minn0315

We were in a Grand Suite last week on Navigator. We are the lowest loyalty level, gold. We received a 10% discount on the internet for that level, not our suite status. Higher loyalty members get ever increasing discount percentages until the top levels that get it for free. We'll be silver on next cruise, so maybe 20% off.

We were on Navigator last week. JRs is $5.95 cover each for food; shakes and malts are $4.95 each, extra.

We had a lousy meal for over $20.00. We ordered immediately and yes they bring out the fries and onion rings right away. Then 10 minutes later we got our malts, then 35 minutes later (yes, 35 minutes later), we finally got our two burgers. Generally in most restaurants the burgers are served at the same time as the fries and drink. JRs has it backwards.

By the time we got our dry, overcooked, flavorless burgers, the fries and onion rings were ice cold and the malts were like soup.

It could be free and we would never return.

We even beat the greeters with "washy, washy" and they responded, "happy, happy". We were on Navigator last week.

However, many people who did not have English as their first language, (on our cruise, Asian) did not understand and did not use the hand sanitizers. We felt sick following them into the Windjammer...

We use traditional dining in the MDR. We ask our travel agent to request a table for 2 and she comes through every time.

It does not support Skype or FaceTime. They do have a disclaimer on the connection page right before you pay for it. We knew this and still tried it, no go...

We did't get any package, but I am still upset that the photographer uses a digital camera, and they produce one print and want $29.95! Other than the Internet wifi charges, photos are the biggest rip- off in my opinion.

Yes, for us. We love the Grand Suite. It is like flying first class in the airplane, you'll never go back to coach.

As for price, on our next cruise on the Adventure, our Grand Suite costs LESS than a junior suite or even a stateroom with balcony. You need to have a good representative who can spot deals.

We cruised last week on NOS out of Galveston. We also had $200 OBC. I decided to get the unlimited package for one device for the entire cruise. The price for the week was $189.00. I did have suite credit of 10% off. So I paid $170.10.

The service is so very slow. Just to get on AOL, CNN or Facebook would takes 2 to 3 minutes. Google searches took forever. I estimated that compared to free airport wifi, the ship's wifi is nearly 100 times slower. I thought maybe it was my device at first. Then we went to the wifi lounge and the ship's PCs were even slower.

But it is better than nothing.

Actually, the Grand Suite we booked is less than a JS or even a standard balcony on that upcoming 2016 cruise for that ship for that week. And this trip, Navigator, 1/25/2015 sailing, is less than our cruise last year in JS. Yes, last year's pricing.

Online up to 3 or 4 days before sailing. Or book them on the very first day of your cruise. We booked on our Sunday sailing day for a Monday and a Thursday. If you don't book by that first day on board there are no discounts. We had the concierge make our reservations for us.

Chops is $35.00 per person. But remember, if you reserve two specialty restaurants you get 20% off each cover charge, reserve three and get 30% off each cover.

We had two so lunch at Giovanni's was only $12.00 for a lunch that was so great and so filling we did not eat dinner that night! The service was impeccable!

We are on Navigator right now 1/28/2015. On board as well in the US market it is buy one get one half off. We booked for next March 2016, Adventure of the Seas, Grand Suite, to the souther Caribbean, 7 nights, $2600.00 for both us and a $400.00 on board credit. Great deal!

We are on Navigator right now. A decent glass of wine is $12 each, plus tip. If you have two glasses at lunch and two with dinner with the tip you have already paid for the Premium Package, which is $49 a day. Add to that the extra cocktails or after dinner drinks and you are way ahead. I think tha same can be said for the Ultimate Package with how expensive they charge for specialty coffees.

Just a note about Giovanni' s. The lunch menu in NOT the same as dinner. You can only see the lunch menu when you are on board. The glaring difference is that their famous lasagna is only available at lunch and they are only open for lunch on sea days.

The concierge placed two reservations for specialty dining, one for today's (1/26/2015) and one for Chops later in the week for dinner. Since there were two reservations we get 20 percent off of each cover charge. So instead of $15 each for lunch cover today, it was only $12. Can't beat that for gourmet Italian food and impeccable service.

We arranged our own air travel and we like to arrive a day early. We told RC that we wanted airport to pier transfers. They had no problem arranging this and told us to meet them at the airport on Sunday. We flew io IAH (Bush) in Houston on Saturday before our Navigator of the Seas cruise on January 25 from Galveston. We stayed at tha Marriott at the airport, tram stop between terminals B and C.

On Sunday morning we took the tram back to baggage claim in terminal B. Behind the escalators, away from the baggage carousels, are cruise ship representatives. Royal Caribbean had a large flag in front of a desk with three reps. They checked our names off a list and gave us yellow boarding cards with numbers. We were told that the first bus returning from the pier would arrive at 9:30 and would load at 9:45. A representative holds a placard in the air and you follow them to the bus, turn in your numbered card and board. Very easy and efficient.

We left the airport at 10:04 and arrived at the pier in Galveston at 11:17.

CDG is a nightmare! Poor signage and security is so slow.