RCI Questions

[Cruisin'4Us]

We're traveling in 2024 on Liberty of the Seas.  I'm sure many things have changed since our last cruise.  What has been your experience (within the last 18 months) with the following ?

 

While onboard, what are good ways to communicate with family when they are in different parts of the ship?  Does the 2-device internet plan allow for better communication with family while onboard?

 

Does the Chat feature in the Royal app work well on Liberty?  Is an Internet Package required for Chat to work?

Does Wifi calling to US mainland (voice only needed) with Voom/Starlink work well on Liberty?

Does a VPN work with Voom/Starlink on Liberty?

Does texting people on the ship and to US mainland work well?

 

Is there a US Customs Service app that is useful when embarking/disembarking the ship from Cape Liberty (for US citizens with no air travel needed)?  I vaguely recall an app for declaring the value of purchases abroad.

 

What are the best percentage discounts that you have seen (within 18 months) for the:

- Deluxe Beverage Packages (cocktails) (currently 20% off)

- Refreshment packages (mocktails) (currently 10% off)

- Shore Excursions (currently 10% off)

- Cabana rental in Labadee (not posted yet)

- Internet Packages (currently 20% off)

- Photo Packages (currently 20% to 25% off)

- Water Package (currently 20% off)

About how long before sailing were these discounts offered?  Are Black Friday sales good?

 

Are Cruise Planner purchases charged immediately?  Can purchases be cancelled within Cruise Planner, or is a call to Royal required?

Are potentially higher Cruise Planner discounts still shown after a purchase is made?

If you make a Cruise Planner purchase, and the discount increases, what is a good way to get the better discount? 

 

Thank you!

[Biker19]

2 minutes ago, Cruisin'4Us said:

Is an Internet Package required for Chat to work?

No.

[Ryder101]

Best discounts = Black Friday.

 

Don't get hung up on the %. They change the amount before the discount in there favor. It's Royal Caribbean math. Bottom line Black Friday is the best you will see. 

[Itchy&Scratchy]

14 minutes ago, Cruisin'4Us said:

Are Cruise Planner purchases charged immediately?  Can purchases be cancelled within Cruise Planner,

yes and yes.

[firefly333]

Best % off excursions I have seen last black friday 35% off. I had a couple last sept at 30% off. As they book up the discounts go down no matter what is advertised. 

 

Liberty has no pool tv for movies at night.  Broken since before covid. 

[Paula B]

We decided not to use internet and phones and choose a magnetic eraser board on our doors. So we  chose to periodically stop by the carbin and leave a short note where everyone would be. so nice not being tired to a phone.

Edited March 3, 2023 by Paula B

[dna1990]

A two-device plan can be helpful between two of your family, as this allows for both devices to be connected to the internet at the same time.  So now you can utilize most normal communication tools like WhatsApp or iPhone texting, and I am sure many others.  With the free ship WiFi, you only have a connection to the ship and the App.  The App Chat and this WiFi is free, but the Chat often does not "notify" you when another party messages you.  It does sometimes, otherwise you just have to open/check it.

 

If you have two people, a 2-device plan will work nicely for communications.  For a larger party, I would rely on the free App Chat (and good ol post-it notes, etc).

 

Starlink (on Allure) was great and magnitudes better than the "old days" of ship satellite internet.  But you still go thru ship's WiFi, which means in "some" locations of the ship - you will have less steady signal.  On Allure, I had no issues with VPN and basic Teams-type check ins.  If you use multifactor authentication (MFA), mine did not work well with getting the sms text Approvals, I had to use MS Authenticator which worked.  but I wish I had set that up with my company before I departed.

 

Text (sms) via Starlink worked well for my wife's iPhone, but not for my Android phone.

 

MS Teams audio was fine, so assume Wifi-calling is OK too.  Just be sure your devices are in airplane mode to avoid any roaming AtSea or other cell-based charges.

 

 

Not sure on Customs - we filed no such paperwork or online declarations.  I suppose if we made a large purchase we would have asked.  That was a recent trip out of Galveston.  There are reports of people being pulled aside at debark that have been flagged with large casino wins or large purchases.

 

We didn't get any packages, but lowest DBP I noticed was $73/pp.

 

Yes, I think Cruise Planner items are charged to your CC right away.  Internet and spa were for us.

 

Yes, many report purchasing a Cruise Planner package (lock in some price today) and then being able to cancel/rebook if they see a big drop.  I can't say if this is online or must be called in.  They have been good about calling me back in the estimated time when I need them.  I don't find a need to wait on hold.

 

 

[Cruisin'4Us]

Thank you!  Lots of great information.

[LeeW]

Customs app really not needed for cruises.  Most US ports these days use facial recognition and you don't even show your passport.  As dna1990 said, might be useful if you had to do a customs declaration.