chape19714

Wow. I'm glad you posted this. I had never thought of it that way.

Absolutely. I'm glad you found value in it. It's all about perspective. I honestly do not care if I'm cruising with a group. My life is not theirs, but everyone is on-board to have a good time. The only person who controls if you have a good time is you. Don't let others ruin it.

...but purchasing petroleum-based plastic tag holders...over the internet...which are being sent to you in a large envelope, etc.

Which can be re-used time and time again, instead of creating them for each and every cruise.

But using these is also your choice, and does cut down on Royal's environmental impact. I personally don't use them, and have never had an issue.

To add onto what you stated, there are even more environmental impacts of RCCL producing luggage tags for us. In addition to the sticky back labels and the additional materials required to produce them, RCCL also needs to mail those to our home. The environmental impact there is the USPS doesn't run on solar power. The need to burn fossil fuels to get those tags from point A to point B. Sure, this does save the line money by having us print them out ourselves. But there is an environmental benefit to us printing the tags ourselves.

Exactly! Thank you!

Environmental impacts are not something that companies just claim to save money. It may seem like something small to you, but multiplied over the hundreds of thousands of Guests who sail with Royal Carribean over the coarse of even a month, this is an astronomical impact.

Biggest thing with Orlando Airport (MCO) is the security lines. Although the Airlines themselves are split up into terminals A and B, Security screening is done by gate number. There are 2 different secure zones of the airport, and you have to go through the correct one, as there's no secure way to go between the 2. Gates 1-59 normally have much longer lines for some reason than gates 60-129. So be sure to check your gate assignment to plan a bit of extra security time if you are in the lower 59 gates.

It does have several environmentally friendly results. With the cruise line providing sticker-like tags sent home, they are printing normally 2 per person, on sticker paper with backing, along with envelopes and possibly a letter to go along with just to be sent to the home. Whereas at home, you are only printing what you need (normally less than 2 per person) and you are printing on plain (usually at least partially recycled paper), and saving the envelopes and other collateral being printed.

Really? How?

Thought it was an interesting question so I googled.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3035442.stm

 

Old article but there seems to be more new research supporting it.

It's one of the things you learn as part of Responsible Vendor training for bartenders. The link above does a good job at explaining it. Basically if a guest thinks they are becoming intoxicated, they behave that way.

Alcohol is a depressant by nature. It's also heavily used as "liquid courage" in a bar environment by many, but your brain is able to replicate these effects on it's own, especially if you are convinced you are drinking alcohol.

Bottom line is a bartender should not be serving non-alcoholic drinks stating that they are. It can further impair the drinker's state of mind, even if the BAH does not change. The proper response is to serve water with the drink as the guest approaches any state of intoxication, and ensuring it's kept full. Amazing thing about water at a bar, 9 out of 10 patrons will drink it if you place it in front of them, but very few will ask for it.

I've sat at a bar with few overly intoxicated cruisers, and in each case the bartender did not actually cut them off but instead served them virgin drinks and the drunks never suspected. Bartender would do a fake pour and give me a big smile cuz he saw me watching. Better than having to deal with an indignant passenger, and in each case the passenger was on a package, so not really charging them. Just got cut off on the sly. These were not marginally drunk people. These were people that were gonna need help getting back to their cabins.

Wow. Not sure the legality of that at Sea, but that would never be allowed on Land. When someone needs to be cut-off, you cut them off hard. You can lose your liquor or bartending licence for selling an alcoholic beverage with no booze in it. It's to protect against the "placebo effect". I guarantee you those cruisers thought they were becoming more intoxicated, which is just as dangerous.

I will say I had 7 amazing cruises on Disney, and 1 OK cruise. I am a huge Disney fan. The service was superb, and good entertainment, but I have come to realize that Disney just isn't simply for my demographic (A single cruiser in his 20s, that travels with a group of friends). So, tried Royal and haven't looked back. I would recommend DCL if you hit the criteria, but it's not for everyone. We joke here in Orlando that Royal is like Universal at Sea and Disney is...Disney. They have similar target markets and entertainment styles

Royal does not limit the number of drinks on the package. They may restrict to prevent over-intoxication. Although there's no "set in stone" rule, Royal Bartenders are able to see when your last drink was ordered, I've heard a certain amount of time needs to pass between drinks, but that's never happened to me. Some of the Spring Breakers around us doing shots at the pool had to wait.

I thought Disney ships were liquor free.

No. Quite the contrary. Disney don't allow you to bring liquor onboard, and they do not offer beverage packages (beyond a wine package that you only redeem at your Dinner). However, there are plenty of full-service bars and beverage options onboard. Each ship even has 3-5 Adult only bar venues onboard.

They are however, Casino-free.

