B-52

If you check in, and have you allotted wine with you....go to your stateroom, unpack, etc. THEN go back and visit the store on the pier, will they notice you're coming back on board with more wine?

Or are people purchasing the wine before they go through the initial check-in.

We agree,bring back a Voyager or freedom class ship to Cape Liberty.Send the quantum and the anthem with their high prices,and so called dynamic dinning to China.ROYAL YOU BLEW IT.:mad:

Whether or not RCI Blew it or not has nothing to do with what you or I or anyone else likes or dislikes.

It has to do with whether RCI turns a profit or not, sails at capacity, etc.

Quantum is here for just a short time, so we will never really know.

Whether or not they decide to keep the Anthem here for an extended time will be telling.

Been on Explorer 5 times out of Bayonne...this year it will be liberty.

We have the same GS we always book on the Explorer.

Same itinerary as the Explorer too...the 9 night Bermuda-Caribbean.

It's a 40 minute drive drive for us to the port.

But we also do not have any desire to go on the Quantum, Anthem. If they keep this class there year round, we will have to change things up.

perhaps drive to New York or Red Hook.

Since you're staying in a suite, mention this to the Concierge...he/she will make sure you get service.

We always stay in a suite, and order room service off the MDR menu at least once per cruise...usually a formal night.

We ask for whatever is on the menu, and as much as we want. We have ordered extra entree's on Lobster night, no problem.

But again, the concierge always tells us the best time, and who to call for the best service.

The server will come with a cart, lay bout a table cloth and set the table with silverware, etc...so a good tip is always in order. It's an event in itself, not just room service.

So if you're going to do this every evening.....

I like to drink high protein drinks...when I travel I will bring the pre-mixed bottled drinks like "Muscle Milk" or perhaps protein shots.

I pack them in my luggage or carry on and no one ever said a word...they know what they are.

Cruise lines are worried about loosing - making money. And people energy drinks will not hurt their pocket book...alcohol on the other hand....and water to a certain extent. They would much rather have you purchase a case of their water at a ridiculous high price. And it's the worst - Avian.

We sail exclusively in a GS, and just like a previous poster said it gets used and abused 365 days a year.

Add to that the fact it is no secret that RCI has cut WAY back on the room stewards. One apologized to me on the first day informing me where he is now responsible for double the rooms as he used to be.

We hardly use the CL, overcrowded and sometimes a Zoo.

Perks for suites are far a few between. Reserved seating here and there, but that's about all we take advantage of. (and access to barefoot beach)

We have had mauntence issues just about every cruise, most small and annoying like the sliding light switches not working, or balcony furniture covered in paint spots.

We stay in a GS for one simple reason...the room, the closet space, the bathroom...it is more in keeping with a hotel room than a stateroom.

But again, anyone who has cruise consistently with RCI can see the cut backs that have taken place over the years...and it's the little things here and there that eventually, you have to sit back and look at the entire Forrest.

But it's all about the bottom line. It's a big business with the sole purpose to make a profit. And raising rates is the last thing they want to do. So you have to cut costs.

Very nice review..we will be on the Adventure for our first departure out of Peurto Rico.

But WOW...You sure do have a fixation on food!!!!

I've read on the Carnival Boards where people check in, get settled in their rooms, then get off the ship since it's not leaving till later in the evening....

Is that possible with RCI? Not that there is anything to do at the PanAm Pier as opposed to Old San Jaun....

Our first cruise out of Puerto Rico is coming up on the Adventure.

Every cruise we have been on prior, we always get to the port and check-in by 11am.

Was not sure about this cruise because the ship is not scheduled to leave till 8pm....

What I'm reading here is that the timetable is still the same othwr than departure time.

Our 2nd cruise with RCI was a free upgrade to a GS....had no warning.

Cruise was Sunday, Friday night, before flying out sataurday morning, I checked "My Cruises" on the website one last time, and noticed we had a balance due of about $45....

Looked further and we were assigned a GS...paid that $45 as fast as I could!

Not sure, but I believe the $45 was additional tax....

We are now D+, and have never had an upgrade since. We have though, stayed in a GS every cruise since.

A Hotel Director on a cruise, after telling him our story, smiled and said "There is a method behind their upgrades, they do know what they're doing"

When we made Diamond, did not think it was that big of deal...D+ is a little better, but not much....especially when you think about what you put in to get there in terms of $$

It's my opinion, but I think the whole C&A thing is over rated and borders on a scam....there is so much more they could do to reward "Frequent Flyers" but they won't because they don't need to...

We cruise because we like to cruise.

As a frequent traveler for business, staying in all varieties of hotels, myself and other people I know always travel with a rubber door stop.

