tallnthensome

We just got off the Indy on sunday. We had the premium drink packages. As others have mentioned there are no full drink menus to be found and prices are as high as you have heard. The drink packages were well worth it to us. We both averaged about 11 drinks a day at sea and about 8 when we had ports as well as many bottles of water. I printed off the master drink list from another poster's link and it was just a wonderful little drink bible to have. Not knowing names of fancy frozen and regular drinks can limit one's options and many of these contain the premium liquors. It seems that RC would like you to sip on cheap magaritas and basic pina colodas because that's all they advertise. If you have the master list they will make whatever you want only if you ask by name. We were getting drinks at the bar that had many many others asking "what is that?" and "where did you get that?" .... I told them from the master list and everyone wanted to see it as it was in my hand. My advice is to print out the three pages and have it readily available to you any time you want something special and/or more unique.

 

Again , we had the premium package which already included gratuity. I chose to bring 100 $1.00 bills with me. Each time I ordered drinks for my DW and kids drinks I would tip $1 ....every time. I didn't mind and I wanted to reward good service. It didn't take long for the bartenders to learn my name. We would receive quick attention at a crowded bar and I never had to sign a slip for anything. It was hit and go .... The best part, contrary to some postings, is that every single drink we got (mostly frozen) were STRONG. Not watered down but good and topped off with a shot. Was it because of the cash tips? Maybe? Probably .... I didn't see too many cash tips from anyone and most didn't add gratuity if they had packages. Do you have to? Certainly not. If you want to be known by name, get fast attention, and get good strong drinks tip a $1 each time if you have a package. Don't forget to print that master RC drink list and guard it with your life!

As the original poster I must add that I suffer from psoriatic arthritis in my feet, knees, hip and back. I also have post tibial tendonitis and plantar fascittis. I say this to let you all know that I'm not in the best shape for stairs either but still take them. I should have mentioned this earlier so I am sympathetic to others with ailments..... just not to the healthy lazy elevator riders that like to ride 10ft.

OP - I understand what you are saying about the elevator but it is very difficult for us to take full advantage of the Unlimited Drink Package and then take the stairs.

See, now that is funny! Most people wanted to rake my eyes out at first and now there are some that agree with me and probably more that won't admit it. I am not dumping on people that are elderly, feable, sick or have medical conditions when it comes to the elevator. I'm talking to those who are simply too lazy to take the stairs one flight ten feet away. You know who you are and you might be taking the last two spots from some who may need it. You are not required to explain your medical condition if you have one. Our room was on three and never once did me, the wife , not my two young children take the elevator even up two flights to the promenade. Why? Out of courtesy to those who actually needed the elevator. Why some of you want to beat me up for speaking the truth is beyond me.

A bit grumpy at having to go home? You have some valid points, though it would have been nice to balance them with some good points from your trip - surely there were some!

The cruise was darn near perfect and the ship was extra clean and the staff was great .... but that makes for boring conversation.

This makes me crazy!!

 

Why do you ASSume that because someone looks fine [to you] they don't need to use the elevator? And, what right do you have to decide who should or shouldn't use an elevator?

 

Stop judging people!

No, when they can run to catch it before the door closes while laughing and are 40 years old it's pretty easy to judge and call them lazy and more or less rude.

Just off the Indy on sunday:

 

People, please use the hand sanitizer stations in the windjammer and dining rooms. It's for yours and our protection. Don't just walk past them. These are the same people that poop and don't wash their hands I'll bet.

 

Unless you are 80, use a wheel chair, or a cane please feel free to walk up or down ONE deck using the stairs instead of stopping a full elevator full of people to be so lazy.

 

Please ditch your beat up Harley Davidson shirt and hockey jersey and show up in the main dining room looking presentable and show respect for once in your life... slobs.

 

In the Windjammer, don't stand around the buffett holding conversations with 10 of family members blocking traffic and food accessability. Go sit down and get out of the way.

 

Thanks ....

Thanks! That's what I was hoping to hear! :)

Yes....always bring mine and it's never been a problem. They know not to mess with us ladies and our hair! lol

As a man I know that's for sure! :D

RCL just called for my boarding on the Indy this saturday. The phone message stated 3:30. We have to be out of the hotel down the way by noon. Can we show up earlier without persecution? I have two young daughters and trying to keep them contained for over three hours before their first cruise wont be an easy task. I'm assuming they want to control the flow but we don't have anywhere else to go. Will it be a problem?

