daze6399

My advice is take the opportunity of a smaller ship to try to get to know some crew better - as well as other pax. Making relationships with other people - either crew or pax - makes Grandeur a better and very enjoyable experience.

That is great advice!! For me one of the best parts of traveling is to get to know people who live lives so very different from mine, a small ship is a great way to do that!

Sounds like an immediate way to shift the blame to you by saying there was a tag missing. I hate to sound pessimistic or cynical but if they can blame the customer then they can limit their damages in returning the bag and do what they can to look like heroes for getting the back to you despite the "user error".

I don't know that's what happened but I've seen and heard of plenty of people doing things like that to cover their own error.

I hope things get resolved for you quickly. Thank you for sharing your experience, I'm sure it's been trying your nerves.

Never seen the price go up on a drink package once it's posted on sale. Probably you put them in your cart back when the PP was still available and now it's only the deluxe.

 

Good to know as I am waiting to purchase four deluxe packages, but was going to spread them out at once a month to not take such a big hit on the credit card.

The prices have gone back up from the sale this weekend. For my sailing the booze package was down to $40 and now it's back up to $46. The refreshment package was down to $18 and now back up to $24.

The $46 & $24 prices reflect a "discount" from the onboard price, but are actually the regular price for purchasing online, but that way they can market it as a "sale" and get people to buy in advance.

Someone said PT Barnum would be proud of RCCL and I think they were absolutely correct.

Like someone else mentioned on this thread, I too always thought the MDR "no shorts" suggestion was meant for basketball shorts and the like. Athletic stuff. Personally, I've always thought that young boys look handsome in pressed (knee length) shorts and belt, tucked in collared polo shirts, and slip on shoes/sandals with CLOSED toes. After all, it is a cruise but, they look neat and clean. And...IMHO, I actually think they look better than the grown man who wears slacks or jeans with beach flip flops showing gnarly un-kept feet (which I have seen first hand).

 

 

 

Folks, I've always tried to be respectful of others and that is what I teach my boys to be. However, I don't live my life to please everyone because it's an impossible task. My wallet...and patience...just don't stretch that far. It takes me an average of 2-3 years to pay for our vacations. I'm a single mom (my boys are 8 and 13). Those who have boys will know...they can eat!!! :D But, after reading this thread, now I've got to stop and concern myself with the additional expense of formal night/nightly attire for my boys to please the masses? Because if I don't, I'm considered a bad parent, ill-mannered? Really??? :confused: Aesthetics or not--it's an unrealistic expectation these days. And it's unfair to assume that those who don't do it are bad people.

I suspect you're doing fine as a parent (not that you need any validation from a stranger on the internet), and anyone who thinks differently because you let your kids wear shorts to dinner obviously doesn't know many really bad parents. Anyone who thinks they've got any right to say anything about someone else's parenting couldn't have been taught manners as a child.

I hope you enjoy your cruise with the kids, the time we get with them goes too too fast and vacations are always full of very special memories (for me at least) [emoji2]

Reminds me of when I used to attend the Consumer Electronics Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The show was so large that it would overflow to the Sands Convention Center down the street. At the same time, the Sands Convention Center was hosting some sort of adult film convention. There was a common lobby are where attendees for both shows would be present. :eek: Made for interesting people watching.

Pretty sure those two shows still happen concurrently. I need to get to Vegas for CES one of these years. [emoji23][emoji6]

As an IT person, and in particular in QA, hearing this stuff drives me nuts!

 

 

 

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As an IT person....I believe someone at RCCL is worried about job security.....

You should be able to request/reserve a table for MTD.

You can also go to the Maitre d' once onboard and request a change to traditional late seating.

Maybe you'll get lucky and get bounced to a GS or an Owners Suite!

I wouldn't hold my breath on that one though. Good luck!!!

Seapass card and photo ID. Passport counts as photo ID, but so do any other government issued ID type cards.

Wow, really old thread given CPR. :)

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ #zombiethread

Anyone ever used/tried a bearbutt hammock? I think they're probably pretty close to what has been shown....ahhh who am I kidding, I'm gonna take one and try anyway.

Yes the diamond lounge is up on 14 in Blue Moon, Viking Crown. Chops is going to be on deck 4 right outside of Schooner Bar, Casino, and Lyric Theatre.

What used to be there?

Never mind I found it. Looks like it used to be Jester's

I'm getting to the point for my next cruise that I do something cruise related every day. I'll spend a few upcoming Saturday mornings studying the deck plans as it has been 8 years since we have been on a Voyager class ship. Does anyone know if the deck plans on Royal's site are up to date at least a little ? Is the Diamond Club still up on Deck 14 near the VCL? I know Chops isn't open yet, but it is really going to be deck 4? I kind of thought it would be up near the Windjammer like it was when I was on Navigator back in 09.

From what I understand Chops is on Deck 4, it took over one of the nightclubs I believe. I don't think they've made any changes to the DL/SL/CLs at this time.

