Mick B

Hi, Make sure you know what you are entitle to beforehand. Make sure that if your partner has the same status but doesn't want his/hers then take their sea pass card with you to order from it. Make sure you tell the bar tender/whoever what you want and that you have a coupon on the sea pass card and want to use it for whatever you are ordering. Also, from time to time, if you have not been issued a receipt, check on the app or on your stateroom TV to make sure your account is correct and if a mistake has been made, then go to guest services when they are quiet (so not to waste your valuable time on board) and they will rectify the issue. From what I have seen in the past, one main issue with using vouchers is when you are in the MDR and your waiter sorts whatever drinks you have ordered. This is one of those times where they take your sea pass cards and you cannot see which ones they have applied your vouchers to. You can tell them when ordering, but again, check on your app asap otherwise it can screw things up later when you've had a few! Mick.

Sorry, but I may upset a few here, and it is not my intension, but... Is not 1 entree more than enough at dinner time? Are there not enough places around the ship during the day/early evening where you can get some food/nibbles if still a bit peckish? I have witnessed so many people, so many timers ordering food and then either not eating all of it because the main course came out before they could finish all the entrees they had ordered. Food wastage on board a cruise ship is one of things that helps the prices to go up, yet it is something that we can help to avoid if we are careful. Given that the cruise line seems to gearing to get you in and out in 90 minutes (possibly to give your seats to My Time Dinning guest) surely, 1 entree is all your going to have time for if you are going to have an enjoyable 3 course meal plus a coffee etc before having to make a mad dash to the other end of the ship to get a decent seat for the show etc. Mick.

Hi, Me and my wife used to enter this show for a bit of a laugh and even if you did not win you still got a nice bottle of sparling wine for taking part. However, we have not taken part recently as we are both on our second marriage and have been married for 15 years so do not fall into the newly wed area anymore nor the over 40 year area either, so would end up having to do silly things like play tarzan and jane with other couples for a chance for the middle couple. We have had our share so we let anyone else who wants to take part do it. I agree that the questions are roughly the same and although they are sometimes slightly different from ship to ship, it is not hard to rehearse an answer beforehand which I suspect a few have done. Royal are slow with changing questions for any of their quizes. Again, this show used to be on at night in the Theatre around 10pm aimed at adults only, but on my last few cruises it has sometimes been on during the day and the theatre has had many families in it as a result. Maybe Royal are trying to make all things kiddie friendly to attract more families perhaps? Its a shame, as it was nice to be able to let your hair down and have a bit of fun without saying or doing something that may easily offend some people that maybe should not be there in the first place if the show was on at a decent time and the rules were enforced. Mick.

Hi, Glad you enjoyed the Explorer. I have not been on her since 2014 when we sailed from Bayonne to Bermuda. The thing I like about this class of ship is that you get a Royal Promenade which is perfect for when they put on the entertainment like Dancing in The Street. It also has the Ice Rink so you can go and see the Ice Shows as well as have a skate on certain days too. Also the Rink area is used for the Quest! Did try to book the ship for last year out of Italy but they swapped it for the Enchantment (which was K, but the ships with the Royal promenade are my favs) Luckily the Indy is coming back to the UK in 2025 and I have my 12 night cruise booked! As for the shows on board. I suppose they can sometimes be subjective. I have seen tributes to the Beatles and the Four Seasons and on each occasion it has been a different band sometimes choosing different songs and in the process missing out some of the more popular and sing-a-long tracks for less known songs - although still OKish. Remember although the WJ can get really packed on the first day, there are normally seating spaces either outside on some ships or around the entrance area. Failing that, you can always take a few plates outside and eat them around the pool area. Also, some ships have alternative restaurants open during this time. Best to ask a member of staff upon boarding as you may find a nice quiet place to eat away from the madness. Enjoy the Brilliance too, she is slightly smaller than the explorer with no Royal Promenade or Ice Rink. She does have a Centrum area and when I was last on her they did acrabat themes nights there. There is a golf course at the rear too. Enjoy! Mick.

