SailorMarg

12 hours ago, SailorMarg said:

We have the Chase Sapphire Reserve specifically for travel expenses because of their very good trip insurance. We have used this benefit twice for very costly cruises and they paid in a somewhat timely manner. And yes, they would cover losses if any portion of the trip was paid using this card. Unfortunately that will change October of this year when they will follow other cards and require that the entire trip we paid for with the card in order for them to cover the losses.

Please allow me to correct myself.  Here is a link to the Guide to Benefits in effect as of 10/01/24 (see page 33). The actual details are slightly different than my comment above.  Coverage will be for only the amount charged to the card (this is the change), but will be covered if any portion is charged to the card.  So, the entire trip need not be charged to the card as I commented, but the amount covered will only be for the amount charged to the card.  That is the change.  Previous to October 1, 2024 I was able to be reimbursed under this benefit for an entire trip even though a portion of it was paid using a different card.   

3 minutes ago, -Lew- said:

 

Thank you for clarifying.  Insuring only up to the amount charged to the card makes perfect sense.  Not an issue for us as we use our Chase Sapphire Reserve card for all travel expenses.

Agreed.  We always thought it unusual that the Chase benefit covered expenses charged on other cards.  In our case the original (relatively small) deposit was made on a different card before we started with our Chase Sapphire Reserve.  The large balance was paid with the Chase card.  Medical issues came up and we had to cancel very close to the sail date.  The Chase benefit paid off the large amount charged on their card and only needed the benefit refusal from the other card for the small deposit amount before Chase would pay it also.  The other card required the entire amount be paid in order to pay the benefit and provided an email stating this for me to then forward to Chase.  With that refusal letter Chase paid us that amount also.  So, yes, the change seems reasonable.  I’m glad they did not change it to the entire amount needing to be charged on the card for any benefit to be paid.

3 hours ago, -Lew- said:

 

Interesting, but I cannot find any reference to this change mentioned on the Chase website or anywhere else.  If you would provide a link to an official statement it would be appreciated.

 

I am aware of the change in benefit administrator, but not much else set to occur on October 1st.

Here is a link to the Guide to Benefits in effect as of 10/01/24 (see page 33). The actual details are slightly different than my comment.  Coverage will be for only the amount charged to the card (this is the change), but will be covered if any portion is charged to the card.  So, the entire trip need not be charged to the card as I commented, but the amount covered will only be for the amount charged to the card.  That is the change.  Previous to October 1, 2024 I was able to be reimbursed under this benefit for an entire trip even though a portion of it was paid using a different card. 

On 8/23/2024 at 5:19 PM, asnaleah said:

I can attest that AmEx Platinum benefits will be denied if you don’t use it for the entire trip, including airfare. I’m looking at switching to the Chase card. I think their insurance benefit is more consumer-friendly.

We have the Chase Sapphire Reserve specifically for travel expenses because of their very good trip insurance. We have used this benefit twice for very costly cruises and they paid in a somewhat timely manner. And yes, they would cover losses if any portion of the trip was paid using this card. Unfortunately that will change October of this year when they will follow other cards and require that the entire trip we paid for with the card in order for them to cover the losses.

I think your idea is an excellent one.  Plus, better access to look out the window to the water.

Can I just comment on all the “first world problems” references?  Given we are sailing on Regent, pretty much every single one of our life’s problems are first world problems.  Does that mean that when one expresses a concern it is automatically invalid?  I detest that phrase.  It basically tells me that you don’t care about *any* of my problems, as all are, in fact, first world problems.  

I’m starting to dread our Vancouver embarkation for Explorer’s August 21 sailing. There will be three (3) ships embarking that day, RSSC Explorer, Holland America Zaandam, and Crystal Serenity.  Having never embarked in Vancouver I can only go on the experiences shared by others, and it sounds potentially dreadful.  I understand that many recommend arriving later, around 2:30 or 3:00, but I prefer being settled into our cabin by that time.  I understand this will likely require us to spend some (a lot?) of time in lines at the terminal. We do have Global Entry and I am hoping that option will be open on our particular embarkation day as I understand it is hit or miss whether they decide to open it on any given day. My question here is whether RSSC has any accommodations/lines at Canada Place terminal specific to Grand/Master Suites either for security/check-in or afterward while waiting to board?  Also, any thoughts or recommendations on how to make this embarkation go as smoothly as possible would be appreciated.

May I ask if the internet was Starlink?  Did you find the internet speeds acceptable?

3 minutes ago, S.A.M.J.R. said:

You feel it's worth it to claim Royal is intentionally lying to customers (which you're entitled to your opinion), but it's not worth it to let us know what TPTB response was to your claim?  I'm guessing the answer you got didn't support your narrative.  

