mrunner

I just had a bad experience with O'Doul's.

This past May we did a B2B out of Copenhagen on the Serenade.

In the past I have always been able to get O'Doul's.

We're DP but when I asked for O'Doul's in the Concierge Lounge they said it was not on the beer list and not available to us in the lounge.

I even went to a bar to use it as one of my 3 drinks and they also said , the computer says it is not on the list of approved drinks and would not give me one.

Strangely they had non-alcoholic wine and Champaign. So I had that.

Now they serve Champaign, but technically it is not on the list.

Now, we just came off the Oasis this month and they had a drawer full of O'Doul's, no problem. They did not have non-alcoholic wine.

I hope this is just a one ship thing on the Serenade only. I did complain to our Loyalty Ambassador. She called bar service and they confirmed it was not available to us.

Augie

Thanks all for your comments. We called RCCL ourselves trying to get an answer. We were referred up the ladder for an answer and was told it was because it was "Friend and Family" pricing, which one of you mentioned.

Also, point well taken, the $100. deposit is for a lower total deposit on a cruise far out and no value for a cruise 10 days out where you must pay the full amount.

We didn't think about telling them to forget the $25. OBC, just credit me the $100. Anyway, the next cruise is now 7 days out and we will bring the certificate with us and discuss it on board. We plan to book our next cruise on board this time.

We have been using the same TA for at least the last 20 cruises so he does all he can for us.

I'm still trying to reason why they won't give you the $100. credit on a low fare because you have paid it. Could it be because that $100. stays with RCCL and the ship doesn't get credit for it as income.

Augie

This is my first thread on this forum.

Background: on our last cruise, we met with the future cruise agent and paid $100. deposit for a future cruise. We noticed the OBC was only $25. for a 7 night future cruise but it was higher if you booked a specific cruise on board. The agent said the are discouraging open future cruises. Unfortunately we did it anyway.

Through our TA we just booked a 7 night cruise on the Freedom this July 27th, only 10 days away, and gave him our future deposit info. He was told they could not accept our $100 future cruise deposit because we were getting some kind of special discount. The TA went to the next level and got the same answer. We didn't think it was that special.

To me, if they accepted the $100 deposit that meant they had to give us the lowsy $25. OBC. We are D+ and will eventually use it but will never buy a future deposit again. I have a hard time understanding this because they have free money to invest. Anyone this was our current experience and just wanted advise what is currently happening.

Augie

I'm sorry all, I feel stupid. I got those numbers from Book Now and didn't go beyond that to get the breakdown. Didn't realize that was the total fee for both not individual. Please end this thread now. Another lesson.

Augie

I'm new to Cruise Critic so if this has been discussed before, please direct me to the thread. I hope this isn't taboo to talk about.

I'm finding Gov't Fees and Taxes are much higher this year than last year. For example, the Allure out of FLL, 7N Caribbean, now about $230. last year about $150. The Enchantment out of Port Canaveral, 4N Bahamas, now about $135, last year about $70. The Freedom out of Port Canaveral, 7N Caribbean, also now about $230. By comparison, Ruby Princess out of FLL, 7N Caribbean, about $105 to $125.

Anybody know what's going on?

Augie

Augie

Thanks all for this information. I'm new on CC but we cruise a lot, D+, but always have trouble getting a table for two. I'm hard of hearing so it's difficult holding a conversation across the table plus I give the Head Waiter a special Main Entre I like every night so I want the same table every night.

Which is better to use, the long one with the ship code name or simply rcldining? Is it best 7 to 10 days before or one month before? We've learned the hard way not to book too far out because of price drops and early dining is not available so we take late dining so as not to prepay gratuities then rush to the dining room to change to early, a real hassle.

Thanks, Augie