Allure you CAN use Izumi for BOGO

[firefly333]

I've had numerous posters on cc tell me you cannot. I'm on allure and they acted like sure of course. In the past there was a paper in my cabin saying what's excluded but no paper this time and tbh honest my 2nd restaurant chops was a dud. My pork belly app was all fat, no truffle seasoning on the fries, and my steak undercooked. My waiter was madam I assure you these are truffle fries. And I'm these are unseasoned WJ fries. And I showed him my steak and again with the it's you not us. It looks like a perfectly cooked Medium to him. I said but i ordered MW. I had mama mia at 7:30 or I'd have sent it back. 

 

And somehow the time got changed. Note to self check the time on the app right away. I booked Wednesday 5 pm, no idea how it got 7:45 Monday. Just happened to see it. Finally loyal lady got a hold of them and they said they would change it to 5 pm only if I sat outside. Are you kidding ?

 

Going to probably be years before I try chops again.

 

Everything else has been great. I had a boarding time of 11 am and I was on the ship at 10:15. I never even got sat down in the terminal, they were calling D+ to board. So my 2 nights of BOGO were booked by 10:30 am when the ship was empty. All time slots were available from what I could tell. I was the first person there booking times. The time error wasnt my fault except not checking my app sooner. Now I will. I think that's the smoothest boarding I've seen in 20 years. 

 

Mama mia cast I heard changed 2 months ago. Still wonderful maybe not top 1% voices like I heard last dec. Very very good. Wasnt a fan of blue planet but had to see it to know. They had technical issues with the screen and I left, but that's just it wasnt my taste. I think I expected blue smurfs or something not something about saving the planet or whatever it was.  All my favorite cookies been out at least once. 

 

Had a water leak outside my cabin they worked on for days in and out of my cabin. Heard it was the pipes in the hallway, not me. And we got ghost elevators skipping floors  usual elevator shenanigans. Nothing affecting my cruise .. just observations. Except for chops the crew has been great. 

 

Oh the reason I was back in chops the day after was because I was getting all these charges. The real charge, then $76.xx then $153.xx (so 3 charges posted) ..  and the head guy told me there were no complaints last night. Odd since my waiter said he would pass on that my steak was cooked wrong. So one of them wasnt being truthful. 

 

On allure you can do Izumi with any other restaurant.  Posting since i was told by many you could not. I was onboard so early and saw izumi so asked. @Ourusualbeach and others. 

 

This picture is kinda dark, but maybe you can tell this is NOT medium well. Even the waiter agreed it was medium. Not MW. I just didnt have time for them to get more fries and recook my steak and get to mama mia by 730. But yes I know they would recook it. 

 

Oh and D+ was a rib eye .. not great. People go just to drink as much wine as they can where I sat. No fillet for us D+. 

 

Mama Mia is just as toe tapping as ever. Wonderful. I think next week I'll do izumi and 150 like another lady I met who does izumi all the time as bogo. And no you couldn't use a prebooked izumi it has to be both booked onboard for allure. 

 

[OCSC Mike]

Glad to hear everything non-Chops is mostly going well. I actually have Allure on hold for when she gets to PC next month… just waiting for my wife to figure out if she can go. She has til Tuesday.

[molly361]

Good to hear all is good. I will be onboard in 6 weeks 

[cruisegirl1]

Regarding Izumi, were you able to use your Bogo for hibachi, sushi or either one.  

thx. 

[firefly333]

3 hours ago, cruisegirl1 said:

Regarding Izumi, were you able to use your Bogo for hibachi, sushi or either one.  

thx. 

No I just asked about izumi. But hibachi isnt bogo they said though I didnt want it. 

 

A frequent cruiser sat down with me in izumi and told me all her favorite things to order, lol not what I ordered. And she doesnt like the desserts so they let her pick a 2nd small order and even packed it up to go for her and then she asked if she could pick it up tomorrow at noon and they said sure and they would make it fresh for her then. I thought they were very accommodating. 

 

In the Mdr when I finally made it aftrr chops there I sat again alone at a 8 top feeling silly. They stuck me in with 2 tables of all one family and the other 7 did chops that night. A nice couple alone at a 6 top invited me to join them the next night and the head waiter said ok. 

 

I brought snacks for my cabin steward and been getting him drinks with unused vouchers. He likes diet coke he finally told me. Suites across from my inside balcony so hes top notch, very shy and quiet though. 

