emdia43

I got the impression, and its nothing more than a hunch, that the OP booked last minute for a great rate. I also have the impression that they didn't have a cabin assignment and that Royal called them to advise there were none available.

 

I sure hope the OP returns to give us the correct story and the final outcome. He has not been back for over a day now to give an update.

Probably on the way to the ship - they sail tomorrow...

Yep. There are just as many horror stories here about bad TA's as there are people dealing directly with RCCL. We haven't used a TA in 20 years and probably never will again. To each their own.

I have noticed that so often the people here who push to use a travel agent, omit to mention that they are one....

As a substantial Royal Caribbean shareholder and loyal cruiser, I am disgusted with RCI in this absurd situation. I'm anxious to read the outcome.

Haven't you heard- this is the new Dynamic Reservation system.....:rolleyes:

The above is what is ridiculous. There is a matter of principal here. I am retired now but, when I was a consultant, I knew that I couldn't use the word "guarantee" to a customer, unless my company could be certain of what was being guaranteed.

 

A guarantee is different from a warranty. A warranty provides specified remedies for a problem with a product. A guarantee is a promise that a person or business will do everything humanly possible to honor (which includes reaching appropriate personnel on a holiday weekend).

 

Informing a customer that a guarantee cannot be honored late on a Friday afternoon and then leaving for the weekend is not professional. If I had done it to a customer when I was a consultant, I would not have had a job on the following Monday!

Well said!

Not to mention fraudulent. We don't know how often they do this, either...

deleted

No. Not sure if you were looking at the right date. No availability except for interiors.

They are still showing here- 1st September, Enchantment to the Bahamas for 4 nights....? 3202 -3204 -3208 all outsides. I'm looking at the lights blinking......!

https://cruise.expedia.com/book/SelectCabin5.aspx?RtOptCode=A4237270&Sail_ID=MJ01140901MJ04S097&item=829321&Transaction=5&Shp=648&RateType=ON SALE&CatID=12627&Upgr=0&TnsType=O&ButtonID=ucCabinType_lstDetailOceanview_ctl04_lblCategoryName

I just went thru a dummy booking with Expedia and it shows 3 outside staterooms on deck 3 available ..........

https://cruise.expedia.com/book/SelectCabin5.aspx?RtOptCode=A4237270&Sail_ID=MJ01140901MJ04S097&item=829321&Transaction=5&Shp=648&RateType=ON SALE&CatID=12627&Upgr=0&TnsType=O&ButtonID=ucCabinType_lstDetailOceanview_ctl04_lblCategoryName

Call RCCL and ask for one! :eek:

ETA- 3202 3204 and 3208 all show available!

Are you saying that Dynamic Dining has no "walk-up" ability, that you must have reservations?

I bet they are ordering a lot of beepers, along with the tablets they mentioned, so you can go walkabout until a table is available :rolleyes:

On this video Lisa clearly says that you can eat at whatever restaurant you desire, at whatever time, depending on your mood that night. At 1.20 into the video....

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/quantumoftheseas/dining/restaurants/#prettyPhoto/0/

But reservations are required, obviously with the numbers of passengers they are dealing with.... what happens if everyone is in the mood for one particular menu?

I would be way more impressed if they announced they had hired the head of Amazon IT to straighten out their pitiful website..:rolleyes:

The choices sound interesting enough, it is the scheduling that iI'm not looking forward to. I'm on vacation, I really don't want to have to pre-plan every dinner or miss getting the restaurant I choose.... maybe the night we book the Grande we will be too tired to dress up, after being out in the sun all day- who knows? Nothing can be done on a casual basis it seems? This is all being rolled out as improving choices, but I think it's more for their convenience than mine....:rolleyes:

Shame we don't have any comments from the crew involved in these changes.

For those sailing soon, be sure to ask your DR staff for their opinion - off the record..

Not really a fan so far. I am booked on 11/2 Quantum TA and found that I can not book dinner times. Nothing is available except 9:00PM and that is only available on a couple nights. Everything is booked up or not available. They have apparently reserved some of the dinning options "Costal Kitchen" for suite guests only. Hopefully they will open up more availability before the cruise.

 

I don't like all the pre-planning required with DD and all entertainment requiring reservations. Vacations are not supposed to require so much pre-planning.

 

My family is a big fan of MDR with fixed times and same waiters. Have tried MTD and did not like it. Seems DD will limit the food options. Only a few restaurants that are not specialty restaurants and limited availability. Looks like 3 restaurants and 6 or 7 entrees. Something like 18-21 entree options for an 8 day cruise. Will probably end up eating repeat menus night after night. Not much WOW there.

