Grandma Petania

1 hour ago, taglovestocruise said:

Wonder if they are actually serving breakfast in Jamie's.  Have never seen anything more than bagels, lox, donuts, toast, fruit, yogurt or a small breakfast burrito.   

I imagine it will still be the same "breakfast" as before, and the same appetizers in the evening as before.  The notice also mentions that the operation of the Diamond Lounge will continue as usual.  I hope that means that coffee and card playing can still continue, as long as we don't mind the noise and dust.  Maybe they just need to get the food away from the dust.  
 

Our first "week" will have 8 days, taking us as far South as Curacao and Aruba.  Our second "week" will be only 6 days.  I avoid sweets, so we never went to the DL in the morning, and we dine early, so we were never there for the evening food.  
 

Sadly, I think it will most probably mean the loss of Jazz on 4 for our second week. Boo Hoo.

I have read the rumors about Jazz on 4 being repurposed as a smoke-free casino.  I hope there will still be jazz there during our first week.  On other ships we have spent time in there almost every evening.  I think I saw comments from RCLL that there will still be jazz, but in different venues.  

We're sailing for two weeks on Harmony of the Seas.  Got this email today:
 

"Starting February 26th, 2023 through March 12th, 2023, we will be making some enhancements on Deck 4. During this time, we kindly ask for you to please pardon our dust.

Due to the Diamond Lounge's proximity to these efforts, we'll be hosting our Diamond Lounge morning and evening hours in alternate locations. Please check the virtual Cruise Compass for hours of operation.

• Daily breakfast in Jamie's Italian

• Evening cocktail hour in the Card Room

The Diamond Lounge operations will will continue as usual, but please know, we expect noise and dust in the surrounding area as our teams work. We're sorry for any inconvenience caused by this and thank you for your understanding."

I will be interested to see what "enhancements" they plan on deck 4.  My DD and I both reached  Diamond status last year, and we really enjoyed having coffee and playing cards in the Diamond Lounge on Oasis of the Seas.  We were looking forward to doing that on Harmony between 2/18 & 3/4.  Looks like our second week will be affected.

4 hours ago, broadwaybaby123 said:

Not entirely true. I just got off Oasis, we had communication issues with our Cabin Steward who spoke English but didn't necessarily understand it. It wasn't until we went to Guest Services that our needs were met.

we had the same problem on Oasis last November.  I think our attendant also had to take any notes we left him to someone else to read them for him.  I'm not complaining, just mentioning it.

   On 1/27/2023 at 1:16 PM,  Ourusualbeach said:

a plate of cheese, desserts, more cookies etc.  Some kind of food item that you could easily get yourself from the WJ

It is a nice treat to have them delivered to the cabin. 
 

Unless you're diabetic and eschewing all sweets.  I have had to ask room steward to remove them so I wouldn't be tempted.

On our previous cruises, my DD has asked for a side of vegetables, often mentioning a vegetable that she sees is being served with a different entree, and has been accommodated.  We will be sailing on Harmony in about three weeks.  This will be our first cruise with the new MDR menus.  I will report back - probably in a new thread.

I am 83, and not up to walking very far.  My daughter and I take a folding wheelchair on our cruises, and she pushes me around.  I'm wondering if we could use it to get from the ship to the bus area, then fold it and take it on the bus with us. It folds pretty compactly, and she could lift it in.  If there are extra seats, I'm sure we could slide it in out of the aisle and secure it.  Do you have any thoughts about this possibility?  BTW, GREAT VIDEO!!!

We have enjoyed doing the escape room on several Oasis class ships.  I was able to purchase Internet and make reservations for shows on Harmony in February 2023, but I've seen nothing about an Escape Room.  Does Harmony have one?  If so, is it possible to book it in advance?  Any comments with current info will be much appreciated.

8 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

Today was check in day for our Feb 18 Harmony cruise and I was able to book all our entertainment, as well as check in and obtain my arrival time. 

 

 

I did the same for first week of our b2b on Feb 18.  Not available for Feb 26 yet.  Now I'm getting excied!

3 hours ago, brillohead said:

I've never had a stateroom attendant NOT restock the "icky" bags without being asked.

on my 14 day cruise last month, they weren't being restocked.  As I passed one of the cleaning carts in the hallway, I helped myself.

My DD and I were on Oasis for two weeks in November.  Here's what we observed about vegan choices.  They aren't shown on the paper menus in the MDR, but are available on the app by scrolling all the way down on the day in question.  (We browsed the menus throughout the week, and almost always knew exactly what we would order before we were even seated at our table.)

Although we are not vegan or vegetarian, DD sometimes chose an appetizer, soup, or dessert from that menu. A couple times, the dish delivered to her wasn't exactly what was listed on the menu - maybe missing a specific garnish or sauce, etc.  In chatting with our friendly waiter and assistant near the end of the cruise, we discovered that they *seldom* had people in the MDR order anything from the vegan menu.

Their opinion was that there was basically only one or two people in the kitchen preparing vegan items, and only as each specific order came down.  In other words, there wasn't much call for the vegan options.  They thought there were more readymade vegan options available in the Windjammer.  I don't know if any of this is true, but it's what we were told.

