twangster

3 hours ago, ONECRUISER said:

Thats whats on Royal site right?

Is now.

Ovation Oct. 9, 2025 to Oct. 20, 2025, 11 Nights, Tokyo to Singapore

Tentative Details:

Thu 09 Oct Tokyo (Yokohama), Japan, 5:00PM Embarkation

Fri 10 Oct Seaday

Sat 11 Oct Nagasaki, Japan 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM, Docked
Sun 12 Oct  Jeju (Seogwipo), South Korea 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM, Docked

Mon 13 Oct Seaday
Tue 14 Oct Seaday
Wed 15 Oct Hong Kong, China 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM, Docked

Thu 16 Oct Seaday
Fri 17 Oct Nha Trang, Vietnam 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Tendered

Sat 18 Oct Ho Chi Minh (Phu My), Vietnam 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM, Docked

Sun 19 Oct Seaday
Mon 20 Oct Singapore 7:00 AM Debarkation
 

Anyone else offered an extra point for accepting once per day cabin service on X?

Seems kinda pointless (pun intended) when you are a Z with 164 points.  

The bathroom in my Icon cabin had a GFCI outlet that frequently tripped.  I had to reset it often.  This was even when I didn't have anything plugged into it.

Are you using the outlet in the bathroom or by the desk?

For those that haven't sailed Icon it does have a regular outlet in the bathroom, not just a shaving outlet.  Given the regular type outlet in a bathroom there is a GFCI with a red light, test and reset buttons just like at a home bathroom in the US.

If you are using the outlet in the bathroom try pressing the GFCI reset button on the outlet.  

Royal casinos are all USD.

Guest services will exchange currency but not likely at a favorable rate.  

I don't bring nearly that much in Euros electing to use my credit card for things in Europe.  My card doesn't charge for foreign transactions beyond the exchange rate.  I bring cash for occasions I don't trust a merchant with my card or at places that don't accept credit cards much like when I travel at home in the US.

Crew will gladly take either currency for tips.

Celebrity and Royal are not at all similar and that is by design.  They are both owned under the umbrella of the Royal Caribbean Group.  The intent is not to have two equal cruise lines offering the same thing competing with each other so by design the ships are very different with a different target demographic.

The newest and largest X ships are still around 3k passengers so you really can't compare anything in the X fleet to Oasis or Icon class.  

1 minute ago, orville99 said:

Your experience must be unique, because we on our eighth cruise in a GS on Adventure so far this year, and have had the “suite” colored cards on every one, and have had the cards dinged for every drink we have ordered in the Lounge.

Maybe a feature of Adventure.  Pester the concierge enough to fix it and I'm surprised they haven't dealt with it. 

11 minutes ago, orville99 said:

Right…just like they would never charge our Pinnacle cards for happy hour drinks in the Suite lounge while staying in a full suite. RCG can’t even spell reconcile let alone define it.😅

Only happens when you retain your original Pin color seapass card.  When In a full suite I have the concierge print me a Sky class card and then it's never an issue.  

I can't fault every bar staff member understanding what cabin is a suite or not so the color of the card works fine for me.

33 minutes ago, lovesthebeach2 said:

I’m sure not many would agree with me, but the Tampa port just may be my favorite.
It's small so not jam packed with lines of cars coming and going like in port Canaveral.

It’s so much easier cruising from there for us. We live almost the same distance from either of those ports, slightly closer to Tampa, and I’m so happy to hear that Royal isn’t abandoning it for the future. 

From the East coast of Florida just south of Port Canaveral Tampa is the hardedest port to drive to for me with the longest drive (time wise) largely due to the disaster called I4.  While closer in distance than Miami, Miami is a shorter (time wise) and easier drive.  That's saying a lot because driving in South Florida is a PITA.  

I do have two Tampa cruises coming up but I also have many more Fort Lauderdale and Miami cruises booked because I hate driving to Tampa. 

