S.A.M.J.R.

And if it's on the internet, it must be true? I have like four YT channels. Does that make me an expert? Don't trust a single source, especially on the internet.

We had two on Mariner. No issues. Pair that with this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00P936188/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 And you have multiple outlets to handle the laptop, then six USB connectors for the Iphone, tablet, & watch.

If you consider $20 "quite expensive", you may want to hold off on booking a cruise indefinitely. Yes, that's how much I paid for each of our home supervised tests.

I will say Mariner never really seemed crowded to me.

Off Mariner last week. According to CD, there were 374x (sorry, don't remember the exact number) guests. According to the spec sheet I got from GS, 3344 is double occupancy with a capability of 4,000. So we were 111% based on double occupancy and 93% of full capacity.

Here are copies of the Compass in case anyone wants to see what they look like. Room attendant left them in our room every night with no prompting. Mariner of the Seas 8 Days (Sun-Mon) Eastern Caribbean Compass Day002.pdf Compass Day003.pdf Compass Day004.pdf Compass Day005.pdf Compass Day006.pdf Compass Day007.pdf Compass Day008.pdf

I don't know how to break up the quote... but while I don't think the crew are paid slave wages, I do feel they are underpaid for the amount of work they do. Therefore, I give them a little more. Unless someone has seen the actual detailed financials of Royal, I don't think anyone here can say whether Royal is pocketing some or all of the auto gratuity money or if it's going to the crew (and which crew). Maybe Royal IS pocketing the money BUT they give their employees more money because of it. If someone drops the auto tips, maybe Royal makes it up... therefore the crew doesn't really see a difference in their paycheck. I agree Royal should have done a better job communicating. As I've said elsewhere, if you don't like the way a company does business, stop doing business with them.

I could understand that except the server circled the suggested box (notice the orange pen). They should know if a large party (six?) automatically gets a gratuity added. Left a bad feeling in my mouth.

So we should compare what people make in their home country? People put a LOT more thought in this than is needed IMO. Again, this rate increase would have made a $72 difference in my cruise cost for an eight day cruise. For a $9000 cruise. Less than 1%. Seems much ado about nothing. As far as the "boiling frog/lobster", when I figure out where we want to go on vacation, I try to look at ALL the costs. If it's too much, we don't go. An extra $72 wouldn't even cause me to blink twice.

But "Gratuity" is already on the bill! I know what the line is for. But they've included "Gratuity" (it's just above the total line). So they included Gratuity AND wanted me to fill in a "Gratuity" line on the charge slip?

I will point out that sign wasn't visible until we were walking OFF the ship (before we got to our bags). After our cruise, we had time to kill before our flight, so we went to Disney Springs and had lunch. When the bill came (for six of us), not only was there a line included for "Gratuity", but an area with "Suggested Tips for your convenience", circled by the server. They wanted me to tip twice? I get being upset over the costs changing after booking. BUT: A) If you pre-pay, you can pay at the old rate. Which makes sense to me. Trying to keep up on a ship with which cabins are old rate and which cabins are new rates seems like it would be too much for Royal's IT department. Pre-pay at the old rate and be done with it. B) The $1.50/day/person increase would have cost us an extra $72 (6 people * 8 days). On a $9000 cruise (again, 6 of us). Seems a strange amount to get upset about.

So let me get this right... 70 hours/week * 4 weeks = 280 hours/month. $1200/month / 280 hours/month = $4.29(rounded)/hour. Yup, that's a significant salary. Now, something else to ask... how many of you tip the baggage porters at port? I found this sign while walking off the ship at PC last week:

We got off Mariner this past Monday. There was a Compass (printed) for the next day every night on our bed when we got back from dinner. We used the app also, but the printed compass is an easy way to see everything (IMO).

As I said multiple times, I have no problem with wanting testing to go away. I did/do too. My comment was more about people being upset because they eliminated the testing for the shorter cruises. I guess it would be better if they keep testing for everyone?

I'm with @Rudeney. Yes, the phone can die and papers can get lost. The odds of BOTH of those things happening are extremely rare. I had set sail passes printed. They stayed in my bag. I screen captured everyone's digital copy and sent it to them on their phone. They each held their passports and vax card. Easy peasy.

So once Royal announced testing was required, did you contact them to get a refund since they've changed the terms? Or postpone your booking? You've KNOWN for well over a year you'd have to test. Apparently you still do. I get it, I wish we didn't have to test. But it's a part of some cruising (currently).

Honestly, I agree with you. I'm not confident the testing helps anyone. But it's a simple solution... if you don't want to test, don't book the cruise. It's the "I booked a cruise KNOWING I'll have to test, but now 'Joe Smith' doesn't have to test, I should get what he has!"

And there's nothing wrong with that. If you don't want to test, don't cruise.

We were on the same cruise. They did a life boat drill in the late morning/early afternoon. I figured that explained the starboard docking. BUT, every port we docked to starboard (PC being the exception). As said, the Aqua Park is one hour (actually comes out to about 50-55 minutes). I *THINK* you can purchase an all day pass for the water slide, but I'm not sure. There were plenty of chairs (under umbrellas) set out when we were there last week. We did get a Beach Bungalow at Columbus Cove and I think it was ~$300, not quite as big as a cabana, but the same amenities. That's fairly reasonable. I walked from Columbus Cove to Adrenalin Point(?) and my watch said it was .6 mile.

As has been answered earlier in the thread, you can get a passport at 15yo that's good for 5 years. I was 43 when we took our first cruise. A couple weeks beforehand, I realized I couldn't find my DL. (Thought) I looked all over for it. Couldn't find it. I went to the DMV and got a new one (back when they'd print on site). My parents were staying with our kids while we were gone and found the DL... I had left it on the bed of our scanner.

This thread is a prime example (IMO) of what's wrong with society today. Everyone wants what's "theirs". If I don't get what someone else gets, that's not fair, is stupid, worthy of complaint. Everyone around the world at this point in time with a cruise booked KNEW they had to test before getting on the ship. Is it stressful not knowing if you're going to be able to board until two days before? Sure. But what if there's a major flight delay/cancellation like has happened multiple times this year? For those driving, what if there's a major traffic tie up (that could be a result of everyone trying to drive when their flights are cancelled)? This doesn't change a thing for those booked on 6+ day cruises. But because "someone else" gets a benefit, break out the pitchforks!

Talk to your waiter or the head waiter at least the night before. See if they'll accommodate you. They did for us.

*IF* the staff member understands what they're doing AND their device works AND it has a good network connection. We had six people checking in on Mariner last week. We had uploaded pictures for all six. We get to the first check in person (where they actually check your documents), no problem. We got to where you "beep" in on the ship, and one of us had a problem with picture. So the worker decides to get a new picture... oops, can't get his ipad to work right. Wait, let's go find another one... ok, here one is, let's go through all the steps to get to where a picture can be taken. It was probably 30 seconds-1 minute, which I know doesn't seem like a lot, but when you're eager to get on the ship, AND you've already uploaded pictures, AND you've already gone through one person who saw the picture, it's a little frustrating. So, yes, it can save time to have the picture uploaded. And yes, it can be more than 10 seconds, especially if you have multiple people.

Hasn't the virus changed? How do you KNOW the vaccine prevented the need for hospitalization vs the virus effects weakening (as virus do as they evolve)?

If you're not going to get another shot, then your choices are: 1) Book with a refundable deposit. If the vax requirement stays in place, you can cancel and get your money back. 2) Book with a non refundable deposit. If the vax requirement stays in place, you lose the money if you cancel. 3) Don't book the trip. No one can say what the requirements will be for ANY country a month from now much less eight.