crisndeefromde

Can anyone tell me if the status match stays in place, or if they drop you down after not hitting enough points for the year? I enjoyed some nice perks last year with my status match, but believe MLife dropped me back down this year.

You still retain your status with MLife that matches what you are on RCCL. However your offers you get from MLife are based on your true money into their program..so if you are playing like a pearl member you receive offers based on your play...I am platinum as I am Diamond Plus but I don't give them a lot of play as I have better benefits with Total Rewards right now and status but I do enjoy a lot of the machines as a slot player that MGMproperties have that Harrahs do not so they do get some of my $$$. I didn't have a vehicle two weeks ago so wasn't affected by the parking fee but wouldn't have to pay with the status. One thing I do need to check into is if the resort fee is waived with the MLife status as it is with the higher tier status at Harrahs. All you need to do to get your matched status is to go to the rewards counter and have them update your cards. Our royal number was in there but due to their new updated system it had lost our status on royal to which i whipped out my phone and showed her online where it showed our status with royal. No problem and new platinum cards with a smile!

I go on the ship that goes where I want to go, when I can go, for a price I want to pay. RCI, MSC, Princess, Carnival, Celebrity, NCL. I have the most "perks" with RCI, but I won't book them just for lounge access or deteriorating perks. But there are others who literally are terrified to try anything else and even when RCI takes away from them, they'll be right back to booking 6x a year no matter what.

 

Look at Empress; some people are DETERMINED to get on that ship no matter how many times Royal screws them on airfare and hotel fees.

 

The title of this thread is changes / enhancements. Does anyone here believe for a New York minute that there will be "enhancements"? Pffffft. takeaways only.

I actually started looking at MSC yesterday and checked out the status match. Very interesting...Thanks bunches

I love Ocean Jewelers on Front Street in St Maarten....my favorite jeweler. Honest and treated so so well there. Yes I shop others but always purchase here whether we are on a cruise or staying. Haven't bought stateside in quite a few years. Its not about the quality of the stone as much as the type of gold. Prices vary due to the gold market everywhere. I look for unique pieces. If i wanted the same ring, bracelet or earrings as everyone else i would buy at home at the box jewelers. Love my diamonds from Ocean Jewelers. Only Diamond International pieces I have purchased was Philip Stein watch and much less then in USA. Purchased second one from Joes in St Maarten with the newer technology.

Hopefully it won't take that long again. We were an hour and a half delayed on our last cruise that went thru Key West and we were also parked out at the Naval pier and only ship in town. Not sure why we couldn't park closer. We were on Serenade of the Seas.

It sounds like you were very lucky. From reading many reports on here about long lines at customs your timing was great.

hmmmn I saw that intinerary also but we booked a b2b on Freedom instead

I think a lot of it has to do with people shying away from the boards in general. The nasty posts are out of hand and the moderators don't seem to stay on top of doing their jobs like they used to or need help. I enjoy going to our meet and mingles. Have met some fantastic members there and its great to put a face to a name. I had a meet and mingle several years ago on the Adventure that was packed....when the activities director asked if anyone had questions....number one question.....who is Bob? we would love to meet him if he is here in attendance...and he sure was...it was awesome to meet a gentleman that has answered so many of our questions...yes over and over but hey we learn that way! What a great guy! I think social media has allowed for better interaction perhaps but I know there is craziness on some of the boards I follow for cruising too. Happy cruising!!

Thank goodness, I was getting concerned that it had been over an hour since tha last new "Anthem Storm" thread had been created.:eek: I thought CC was malfunctioning!

Hey Bob!!!! Thanks for putting some humor on this today. My tongue hurts from biting it and really trying to restrain from some of the posts made these past few days from the quarterback club. Until you have rode down the east into one of these many beast storms like we have on the Explorer, ehhh just shaking my head. I think the last ride out of Bayonne in the winter was the blizzard coming into the area as we drove in snow to the port and Capt Ryan got permission to leave early as another low was coming in and he rode us down the middle of the lows..Newark airport was closing and about 600 folks missed flights tho we saw them waiting for us in San Juan..our daughter was in the aft with our gang of honeymooners and friends and family and we were midship and she slept in our cabin for three days. Over 100 mph winds and water up over the pools but nothing like what this ship experienced. Nothing can be done when these storms explode. We said no more...San Juan or Florida departures for the winter whether we fly or drive to the port. No one is talking about the Carnival Pride that left the next day. Missing the Adventure this year and leaving out on the Serenade again on Monday. Hope all is well with you and say hi to the Mrs. Thanks again for all the great info you give us. Take care!

Thanks for your live posts. We are all glad you are ok and thank you for keeping us all on land informed.

Take care and get some rest. Safe travels home.

Glad everyone is ok. No one could have predicted this storm to explode in the manner it did.

Take care and safe travels home.

Thank you Erik!!! Can't wait to board next monday. I am thrilled to see all the activities now going on compared to our nine nighter in December. Do you have any suggestions for St Lucia?

I've already talked to RCI and the insurance company, but they have given me no input on where to stay. The insurance company gives me minimal payback for trip interrupt and hotel stay. Otherwise, we're safe at home and waiting for air traffic to clear up.

 

I'd still like some suggestions for Jamaica. I, also plan to ask on the Jamaica forum.

 

Rich

Take care Rich and let us know how you make out with your flights.

