Royal Caribbean secrets (merged)

[Little Elm]

You have greater savings by using the Wine & Dine package on board. The wine cellar gift selection has higher prices than the onboard prices without gratuity by about $2 a bottle. We did the Gold Wine & Dine on our last cruise and for example a bottle of Danzante Italian pinot grinio was $26 (avg. price inc. gratuity) with the W&D pkg, $35 to prebuy as gift and $38 with gratuity to buy separately onboard. The W&D pkg have 5,7,10 and 12 bottles options and all average out at $22.50 per bottle plus the 15% gratuity or about $26 total. You must prepurchase it or buy it on embarkation day as it isn't available after the first day onboard.

Also you don't need to have the wine cellar gift selection delivered to your room, you can have the wine celler gifts delivered to the dining room without corkage added according to RC web site. I agree that this offers a small savings ($3 per bottle) if one or a few bottles only are wanted but the greatest saving is with the above package or not ordering wine onboard at all.

 

Do you purchase the Wine & Dine package in the dining room?

[Dsnyluvr]

What happens if you buy the Wine & Dine Package, but don't drink all the wine that you prepaid for? Do you get to take it home with you?

[nbsjcruiser]

I've seen this question on other lines threads but couldn't find any good RCCL ones. Can you share some things that you've experienced on RCCL that they just don't publicize? Secrets, if you will. We're on the Majesty in December. Thanks!

 

Steve

 

When you drop your baggage at the pier give the porter AT LEAST $10. Last time I was in Miami I dropped $15 in his hands for 2 bags. He immediately took them over to a roped off area, said "VIP" and thanked me. When we finally got into our room around 2pm, we got a knock on the door and voila, there was our luggage. First ones on the floor.

 

First night of the cruise, we typically give our waiter and room attendant $10, discreetly of course. Service will be just a little better that week.

[cheaptravel]

On the last night of our cruise, we ate at Chops. My husband had the mixed greens salad before dinner, looked really good with all the exotic type greens. In the middle of the night he got very ill, and truly felt that it was the salad, you know how sometimes you just "know." He barely made it through disembarking and getting to our hotel. When we got home, I called RC, and the rep I got was very defensive and said they had no other complaints. I tried to explain that this was from Chops, and not the main dining rooms, and that on Sat. night, Chops was nearly empty, so I doubted many of those salads had been served. She didn't want to hear it. We feel the salad was probably not rinsed well. Just an FYI / heads up. I didn't expect anything from RC, I just wanted to report it.

[EggDropErin]

:confused: So, does anyone know where to get popcorn on AOS?? please.....

 

We didn't see popcorn when we sailed on her. That doesn't mean there isn't any...we just never came across any. I have quite the nose for it as it's one of my most favorite things.

[sleepless]

Is there any popcorn available on the Jewel? If so, where? It is the favorite snack of DH. Thanks.

[packercruising]

As long as there is free soft serve. There is free soft serve isn't there????

[ChristieNJ]

You can get cash out of the casino with no fees, just don't advertise that you are not planning to gamble with it.;)

 

Explorer of the Seas is getting very WISE to this trick...

Last week, at separate times, both my father AND husband tried to get cash out of the casino. The people behind the booth insisted on giving them chips instead, and it was a fight to have to get cash. They ended up getting the cash, but I think they're on to us! :D

[dolfandude]

Are there any microwaves available (if you bring your own popcorn)?:confused:

[Yvie]

Ask your dining room waiter if you prefer a food that is not listed on the menu. In the past I have asked for asparagus or broccoli even if it's not on that evenings menu. Since they prep all day they may not always be able to accomodate your request, but they do try their best to honor requests.

 

Also, if you ask they will give out recipes (ones that aren't in the cookbooks for sale). My family loves the savory bites (dinner rolls) served at dinner and they gave me that recipe, as well as the one for the amaretti cookies served in Sorrento's.

[Jamaicaholic]

OH OH...Please post the savory bites recipe!!! That's my fav...

[ChristieNJ]

OH OH...Please post the savory bites recipe!!! That's my fav...

 

ME TOOOO....we LOVE the Savory Bites!!!!! :D

[EchoSix]

They DON'T voluntarily tell you if a LARGE group/party of people has reserved a large portion of the ship.

 

Though it can easily go either way, as far as your fun-factor... It may behoove you to do a Google search about group cruises, on the ship/date you're planning to go on, or possibly even ask your Travel Agent or Royal Caribbean employee, if they could offer you any info on it.

 

Ya' never know. Ya' know? ;)

[GeckoGirl]

I like to use Splenda in my iced tea. Since so few restaurants offer them, I always have the packets in my purse. While at Chops, our waiter saw the empty wrapper on our table, and asked if I needed more. He said they "have it," but only give it out if asked for. Otherwise, they only put the other sugar substitutes on the table. I assume the dining room would have it as well "if asked for."

 

That is so true, on our Bermuda trip on the Empress they only had Equal, Sweet-n-low and regular Sugar packets on the tables. We told our waitress that we liked Splenda and from then on it was on our table every night at dinner. Sometimes all you have to do is ask, you'd be surprised what you can get.

