MONARCH Dining table question

[CruisnMom007]

So far RC has really screwed up our Anniversary cruise (gave away my first cabin, gave me a JS cabin I wanted, then took that one and gave it away and sent me to aN SO!!) All this without my knowing!!! I booked this months ago!

Not going well...I was looking forward to the JS this time around for the space being that I am so used to the Carnvial spacious cabins and balconies.

 

Anyhow, I have been on many other cruises with Carnival..I thought I would go ahead and give RC a shot at it as I was convinced I would love them. I can't get anywhere with Customer Service, not helpful.

So I asked them about dining table assignments. NOT HELPFUL! I would like to have a table by the window with a nice view during dinner. Does anyone have suggestions to a certain table number????? How would I go about this? I would need one for 4.

 

Thanks everyone!

[RDeagazio]

First off with regard to your cabin situation (which I read in another post), I would have yout TA soeak to their RCI Sales Rep-- who should have been able to correct that problem (especially if your TA's agency is a Key Account).

 

Anyway- to answer your question, there are several tables along the windows in both dining rooms that seat 4. I don't have actual table numbers, but you can only REQUEST, not reserve particular dining arrangements. Sometimes I've gotten my request and other times I didn't but a quick trip to the Maitre'd upon boarding fixed the situation.

 

Just be sure to go to the dining room on embarkation day and check your table location and if it's not satisfactory then head to the Maitre'd at the posted time in the Compass. Word of advise, you'll catch more flies with honey than with vinegar, and I doubt complaining about your cabin situation etc will aid you in getting the table you want. :-)

[critterchick]

What kind of cabin did you book? Did you originally book an SO or SO guarantee? In that case, I think they are completely within their rights to downgrade you to the category you paid for. If you booked a JS, I have a hard time believing that RCI would downgrade you to an SO, given that the price difference is so great between them.

 

As for the dining room, we had a table for 4 by the window, but I'm afraid I can't tell you the number. As the previous poster said, check when you board to see where your table is. If it's not to your liking, the maitre d' will be available to try to accomodate your preference. Note: on the 3-nighters, it seems easier to make changes if you're late seating. Most of the people we saw in line were trying to get into the earlier seating, which was oversubcribed.

[CruisnMom007]

oops it double entered

[CruisnMom007]

In a nut shell this is what happened:

 

 

I was booked in a Superior Ocean View room, I selected a room to be double joined with friends . I had gone online last month to complete the online check in, printed the set sail pass and saw we had been upgraded to the JS, apparently I was on a waiting list unknown to me. Which is good, Carnival still showed my balance due was the same ammount so I thought WOW this is how Carnival has always treated me so RC must be just as good. I have been upgraded by the upgrade fairy before with Carnival no extra cost. I wouldn't have thought anything different.

Then.....last week after my final payment was made, RC sends a letter to my TA stating that we owed an additional $430 for the upgrade!!! My TA was shocked....called RC and they said it was a mistake on their part for sure (the mistake being they didn't contat her or me about my upgrade). We all agreed that RC should still let me keep the suite as they had already given away my other room!! NOPE....they sent me packing back down below! To a different room even! My original room was gone. Not to mention that my final payment went up for the switch!! I wanted the JS...no problem, it was worth the extra, but it was very odd how they went about this with NO communication.

 

After finally going up the ladder yesterday with RCI, They (RCI) agreed it was a big error on their part. They appologized up and down and said "how about a bottle of champagne in your stateroom", I hate champagne.

 

Just for the record....I am a very pleasant person when dealing with people. I don't bite off heads, I believe in the honey method too.

I will tell you, I have been told that ever since Jack Williams stepped down, the customer service has taken a big dive. I don't know this cruise line yet, but I am not sure if I want to deal with it again after this cruise. I am looking at booking a big one next spring.

 

Thanks for the tips on the dining window seats. I will go straight there when we board.