Wow! Back in 2008 my first cruise was on the Indy and I have been back on her 4 times since. The last time was in 2019 just after she had been upgraded. Sadly I am from the UK and have not been able to catch up with lately, but she is coming back to the UK in 2025 and I have a 12 night Canaries cruise booked. I have not stayed in the family room as only me and the wife travel, but we have stayed on the 2nd floor before. Not sure if things have changed, but IIRC due to the Ice Skating rink and business centre area, I seem to think that you cannot gain entry to the front of the ship via the 2nd floor corridors, so to go to the theatre, for example, you would have to walk back to the aft stairs/lifts and then walk along the Royal promenade. However, most of the time we would only go to the theatre for the evening show which would normally be just after dinner, so we would walk along the promenade anyway. It looks like your cabin will be in a good location, not just for any bad weather, but also if it is still a dead end, then you won't suffer the effects of a busy cut through like some floors suffer. Now as your cabin is on the Starboard side (right facing forward), you will be pleased to know that the lifts towards the rear (aft) only go up to deck 12 which is the main pool deck. The lifts on the opposite side go up to deck 14 which serve the Viking crown lounge area but as you are new to RCI you won't be needed the Crown Lounge or Suites Lounge so the only other deck this lift serves is deck 13 where you will find the Rock climbing wall and flow rider. However, you may find you get a faster/better lift service by using the starboard side lifts to deck 12 and then walking up 1 flight of stairs if you want deck 13. The reason for this is because the other sides lifts go to deck 14, they can be very very busy at certain times due to C&A and suites guests going to deck 14. There used to be a golf course at the rear, but only my 2019 cruise they had moved this to the front on deck 13. When it was at the rear we used to enjoy crazy crazy golf in the bay of biscay! Sadly no shelter from the elements at the front. Don't forget that most things to do on the ship are free, not just the rock climbing wall and flowrider, but also on certain days at certain times, they open up the Ice rink for skating too. I must admit I am crap at it, but every now and then I have a go for a laugh and there is nothing more strange than going for a skate on a ship! The Indy has always had something special about her and I have not found another ship that betters her, the Navigator came close, but even after her new upgrade, she was still tops for me. Enjoy! Oh, and one of my favourite places on this ship is the Champagne Bar which is on Deck 5 opposite guest services and near the aft lifts. Not sure if Roxy still works there, but if she does then I am certain you will have a good time! It does get busy in there though! Mick.

We used to have 2 European holidays which involved flying from the UK to somewhere like Italy and Spain and spending a few days in hotels either end. Now we will only be doing 1 cruise each year to not only save on the silly high priced airfare, but also the high priced hotels too. As we have been to most of the ports of call, there is no rush for us to return to any of them anytime soon, so the only way we would go back to doing 2 cruises a year is if the cruise fare returned to being very low and the air fares did the same. I doubt it so... Next year we have a 15 night TA from FL to Southampton and that works out far cheaper than two 7 night European holidays when you factor in the additional airfare and hotels. And for 2025 I have 12 nights on the Indy from the UK to the Canaries and I have eliminated both airfare and hotels as a precaution as I cannot see the price for them doing anything but going up for the foreseeable future considering the way the world has been left after 2021, plus all the Brexit crap we have had to put up with too in the UK. Can't wait for what 2026 will bring us. Mick.

Hi, Yes I got the wrong end of the stick here. I just realised what this cruise was. The one's I have done in the past and would strongly advise are the ones where you get on at an Italian port and cruise one way to Barcelona over the course of 7 days. I did one just this year from Ravenna to Barcelona. Just looking at these other types of cruise where people get on and off and the apps don't work and the cabin crew don't know your name or have your details makes me wonder why they would offer such a cruise and why anyone would want to do that type of cruise either - I won't!. But anyway, you can sometimes get a 7 day cruise one-way from Ravenna to Barcelona so fly to and enjoy a few days in either Rome or Venice and then get a cheap Italian train to Bologna or even Ravenna for a night before the cruise as these places are both stunning and then enjoy a lovely 7 night cruise and then have a few days also in Barcelona and that way you turn a 7 day cruise holiday into a 14 day holiday. That way you have 3 different parts of a holiday to enjoy and to relax instead of a lot of mad running around trying to meet planes, trains and ships etc. Just take it nice and slow and enjoy every moment and remember how lucky you are to be able to travel again. Mick.

