jjmock

Me and my wife were trying to formulate a Plan B just in case. Our embarkation is next week and we are flying out on Wednesday. We are connecting thru Amsterdam, i've been monitoring our flights and it all seems to be doing fine except for the past 2 weeks, where both the 1st and 2nd segment of our flights either gets cancelled or delayed. We have trip insurance but getting onboard is still more important and besides we have no where to go if we miss this one.

 

 

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Are your flights arriving the same day as embarkation of the cruise? That’s never a good idea, if you booked the flights yourself and not through the cruise line, in which case they guarantee that you will make the ship.

What port is the cruise embarking from?

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Now I know this is not a new tactic, but today i cancelled my cruise after final booking, lost my 1000$ deposit and re-booked gaining a net $2100 dollars.

 

Backstory - upgraded from an owner's suite to an aquasuite after final payment. Noticed later that evening that the prices dropped on the very cabin I had just upgraded to, royal was already closed (their system was down due to upgrades). So next morning, I called Royal and asked if they'd refund me the $599 dollars i paid for the upgrade less than 24 hours before. They said I was 7 minutes over the 24 hour limit and wouldnt refund me - i asked for OBC instead, no go. I asked for splitting the difference - no go. Spent an hour on the phone only to be told "no" on everything i asked for. Now i know prices aren't guaranteed, but it was, from what they say 7 minutes past my 24 hour time limit (i thought i still had an hour), you'd think they would give a diamond plus, suite customer the benefit of the doubt, but they didnt. I was livid, but realized that if I cancel and re-booked, not only would i make 2000 bucks (my travel agency would get the extra 5% promotion). So screw Royal for being straight up idiots, it cost them money and possibly a future customer.

 

Agree or disagree, giving it to the "man" feels good.

I wonder if you will teach your kids your same values and desires to “screw” the system?

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I’m from the USA, and considering a cruise on RCCL that departs and returns to Shanghai, and I was wondering if anyone out there might be able to offer any information or advice on the requirements such as visa, logistics, etc that are particular. Just wondering if the requirements are excessive. Thanks.

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I read these threads and it makes me just not want to cruise anymore. I'm embarrassed to be shoulder to shoulder with cheap skates and penny pinchers. My husband tells me to just go ahead and book Crystal. Maybe it's time I do that. At least on Crystal the gratuities are included and no one is looking to remove them.

Amen

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I think the Maitre'D has more pressing things to do

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this may be a dumb question but I just realized that I might not want to bring my poo-pourri with me on our next cruise. the toilets on a cruise ship do not have standing water like the ones at home. :o Has anyone had any experience with this? should I skip packing this? or is it ok to use?:confused:

For petes sake, this might be THE most ridiculous post I have ever seen here....

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The bone in ribeye is definitely different from the tomahawk. The latter has a long rib and is more of a double chop cut.

It is the same cut of meat, from the same part of the steer. Its just cut a bit differently, the entire rib bone (or most of it) is attached, and yes it is cut thicker.

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A better description for the Tomahawk is a bone in ribeye. If you want the Tomahawk get a large ribeye and you end up with the same cut of beef.

Ah but steaks cooked on the bone develop a better, fuller flavor. Always.

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Interesting thoughts, and it just goes to show, that every Loyal Royal cruiser has their own perspective. My DH and I are in our 60"s and our favorite ship class is the Oasis class . We have even sailed on RCL smallest ship, The song of Norway. We loved that cruise with only 600 passengers and our first of many with a very young Ken Rush as our CD. We have sailed each class as it appeared and still we love all of the options that the Oasis class provides. I have felt less crowded on that class than any other and rarely are around children because of the Neighborhood concept.( and we sail during high family vacation times like 4th of July or Thanksgiving) . All this to say, A favorite ship or a least favorite is as subjective as your favorite color. I would be shocked if I had a "worse" cruise on any RCCL ship.

LOL...Song of Norway was our first cruise, and we loved that ship dearly, and I guess it is what led us to prefer the smaller ship experience where you met new people, had the same waiters who quickly learned your preferences, and were eager to please you....

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I personally think youre going to find that folks that have sailed on RCCL are generally happy with their experiences, especially those who have sailed enough to experience multiple ships. That said, I prefer the smaller ships as the service, the experience, and in general the ambience offer a more personal experience. I would disagree that the smaller ships attract more of a booze cruiser as previously stated. They do however seem to attract more of a mature clientele, as he larger floating cities cater more to families with younger kids.....

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I really take offense to this post. I am a professional cost accountant and I could cruise any line I want. Most of my cruises have been on Carnival. Why? Better food, larger rooms, better service, better comedy shows and better itineraries. I give the nod of aesthetics to Royal and also better shows. I don't ice skate, don't care to rock climb or flow ride. Why should I pay more for these things I don't do? I am not interested in the mega ships - I don't want to feel like I am at a mall. I'd rather go on outer decks and see water all around me and not merry-go-rounds, etc. In the past, I have worked a part time job selling cruises, and I know for a fact the demographics between the cruise lines are virtually identical. My sleepiest cruise was on a Carnival ship - the Miracle. The stupid old adage of "party ship" which people continue to propagate, is not true. The short itineraries on all lines tend to have more of the drinking crowd - probably due to the fact a 7 day cruise is not in their budget.

