Royal Caribbean secrets (merged)

[Çay girl]

Does anyone know if using any other credit card not the RCI cc effect the way transaction fee or if it shows as cash on your credit card? I was thinking of using my Visa not affiliated with RCI. I don't want to come home to a bill showing finance charges for a cash advance balance. :)

 

I'm worried that RCI reviews our posts and will get pissed that we're all conspiring against the credit cards and switch it up. I'm so paranoid. I just HATE paying interest on a credit card.

[sajeffc]

I discovered on the Rhapsody, there is a little known balcony with chairs off of the library/card room that is deserted at night. It's a great place to sneak off to with a nice snifter of cognac to ponder the mysteries of the sea....

[lephysteria]

And you got a picture of it !!

 

:o

 

It happened to be in the corner of a picture of an entree!

:D :D :D

[lephysteria]

Does anyone know if using any other credit card not the RCI cc effect the way transaction fee or if it shows as cash on your credit card? I was thinking of using my Visa not affiliated with RCI. I don't want to come home to a bill showing finance charges for a cash advance balance. :)

 

I'm worried that RCI reviews our posts and will get pissed that we're all conspiring against the credit cards and switch it up. I'm so paranoid. I just HATE paying interest on a credit card.

 

All credit cards (because I've done this) do not know which part of your seapass bill was casino cash advances and which part were drinks or shopping. It just looks like "cruise seapass charges".

So if there is a lot of money spend during the week, its all good. If you get $500 out in the casino, on your seapass card it just looks like you bought a roulette table :D

[cruiserbryce]

great place to sneak off to with a nice snifter of cognac to ponder the mysteries of the sea....

 

I'm on Rhapsody next year and will certainly be hunting this place down with this in mind:rolleyes:

[krmlaw]

The casino cash for the Visa points is one of the BEST ideas Ive heard! But where do you put that kind of cash? Is there a main safe somewhere you can have it held? I wouldnt want to keep that amount of money in the room safe.

[unfinishedwoman]

I'm really befuddled by this..there has always been so much on these boards about RCI's policy about NOT bringing your own onboard. The policy even says that you can be denied boarding. I think I'd be scared to even try it just for that one reason alone.

 

By the way, did you pack all this with your clothes or in a separate bag?

 

All I know is that when I bought a bottle of alcohol at one of the ports as soon as I grabbed the bag it was in (after it had been scanned of course) they pulled me aside and collected the bottle. I had never been on a cruise before so I wasn't exactly expecting that. Granted I didn't have it previously packed in my suitcase. It was a chocolate type of liquer and at first they couldn't tell if it was alcohol. When asked, I, of course with my big mouth, say yes it is alcohol. Another worker standing there said if I had said no they would have let me keep it. They obviously just want you to spend money on their alcohol.

We did get it back at the end of the trip & that was a hassle in itself.

[Loveynj]

All I know is that when I bought a bottle of alcohol at one of the ports as soon as I grabbed the bag it was in (after it had been scanned of course) they pulled me aside and collected the bottle. I had never been on a cruise before so I wasn't exactly expecting that. Granted I didn't have it previously packed in my suitcase. It was a chocolate type of liquer and at first they couldn't tell if it was alcohol. When asked, I, of course with my big mouth, say yes it is alcohol. Another worker standing there said if I had said no they would have let me keep it. They obviously just want you to spend money on their alcohol.

We did get it back at the end of the trip & that was a hassle in itself.

 

We never had a problem bringing alcohol on the ship, actually we used to buy it right at the pier in San Juan and I put it right in my bag or even right in the plastic bag the store put it in, put it on the security belt and away I went. I have never had them take it from me in 7 cruises.

Just lucky I guess.....

[dolfandude]

The casino cash for the Visa points is one of the BEST ideas Ive heard! But where do you put that kind of cash? Is there a main safe somewhere you can have it held? I wouldnt want to keep that amount of money in the room safe.

 

I totally agree! Almost too good to be true but I'll find out in December!:D

[Keen Kruiser]

I have heard this before. I would think it applies to slots only? Anyone want to say this is more than rumor or conjecture?

 

I'm not much of a gambler, but on day 12 or 13 of my recent 14 day cruise on the Radience I decided to use the $12.00 for $10.00 C&A casino coupon. I actually got $20.00 on my sea pass card, so had $22.00 to play on the quarter slots. After half an hour I cashed in and received $49.75. I thought I had a very nice evening in the casino!

[sandaneli]

We are going on Explorer out of NJ, and Jewel out of Boston. Has anyone carried alcohol onboard at this port?

[Bakincakes]

Does anyone know if using any other credit card not the RCI cc effect the way transaction fee or if it shows as cash on your credit card? I was thinking of using my Visa not affiliated with RCI. I don't want to come home to a bill showing finance charges for a cash advance balance. :)

 

 

I'm worried that RCI reviews our posts and will get pissed that we're all conspiring against the credit cards and switch it up. I'm so paranoid. I just HATE paying interest on a credit card.

 

Supposedly RCI does read the boards. If they do then they know that pax are abusing the cash withdrawls in the casinos to rack up points. Don't be shocked if they do put a stop to it.

[RevSmith]

If you try and send a message to a crew member RCI will send it to that crew member's manager and the manager will read it before it goes to the crew member.

That can be good and that can be bad. On my last cruise a young member of the dinning staff did something that embarrassed me. I'm sure he was trying to make a joke and that he never thought anything of it. With that in mind I got his name and wrote him a nice note...just saying "although I know you meant to be funny" I was uncomfortable with your remark. (don't get the wrong idea it was not a distasteful remark). I then went on to say that since I was in the people pleasing business for a long time one thing I learned is that you can not make a joke at another person's expensive, even though it can be funny. The next day I got a call from the dining room manager, which was even more embarrassing because I had gone out of my way not to get management involved. After a twenty minute phone call I assured the manager that this was not a biggie and that I was just trying to help him...not hurt him. I spoke with the crew member later, telling him I was the one who wrote the letter to him and he said he was fired from that position until I had taken the time to speak with the dining room manager. So be warned everyone...they do open your mail.

