casinostreer

It's definitely miles better than the standard RCL house coffee, which is pretty rough.

 

Would be cool if RCL added a coffee-lovers drink package for folks who aren't so much into alcohol, or endless buckets of soda. :)

That's a great idea - I'm sure there'd be a number of people who would enjoy that one.

But I imagine they would force you in to the Royal Replenish. Doesn't that include specialty coffees (and buckets of soda?) :cool:

It's listed at $19 per day. So that would mean about 4 or 5 premium coffees per day to break even. (Based on $4-5 per coffee.) That's a lot of coffee.

Excellent!!

Bob - I'd be happy to post a picture when I get back.

Also - not that I care THAT much between Starbucks vs. Seattle's Best - but I like Starbucks and that's what we're used to. (Not much of a taste difference with a healthy dose of Bailey's in it!)

Thanks everyone!

This is from a while back:

 

Record time, Bob! :-) Gentleman and a scholar!

That's almost identical to what's on Freedom - so we'll feel right at home. And AWAKE!

I thought the smaller ships might have a smaller menu - but I guess not!

We're used to Freedom's Cafe Promenade - so we're used to the Starbucks menu. Does anyone have a copy of the Seattle's Best menu? We have the Ultimate package and we LOVE the premium coffee. Anyone have a picture of the menu?

Thanks in advance!

PS - AAAAANNNNNDDDD Must gloat that we board in a matter of days!

Forgot about that, Bob. :) We were in our rooms right after we finished our lunch - so we felt like we had them at the beginning.

But you can still get a soda from one of the bars by showing them the sticker on your card. :-) Or the servers can get you one in the Windjammer. But they won't be able to get you something from the Freestyle machine until you get the cups from your room. :(

Hi, on our Allure cruise we purchased the drink package on board. I have an upcoming cruise this August on Freedom and happen to have the money available now and I am considering paying for it now online. If we do that, is the sticker on our card at checkin, and when would we get our cup? I think Freedom has the Freestyle machines, right? I really don't want to go stand in a line for a drink cup, do they give them to you at checkin or in your room? Thanks!

Yes - Freedom has the freestyle machines. If you prepay - your sticker will be on your card at check-in and the cup will be waiting for you in your room. We LOVED having the drink packages on Freedom. Check out the Breeze bar outside of the Windjammer by the kid's splash zone. Wonderful frozen mojitos!

How often do they raise the prices?

 

Sent from my ONE E1005 using Tapatalk

One can never tell. It seemed like it didn't go up at all leading up to our last cruise in October. However, we booked this cruise (next week) in December and it's gone up (slightly) twice. Usually it goes up (about) the price of one drink. So - you'll need to drink ONE more drink (or coffee or soda or whatever) per day to make it worth it. :)

I thought that I was going to wait and purchase my drink package on board, but since I booked my cruise, the price went up . . . . TWICE. However, I knew that I was going to get one for my cruise. Just purchased it today - for a cruise next week.

So - I would recommend pre-purchasing - unless you have a good amount of OBC. I've heard that there are on-board or embarkation day discounts, but haven't seen one in my last 4 cruises.

Either way - it all depends on what and how much you plan on drinking.

Hope that helps.

Just off Brilliance , we had the premium package

Everything we ordered was covered . Frozen cocktails

Gentlemen jack , etc ... Definitely worth it for us.

Bartenders had no issue with it , extra tip or not.

Glad to hear. Let's hope the same is true on Enchantment next week. :) Will let you know.

We had requested the beds to be together like we always do. When we got to the cabin they were apart. Figured no big deal, when we see the steward we would ask for them to be put together. When he knocked on the door later to introduce himself I asked him to put the beds together. He gave me a weird look, pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket, and then said: But you are 2 men. I said yes, but that shouldn't matter. he then did a little head jerk and said huh,,, ok. It was very obvious by his responses that he had a problem with it. I'm pretty thick skinned, but this I felt needed to be addressed so no one else should have to deal with that type of response. Plus I really didn't want him in our cabin at this point.

 

Was very surprised that he would even question our request. I'm sure it is a request they get often. We just asked for a new steward and suggested they maybe revisit diversity training. This is the first time we have ever encountered this.

I worried that might have been what you encountered. We always expect something like that, but have been lucky enough that is hasn't happened . . . yet. Sorry that happened to you guys.

Glad that you still had a great time!

We were on the same cruise. Interested to see what issue you encountered. We had a major issue on day 1 that required a chat with management regarding some of their staff needing diversity training and changing our steward.

If you don't mind sharing with us, what was the issue? We've never encountered anything like that - but have often expected it. (Two guys with a daughter.) Sorry that it affected your cruise, but I'm glad you still had a great time.

Thank you both so much for the information!!! Just being new to RCL, wanted to be prepared! Thanks again!!!

Freedom-Lover Tip:

Don't miss out on Giovanni's Table. Even for lunch - great food, service and atmosphere.

Have a FANTASTIC time!

This review is exactly what I need right now. We're going on the same cruise in a week. I'm usually an over planner with the deck plans, etc. however - work has kept me too busy. I love the photos and the review.

As you can see from my screen name - we really enjoy the casino. In fact, husband and my sister won cruise certificates on Freedom in October - which is what we used to book this trip. Glad to hear that your luck was pretty good. (Breaking even - or "up and down" is what we consider good luck.) Did you meet the casino host? How were the cocktail servers? We didn't see many on our last Freedom cruise - but in the past - they have been very attentive.