 

And speaking of dinners, you can have as many items or meals as you want, we had a big group and most of the guys would order 2 dinners each night and we would always ask for all of the appetizers so we could try them all, then whichever ones we really liked we would get more of, and of course we all usually got 2 desserts each. Beware though you will gain lots of weight doing this:eek:

[Yvie]

I just found the recipe for savory bites. Reading it over, I remember why I never made them. The recipe needs to be scaled down and one of the ingredients needs clarification. The directions are not as clear as I would like either. The ingredients are 50 lbs of potato bread mix, 5 lbs of savory base, 4 pounds of margarine, 15 liters of water, and 10 oz of dry yeast. The problem is the savory base... . I got the recipe the last night of our cruise and had no time to get clarification (what exactly is "savory base"?). Unfortunately I won't be able to try and get additional information until our next cruise in July. Maybe someone cruising before then can try to find out or check with a professional baker. If anyone is still interested in trying the recipe to see if it works before then, let me know .

[rccl9876]

Haha good ol' sacory bites that is kind of an insid ejoke with my familiy we loved their name and taste so much.

[ChristieNJ]

I just found the recipe for savory bites. Reading it over, I remember why I never made them. The recipe needs to be scaled down and one of the ingredients needs clarification. The directions are not as clear as I would like either. The ingredients are 50 lbs of potato bread mix, 5 lbs of savory base, 4 pounds of margarine, 15 liters of water, and 10 oz of dry yeast. The problem is the savory base... . I got the recipe the last night of our cruise and had no time to get clarification (what exactly is "savory base"?). Unfortunately I won't be able to try and get additional information until our next cruise in July. Maybe someone cruising before then can try to find out or check with a professional baker. If anyone is still interested in trying the recipe to see if it works before then, let me know .

 

:eek: Yikes, nevermind! Thanks anyway! LOL :p

[Sunny AZ Girl]

I love Savory Bites! When we were last on the Monarch they were not being offered by our Assistant Waiter. When I asked for them she said she thought they didn't have them anymore. She left and a few minutes later came back with a basket of them. It seems they were running low - maybe on the savory base (the secret ingrdient?) - but she found a few for us. The whole table got hooked! She had them for us every night after that!:D

[Javadelcamp]

There's a small vending type machine in the waiting area of the onboard medical center. For 50 cents you can get all sorts of otc medicines and even antibiotic ointment -- in small quantities.

 

Just make sure you have quarters with you. We had to walk back up to the casino and ask for change and then return to the medical center.

 

I had NO idea about this! Wow! Thanks for sharing this--I will no longer pack all this junk and carry it onto the ship!

 

This is such a great thread. I can't wait to refer others to it!

 

Java

[Javadelcamp]

Don't kid youself, getting there early will just be more time in a long line. There will be Platinum and Diamond members boarding before you when the ship is finally cleared. Sometimes the ship isn't cleared until 1:00 PM; then what? I would say around noon would be a good time. How would I know? Try cruising 40 times on RCCL. ;>)

 

 

Sonny

 

Sonny, I don't have 40 cruises under my belt with RCL, but I do have three. Everytime we've been onboard by noon. We definitely aren't Platinum or Diamond yet, but we have always been to the terminal at about 11:30, and been on by noon.

 

This time we're planning a 10:30 a.m. arrival at the pier since we're bringing new cruisers and want them to enjoy every possible moment that they can on the beautiful Mariner!

 

Java

[dutchess43]

More importantly - There IS liquor in the concierge lounge, yes you can take it with you. Same goes with the beer, and you can take it back to the cabin and open it there.

 

This depends on the concierge we were on the Enchantment in Aug & the concierge made it abundantly clear that no alcohol was allowed to be taken outside of the CL. You can take the coffee to go no problem.

[litlvxn]

Not so much a "secret" as a word of advice. Call your credit cards/bank ahead of time and let them know the specific areas (ports) and/or countries you will be visiting. I did not do that on my cruise last year and my credit card was cancelled in the middle of the Caribbean. Not fun at all !! A few weeks ago I came back from Australia/New Zealand and had previously contacted my banks etc prior to leaving, telling them where I would be. I used the ATM onboard Rhapsody which turned out to be Bahama-based, so my bank cancelled my credit card since it appeared I was not in the countries I had told them. Just something to think about. If you notice that the ATM is based elsewhere, notify your bank ASAP while onboard:rolleyes: Have a great time---lucky you !!!

[Darkwolfe]

Java is right. Only two so far, but we were among the first dozen or so to board Enchantment in October. Granted, we did have a JS, but that only gained a couple of minutes ahead of the folks that were in the cheaper cabins.

[luv2cruz64]

Not really a secret so much as a tip, I found the showers in the room to be a little claustrophobic,felt like I was going to be beamed up at any minute. On the 2nd day of our 9 night VOS cruise I discovered the showers in the fitness area, though they are public, I only encountered other women in there a few times. They are large enough that you can hang your clothes on the hook outside and dry off and change inside of the stall. And, it was great because you can easily go from sauna/steam room to shower since they are all in the same area.

[litlvxn]

I normally cruise on Princess and have to pay a percentage surcharge when I get cash placed onto my seapass account at the casino. It was nice not having to pay any extra when I did this a few weeks ago on the Rhapsody. Let's hope this lasts !! (but I doubt it will)