Viking Lad Posted September 23, 2006 #1 Share Posted September 23, 2006 I just upgraded our balcony cabin to a junior suite, surprised to find one and one only available for the 21 October Navigator of the Seas cruise. Just received our documentation and now the luggage tags are all wrong yet when I call RCCL they want to charge my $35 to reissue documents even though I just paid $500 for the upgrade. Are these tags really needed? Two RCCL vacation planners have urged me to cross out the old cabin number and write in the new yet I'm a bit leery of this since who wants to lose their luggage? Besides the extra space, what can we expect now that we've upgraded to a suite? When we booked, there were no suites available so I really haven't done my homework. Thank you, cruise experts! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccxnola Posted September 23, 2006 #2 Share Posted September 23, 2006 We had a similar situation on a previous cruise. I just took a black marking pen to blot out the incorrect number and then put the correct number. But ONLY put them on when you get to the pier - airlines will remove them!! OR - you can wait until you get to the dock and the porters will have plenty of blank tags and they will put on the correct number for you. No Worries, mon!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viking Lad Posted September 23, 2006 Author #3 Share Posted September 23, 2006 ccxnola, Thank you for the quick and helpful reply! Can you tell I'm a first time cruiser? Waiting until we arrive at port sounds like the best option. So what did you like about the "suite" life (pun intended)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy ks Posted September 23, 2006 #4 Share Posted September 23, 2006 Be glad you didn't pay the extra for new docs, you really don't need them. All you really need to board the ship is your confirmation number. Best of all is to go online and fill in your Set Sail Pass, then you can leave the docs at home! We've had to get new luggage tags at the porter stand a couple of times, it only takes a minute or so. Your main perk will be the suite line for checking onto the ship and typically, you have the earlier disembarkation color tags. I think you also get use of robes, too, they have always been too heavy for me, I've used them for coffee on the balcony in the am a few times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viking Lad Posted September 23, 2006 Author #5 Share Posted September 23, 2006 Kathy, thank you, your reply was very helpful. Does anyone have any experiences with the Concierge Club? Look small on the Navigator? Is it worth a go? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubrrick Posted September 23, 2006 #6 Share Posted September 23, 2006 Be glad you didn't pay the extra for new docs, you really don't need them. All you really need to board the ship is your confirmation number. Best of all is to go online and fill in your Set Sail Pass, then you can leave the docs at home! We've had to get new luggage tags at the porter stand a couple of times, it only takes a minute or so. Your main perk will be the suite line for checking onto the ship and typically, you have the earlier disembarkation color tags. I think you also get use of robes, too, they have always been too heavy for me, I've used them for coffee on the balcony in the am a few times. You are right.........you only need your Set Sail Pass, a credit card, and ID, preferably a passport. The porters always have blank tags. You can request two types of robes. One is the terry style and the other is a light weight "krinkle" type. The main thing that you get with the jr suite is more room. The amenities such as a pass into the concierge lounge starts with the Grand Suite and up. Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubrrick Posted September 23, 2006 #7 Share Posted September 23, 2006 Oh...........I forgot to mention that you also get one extra cruise point when sailing in a Jr Suite or larger. Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCCLCARIB Posted September 23, 2006 #8 Share Posted September 23, 2006 First off, Congrats on your first cruise! You don't have much longer until you start sailing!!!! Ok: We have stayed in a JS several times and it is worth every penny in my wallet!! There is a huge size difference between the Veranda and the Junior Suite size. (206 + 42 sq. ft balcony versus 300 + 65 sq. ft balcony), so there is about 94 sq. ft extra that really comes in handy! Amenities/Benefits for booking a Junior Suite: I know some people will disagree, but in my opinion I have always gotten better service throughout the ship when I sayed in a JS cabin. Why? I have no idea, but I can assure you that your cabin steward (let's hope) will be top notch. Unfortunately, sometimes and rarely the cabin stewards can be pretty bad in terms that you never see them until tipping day!! Also, unlike the Veranda Staterooms, you will have a larger bathroom. On the Navigator, there was a granite vanity, tile floors, and a large tub with shower and tile desings on the walls....very nice. In the bathroom, you will have enhanced amenities like bottles of Shampoo, Conditioner, Q-tips, cotton balls, Bottles of Lotion, and I even got some Channel Perfume (I think it was a mistake, but my wife loved it!) So to me, it is nice to have