Your guess would be wrong. Please read the *rest* of the post for your answer.

One (hopefully) last time for those that intentionally re-create the narrative of this original post, and for those that simply have poor reading comprehension…this post is about Royal’s intentional mislabeling of a product fleetwide…half and half when it’s milk, crab cake when it’s imitation Krab…hoping the customer doesn’t notice or doesn't care. My ability to obtain half and half while aboard is not the issue. What I may or may not have done as far as addressing this issue of mislabeling on this one specific cruise is a small minded view of the situation and not one I am choosing to share.  I can say that it has been verified over the past year of cruising, and aboard this Presient’s Cruise, that staff have been told to provide milk when half and half is requested.  It has also been verified that the Crab Cake in both the Main Dining Room and Chops contains no crab. I have no interest in what any of you do with this information on a individual basis.  I’m sharing it for those to whom such things, like honesty and integrity, matter.  Everyone will, and should, make their choices as they seem fit. 

1 hour ago, Ocean Boy said:

Hopefully, the cruise lines don't figure that out.

They already have.

Aboard Allure now, in a Crown Loft Suite.  My answer is specific to the Suite Lounge as that is what you asked.  You have access to the Lounge at all hours with your SeaPass Card.  There is a specialty coffee machine there available for you that will make cappuccinos and lattes in addition to coffee.  In the mornings they will have continental breakfast items available and in the evening from 5-8 they will have hors d’oeuvres available.  From 11-11 you can get soda, water bottles, beer, and wine at no additional cost from the bar that spans the area between the Suite Lounge and the suite restaurant, Coastal Kitchen.  From 5-8PM you can also get mixed drinks at no additional cost from this same bar, or from the drink servers who will take your drink orders during that time. One thing that surprised me because it is NOT the case on smaller ships’ Suite Lounge, they will not (can not?) make frozen drinks.  Hope that information helps.

27 minutes ago, SteadyBetty said:

Perhaps this was just an oversight on an employee's part. Perhaps this was just filling both containers with milk as half/half was not available at the time or at that location. 

 

The way to know for sure was to ASK.  

 

While this may have been an annoyance (at best) and I get it, but it could have been rectified in real time.  I remember preparing a bowl of delicious fruit and beside the offerings was a large container of what I thought was whipped cream - turned out it was sour cream.  I plopped on a huge portion over my fruit, sat down, took a bite of peaches and "cream" - GAH!  I simply returned to one of the attendants, let them know what was happening and they corrected the error.  

 

Calling it a lie, IMO, is an overreach.

If people would take a minute to read the comments, and replies, before posting they would see that this post is not about my not being able to access half and half.  It is about the historical and fleetwide intentional misleading of the customer as has been reported in these forums over and over.  My post is adding my anecdotal experience to that conversation

24 minutes ago, SteadyBetty said:

Perhaps this was just an oversight on an employee's part. Perhaps this was just filling both containers with milk as half/half was not available at the time or at that location. 

 

The way to know for sure was to ASK.  

 

While this may have been an annoyance (at best) and I get it, but it could have been rectified in real time.  I remember preparing a bowl of delicious fruit and beside the offerings was a large container of what I thought was whipped cream - turned out it was sour cream.  I plopped on a huge portion over my fruit, sat down, took a bite of peaches and "cream" - GAH!  I simply returned to one of the attendants, let them know what was happening and they corrected the error.  

 

Calling it a lie, IMO, is an overreach.

This post is not about my not being able to access half and half.  It is about the historical and fleetwide intentional misleading of the customer as has been reported in these forums over and over.  My post is adding my anecdotal experience to that conversation.

7 minutes ago, NHProud said:

Did you you go ask for the half and half and point out their mistake? Coming on here and accusing them of an intentional lie seems unjust until fully investigated.  

I am reporting my anecdotal experience on this forum where it has been discussed in the past and I am adding verification of the mislabeling that appears to be fleetwide.  This post is not about my inability to manage the situation while aboard, but adding my perspective to a conversation of what appears to be intestinal misleading as has been discussed repeatedly on this forum.  If you aren’t aware of the historical conversations then this might not be obvious to you.

27 minutes ago, Toddcan said:

What do the signs on the containers look like? Are they easily changeable?  What's behind my question is that they might need 2 containers to keep up with demand, but if they only have one marked "milk", they they simply reused the 2nd container.  However, I agree with you... there at least should be a small sign, even near the spigot saying "this container is milk".  

 

I'm not convinced though that this is done with intent. For sure a mistake, but I do not believe this was an active sin of deception - rather an oversight 

I would agree except this has been discussed on these forums and it appears this “half and half” mislabeling has been fleet wide and consistent in Cafe Promenade, Main Dining Room, and Windjammer.  Mine is not an isolated incident, but a verification of the situation as has been repeatedly reported.