[tjmick]

All I know is that when I bought a bottle of alcohol at one of the ports as soon as I grabbed the bag it was in (after it had been scanned of course) they pulled me aside and collected the bottle. I had never been on a cruise before so I wasn't exactly expecting that. Granted I didn't have it previously packed in my suitcase. It was a chocolate type of liqueur and at first they couldn't tell if it was alcohol. When asked, I, of course with my big mouth, say yes it is alcohol. Another worker standing there said if I had said no they would have let me keep it. They obviously just want you to spend money on their alcohol.

We did get it back at the end of the trip & that was a hassle in itself.

 

This is the first time with RC and am now confused about the alcohol issue. I am not trying to sneak it on when I board the ship in Port Canaveral, but I would like to buy some while on the cruise at the ports. I know with Carnival they would take it, but would return it I believe the last night on the cruise.

 

Does RC do this. I don't want to miss buying good liquors on the islands, but I don't want to get screwed either.

 

How is this handled? :confused:

[Bakincakes]

This is the first time with RC and am now confused about the alcohol issue. I am not trying to sneak it on when I board the ship in Port Canaveral, but I would like to buy some while on the cruise at the ports. I know with Carnival they would take it, but would return it I believe the last night on the cruise.

 

Does RC do this. I don't want to miss buying good liquors on the islands, but I don't want to get screwed either.

 

How is this handled? :confused:

 

Yes. They will hold it for you and deliver it to your cabin the last night.

[luvmyjewels]

Here are my tips from our trip!

 

Bahama Mamas (delicious) and champagne are served for free during the Captain's reception on formal night. The waiters hang out at the door, but you are free to get as many as you like.

 

I don't know if this happens every cruise, but on Wednesday evening (Coco Cay day), we walked to the back of the ship on Deck 7. I happened to look down over the rail and saw our Captain grilling steaks and chicken on the bottom deck for the crew. (I even snapped a picture). The Captain's food looked better than what they served in the dining room that night ;-)

 

When you get to Coco Cay, go as far right along the beach as you can (past the kayak booth). That stretch of beach had more of a breeze and less people than the area close to the food. Don't miss seeing the small sharks swimming around the area between the beach and sand bars and the island iguana's under the picnic tables near the tenders.

 

Don't book your excursions throught RCL. ;) You can find places ahead (or even around the docks) that offer the same type activities for much less money. DH and I tandem parasailed in Key West w/Sebago for around $40 (our dining companions paid over $100 through the cruise line). We also snorkled in Nassau with Stuarts Cove dive center which was the highlight of our trip. Don't forget to pack an underwater disposable camera though! I got some great pictures of the sharks swimming around our flippers!!

[alexkrn46]

The platinum, diamond, and suite, are the first ones on the ship, it all depends on what time the returning ship is cleared through customs.

[PhoenixCruiser]

Supposedly RCI does read the boards. If they do then they know that pax are abusing the cash withdrawls in the casinos to rack up points. Don't be shocked if they do put a stop to it.

 

Yes, please do something to get this thread pulled..... :mad: We actually use the cash in the casino!

 

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[Bakincakes]

Yes, please do something to get this thread pulled..... :mad: We actually use the cash in the casino!

 

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You might just be the only one.;)

[Born2Shop]

Here is a great tip for any tip to make your luggage easy to id. I just used it on my past cruise on AOS . Prior to packing the luggage we went to a craft store and bought several rolls of neon colored duct tape. I made stripes drown the side of the luggage and different patterns on the front. You could say I went all out. The luggage could probably be seen from space. In fact I even spotted it being taken off the ship from my balcony!

 

The brightly colored tape made the bags look unique and easy to spot at the San Juan port and at the baggage claim at the airport. Sure it may look silly but it will save a lot of time and who is going to steal luggage that is so easy to identify. You can even use a sharpie to then write your name down the side of the luggage.

 

In the end it really work and held up quite well. Some of the edge just need to be stuck back down. Overall, I will probably even get even get a few more trips out of my luggage.

[PhoenixCruiser]

You might just be the only one.;)

 

You might be right...please Bakin, bring up smoking/jeans/babies/non-tippers, SOMETHING!!! ;) :mad:

 

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[J and G]

You might be right...please Bakin, bring up smoking/jeans/babies/non-tippers, SOMETHING!!! ;) :mad:

 

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How about abolishing formal night....that seems to be a pretty hot topic on another thread....:D :D :D

[PhoenixCruiser]

How about abolishing formal night....that seems to be a pretty hot topic on another thread....:D :D :D

 

You are correct :D Someone please do something bad to get this thread pulled before RCI's mgmt arrives for work tomorrow :p

 

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[jaxon41]

The platinum, diamond, and suite, are the first ones on the ship, it all depends on what time the returning ship is cleared through customs.

 

could someone tell me if platinum gets to board with their cabin mates, if their cabin mates are not platinum?

[brigittetom]

could someone tell me if platinum gets to board with their cabin mates, if their cabin mates are not platinum?

 

Platinum members don't have to get into the platinum line. Supposedly those lines are for priority boarding but many times it's faster in the regular lines since there are so many more of them.

Boarding the Jewel in London, they had a special priority section curtained off. Fantastic. After only minutes of documentation we were on our way........to stand in line behind 300 or so passengers to board. :D