 

Thanks you guys! :)

[critterchick]

Wow, that's weird turn of events! I've heard of the upgrade fairy (she's never visited me:( ), but I've never heard of upgrading you and wanting a price increase, unless you were booked in the SO, your TA put you on a waitlist for a JS and it came through. In that case you would be responsible for the price difference. But since RCI admitted that it messed up, I guess they did. I'm sorry you were jerked around by them. What about asking your TA to get you an onboard credit of $50 or so (that's less than what a really nice bottle of champagne would cost you onboard, and they've already made that offer)? You could use that for a libation you enjoy or a discount on a spa treatment.

[CruisnMom007]

I agree its the most odd thing ever. But, I am on a ship...will have fun and will be enjoying my Anniversary anyway it turns out. I am not sure what they did but I was told today that the cruise line did something for us. I guess we will see when we get on board. I doubt its an ugrade! lol

 

I keep looking for these RC coupons everyone keeps talking about. Are you aware of them and how do I get some? I always pass on my left overs from Carnival to others.

[tinkerme1]

When are you cruising on the Monarch? Do see if "Addriene" (sp?) is still a Head Waiter in the Dining Room. She may be able to help you snag a nice table. We've sailed on the Monarch many times, and she is always helpful and especially kind! I would also call your TA and ask that she/he call RCCL and request the table in the Dining Room you are hoping for, since this would be a nice way to smooth the waters!

 

Personally, although the SO's are a little small (and they are), they are very accommodating for just a three or four day cruise. Don't miss the Dueling Pianos in Boleros, and the Royal Caribbean Singers and Dancers in the main showroom. They are fabulous! Hope you really enjoy your Anniversary. :D

[critterchick]

Mom, you don't get the coupons until you are a member of the Crown & Anchor Society. You can join after your first cruise. If you enjoy the experience and book another cruise, your cabin steward will leave coupons in your stateroom on the first night. At the Gold level (1-5 cruise credits), you will get stuff like 10% off a spa treatment, 2 for one specialty coffee or Ben & Jerry's ice cream, casino chips, 10 minutes of free Internet, etc. At Platinum, you get better coupons (15% off for the spa, more free Internet, for example), and I'll let you know in a couple of weeks what you get for Diamond, since we're taking our first cruise as Diamond members on the Monarch. Reminds me, I need to find my Lattetudes frequent coffee drinker card!

We love spending a long weekend on the Monarch. DH gets his "Vegas fix" in the casino, I get my spa treatment, we do a little dancing and get treated like royalty. What more can you ask for?

[CruisnMom007]

Thank you Tinkerme!! Sounds wonderful. You all have such great suggestions. Thanks. Someone mentioned looking in the safe as some leave the unused coupons behind in the room like I do! I hope so!!

 

Thanks again.

[PhoenixCruiser]

Thank you Tinkerme!! Sounds wonderful. You all have such great suggestions. Thanks. Someone mentioned looking in the safe as some leave the unused coupons behind in the room like I do! I hope so!!

 

Thanks again.

 

We left our unused coupons in the safe when we got off the Monarch a few weeks ago, good luck to you :D

 

We had great customer service before our cruise and not so great while onboard. We hope you have a great time!

 

###

[dlbutler5]

Please remember that the drapes in the diningroom will be closed after sundown because there is no view only the darkest dark you have ever seen!

[pcur]

dlbutler is correct: if you have late seating, a window seat doesn't do a bit of good.

 

Usually the maitre d' is making dining changes the day you board around 1:00 PM. Go to the dining room and ask when and where. Sometimes it's in the dining room, and sometimes in a conference room.

 

Get there early, as a line forms and they will put you on a list. Don't worry; they are always accomodating about making changes, and few people know this can be done, so there usually isn't more than a few dozen people there. The dining staff prefer to do it this way, since it avoids the complete ZOO the first night in the dining room with people complaining and table hopping.

[rubrrick]

Wow, that's weird turn of events! I've heard of the upgrade fairy (she's never visited me:( ), but I've never heard of upgrading you and wanting a price increase, unless you were booked in the SO, your TA put you on a waitlist for a JS and it came through. In that case you would be responsible for the price difference.