 

I got my usual random bottle of wine or champagne... addressed to Casey someone else ... not my name. Weather has been hot and humid and seas glass smooth. Someone said carnival ships are rockier. I think it has also to do with no winds or waves. Though I agree oasis class doesnt rock much we have same weather as dallas .. not a drop of rain. 

 

We got our chefs pick or whatever it's called. I especially liked the brownie in the middle. Better than stale WJ cookies. I hope Casey also got his bottle of champagne. I gave mine to my steward.

 

[firefly333]

Oh it seems I photographed the D+ cheers with a officer. I thought the free steak in the Mdr is 100% better, but that's me.  I'll skip it next week. Other food I like better. Seemed to be for those who just wanted to drink as fast as they could which isnt my thing, but great for those who like wine imo.

Was worth checking out. 

[firefly333]

3 hours ago, cruisegirl1 said:

Regarding Izumi, were you able to use your Bogo for hibachi, sushi or either one.  

thx. 

Put another way, since my first night was izumi that's what I was only charged for. 47.xx . And he let me book any other restaurant onboard. .. going to do it next week and will try Judy's choices.

 

I think I got chops random charges now sorted. 

 

Oh another nice thing I ran into this ultra nice pinnacle couple I first met on grandeur last year. He asked if I'd been onboard last week. Maybe someone else reading this was? They were recognized last week as they hit double pinnacle. Congrats to them. She is a TA herself helping them cruise for less $$$. Smart and nice. So lots of nice people.

 

Though the casino hates me the worst ever. Lioness could tell me better, she says she walks around until she feels a lucky machine. I won 5 cents. All time worst I think. It's hard to lose that many times in a row.

 

Going to go look for John's machine, with Heidi at the top. Cant be any worse. Gambling so far isnt my thing. I keep saying after I move and cruise more I will gamble more for those free cruises but lady luck has fled. 

[firefly333]

I confirm I have not seen cream for coffee. I didnt ask but using the container marked cream . It takes a inch in my coffee. Cream would change the color of the coffee more.

 

Agree with the other poster new coffee machine in diamond lounge but I guess I'm not a fan of their specialty coffee as much, I'm happy with the free. The machine speciality to me tastes artificial and yes I could go stand in line downstairs, just havent bothered.

 

I had volunteered my cabin for a cabin crawl the roll call guy moved several times, lastly to 930 am day 3. ..because there was some other activity there at 10 am. .. clearly not a clue what the top tier event was. Sure enough he lead a lot of carnival cabin crawls, this was his first on royal. Low turn out, over 100 had signed up but the time changes confused everyone. So cabin crawl, top tier and cheers with a officer were all b2b2b2b. Usually I've had top tier day 2, but was day 3 this time.

[OCSC Mike]

25 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

Agree with the other poster new coffee machine in diamond lounge but I guess I'm not a fan of their specialty coffee as much, I'm happy with the free.

 

Blasphemy! Don't you speak ill of that machine!

(He says having just finished a cup of Walmart's finest brewed in his Mr. Coffee).

 

Enjoying the trip report btw, even if most of it doesn't apply to me. Please keep sharing if you feel like it.

Edited September 22, 2023 by OCSC Mike

[firefly333]

52 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

Blasphemy! Don't you speak ill of that machine!

(He says having just finished a cup of Walmart's finest brewed in his Mr. Coffee).

 

Enjoying the trip report btw, even if most of it doesn't apply to me. Please keep sharing if you feel like it.

I think biker and a few tech guys more into wifi speed.

 

As usual I waited until midnight thursday to use my 2 free days. I think $6 wifi credit left. If I wait I get for the rest of the cruise until turn around on sunday. 3 nights, 2 full days plus sunday morning. 

 

I snapped a picture last night showing my 2 day credit again good for the rest of the cruise. 

 

[firefly333]

Random tour invite, seems to vary by ship. This one to meet the entertainers just appeared on my bed with a new towel animal. Now we get towel animals at breakfast lol.

 

Also they are redoing the sign for your door that used to be one side sleeping it off, flip and other side says out and about ... to 2 signs. So far we only have the one saying sleeping .. not the out and about so my cabin steward and others dont know if I'm there. 

 

I was out on my balcony 2 days ago and went in and surprised men in overalls in my cabin. I'm sure they knocked, just glad I was dressed. (The guys looking for the water leak). 