some enhanced amenities in the bathroom! Also, the amenity that you will benefit most from is that extra space. That means extra space in the bathroom, extra space in the walk-in closet, extra space in the living and bedroom area, extra storage, and a GREAT BIG VERANDA outside!! You will have a nice storage and desk area with a TV, mini bar and fridge set-up, a place for the ladies to do their makeup, and excellent lighting throughout the room! And lucky you, you have the new bedding in the suites!! You will love that extra perk! Now, if you don't get robes, be sure to nicely ask you cabin steward and he/she should bring the robes to you within seconds! Sometimes they will be in the stateroom, but it all depends!! That's about it for the Junior Suites. You made a great decision to upgrade yourself to the Suite Life!! Also, you have chosen a GREAT and BEAUTIFUL ship to sail on!! Enjoy your first cruise and be sure to come back with all the details about your 1st cruise experience! Bon Voyage: RCCLCARIB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptData Posted September 23, 2006 #9 Share Posted September 23, 2006 You get 2 cruise points towards your next level. Short line for boarding and if you have to wait to board in some place a lounge with free juice andcookies sort of thing. You will be one of the first allowed to board if you are early. You do not get into the CL area because you need GS and above for that. But you should have a walk in closet and a bathtub/shower comb. Larger bathroom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
negc Posted September 23, 2006 #10 Share Posted September 23, 2006 Trust me but getting better service throughout the ship because you are in a junior suite or higher is not something you should expect. The staff you encounter when you are not in your room do not know, nor should they care, what category stateroom you have booked. We have almost always received excellent service and we expect it, not because of our stateroom category, but because we are sailing on Royal Caribbean and that is their standard of service. Nor have we seen any difference in the competence of the room stewards assigned to one category of stateroom or another. I would not be overly concerned about your luggage tags. As others have said, there will be blank tags available to you at the pier, and if you use the old tags, the worst that should happen is that they will be delivered to your original cabin. If that happened it should be easy to track them down. Enjoy your cruise. You are about to embark on a fabulous vacation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viking Lad Posted September 24, 2006 Author #11 Share Posted September 24, 2006 negc, Thank you for clarifying remarks regarding service aboard RCCL. I had hoped that the service would be of a very high standard no matter what cabin you have and your comments were definitely reassuring. Does anyone have any Junior Suite pictures to share or know of any web sites, please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubrrick Posted September 24, 2006 #12 Share Posted September 24, 2006 negc, Thank you for clarifying remarks regarding service aboard RCCL. I had hoped that the service would be of a very high standard no matter what cabin you have and your comments were definitely reassuring. Does anyone have any Junior Suite pictures to share or know of any web sites, please? Realizing that this is your first cruise should have you very excited. I think you will enjoy Royal Caribbean. Speaking of pictures of your cabin, go directly to the Royal Caribbean website http://www.royalcaribbean.com/home.do click on "find a cruise" and a drop down box will appear. Click on "staterooms", and then click on "Suite/Deluxe", pick Junior Suite, and then click on the ship that you are sailing on, and it will give you a view and description. Click on the 360 degree view, and it will give you a virtual tour of your cabin. Have a great cruise!!:) Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clknam Posted September 24, 2006 #13 Share Posted September 24, 2006 negc, Thank you for clarifying remarks regarding service aboard RCCL. I had hoped that the service would be of a very high standard no matter what cabin you have and your comments were definitely reassuring. Does anyone have any Junior Suite pictures to share or know of any web sites, please? This website has a bunch of pictures from the various ships: http://cruiseclues.com/shipstips/navigatoroftheseas.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nurse Daybreak Posted September 24, 2006 #14 Share Posted September 24, 2006 We just love th JS. I don't think I would even consider spending the extra money to get a larger suite. It's the perfect size for two people and with 2 cruise credits your race to Diamond is much shorter. I've never had robes in my cabin but since being on these boards I found out you could ask and of course I will. I've also never gotten in the suite line to board but you can bet I will next Feb. I've never waited long to board though. We got to the pier last January at about 11:30 and were having cocktails by 12:15. And that was after checking our carry-ons at the pursers desk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rfrenchbaxter Posted September 24, 2006 #15 Share Posted September 24, 