Linda41

Day 2 and Day 5 were the formal nights. Going by the CC, the dress attire for all other non-formal nights has been listed as *casual*; not even "Smart Casual" as it is called on the RCI website.

I have not seen "Smart Casual" listed on the Cruise Compasses in a very long time--maybe a couple of years?

Linda (and C. D.)

At least you can see your amenities!! There are many of us PC Members that can not because the IT Department can only count up to 999!!!:mad:

Very frustrating for you. However, knowing you, I feel confident that you can find your way around any problem that RCL throws at you!!

Linda (and C. D.)

We just checked our preferences today and were happy we did. One of Brian's was empty. When we checked the list, the picture frame is no longer there.

 

If you had that selected, you might want to select something else.

I just checked on ours yesterday and ALL of ours were empty! Glad I thought to do this.

Linda (and C. D.)

If you have used Air2Sea (Choice Air) with your cruise, your docs will be delayed and you probably won't get them until 3 to 4 weeks before your cruise.

Linda (and C. D.)

We are going to Rio after a cruise finishing in Buenos Aires. We have submitted the visas online and are hoping to pick them up in Iguassu. We are from Australia but living in Utah for 4 months before the cruise. We would have to fly to Los Angeles to get our visas. Has anyone any experience in doing this?

I don't know your time frame of when you applied for the visas and when you will use them, but I just read on-line that they HAVE to be used within 90 days of issuance. You might need to check this out.

What ship were you on?

We were on the Brilliance for a B2B2B first, then two weeks later we were on the Independence for a B2B and it was the same on both ships--every time we signed up for the internet, we had to go to Guest Relations to have the charge removed. This was in May and June.

Linda (and C. D.)

Hello! I contacted Royal on this point. For what it is worth (lol), this is what they said:

 

 

 

 

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This is incorrect information--we were very recently told onboard to check the box when signing up for internet to use the discount. There is NO box!! When we told them there was no box, they said, oh well, just come to Guest Relations and have the charge removed from your account. It was definitely NOT automatic!!!

Linda (and C. D.)

Yes, soft drinks are complimentary in the CL.

But only during "Happy Hour" in the evenings. :)

Linda (and C. D.)

At the risk of appearing to be a Carnival homer, they do have no cost venues available (Guy's Burgers, Blue Iguana Cantina, etc.) which, even on this board, get positive reviews. On our upcoming Radiance cruise, we have no plans to go to either Izumi or Rita's simply because of the additional cost.

We don't normally do the extra pay restaurants but while onboard the Radiance about 3 years ago, we did pay to go to Rita's because we enjoy Mexican food. It was cheap (less than $10) for the two of us and fairly decent food. However, the next time we were on the Radiance, Rita's had been changed into a bar with appetizers instead of a restaurant. Never saw many people in it after that. Guess they figured they would make more money from drinks but it appears it isn't going over very well.

Linda (and C. D.)

I do use the tea kettle a lot when we cruise, but the coffee makers we've had in suites are horrible. They're single cup, but the coffee/filter thingies they provide are more for the size of a pot, not single cup. I don't understand how they think this is okay.

I agree--the single cup coffee pack is way, way too strong for only one cup so we pour a bit of extra water in the coffeemaker and switch cups part way through the brewing cycle so it doesn't run over!! Sometimes we put an extra bit of hot water in the cup to begin with to dilute it also.

Linda (and C. D.)

I just wish they'd make an announcement soon.

 

 

 

I've been comparing pictures of the OS on Freedom of the Seas, vs. suites on other lines, and I still think the RC suites look nicer. Although those in room coffee makers in the NCL Haven rooms...sweet.

 

I don't get how difficult it would for RC to change their current in-room coffee situation. How difficult would it be to replace with something like a Kerug?

They have in-room coffee makers and a hot water pot both in the Junior Suites on the Independence. We didn't use them a lot but did sometimes and it was great!

Linda (and C. D.)

When we stayed a couple of days in Southampton last fall, we took the Red Funnel ferry over to the Isle of Wight. Wandered around for several hours, taking a local bus to a couple of places. Then on our return, we took the Hovercraft which was great fun. I believe it is the only commercial hovercraft operating in the world? Neat experience!!!

Linda (and C. D.)

I know concierges are in the "yes" business and certainly don't want to risk offending a paying customer by telling them to tone it down, but I wish all people would remember they're sharing a confined space with many other people. Everyone has a right to enjoy themselves and receive the services they've paid for/earned, but it should never be at the expense of others being able to do the same.

Totally agree!! We've had many an evening that we didn't enjoy ourselves like we should have been able to. Unfortunately, most of the offenders could care less if they are bothering others.

Linda (and C. D.)

Where do I find the new menus

 

 

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Go to the RCL website--all the restaurants and their menus are listed.

Linda (and C.D.)

I just posted on the "Capt Sindre is leaving us" thread as I hadn't reviewed this thread yet...

 

Can anyone remind me the name of the Staff Capt, female from Vancouver, around the Dec 2012 time frame?

Is her name Wendy? Can't remember the last name.

Linda (and C.D.)

Deck - 10

Stateroom # - 1638

Stateroom Category – JS

Starboard or Port Side - Port

 

Quiet Stateroom? Very Quiet. No noise from the Windjammer.