 

This makes 3 things last day I think. Probably wouldnt go. 

 

[OCSC Mike]

18 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

I was out on my balcony 2 days ago and went in and surprised men in overalls in my cabin. I'm sure they knocked, just glad I was dressed.

 

How often do you go out there without... nevermind. You do you!  🙈

[firefly333]

50 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

How often do you go out there without... nevermind. You do you!  🙈

Long tee shirt. Covers me 99% but still it's a shock to walk into your cabin and several men are also in my cabin. I didnt even notice the wet carpet tbh, but I guess someone or my steward reported it.

[OCSC Mike]

41 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

Long tee shirt. Covers me 99% but still it's a shock to walk into your cabin and several men are also in my cabin. I didnt even notice the wet carpet tbh, but I guess someone or my steward reported it.

 

It wasn't meant to be serious but I think you know that. I understand the shock factor no matter what you were wearing.

[firefly333]

6 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

It wasn't meant to be serious but I think you know that. I understand the shock factor no matter what you were wearing.

I know.  They got the fans blowing in my hallway across from my cabin again so maybe still a water problem. Idk if anyone is interested or not except you in any review type comments.

 

I have been surprised by the lack of chicken. I'm at lunch and like dark meat. Carving a turkey breast but no chicken I can find.

 

Yesterday a little girl asked the crew guy where are the chicken tenders. I dont eat them myself but was surprised they didnt have them. Turkey tenders, but not chicken. 

 

When I boarded I noticed identical salad bars on all 3 islands I was checking. For sure less than before choices. Luckily i like watermelon and salad and i did find some cubed ham on the salad bar for meat. They had a vegetarian stir fry and a sea food stir fry, so there is meat but not as before. 

[firefly333]

The very nice lady who shared my izumi table posted this warning. So it was not random they changed my date and time sounds like. She also ran into issues. 

 

"FYI, Royal has just begun enforcing that Diamond Plus specialty dining must used night 1 or 2 ONLY, which of course means one cannot get to MDR for formal night  dinner. I suggested the Loyalty Ambassador  to the pass that on to her bosses that they at least let us use it night 3 as an option."

 

 

[OCSC Mike]

38 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

Idk if anyone is interested or not except you in any review type comments.

 

I need something to fill the gap between summer and spring (that's why I'm trying to get my wife to agree to this last minute Allure cruise next month, lol). But I'm sure I'm not alone and if you started a thread titled "Allure semi-live report" or whatever I bet you'd have tons of followers. Either way, I'll be reading.

 

38 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

I have been surprised by the lack of chicken.

 

That's certainly odd (and would be problematic for my wife, although she does eat turkey). Chicken is kind of like what she'll eat if she doesn't particularly like anything else (that's why we mostly stopped going to the MDR over the years, she was ordering the boring classic grilled chicken just b/c she wouldn't eat anything else 4-5 out of 7 nights due to pickiness).

 

38 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

Turkey tenders, but not chicken.

 

Even stranger.

 

22 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

FYI, Royal has just begun enforcing that Diamond Plus specialty dining must used night 1 or 2 ONLY

 

There's an ongoing thread about this right now (and it seems to come up a lot). It's not my preference for when I turn D+ but I can't fault them for enforcing a policy that has been right there in writing all along. I just want consistency.

 

22 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

I suggested the Loyalty Ambassador  to the pass that on to her bosses that they at least let us use it night 3 as an option.

 

Your suggestion makes sense although they would have to amend it on certain ships/itineraries. My last 2 7-nighters out of PC (Harmony 2022, Wonder in June) stopped at CocoCay on day 2 so night 3 is 1st formal night. Same thing for the next 3 Wonder cruises I currently have booked.

 

I don't care about formal night in the MDR but I stuff myself on CocoCay, lol, so I wouldn't want specialty dining that night. But it is what it is. I'll be happy to have my D+ perks in whatever form and we'll make it work. If limited to night 1 and 2, we'll likely just use 1 BOGO on night 1 and not even use the other but that's fine. We know we like Mason Jar (preferably brunch though) and we want to try Giovanni's Kitchen but that's it.

Edited September 22, 2023 by OCSC Mike

[firefly333]

6 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

I need something to fill the gap between summer and spring (that's why I'm trying to get my wife to agree to this last minute Allure cruise next month, lol). But I'm sure I'm not alone and if you started a thread titled "Allure semi-live report" or whatever I bet you'd have tons of followers. Either way, I'll be reading.