Its a 50/50 split. Firstly, do you want a room that is quiet and away from noisy things like the elevators, theatre area, gym and dinning area? Also, do you need to be in a certain area on the ship if you are not good at walking such as close to the elevators or close to the ships centre of gravity to avoid sea sickness? Secondly, the price. Can you suffer all the above if the price is dramatically lower than booking a room? I must admit, depending on the ship and the voyage, I would pick my room so I know where I am going to be. However, in some circumstances I have booked a GTY due to the massive difference in price and have been OK with what I have been given. It's your cruise and your choice. Remember too that if you book a GTY and get your room assigned and don't like its location, you could then try the Royal Up but remember you could get a better grade of room but in a worse position depending on how much walking you can do. Personally, my wife is not too good these days, so we try for a room near the aft lifts as most things we need are that end such as the MDR. Only the Theatre is far forward and we only visit it once per day. Mick.

Hi, If you are just planning a 7 day cruise around Europe like we do then we (coming from the UK) would turn it into a 14 day holiday and firstly fly into Rome and spend a few days there as there is so much to do and then take the train to Civitavecchia which is around 5 to 10 euros per person 10 Euros and takes about an hour. Once there, there are sometimes shuttle buses to the ship, otherwise take a local taxi as the port is large and it can be a mile or so to walk to the ship which is hard with cases. Again once at Barcelona, the port is very close to the city centre and again sometimes there are shuttle buses but they only take you to the bottom of La Rambla. If you want to walk then fine but there is a high bridge to walk over with cases and if your hotel is up near the top end then you have a further hours walk. Again a taxi to your hotel is only around 10 euros. You will need a few days to enjoy Barcelona as there is the zoo, the beach, the cable car, La Rambla and The Segrada Familia. Airport buses leave for El Prat every 10 minutes or so from the Catalunya Square area (Near Primark at top of La Rambla) and take around 30 minutes and only cost around 8 Euro and have plenty luggage space. I have done loads of cruises around Europe and would strongly suggest getting to Rome first as this is the hardest part and the rest (pardon the pun) is just plain sailing! Enjoy! Mick.

This is an interesting thing. Royal still has some Vision class ships in operation and although they are showing their age, they are prefect for the type of cruise that they are used for. And here's the thing. New Oasis class ships... Massive and can be restricted at some ports, not just because of their size for docking, but also to get under things like bridges (although some can at lower tides or by lowering funnels etc), and the impact to the port that a large amount of people can have in one go for various reasons. On the other hand, some ports (like St Maarten) have had several smaller cruise ships pull up at the same time which puts more footfall on that port. Some ports welcome this and others don't and that can affect the itinerary of your cruise. And that brings us to another thing. The ship being the main destination. Some of the biggest ships built only seem to go out for 3, 4 or 7 day cruises which normally only visit the same ports time after time and normally include a private island/destination belonging to the cruise line. It could be that in the little time you spend on board that there is so much to do and see that there is no time to get off and if you do get off at a private destination then the cruise line is going to probably make even more money from you as you will probably want to do everything there too. Another thing about the biggest ships is that for a lot of people living close to the ports where they sail is that air fare is not a requirement, although on site parking can be a pain/expense. For people like me coming from the UK, flying for 10 hours to Miami to get on a ship for 4 nights is a no-no. But even trying to do a B2B staying in the same cabin and having different ports of call for each leg is hard and can require a change of ship to make a 12-14 night cruise and that's a no-no too. Now for those slightly smaller and older ships, longer itineraries can include TAs which can mean travelling in less style and through rough sea with many days at sea, so newbies would probably avoid these. These cruises are normally fairly cheap, so enjoy whilst you can, because one day these ships will need replacing and even if someone at RCI decides to build a newer version of a Vision class ship, someone else at RCI will decide to fill it with roller coasters and anything else they can squeeze in that they can charge for. Venice in Italy no longer allows ships over a certain weight (can't remember exactly what it is but I think somewhere around 25,000 tonnes), but no new cruise ship will ever be built that small (Vision class was around 70,000 tonnes IIRC). Amsterdam is another port that is in the process of doing a similar thing. Norway is another that will limit ships at certain ports. So straight away, regardless of size, itineraries are now becoming limited. Some ports only offer tendering and the bigger the ship the longer that process takes which results in your time spent at that destination being cut down. So being able to do a bucket list of ports whilst being in a certain part of the world may become impossible. Its a sad thing, and I am only glad to have the memories of visiting some of these ports knowing that if I want to return to them then flying to them is my only way to do so - oh the irony of doing that if environmental issues is the main/only reason for banning the ships! I can only suggest this, if you have the money and the time to enjoy your cruising holidays then go and enjoy them whilst you still can. Regardless of what fuel and environmental rules come into play, eventually due to age, all ships will have to be scrapped/sold off and the new ones will probably be built to cram in as many passengers as possible and only go to certain ports for just a few days at a time. Mick.