I never had a problem with their website, but then I don't have any reason to open it everyday either...until it gets close to sailing date and I need to make all my dinner reservations, etc.

But again, no problems

Whilst I agree with the majority of your post I cannot agree with the comment "this thread is stupid"

You may ask why and that is because it has really opened my eyes to see how people view each other and will make my next trip to the Concierge and Diamond lounge much more interesting looking and listening for people who behave like those mentioned in these postings.;)

Ditto...we're talking about the over crowding of the CL....and some of the jerks in there.

It's all about making money...everything starts with that in mind.

And with the Traditional MDR setup, that cannot make money!

Pure and simple.

They have found a way with DD to make money, although you may not see it yet, the framework is there.....

Would you be willing to pay as you go for all your mealS, etc, IF the cruisefare was cut in half?

And if you want , you can pre-purchase a meal plan before you board.

Not saying that's what is coming, I'm just curious if people would do it.

Every Cruise......one time there was a pretty good crowd working their way up to the bar to order drinks, when this woman starts pushing her way to the front saying "Excuse me, excuse me, it's alright...I'm D+, I cruise all the time....excuse me)

You can find examples on every cruise....We just like to have a good laugh over it...some people!

(BTW, we're D+ and have stayed in a GS our last 8-9 cruises)

Reading all of this is interesting when I think back to when we first reached Diamond in 2001. We were sailing on the Radiance and received an invitation to enjoy the CL. We went there a couple times in the evening but never saw anyone else in the lounge. My how things have changed.

Yes...more and more people making D & D+.

Look for RCI to make more changes in C&A status, perks..

Overcrowding in the CL has always been a ongoing problem...first with more people becoming Diamond, they started the Diamond lounge.

Now more people are becoming D+, and the problem is reoccurring...

So look for the D+ to have their own lounge eventually.

We always sail in a GS, have been for many years...and we always made a point to complain about the over crowding in the CL....

There have been cruises we just did not go there at all. And when asked why, we made a point to let them know.

BTW, when we got our pins we immediately threw them away. I thought, by it's appearance, it was just more "Freebie" junk/trinkets.

I wouldn't wear it if you paid me.

I'm not one to go around the ship asking people to recognize me as someone important or more prestigious than the next person.

Same with flashing my Gold Sea pass card around like some do.

We were given a free upgrade to a GS on our 2nd RCI Cruise,...

We have booked a GS ever since, and that's a lot of Cruises.

One time, at a reception, I shared my story with the Hotel Director...

He smiled and said that they know what they're doing when they "target" candidates....and it's all in the marketing....

They know who you are, especially if you cruised with them before...

If I have cruised 50 times with RCI, always book an inside cabin, don't spend much $$, my chances of an upgrade are less than a new cruiser.

They already have me hooked, now they have to reel in new people.

First, if nothing else, we always book a GS simply because we love the stateroom....

Also, everyday there is some kind of gift left in the stateroom...never know what you might get. Once we got a shoppers sample package, including a small bottle of scotch, cologne and perfume samples, etc.

There used to be a reception with the Captain and department heads...have not had one of those last few cruises.....

Bridge tours are nice, but get old after a while.

We hardly ever use the CL, do like the reserved seating at the pool and shows..

and we always order room service from the dining room menu at least one night...

Generally, for debarkation, we meet in the CL and the concierge walks us off

We recently stayed at Disney in Orlando, on property, first time in many years....

We were very disappointed with the Magic Bands, making dinner reservations every day, and in the end, how expensive it turned out to be....they charge you for every little thing....

We both missed the way cruising handled it all....

And yes, all staff (cast) members walked around with tablets which was convenient sometimes.

Now I realize, starting with the Quantum, RCI is headed the same way...it is not as bad, YET, but they are setting themselves up for a major shift in the way cruises will be conducted. The framework is there, and they can make subtle changes here and there until after 5-10 years it will be all different.

It has become after all a large theme park - resort in itself as opposed to a way of getting to the attractions (ports)

It may be possible the entire cruise industry will head that way in a attempt to be more efficient, make more $$....

I was wondering how they handle priority boarding....the old terminal had a separate area entirely.....

My Embarkation was flawless. . .I should have waited until 10:45 to enter the Terminal. . .The check in took just 10 min. . .

 

 

 

Radio

;);)

As compared to the old terminal, is there a segregated section for priority check-in and boarding?

I live in NJ, and travel everyday around the bayonne area......

I don't think I would stay in an inexpensive hotel...some charge by the hour.

maybe you should ask for an "Affordable" place to stay.

$3000 per person is about what we pay every cruise for a GS, give or take.

And because of our jobs, we always sail in the summer...usually August, sometimes late June.