NRWPA

I give candy or salty snacks, sometimes Ramen noodles along with my EXTRA cash tip (I asked, they do have a way to heat the noodles - and it's a break from the every day food in the crew mess). I don't do it to make ME feel good, I do it to make the CREW I talk to and interact with every day feel good. I keep in touch with several people via WhatsApp and/or FB. I don't bother them when they're busy and I don't expect anything in return. I cruise every couple of weeks and see many of the same crew members multiple times a year. BTW, the first sentence is in answer to the OP, the rest is for the cynics on here who feel like no crew member could possibly enjoy being treated a little bit special.

You can ask them to do it toward the end of their "morning" shift. I never had a problem but since have switched to evening cleaning since sometimes I just don't feel like going out and about but still want ice and dry towels once a day. I am one of those who really uses my balcony cabin.

I was on Adventure last week and pizza IS available in Cafe Promenade, deck 5. You will not be disowned. ;)

Update: I didn't get a letter for Adventure last week. I was able to get in the door after following another couple closely. They assumed we were together and I didn't let them think differently. Next cruise I'm in a suite so it won't be a problem getting in.

I plan on insisting...not sure how far that will get me if I don't have the letter to back me up. Last time when I wasn't permitted to go in any special line, I was almost late for the Masters luncheon bc I had to go through the regular line.

Yes, Miami. I didn't need it because I was b2b but am hopeful I'll receive something for my Adventure OTS out of Fort Lauderdale next week.

Received today. My wish fulfilled: Dear Guest, We're excited to inform you of new Masters benefits available to you and anyone travelling in your stateroom - once you arrive onboard, please join us for a Welcome Lunch, featuring our Chops Grille menu! Your exclusive lunch which will take place in the Main Dining Room from 12:00pm - 1:30pm. Additionally, you can look forward to a private á la carte breakfast on debarkation day, giving you one more opportunity to enjoy a relaxed breakfast experience before heading home. Please arrive at the terminal between 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM. If you are not able to make the early access window, no worries! Just be sure to arrive during your selected check-in arrival time instead, as this is when you will receive priority access into the terminal. Please show this email to a port agent once you have arrived at the terminal to begin your priority access on to the ship. We look forward to welcoming you aboard Harmony of the Seas in the coming days! Sincerely, Royal Caribbean International

Fyi: I'm on Harmony rt now. 1st game of finals in Sabor. No idea who I'm rooting for but a close game is always fun

I only played at the bar. It was jacks or better, deuces wild, Bonus poker, double double and triple double. I saw other video poker machines with the other games on the casino floor but didn't play.

Thanks, nice of you to come back and post. As you can see, my team got beat AGAIN

My thoughts exactly. They don't need us so much anymore

I played a good deal on Caribbean Princess this last 2 weeks. I had about 19K points the first week and 9K points the second week. I was somewhat disappointed that my "come back and play" offer was for a balcony and $600 free play for up to 15 days with no Plus package. Only good for cruises through 12/23/2023. Must book within 45 days of issuance but "isn't available for booking until 10 days or more after the cruise it was issued" (their wording). Small print says valid for bookings made between June 06, 2023 and July 21, 2023. I highlighted items that were new since my last offer of this type. My previous offers were good for cruises up to 20 days, $750 (or more) free play, included Plus package and good for a longer period of time. BTW, I had "free drinks while playing" however, drinks were charged to my 15 drink limit from Plus package while I played video poker at the bar. I asked about it and bartender told me people without the Plus or Premier package got their drinks free but if you had the package they were charged to the package. Seems a bit odd to me, but she was the main bartender so I guess that was the answer she was told to give. I don't think I ever went to 15, but know at least twice I was at 14.

Just got off 2 weeks of Caribbean Princess on Saturday. Had the Plus Package and I can say definitively, no tax charged while in Port Everglades. In case anyone still wondered...

I was already at the Key lunch venue and he told me my name was not on the list. That's why I told him I was Master's and we started the back and forth about Muster/Master. I leave Saturday on Harmony but have a suite so won't be a problem for that or the following one which is back to back. When I'm on Adventure, I only have balcony and hope to be able to get in with priority since the App would not let me check in until the day after check in date so I got 12:30 arrival time. App kept telling me "Check in has checked out" I even tried uninstalling and reinstalling the App. Since I'm going directly from disembark on Harmony (Miami) to embark on Adventure (Fort Lauderdale) and arriving on the RCCL bus I hope to be able to get in as soon as I arrive using Master status. We'll see how that goes

Thanks all. I had my papers with me but the guy I talked to didn't want to entertain the idea that casino players of any sort had any kind of priority. Actually, on Serenade even guest services said they didn't know a thing about Masters benefits until I showed them the letter I received while on board. She said "different ships do things differently". Then I pointed out to her the letter was from her ship. She made a copy of my letter. When I went for the Masters lunch, the guy there told me to come back at 2. I started leaving then realized the lunch would be over at 1:30. He kept saying Muster is later. I kept telling him NOT Muster, MASTER. He finally gave up, took my bags and let me eat. I was surprised they didn't seem to know a thing about it. This was just in March 2023. I'll try again when I go on Adventure in June.

