Paulxyz2004

I don´t see why it "Needs to go". 

There will be enough new Cruisers on every cruise to Keep ot a novelty for a quite a few. 

We all have our preferences and you can´t please all. To me there´s much worse waste of space with venues on the ships, but I know some of those places are popular with others, so I won´t say they "Need to go".

18 minutes ago, besberry said:

 

You still pay the 18% though, not sure what the bionic bartender will spend it on!

 

WD-40

Well my "if they can get away with it" comment has been more geared to those who think what RCI does is somehow unlawful or unethical.

No I don´t condone unlawful behaviour. I don´t see unlawful behaviour with RCI though. I don´t think this Advertising is unethical, to me it´s just well done Business with Integrity and class.

Obviously we have to agree to disagree on the view of Integrity and class.

2 minutes ago, Merion_Mom said:

 

 

Sorry. Early morning fuzzy brain. I should have left the link there alone. Yes, just one; not divided. Just renamed. 

No Problem.

7 minutes ago, Merion_Mom said:

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-ships/freedom-of-the-seas/deck-plans/1821/06

 

it is the Presidential Suite divided into two “Villa” Suites. 

Now you´ve certainly confused me, as I can see only one Villa Suite on the link you posted and the description fits the size of the Presidential Suite.

I might be wrong, but from when I visited the Suite on Freedom several years ago, I recall there no Sofa bed being in any of the 4 bedrooms. The Sofa bed was in the Living room. The two inside bedrooms with the bunk beds had very limited Floor space. Much less than a regular inside cabin. Putting a mattress on the Floor would probably mostly elliminate any Floor space.

6 minutes ago, Merion_Mom said:

 

I believe this is the new name for the presidential suite on deck 6 aft. (Freedom of the Seas)

3 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

 

Harmony and Symphony deck 12.

Thanks, didn´t know they are named Villa Suite now.

2 hours ago, Iamcruzin said:

Well it's a good thing that most of their passengers don't follow Cruise Critic or research before they cruise. The only reason that they get away with what the do is because the general public is clueless and gullible. This is nothing new. Snake Oil sales men got away with it for years and informercials As seen on Tv are very profitable.  The majority of the passengers take the ad at face value make the purchase and never look back. Cruise Critic members spend a years time purchasing, canceling and purchasing again. All things being equal I would choose to sail another line over Royal Caribbean just because it's just too much extra work monitoring prices. There are more threads complaining about pricing and advertising on this board than any other board that I have been on.

And still their ships sail at capacity and obviously you continue to sail on RCI as well. All done Right By RCI in my book then. If they can get away with it much more power to them.

Villa Suite? Are you sure you are sailing on RCI?

26 minutes ago, AmyIllinois said:

WOW!! This is wonderful!! You did a fantastic job describing the difference!! Thank you So Much!!!  We're gunna have to give celebrity a try 😀👍

You realize this is from 2016!

Not to say it isn´t valid anymore, but I was a bit puzzled About Summit being refurbished recently, when it´s due to be refurbished either this or next month, until I realized the OP is from 2016.

On ‎2‎/‎7‎/‎2019 at 6:22 PM, TTraub1250 said:

The first page with the slanted banner of 50% off to many,  is like a billboard on the side of the highway !  You should be able to take it at first value without missing any information.  What is missing is what is the 50% off of ?  Have you ever seen a listed price that they take the 50% off of on a RCCL website ?  I have not and have tried to find one. Also there are "truth in advertising laws".  If this does not cross the line on that law, to many, it is sure looking over the line and does it match the spirit of the truth in advertising law !  Many Car dealers in general,  with their advertising are not what I call ethical and have integrity.  Why does RCCL have to stoop to the lower level of an unethical advertiser, why not be straight forward ?   As a stock holder this activity by the marketing and pricing departments is disturbing.  If I were President or at least VP of marketing, I would fire those people, with attitudes and advertising that is less than full integrity.  The way you treat people as a company tells alot about your integrity !   Integrity is everything !   Don't get me wrong, I have had P&L responsibility and understand pricing theory.  When people can not make their goals company's set, then those people become less than ethical.  Case in point Wells Fargo !  

Well this shareholder would not fire them, but nominate them for a big Bonus whilst they help to keep Sales strong, stock Price up and a flowing dividend. IMO it´s not shady from the Company but stupid from the buyer who doesn´t watch the Bottom line.

The persons I would fire are those bartenders not following the rules and sell the package to just one Person OnBoard.

I would advise someone to try and track down them with Posters on These and other boards as a starting Point. It should be easy to have a look at the OnBoard Sales and find out who got a package with only one charged to the OnBoard account and more People in the cabin. Give a Bonus to those who catch some of those bartenders.

I want more truth and Integrity from the bartenders towards their employer.

1 hour ago, martini_guy said:

Yeah it's just too much work if I have stockpile drinks in my cabin fridge or to go to the smokey casino just to enjoy a drink after midnight-1am. I'll just go back to cruising with Carnival so I can go to any bar that I want until late.

That´s some great News.