Hi, For some time now RCI have been removing certain areas of old ships and replacing them with new cabins/suites and these have been selling very well. Also the newer ships are going to be more expensive as they are new and a lot of people like to get aboard them as quick as possible and seem to have no issue with the cost. Now, if your like me, getting on in life and only working so many hours a weeks, then going on new ships or in suites on older ones is not going to happen - not on RCI or any other line. That does not mean I have to go without. I am happy to do cruises from the UK where I am based around Europe, fly to Europe to do cruises, fly to the US for Caribbean cruise and do TAs. I enjoy cruising, I enjoy just getting on a ship and chilling and don't need to jump on zip-lines and merry-go-rounds. I have not been on any Oasis class ships but have done all other classes and like what each class of ship offers. A factor that may come into play when making a decision is your C&A status. If you are Diamond and above and do not drink enough to warrant a drinks package, then it is quite possible if you are happy with the MDR and/or Windjammer then you can keep the cost down. Again, doing something like a TA may only involve one flight and may not call at many ports resulting is less port taxes and the expense of trips. Also are you happy with an Interior? On TAs when the weather and sea can turn bad a good solid Interior is worth it, again sometimes at half the price of a suite. Although the entertainment has gone downhill a bit on a few of the older ships, there is always still plenty to do if you look around. I will be on the Jewel's TA this coming April (Got it for a good price even with the one-way air fare to Miami) and then the Indy's 12 Canneries cruise from the UK in May 2025 to not just cut out the cost of air fare, but to avoid the pain of airports in general as there has been so much disruption with strikes that this spoils the whole thing. On the other hand if you have the money then you can always book a Oasis class ship and have a suite and buy a drinks package and go every specialty restaurant and get the key and book every trip going. It really is up to you how you spend your money, but I would rather book another cruise with it. Mind you, I am D+ so get 5 drinks a day which really does help me save a bit od cash. Mick.

Hi, I am from the UK and normally we do not do tips but pay in full. Some places, such as restaurants are starting to impose tips when paying the bill and some of those restaurants do not really provide a good service that deserves one so in those circumstances I ask for it to be removed and never return as there is always plenty to choose from. However, when it comes to us going on our cruise each year, we always cruise with RCI. Not just because of the loyalty program, or the ports of call, but because we like what they do for us in general. We always pay our gratuities up front and that way we have done our bit for the crew. We do not demand anything special when on board, and I have witnessed many people complaining about trivial things such as waiting in a queue for 5 minutes to be given a table at My Time Dinning - Yes they wasted a further 15 minutes of their holiday time at Guest Services to complain about waiting for 5 minutes in a queue at the restaurant - go figure! Like it has been said, Gratuities are not mandatory and you do not have to pay them, but if you are not receiving the service that you think you should, then going to guest services as soon as possible is normally the best way to resolve it. Removing gratuities means that other crew members who may have done a good or even better job for you may lose out. Also, as for your cabin steward, remember if you remove your gratuities and he is informed, then he will most likely still do a good job - firstly because that's what he is employed to do and secondly, because he will be hoping that at the end of your cruise you will slip him some cash - unless its him you are not happy with, of course! The problem for me when it comes to slipping crew some cash is where do you start?, and I mean who do you choose? Do you give it a bar tender who makes your favourite drink? What about the waiters in the MDR who sort out your dietary requirements - the list goes on and I have seen people throwing money around at just about everyone - which is great if you have it! But if you don't then choosing who can be very difficult. So, thats why I pay upfront - that way everyone who works onboard should get a equal amount of my money. Obviously if someone really does go out of their way to assist us, then I am more than happy to give them a extra bit of cash. I have spoken with loads of crew over the years and they have all told me roughly the same story. They get good pay from the cruise line compared to what they would have got if they did a similar job back in their own country. They have their own area on the ship where most things are free and even drinks are served at a reduced rate at their own bar area, but they normally choose to carry out additional work for several more hours most days to top up their pay in order to send money back home to their families and also because it passes the time too. They can also get off the ship at most ports to explore for a few hours when not asked to do other duties. Mick.

