cavydad

So tonight we give up on the nightly diamond event. We tried for 20 minutes to get the waitress to take our drink order to no avail. Normally I am ok with that and just go to the bar. But twice I got her attention in attempts to order, she acknowledged then walked away. Both times when she came back she once again took orders for the tables around then skipped by us. I signaled to a waiter by the bar to try to get service. He went to that waitress, pointed to our table and once again she walked away.

 

The whole time the LA Maria was chatting up a table a couple down from us, I mentioned to her on the way out they should work on the wait staff up there but she looked at me like I was talking in another language. I may have been a little short with her but I was frustrated by then.

 

So we are down in the Schooner Bar were they seem to like us. [emoji4]

 

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We gave up on the Diamond longe several nights ago. Cliquey and crowded and the wait staff was inattentive. We went to the Schooner longe where the bar staff is attentive and friendly.

Perhaps the ship was not prepared for so many Diamond and above aboard the ship.

Sparsely attended Meet & Mingle.

 

 

 

 

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Too bad the mix and mingle was not sooner in the cruise. Totally forgot about it this morning.

Royal Carribean has 2 California cruises. One on October 3 and the other on September 29. They go out of San Pedro. The ports are Santa Barbara, overnight in San Francisco, Monterey, and of course Ensenada, Mexico. Without the stop in Mexico the casino cannot open.

This offers a good overview of California. Rent a car and drive to Yosemite after the cruise.

We have stayed in the Shangri-La groups, Hotel Jen, previously Traders. It is located next to the Roma Street interchange and is about 10 minutes easy flat walk into the centre of Brisbane.

 

There is an iconic Aussie pub, The Breakfast Creek Hotel. Great beer garden where you can get great tucker (food). One of it's claims to fame is that it serves beer straight from wooden kegs. They also have a rum bar.

 

Lone Pine is a popular destination for overseas guests wanting to get up close to our fauna, including the Koala.

Thanks for the information!

We will be joining the Celebrity Solstice in Brisbane. That requires flying from Sydney to Bribane.

I am looking for a hotel that is centrally located where we can walk about the city.

Though our time in Brisbane is short we want to explore the city.

Any recommendations on restaurants and must see sights would be appreciated.

We did the Jamaica Culinary Tour in Falmouth. It was excellent. Go to Tripadvisor and read the reviews. Most everyone rates it excellent.

Our first time in Falmouth we were discouraged from leaving the gated area. Those that did returned quickly.

The second time we took the Culinary Tour. It was fun walking the streets and eating in interesting places that we would not have go into on our own.

We will repeat the tour the next time we are in Jamaica.

Only problem with Bernard's was the meeting place. We were told the tourism office and it actually was in the parking lot.

Not a problem!

Orient Beach is terrific!

Have a great cruise.

We hired a car that took us directly to our hotel. The train will take you to the train station you will then have to get to your hotel.

Consider how much time you will have in Rome. I would prefer to explore Rome rather than lugging luggage and riding trains.

Factor the cost of 8 train tickets with the price of the hired car.

On a back to back cruise you can request the same wait staff. You may have to move to another area as the wait staff is rotated around the room.

The first stop on going aboard is to meet the maitre de. We are courteous and reconfirm our MTD reservation. Sometimes they will have us confirmed for the wrong time. We also reconfirm our request for a small table, that is six or fewer.

We go on board early in the day. We try to be among the first group to go aboard.

It is always a disaster the first night in MTD. People line up at 6 p.m. to make their dinner reservation.

We push our way in and greet the maitre de. People tell us to wait in line. The maitre d greets us and takes us to our table.

This has worked on more than 4 cruises.

We use the desk drawers for dirty clothes.

Embarrassing note - if the cabin becomes too messy the room steward will tidy it up. We really did not try to create such clutter. Now we tidy up before going out.

Last December we took the Royal Carribean tour from Cozumal to Chichen Itza. It was a rough boat ride and a long bus ride to the ruins. We were promised 2 hours at the site. Instead we had less than one hour to explore the site.

Returning the bus ride was long and the ferry back to Cozamul had left. Fortunately it was a Royal Caribbean tour and the ferry turned around and came back to pick up our group.

It is not worth taking the tour as there is insufficient time to visit the site.

We had our door sign stolen on the Adventure of the Seas. We walked the halls looking for it. Three days later we found it down the hall. Too many kids. Likely the parents found it and the kids forgot where they filched it. Or perhaps it was a drunk adult.

On long corridors the signs are a fun decoration. They also aide in locating the cabin. Too bad there are those among us who lack respect and courtesy.

I have already recouped my investment in 100 shares of RCL stock in cruise credits on Celebrity and Royal ships. I purchased it for $20 per share and adding in the annual dividends it has been a moneymaker.

Just don't micro manage the RCL stock and don't cry over every comment by the stock commentators.

Do not take Royals tour to Chichen Itza under any promises or conditions.

We took the cruise tour as part of our Navigator of the Seas cruise last week. We were promised two and one half hours at Chichen Itza.

We were given one hour and twenty minutes. This includes walking from the bus, getting tickets, and letting everyone go to the rest room.

