Max and Ruby

On 5/2/2024 at 12:42 PM, laurieal said:

Back on the ship, I returned to my stateroom for my usual refresh, but unfortunately it took a bit longer than I expected and I missed sailaway. 
 

Bye bye, Scarlet Lady! You look beautiful!

 

 

I found myself in what I can only describe as a reenactment of Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds. 
 

 

I ordered a Papa Jac, my first of the trip. The bartender (Ade from Indonesia, who is really nice) asked whether I was sure. 
 

👀

 

Yes? Apparently people don’t like it. They find it too strong. He says he only makes one per cruise!  
 

 

Now I need to order 15 of them in the next days so RCI don’t decide to remove it from the menu. 
 

It should be a quiet evening today. I’m planning to have dinner in the Windjammer and then I have a reservation for One Sky at 20:00.
 

After that, who knows! There a Finish the Lyrics game show that I don’t think I’ve ever seen. Can anyone comment on it?

My 16 yo enjoyed a virgin version on our Spring Break cruise on Wonder.

This is just a guess....Quantum class (Ovation) Izumi and Oasis class (Wonder) have slightly different menus?  We ate at Izumi on Anthem and I could have sworn that the menu on Wonder had more items.  I didn't eat at Izumi on Wonder this time so I might be wrong.

Anyone else know for sure?

2 minutes ago, Badatz2 said:

So am I correct that there were loads of kids and youth running all over?

Yes.  Unfortunately. Now that wasn't ALL kids and teens.  My teen stayed with me and we had a lovely time. She hasn't seen the teen club for years. She and I did excursions, trivia and enjoyed our balcony.  If crowds and the above type of behavior bothers you, please look to cruise at another time.  If you are a teacher and have to cruise at that time, just learn what everyone else does on the cruise and you do the opposite!  That does really work. 🙂

YES!  This past year was my second "cruise end on Easter morning" (Anthem in 2023 and Wonder 2024)and I am rapidly looking forward to last year being my last time doing this.  Daughter graduating HS in 2025 and we can be free to cruise in May when she's out of college.

I first started sailing with Carnival and I would like to go back at some point.  Actually booked a Havana cabana in 2020, but of course that cruise didn't happen.  What keeps me with Royal lately is the extra point for being a solo cruiser and the Cape Liberty port.  I see Venezia sailing out of NYC and once I get someone on board with going on that cruise I will try it.  Also want to try that Havana cabana cabin category sometime as well.

4 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

I've had dozens of these situations and never had a card declined for that reason. 

My time with the Big Box store agency was a nightmare...I'm glad it is in my rear view mirror. May I also add that for both cruises I booked I was supposed to get 5% cash card back.  Well I had to chase that both times as well. My original agent was like "I just don't understand why this is happening....." in reference as to why I didn't get my card X weeks after the cruises. 

Something like this happened to me when paying for my daughters' cabin.  Apparently the card was declined because both girls were under 18, but their cabin was next to our cabin and our agent didn't note this on the reservation. So Royal's "system" saw it as a free standing cabin with under 21 as passengers. 

Thank goodness I called weeks ahead of final payment because the "pending" that you see on your credit card statement will fall off eventually.  Pay again, bottom line you should not be charged double.  IF you are charged double, you then just have to have agent call Royal back , explain and then get a refund issued.  That is what my agent told me. 

All worked out fine. Although.... I had a big box store agent and had to sit on the phone every time she called Royal. That was my last time dealing with the Big Box stores.

Good luck!  

2 hours ago, SUgwoz said:

Video of a Oceanview Balcony room.  Aside from an abundance of USB ports, the shower space IMO seems to be a good improvement.

 

 

I saw that shower and bathroom and hope that the bathroom is the new norm for new builds!

5 hours ago, Mick B said:

A lot of the places we visit, the ship docs at a port close to the town/city/beach we want to visit and we are normally back on board for lunch, so no rush/panic.

We do this also because we are aware of pick-pocket gangs.

One such scam is where there is a sign that says something like "check your belongings" and people then immediately touch their pocket or area on them where their wallet is to check they have it, but don't realise some innocent looking kid with a mobile phone has just observed you and is giving your details to their accomplice nearby who will soon bump into you and take it from you.

Paris metro stations are notorious for this type of scam.

Don't make the mistake if thinking it won't happen to you and you may not even notice it if it does, until its too late.

Make sure you keep your wallet in a safe and secure place like a inside zipped pocket that no-one can access without making it obvious.

Too many times I see people with money/phones and wallets hanging from their back trouser pockets - you are asking for trouble!

