paross4

Love the smell of burned JP8. Sorry I missed it.

It may only be for active duty military. (but I could be wrong)

The ones we received on the Serenade in March (this year) were similar to the old ones. The main difference was straighter sides and no ships names on them. (just the C&A and Coke logo)

The cabin will have a little cross icon next to the number (when looking at a deck plan) We stayed in cabin 4060 on the Serenade (same ship type as Radiance) and it had 2 single Pullman's in the ceiling. EDIT: Sorry, I just noticed you were referring to a 3 person cabin. I would think the icon would be the same though. Apologies for any confusion.

Suite area? Since we were not in a suite, I didn't look. Why prepay? We prepay just to have it done and to not get shut out if for some reason the lot would be full when we got there. Drop off before parking? Yes, you can if the terminal is open when you get there. In our case, we arrived at the ship before 11:00 am and the security guard would not let us through to drop off luggage. We were directed to drive back around and get in the line of cars on the street and wait. However since we were parking in the lot, the guard told us we could drive around (using a different street) back to the lot entrance and park. (inside the chain link area with the locked gate) We were not allowed to drive on the street adjacent to the terminal where the porters are waiting for luggage. It's hard to describe. There are two streets, one tight against the terminal where the porters are located and the other slightly lower that runs parallel to the one by the terminal. The lower street bypasses the porters and loops you back out to the city street. This is Terminal 6 only. I'm not sure how it is for the other RCL terminal in Tampa. Maybe not such a mess? 😉 Sorry for the long reply...

To the towel issue. We asked our steward to leave extra every morning and never had any problems.

We were on in January and March of this year. I didn't see any freestyle machines. Most people (and kids) would take the cup to a bar for filling. To the person asking about parking.... We pre-paid in lot 6 both times. It's close to the ship and easy to locate. However, you are in a fenced area with one small gate that leads to the ship. Security opens the gate it at 11AM on the dot. So you have quite a few people lined up single file to exit the lot. Then you have to wait to cross a road and go up a ramp to the terminal. And you also wait there until the security people (local police?) allow you to cross over to where the porters are collecting bags. (taxis and busses dropping off passengers at that spot) All of this is out in the open, so if it is raining, you will get wet. (unless you wait in your car until the line clears) The hold up seems to be caused by having a tiny terminal that can only handle a small amount of passengers. (compared with other ports) Security holds the crowd back and lets a few in at a time. On our last trip, we got in the parking lot line at 10:45. It took us until after 12:15 to get on the ship. (wait to leave the lot, wait to cross the street, wait on the ramp, wait at the top of the ramp to cross the second street to the terminal, wait outside the terminal door, wait in the security line, wait to be checked in) Note that at no time did they ask anyone for their scheduled check in time. Not complaining, just saying how it is. It's all worth the wait though, and we would do it again tomorrow.

I just had to check out a thread that was started in 2017. 😉 BTW - Serenade has the pool tables (in the foyer between the Schooner Bar and the Safari Club) and from what I was told while we were on it last month, they still "self level".

They did. Though I'm not sure the others didn't just wander over and take it on their own. (I heard one of them say something to the effect that "someone was at their table") Our waiter quickly moved us off to the side and grabbed the maitre d' who proceeded to take us to a large open table by the grand staircase. All worked out and we had the original table the rest of the cruise. Our waiter seemed embarrassed by it all, but we assured him it wasn't his fault. 🙂

I would also second the recommendation that you should check in at the MDR once you board. Make sure they have your table and that it is correct. We had linked reservations for early dining with another couple on the Serenade last month. When we boarded I went straight to the MDR to verify and found that they had us at a table for 2 and the other couple was moved to My Time Dining. The head waiter immediately fixed it (though 2 other couples "jumped" our table the second night). If I had not checked upon boarding, we would have had a mess to clear up later.

