nanseev

I always leave on the auto grat (I actually get sad when I see a line at Guest Services at the end of the cruise), and the most I’ve ever tipped extra is $20 per person. You were MORE than generous. I’ve given $20 each at the end of the cruise to various MDR waitstaff, bartenders, room attendant, or casino host if they have truly made an extra special impact — but I definitely don’t do it every cruise with every person. I do always tip $1 cash per free Prime drink in the casino (or sometimes $5 for two drinks if I’m sitting with DH and the waiter/bartender is attentive with keeping us hydrated while gambling 🙂 ). Is much as I recognize they work hard, I can’t justify hundreds extra on top of what I’ve already paid.

Actually, the buffet doesn’t open until 11. Depending on the ship, you may have to wait until then.

Interesting comments. Some additional thoughts: 1. What about those ships that don’t have Sorrentos - will they charge at the Cafe Promenade too? 2. They HAVE to do better with overall later evening food options (after MDR). Right now it’s pitiful - on Nav, it’s literally crappy Cafe Promenade or pay for Playmakers. No ice cream, no snacks, good sandwiches, nothing. 3. I usually do early dining, enjoy our evening/casino/drinks, then stop for a quick few slices of pizza before bed - this will for sure have me adjust to late dining, which will impact the money I spend in casino/alcohol. The only way that would not happen is if they offer something in place of the pizza (free). 4. The current pizza is not that good - but I’m wondering if they will up the quality of pizza/toppings/other offerings like a pizza “parlor” and make ordering more like Playmakers - not really a sit down, but food available….and not as pricey as their specialty options. I could see them doing this, but without improving the quality. 5. They are underestimating the need for late night food for those of us with the alcohol munchies. 6. Charging for more food….I think it’s ironic that in every survey I mention how the food at Johnny Rockets should be free, aka Guys Burgers on Carnival. 7. I’m not sure if it would impact my future bookings….but it would make me consider other cruise lines and re-adjust food. And it would definitely irritate me. I swear I’d probably do a “picnic” and pack cold items from the WJ to save for a late night snack instead.

…and what happened to Mey? She was on Nav last year (or was it the year before) and was great!!!!!! CD’s don’t make or break a cruise for me, but I will say the current CD on Nav ( João Ribeiro # 935) is probably my least favorite (or in the bottom two).

Following this as I’m on Wonder in March. Interesting opinion on refreshment package/coffee card - I’m actually the complete opposite. All of the blended drinks are too much sugar and bloat, and we get free drinks in the casino. We use the coffee card for our daily morning coffee (don’t love the free coffee) and bring on a case of soda if I want something sweet when casino is closed. We 100% get the value from our coffee card. I will definitely take advantage of Johnny Rockets breakfast!

I read they eliminated the burger at lunch!!!! I swear, that was the best item on their entire lunch menu!

This is such a great review! Thanks for sharing.

Totally agree! I didn’t think I was going to miss it, and I do! I wish I could opt for 2x per day for an extra $$ per cabin. That would be money well spent in my case, and solve the financial piece - but it may be too fluctuating to be able to staff. We used the scan QR code to request ice as soon as the rooms opened. Day 2 when we first met our attendant he had no idea and was if we never requested anything 😞 . I also think it HAS to be impacting their extra tips. I know I won’t tip extra (or as much extra) in the envelope if I haven’t seen them frequently.

We are frequent flyers on this cruise (usually about 1x per month) I’m pretty much 100% with much of what you said! MDR has become hit or miss, and it has nothing to do with service, which is always amazing - it’s all food options and quality. I stopped ordering the chicken parm - I wish they would pound the chicken or slice to make the cutlet thinner - it would actually help with their food cost! I actually get the steak on those nights 😕 . Unfortunately, I’m finding worse in Windjammer - food quality and options are “meh.” I haven’t tried the Chefs Table yet - one of these cruises I will. I totally agree that the Ice Skating is a “don’t miss” and the best show! I usually hit up the headliner and skip the Showgirls - but I’m not into broadway. I take it all into account and don’t complain, but I think it’s important to be truthful to set the appropriate expectations going in. We also stopped doing the key because of the lack of perks - I feel like I know the ship well enough that I don’t need it, but understand how it can help some. We also tend to be early off and no time for Monday breakfast so we can get to work. I invest that $ in the casino instead 🙂 . And Raj….what can we say?!?!?! He’s the best! Keep doing the quick 3-day ones…the staff remembers you and makes it that much more special. I also enjoy seeing the different “vibe” from cruise to cruise - each one has a different feel. Great review! We will be back in September - August is move-kid-to-college month for us, so no cruise.