 

Happy cruising

Mick.

 

THIS. We are planning our first trip to London this summer and I admit I am a bit paranoid. This fear has more to do with pick pockets although you can be pick pocketed anywhere.  I bought a RFID blocking neck purse to wear under my clothes.  I also bought something that attaches to my phone and on my wrist so I'm a bit of a challenge if you want to take my phone.  I've also heard stories of people leaving their Passports in hotel safe and staff "being in on it" and stealing right out of safe or leaving hotel room doors open  for a long period of time as they clean so others can come on in.  And now someone in this thread said to keep Passport physically on you on plane since someone's was stolen while on the plane.  I know, I know, don't leave home.

So since it has been a while since I have actually gotten off the ship in Nassau I thought I'd ask for some opinions as how to handle Passports.  Mine was recently renewed and was $$$$ to get it in time!

Thanks all.  I know it is 50/50, but in hearing some explanations it reminds me of things or gives me ideas (like the take a photo on your phone).  This is my umpteenth cruise, but my last few I have only gotten off ship for private islands or USA ports (Canaveral, Alaska).

And you would *think* I'd remember if I brought my passport to Victoria this summer (probably did), but I don't remember!  LOL!

21 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

And BTW...Nassau is indeed one of the ports that require government issued photo ID with your sea pass cards to get back into the ports.  They are very picky.

 

We leave our passports in the safe, and take our passport ID cards.  It is what we use for photo ID instead of the DL.    

No passport cards here. Use driver's license for the photo id.  So I am good for getting off and on ship. I always take my driver's license even on private island .  

5 minutes ago, Cruise5life said:

This has been discussed a million times and you will get both side of the argument.   Bring it.  Don’t bring it.    
I don’t.   I have a copy hidden in my belt.  And I take a picture of it for back up.   Along with pic of my license.   Never needed anything but my sea pass card to get back on the ship

Only thing I carry is my DL and CC 

Yeah, I forgot that a picture of Passport could be a back up so glad I posted since that gives me another option.

Hi all,

It has been a while since I have gotten off the ship for more than a private island stop or walk around the port.  What do you choose to do?  Bring passport off the ship or just driver's license for the photo ID?  Right now, only have excursion through Royal in Nassau.

I know I can also bring a photocopy of Passport and leave original in cabin safe, but I want to hear your thoughts.

Thanks in advance!

19 minutes ago, IceChick said:

If someone could please let me know what percentage off are you seeing?  I'm Canadian and at 25% for Black Friday it is $30.15 per day for 7day in Jan on Harmony.  Just wondering it it is different percentages or if they are using "RCL math" to calculate exchange rate🤨.

My cruise prices for VOOM are pathetic and I'm American. 🙂

Dec Anthem is 18.99 pp, March Wonder is 21.99 pp and Utopia early Nov is 22.99. I don't need access to 3 or 4 devices and that seems to be where the sales are for my cruises.

1 minute ago, nelblu said:

The only excursion sale that I saw was Nassau Blue Lagoon deluxe beach break for $72.99 pp on the October Symphony's sail.  The April one is $82+ pp

I bought Chacchoben Mayan Ruins in Puerto Maya for $95.99 pp in September.  Was really hoping for sales on Atlantis Submarine- Cozumel and King Kong Zipline- Roatan.  KKZ was as low as $108.99 pp in the past but in the past Black Friday was THE sale to save money.  😞 So glad that I did save money on dinners with the Crown and Anchor sale though.

Disappointed that my March Wonder of the Seas excursions that I did not book already are the same price as yesterday.  The 1 I did book for a decent price months ago is now that same sale price. Only saved on a few lunches.  Even internet is the same price as yesterday.

3 hours ago, mets123 said:

It's the only port we leave from and haven't had any issues. And lately we've been doing 5-6 cruises a year.

Good to hear . Hope next month there are no Coast Guard inspections or some other tanker ship does not need to get out.

April 2023, we were notified a couple days before the  coast guard inspection . My scheduled 10:30 arrival time was moved by Royal to be 1pm! All those who signed up for the first time slot were moved to the last. But in the end the coast guard inspection was over earlier and I only found out that  I could arrive on time from my Facebook group that morning and not by Royal.

Then when we sailed summer 2022 on Oasis , and had 10:30 arrival, we got there at 10:10 and were told that we had to stop boarding because Oasis had to pull away from the port to allow the other ship to get out. So we sat for 2 hours in the holding room just waiting for Oasis to come back. No early notice that morning at all until after we arrived.