Lioness, I agree with you about winter cruises, which is why we always schedule a day in advance, but obviously this time one day wasn't enough. Now that my wife is retiring, in the future, we'll always go at least 2 days early.

 

Next topic, I'm asking you great people, whats a good place to stay overnight in Jamaica. One that's safe and not too expensive, is convenient to the airport and port, and maybe is near a beach. WOW! sound impossible. I'd appreciate any ideas. Thanks in advance.

Rich

glad you are ok but I think before we give you any suggestions you need to get thru to RCCL and also your travel insurance company. They may have places for you to stay especially as many cruisers will be affected by this monster storm.

Perhaps another factor you haven't considered.....where is your plane coming from....air travel disruptions are going to be all over the nation...not looking promising. My husband knows if we were cruising this weekend our butts would have been on the road now... It took my son over two hours to go a normal 30 minute drive last night all over seven tenths of snow....

Thousands of flights already cancelled now. Watch the news. Good luck.

Thank you for once again sharing your adventures with all of us!!!

According to this it has it.

 

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/ships/class/ship/home.do?shipClassCode=VY&shipCode=AD&br=R

Its very slow. We were on in February 2015...while its available through out the ship now its no where close to the Voom that is being rolled out. Hoping it gets that during this dry dock.

Was on board with you and yes totally agree on the size of the lobster tails but our waiter kept bringing as many as we wished. Took the galley tour the last sea day and our chef that took our tour group stated our cruise set a record for the number of lobster tails consumed!

Yep it was my mistake, so posting for people to know in thenfuture, don't go through the door

Once you go thru the doors you have to wait until boarding is allowed and then you may exit. Its always been this policy our four trips these past years. Not sure who instructed you otherwise. Have a great time.

Found it thanks

try signing up again as mine works now for some reason...yeah.

How would I find out where/when it is even if I could register?

I have same issue still....found out when and what day...

Thanks Bob for the help once again.

Go to roll call page on Cruise Critic.At the top of the page should be a place to register for the meet and greet. You will need your reservation number. This is how I always registered. I didn't know you could do it on the RCI website.

there is a glitch in the system that won't let that access your reservation to reserve. I have been on phone with rccl and they are aware but no fix has been done yet

thank you for sharing your trip with all of us. I can't wait to be back on the Serenade in a few weeks. Love those towel pics wow...they are talented

Love your reviews...glad to see you back on board again...I think some of my best readings were your panama b2b. We love the Serenade and we will be onboard next month and in february.

Happy sailing and thank you for sharing your vacation with us.

The southern Caribbean is a wonderful itinerary to do a B2B on ......... many excellent ports and excursions , if that's your thing.

 

Personally, I prefer the Adventure because it has a Promenade, which means if you want a cup of coffee before 7:00 a.m. or after 12:00 midnight you don't have to call for room service.

 

Also, I'm a smoker (one of those) and the Adventure is the most smoke friendly ship in the fleet IMO.

 

Smoking is on the starboard side, which is the same side where the Diamond Lounge is located, meaning that you can (naturally smoke) have drinks and appetizers out on their veranda while you watch the rock climbers and basketball players on the court one deck below.

 

Outdoor smoking is allowed on the outside 4th deck, the pool deck (11) and deck 12.

 

Indoor smoking is allowed in the Concierge Lounge and the casino.

 

Aruba is my favorite island (have been going there since you were charged $20 cash to get off the island at the airport, which was the size of your local McDonald's) because the weather was always great, always a breeze on the beach, a turquoise sea with small wavelets , excellent restaurants, friendly people and a lot of things to see and do.

 

Favorite restaurant is Madame Jeanette's located near the low rise and hi-rise hotels in a residential area.

 

Windsurfing was initiated on Palm Beach in front of where they have built a Ritz Carlton (the same exact area that the Holloway girl went missing years ago).

 

Generally, the ship docks in Oranjstad early in the morning and doesn't leave until 11:00 p.m., so you have plenty of time to do whatever you want.

Been on 4 b2b on Adventure and no smoking allowed in Concierge lounge so not sure which other lounge you may be referring too. All the ships in the fleet have a smoking policy that is adhered to for locations.

always have signs on our doors....since second cruise...When we are on ship after Thanksgiving as great deals during December for sure....always have Christmas decorations too....Have seen wreaths..battery lights around doors...you name it....we love it...also our attendants love it...

We love seeing others decorate doors even if just a sign!!!! Last cruise we had quite a few cabins around us celebrating one cruisers big 50!!! oh we had a blast with them...they had the white boards also using command to hold them up and everyone that went by would write a daily thought...to the birthday person...it was funny...one day we saw her reading them and she was in tears....from laughing so hard....she loved it. It was her first cruise and she said she had met the greatest people from all over the world and never imagined receiving such kindness from total strangers. We said yep and are you ready to do this again? she said how did you know....my husband said ahhhh she was was that way...wouldn't leave land...Disney or nothing no way on a boat...and now she knows it is a ship....was ready to book another one the minute we left the ship to come home....cause we didn't know we could book while on board...she asked how many we had been on and my husband said you don't want to know and we have only been cruising since 2006. She was beaming!!! I welcomed her to the addiction!! Now to see some signs...if anyone is a Duck Dynasty fan and you cruise with them on one of their charters....oh my gosh.... those doors were amazing!!!!!