KelJ

The files were too big. I think I figured it out. Let's give it a try.

Ugh! I've never had a problem attaching photos or scans. I keep getting the message "upload of file failed." Any suggestions?

Hi, all! While getting Christmas items out of our storage unit, I came across a box marked "Alaska" which contains all of my paperwork from my first cruise, which was on the RCCL Sun Viking in July/August of 1991. It was so interesting to look at cruise compasses from then versus now and to see prices too. I've scanned some of the documents and will post them in case anyone else finds them to be interesting as well.

We will be staying in one of those cabins where the library used to be in less than a week. It's supposed to have floor-to-ceiling windows.

 

The library on this class of ship has been greatly reduced. It's now a cabinet that holds a much smaller number of books. I think the puzzles and such are nearby. I can understand this. Many people travel with their e-readers now, and don't need to borrow books.

Do you have any pictures of your cabin? We are in 4588 next month.

So currently if I look at the lowest priced outside on the Freedom sailing in question the base cruise fare for two is $1806 for the lowest priced outside cabin before the BOGO discounts. My base cruise fare (without discounts) for the balcony I have booked is $1598. So it seems on paper that I should get this cruise for free (just pay taxes). Am I missing something here?

They will remove the balcony discount (if any) and credit you with whatever the price is of the least expensive available outside stateroom, minus taxes. So you could get the stateroom for a very low cost.

If $1806 is the least expensive available oceanview stateroom, that is the credit you should get (as you are entitled to up to $2500). However, I believe they will look at the current price of the balcony you have booked (and will not permit you to use a balcony discount, as has been pointed out). Is your balcony still the same price today as when you booked it?

Just ate at Ritas on Brilliance in October. Much smaller menu than what was posted . Basically apps nachos, quesadillas, guac etc decent sizes -placed ala carte .Extremely reasonable and drink package covered margeritata..was a good snack option on our 13 nite trip .

Do they charge the $3/person cover charge?

Since this thread has been resurrected, I'll throw in my two cents. I seem to be in the minority, but I have absolutely no desire to dine with people I don't know.

Whether it is just my husband and me sailing, or whether it is my husband, me and any number of our six young adult children sailing with us, we enjoy dining with just the family. Upon boarding, one of the first things we do is check our table in the MDR to make sure it is the size we've requested.

Even when we go to the MDR for breakfast, I always request a table for just the number in our party. We sometimes have to wait, but that's fine with us.

For us, vacation time is time to reconnect with family. Dining is an intimate experience. We don't eat on land with strangers and certainly don't find it appealing to eat at sea with strangers.

For those of you who have made lifelong friends in the dining room, how wonderful for you. It is just not our cup of tea.

I found this:

Rita’s Cantina (Mexican)

Select Dining Venue ($3 dining fee plus à la carte pricing Cover Charge)

Dinner

Replacing the portside outdoor eating area of Windjammers in May 2013, aft of deck 11, Rita’s Cantina is an 84 seat Mexican Restaurant offering casual dining with a great selection of Mexican meals, snacks and cocktails. A cover charge of $3 per person plus à la carte pricing applies and a sample menu can be viewed below:

SOUPS

Roasted Chicken and Tomato Broth ($2.00)

Iced Mint Watermelon and Tomato Bisque ($1.50)

Black Bean Soup ($1.75)

KIDS

Cheese Quesadilla ($1.75)

Nachos with Cheese Sauce ($1.50)

Chicken Tacos ($1.75)

SMALLER PLATES

Starter Taco Salad ($2.75)

Fiesta Guacamole ($2.75)

Party Nachos ($2.50)

Shrimp Ceviche Tostada ($3.00)

Grilled Quesadilla ($3.25)

LARGER PLATES

Classic Taco Salad ($3.25)

Ancho Chile Relleno ($3.00)

Grilled Chicken “Chichen-Itza” ($5.25)

Pork Roast and Jalapeno Cheese Chimichanga ($5.50)

Grilled Salmon, Squash and Jalapeno Cheese Burritos ($5.00)

Seared Red Snapper ($5.50)

Chile Con Carne ($5.00)

SIDES

Mexican Rice, Refried Beans, Sour Cream, Guacamole, Chilli Con Carne, Cheese Sauce, Peppers

DESSERTS

Cinnamon Sugar Rolled Churros ($1.75)

Banana Enchiladas ($2.25)

Mexican Flan ($1.50)

I have had better luck lately using Southwest points for cruises and OBC on RCL

If I may ask, how do you use your Southwest points for RCCL OBC? I have a ton of Southwest points.

I've never sailed on a ship that had a Rita's Cantina. Though I've read some bad reviews, I'm interested in knowing what it's all about.

I've read that on bigger ships you can book a "fiesta" for a fee. Does Brilliance offer the fiesta? Also, is there a cover fee if you are not doing a fiesta? What types of food choices are there (full meals or just appetizers), and do you pay a la carte? Do I assume correctly that you can use your drink package in Rita's?

Thanks for any answers you can provide regarding the Rita's on Brilliance!

I agree. It will not be long before we don't use the Royal Visa card at all anymore.

Same here. Used 50,000 points for our upcoming free cruise and used 15,000 points for $150 OBC on that cruise. I only have like 145 points left over and am switching cards.

Don't they also take away the balcony discount if you use the "free" cruise redemption?

I agree. Last time I checked, I thought they made me remove the balcony discount too, so it was a double whammy.

When using 50,000 points for a free 3 or 4 night cruise, you get an oceanview stateroom. Therefore, both times I've taken a free cruise this way, the balcony discount didn't factor into it because a balcony wasn't a free option. I did ask if I could pay the difference to upgrade to a balcony and apply my balcony discount, and they told me I could upgrade but could not use the discount.