Not sure how this becomes a "gay" thing, as I don't care if the behavior was done by a heterosexual, homosexual, transgender, etc.. Go ahead, hold hands, kiss lightly, hug, laugh love, but have the common decency to have a bit of class and act as if you aren't a repressed ape.

It becomes a "gay" thing because the reality is, that even in this day in age, society, parents, peers, etc. teach you to repress your feelings. So, forgive us when we are in a group things may be a bit more accelerated. It's a rarity to be in a fully accepting group, without judgement or fear of retaliation. Things are better, but the real world is not easy. It downright sucks. Imagine having to go to a bar, have the courage to offer to buy someone a drink, and not only get rejected, but also offend the person and potentially get a speech about how your life is wrong or not normal.

Reality is - let them have their moment. The world is cruel enough. I know, I live it it. It may not be your life and you may not approve, but that gay group on the cruise, 1 day at a theme park, etc. may be the only time each year these men and women can live without judgement. And that's why things may be a little more intense than you'd like. If you were only allowed to drink 1 week a year, you'd probably go beyond a reasonable amount of consumption. Same principal applies here.

If you want to fix the issue, work on making the world more accepting everyday, instead of trying to add judgement to the very few days your vacation happens to overlap.

Rant over.

So even with the exorbitant price on a Disney cruise they are busy on board selling and selling anyway.

Ironically, and they have less to sell. That particular ship only had a wine package, the photo package, and 1 specialty restaurant.

In fairness, that is the only Disney ship I experienced it on.

On a recent cruise on Independence, it was not too bad. Mostly just day one. I've never had an issue with it on any Royal Caribbean Ship. To be honest, I thought it was worse on the Disney Wonder on my last sailing then it has ever been on Royal.

Publix has a very nice Wine selection. Target has wine, but not what I would say is a great selection. If the Publix you are going to has a liquor store attached (many do), be sure to go into the main store, as they have a bigger wine selection than the liquor store (ironic, I know).

Last time I went Eastern on Royal, there we did not change times, as the ship time and Island time were always the same. It also depends on Daylight Savings, as your departure port and therefore ship time, honors the practice, but many islands do not. This could impact your local vs. ship time.

Be prepared for some main differences from NCL, such as a more structured dining system (unless you opt for My Time Dining). You'll see a few specialty restaurants, but nowhere near the NCL system. As far this class of ship is concerned, Forward elevators have shorter lines (as they aren't glass like the aft set). Be sure to arrive to shows and entertainment 15 min early, and trivia and other activities at least 10, as they can fill. Windjammer cafe is great, but don't overlook the main dining room that may be open for breakfast or lunch.

Keep in mind for most ships pre-Oasis design, although not a guarantee, rooms that are in far forward or aft sections of the ship are more likely to have indoor Muster Stations.

The Only Activities that would cost extra would be the Casino, Bingo Games, tasting seminars, and some backstage tours. Flowrider, Ice Skating, Zip Lining, Rock Climbing, as well as trivia, deck parties, character meet and greets (not including the character breakfast) are all included in your cruise fare.

I have been twice on a themed cruise that if I would have know would not have booked the ship. Royal Caribbean will not advise you that they have a large group of any sort onboard and they knew because the compass had LGBT meeting times. I don't have anything against certain demographic groups but I would have preferred to not have my daughter witness guy on guy make out session all over the place. It seems to be getting worse on some of Royals ships leaving out of Ft. Lauderdale and Miami.

Couple of things here:

1st and Foremost-LGBTQ Daily Get-togethers are now included (and usually self-led) on every FL based Royal Caribbean Cruise. Sometimes it is published, sometimes It's on the group board near Guest Services, other times you have to ask.

2nd-Royal Caribbean cannot and will not tell you of certain groups sailing. Especially minority (or as they have been called "lifestyle" groups) It could lead them to a discrimination lawsuit. This happened at Walt Disney World when they warned incoming guests of the "gay days" event. The Group sued Disney, and won. It's discrimination, plain and simple.

Was recently on a Cruise where a national Frat organization had about 70% of the ship. Needless to say, you roll with the punches, we drank and danced right along with them. Not the quiet type of cruise I've normally had, but it was a ton of fun. I'm a big believer that half the point of cruising is to meet new people and experience new things, and groups will definitely do that.

I'm sure it's gone on the next dry dock. Moving Home port of Oasis to Port Canaveral means the Ship is competing with DIsney, and with the Universal land & Sea packages, Cats is not a show that's selling many tickets. I would expect something a bit more family oriented as soon as they can.

Great Review. Sailing Oasis in February. I will say as far as the receipt slips go for beverage packages, it totally depends on the ship, as The F&B Director makes the decision on if they are required. I've seen it be a ship-wide rule, only apply to some bars, and every combination in-between.