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4 hours ago, Mick B said:

Here's something I was wondering.

Do Royal know if a passenger who is D or D+ actually earned the points from cruising or got them by being a partner with someone else who had that status and may have even split up but kept the status.

Just asking because it doesn't seem very fair to me if someone who has actually cruised between 80 and 174 nights is turned away from the newly named "Crown Lounge" during happy hour but someone who is D+ but didn't cruise as many nights is let in.

I know its only now for some nibbles as you still have to use a drinks voucher for each drink you purchase, which makes me wonder what all the fuse is about with Royal stopping Diamonds.

But it can't be nice for anyone who had taken part in a program and played by the rules to be turned away like this.

 

Maybe the Crown Lounge should be just for those who earned the points and filled on a first come first served basis.

 

Mick.

 

A Diamond card is not programmed to open the door . To prevent them entering  the first couple and last couple of nights were monitored at door   on recent Odyssey TA  ..  

and I was told 

Restricting Diamonds would probably be a subjective decision made on each cruise based on numbers in upper tiers and their usage of Crown Lounge . 

27 minutes ago, Another_Critic said:

On the Oct TA, the Crown Lounge was full most nights during happy hour.  They even had an overflow section in the Music Hall.  I don't think they were restricting Diamonds.

 

766 D, 556 D+, 109 Pinn.

Restricting Diamonds is a subjective decision made on each cruise based on numbers in tiers and usage . 

1 minute ago, cruisegirl1 said:

Seems, they have always recognized those hitting the specific benchmarks (every 350 above 700) like   1050, 1400 1750  etc.  We've been recognized on the cruises we crossed over the specific thresholds.   They didn't call it anything, just announced the point threshold and gave us a certificate.  

M

 

They made a big deal about those thresholds on this cruise. 

9 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

Not sure about recognition ( just the 3 highest point cruisers and new Pinnacles)....but get to double Pinnacle (1400 points).....   Free 7 night cruise certificate in a JS cabin.  🤗

On recent Odyssey TA , 1400 Pinnacle’s and others of higher levels and points  were made a big deal of , on the stage with presentations. Of course top cruiser was a biggie 5200 +- and well deserved . 

Don’t forget there is a Double Pinnacle and other higher designations being recognized now at Upper Tier Events 

27 minutes ago, lv2bcruzin said:

 

Create your own travel agency LLC, get with a host agency for all you mentioned plus more and get commissions on your own travel, and write off all your travel expenses. That's what we actually did when it was clear we would be traveling as a life style.

 

So, a bit more to the story, but essentially control is key and TA benefits aren't worth losing that control in our opinion. So, we did as mentioned and get the best of both worlds. We are our own TA.

Thanks so much for the information . I've considered but not for long. I am familiar with all that program and others doing it . Congratulations.  If I was younger I would do it .  I'm retired and want to travel , and at my age, without the hassles.  

We have a professional TA  and good relationship.and he actually is doing the LLC thing.  We  will take the "available" benefits.   Without researching it , Incidentally, is it well established,  all your travel expenses are eligible to write off ?.    

10 minutes ago, lv2bcruzin said:

 

Control

Good communication and documentation is control, 

which makes for good relationship !!!. Thanks thanks lv2bcruzin!!!

21 hours ago, lv2bcruzin said:

First cruise 23 years ago I used a TA.

 

Have booked direct since and that is for all our travel unless we get a good deal using points via Chase Sapphire and Chase Travel.

We book -  On Board with Next Cruise, Transfer to our Travel Agency;  Get Group Rates, Cabin Selection , On Board Credits , In Cabin Gifts , Freebies, Credit Card Points for Travel and Ship , Refundable Pricing, and Own in Excess of 100 shares of Royal Caribbean Stock with Profits . Am I missing something ?

Oh yes Good communication and Documentation for Control !!!!

Thanks lv2bcruzin

24 minutes ago, Krazyfuntimes said:

All is true. I am fortunate that I do it cause I love to help people (retired nurse). I feel bad when others are lied too, looks bad on all of us. 