Naturally I have many Port Canaveral cruises because those are the easiest of all for me but if they stopped cruising from Tampa it would not be a loss for me at all.  The limited ports of call especially on shorter itineraries doesn't help Tampa's cause.  

@BillB48 While beside Indy at the pier in CocoCay I once used the measuring tool on my phone to estimate the platform around the dining room at around 38 feet to the water line.  I don't put a lot of faith into a smartphone measuring guestimator but even with a 20% margin of error that still isn't very high.  

Was it you that mentioned that the PC requires 55 feet of clearance?

I've often thought it was Royal's tendency to stow lifeboats slightly outside the side profile of the ship that contributed to challenges fitting into the canal.  Royal does this to maximize interior volume and create more internal space to put things but it has implications such as platforms and structure that sticks out beyond the side profile of the ship.

NCL's Escape also does not have flush lifeboats (they stick out) while the later ships in this class stow the lifeboats within the side profile of the ship i.e. Joy, Bliss and Encore.  As near as I can tell Escape is the only ship in this class that hasn't used the new canal.  

That got me thinking perhaps having platforms, lifeboats or other structure protruding from the sides of the ship may be a factor in the ability to use the PC.

40 minutes ago, BillB48 said:

The Quantum is the only ship in this class I have seen lower the funnels, I don't know if that ability extends to the sisters in the fleet.

Ovation was the first Q class to visit Vancouver (with funnels lowered).  

I've also seen Odyssey lower her funnels while I was riding North Star on her at CocoCay.  It seems they were exercising them for routine maintenance.  

I haven't personally seen Anthem, Quantum or Spectrum lower their funnels but if you say Quantum does that's good enough for me. I assume the others do as well.

7 minutes ago, verizon said:

I do wish every Pinnacles think like you.I believe Celebrity offering more to Pinnacles than RCL offering to Celebrity Zeniths.Thats why the Zeniths are not very happy about it.

Any way happy cruising whatever cruise ship you on.

What loyalty perks do you feel Royal isn't providing to X-Pins?

26 minutes ago, Sonic2012 said:

Rumor I heard is Galveston. I don’t know which Icon their getting, but they are supposed to get one of them.

Consider the source though.   The same person promised Icon would visit the UK before coming to America.

It's interesting to me how X is handling the free Zenith drink package and wifi.

With Royal CAS discounts only work once on board.

For Zenith you have to pre-order the drink and wifi package ahead of time, at zero cost.

For an August sailing:

They haven't loaded the same Zenith discounts for a September sailing yet:

IIRC for my August sailing the Zenith discounts loaded after check in.  

Generally speaking the Royal cruise planner has never been aware of suite or CAS membership.

Either way with a premium drink package I don't need Retreat access.  Real Z's can have it.  I'll be at a bar.  

If I recall correctly the Freeport shipyard which is a joint Carnival Corp and RCG venture had ordered a new floating dry dock.

1 hour ago, Southern Dan said:

I thought I read somewhere that they are building a huge dry dock spot in the Bahamas that can accommodate the Oasis/Icon class or was that something else and I’m mistaken? 

Mexico was supposed to get a new shipyard.  If I recall correctly Fincantieri was involved.  

https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/shipyards/fincantieri-unveils-150m-shipyard-investment-mexico

Then the world event happened.  I'm not sure of the status of the new shipyard since.  

9 hours ago, Hooked.on.Royal said:

From what I have heard it is only working at half capacity due to some technical issues. We haven’t tried it but the station on deck 4 is pretty cool. Hopefully, it gets cracking at full blast soon.

New concept on a new ship on the inaugural sailing.

If this is the biggest issue on an inaugural voyage that's pretty good.

Genuinely curious if there are Zeniths who desire the Pin name badge.

I don't wear my Pin but to each their own. 

More curious if Zeniths ever felt that X should have done the same all this time.  