31 minutes ago, Grandma Petania said:

I'm frustrated because they are not showing VOOM at *any* price for our Feb 2023 Caribbean bookings on Harmony.  I see everything else available, but no VOOM.  What's up with that?

UPDATE:  I went back to my planner to see if I could figure out a work around.  At the top left of the page I spotted a down arrow.  Clicked on it, which opened a list of topics including Internet.  Clicked on that and was offered Surf & Stream for one device @ $13.99/day.  Whoopee!  My daughter and I always share one device, and that's the best price I've seen in ages.  Jumped on it!

5 hours ago, MACE said:

BTW for our 2023 June Ovation Cruise to Alaska, the Black Friday Prices to date for UDP @ $66.99, VOOM Surf+Stream @ $13.99, and the KEY @ $30.99, are at the Lowest I've seen since May of this year...

I'm frustrated because they are not showing VOOM at *any* price for our Feb 2023 Caribbean bookings on Harmony.  I see everything else available, but no VOOM.  What's up with that?

I think I read that I can add money to a slot machine using my room key, and then cash it out after a play or two.  If so, will  the amount I deposit to the machine be charged to my room, which will then be deducted from the OBC on my account before charging my credit card?  

I swear I read this, but I searched for this info without success.  TIA to anyone who can help.  I have only about $35 left, but nothing I want to spend it on.

2 hours ago, DD said:

As of last Saturday, they went back to having to print out a receipt and have you sign for each drink. Saturday was in the middle of our cruise, so we were still in the old system, but supposedly across the fleet, if you embark today or later, you'll have to sign now.

My daughter has gotten 2-3 alcoholic drinks a day this week, and has been presented with a receipt to sign only once - on the pool deck.  Never in the MDR.

I have seen a number of posts about cans of soda not being included in soda packages.  I recently saw one from a man who was charged for a can - including 18% gratuity - without being advised about it.  He said it just showed up on his bill.  I can't find that one at the moment, but here are two others.

"Drink packages do not include canned soda.  You may find an occasional bartender who may give a can, but all packages specify fountain soda or freestyle machine soda."

"The deluxe beverage package does include canned soda.  But yes the soda package and the refreshment package does not officially include Canned Soda."

I am not an alcohol or coffee drinker.  I know I could use my free Diamond drinks for non-alcoholic "virgin" drinks, but I need to avoid the sugar due to diabetes.  I think it is only reasonable to allow me to use my Diamond drinks for cans of soda.  I guess my biggest question is whether cans of Coke Zero will be available.

(Ironically, I actually prefer Pepsi, but have been told that Coke Zero comes the closest in taste to the sweetness and smoothness of Pepsi.  I haven't actually even tasted it yet.  Over planning much???)🤭

I understand that cans of soda can not be obtained as part of a soda package.  However, can I use my daily free Diamond drinks for canned soda?  If so, do you know if Coke Zero is available in cans on the Oasis, and whether I can get it in the MDR or any of the bars.  TIA

My cruise in two weeks comes with one complimentary specialty dinner from TA.  I asked him if it will show up on our sea pass.  He said it should, but to be safe, I could print out the coupon to show.  It appeared in the edocs in my cruise planner.  The edocs show up by clicking on "view more details " on cruise planner page.

Is Coke Zero available in the freestyle machines?

14 minutes ago, DirtyDawg said:

Are you saying the crew should not wear masks so you can "hear" them?

I will follow masking guidelines as long as it seems wise.  However, when I sailed a year ago, I definitely had more difficulty understanding some of the servers.  Besides their voices being muffled, I hadn't previously realized how much I had relied on seeing their faces to understand what they were saying.  I never considered myself a lip reader, but I now know what a difference that makes - on a cruise or out in the world the past three years.

My DD and I prefer the Central Park balconies.  Haven't had an issue with people staying across the way.  The only time you can really be seen is when lights are on in your cabin at night, and it is simple to close the curtain while you're changing, etc.

5 hours ago, OnceAMarineAlwaysAMarine said:

We just got off Oasis and they had a table set up in the Promenade outside of Sorrentos with the cups.  They check your seapass card then give you the mug.  They were not the new plastic style cups, but the older insulated cups which I think are much better.

I hope that will still be the case when we board the Oasis in November.  I have one of those older ones that is my go-to at home.

My daughter and I have been cruising on Royal for the last ten years or so, and have never found the beds separated on embarkation day, even if we requested it in advance. Pushed together in one large bed seems to be the default position. That makes perfect sense since it is probably the most popular option, and the stewards don't have to worry about special requests on that busy busy day when most of their guests will be new to them.  However, telling the room steward (or leaving a note) will make it happen before you get back from dinner. 

1 hour ago, pcur said:

...it helps to read TS Eliot's cat poems first.

Absolutely!  Knowing the stories behind the various numbers really helps.  I saw CATS twice on Oasis some years ago when it was still the longer version with an intermission.  I enjoyed seeing it from further back in the audience, and the second time from front row.  Will be on Oasis again in November.  Don't know if I will want to see it again then.  Fortunately, I have more than three months to decide.  😄

My TA said he doesn't think those requests are being conveyed to the ships anymore.  Evidently one large bed is the default position.  My DD and I have never had a problem getting the beds separated by telling the room steward (or even just leaving a note if steward isn't immediately available).