Seville2Cabo

4 hours ago, TeeRick said:

Looking for feedback on pricing (per night per person) for the UDP on ships without a Coastal Kitchen. 

Within the last month, I paid $45 pp/pd on Brilliance and $46 on Indy - both included the tip.

1 hour ago, GJustice said:

We heard last year when we ate there that it most likely would be going away during her next major refurbishment.

 

DON'T know if this is the one that covered that.

We were told the same. We really enjoyed it, but empty the nights we were there. 

17 hours ago, Another_Critic said:

The current (as of yesterday morning) alternate route is I-695 in the other direction.

Not sure about Hazmat issues on this route, but if going from BWI to Towson, we take 295 to 395 thru the city and then 83 north.  That is the route the navigation programs take us.

6 minutes ago, xpcdoojk said:

Congrats on your 2 million in 401K…. Buying a million worth of RCL is a bad investment, buying 100 shares and cruising a lot… is a no-brainer.  

 

95% of the people ( I am guessing but bet I am right) own more than 100 and less than 200 shares.  If you cruise 4 to 5 times a year you could make gains of more than about any regular investment I know of.  That said, buying a stock like RCL is not a real investment it is a fun activity that you enjoy.  The Shareholder benefit while it is combinable is wonderful luxury.  

 

JC<——— spent a lot of time in gradual school in economics (no misspelling).  

I’m guessing with that required withdraw, less than $1.5m

3 minutes ago, grandgeezer said:

Here’s some new data for you. RCL stock since IPO in 1993. Up 1,235.27 %.  S&P 500 Index fund since first offered in 1984. Up 3,141.97%. These numbers are updated as the price changes. This is on msn.com. Where do your numbers come from or are they skewed in your favor?

I don’t how you can count shareholder obc as you have to pay a ton of money to get it. 

My numbers are based on when I bought the Royal stock I currently have and the difference if I would have bought a S&P fund.  

Since the IPO, Royal is up 1,395% versus the S&P at 1.061%.  

Not sure I understand your point about having to spend money.  I was / am going to spend it anyway, so it is just a bonus.  I never book a cruise for the OBC or points - we book what we want.  The OBC is just a bonus.

Royal Caribbean Cruises Return vs. S&P

23 hours ago, BND said:

A lot of cruisers (especially most that end up with medical issues and evacuations) are on Medicare which as far as I know does not cover you out of the country.  I only currently have Tricare as I'm not 65 yet while DH has Medicare and Tricare for life since he is over 65.  Most  medical insurance does not cover outside of the country (private or Gov provided).   Besides having  Allianz, we have credit cards that have pretty high limits and access to cash as needed.  Not everyone does.

Our Medicare supplement does cover out of country expenses, but limited to $50K

13 hours ago, grandgeezer said:

Where is the dividend coming from? RCL hasn’t paid one in several years.

I’ve been in the stock market for over 35 years and reached financial gain way beyond my wildest dreams. I have a 401k, and by law, I have to take a minimal withdrawal every year, for 2024 it’s $58,000+ and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

For those that bought the stock below $20 and held on to it, good for you. But like an economic professor said after someone brought up a similar situation many many years ago “Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn once in awhile”. 
Long term, cruise line stocks have not been a good investment. Five years ago, if you stuck equal amounts in RCL stock and a S&P 500 mutual fund, as of close of business today, the RCL stock would be up a total of 1.35%. The mutual fund would be up 82.16%.

Finally, to get the shareholder obc you have to book a cruise each time to get it. The mutual fund pays capital gains and dividends without another penny out your pocket.

You can take it in cash, or reinvest it.

 

I've had RC stock for about 20 years.  Average return - 15% - S&P over the same period - under 7%, and that does not include the OBC.

Picking the right date can make the number come out any way you want.  

9 minutes ago, twangster said:

There are many types of FCC and for a brief period they allow some FCC from pandemic  cancellations to be transferred.  Since there are several different types of FCC there is no blanket statement that applies to each type,  

Thank you - these are the FCC's that Royal gives you if you have their insurance and cancel for an uncovered reason.  We got 50% back in cash (canceled 61 days out) and 90% of the balance in FCC.

I thought I read that FCC's could be transferred.  We had to cancel a family cruise due to one daughter's work.  We had Royal's insurance and got 90% of the "loss" back as FCCs.  My daughter and granddaughter will probably not use them and want to transfer to us (we paid).  Our TA said Royal declined the request.  

Is this correct?  I thought they allowed transfers.

Thank you

My wife and I go thru about $50 per day in cash ($60 for sea day).  $15 for specialty dinning ($10 more for sea day lunch),  $30 for C&A drinks and about $5 for the steward. 