I too am worried that there is bad yet to come - but hopefully - in time you'll look back on this cruise with only fond memories. We sailed on Allure on our first cruise and did not like the size of the ship. Freedom (for us) was just right. We hope that Enchantment will not be TOO small. We don't often use the "bells and whistles" of the ship - too busy enjoying a relaxing couple of days off. (And this time without our 4 year old - who LOVED cruising on the Freedom.)

Looking forward to more pictures and the remainder of the review.

Thanks!

Michael

This will be our first cruise with Royal Caribbean, but not our first cruise. We will be on the Freedom at the end of March. Can anyone answer some of the questions below:

 

Are shampoo and conditioner provided in the stateroom bathrooms?

 

What size are the safes? Would an IPAD fit in them?

 

Thank you so very much!!!!

There is a generic body wash/shampoo dispenser in the shower. But not actual shampoo and conditioner. If you're worried - I'd suggest bringing your own.

Yes - an iPad will fit in the safe. It might need to be put at an angle depending on what else you're planning on putting into the safe.

It's our favorite ship - enjoy!!! :)

I've read that if you use your Diamond benefits (like balcony discount), you don't get the reciprocal M-Life benefits. It's more useful fro M-Life members with no C&A status.

This seemed to be true for us.

We are MLife Platinum members (we enjoy Vegas) and the first time we cruised with RCCL we stopped in the Casino and met with the host. We were given 2 specialty dinners, one for each platinum member. We also get one free cruise per year, or $750 credit toward a cruise. Other than room discounts I don't think the C&A benefits at MGM are nearly as generous. Maybe I'll know more if I ever get to Diamond status! :)

Good definition. I am enlightened. :D

 

 

 

I have never said that everyone who has a drink is an alcoholic. Not even those who get drunk on a cruise. What I have said is that the cruise lifestyle is attractive to alcoholics.

Gotcha. But now I'm intrigued. How is it "attractive" to alcoholics? In many cruises - I've never seen anyone raging drunk or notices for lots Bill W. meetings.

But I wouldn't doubt it - cruising is attractive to everyone i know.

When catering for a high number of alcoholics there will be alcohol available at all times. It is their demographic.

For the record - when I'm on a cruise - I'm just a drunk. Alcoholics go to meetings and admit they have a problem. :)

Fortunately, your generalization of EVERYONE who has a drink as "alcoholics" won't stop me from having a great time. (I might not remember it - but that's why they have security cameras!)

remember " you can't drink all day unless you start in the morning ! "

Our cruise MANTRA!

It was not on the Oasis - but we found (with the ultimate package) that Cafe Lattitudes has Baileys and other liquors behind the counter. They'll put it right in with your coffee.

Missed the part about it being a 3-day cruise. You would probably not want to skip day 1.:)

I probably didn't say it. :) I'll probably still buy before hand (on Friday) but I'll stop at the table on Day 1 and get a flyer and carry it around with me.

BUT - the above poster mentioned that the R-Bar on Enchantment didn't nickel and dime him. (We'll be in cabin 4578 on our cruise!) That'll work for me. :)

You find out exactly what the packages cover on that ship, should it differ from other ships. Also, you get to skip day 1 if you like.

Gotcha - I didn't know that the packages varied from ship to ship. No indication of that in ANY published information. (Should I take that as par for the course?)

True - I'd get to skip day one - but on a 3 night Bahama cruise? I can do some serious drinking on my first day of my first cruise - sans kids. :D

Even if you google the latest pdf of the drink packages from Royal Caribbean, it lists cocktails (no monetary restrictions) which would include frozen drinks and other specialty cocktails - no glassware of course. It specifically mentions dollar amounts for the wines - why wouldn't it list restrictions on cocktails - if there were any.

Hate to ask this to the above poster - and not trying to be confrontational - but did you tip at all? We found that that bartenders literally didn't bat an eye about what we ordered as long as we had "UP" on our Seapass card and a dollar or two per round of three drinks. It's sucks to think that one would NEED to do that - seeing as how it's included.

Also - I'm still nervous about taking the "buy the drink packages on the boat" advice, Bob. I took your advice and the packages have already gone up since then. :eek: What's the benefit of waiting again?

So Enchantment is different than other ships? On Freedom, with the Ultimate package, we were never charged extra for ANYTHING - and we ordered every kind of every drink.

Or is it the Freedom that is different? Just wondering - about to buy my Ultimate Package for my Enchantment cruise on 2/26. I'm guessing that it differs between bartender or which bar you go to? Would really like to know! :)

See attached.Drink Menus.pdf

If it helps to know where I'm coming from - I'm not a big drinker at home. BUT - I go on a cruise less than once a year AND I'm on vacation. The last time I cruised I had the Premium package and I swore I drank more in those 7 days then in the previous 9-12 months. Yet I only got "drunk" (vs. tipsy) once when a bartender had a heavy hand. :eek:

 

Another thing about me is I'm kind of cheap so I don't want to lose money, but if I can get within $30 - 3 drinks - it's worth it to me to have the package and not give it a thought when ordering. I'm also so cheap that if I didn't have the package there would definitely be times when I wouldn't order a drink when I wanted one just to save money. Which wouldn't be a bad thing for my waistline but not how I want to feel while on vacation. :D

I'm with you! :) I RARELY drink at home - ever. (Former bartender.) However - when I cruise - we really enjoy having a couple - or 12 drinks. We cruised ONCE without a package and totally regretted it. Second cruise we got the Premium package and really enjoyed it. The last cruise we had the Ultimate package and we found that Baileys in your premium coffee and Grey Goose in your fresh squeezed orange juice really make it worth the extra $10 per day!

Nice to see that there are numbers to back up my habits! :)

Thanks!! Would love to hear how your trip went! We're going on the 2/26 trip!