nimbex1970

As long as we pay, the prices will raise. There is a huge surge back to cruising post covid, I don't blame any business in maximizing their profit after 2 plus years of losses. The ships are FULL, so folks are paying. How much I am willing to spend, led me to NCL for two planned cruises. Of course I will fill in some dates with RCL, but the big 19 day ones are on another line. So in the end, there is a point where RCL price points itself out. Then they will adapt with lower fees when lower booking happens.. no different than hotels and all-inclusives.. So I just buy at a price point that is satisfactory, I don't control the process and never did.

yes, we have done this, if you are not in a suite, they put the charge on your card, had the food waiting for us in the room. you just have to call them before you leave the ship. IF you are leaving early and they are busy with breakfast, it can take a few minutes.. so plan for that.

on my 20th cruise this May. On my back to back Allure, I can agree that there were signs of being short staffed, although everyone was kind and smiling. We had no one running drinks to us on lounge chairs and the bars were crowded. I miss the excellent alcohol service. Food is subjective, but it is certainly NOT increasing in quality. I know that for us a 4 night cruise is not what we prefer, it's a different demographic, we do 7 nights minimum and it works for us. Why the OP is complaining about pricing is beyond me.. you knew what the fee was and paid it. So that confuses me. I had to book two inside and one balcony room this May as that's all that the budget provided, I'm not going to complain about the inside room that I picked... I would just ask the room steward to touch up a few places or leave a kind sticky note. About the shows, well I like in Orlando, no cruise ship is going to provide the same quality entertainment that I get in Disney or Universal, so my expectations are adjusted. I don't know. Instead of a go-with-the-flow attitude that could have been passed on the finance, it appears that finding fault was the choice made. The OP will find these same faults on any inclusive or land-based vacation and that's just sad. One RCCL in May and 2 on NCL booked, I don't see myself ever NOT cruising.

You don't have to bring your OWN ducks to participate... keep or hide/you decide. If you wanted to buy some, there are a pleathora on Amazon and etsy as well as cards to fill out. Just note the size, some are too small for young kids (swallowing size).

we sailed this and we stayed beforehand for three days. check in is at 8pm, but there was a long line. Are people flying in the same day? Don't know, but it was a solid 40 minutes, so I wouldn't push it too far.

sorry, was using your example that tipping was not required, I should have been clearer. My apologies.

makes me wonder if this is a set up to pay extra gratuities, cruisers choice for a second servicing...

Am I the only one that puts morning room service trays outside the door in the hallway? This sounds sucky, with the towel situation as there is generally morning and afternoon showering after a pool or beach day. Also seems like more work for the cabin stewards with folks asking for more towels, handing over wet ones. At some point, trying to keep prices competitive, folks are going to move to other lines.. which are owned by the same corporation anyway.. or swallow higher fees for satisfaction. I don't see how this is sustainable.

I prepay and bring cash for extra tips. I see this as part of the cost of cruising and I am not going to remove $20 bucks a day. Well, I have never had such a low service level to consider it in almost 20 cruises. I use OBC for "splurges" like a bottle of wine at dinner. It's just easier for me to start with a zero account or one with cash waiting. It's really an individual choice. I have no idea if you can remove the tip once it's prepaid.

My reply was for the OP specific question, as I stated, I certainly don't think this is required. Restaurants all over the US have tables held for their frequent flyers or those that tip. This is possibly no different, yet as others have pointed out it is not required (as I surmised). We live in a large city, and the tip with the request for good seating is often required to not wait forever. This may indeed be an individual's practice on the OP's sailing. It helps explain his circumstance. and @crewsweeper, sadly an owner's suite is not in my budget, I work very hard for my $ and it doesn't extend to that. A balcony is a splurge. If my reply sounds elitist, so be it.

We check out our seating when we first arrive on board. If I prefer something else, I push a tip and make the request. We tip at home for improved seating at restaurants and I don't see this any different. Is it required, I would hope not, but that is our practice and has always been. We do this in the specialty restaurants as well.

We did B2B on the Allure and LOVED it!. I felt less pressure to see it all, do it all. Repeating ports to me sounds great as you get to do see more of the islands. We kept the same room. I highly suggest it, was much more laid back for us.

That is excellent news for you!!!

Ugh, did they put your belongings in lost and found? I was planning to just dump the carry on, now I am questioning said plan. Thanks.

The best cruise I ever had was on the Grandeur. I would happily sail her again. Have just been too busy hitting the Oasis class, then WOS, but I miss her.

My understanding that the transfer shuttle is handled by the port authority. The customer service desk just helps arrange your spot. They cycle through about every 30 minutes and are not well marked. It was free for us this past year.

Makes sense, as those of us listed with a Florida address may be sent the option first. I would love this chance, not likely though.

THere is a thrill waterpark that the teen may enjoy better. Plus more kids his age. I wouldn't spend the money on this unless the kid is a beach bum and wants to lay around for the day on a comfier lounge chair. My son is like this and is a foodie. Only reason I booked it for us.

This is some weird computer glitch as you have to use your card on this. Makes me wonder if the card reader got funky, and how many other folks had an issue too. Stuff they never tell ya. But not everyone watches their account... cough, me!

A CRAFT BEER bar! omg yes please

I sail both carnival and royal. Your itinerary is what is going to change the demographics as those with kids will be fewer, including college-age kids, and will not have the weekend party ship vibe. You are then left with a general middle age to older demographic. So that being said, Carnival ships are loud like las vegas in decor, royal more subdued. Both have specialty restaurants, I find more free venues on Carnival ships. I find the quality of entertainment better on royal, but I love to sing along with a mediocre piano player on carnival that can't hit the notes. Meanwhile, I love the schooner bar. I find Carnival has more folks out on deck delivering drinks if I just look up, my guy is there providing round two without asking ahead of time and waiting. The drink packages ARE different, you max out at 15 on Carnival, so that upsets some as that could be one drink every hour if you are up late. Many Carnival shps have funky layouts where you have to transverse a few choices of decks, where Royal has more options, you are not going up and down to cross through a few decks. Carnival has more late night parties, events where the cruise director seems to help you transition from one venue to another if thats your thing, while royal is more figure it out on your own. All my opinions .DO IT, book the cruise, life is short.

TY for sharing. Any favorites of yours? It was hard to catch the names of many of them, did not recognize them at all.

We LOVE hiding and finding the ducks, I have 50 for our next WOS in May. Ordered tags and everything. They are to keep or hide, you decide, wink.

Allure is our favorite ship, sadly for us, she moved to texas.

and there is something off with the drink recipes with this thing!