 

 

That's certainly odd (and would be problematic for my wife, although she does eat turkey). Chicken is kind of like what she'll eat if she doesn't particularly like anything else (that's why we mostly stopped going to the MDR over the years, she was ordering the boring classic grilled chicken just b/c she wouldn't eat anything else 4-5 out of 7 nights due to pickiness).

 

 

Even stranger.

 

 

There's an ongoing thread about this right now (and it seems to come up a lot). It's not my preference for when I turn D+ but I can't fault them for enforcing a policy that has been right there in writing all along. I just want consistency.

 

 

Your suggestion makes sense although they would have to amend it on certain ships/itineraries. My last 2 7-nighters out of PC (Harmony 2022, Wonder in June) stopped at CocoCay on day 2 so night 3 is 1st formal night. Same thing for the next 3 Wonder cruises I currently have booked.

 

I don't care about formal night in the MDR but I stuff myself on CocoCay, lol, so I wouldn't want specialty dining that night. But it is what it is. I'll be happy to have my D+ perks in whatever form and we'll make it work. If limited to night 1 and 2, we'll likely just use 1 BOGO on night 1 and not even use the other but that's fine. We know we like Mason Jar (preferably brunch though) and we want to try Giovanni's Kitchen but that's it.

I had that in quoted and was quoting someone I meet named judy, it's her post not mine. That's why I had it in "  " quotes. She ran into it too. She is much more experienced than me. First time she ran into this too. But those are her words not mine.

 

Imo if you change me from 5 pm Wednesday to 745 Monday send me a notice .. dont just assume I'm going to stumble on it in the app. 

 

Also by chance I also talked to the loyalty lady and being told eat outside or nothing, take it or leave it kind of abrupt attitude. It's not like I even knew her. Its humid and in the 80s. Can you imagine someone changing your time and if you dont want to miss mama told eat outside in the heat? This whole chops thing just gets more bizarre.  ..she hit it too. 

[OCSC Mike]

3 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

I had that in quoted and was quoting someone I meet named judy, it's her post not mine. That's why I had it in "  " quotes. She ran into it too. She is much more experienced than me. First time she ran into this too. But those are her words not mine.

 

Imo if you change me from 5 pm Wednesday to 745 Monday send me a notice .. dont just assume I'm going to stumble on it in the app. 

 

Also by chance I also talked to the loyalty lady and being told eat outside or nothing, take it or leave it kind of abrupt attitude. It's not like I even knew her. Its humid and in the 80s. Can you imagine someone changing your time and if you dont want to miss mama told eat outside in the heat? This whole chops thing just gets more bizarre.  ..she hit it too. 

 

I understood it was from the other woman. 👍

 

Switching you without notification of any kind and then giving you an ultimatum as far as use it outside or lose it... just terrible customer service, no two ways about it. They let you book Wednesday 5pm, that's on them!

[firefly333]

Last sunrise before turnaround day. Somehow my pictures didnt come out, very windy up on deck and cloudy.

 

 

[firefly333]

Earlier 

 

[OCSC Mike]

4 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

Last sunrise before turnaround day. Somehow my pictures didnt come out, very windy up on deck and cloudy.

 

Beats the view of the sunrise from my house. Waiting for my wife to decide on that Allure cruise next month is rough.

[firefly333]

5 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

Beats the view of the sunrise from my house. Waiting for my wife to decide on that Allure cruise next month is rough.

Seas arent rough so I'm thinking the wind on deck 16 above the pool is because of the ship speed. My hair is standing on end. My lovely cabin steward does my cabin about 930 so I'm hanging out. Specialty dining today lunch and dinner. See how it goes. 

 

We said our goodbyes in Mdr last night. Nice folks. Good experience. 

[OCSC Mike]

13 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

We said our goodbyes in Mdr last night. Nice folks. Good experience.

 

I'm not sure we're doing the MDR at all if we do wind up going on Allure but good to hear. I have some tentative plans but don't want to get my hopes up or pressure my wife. I'm assuming it's a no and hoping to be wrong, lol.

[molly361]

13 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

I'm not sure we're doing the MDR at all if we do wind up going on Allure but good to hear. I have some tentative plans but don't want to get my hopes up or pressure my wife. I'm assuming it's a no and hoping to be wrong, lol.

I can't wait for the POSITIVE outcome😇