Thanks for the the playlist and reviews! I will definitely check them out. We are on 3/31 - this is our free Prime cruise for the year. I’m used to the “Day 1” craziness at the maitre d stations, and I’m planning an early boarding time because I typically check in as soon as it opens. As long as Mason Jar is open on embark day that sounds perfect!!!! We already purchased the 3-night specialty so I can avoid Mexican and Caribbean night menus (not my favorite as I don’t like shrimp and live in SoCal so Mexican is amazing at home). I wonder if the Escape Room is the same as the one on Nav? It’s extra $ on Nav, and we’ve done it once. I’m excited to be back on an Oasis class ship…and to have Park Cafe again! I love Navigator, but she’s missing some decent food options that other ships have.

Hi all, We will be on Wonder in March 2024. We are Diamond, as we live near Navigator’s West Coast port so we’ve taken advantage of many weekend getaways plus some 7-night Mexican Riviera trips over the past two years. We haven’t been on a Royal ship other than Navigator in a few years (cruised Oasis, Harmony, Adventure and Liberty). My question - are the Windjammer options the same from ship to ship? For example, I know on NOS they only have a carving station in WJ on Day 1. The “theme” WJ daily options are always the same….will all of those options be the same on Wonder in the WJ? Also, is there a specialty dining lunch option on Day 1 embarkment on Wonder? We have started purchasing specialty lunch on Embarkment Day 1 on Navigator to mix things up (and elevate the food experience since MDR isn’t open)…I’m thinking if the WJ lunch options are basically the same from ship to ship, I’d like to buy specialty for day 1 lunch if it’s available. I quickly checked my app and nothing was listed for Day 1 lunch. Any other Wonder-specific or even Oasis-specific suggestions? Or Diamond suggestions for Oasis class? Planning on the aqua show, visiting Park Cafe (not on Nav), Diamond club, and comedy shows….we have such a routine on Navigator (it’s like that old comfy sweater!) and I just want to make sure I get the full experience where we don’t often cruise from the east coast or on Oasis class ships anymore. Thanks for any suggestions!

We are currently on our first leg of a B2B cruise that ends Friday. We were not able to secure the same balcony room at the time of booking - we are currently towards the front, and our second half is a balcony close to the back of the ship - complete opposite end of the ship. I’d like to see if we can change our room closer to where we are now. The cruise shows sold out for balconies, but interior available. Who would be the best to speak with on the ship to see if a rogue balcony is available and we can move rooms? We called Customer service a few times to see if our current balcony became available (or even another room altogether for both legs). I turned Diamond on this cruise. So….any chance for a room change? Who would be the best to ask on the ship - guest services or loyalty ambassador? Or it’s 99.9% not going to happen so don’t bother? Not trying to complain…I just didn’t realize how much I’d like the location of my current room.

I’m in a similar situation. I will be traveling on a B2B, and will get to Diamond on my first leg (with an extra day to spare). Anyone know of a way to ensure or better my chances that my Diamond is recognized for the second leg of my B2B?

Hi…we are regular cruisers originally from New England and now live in CA. We were on Navigator a week or so ago with the UDP. At our dinner at Hooked, my husband ordered the Maine Lobster. In the past, we’ve received the whole boiled lobster and we have to split/crack etc. This last time, we received a small split lobster with no claws (looked almost like a rock lobster) that was broiled. My husband returned it and asked for the steamed lobster, and basically got the same style (small/already split) but without the grill marks. So my question….With the new menu changes through RCCL, did they get rid of the whole, intact lobster or did we just have a waiter who didn’t realize we were from New England and could handle the whole shebang??? 😂😂🦞🦞. We are cruising again in a few weeks and deciding on UDP or not….and truly only go to Hooked for the whole lobster.

@crzndeb Absolutely not normal! I’ve cruised Nav out of San Pedro 4 or 5 times…each time there were multiple porters waiting for us to drop the luggage. Wonder if it was a combination of the weather and the holiday?

My purpose for having the note for the 19 year old traveling with me was medical purposes - if a medical emergency occurred out of the country, I felt better having that document.

We took one 19-year-old friend and had the parent write a note for a medical release in case of emergency.....not even sure if it would have worked, but I at least had something documented that I was responsible for the 19 year old.

I'm currently booked for an April 2023 cruise on the Panorama in cabin #2333. I've only been on Carnival Miracle before, but cruised multiple times on Royal and once on MSC. Usually on Royal, I'm in a balcony cabin anywhere between Deck 6-10, and I typically prefer near an elevator. If I'm traveling with my teens, I'll chose more towards the back, but have stayed mid-ship. I've never stayed in the front. When I booked Panorama, I read that the views from the balcony on Deck 2 were very different, and it felt so much closer to the water. Although I know they are "closed" in, I thought the experience near the water may be different than a balcony that we typically have on our Royal cruises. I'm now having second thoughts....am I going to have too much noise in the cabin? Is it going to feel to "enclosed" and have significant obstructed view from the room/balcony? Will I end up with lots of pitter-patter/running toddlers/kids outside the door traffic because of the Family Harbor (although it looks like they have a different, more convenient elevator?) My teens seem to have the feeling like the lower deck is not "special" (although they are happy with anything...they just feel like it's "lesser"). It is more $$ for a higher balcony cabin, which I'm ok with spending to make a better experience. Feedback from those who have stayed on Deck 2 in a balcony? Yay or Nay?