 

It also seems there will be conflicts between DD availability and nightly entertainment.

This is exactly why I am not looking forward to the change. It seems like a lot of effort to have to pre-schedule all your meals, and predict where you'll feel like eating on a particular night ahead of time. I foresee a lot of very disgruntled diners who can't get bookings. when/where they want them. Sounds more and more like NCL every day...

Brilliant but they can't even sort their website issues out! Be good to hear the first reviews after go live

Yes! I just started to make a dummy booking on Quantum. I clicked Ship Info and special features and then on 'customer reviews' as I was curious to see what kind of review was on there already- they have posted one from Oasis in 2012....!! :rolleyes:

Good article describing all the new technology...

http://www.cruisemates.com/articles/feature/quantum-worlds-first-smart-ship-140825.cfm

They will serve precisely measured drinks, not the free pours that made some bartenders very popular and got them bigger tips. :(

 

Eric

Hmmm - so I can't say "put a bit more tonic in that, please"....:rolleyes:

I just can't see this lasting very long.

They're going to have robotic bartenders on board (I assume just one bar) You can electronically enter your drink you want, and it will make it and serve it to you.....here's the video on it

Richard Fain also announced today that he will be giving EVERY employee of Royal Caribbean......about 40,000 of them !!! He says this way they can keep in touch with family members while being away from them. The Quantum is going to have super fast internet that will allow Skype......Facetime ....etc for both the crew and the passengers.

He also talked about that new entertainment space (Two70).....it will have six 100" robotic TV's that can move all around creating different effects. Apparently all the windows in that area are able to be like video screens where the walls can be like an aquarium with fish swimming around......or they can make the are into like a cityscape of New York City or something like that......truly amazing

This is just a part of what was revealed today.........OMG !!!!!!!

Here's more of that reveal today I meant to add

What is he giving to each RCCL employee?

I wonder how long the robot bar will be open before it breaks down.....;)

Seems gimmicky to me.

We were in 8594 which was very handy to elevators, Central park.

They run a shuttle to the port for $7 each..... just ask at the front desk.

I would go for the Holiday Inn Port of Miami, it is directly across from the

http://www.baysidemarketplace.com/ which is great for shops, many restaurants, all set around a marina. The taxi from/to port shouldn't be more than $10.

Found my reservation confirmation in my spam folder. They had responded the day after I submitted my request, so good service on that response. Our rate was $182 for the end of April, which is pricey, but fine for the quality of the hotel and the amenities. Thanks for the tip--CC is the best!

I've never seen it that high, it says peak season Jan- April (ouch) :eek: On 1st May it goes back down to $99 plus taxes which is what I'm used to paying.

I just heard back this morning and got $99 for the Hyatt Place for September 2015, so I am pleased. I requested last Friday, Now have to find out their amenities and what's around there, etc. Anybody know ?

We always stay there, booked via Valutrips. There is a Outback restaurant a couple of doors away, an Italian restaurant next door. If you go out of the back door of the hotel, walk across a long parking lot over on the left(behind Embassy suites), you will see a Publix supermarket, a liquor store and several strip mall size cafes/restaurants.

It's called Harbour shops, IIRC. There is a free trolley ride that will take you all round Fort Lauderdale , to the beach etc. http://www.suntrolley.com

Last time we stayed there the Hyatt still had a complimentary airport shuttle van, but to get to the port they have contracted with a shuttle company so that costs $7pp. The hotel van will also take you anywhere local if you want to go to the beach etc, (free) just phone and they will come back for you. Tip is expected...

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hyatt+Place+Fort+Lauderdale+17th+Street+Convention+Center/@26.0995007,-80.1304222,17z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x46b1f5dc7f360f27

No but my family just used Cocoabeach shuttle and their service was fine...:)

http://www.cbshuttle.com They pick up from the airport and go the port or local hotels.

We always use the Port of Miami Holiday Inn, it is right opposite the Bayside Marketplace so plenty to do for a pre- cruise evening. You can ask for a room overlooking the port and watch your ship come in.. I got the Intercontinental on Chopin place for $90 some time ago, bid 4* star downtown ( it's the only 4 * IIRC) but to be honest I prefer the Holiday inn. Intercontinental was just overflowing with staff wanting to do something for you , with their hand out. While I usually a generous tipper, this really got on my nerves....

From the airport to Holiday Inn, taxi was $24- from HInn to the port was $8 by taxi.