Tree_skier

It is interesting that individual takes can be so different. We've cruised Royal, NCL and MSC and in the MDR Royal was far and away the best of the bunch. Both in terms of food and service. I'd say the NCL and Royal were a tie on specialty restaurants. Everything about MSC was disappointing.

We do both. My wife likes and needs for health reasons to drink alkaline water. We will bring a six pack of alkaline water on board. Once you are past security I can shove them in a roller bag so I don't have to mess with them while we are waiting for the rooms to open up. We also order a 24 pack for a 7 day cruise or 12 pack if it's a shorter cruise.

Will that include the spring transatlantics?

My brilliant TA got me group space for two in an Oceanview balcony for 2, the week after Thanksgiving 2024, right when itineraries were released for $2784. 🙂 The same cabin right now is $5585.

Yeah it's always a bit of a crap shoot with the exchange rates. I have booked cruises in both currencies. I'm Canadian but live in the US but have money and some income from Canada so depending on how I plan on paying for it I have sometimes booked in CDN$. In all honesty I think I have lost more than I have won playing the FX game. I just book them all in US$ now and eat whatever exchange rate differential I need to when transferring money from Canada. If you have an interest in a US based US dollar acct. that is easy to transfer money back forth at good rates I recommend TD. I have a TD/Canada trust account that I have had for a very long time as well as a US TD account based in the US. It's a bit of process to set up but once it is you can easily xfr money back and forth at the most favorable exchange rates and do it without the typical dollar amount restrictions that forex exchange usually places on xfrs. Having a US$ Visa card can be handy as well for Canadians who travel a lot.

Definitely Symphony with a balcony. Besides some extra space there is very little difference between a JS and a balcony perk wise. Symphony has so much more to offer otherwise it would be a slam dunk for us.

Yeah it does look nuts... Here is again but this time broken out by individual guest. This seems to make more sense but doesn't show what is likely a glitch in with the conversion of the discounts. CDN$ US$ The way the discounts are applied appears to be really strange. In this example it almost appears as if the CDN$ price is intentionally inflated and greater discounts are offered but it is still a rip off based on current exchange rates.

I've flown out of Seattle hundreds of times but only a couple times in the last couple of years. Unless something has changed those15 and 25 minute numbers is fantasy land.

Everything is included except at the Hibachi. They charge for sushi and sashimi and a $10-15 premium when using the UDP.

I've heard that report. I'm curious if there was ever a reason discovered why a TA would not want to participate in the program? What disadvantage is there to them?

I've had 8 cruises since the restart (7 RCL and 1 NCL) and bid for upgrades on 6 of them. I am 0 for 6. If it were not for the odd report here that someone had won a bid I wouldn't believe that any one is winning a bid.

Just did one on a cruise I was looking at... US$ price. CAD$ It appears to be a glitch... The Summer and Balc Suite NRD amounts appear not to to converting on the Canadian dollar invoice.

Once the bartender is familiar with both you and your partner they stop caring about having two cards and will gladly charge both your drinks when you only have one card. They can see both of your DBP's on the POS terminal at the bar.

Nothing is charged when you use your vouchers. I usually hand over a couple bucks in cash with each drink though.

Agree... If I saw it in the $50's I'd probably grab it. At $75 a day I'll just use my diamond vouchers and pay cash for the rest. The math just doesn't make sense at ~$75. I'd need nine $14 drinks a day to break even. I can drink nine a day easily but I'm not going to every single day of a cruise. Some days I'll exceed 9 other days I'll be well under. I'm pretty sure I'm way better off doing it the way I'm doing now.

That's the lowest price I have seen on any ship in quite some time... Do you mind telling us what ship and sailing. Ditto!

Suite lounge is for and offering free beer, wine and soda from 11 - 11.

I saw the same on our recent Oasis cruise. It was our first time in a CLS. When I received my Royal Up email I looked it over for fun. I couldn't believe the starting bids for the upgrade!

When going to the buffet leave a little plastic piggy. https://www.amazon.com/Schleich-Farm-World-Animal-Figurine/dp/B09DQ5RJNF/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=plastic%2Bpig&qid=1680728840&sr=8-2&th=1 Also, carry a little plastic gag turd with you to the pool deck and leave it in the middle of the lounger when leaving to go to the restroom. https://www.amazon.com/Boao-Realistic-Novelty-Floating-Different/dp/B07WSZV961/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1SE00Y1X2WGK5&keywords=plastic%2Bturd&qid=1680728725&sprefix=plastic%2Bturd%2Caps%2C480&sr=8-2&th=1 You have 15 minutes if you leave the turd but 30 if you're leaving the piggy. 🙂

I do the same. I also include in my spreadsheet items I haven't purchased but am considering purchasing and track pricing on those items as well.

That is on Spectrum of the Seas only and is specific to the Asian market. Gold and Silver are catergories of suite class on Spectrum.

Have the concierge book the nights and times you want before you board after you receive his or her email. They do not charge for Northstar on port days. On sea days they have an enhanced version that they charge for. It is a longer period and the pod is hung out over the side of the ship and has some pretty cools views. I think it was $29 on Ovation when we were on her.

I actually scored a couple of really really good deals. I actually think they might have been Royal IT screw ups but they were really good deals none the less.

A GS on Anthem is Sky Class Benefits listed here... https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/what-are-the-benefits-of-royal-suite-class

This is your view from 11502 on Oasis of the seas. Unlike the first picture you still see a fair bit of water but you do have an obstruction with the helipad.