After the guide gave an overview we had less than 20 minutes on our own.

During the long bus ride the guides did not give a background of Chichen Itza.

Instead they offered to sell us a $20 map of the site or for $49 and up to have our names in silver trinkets.

Our group was divided between the 2 guides. Twelve went on the Spanish speaking tour and the remainder, over 30 persons went with the other guid.

The disappointment was not having the promised 2 1/2 hours to explore Chichen Itza.

The Royal excursions brochure clearly states that the time will be provided.

Royal did provide a 20 percent discount and told us the guides are not permitted to sell items on the bus.

Royal should not offer excursions that they cannot deliver.

I enjoyed Royals response to my questions about My Time dining reservations. I realize that this problem appears to be occurring on other RCL ships..

I sail on the Navigator on December 7, three weeks from now, and over the last 6 weeks have spoken with many service reps regarding dining reservations.

RCL must have an overwhelming bureaucracy with one department unable to work with another to solve problems.

Not a big concern. I plan to book my reservations once I board the ship.

Today I received this response from Royal.

"Royal Caribbean International's goal is to have all Cruise Planner purchases and/or reservations available on our Cruise Planner website at 90 days prior to sailing. However, due to logistical difficulties, we are not always successful at attaining this goal. Regrettably, we are currently unable to provide you with a firm date that My Time Dining reservations will be available on our Cruise Planner website; however, we have sent a request to the proper department to get this rectified as soon as possible. Our supply teams are working very hard to address this issue for our guests. The My Time Dining reservations for Navigator of the Seas should be available shortly. Guests may continue to check the Cruise Planner website to see when they become available. We sincerely apologize for any confusion and inconvenience this delay has caused".

Linda Seitz

Customer Service Representative

We are booked in December aboard the Navigator and I have been trying for weeks to make my MTD reservations. RCL has assigned me a person to assist in making my reservation. The blame is on the dining department.

When you board the ship immediately go to the MTD desk and book the reservation. We always go there to make sure our reservation is in the ship's computer.

It is good to have a MTD reservation.

What is up with Royal?

This seems to be a problem throughout their fleet.

I am booked on the Navigator on December 7, 2014.

Reservations for My a Time Dining cannot be made because Linda Smith, who is in charge of reservations, has not released the dining schedule.

RCL Resolution Department staff have been trying for over 12 days to solve the problem and get our My Time Dining reservation.

We prefer to dine at 6:00 because we want to go to the show after dinner. Past experience is without reservations for early dining we have to wait for a table and have missed the show.

Are other Cruise Critic members having similar problems?

They forgot about the Diamonds on the Legend on our last cruise. Not a big deal, but an earned privilege.

The Other passenger dashed by our lounge as they had been released to leave the ship.

No apology was provided by the cruise director other than a statement that "it happens".

I have been attempting to book my MTD reservation on the Navigator for several weeks. I have both emailed and called RCL. The cruise leaves on December 7, about 5 weeks from now. The first agent told me reservations could not be made until 90 days before the cruise. I told him it was 40 days away. He said to call back later.

I asked to speak with his supervisor. After a lengthy time on hold I finally spoke with his supervisor. I was told there was a problem in the dining department and reservations could not be made.

The manager of the dining department was on vacation and would return on Wednesday, two days ago. I was promised a phone call on Wednesday with a resolution of my reservation.

No phone call and the website still will not let me make the reservation.

I emailed RCL yesterday, hoping to find someone with integrity to resolve the reservation. No response.

I plan to call on Monday and work my way up the chain of command.

We depart on the Navigator on December 7 and still cannot make MTD reservations. I called last Friday and was told there was a computer glitch that prevented MTD reservations. I was promised a phone call on Wednesday - yesterday, that would correct the problem.

I emailed RCL yesterday and still do dot have reservations.

One person told me I could not make reservations because the cruise was 90 days out. I had to tell him it was less than 40 days.

So I keep bugging the customer service reps until I get reservations.

We always cruise with our MTD reservations in advance.

Patience is required in dealing with the reps.

RCL sent an email telling me to book my My Time Dining reservation. The ship departs on December 7, 2014 - about 6 weeks from now.

I called RCL and was told I could not make the reservation as it was more than 90 days away.

I told him it is 43 days from now. He told me the computer would not let him make the reservation.

I tried to make the reservation on line and was told to make the reservation when I boarded the ship.

Why did RCL contact me about making my My Time Ding reservation and was told me it was unavailable?

I have been waiting 18 minutes - so far, on hold waiting to speak with a supervisor.

any ideas on how to get RCL's attention?

Sometimes it is a challenge to get the items from the cooler. The steward has explained that only bar staff can do it. Other cruises the steward has placed the products on an upper shelve in the cabin.

On another cruise we tried to make room for our soda cans and were charged for items in the ice box. It required a quick trip to the ships desk to get this corrected.

Lesson learned - be careful removing items from cooler.

We always carry sandwich bags when we travel. Room service will make sandwiches or we will order bread, peanut butter or bacon and make our own.

We also get apples and oranges.

We have never had a problem carrying off sandwiches in our day pack.