Depending on length of cruise and if we are staying overseas before or after, we take $1,000 to $2,000 (includes foreign currency if we take any) 

39 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

You really don't email the cruise director.

She’s special 

Just now, firstimer2009 said:

If I purchase Chef's Table on the app how do I go about reserving this?  Do I have to wait until I get onboard?  Does Chef's Table have reservations every night of the cruise?  

When you buy it on the planner, it will ask which night and you reserve on the planner.  Most nights have Chef's Table.

Don’t understand. Never seen unfinished bottle of wine. Corks are for quitters.

24 minutes ago, Charles4515 said:

It should send sms text if using wifi calling if sms text is toggled on. 

I do this all the time.  The only issue I have is if I try to send a message to multiple people and they are mixed on IMessage and text.  They never go through.

Yesterday's Cowboys game was shown in the Aquatheater on Harmony.  I would think they would do the same next week, especially with a large TX crowd on Harmony.

2 hours ago, Jasukkie said:

Memories of the cruising in the 90s, people shouting into walkie-talkies. Absolutely not. 

I'd purchase one internet package and put an airtag on each kid so you know where they are at all times. 

AirTags really are useless on the ship

9 hours ago, DallasGuy75219 said:

I had to disembark Princess early in Puerto Vallarta to fly back to the U.S. for a memorial service.  I knew about it in advance so got permission from Princess ahead of time. 

 

I had to be downstairs by the purser's desk when the ship docked.  Customs/immigration came onboard, searched all my luggage by hand, and wanted to see my airline reservation leaving the same day.  They stamped my passport as arriving by sea (so customs/immigration at the airport could see I had entered legally).  I had to provide 6 (six!) copies of my documentation (passport and airline reservation I think) and pay them $100 USD in cash.

 

Not sure if the $100 was a legitimate fee or just an easy way to get $100 out of a gringo who had no choice but to pay it.

The tourist visa for Mexico is about $35 per person.  Think the $100 may have been a "service charge".

25 minutes ago, JeffT237 said:

Is this pretty common? I just figured we'd Uber or Lyft from the Harbor House to the terminal when we cruise in March on the Harmony.

We were scheduled on the Harbor House shuttle, but it was a large packed bus. 4 of use decided to Uber and we’re on our way before bus was half loaded. I this $12 for an XL (4 with luggage)

8 hours ago, cruiseboy89130 said:

A absolutely! Give them a call before you go to bed the last night 👌

Why do you wait until the last night?  I guess either embarrassed , afraid of poor service , or afraid your toothbrush ends up, you know where. 

On 12/18/2023 at 1:46 PM, mjkacmom said:

You need a lot more that that for real ID in NJ, plus it can take a while to snag an appointment. I’m planning on using my passport card instead of spending hours at the dmv.

I use my Global Entry card at airports for TSA.  Never an issue.

So you can book the shuttle thru air2sea if you do not book the flights thru them?  Is the shuttle only offered the day of the cruise?  We are thinking about coming into Ravenna a day early.  We are in Bologna 2 day prior.

32 minutes ago, nelblu said:

Wonder if the champagne is from the Casino.  On my last few cruises, I got 2 bottles of white wine per my selection and a bottle of champagne, but no card associated with it.

 

On my recent Harmony sail, got my customary wine, but alas no champagne.🤣

Doubtful - we really don't gamble on ships very often.

We had the opposite problem of no paperwork.  Came off a Navigator B2B (4 / 7 nights).  Got into the cabin and there were about 8 waters on the desk, a cooler bag full of water, and beach bag full of water and a bottle of white wine (our C&A selection is red).  Thought the water could be from our TA, but no note.  

On the second leg, we got more water, a bottle of red wine and a bottle of champaign.  We also got invitations to the Cheers with an Officer and the C&A top tier event.  We usually don't go to these events so through the papers away.  I was surprised as we only have 300 points.

The next day the phone rings and it is the loyality ambassador and she un-invites us to the Cheers with an Officer.  Said we got it by mistake.  I assume the extra white wine, champaign and maybe some of the bags of water was a mistake too, but she did not ask for those back.  I am more surprised the figured out the mistake then I am that they made the mistake.

5 hours ago, not-enough-cruising said:

Royal Caribbean cruise line is traded on the NYSE, but not RCG

I think RCG trades under RCL on the NYSE.  When they changed to RCG, they did not change their trading symbol

I bought 100 shares of the stock in 1998 for $2,500. Reinvesting dividends, now worth $17K.  Plus about $1,500 in OBC, so about 15% annual return. I bought again at $30  and will probably sell that soon.  Will keep the original shares and get my $400 per year in OBC (which I have no problem spending) and wait for the stock to increase and dividend to restart.