Here's one just for fun. Just for ships that have a Royal Promenade. How about getting a on-board delivery service to bring whatever you want food and drink wise to your location via a cyclist dodging passengers during the 70s disco night. ie. bringing you some pizza from sorrento's all the way back to the champagne bar where you have set up residence for the night! Seriously, I did suggest sometime back about either having an actual taxi service that ran along the promenade that could take guests from the MDR to the Theatre to save their legs a 5 minute walk. I also suggested having lifts that moved horizontally along the inside of the promenade again to get guests from one end to the other but this time without having to run people over in the process. Also, one cruise director once said over the tannoy that they had a new activity just for kids called diving for the propellers. I bet he wouldn't get away with that anymore! Bring back the whiskey sampling outside the Duty Free shop - in fact bring back duty free (which is absent on many cruises recently) or at least duty free prices! Mick.

Hi, If these are those nice little bread things that used to come out in the basket with the other bread, then they actually started to go off the menu around 2019 - before the pandemic IIRC. I used to enjoy having a couple of these at dinner. The wife didn't like them so I used to have hers too. However, I have asked a few times on several ships since 2019 and the waiters know what they are and tell me that they are no longer available. I never thought to ask why. My wife said it was because only I liked them and no-one else. She may have a bit of a point. I know they didn't just make them in case I was on the ship, but perhaps if they were not eaten by so many people then they would be waste and I cannot blame the cruise line if that's the case. However, if anyone knows any other reason then please let me know. I do miss them. PS It's a shame they couldn't put them in the Crown Lounge in the evenings. Mick.

Hi, We have booked a cruise in 2025 for roughly the same amount as a day in CocoCay and that's on the Indy for 12 nights from the UK. Again, it up to the individual if he has the money and wants to spend it on extra little things during the cruise, then fine! These days we are just happy to get to the port without any hassle and find that the ship is there and get on it and then chill and take each day as we find it. Mick.

Hi Yes as this is the only 12 cruise that year for the indy so best value as you get many sea days to enjoy the ship

When I last check for my April 2024 cruise on the Jewel it had 2 different options and one was about £1600 for up to 8 people for a Cabana and other things. However, even at this price it says that it does not include drinks (other than bottled water) unless you have a drinks package. WOW! I suppose if you are Diamond or above then you can use your drinks vouchers at this location. If you have the money and want to enjoy this then fair play to you. My wife would rather me use the money to pay for another cruise and that is what I have done for 2025 - booked 12 nights on the Indy from Southampton to the Canneries. BTW does anyone know if the 8 people have to be from the same family or group? I also see that it said that it is £50 per person for each person (may involve other fees) if more than 8 turn up and I think it said a maximum of 2 extra. Simple maths means 10 people at £1700 makes it £170 per person. Nice if you meet old friends on board who have this booked and have space to invite you. Nice too if you have a drinks package or better - you are Diamond or above as you can freely give away your drinks to your old friends if they don't have a drinks package or are not Diamond etc. Fun times to be had by all! We, however will probably be on the beach somehwere getting some rays and having a few Kraken-colada's using our Diamond Plus drinks. Mick.