2006 I just upgraded our balcony cabin to a junior suite, surprised to find one and one only available for the 21 October Navigator of the Seas cruise. Just received our documentation and now the luggage tags are all wrong yet when I call RCCL they want to charge my $35 to reissue documents even though I just paid $500 for the upgrade. Are these tags really needed? Two RCCL vacation planners have urged me to cross out the old cabin number and write in the new yet I'm a bit leery of this since who wants to lose their luggage? Besides the extra space, what can we expect now that we've upgraded to a suite? When we booked, there were no suites available so I really haven't done my homework. Thank you, cruise experts! Just a little note! I was upgraded by my TA 2 days before my cruise last DEc. on the Splendour! total nightmare! I did not get my bags until after midnight, had to wear same clothes all day even to dinner, blue jeans and t-shirt that had a stain from spilled pop! I would cross out the old cabin #'S and print a little note! Put correct cabin #'s on it!! What can it hurt? Rebecca Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peteukmcr Posted September 24, 2006 #16 Share Posted September 24, 2006 Hi Viking Lad Great choice, you'll really enjoy a JS on Navigator. We sailed on her last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. The extra space is great and we got our robes delivered when pur steward came to introduce himself, no need to ask. We'll see you depart on 21st as we'll have arrived in Miami from the UK for our Freedom cruise on the 22nd! Follow the link at at the bottom for our photos from Navigator last year, including JS 1346. Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viking Lad Posted September 24, 2006 Author #17 Share Posted September 24, 2006 WOW! Thank you again for all the great advice and links! Especially to you, Peter for the great web album regarding your recent NOS cruise. Your cabin shots have given me a clear image of what we can expect given that our cabin will also be on deck 10 on the starboard side. Thanks again, mate and I look forward to perhaps reading about your review of your cruise on the Freedom of the Seas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladylawyer Posted September 24, 2006 #18 Share Posted September 24, 2006 I just got off the Radiance, yesterday, having sailed in a JS. Most of the amenities mentioned above have always been standard on the Monarch (as recently as last month). However, we noticed a new trend on the Radiance. There were no bottled toiletries. Because I had not packed shampoo, knowing I would receive the toiletries, I asked our steward for them. She said that she was not allowed to put them in the JS cabins and feared getting in trouble if she gave them to us. Finally, one person in our group went to Guest Relations, and then we received only the shampoo. We had no robes in our cabin. I questioned the steward about this. She brought 1 for me, because I was Platinum. However, no robe was delivered for my cabinmate. Apparently, robes are no longer standard in the JS (according to the steward). On disembarkation day, we were given yellow tags, instead of white. Because we had scheduled breakfast with friends, in Long Beach, we asked our steward why we hadn't received the white tags and were told that it was not a perk of the JS. We had to go to the GR desk to obtain white tags. I am hoping that this is only a Radiance thing, as we will be on the Freedom next month. However, it appears that there are a number of changes for which we should be prepared. Sorry to be so negative, but it's always best to be prepared, IMHO! ~ LL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peteukmcr Posted September 25, 2006 #19 Share Posted September 25, 2006 WOW! Thank you again for all the great advice and links! Especially to you, Peter for the great web album regarding your recent NOS cruise. Your cabin shots have given me a clear image of what we can expect given that our cabin will also be on deck 10 on the starboard side. Thanks again, mate and I look forward to perhaps reading about your review of your cruise on the Freedom of the Seas. Glad you liked the shots, and there'll be plenty of Freedom in early November when we finally return to the UK after a few days in Florida post cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viking Lad Posted October 1, 2006 Author #20 Share Posted October 1, 2006 :confused: Thank you all for the useful information. I'm still finding myself a bit confused about the following issues, though you've laid my luggage tag "fears" to rest: - Robes: Should we ask for them or not if we do not find them in our cabin? I'm seeing conflicting reports that they are available or may no longer be offered to Junior Suites. - Toiletries: It would be great not to have to pack them. Has anyone who has booked a Junior Suite and traveled recently any thoughts? I keep checking the RCCL daily, that's how I discovered my JS, since even though we booked months ago, JS and GS were sold out. If a GS suddenly becomes available and I see it, I'm not going to hesitate to upgrade. Dreams... Dreams... Boy, am I getting excited about this cruise, come what may! :cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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