gmerick

Just what we need -- another tipping thread.

First tip to cabin steward is when cabin is set up to my liking (ice, beds split, bath mat in front of balcony door, etc).  First tip to waiters is second evening -- (olive oil and dipping spices for bread, decaf coffee with heavy cream, extra vegies, suggestion of off-menu entrée).  On a cruise where these teams are very good, I'll cancel grats, and hand out folding money -- no envelopes please.

Move names around a bit on the reservations.  Put you in one cabin, your SO in another. (put wives in one cabin, hubbys in the other). Then link 3 cabins to one, 4 to the other.  Once on-board, fix up room occupancy for who stays where.

Did you climb to the top of a farm silo?  (North Star is twice as high). Would you pay admission to the top of the Eifel Tower or  Empire State Building? (North Star costs the same).  I'd do the North Star at night to watch the Northern Lights as long as the Captain promised to turn out all the ship's lights.  Otherwise, a big MEH.

Would I take $1700 instead of the Milestone benefits?  

Solo passenger in a Jr Suite:  274 nights x 3 = 822 points

Milestone Cruise Certificate valued at the prevailing rate of a 7N Balcony
Stateroom for 700 and 1050 cruise points
Milestone Cruise Certificate valued at the prevailing rate of a Junior
Suite Stateroom for 1400 and every 350 cruise points thereafter

What?  miss out on 3 free cruises? (and 6 crystal blocks)

You'll have to walk forward through the Casino, past all the dinging machines to have any hope of hearing the music.  You might be able to hear something from Bolero's through the elevator lobby, but not likely.

9 hours ago, Saab4444 said:

Yes, this might be the case. However, my original point was just that crazyank posted Trieste has no cruise terminal and this is not true. Other cruise lines like TUI do check in there which is easy and convenient. 

It appears RCI is doing what it can with an altogether bad situation:

"The Maritime Station has an open area of 9,900 m2 and a total covered area of 7,200 m2. Furthermore, it has two berths available which can accommodate two latest generation cruise ships for home port operations: berth 29, with a length of 220 meters and a draft of 30' (9.14 metres), and the 30 berth, with a length of 240 meters and a draft of 26' (7.92 meters)." 

Voyager class vessels:

Over the past 10 years, veteran's ceremonies have been improving.  One touch I like:  when the Capt introduces military members of the crew.  

Band on Anthem played a very nice rendition of the Service Hymn medley.  I made a suggestion to the band leader that instead of taps, play "Eternal Father Strong to Save".

Been diamond for 3 cruises now.  What do you expect to get out of having that status?  Here's the list, Member Benefits.  I don't see the value.

Booked for Odyssey 27 Jan 2025 while on Anthem 24 Jan 2023.  Next Cruise deposit was only $100.  I already repriced for a 35% price drop.  Not at all sure what my situation will be in two years, but I have the cabin and sailing locked in.  When September 24 rolls around I hope I can still travel, but if not I'm only out $100 (and two years capital gains).

I wish RCI would publish a matrix of combinable discounts.  Today's 30% turns out to be so.  Others, not so clear.  Maybe that's another reason I should enlist a TA.  Thanks for sorting it out.  

For a solo in a non-studio cabin, DP340 lowers the single supplement to 150% vice 200%.  This is equivalent to 25% off.  If the sale is 30% off, the sale is a better deal.

List of "Bad" chemicals (from SaveTheReef.org )

Oxybenzone
Octinoxate
Octocrylene
Homosalate
4-methylbenzylidene camphor
PABA
Parabens
Triclosan
Any nanoparticles or “nano-sized” zinc or titanium (if it doesn’t explicitly say “micro-sized” or “non-nano” and it can rub in, it’s probably nano-sized)
Any form of microplastic, such as “exfoliating beads”

There are really only two truly reef safe options:

Zinc Oxide (non-nano)

Sun blocking clothing.

I've been wearing sun blocking dive skins plus a hat my last 50+ dives in the Caribbean.  I wear no sunscreen.  I have had no trace of sunburn except some on the back of my hands, and a trace on my cheeks.  

Did a quick search on my go-to site (Cruise Plum), 3 guests, Wonder of the seas, Interior.  Many interior with virtual balcony and Central Park View interiors.  6/4/2023, 6/11/2023, 9/3/2023 all have at least one cabin.  60 more dates through April 25.

Take a living creature, Restrict it to a small area.  Prevent it from visiting home and family.  Feed it subsistent rations.  Make it's daily activity entirely toward catering to tourists on vacation.

Is that a dolpin or a cabin steward?

First several were inside.  When COVID hit, I switched to Studio balcony (2F).  Much prefer a lounger on my balcony to the drama on the pool deck.  (and no chair hog problems!).  I take room service breakfast on the balcony.  I bring a hammock, and sleep on the balcony.  Next two cruises are also in 2F balconies.  

Ship's laundry works much better for men's clothing.  Dockers and Under Armour polo shirts can survive almost anything.  If you're willing to call Dockers / Polos "Smart Casual" then anything from there down gets shoved in the paper bag for wash and fold, anything above that should be left at home.  If you chose to go through life with a wife, that decision is out of your hands.  

Misleading title -- SunnOdyssey cancelled the dive, attempted to contact divers.  Absolute rule for divers - any diver can call any dive for any reason.  Can't fault SunnOdyssey.  The taxi driver was apparently out of a trip, because of the cancellation.  Found two divers that didn't get the message, and tried to make up for the missed trip.  Could have turned out MUCH worse.  Would I dive with any operation whose entire reputation AFAIK is -- Well, Timmy said "oops, didn't you get the e-mail, diving cancelled... but I can take you to another dive op that will take you out". 

10 hours ago, HappyTexan44 said:

Since it is probably mostly Trekkies that are watching this thread.   Anyone have an idea for a female Vulcan name for a goat?   We have baby goats and one has face markings that look like heavily slanted eyebrows, so at the moment she is called "Vulcan."   

T`Nan, Baavik

Add free continental B-Fast from Room service.  Mornings are better with a fresh pot of coffee on the balcony.

I wore an Under Armour polo shirt and Dockers on my last 3 trips.  But that's what I wore on French, English, Italian, even Formal night.  It's my vacation, I like comfort and no hastles. 

OBC = "On-Board" credit (RCI will let you spend it before boarding also).

Time to check prices again -- My balcony cabin just dropped almost 40% in price.  Sailing 18 Jan 2024, Anthem of the Seas, Category 2F.

To me, a "10" means: First, I received service that I cannot suggest improvement upon, Furthermore, the service I received went above ond beyond that first level of expectation.

If I am prompted to give a "10" rating, that breaks the "First" expectation.  I don't participate in ratings inflation.  

Even if this deal is a "too good to be true", I have booked it for my 11 night 18 Jan 2024 sailing on Anthem.  I have a solo cabin, but was still charged the $88.99 price.  

Works out to a lot less than internet alone.  I had been planning on buying The Key at $25/day if it ever dropped in price.  

Lets wish for everything, -- The package says it's for two - maybe that means I get unlimited internet on TWO devices.  When dreaming, dream big.

Like everything else RCCL does, they offer a Premium Northern Lights excursion.  For just $149.95 you can get a guided tour of the sun deck at 11:30PM with an experienced Atmospheric Scientist guide, and guaranteed viewing of Aurora Borealis.  Experience the wonders of cascading light sheets, brilliant green, blue, and pink discharges.  Enjoy champagne cocktails under the crisp night skies while the captain dims all navigation lights, and the cabin stewards close all balcony drapes to enhance your viewing experience.

And then there will be the CC members who compare the pitiful viewing on RCCL as compared to Viking or Celebrity.