Another example of this same misleading practice from Royal is that they insist on keeping the “Crab Cake” on their menu when it has been Imitation Krab for quite some time.  Call it what it is, a seafood cake.  To call it a Crab Cake is purposely misleading and another example of decreasing value and product while trying to maintain the appearance of an elevated product that you no longer provide.  In less wordy terms, it is a lie.

17 minutes ago, Scottdalfonso said:

I highly doubt this is something they are doing on purpose. The staff probably don't realize its a big deal, and just fill them both with Milk.  I'm fine with negative opinions, I just think that assuming a large company is going to hide the fact that the half and half is actually milk just seems a little far fetched

I would agree except that this has been discussed in the past and it does, in fact, appear to be a fleet wide practice that is deceptive at best.  In Cafe Promenade, in the Main Dining Room, in the Windjammer.  Many have commented that what is marked as half and half is, in fact, milk.  An isolated incident would speak to what you say, but a fleet wide and consistent practice speaks more to intentional misleading.

Please know that I realize the “lie” within this post might seem trivial, but I am making the post anyway.  Mostly because at some point I begin to feel like Royal Caribbean, as a company, has developed a culture of creating an illusion of good intent and good value when what they are actually doing is making cut after cut without being honest and up front about it. They are decreasing the value while trying to hide the decrease from their customers. So, my example may seem trivial, but it is a clear example of my point…Royal Caribbean putting a shiny cheap cover up over a degrading product.  Case in point… I am currently on the President’s Cruise and went to get a cup of coffee at Cafe Promenade last night.  There were two containers at the coffee prep area one marked milk and one marked half and half. Knowing this subject is one of interest I tested both for what they contained.  They contained an identical product, milk.  I have read this same thing from others who has found the same thing over the past year.  So I do not believe this to be an isolated incident. Royal Caribbean, if you’re only going to provide milk and not half and half then do not lie to your customers about offering half and half as an option.  It is insulting and speaks to lack of honesty and integrity.  It makes one question what else you are not being honest about.  What other short cuts are you taking and purposely misleading your customers about?  Whereas I can accept changes and cuts as Royal tries to turn around a bad financial situation, I can not accept being lied to along the way.  If you’re going to remove a product, remove the product.  But don’t lie about it and intentionally mislead your customers.  Again, I know the “lie” might seem trivial.  My post is to speak to the greater idea that once a dog kills a chicken, it can not be trusted around chickens.  Once I am purposely misled, I then question everything.

On 6/25/2023 at 4:28 PM, PG_Cruiser said:

That’s the recipe I have too.

Just got the full sugar Passionfruit Syrup and made a Passion Spritz.  Nailed it!!!!!  It is so so good.

11 minutes ago, PG_Cruiser said:

That’s the recipe I have too.

I did use a sugar free Passion Fruit syrup, that’s probably the problem.  I’m gonna try again with the real stuff.  Just ordered on Amazon.  Headed to the President’s Cruise in a few weeks.  Wanna pregame. 🙂  

2 hours ago, Pratique said:

That seems fair since one of those days is a turnaround day and not a "real" cruise day. Does that include port fees?

Yes, the prices I gave are “all in” cruise costs. The cost for the B2B Grand Suite I reserved aboard Utopia has gone up about $450 since the first day it was available for me to reserve, June 22nd.

1 hour ago, PG_Cruiser said:

 

Did you come up with your own recipe?

Used this recipe found online, https://attractionsmagazine.com/interview-royal-caribbean-director-of-beverage-operations-plus-drink-recipe-to-make-at-home/

On 6/23/2023 at 11:19 AM, dunrobbin said:

Alaska cruise in May. Coffee station outside the  Buffet had  2 jugs. Cream and Milk.  After arguing with the staff that there was milk in both several times and proving it, I realized it was a **** change again.  At least say Milk if its milk!

 

This is a problem for sure.  Don’t say cream if it’s milk.  Don’t bring milk if cream or half and half is requested, unless you let the passenger know.  What they are doing is wasting a bunch of milk because the gray brown swill that coffee turns into once milk is added gets thrown away.  It is undrinkable to those that use cream or half and half.  Don’t lie to the consumer!  I can understand change, but never being lied to.

On 6/22/2023 at 2:36 PM, chazzinator8 said:

 

That's precisely what I was told by the waitstaff in the MDR. At least on the Ovation, they claimed that milk was served in place of half and half for all of the venues that had free, regular coffee.

This is exactly as we found it.  Ask for half and half or cream with your coffee in the MDR and get low fat milk.  They literally had nothing else to offer when questioned.