So perhaps Royal is to blame, not Cape Liberty Port, but let’s just say we want smooth sailing this time!

1 hour ago, Ashland said:

We just sailed out of Cape Liberty Oct 5th and no one was checking times...however even though we were in a suite and accessed the suite line everything was very disorganized !!!

I find it 1 of the most disorganized ports, but it is convenient to drive to.  We have only sailed twice from there since pandemic, but both times it wasn't smooth sailing.  We'll see next month if anything else happens.

I personally like grabbing a quick breakfast in the Lounge after working out.  Would be disappointed if I could not get that on future cruises.

I have been doing many Quantum class cruises recently and I really like those Crown Lounges as opposed to the Oasis class ones. The windows are really nice. 

2 of my cruises are significantly higher and 1 is the same as when I booked.

Group rates are definitely the way to go!

On 10/24/2023 at 2:58 PM, OCVTSGIRL said:

Lastly, is there Zumba on the ship?  If there is, anyone know who is doing it?  My last trip it was on sea days and Ziko was the one doing it.  I saw him in May on the Adventure and he and Julietta (she is great and does lots on the ship including trivia) said they were trying to get back on the Anthem.  🤞

 

 Was Dance Fitness  on  Anthem April 2023 every morning I believe, also had it on Ovation this summer.  So I am banking on it in 270 for my December cruise! Only downside is we had very different people teaching.  Once in a while it was Zumba (just teacher not certified) and other times it was dance fitness (slow and not what I was expecting ).  Have fun on your cruise!

I cruise similar to @OCSC Mike and @budmeister, except I hit the gym and except for a few mornings on days 1 and 2 it's quite pleasant and not crowded.  🙂

Now for the OP @paulfoel I have not noticed as many drunk adults as I have rowdy kids/teens in my cruises since the restart.  I have an 18 yo and 16 yo and they have refused to attend the teen clubs because of the behavior of others.  When they were 10 though they loved the Royal kids' club.  We felt it was a good product.  Yours being a family vacation you of course want to spend time with your 10 yo at the pool and it is a shame that people were acting that way.

We have experienced the exact opposite adult behavior back in 2019. Anthem of the Seas out of NJ... they were older 14 and 12, they wanted to go into the pool and just hang out.  Not splashing.  Not even allowed to move because.. older adults decided to park themselves at the edge of the pool with drinks in hand.  As soon as my girls got into the pool they started complaining about them.  Girls said they figured people were afraid of the young ins making a ruckus. In your experience it was the adults making the ruckus!

Sorry your vacation wasn't the greatest experience!

I know many here probably don't care about the pins, but my teen loves them. Picked up our diamond pin in April with the loyalty ambassador.

We were on the June 23-June 30th cruise and although I admit our MDR (early seating) was the worst service I ever had, that was probably the worst complaint.  First time ever I did not give extra tip in person.  We knew it was our waiters.  Other tables around us were in and out and our table of 4 was slowly getting there. Service was better when this huge table of like 12 didn't show up 3 nights.  The worst was I ordered wine the first night and although my Diamond voucher was used I never got it. I know, I should have said something, but the waiters were just not showing up and I was like "heck with it."  I just wanted my food and to leave. LOL!

So yes, a cabin attendant (ours was very nice and got extra tip money), wait staff, even your neighbors (ex: smokers on balcony , door slammers, etc) can really be random and affect your cruise enjoyment.  

8 hours ago, tetleytea said:

 

Were you Princess?   Our terms of insurance clearly say refund of our cruise fare for covered circumstances (flight cancellations being one); or full refund of our cruise fare in the form of a future cruise credit in the event of a trip cancellation for reasons not covered.   But that doesn't mean they will actually do it. 

 

The Federal Department of Transportation guidelines clearly say airlines are required to issue refunds for cancelled flights, too, regardless of the reason (it says that right on their website), but apparently that doesn't stop United from denying the refund.   Doesn't stop me from filing a compliant with the DOT, either.  Or disputing the charge.

 No,Royal Caribbean. I got back what Royal claimed was the non refundable portion, but their math and my invoice appeared to have a $500 some discrepancy. The ship knew we were not on the cruise, but somehow corporate thought we WERE. It took a slew of phone calls ( my TA was a big box store and I had to stay online each time they called Royal!). In the end I submitted an email note from Royal to the Insurance about the amount Royal called “ non refundable “. Augh because of this I changed travel agents. They can keep their % back on travel. I just want my agent to do all this type of work! It’s bad enough we half to submit the travel insurance ourselves anyway. 
 

Good luck!