Ret MP

My take on the Solarium Bistro is that it is, supposedly, an up-scale buffet with up-charge items available. I know the few times I've been there on the Allure and Symphony (maybe even the Oasis, I just can't remember that), I've always noticed and went through the several buffet stations there (No, I wasn't lost and wound up in the Windjammer 😜🤪).

Toooooooo bad, eh. I love going to Fogo de Chau Brazilian Steak House. The Brazilian theme, menu and type of service on the Allure can't even compare with Fogo. But, it still was damn good.

Please, nobody take this as a criticism of any type. It's just my feelings: Alcohol Free Wine, to me, is like taking a shower with a raincoat on.

Years ago, shortly after Allure first set sail out of the U.S.A., we would go to the Solarium Bistro because they had a Brazilian Steak House type menu available in the evening hours. I don't know if it was an upcharge or not, we were Star Class (a statement of fact, not bragging, not even Humblebragging). I'd love to see that come back, and I'd be willing to pay for it, it was sooooooooo good. The only issue, when we asked for more steak, it took a long time to come to the table.

My knee, one of the best decisions of my medical/health life. My wife, not so much. She's always in pain and at the same time numb. I was like that for 3 years but after I started walking 3.5 miles almost everyday at a fast clip, it doesn't hurt at all anymore (except in some chairs after sitting motionless with my leg tucked under the seat for a while, usually restaurants or kitchen table). I don't recommend joint replacement anymore because of my wife not overly happy with it and my old Army buddy got his done because of my experience. He hates and regrets it. So, I just speak of my experience, now. Back to the topic. Even though I hope I'll never fly again, I have it for the next, almost, 5 years if things don't go as planned.

Very possible!

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/onboard-service-gratuity-expense "....gratuities are shared among dining, bar & culinary services staff, stateroom attendants and other hotel services teams who work behind the scenes to enhance the cruise experience". Based upon this, I don't know where the tips go to, specifically. I don't know who the "hotel service teams who work behind the scenes" are.

Worked well for us back in May going from ATL to SEA and back. That was the first time we flew in at least a decade and probably the list time we fly, anywhere. I hate flying. Anyway, as I was applying and going through the process of getting the Pre-Check, I was questioning myself as to why. Why I was doing it for a one and done (probably)! Well, we got to ATL, I was never so satisfied with a decision (a little exaggerated there). The line was unbelievably long and I saw a lot of frustrated faces in the huge crowd. Almost the same thing in SEA when we were done with the cruise. I get frustrated easily and glad I didn't have to put up with all that sh#*. The Pre-Check was as smooth as butter (mostly, metal detector went off on my wife and I in SEA, we had to walk a little distance to go through a body X-ray type scanner. We both have knees replaced and the metal detectors didn't go off in ATL and we've been told by the surgeon that the metal in the knees wouldn't set off the detectors and I've read that too), but still well worth the bucks and processing, to me and my wife! YMMV

Well, shut the ffffffffront door. I'm as jealous as one can get. Thanks for the great news!

As usual, I didn't read every post in this thread. But, I will say that I have limited experience as I've never tried to bring anything on a ship that is freshly cooked and/or prepared. I have brought on bottled items like Vanilla, curry ketchup, and a few other bottled items. I've done it on every cruise but 2 and on two separate cruise lines. And Royal's FAQ on prohibited items only mentions: Perishable Food & Meat Products

Yep, I'll be wearing my Leopard Skin Thong Speedo, for sure! And I'll be wearing it in the MDR, damnit!

Ohhhhh man, I can only hope so. I've had cruises shortened because of hurricanes. Never extended because of weather. I'm anxiously awaiting for that to happen. One can look forward for something like that when fully retired and have nothing better to do. 🤠

When I cruise with friends and family, especially the first timers, I recommend that they don't prepay the gratuities. Why? Because if for some reason you lose a night or two on the front of the cruise or back or both (which has happened to us, twice. Both on Rustbucket Cruise Lines, Inc. Think Hurricane Sandy, for one) you have to wait on a credit to show up on your C.C. or a FCC, or whatever they do. In any case, it's just another thing that you have to keep track of, post cruise (usually) and hope they handle it quickly and efficiently. If you let them charge the gratuities daily, if you start late or end early, or both, it just isn't charged to your Set Sail Account, done! Oh, and if you have OBCs, you can use them for the gratuities, if you want. Tip often, tip generously!

Goooooooootchya!

😞

He was probably looking for a cruise to Nassau, NY.

Sorry, I don't use email often and my inbox was full. It's a gmail thing. Never had that problem with others. They are trying to get me to purchase more storage. I'm not. I just deleted everything. Sorry, please do it again. I'll send you a verification I got it.

BTW, I can't find the post where you gave me your email address. I'm thinking of going to Outdoor/BassPro in the near future. Would you please send me an email: jay10211021@gmail.com.

Sad to see you go. It's been fun, for sure!

I'm taking a risk saying this, so be it. But, sometimes I think it isn't as much about what you say as much as it is about who you say it to. JMHO

Forgot, we drive to Bayonne, too. When we flew to Seattle, we flew out of ATL. What a zoo. I guess we were part of the Zoo, too. I don't want to give the impression to anyone that I feel better than anyone else, I'm very sensitive of that. Oh well, hijack over.

Being that we are from the same neck of the wood, when cruising out of FL or TX, do you drive or fly to the port? No real reason for asking, just curious. We drive, I hate flying. We flew to Seattle in May and I went crazy, it's a real pain in the a$$, for me.

Basically true. However, if the goal is to save money (which is my goal on this next small upcoming cruise), 1 beer is 1 beer and 4 or 5 less 18% included gratuities + additional tip for each beer delivered (probably several times during the cruise as we probably wont get off the ship in Nassau). No, it's not a lot of money. But, this cruise is purely for achieving D status and satisfy our cruise withdrawals until our big cruise in Jan 2024. And all we are paying for this next little cruise is Tax and Port Charges because of a FCC (not casino related) we got on our last cruise which had to be used within a year of that cruise, we got unexpectedly. We did purchase the Soft Drink package and a meal in the Hibachi. Gratuities will be paid for by BoA, RCCL, Visa reward OBCs. The ultimate cheap in me is coming out in this cruise!

Sounds like you are proud of your stamina.

Good question. The rules/policy states you can only get one drink at a time. However, how do they define a bucket of beers, that is the question. Is it 5 beers or 1 bucket of beers? I don't know that answer. Maybe someone does know, in here.