Hi, We normally eat dinner at the WJ if we are really rushed like just back off a trip etc and have something planned. I have been on the Anthem 3 times. The first in 2019 on a 12 night Caribbean sailing from Bayonne and although we had MTD we gopt moved from one of the 2 MDRs on a random basis. One of the restaurants which I can't remember the name of but is pinkish and to the right as you arrive is the one where we had many issues with the food and service and the only time we ever had to complain. The second time was in 2021 and was a UK only based cruise (originally booked as a Norway Fjords cruise but covid stopped that) and has a result we were able to get a JS for no extra cost as RCI reduced the prices so we switched and included was access to the Coastal Kitchen which due to mainly only UK passengers on board meant that it was mainly empty every night, so we ate there every night and this was one of the best restaurants we have been to, and is worth in my opinion paying a little extra for if a JS is not mega bucks! On our third and last (so far) cruise we did the TA in 2022 and returned to the MTD in the MDRs. We were expecting it to be bad like the first time, especially after covid and the start of cutbacks, but both MDRs were actually spot on and a great improvement from 2019. I know food is subjective, but out of the 30 or so RCI cruises we have done the Anthem in 2019 was the only time we have had to complain. Oh and yes, the Solarium Bistro, that is a hidden gem!, well worth a visit but so is that little place at the back of 270 where they do (or did) various soups, cobs and bags of crisps. These 2 free to eat restaurants are really perfect for little snacks. As for the WJ, not had any issues with the one on the Anthem, but then again, not had issues with any on any ship so far. We would probably go to the WJ on a port day for breakfast so we can get off the ship as soon as possible, but have breakfast in the MDR on a sea day as we are not in any rush. We also go to the WJ on port days for lunch after visiting wherever we have just been but go to the MDR on sea days. Where possible we try to mix up and enjoy as many of the restaurants on board. We no longer, however, bother with any of the specialty restaurants as we have done them all and now my wife has had surgery which has left her with medical conditions which limit what she can eat and the staff in the normal restaurants have always managed to help her find something off the menus (including the new ones) to eat. All in all, the Anthem is still a fairly new ship and has been kept clean and tidy, but it just lacks the character to me that some of the older ships have. The Indy was my first ship and the one I have most travelled in and I am looking forward to it coming back to the UK in 2025 and I am not sad that the Anthem is going, but there is nothing wrong with it and the staff at Vintages (anyone remember Indy) have been some of the best and funniest on board any of the ships we have been on. Mick.

Fair enough!

Hi, Fairly sure in Europe that some of the itineraries where a ship sailed round the med between Spain (Barcelona) and Italy (Rome/Civitavecchia), that the cruise line allowed guests to embark and disembark at both ports and also stay on for a round trip too. I believe this was both before and after covid. So maybe it depends in where in the world you are and what counties allow you to get on/off a ship. I have been on many ships where people have been taken off either at port of via helicopter when at sea for medical emergencies - anyone remember hearing things like "Alpha Alpha Alpha Main Dinning room" when someone had taken ill there. I have also been on many cruises where people get on and off at various ports along the way (unless they get off at every port of call with several suitcases), so it does happen for whatever reason. Coming from the UK, not sure about the US but I have been on a few TAs where people who live in Canada have not been allowed to disembark but have to remain onboard all the way to Boston or New York and then travel back. And I have been on a TA where people got off in Iceland and flew to the US due to bad seas, so they were allowed under those circumstances. I personally book a cruise that I want to do which goes to where I want or need to go and enjoy it fully. But it should be up to each individual traveller to choose what he/she wants to providing the rules allow for it and would hope that everyone checks what is allowed beforehand. Mick.

Yes, at this stage I am not mega worried, but I am keeping an eye on whats happening. I suggest everyone else does too. Maybe the recent events have just been a glitch or maybe sometimes things like this happen but don't get much coverage. However, would it not be a good idea on CC to start a thread that covers last minute cancellations and allows users here to report on who gets bumped and what cabin category they were booked in. If nothing big is going on then fine, but if something is starting to rear its ugly head then this forum may be the place to chop its head off. Mick.