You can look at your account on the App. (before the final day - as it blanks out then) That view only shows that you got a drink and the place you got it. It will also show your other purchases (room service, shops on the ship, etc. along with the total OBC you have left. (if you started with any) I usually check each night before I go to bed - and count up the drink orders. You'd be surprised how fast they add up. lol

Interesting. Thanks for sharing. I wonder (and I'm not a cook or anything) but do you think the age of the ship could have an effect on the food? (Enchantment 1997 - Anthem 2015) By that I mean, are the galley's on the older ships equipped to handle the new menu's and how the food is to be cooked, prepped and served? I know, age of ship, galley size and equipment probably doesn't have any bearing, but still....

Getting back to the original thread topic... This must be a new thing. We were on Serenade a month ago, they were handing out highlighters to the trivia winners (in the Schooner bar). One gentleman had about 8 or 9 of them. (he would stand by the piano and hold them up for all to see) I'm guessing he likes trivia contests and has a lot of things to highlight on his paper cruise compass. 😉 On the Explorer back in October of 2022, there were no prizes. Just the "you won a free dinner at the MDR or Windjammer" joke.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2816121-current-cruise-director-cd-list-starting-12-2021/page/24/#comments

It's bound to show up soon. Our March 2023 cruise drink/dining/internet packages didn't become available for purchase in the Cruise Planner until mid April of 2022.

We like South Beach. It's a bit of a walk (or you can take the tram) but the beach is nice and there are tons of loungers with umbrellas. Also has a swim up/wade up bar about 10 yards offshore. Another spot we like is the Wacky Seagull. If you want to be out of the sun (or rain?) it has a nice railing with high bar stools facing the ocean that is under a solid roof. It's a nice place to sit and enjoy a drink, read a book or people watch. View from a bar stool at the Wacky Seagull (from last month)

I know they say Clorox wipes do not work but these claim to, based on the label and website. (My bolding of the text) We usually take these along to wipe things down. Clorox Healthcare® Bleach Germicidal Wipes GERMICIDAL BLEACH WIPES: Clorox Healthcare ® Germicidal Bleach Wipes are a ready to use cleaner disinfectant; EPA registered to kill C. Difficile in 3 minutes and 58 other microorganisms in 1 minute or less ONE-STEP CLEANER DISINFECTANT: Clean, disinfect and deodorize with proven efficacy against outbreak-causing viruses like influenza A, influenza B and norovirus DISINFECT: Kills C. Difficile spores in 3 minutes and more than 55 HAI-causing pathogens in 1 minute; meets EPA criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19

Exactly. Just joined, one post. Don't feed the troll.

If you haven't done one, try the Chef's Table. Small group, interesting menu and wine. Lots of it.

Hit the Schooner Bar for a drink and a boarding day photo. Head to MDR to verify table location. Drop by muster station to get our "ticket punched". Off to Windjammer for a bite to eat. Pool deck for more drinks and to relax until the cabins open. On larger ships, connect to WIFI and make show reservations as needed.

The floating (moored) bar is still at South Beach as of 2 weeks ago. They also added a few small, round palapas that you can stand around. (much like high-top bar tables, but with a thatched roof overhead)

Thanks for the information!

Hello. I just turned from a lowly deposit of basic carbon to a sparkling new Diamond on my last cruise and have a question about the drink vouchers. (I've searched the tower chiefs logs and haven't found an answer to my question) I know you can get booze (in this case the Ultimate Bloody Mary) through room service, but at the current bar pricing. (Room service booze is not covered by the Deluxe Beverage Package for some reason). Thus, my question: Can a diamond drink voucher be used to pay for a room service drink? I'll have the DBP anyway, so this would be one way to get some use out of the vouchers. I suppose another way would be to buy a round for the house (or at least 4 of the house) at the Schooner Bar. Thanks. I'll hang up and listen for your answer.

Same here. Plus, I could not get my shareholders OBC on a "comped' cruise.

You won the Internet today! 😉