S.A.M.J.R.

Why would you not? Room steward has do the same amount of work for kids (if not more) as for adults, as do wait staff and other "hotel services". Now, this is assuming you pay full gratuities for adults. If you opt out for one, opt out for all.

Do you have a source for that, or is that your hope? I'm assuming you're basing that on anecdotal information, not actually hard facts.

They feel they don't need to? They're still filling the ships, with the increased gratutities, decreased service, and increased base costs that people have been lamenting on here. Most people don't care what the gratuity distribution is.

Why would they HAVE to refund the flight? Is that part of the cruise contract? Also, do we KNOW that the folks bumped were picked BECAUSE they had Guarantee cabins, or because they were the last ones assigned? I'd be surprised if there were only 11 GTY cabins sold on the entire ship, so why did these folks get picked?

IMO, if you're going to come on to a public message board and say "Where does the money go?", you should all but expect someone to say "What difference does it make?" Obviously, I can't make them answer.

So if you know your room steward is getting say $4.50/day/person, and you think he's worth $5/day/person, you're going to do the math to figure out how much more you're going to give him? Good for you!

Ok. Please explain. How EXACTLY would it "help"? What would you do with the information?

And I consider it part of the cruise fare. You still don't explain why knowing the breakdown makes an ounce of difference. So you find out the guy folding laundry get a dime (for example) each day out of the $18. That means what exactly? He doesn't deserve it? Does knowing the breakdown change whether you're going to pay it? "If that guy wiping tables gets ANY of my money, I'll throw a fit!"

And the cruise line has NEVER asked me to add a preset arbitrary amount. I've had to tell our TA to add it on. And so what? Answer "no". When they ask you "Do you want a drink package" (a preset arbitrary amount), is your answer "tell me where the money is going"?

When you buy a couch, do you know how much of your money goes to the sales staff? Delivery drivers? As I understand it, if you want to give money directly to an RCI employee, no one is stopping you. And you can opt out of the automatic gratuity. So, problem solved.

I'm curious... are you curious where the extra money is going for your air fare? What about for groceries? Food? Clothing? Cars? Heck, even base cruise fares. A LOT (most?) things are going up in prices. Why are people so worried about the breakdown for gratuities? Heaven forbid some employee is getting an extra 50 cents from me over the course of a one week cruise.

It applies to EVERYTHING. Groceries, housing, furniture, restaurants, clothing, etc.

Refreshment package for our cruise on Harmony in July was selling for $32.99. When Royal started their BF "deals" weeks ago, it dropped to $23.99. We went ahead and snagged it. I don't think people understand how businesses price things. They don't put things on sale to benefit the consumer (of course, that's what they'll claim). They put things on sale to SELL them. Let's say item A costs the company $10 and "normally" sells for $40. The company sells 10 items in a month. So that's $300 "profit" They lower the price to $35. Now they sell 12 in a month. Still $300 profit. Lower the price to $30. Now they sell 15 in a month. Still $300 profit. Lower the price to $25 and sell 30 in a month. Now $450. The trick is trying to maximize the profit. Heck, it was only 10 years ago an OTW cabana at Labadee was $250. Now it's over $1000. But as long as they keep selling, why should Royal put them on "sale"?

I agree it's better if they give a heads up to the occupant. But... Is going a little overboard, don't you think?

Actually, apartments and hotels do have your consent to enter your rooms without permission if it's something that needs done. Guessing if you read your cruise contract, you're giving consent also. What about your "safety and security" was put at risk?

Well it is possible it WAS a cabin steward problem. He was informed, but he didn't inform you.

Once connected to the internet, go to that website. Then click 'Go'. It will test ping/upload/download speeds. You can do it from your home computer too. Anywhere you have an internet connection.

Was the $103 after a BOGO50 or some such? They advertise the cost after the discount. $148 + (148/2) = 222 for two people, so 111 each if you buy 2. But if you only get 1, its 148. Numbers aren't exact, but close.

That's what I was thinking and it really makes a lot of sense. As far as the increase in rates in a booked cruise and when you have to pay them, we are booked for Harmony next July and we've been booked for six(?) months. So well before the higher grats. When the increase announcement came out, I reached our to our TA about getting them locked in. At first she said we had to pay the grats at the old rate, but then came back and said they just need to be added to our invoice before 11/11 and would be due at final payment.

Since you asked for thoughts... It could have been an "official" RCI drone getting shots of the ship at night. It could have been a passenger breaking the rule. Did you call guest services and say "I think I see and hear a drone outside room xxxx."?

Personally, I would get that in writing from RCCL. Others on here have mentioned they've been asked for it. If you're asked for it and don't have it, I don't think "I was told on the phone I don't need one." is going to help much. Or just create a form, have the other parent sign & notarize (your local library might have free notary services if you don't know anyone). "I, <non-custodial parent>, give permission for <custodial parent> to take <child>, D.O.B. <date of birth>, out of the country on Royal Caribbean's <ship>, leaving on <departure date> and returning <return date>."

Wow. That's either a very expensive refreshment package or a very cheap deluxe package. Doesn't the refreshment "usually" live around $35 and the Deluxe cheapest is around $75? I mean that's a $40 difference. I do agree if the difference between the two is only $24, AND assuming you drink alcohol, yes, the Deluxe is the better buy.

The difference on my cruise between the refreshment and Deluxe is $60. IMO, you can ONLY count alcoholic drinks, so, at $14 (which would be the most expensive you get with the package), you'd still need 5 drinks a day. I don't understand how you calculate it out to 2/day. That would mean $28/day value.

I suggest contacting a mod and having them edit your post to remove your email address.

Immaterial. If the steward won't do it, either the bed stays out the entire time or passengers put it away/take it out.