That might be cost (I xrayed one to know where to punch a hole for a lanyard and there's a bit of electronics in there, chip+antenna) but it's probably 10x more than the plain cards used on other ships.

Yeah, you're probably right. I don't suppose you have a digital image of that xray do you?

What ever the cost is (I assure you it's much more than 10 cents), it's probably at least 10x the cost of the existing non-RFID card stock they use on other ships.

you can buy RFID tags for like $0.50 each in quantities of less than a dozen. These are pretty simple little doohickies. I would be surprised if they're paying more than $0.10/ per card. The RFID tag is exceptionally simple as any and all processing is done on the reading device, the tags have very little info on them.

Edit: Just checked online. You can pick up key cards for $0.58 ea if you buy 100 at a time. So more than I expected, but still very inexpensive

Ok this I know is stupid.

 

But, we are sailing on Oasis at the end of April.

 

We're going to need a lot more than just one plug (tablet, 2 phones, camera chargers etc). I need to know whats the best soloution for me here.

 

Coming from the UK, I will be bringing a 3 pronged plug, with a 2 pronged US converter on the end.

However I dont know now if I will be allowed?

 

Thanks

Depending on how much of your gear will charge via USB you can pick up a US style USB charging hub for pretty cheap. I think I paid about $20-$25 for the one I purchased recently, 6 USB ports and will charge out of all 6 concurrently. You could probably sell it for $15 on the way out of the terminal, if you didn't want to keep it around as well.

There is (to my knowledge) nothing preventing one person in a cabin from reserving dining in specialty restaurants without the other(s) so she should be able to get the dining package, or make reservations to eat in any of the specialty venues on board.

As for yourself, I confess I do not know, you maybe able to work something out with the venues or food and beverage manager for a reduced cost meal, with a smaller selection, or something.

Hopefully there will be someone able to better answer your question here.

Hmmmm, not much has changed in Havana between my trip last month and 17 years ago.:p

.....I think you've just proved my point. :D

So... here's the bummer. My mom is kinda old and a little scattered :) She is not exactly sure what show is called... She thinks it is "Worlds Biggest Cruiseship". She doesn't have cable, just an antennae that picks up something like 30 channels. She thinks the show might be on the NOVA channel, or PBS, but she isn't exactly sure... Since I can't see anywhere that NOVA actually has its own channel, I think it is a NOVA special, on PBS :) She lives in southern, central Minnesota.

 

I did a search on DirectTV up here, and the only cruise special on NOVA is about "Ultimate Cruise Ship", the "Seven Seas Explorer".

 

Just now, I tried googling to find the show she is talking about, but can't find it :( After she watches the show monday, I'll try to get more details from her :)

If you search on youtube, you can find a couple of special shows, they did one on Navigator?? when it first came out, and one on Oasis when it came out, and I think one on the QM2 as well.

Typically, a hub that is strictly USB ports, is fine. The real key is the plug. If the plug is two-prong, it is definitely not surge protected, while if it is a 3-prong plug, it may or may not be surge protected. Some of these may get by, some may not.

That is exceptionally useful info. All of the hubs I use are two prong, so we'll take one of them and see. Being as all of our camera gear (iphones/gopros mostly) use USB to charge, it's much simpler to have a single hub.

Fashion does not dictate Formal on a cruise, it is the Cruise line that dictate. If shorts and the like are acceptable attire in upscale restaurants, then there would be none of these type of threads.

Times haven't changed, attitudes are the change, attitudes towards others, not only on cruises but in every walk of life. The attitude of entitlement and selfishness is ever present.

Not by me though:cool:

Yes. The cruise line dictates what is acceptable wear. If they chose to allow patrons into the MDR in shorts, then it is acceptable. There is no other way to put it more plainly.

Personally I follow the suggested guidelines because I ENJOY dressing up, also because I don't want to run the risk of being turned away for not following the guidelines. That is my personal choice that I make, I certainly don't do it to impress anyone, and I really could not care less what anyone wants to wear to the MDR. If it's good enough for the people that are going to have to listen to some entitled south end of a north bound mule whining about it, it's good enough for me.

The idea that times haven't changed is interesting to me. To look around the world and think that it's no different than it was even 10 years ago seems to indicate a very interesting delusion. We carry computers in our pockets that could (and regularly do) manage spacecraft launches. Social media has completely changed the way humans interact on a global scale. Yes. Times have changed, entitlement is certainly around, but it's nothing new. Fashion is just one of many things that have changed, and if you can't see that....open your eyes and walk around the world a bit.

What about the USB charging station type things? Anyone know if those fall into the no no category? I don't think they're surge protected, but they are doing some sort of power adjustment to cut the wall power down to the 5v USB devices.

By modeling a set of behaviors that if followed will ensure no future repeat.

You bear a striking resemblance to an opinion. Has anyone ever told you that?

Great review and photos! Thanks for sharing

Refreshment package is usually in the $25 per day range. But also includes thing besides coffee. Mocktails, fresh juice, bottled water are also included. It does not include coffee from Starbucks locations on the few ships that have an actual Starbucks location.