We have used five travel agents . All have given better deals than Royal . All our problems have been with Royal . Communication and documentation is always important even in everyday life . 

Just now, Fouremco said:

As the OP states "Probably will not use travel agent going forward", I don't think that money is the issue.

And that is his choice . 

32 minutes ago, Fouremco said:

It's very unlikely that the TA, having done all of the work to book those cruises, will be willing to release the booking and lose the commission for each one. Unless there's been gross negligence on the part of the TA that you can prove to RCI, you are probably going to have to continue dealing with the TA until you have finished with the bookings. Of course, you could always cancel all of them and either book directly with RCI or a different TA. 

 

What has happened that has caused you to drop the current TA and to try and take control of the bookings? There may be other, less drastic, solutions.

Better deals  always with travel agency’s . If money is no object book with RCL . 

3 minutes ago, klfrodo said:

Those boats/ferries to Blue Lagoon are going to be the safest, most inspected boats in the world by the time Blue Lagoon reopens. Perfect time to go. The boats/ferries are going to be safer, and the island is going to be less crowded for awhile.

Is Sky Lagoon open ? 

21 hours ago, pspercy said:

My beef for years. Hopefully the arrival of some more competition may spur RCL into using some imagination and offering a few > 7dys.

 

MSC wants to build a terminal on Pelican Island but that will be a longer term project.

MSC terminal happening and completion projected presently summer 2025. 

New terminal is state of the art 

SSTexas is going to Pier 19/20

Terminal 10 is state of the art and is considered best of the Royals terminals at the moment . 
 

And like Galveston Cruiser said , stay on 45  into town , which continues on to Broadway , and then straight on to 14th street , turn left , then for few blocks to Harborside , cross Harborside directly into to Terminal 10 and easy pesy parking and access to terminal . 

1 hour ago, spelican said:

We were on Voyager at the end of August 2023 and our Junior Suite had a coffee maker.  It was an espresso machine that used small pods that were provided. 

Yes

2 hours ago, GJustice said:

In spite of there being a LOT of very nice, close in parking, I still prefer offsite parking and shuttling to the terminal.

 

HATE the traffic in Galveston that just kills the vacation vibe coming and going 🙂

 

DW isn't very mobile, so even the drop off/go park/meet to go in system isn't really viable either.

 

ONCE inside, it's an INCREDIBLE experience. LOTS of space, even when busy doesn't "feel" crowded. Since it's RC's "own" terminal, it's really focused on RC customers as opposed to just herding cats I felt in the old terminal.

 

NOW, that "interesting" restroom layout HAS taken some getting used to. OUTSIDE restrooms are a great addition too.

Traffic is not bad with new terminal and changes already made and being made by Galveston . 

19 hours ago, George C said:

Anyone stay here , I see they have lots of extra attractions for extra money, anything worth the money? Staying there in a few weeks.

No but yes a full service hotel with bonus the other attractions. Worth it . Galveston is a tourist destination with in excess of 8 million visitors last year . 

The best and most high tech terminal in Royal’s inventory

Port was obviously not stopping buses with cruise passengers , but entries on ingress being captured ,  billed and not being paid by Falstaff. Port was dealing with an uncollectible  billing . 

4 hours ago, GJustice said:

Just got this email from them. I've been using them for years and heard a rumor they might be selling. Guess it's true.

 

Good to know . Falstaff was not paying entrance fees to Port of Galveston . 

In Galveston is

Pennies

and another is

and

On 10/9/2023 at 9:20 PM, Waterluv said:

Thank you for putting this calendar out I just used it to get ship port information for our November trip 

On 8/18/2023 at 2:16 PM, txauntiemame said:

This is a handy calendar of when ships will be in each terminal in Galveston. It's not uncommon to have three ships embark and disembark in the same morning.

What does this do to traffic in Galveston? It's not a large city.
https://www.portofgalveston.com/DocumentCenter/View/3237/2023-Monthly-Cruise-Calendar?bidId=

The terminals use different entrances and cruise lines are using staggered assigned times to check in , therefore traffic is not boggle necked like it was in prior years .