Because I’m a numbers-girl, I’m trying to decide about bidding on RoyalUp and factoring in alcoholic drinks…. Im NOT a Diamond (yet), and currently booked in Jr Suite on Navigator through a CasinoRoyale offer. I’ve put a RoyalUp bid in for a Grand, but not the classes above (higher minimum bid). Specifically on Navigator, what is included with the Grand and above for alcohol? I’ve read random stuff about vouchers/lounges/etc but can’t quite figure out how much and when/where alcoholic drinks would be included? Basically, Im trying to do the math of “if I’m buying 5 drinks per night, per person but included in suite, I can bid that much more if I get all of my drinks at x lounge/casino bar/use voucher…” Theres so many posts about this and with the recent changes I can’t quite figure out the latest, specifically for Navigator’s class of ship. Thanks!

Going on the Navigator of the Seas in a month and we booked our first Junior Suite. We’ve been in NOTS 3 times before in a balcony. There are lots of suites available (mostly deck 9 and 10, but other decks have sporadic JS rooms), and I’m reading some rooms are different than others in the ship. Any suggestions that you have stayed in with a specific room that you’d recommend? We are casino people and will also spend time in Schooner. I enjoy the Promenade Cafe for my daily coffee and don’t want a huge walk to that, although not sure if the in-room coffee maker will make a difference (the room service coffee is horrible!). As of right now, no UDP. I definitely want a larger shower vs tube shower. Also, I know there aren’t many perks for JS - robe, early embark, coffeemaker, double points. I’ve read mixed answers on embark day lunch - does it exist on NOTS? I know I’ve seen people eating breakfast in Chops…I’m assuming that’s just windjammer food carried in to your seat there? I wish the Suite Lounge was available just to sit in a quiet area and play cards! thanks for any suggestions!

Thanks everyone for the insight....I think the fact that it's a newer ship for me also made a difference. We are already going on the Navigator for the 4th (or 5th?) time out of San Pedro in February, so I'm looking for something different, and Navigator didn't have a 7-day during the week that I need to travel. I also forgot that I did get a $500 OBC with the Panorama...so make it a $2,500+ savings..... I was able to pull the trigger....we booked the Panorama! So I will report back mid-April and let you all know how it goes....is it bad that I used my RCCL credit card to pay for the deposit?? lol!

Allure of the Seas vs. Carnival Panorama History: Live in Californian and been on about 9 cruises in my life, both Caribbean and Mexico/Mexican Riviera. First was Carnival Miracle, second was RC Oasis....and then never looked back and travelled RC going forward - Harmony, Adventure, Liberty, Navigator x 3 ...and one MSC cruise in between those. Embarked from various Florida ports, Galveston, and Los Angeles areas. We live in CA, so airfare always adds the extra expense, so when Navigator came to the west coast it was fabulous, although I do prefer cruising in the Caribbean. We tend to stay on the ship - I enjoy the lack of crowds on port days, and try to save the $$ I would spend on excursions/food off of the ship for the casino on the ship 🙂 . My daughter does enjoy the Flowrider, which has been one of the reasons we stayed with RC, but it's not the "end all, be all" for her, and my son enjoys the sports deck and will hang in the teen club. My husband and I tend to enjoy the casino, comedy shows, trivia and just relaxation time versus the "rides" and "thrills". I haven't been on an Oasis class ship in a few years, so I have been shopping for options. I'm missing the sandwiches from the Park Cafe in Central Park...lol. Wonder is out of my price range. With Allure now going out of Galveston, I've found a decent price for my family for the week I need to travel (I'm a teacher so my travel weeks are not flexible). We're not heavy gamblers, but do get some casino offers, but they are usually for interior or OV rooms during timeframes within the school year, so we tend to not be able to take advantage of them. I was ready to book Allure...and then I did a random search for cruises during the week I wanted....and the Carnival Panorama popped up in my search. After researching, I'm seriously considering the Carnival Panorama. It's a "new" ship, a larger ship (more like Oasis class), and the price of the cruises is basically identical, but I don't have to pay for airfare with Panorama. I'm giving up the Caribbean for Mexican Riviera, and giving up the Flowrider, but there's other fun things for the kids....but the biggest reason is that I'm saving around $2,000+ by the time I add in airfare and hotel. I feel like saving $2k (and it would probably end up to be more with transfers, travel meals, etc.) is worth jumping ship. I've been Loyal to Royal....so it's hard for me to pull the trigger. Tell me it will be ok...lol....I know this group is skewed towards Royal...as am I. But.....it's $2,000 of spending money (or money for another cruise this summer) that I will have. Has anyone traveled on both and can give me some insight?