1 hour ago, SilkySal said:

We'll be on Utopia in February and I booked the UDP so I could dine at the Railway Station but it's not on my app for that cruise yet. It worries me that it's selling out so quickly. Wondering if they save any spots for those with the UDP? Would definitely not be happy if I am supposed to wait until we board the ship to make reservations and the Railway has already been sold out. Maybe I should book the reservations when I first see it on the app, then cancel it once on board and have it included in the UDP. Any advice is welcome!

I have an upcoming Star class cruise and this will be my strategy.  I'll let the Genie figure out once on board.  

5 hours ago, Tree_skier said:

As a followup to the original post, I'd like to set up a small wood shop on my Central Park balcony.  I have a table top lathe and a very small table saw.  Would the my cabin attendant be able to provide a small table to place these items on.  I would tip him $20 on embarkation day if that may help.  I wouldn't use either item after 10pm or while the jazz band and singer were performing by the trellis bar... 

 

🙂 

A guy next to me did this and it was so annoying.  Especially the hardwoods.  The burning smell of oak and teak were the worst.  I didn't mind the cedar chair he made so much as I like the smell of cedar.  When he continued to run the lathe after 10pm I called security but they told me unless they catch him in the act there is nothing they can do.  

Every morning I had sawdust on my chairs as I was downwind.  Every morning I had to sweep up the sawdust.  I tried dumping it back on his balcony but the wind just blew it back all over me.  So annoying.

If you have a paid Voom plan use a VPN to check in while on board or wait until you are in port with cellular coverage (TMobile includes nearly all cruise destinations) or find a venue at a port of call that has WiFi like a bar, store or restaurant.  

22 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Cruising power is still down. 

Down or just "Taking a Power Nap"  🤣

Another reason to never leave final payment to the very last day.  

5 hours ago, josh4trunks said:

Thanks @twangster. Yeah, I assume SSID is how they are identifying and creating their firewall rules (for now).

 

It also sounds like you have some experience with the GL.iNet devices? I found a GL-MT1300 (Beryl AC) locally on Facebook Market for $45. I was hoping to use this as close to the hallway in my Ocean Balcony room, on an Oasis class ship. My in-laws will be staying in a Central Park Balcony room, across the hall, and one door over. I estimate the distance will be 30-40 feet max to the far side of their room.

 

They will be watching our infant most of the trip, but I may spend some time in their room to watch the baby too. Do you think the GL-MT1300 will have usable signal going this distance, and through at least 2 metal doors/walls?

The steel cabin walls and doors do an excellent job at whacking WiFi signals.  

In your case that would be a double whammy.  

Having said that, I have never tried it.  

I have found a long USB-C cable that is rated for 100W fast charging at 5m or 16.5 feet.  Such a cable allows one to place a USB-C powered device anywhere in a cabin including close to the door.

3 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

But even different themes I could see being "meh"

 

Although it is obviously an asset they can change it up. 

Now if they do a Snowpiercer theme, then they're onto something.

That would be epic.

34 minutes ago, josh4trunks said:

For those who have used a travel router...
Is there any issue with roaming phones using that travel router's wifi hotspot?

 

Say I setup a travel router in my stateroom, and configure my phone to connect to that SSID. Also, when I'm elsewhere on the ship I will directly use ship wifi (in order to use the free app/chat).

 

When I am away from my room I will select, "Use our app for free". I wonder if this makes the app send some type of cookie to identify itself, or is the ship wifi just creating a "free" rule for my MACID?

When near my stateroom, my phone will automatically connect to the travel router, which forwards my traffic through my travel router's paid MACID. But if I use the app while on the travel router SSID I could potentially be sending a cookie that this is a free/unpaid device.

 

I am probably overthinking the process, but just wanted to make sure things do work as seamlessly as I think. While on the ship I can use the app for free, while near my room I can use full internet on my travel router's SSID.

 

Thanks!

In terms of identifying devices there are a number of ways that network equipment fingerprints devices.

So far, the platform currently in use doesn't appear to act on any fingerprinting they are doing. 

Tomorrow?  ...