Well, that was quick! Thanks! :)

Is she allowed to bring it on board? I know the rules about clothing irons but not sure about this one. We leave on the Indy saturday. Thanks in advance!

My DW and I leave on the Indy this Saturday, we are in our 30's and both have the Premium drink package. If it takes 5 drinks a day or so to cover the cost of the package then we should cover that easily every day and especially days at sea. Are we alcoholics? Not remotely but I know from sun up to sun down on sea days I will put away a dozen myself without blinking ...... We plan to get our monies worth. I normally drink beer but on the ship its going to be as many fruity tropical expensive drinks I can get out of them and my package. :)

If I have late seating and I have friends that have anytime, can I go to anytime with them some of the time?

Did you prepay your gratuities which is required for MTD? I sail on the INDY this coming saturday. I was listed for the traditional at 6pm but changed it to MTD just today for the flexability.

We leave this coming saturday on the Indy. They have plenty of excursions listed. However, your cruise is a ways out yet and the excursions for that cruise will be listed the closer you get, say 90 days out or so.

Thanks everyone ......... Our knowledge and names of exotic drinks is very limited so an extensive menu will be helpful.

We haven't cruise RCL in about 7 years. My wife loves fruity drinks and we both have drink packages for next week's cruise. I remember there being pages and pages of mixed drinks in a book at the bars. I've been reading that that they are not listing all the ones they offer. Is this true for all ships right now or certian ones? Not true at all? Did they cut the list down? Can you still order something from the main fleetwide RCL drink list if it's not listed on the specific ship menu? I told my wife to print off a list another poster put up so we can remember the names in case she can't remember them. Any thoughts or input! Thanks in advance ....

A plain cheese pizza in the main dining room of a cruise ship? Sorry, this isn't a WalMart cafeteria. The day I see that on the menu of the MDR is the day I quit cruising. What's next, requesting a plain hot dog on a stick? When people start accepting this as a MDR item we're all screwed because of them. Don't give the cruise lines any cheap stupid ideas.

Thanks!

I also checked that MDR link. Is that the menu I can also expect to see starting next weekend on the Independence? ??

Grape juice! :D

Thanks for the quick responses! I appreciate it!! :)

Do onboard purchases automatically get deducted from your onboard credit first or your credit card they have on file? For instance, if I purchase a couple of cupcakes or ice creams for my girls does it automatically come off my OBC first and then switch over to my credit card after all OBC is gone? I haven't sailed in a while and never had OBC before. Thanks in advance!

Why be shy? Simply ask the table how everyone is enjoying their cruise, which tours they took, and past cruises to interesting places, where they are from and everyone is sure to open up real quick and share. Breaks the ice prettty easily and other conversation flows from there.

We will be boarding the Indy ourselves in just a few short weeks! I am excited to read your review. Already checked out your pictures on Flicker. Thanks for sharing them!

 

We understand about March Madness. We are a bit obsessed ourselves. :D

My DW and I will be on there as well. I have two young girls and wanted to wait a couple weeks after spring break in hopes of a quieter ship with less kids .... even though I have mine! LOL! :) Thanks for the review hawkfan.

I've had great and awful MDR experiences. The bad was on HAL a few years back with my DW. We were on our Baltic/Russia cruise. She was in her late 20's and I in my early 30's. We were the youngest couple BY FAR on the ship and it was a pricey cruise. The ship was 95% silver foxes which I expected and it didn't bother me. First night in the dining room at a table of ten with 8 older people. The minute we sat down the pretentious eye rolling began, the snaring. We knew we youngsters weren't welcome at "their table". I tried so strike up conversation about the cruise and past experiences and all I got was one word replies. By night 2 my DW and I were alone at the same table. We didn't mind and found it comical in a way that they were all at different tables. We paid our money just like they did and are by no means crazy cruise goers. They felt we must have belonged on Carnival on not "their' Holland line. Oh well ...... There's more to the story if anyone wants to hear about an old lady geting a scary earful on the same ship from myself ........