On ‎2‎/‎4‎/‎2019 at 7:35 AM, martini_guy said:

First off, I really liked most aspects of the ship in general. Booking on the newest/largest ship in the fleet I did expect it to be at least be to a certain standard. Eventually I would've settled for even an average standard. My first experience on the ship was going to the English pub to get a drink. My total wait was over 20 mins even though less than 10 people were in the bar. Other people in the bar told me they had to wait similar or longer. Throughout the whole trip bar service was extremely slow, and most bars closed at midnight or earlier which I've almost never heard of. Bartenders refused to tell me when they were closing and some bars just seemed to close at whim. After 3 nights I asked to get my drink package cancelled as it's clearly a scam as drinks are only available for 9-12 hours at best and they refused. I would like to start a class action suit against them. I will NEVER go on a Royal cruise again. The food is sub-par anyways but why have to deal with this $70/day drink scam when I have to spend 10 hours of waiting time per cruise just lining up for overpriced drinks?

 a class Action law suit because you couldn´t get into a drunken Stupor fast enough

On ‎7‎/‎19‎/‎2018 at 5:41 PM, millergj said:

Thanks everyone! Invergordon it is. I wish they would just list it that way.

Whenever you see two places listed it´s almost Always the case that the more attractive Location is not the place the ship is docked, as they wouldn´t list the other Location otherwise. Another hint is a look at a map. Go By the one to be Closer to sea to being the Docking place.

On ‎1‎/‎29‎/‎2019 at 1:13 PM, SRF said:

 

Pool bar on Grandeur makes very good ones.

 

But to get a really good one, ask them to make it with raw sugar, not simple syrup.  At the pool bar, they can run into WJ and get raw sugar packets.   I tip extra for this.

 

It was funny, last cruise, I met and would chat with the Beverage Manager when I saw her.  She was from Brazil.  I mentioned that they were making caipirinha with syrup.  She made a very pained face and stated, NO, they should be made with sugar. 😄

 

 

Yes they should be made with sugar, but they should be made with White sugar not raw sugar. In Brazil White sugar is used!

3 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

 

Yes, I don't know of a credit card that has no cash advance fees.

Mine is through Barclays. Of Course I don´t know if they would have the same thing in other countries, or which countries they operate in.

2 minutes ago, frayedend said:

Wonder if anyone else has noticed this.  The men's room near the main theater has a mirror in front of the urinal at stomach height.  It spans both urinals.  Look forward and you have no choice but to see your own junk and the junk of the dude next to you.  WTH.  😄    Luckily I noticed this when no one else was using the urinal.  

Well it´s a one sided Mirror. On the other side it´s the womens room and they can watch while sitting on the loo.

8 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

 

I use a debit card at the ATM, which has a PIN.

 

I'm not sure if I could use any of my credit cards at an ATM as none have PINs.  I've never tried because getting cash using the credit card would incur a cash advance fee and immediate interest.

6 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

Same here. Credit cards have way too much interest on a cash advance to use them at an ATM.

Thanks.

Probably another difference. I have a Visa and a Mastercard that don´t charge any fees for using ATM´s worldwide and no interest if the Card is Paid off in the next billing cycle. No foreign exchange fees either and the official Exchange rate is used.

5 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

 

OK, the pin might be the difference.  Pins for  credit cards are not common in the US.  Debit cards here have pins, but generally not credit cards.

We have them for debit Cards and credit Cards, even though I can use any credit Card without the pin as well by signing. The ost Cards now have RFID Chips as well enabling them for contactless payment.

Just out of curiousity and not wanting to take this too far OT, without Pins, how do you get cash from ATM´s?

5 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

 

Really?  Every credit card I've received in the mail in the last 5 years (probably more) has had to be activated by either phone or web site.

Yes, I have never had to do this and I´ve had Cards through various Banks and credit Card companies. The pin for the Card is Always sent in a speperate Mailing a couple days apart though.

I´m not from the US / Canada, so that might be the difference here. The activating sounds like a good idea, but as I said I never had to do it.

As many said on here, it´s a non-issue.

But my Evil side can´t help to Point this out to all the paranoid Folks.

With the RFID Cards left outside your cabin, someone could read the information from your Card without tempering the envelop. Then an RFID chip could be coded with your information and open your door.

37 minutes ago, cruiseguy1016 said:

 

But no one can use that card until you call to have it activated.

I never had to call to activate a credit Card. I get it mailed and it´s Ready to use.

2 hours ago, sparks1093 said:

Maybe Royal does it differently but that is the way Carnival does it, the keys aren't put out until the cabins are actually made available to the passengers.

The keys are out earlier than 1pm. I´ve seen this when on B2B Cruises.

1 hour ago, not-enough-cruising said:

On Royal they are not only closed, but locked 

Of Course the fire doors are not locked, actually firedoors don´t even have locks on them.

10 hours ago, Journey2016 said:

Why? If I am paying the CL directly, why even have a TA? Why not just book direct with the CL? I'm curious...

Because your TA could just pocket your Money, or your Money would be lost if the TA files bankruptcy.