 

I wouldn't tell people to stay away from Carnival. There is a ship and a cruise line for everyone, and it depends on many factors - your budget, the itinerary and what you want to do on a ship.

 

This all being said, I am going on Freedom of the Seas from San Juan in July 2018 and I am really looking forward to it!

 

Sorry that you take offense that I expressed my opinion. I thought this forum was all about expressing experiences and opinions.

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How would you know? You've never set foot on a Carnival ship. It's so endless annoying to see this type of comment from someone who hasn't a clue.

 

 

 

Carnival isn't bad and I'd urge you to give the line a try. I love the pizza and Guy's burgers on Carnival ships. The entertainment is pretty bland, but you can find some good bands in the evenings.

 

 

 

I'm glad I've begun trying as many lines as I can. Everything seems so new and surprising when I step on a ship for the first time. New menus, new entertainment, new ships, new everything.

 

 

 

Don't let the "Walmart of the Seas" sway you. Carnival is a great line for people who have never tried cruising before. You'll see families, family reunions, weddings, honeymoons, retirees, LGBT couples, everyone. I suspect you'll be on a 7-day cruise which will have less of a party atmosphere and more of a vacation atmosphere. Just go and enjoy a new experience for you and yours. Have fun at the ports. Try some of the Didja Ever... menu items in the MDR.

 

 

 

Then report back!

And how would you know that I haven't? Just because I dont list cruises that I was disappointed in in my profile?

Did you ever hear what happens when you "assume"?

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So the going on a cruise and drinking and gambling is the problem? Or ... ?

 

I don't have kids, mind you, so I don't know the parenting rules, but I thought drinking and gambling were pretty typical cruise activities.

Drinking and gambling, yes, but getting drunk enough that you require your mother to care for your child to facilitate the drunkenness, no. That's just plain juvenile and pathetic.

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Are you implying that a man has less responsibility as a parent because he's a man?

Not at all; from the original post, though, it does to me sound like the OP is a single parent. Perhaps I am mistaken, but either way, male or female, the OP is setting a terrible example for their child and I would hope that the poor grandmother would have tried to straighten out her own child (the OP)

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There is a reason that Carnival is known as the Walmart of cruises; avoid at all cost.

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Why, hoping to be able to judge a woman more harshly?

Just curious; truthfully though, if the OP IS the mother of a 5 year old, she probably should be judged harshly, in my opinion.

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That was my thought. Even if Grandma is there it's not the example I would want to set for my kids.

Ever since reading, I'm wondering if OP is male or female?

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Maybe the OP shouldnt be so proud of "being out drunk" Have some class and other people might treat you accordingly. From your complaints after one day, you sound like you are very high maintenance and they've probably sensed that already.

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No web site problems for me. Some people just dont like change because it is change.

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Thinking of a cruise that stops in Labadee. As a Suite guest, I would be able to rent a cabana, but would I be allowed to have my children who will not be in a suite join my wife and I?

The problem is that not everyone has the same outlook as it seems that you and I have. I have read some pretty horrible reviews of ships that I am about to embark on that I found to be wonderful; one was a RCCL cruise from Venice last year on Splendour that I found to be fantastic. I think that any information from here, used for planning ones own vacation has to be taken with a good dosage of salt and skepticism.

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You know whats a shame? (Just a general comment)...the way so many people arent happy unless they are miserable. They go on a cruise vacation and then whine and moan about how the standards have fallen, they get less than that used to, blah, blah, blah. A vacation is what you make of it!

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On the Harmony you cannot bring in non-suite guests to the CK.

Bummer ;(

Why is it a bummer? It's clearly stated as a "Suite Guests Only" venue. Airlines don't allow you to bring guests into First class. It's the same concept.

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Actually that isn't accurate...Marriott is 10 points per dollar spent no matter how many rooms you get.

 

If you host a group or event you even get points for rooms you don't pay for although that's rare.

 

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Not going to argue the point with you, even though what I said about booking multiple rooms is correct.

Group bookings, as you mentioned are handled differently from booking three rooms for your family.

Check with Marriott Rewards.

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We just came back from the Oasis of the Seas and had a wonderful cruise. I had booked two cabins - and was excited to think about the points I would get to help me move up to the next level. That excitement ended when I found out that even though as a family and we paid for both cabins - I only got credit for one of the cabins on my C and A number because my husband has a different number and he got credit for the other cabin. I just booked another cruise for my whole family, this time with three cabins and now find out the credit will be split between three different people even though I booked them and am paying for all three as a family. This is so disappointing to me as this will take forever to rise up through the C and A levels. Even with hotel points you can book rooms under that same rewards number and get the points for all rooms not just one. So unfair.

Not true about earning hotel points for multiple rooms. I am a Marriott Rewards Platinum member, and she you have multiple rooms booked, you get the points for one room.

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