Pratique

Please note the phrase "extra cash tip" before you pass further judgment.

Cats is what it is. A traditional musical. It's well done if you like that type of show. And much shorter than the original.

The problem with these reviews is that they are often subjective. Objective comments can be useful but subjective less so. Every cruise I go on it seems like my wife and I have different subjective experiences. Things that bug her don't bother me or vice versa.

That's one reason I leave a cash tip at the end of the second or subsequent visit and not the first. Even if I don't see that crew member again, at least they will be rewarded for consistently good service. It is rare but some crew seem more motivated on the first day or two of the cruise and then slack off as the week wears on for them. But it's impossible to make generalizations so I just play it by ear.

The drink package never made sense for me especially since we would often get drinks comped in the specialty restaurants. The drink vouchers are the single most valuable diamond perk IMHO.

We do the same but I give an extra cash tip on the second visit with the same server or bartender. If we have a great server the first time then we ask to have him/her again on all subsequent visits. Sometimes the maître d will try and talk us out of it by saying that particular server is busy (worried we may not get great service) but by the second visit the server is familiar with us so it's an easy table to handle and it always seems to work out fine for everyone.

Three cruises in a suite and you're there.

By the way you don't need to wait until the last night. They will appreciate receiving the tip at any time. We generally do it on the next to last day of the cruise.

So much of a vacation is what you make of it. Oasis is a great ship. Enjoy!

In a CLS on Oasis last week the WiFi in the cabin was good. I'm pretty sure that there is an access point in the cabin. I consistently got 9.5 down and 3.7 up. From time to time the connection would slow down. Sometimes due to weather. Also certain times of day like just after dinner where everyone seems to be on FaceTime.

This topic has been discussed for years on this forum, with varying opinions from "avoid Deck 14" to "no issue at all." Yes there is a risk of noise from the chairs. I guess it depends on when and how the crew move the chairs, which is difficult to predict with certainty. Here is one sample thread. There are many others.

If you didn't hear it last time then I don't think it will be any different this time around.

Don't move. Your prior experience on Deck 14 will be very similar. How often do people drag chairs around anyway?

There is jazz music just not in a dedicated "jazz club." They play it on the promenade, in Boleros, in the music hall, and in Central Park.

Allure does not have Portside BBQ. The others are the same.

I would just add that the upcharge for Portside BBQ is between about $12 and 19 per person depending on how much food you order (one, two, or three meats) and it is well worth it if you like barbeque pork, chicken, brisket and ribs. No reservations required despite what the cruise compass says. One big downside is the lack of food available after 9 pm. After 9 it is just Cafe Promenade, Playmakers ($), Sorrento's, and room service, all with very limited offerings. Plan to eat dinner before 9 pm. If you're still hungry after dinner then pizza may suffice. Also some of the quick service venues such as Park Cafe, El Loco Fresh, and Boardwalk Dog House may close even earlier between 5 and 6 pm.

That seems fair since one of those days is a turnaround day and not a "real" cruise day. Does that include port fees?

Yes I counted six Western 6 nighters and two Eastern 6 nighters that hit both Coco and Labadee for the rest of this year. But my wife is addicted to crown loft suites so I will have to make the pitch. 😃 Which is another problem with Utopia and Wonder - a paucity of loft suites. But that's another thread.

Ah I didn't realize Mariner was doing that. Cool.

Actually I wish there was more variety in terms of itineraries on Royal. Like a 7 or 8 night with two stops at Coco or Labadee or one stop at each. I know there are a few 9 nights that hit both but not many.

Oh I agree. I was just reacting to an earlier post saying that people want to do these B2Bs.

That's what I must have been thinking of. I wanted to try one of those cruises that went to Coco twice but we never did.

Can't even sleep in... I guess you can work on the survey while you're waiting to get back into your cabin.

I think some of the runways are in Kansas 😃 I've been on flights where it felt like we were taxiing to the gate for as long as we were in the air. Well I don't doubt there are folks like you who will enjoy the 3/4 night skips over to The Bahamas in the dead of winter, I just don't see widespread appeal for B2B on Utopia. Even for us in New England in the same time zone I wouldn't want to fly in the same day and then spend two days at PC and two days at Nassau, even though we enjoy CocoCay. We just sailed Oasis out of New York and even though it is a six hour drive to/from the port with a stop for lunch it still beats going to the airport any day. I used to love flying but no more. I only fly if I can't avoid it. And the three sea days were the magic elixir for relaxing. I had a great day at Coco but it wore me out. I needed two sea days to recover lol.

Yes the TSA shortcuts help. As long as it's not snowing I guess I could see trying that. I lived in Denver when DIA opened and as much as I love the airport it is huge and it wasn't a quick trip from my apartment to the airplane including the drive, checking in, getting through security, taking the train out to the airside and then inevitably having to walk to the farthest gate (always my luck it is the last gate). We always fly in the day before a cruise because there are too many risks trying to make it the same day. Too much anxiety.