Careful now, In some cases, for people who are not based close to the cruise port, they may already be in transit or may have arrived at the port area the day before or a few days before if they want to extend the time away from home. In these circumstances the device they carry with them that receives calls or e-mails may be turned off to avoid stupidly high roaming charges. They aren't going to find out until they find somewhere with wi-fi or turn up at the port. Any such notification of cancellation for people travelling from afar really needs to be at least a week before although in an emergency that may not be possible. We will ALL have to watch to see if any events that start to unfold get resolved in a reasonable manner. I for one have a transatlantic cruise booked for next April from FL to the UK and I have already paid in full for not just the cruise, but the flights to the US and the transport to a hotel. plus the hotel and transport to the ship. We have no flights booked home as it is a one-way cruise. Imagine if we turn up at the port and are told our cabin is no longer available for some reason. How would we get home and where would we stay in the meantime. The whole holiday is to celebrate my wife's 60th birthday. There would probably be no compensation deal that good which would wipe the tears from my wife's eyes if something like being bumped happened. It's about time some of these companies realized not just the upset they cause to people who get treated badly, but also the fear of such treatment happening in the future which may deter some from bothering with this sort of holiday. I know ironically that cancelling or not booking due to fear would actually probably guarantee spare cabins, but that's not the point. The point is that companies need to pull their finger out and sort out whatever the issues are that cause such bad situations. Mick.

Hi, Just a few things running through my mind here. Forget the past, let's think post-covid times for my questions. In all cases of being denied boarding due to over booking/no rooms in that category being available etc: Was every passenger affected booked in a GTY and not yet assigned a cabin? Has anyone who booked a specific room/category other than GTY been denied boarding due to the above situation? Do we know for sure if the cruise lines have selected ALL passengers that only live local to the port to be denied boarding and not bumped ones that have flown in. Do we know if anyone has been bumped who booked via TA or via Royal direct. Do we know if different amounts of compo have been offered. There are a few things to worry about. I have now stopped booking GTYs and have booked a actual room through my TA. I always have travel insurance to cover any issues, but that is not really the point here. I book a specific cruise on a specific ship in a specific cabin with itinerary to specific destinations at a specific time of the year and have limited available holiday time left to book or change to anything else. It's not just waiting for any money to be returned to us, but the fact that some people like us may not have enough holiday entitlement left to move to another cruise (even if offered in replacement for free) at a later date. We work hard and want our holiday in return and having any sort of disruption or even the uncertainty about if we are, or are not, going to be able to board the ship is just not acceptable. I can foresee if any future passengers that are booked in a GTY on future sailings end up being the only ones that get bumped when there is a overbooking or cabins are needed for other reasons, then people will stop booking GTY's and paying the higher cost for a room. That looks like a win for the cruise line to me. God help us all if then they start bumping passengers with an assigned cabin if things go the same way as airlines where people have the same seat reservation. Finally, it's not just cruise lines and air lines, and yes, things did go wrong sometimes too before covid. But since covid, the level of shear incompetence with some staff and greed from some companies seems to have multiplied somewhat. I know everyone wants to make money - but providing the best possible experience that you can to your customers is the best way to keep them returning. There are many alternatives out there and as cruising is becoming more expensive, maybe land based option may become more attractive. It would be upsetting for me if this became the case as I really like my cruising holidays - so come on cruise lines - sort out these issues before people jump ship (sorry about the pun). Mick.