I'd be in loads of trouble...I cruise about every 2 weeks and have won multiple jackpots. Trying to figure out where the mistake might be would be a nightmare. Also, if the date was off by a year, I may have been on board an RC ship so unable to use the excuse that I wasn't even on a cruise. I hope IRS gets this all straightened out for you. BTW, recently the casino on Harmony started having you come back on the last day of the cruise for your W2Gs. I know I forgot to pick one up at some point earlier this year. I never thought about it until about a month later so can't even remember which ship, date, etc. I think when I do taxes, I'll just add the approximate amount onto my 1099 because I asked if the casino will snail mail that form to me and was told "we don't do that".

$5 in = 1 point on slots, $10 in = 1 point on video poker - 2500 points for Prime can be earned over multiple cruises but benefits (free drinks in the casino) won't be in effect until the 2500 is achieved. This can occur mid-cruise. Just go to the Host desk and they will put a sticker on your Sea Pass card. FYI the $ in includes replay of wins as well as free play and cash out of pocket. How quickly you earn the points needed depends on how much cash or free play you put in and whether you're winning at all. The "casino year" goes from April 1 to March 31. Prime or whatever level you achieve in one "casino year" continues until the end of the next "casino year" - say you earn Prime in November 2023 it will continue until March 31, 2025. If I didn't cover everything or gave incorrect info someone else can chime in.

sorry for the repeats. I kept getting a message to try submitting again in 6 seconds. Over and over again

Just curious...my email never shows anything except the total cost. Nothing itemized. The information for me is only on the Travel Summary and Onboard Services page. I print those out but I anticipate a problem on my 5/20/2023 cruise...The travel summary shows the correct amount of casino free play $1000, the Onboard services page shows casino free play of $100. I'll be taking the travel summary to the casino cashier when I am on board. This will be the second half of a B2B so maybe I can proactively talk to the casino host to make sure all runs smoothly

Just curious...my email never shows anything except the total cost. Nothing itemized. The information for me is only on the Travel Summary and Onboard Services page. I print those out but I anticipate a problem on my 5/20/2023 cruise...The travel summary shows the correct amount of casino free play $1000, the Onboard services page shows casino free play of $100. I'll be taking the travel summary to the casino cashier when I am on board. This will be the second half of a B2B so maybe I can proactively talk to the casino host to make sure all runs smoothly

Just curious...my email never shows anything except the total cost. Nothing itemized. The information for me is only on the Travel Summary and Onboard Services page. I print those out but I anticipate a problem on my 5/20/2023 cruise...The travel summary shows the correct amount of casino free play $1000, the Onboard services page shows casino free play of $100. I'll be taking the travel summary to the casino cashier when I am on board. This will be the second half of a B2B so maybe I can proactively talk to the casino host to make sure all runs smoothly

Just curious...my email never shows anything except the total cost. Nothing itemized. The information for me is only on the Travel Summary and Onboard Services page. I print those out but I anticipate a problem on my 5/20/2023 cruise...The travel summary shows the correct amount of casino free play $1000, the Onboard services page shows casino free play of $100. I'll be taking the travel summary to the casino cashier when I am on board. This will be the second half of a B2B so maybe I can proactively talk to the casino host to make sure all runs smoothly

Thanks, that was a thought I had after I posted. I booked through the casino and get a special insurance rate as well as pricing. The insurance has been a flat rate no matter the length of the cruise, etc. I guess it will be worthwhile to call the casino line when I'm ready to book Plus. Thanks, again!

I was looking at my Feb 2024 cruise and thought I'd price the Plus package. You can click on "Onboard Services" and will get the option to add it online. When I click on that, it verifies that Plus will cost $60 per day. For a 14 day cruise the total should be $840, but the price comes up as $868.20??? It clearly states the price is $60 so I can't conceive of any reason it would not be $840. Anyone have any insight. I'm not planning to book it for a few months, but am just curious if there is something I'm not thinking of that would cause this extra $28.20 charge. Also, the Premier price, clearly listed as $80 per day should be $1120 but comes up as $1170.60.