Using RCCL Visa points for a free cruise is usually better than using them for OBC because you get twice as much dollar value toward the free cruise. For example, for your 125,000 points you could get $1,250 in OBC, but you can get $2,500 toward your free cruise.

I redeemed 50,000 for a free cruise we'll be taking in January. I could have gotten $500 in OBC, but instead I had up to $1,000 to use for my free cruise. In the end, it was actually a $918 value, much better than the $500 OBC.

The tricky part is the never-ending BOGO sale. For example, the price for guest one for my cruise was $459. The price for guest two, because of the BOGO, was $229.50. In order to use the points toward a free cruise, the BOGO goes away and the price reverts to $459 per person. Had I paid for the cruise using the BOGO and without applying the points for a free cruise, it would have cost me $688.50, so you could say that the value of my free cruise was really $688.50 instead of $918, but that is still better than the $500 OBC.

Keep in mind that, when applying the points for a free cruise, you still have to pay taxes, fees and port expenses. Also, in order to get Crown & Anchor credit for a free cruise, they will charge you $1 per person so that you "paid" for the cruise because you don't get Crown & Anchor credit for a truly free cruise.

I hope this helps. Good luck planning your free cruise!

While on Radiance this year a Galley tour was offered for $25 which included lunch at a specialty restaurant.

 

The tour was not advertised and I heard about it from a table mate at dinner.

 

Is this tour offered on all shops? I'll be sailing on Adventure.

We did the galley tour on the Liberty in June and really enjoyed it. It included a wonderful champagne brunch at Portofino. They also gave us discount coupons to return certain nights for dinner at Portofino. We found out about it in one of those little flyers they put in the Compass, but you can just call the specialty restaurant and ask if they're offering it. You call them directly to book it as well.

In June there were Shrek characters, to include Puss N Boots. There was also Kung Fu Panda.

it's really tough now. I used to get great deals the closer it got to a sailing. maybe 4 months out. But in the last year.. it seems to be that if you book 1 + year out the price seems to be much better. There are a couple of important things to note

 

1. sometimes a reseller has better deals with on board credit. ( especially if you have no status with the cruise line) so definitely check the major cruise travel agent sites. unfortunately I cant list them here

 

2. Only pay the minimum deposit when you book. Take a look weekly at the sailing after you initially book. If the price goes down, you can call whoever you booked it with and they will adjust the price. You can do this all the way up until final payment is due. depending on the sailing it's usually from 60 to 75 days out. BUT if you pay the whole cruise upfront.. when the price changes it gets messy. More than likely instead of crediting your credit card you will get On board credit... Just easier to pay when you have to , not up front... HOWEVER if you are NOT from the united states. Many people also have to deal with the currency exchange rates and prefer to pay off the reservation when the exchange rate is more favorable for them. That is not something I have to deal with.. but certainly a big consideration ( and understandably so ) for many cruisers

In the event of a price drop, Royal applies the credit to the credit card used if already paid in full. They do not give OBC for price drops.

See if this is it

 

http://www.hiddenfruitsandveggies.com/2015/06/11/cherry-watermelon-beer-cocktail/

 

I once worked for a man who's wife loved the thing. We had to make sure that all the bartenders knew how to make it, but we used a very different mix of ingredients.

Thank you! It's very similar but for substituting cherry liquor for the cherry juice. We are experimenting with the ingredients as I type this. Such a refreshing drink!

Help! Does anyone know the correct portions used to make the Cherry Orchard that is sold in the Hoof and Claw? I have the muddled watermelon, Chambord, cherry liqueur and Redd's Apple Ale. I just don't know how much of each to use. This drink was to die for on the Liberty, and I'd like to recreate it!

I booked a free cruise this morning. I just had to search to find one that was under $1000 after BOGOHO was removed. I couldn't get the OBC that was being offered, but it was only $13 per person anyway.

I just did an express deal on Priceline and got Le Meridien for $138 on 1-20-16. To book it direct, the price was $269 so I'm very happy!

What are your thoughts on the Le Meridien in Tampa for a pre-cruise hotel? It's a restored federal courthouse, and the pictures of it look beautiful.

I too am waiting for the BOGO to end, even just for one day! I have 50,000 points, so I can get a free 3 or 4 night cruise in the cheapest outside cabin (up to $1,000) or $500 off the cruise price, so the $1,000 is clearly more valuable to me than the $500. When they remove the BOGO, which has a $300 value, the $1,000 doesn't cover the cost of the cruise I'm interested in.

As an aside, on the 4-night cruise I'm looking at, balconies are cheaper than the outsides!

Let's say the BOGO disappears and I book my free cruise with points. Can I then upgrade to a balcony and use my diamond balcony discount??

I enjoyed your review. We were on the June 4th sailing.

I am making up my "own"compass with fizzlewickets wonderful review. Using his recent compasses as a guide. Anyone know what the DL times are on the liberty 9 nighter? I believe it is in olive and twist???? Any help would be appreciated. Down to 18 days and it's all I can think about. Still deciding on the drink package lol real world problems[emoji267][emoji485][emoji485][emoji483]

I was on the June 4th sailing. The diamond lounge has its own location near Olive or Twist. Evening hours were 5:00 to 8:30.

Flowrider, rock wall, mini-golf, basketball.

In addition to the sports activities mentioned by Bob, there is also the teen club with their own planned activities. Scavenger Hunt, Dance Club, Arcade.

And ice skating!

At one of the teen events, our DS16 even won a tour of the bridge!