 

Was stateroom a connecting stateroom? - No

 

 

Balcony View - Give comments on view, noting if location of any obstructions was an issue. – No obstructions. Behind hump. Aft

 

Balcony Size - Large. Fits 2 chairs and a small table with plenty of extra space

 

Was wind a problem? - No

 

If an aft cabin, was soot a problem? - No soot problems. 3 cabins away from Royal Suite

 

Any specific problems with this cabin? - No

 

Any other comments? - Windjammer easily accessible. One floor away. Elevator and stairs very close. Had this cabin 2 times and reserved again for another cruise. Every cabin attendant we had was fantastic. Lots of space. Walk in closet and lots of storage space. No excessive movement. Has extra pillows in walk in closet and life jackets are stored there. Muster station is D20 inside dining room.

 

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Which ship are you posting your review from?

Linda (and C. D.)

EEEK I am, too. I have 8594 on the Jewel...maybe I should try to change it???

It shouldn't be that bad for you since you are behind the wall, which blocks most of the noise. Don't think I would change cabins if I were you. If I were in 8586 or 8588, I would consider moving because there is an opening there that allows noise to come through worse.

Linda (and C. D.)

We've stayed in the hump cabins on Radiance class ships many times. There has been quite a lot of noise at times and its been disturbing to us also but never to the extent you had it! Usually its only one night or possibly two during a cruise. Have never quite understood why music has to be quite THAT loud.:mad:

We do like the hump cabins when noise is not a factor and we have not been bothered on several cruises with noise in the hump cabins. We have also found if you book on the opposite side from where you were, and down just a few cabins, the noise isn't that bad and you aren't really aware of it as there is a wall that stops most of it. Too bad it had to ruin several nights sleep for you and then you had to pack up and move. :(

Linda (and C. D.)

One of the handiest things we bring is a very lt-wt collapsible hamper--the super cheap kind you get at the dollar stores. It has mesh sides and folds very flat, weighs almost nothing. Great to put in the closet so you can just toss dirty clothes in and not mess with having a laundry bag.

Linda (and C. D.)

Finally, what many of you have been waiting for. The return of Beresford to this wonderful ship is planned for Sept. 6, 2013.

 

Gina

That's great!! We will be back on the Radiance for the Hawaiian Islands cruise, transpacific back to Vancouver and then up to Alaska next year so hope he isn't on vacation then. He was always in the Concierge Lounge with JD on our Hawaii-Australia-New Zealand cruise almost 2 years ago.

Linda (and C. D.)

Hi,

 

 

What changed on the menu that was so different? We haven't found the menu very 'Australian' on our cruises actually, even out of Australia.

I thought they had a set menu for the most part unless cruising to Asia where I have heard there is a lot of Chinese style dishes.

 

All very interesting to hear about these changes.:)

On this cruise our menu included kangaroo, crocodile, and octupus! These choices were not chosen by many and the alternative menu was pretty much what everyone at our table had for the B2B2B--CVU (Dayle and Brian), 3 different Australian couples, and my DH and myself. The Aussies said "this is NOT what we eat!" when they saw the menu.

Don't know what the menu will have now, will be interesting to see! We all complained about it during the cruise.

Linda (and C. D.)

In Feb, we did our 1st cruise since passing the 350 cruise nights. We got the double amenity and we choose 2 bottles of wine. We asked them to be delivered to the dining room. One of them was delivered to the stateroom.

 

Long story short, we ended up with 3 complimentary bottles of wine that cruise instead of 2. He kept the bottle we brought the night before and had it for us the following evening for dinner.

 

Tim

Tim, good for you! :D However, if you had to pay $75 for 3 corkage fees I'm not sure I'd think it was worth it!

Linda (and C. D.)

We just made Diamond Plus. Our next RC cruise will be on Legend (a B2B in Jan/Feb 2014). So I made my change and want the Zifendel wine. DH has put down chocolate covered strawberries as his bonus. So is the wine a bottle? How many strawberries do we get? And we still get the little basket with the sugars/candy in, and we each get a drink. Is the wine a glass of wine, or a small bottle, if we choose this over the coke?

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe you have to have 350 nights before you each get a gift. Pretty sure you will only get the one amenity. The wine amenity will be a full sized bottle but the wine with the goody basket will be a small bottle for each of you, IF you have pre-selected it. I've never cared for this wine so chose the water instead. As far as the chocolate covered strawberries go, you will most likely get a small goody plate on formal night with 2 chocolate covered strawberries on it along with some cookies or whatever. (It will be delivered around 4 pm.)

Linda (and C. D.)

No wonder so any Pax are complaining about the RCL website, the towel gift is not available as a gift since 1-2012 as reported by the know it all on CC.

Check the gift list and its still available on the site.

I had requested a towel on our January cruise. My gift came and the accompanying card said "RCL Towel" but instead it was a tote bag!!! :eek:

Linda (and C. D.)

Just off a B2B on the Mariner. On the first cruise we received the pkg of nuts, cheese and crackers, dried fruit and little cookies in our basket. However, on the second cruise, all that was in the basket was cookies and dried fruit--no nuts, no cheese, no crackers.

In reading the fine print in on RCL's website it states "The pre-selected gift basket will consist of one sweet, one salty and one fruit snack which will be placed in the guest's stateroom." Would like to know what happened to the salty snack??? I'm getting tired of all the constant and never-ending cost cutting.

Linda (and C. D.)