Hi all, For most of our time on board the ship, our passports are left locked in the safe. We take a colour photocopy of our passport photo page with us and so far this has not caused any issue. Again, it is up to you if you want to take your original docs or a copy off the ship and I would suggest asking at guest services before departing if taking a copy with you would cause any delays/issues as they should probably know as the ship may have docked at that port on many occasions. However, if you are going on a private trip that includes hours of travelling from the port and it is in a location where the only way to catch the ship at the next port is by flying or sailing by a ferry that involves border checks, then yes, take your original docs. A lot of the places we visit, the ship docs at a port close to the town/city/beach we want to visit and we are normally back on board for lunch, so no rush/panic. We do this also because we are aware of pick-pocket gangs. One such scam is where there is a sign that says something like "check your belongings" and people then immediately touch their pocket or area on them where their wallet is to check they have it, but don't realise some innocent looking kid with a mobile phone has just observed you and is giving your details to their accomplice nearby who will soon bump into you and take it from you. Paris metro stations are notorious for this type of scam. Don't make the mistake if thinking it won't happen to you and you may not even notice it if it does, until its too late. Make sure you keep your wallet in a safe and secure place like a inside zipped pocket that no-one can access without making it obvious. Too many times I see people with money/phones and wallets hanging from their back trouser pockets - you are asking for trouble! I would also suggest that in this day and age of technology and internet information, that you fully research all planned destinations to see how far from the ship your tour is going to take you and what methods there are of getting back to the ship if there is a delay. Taxis and even boats can be the quickest, but you need to make sure the driver knows which ship and at which dock as some ports have several ships docked at different locations and the driver may take you to the wrong ship to bump up his fee if you do not clearly state this and then you may not have enough cash to pay the driver and the local police can be on the driver's side in these circumstances. There was a port in Mexico years ago where 3 ships docked about a mile apart - make sure you know which location yours is diocked at. Again, its up to what docs you choose to take or leave on the ship, but I would strongly advise checking first before getting off the ship. Happy cruising Mick.

Hi, I am from the UK. I think we feel differently about gratuities or tips. Normally we pay a price for whatever we buy and that is it. Some restaurants in the last few years have added on the option to pay a gratuity, but you can decline and we often have, not because we are tight, but because the service has not been up to a standard we expect - waiting 40 minutes before taking our order, bringing the wrong food, or cold food, giving us the wrong bill or a bill with additional items on it that we have not ordered and then wanting us out in 90 minutes from arriving which means rushing us when we wanted to have a 3 course meal. So things can and do get bad on land. The above scenario is just one of several reasons why we choose to cruise and not do land based holidays. So onto the cruise ship. We have mainly been happy with what we have received on the cruise ship in the past. There has been very little for us to complain about. In fact in the last 5 years only the state of our cabin caused us to complain on one ship. We pay pre-paid gratuities. Coming from the UK we have to do this anyway for some reason in order to have My Time Dinning but I believe other countries do not. So, in effect we have paid our gratuities up front and always have and probably always will. However, does that mean we are going to give employees on the ship extra tips. Well that is our choice and that will depend on what an employee does for us. We don't ask for much, so there is not a lot they can do that is not already included in what we have already paid. I see sometimes that some people choose to slip the bar tender $5 to bring their drink when there is high demand. I have seen this many times in the schooner bar where people are tipping $s to the bar tender and then having to still wait for their drink because loads of people are doing it too and he can't serve everyone at once. Funny thing is on some ships the casino bar is only 50 feet away from the schooner bar and is mainly empty at times, so it is quicker to go to that bar and bring the drinks back yourself. Guess what I do? Not because I am tight, but because I am not going to pay someone $5 to bring me a drink that I can get myself. Like I said, if I am going to tip, and it is my choice whether to or not, then it will be to someone who has done something that deserves it. One such area for additional tipping maybe where the restaurant have gone out their way to get us a good table and the waiters have dealt with food allergy issues for us. This kind of thing is where tipping for us comes into play and not just throwing money at everyone for tipping's sake. I know some of this may sound harsh, but we are not made of money and we have to be careful where and when we spend it. Like I said, we have paid our gratuities up front and have not tried ever to have them cancelled and I don't think you can if you pre-pay. Another funny thing is we prefer the once daily cabin cleaning and tell our attendant to do it in the mornings. Before, in the afternoons we would come back from the pool or a trip and find the room being cleaned when we need to get in and showered and get back out for dinner. I know this constitutes a reduction in service, but I also understand that things on board a cruise ship are changing and it is more important to me that the overall cost of a cruise holiday remains as low as it possibly can. Mick.