 

Critterchick, I didn't realize that you would be getting on when we get off of the Monarch. Anything special you need?? Don't ask the upgrade fairy for favors, as the ship is FULL!!

 

We will leave you plenty of laughter and joy for your cruise.

 

Have a happy one!!:D

 

Rick

[beachchick]

CruisnMom007: Just an FYI. Carnival is known for being generous with free upgrades (both with specific cabin bookings and guarantees); RCI is known for rarely giving free upgrades (even with guarantees). This is especially true now that Diamond Plus C&A members are sometimes (maybe often) offered free upgrades if cabins are available. (Diamond Plus members have 25 or more cruises/cruise points with RCI. Seems fair to me to reward their most loyal customers this way.) I'm afraid that you are not the first poster who has previously cruised Carnival and is coming to RCI kind of expecting the "typical" free upgrade. It's a bummer though that they upgraded you and then either wanted money (weird) or to move you back to the category you paid for. Typically, the only time they might upgrade you and then move you back down was if you had an guarantee. If you chose a specific cabin, your TA should not have allowed RCI to move you without your approval, and she/he certainly should have insisted on getting you back into your original cabin (again, if you booked it specifically and not as a guarantee).

 

Regarding the coupon books. You can join C&A while you are on your cruise, but you won't become a member until after your first RCI cruise is completed. BTW, we always leave our leftover onboard coupons in the safe. My sister found an almost unused book in her safe on her first cruise. It was great because DH and I were already C&A members. My sister and her DH made good use of them, especially the photo and drink coupons--can't believe someone didn't use those.

 

As has been mentioned, you really can't reserve a specific table number in the dining room. In fact, you can't even reserve an exact size. You can request whatever you want, but keep in mind that they are trying to accommodate a ship full of pax and can't please everyone every time. (I'm sure you know this from your previous cruises.) You can certainly request a change once you board if you don't like the table size or location; just don't expect the maitr'd to kick someone else out of their assigned table and give it to you (not that you would, but some people do expect that).

 

Hope you have a great cruise.

 

beachchick

[critterchick]

Rick, there are so few balconies on Monarch that all the suites sell out pronto. I noticed a few oceanview cabins left for our sailing, but that's about it. We only booked a couple of months ago, and I was surprised that the ship was still wide open for a holiday weekend sailing.

 

Single digits on the countdown clock! Woo-hoo!

 

You have a great cruise, and leave the old gal in great shape for us!

[shipgirl56]

Wow, that's weird turn of events! I've heard of the upgrade fairy (she's never visited me:( ), but I've never heard of upgrading you and wanting a price increase, unless you were booked in the SO, your TA put you on a waitlist for a JS and it came through. In that case you would be responsible for the price difference. But since RCI admitted that it messed up, I guess they did. I'm sorry you were jerked around by them. What about asking your TA to get you an onboard credit of $50 or so (that's less than what a really nice bottle of champagne would cost you onboard, and they've already made that offer)? You could use that for a libation you enjoy or a discount on a spa treatment.

 

Cruise lines will sometimes ask you if you want your booking to be listed for a complimentary upgrade, a paid upgrade (upgraded if available for a small fee), no upgrade (use when you book a specific cabin that you want to keep). I have also been asked to downgrade (Holland America) for which I was offered $600 ship board credit.

[rubrrick]

Rick, there are so few balconies on Monarch that all the suites sell out pronto. I noticed a few oceanview cabins left for our sailing, but that's about it. We only booked a couple of months ago, and I was surprised that the ship was still wide open for a holiday weekend sailing.

 

Single digits on the countdown clock! Woo-hoo!

 

You have a great cruise, and leave the old gal in great shape for us!

 

Jean, I know that the Monarch is still very popular even though she is not the youngest ship in the fleet. Hakan Lindegren is her skipper right now, and we have gotten to know him over the years, so we know that we are in good hands. Am madly trying to get all work taken care of before we fly out Monday morning..........yes, it's single digits, somehow just 4 less than yours.

 

You too, enjoy and I look forward to comparing notes on your return.

 

Rick