices is great and the last 15 mins of Tap Factory is good. 

On 2/18/2023 at 5:09 PM, mek said:

I don't recall exactly how many shows are offered, but people need to have a reservation and you are only allowed to reserve 1X.

However, you can get in line to go to any show and about 5 minutes before showtime people are allowed in - sometimes there are seats and sometimes not.

No, the music is not live but the singing is.

False. The music IS live. 

6 hours ago, resetjet said:

 

this is from my carnival 8 day last week. They get $14.50 a day pp and the steward gets $4.44. So i am assuming royal gets a little more  say close to 5 so you are correct.   I am more or less confirmed the steward gets to keep 25% of the $4.44 with 35 rooms to clean……

False. 
Royal is $3.55 pppd

7 hours ago, poocher said:

Nice, crappy show on 2 ships!

To each their own. 
I love Grease on the Harmony and Indy. 
 

7 hours ago, poocher said:

Would love it if they put something else on Harmony.  Really dislike the show.

I hope they never do. I love Grease on the Harmony and Indy!  
Maybe “Cats” on the Oasis May be more to your liking. 

Buy and wear a dive skin. No sunscreen necessary.
Put some sunscreen on your face and neck before you leave the ship. 

Could you please take pictures of Both sides of the pool deck tables and chairs that are out of the sun by the windows?

4 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Are you referring to the smoking cubes under the main pool seating. Some folks really hate walking through there, the smoke lingers.

 

Removed that feature on Oasis. I'm guessing it goes away on Allure eventually

I’m referring to the normal table and chairs. 
I like the cubbies at night. Now that smoking is in the casino again, there isn’t much smoking at night. I like to be out of most of the wind at a table and chair while enjoying the view of the ocean. 

There is no reason to walk that side of the deck. Walk the other side to avoid the smoke. 

Also I like the GS’s on the Allure. No Wall!