CptSticky

I agree that small gifts are nice, but that the crew prefers money or yummies that don’t start to take up space. Imagine if many people brought small knick knacks, souvenirs of where they come from, etc. That would create problems both while in the cabin and in their luggage going home! I agree, money and/or consumable items are the best. I think the best policy is to put yourself in their place - what would you like to have?

Uh, candy?

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I'm going to disagree on the gifts. Crew quarters are tiny, they have no room for knick knacks. Cash is nice though, as well as a thank you and a smile.

Anything that they can eat is greatly appreciated. Not only is their cabin small and shared but they have to fly home and luggage does not allow gifts.

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I have always heard to take your passport with you to the ports because if you miss the boat you can’t get back home. Any information would help.

 

 

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I have always heard that the ship will open your safe and deliver your passports to the port agent. If anyone knows this to be false I would like to hear from you. I really dislike having my passports on me do to the theft issue. No government authority will honor a photo copy but it does have all of your info which would be helpful in applying at a consulate for an emergency replacement. However a picture on your phone would work the same.

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Do you know how to email the concierge on the Symphony. I tried "SY_concierge@rccl.com" but it keeps getting returned.

 

Thanks.

Because it’s an Oasis Class I would assume that you would need to add a “1” or a “2”.

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The rest of us certainly understand the obsession!

 

 

 

How wonderful that this thread has been going since 2009, and with such helpful information!

Oh I wish you hadn’t said that. You just reminded me how long I’ve been following it.

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Just got back from our first cruise and it was great! Thanks to everyone who posted. This thread helped a lot. Here are my 5:

 

1. OnRCL surf package only $31 for the week - I wish I had set that up for 2 phonesso that it would be easier to communicate with my wife while on board. As of Jan 2018, RCL has 2 speeds, surf andstream. I found surf fine for sending /receiving email and Facebook messages.

 

2. Technologychanges - so what someone said in 2010, may not apply to 2018. For example, internet speeds will most likelyimprove

 

3. Insidecabins aren't bad. Sure a balcony isgreat, but it's not additional $1200 great.

 

4. Lots of good tips and advice, but at the end of the day you need to analyze how you work and go with the tips that fit your needs.

5. Ithought the food in MDR on RCL was really good. Buffet was good for breakfast (hard to make bad breakfast food)

Yes speed onboard improves but we get used to even faster speeds ashore so it seems even slower.

Some of us actually spend a lot of time in our cabins so the value of the balcony increases for us (even when we don’t use it, it’s still nice for the view).

And yes they can certainly screw up breakfast. I like my eggs over very very easy. The cooks onboard seem to think that a hockey puck qualifies.

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Going on South American cruise in 14Feb. Have been told to keep only US $ not to convert. Advice please!

We didn’t convert before going. Can’t remember which countries we converted a little at guest services. Do remember that they were unable to do any conversions for one of the South American countries. US dollars seemed to work fine. Just keep track of the conversion rates as they vary wildly even though they are called Pesos. Right now Argentina is 19.5650 and Chile is 603.50. Big difference.

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Thanks to all contributors to this thread, as first time cruisers we were initially a little overwhelmed but after reading all 122 pages we found that most of our questions or concerns were similar to those already asked here.

 

 

 

We have one question for I haven't been able to find an answer - or if it was answered we missed it;

 

 

 

We're from the UK and embarking on a med cruise - as all drinks and on board purchases will be charged to our on board account will we need US currency for anything or can we pay Tips, laundry machines etc. in Euro's?

If you are sailing in the Med, I’m sure that crew would appreciate tips in Euros as they can easily spend them during shore leave. Because we sail primarily on Royal (no laundry machines) I can’t answer your question for sure but the machines we have seen (I think on Princess) took American quarters (which are the same size as Canadian).

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Thank you for your thoughtful response. I'm afraid my response will disappoint you. No, I would not go on a trip just because a friend is on it. The itinerary is more important in my decision making. We've had some very good concierges and some ok concierges. I don't remember any of their names. I remember a handful of them, but not their names. However, I've never been on a ship longer than 16 days. Maybe that makes the difference.

I always try to realize that we are all at different levels of cruising and that I’m no longer at the level where I started. At this point the ship is starting to become the destination. I do still sometimes focus on the itinerary but not always and we don’t always get off the ship these days. For instance, I have the Oasis booked three times in the next couple of months and can’t even tell you which islands it goes to.

No criticism here on your preferred way of cruising. We all pay our money and all look for different things.

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I'm curious. What does it matter who is the concierge? Would you go on a cruise just because of who the concierge is? If not, why is it important to know who is where? Just curious.

Actually, there are a couple of them that would tip the decision if I was trying to decide between two cruises. Especially if it’s been a long time since I’ve seen them. Let me ask a question in reverse. If you knew that a friend of yours was on a particular cruise would that influence your decision? You might not believe that an employee could be considered a “friend” but there is one I’m thinking of right now that we’ve spent over 100 nights with and haven’t seen him for a few years.

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On ships with Coastal Kitchen, has anyone had good luck with emailing the Concierge the week before boarding and requesting dinner reservations? TYIA :)

It didn’t work for us the one time that I tried it in the last year (can’t remember which ship). When we ask aboard he claimed to have never gotten an email from us. I still had a copy in the sent file.

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With all due respect: fly much?

If not, just watch any of the many many utube videos of all airline baggage handlers.

 

 

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Or look out the window and see one using a customers baggage as a step stool to reach the hold of a plane.

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I may be paranoid but, always after flight. Two tags per luggage and one printed in first pocket which also has all flight and cruise info. Also plastic holders with stainless steel cables. Why all this? Well when you see your wife in tears at the start of a 75 day cruise you will understand.

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Children at the same residence address can also share their parent's C&A level. At age 18, they retain the level, but must move up to the next level from whatever point totl they earned themselves.

With the exception of Pinnacle.

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I hope future RH cruisers will post whether this is permanent or just for large crowds of D+ and up.

I have long wondered how and when such a change would take place. I always envisioned something abrupt like how it was handled when we were kicked out of the lounge as Diamonds. But it feels like Royal is taking a gradual approach this time. Sort of death by a thousand cuts. Or like the old story of how to boil a frog. I think that they are using a 2 pronged approach. Changing right away on the new/large ships and as crowding occurs on the smaller ones.

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I wish I knew how tall the space under the beds is. Will our honkin' great suitcases fit - they are 11 inches deep. We are travelling for almost 4 weeks and doing everything from hiking through snow at Bryce Canyon to Vegas to Everglades/Ft. Lauderdale beaches and the mini cruise to the Bahamas is only 4 days so I know we don't need all those clothes. Our problem right now is what to do with those suitcases while we are cruising. Does anyone know of a hotel in the Port Canaveral Area that might store them for us if we are staying there for a few days when we return if the suitcases are too big. BTW our ship is RC Majesty.

 

Thanks for any insight, we haven't cruised before. This portion of our trip seems more fraught with anxiety that the 5 week trip for caving, hiking, and beaching in the Philippines that we planned out ourselves.

Can’t tell you about Majesty but ours fit about half the time on Royal. For the times that they don’t we carry 4 small blocks of wood 1by2by4 inches to put under the feet of the bed.

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Hello CptSticky,

 

 

 

Can you tell me the Diamond Concierge's first name? It is cut off on the picture above and I would like to know for our

 

upcoming cruise. I will e-mail her a week or so before to ask for a little help.

 

 

 

Thank you

Lyli De Leon.

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Just talked to diamond concierge. She just started and thinks she will rotate in January.

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I will try to find out when they rotate off.

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Some captains work in corporate in Miami. Maybe he is there.

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I guess I'll stop writing here if I'm so confusing. I guess I took it for granted that most people would "get" that D+ usually go to a Concierge Lounge when it's available to them. DLs are always overcrowded. I have a migraine and a grandchild being shoved out the door at Children's who isn't well today. I shouldn't be writing ANYWHERE today.

Don't stress Karen. It's all good here.

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Always fascinating how some folks love a concierge while others despise him/her.

 

 

 

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True, very true. I will not name a name because some will love him and some hate him but we have sailed many times over the years with a certain individual who used to completely ignore us and rub us the wrong way. Somehow over the years we have learned to love him and his attitude towards us has also totally changed.

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Great, we'll see him on May 5 Hawaii to Vancouver. :)

Yes but we hear JD is getting off. [emoji30]

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Ketchikan!

 

Ketchicandies - 500 Mission Street

SE Alaska Discovery Center - 50 Main Street ($5 admission)

Burger Queen - 518 Water Street (popular with crew, I hear)

Hive at the Creek - 716 Totem Way #100 (bead & yarn store)

Parnassus Books - 105 Stedman Street

The Outlet Store - 5 Salmon Creek Landing #100 (I think it's mainly souvenir-type items)

Whale's Tail Quilt Shop - 5 Salmon Landing, upstairs

Salmon Market - 200 Main Street (salmon in pouches & cans, other food items)

Sam McGee's - 18 Creek Street (looked like a fun, whimsical shop with food items)

 

Soho Coho Gallery - Creek Street #5 (artists Evon Zerbetz & Ray Troll, among others)

Terry Pyles, artist owns The Point café & coffee shop (his art is sold there) - 25 Jefferson Way #102 (West of downtown area)

 

Funicular to Cape Fox Lodge - Creek Street ($2 RT)

Schoenbar Trail - can get there on city bus, silver line

There is a bar next to Burger Queen and you can order from Burger Queen. They will send a runner over with your order.

In Juno, we always take the city bus to Alaska Brewing and then walk to Costco.

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When we boarded Celebrity Constellation in February, 2014, we were given a glass of champagne.

 

 

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That is typical for Celebrity.

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