tiger-91

On 7/25/2023 at 1:42 PM, robbycruises said:

Currently onboard the Carnival Pride. Happy to report no changes since its short dry dock this year, same-sex locker rooms still have both steam and sauna, showers and coded lockers. Hoping to meet some guys for good conversation this week!

the dry dock made changes. they changed the sauna door to clear glass. they got rid of the second tier seating in the sauna. and hopefully by now they've reinstalled the towel hooks at the showers. We had to request them to reinstall the shampoo dispensers when I was on in June.

Also, the new hallway door swing open now exposes half the locker room to viewing by any people in the hallway. Not nice when you're changing clothes!

2 hours ago, garsny said:

My grandfather was a Russian Jew.Went to schvitz since I was a child.Big part of my cruise experience.Should be nude and not co-ed.No kids,of course.

I used to enjoy going into the sauna to sweat out the toxins. But now I'm wary since last month, after a Spring Breaker accused another man of statutory rape (in another room), I was caught up in being first questioned by ship security before going to Coco Cay and then the FBI and Sheriff on Disembarkation day! Scary thing was that I was alone with the supposed juvenile in the sauna too! He looked like a college guy to me. Lesson learned to not be alone with young ones in unsupervised location. He could have easily accused me as he did the other guy. I don't know if it really happened, of course.  In the survey I thanked them for keeping the free sauna, but to figure out a way to keep unescorted kids out. (I won't share more details.) 

On 11/27/2022 at 7:50 AM, JoshuaLifter said:

Agree 100% with you. I do not know why but, the men I meet in the sauna or steam room, the conversations are just so much better, deeper than if we were just sitting in a lounge or bar.

That is why I like to spend some extra time there after the first night, you can sometimes make good cruise friends and go on excursions and as a single dad it is  just its nice to have some adult  buddies to hang with during a cruise. I wish more cruise lines would treat these areas as a social areas that needs to be enhanced, not sometimes tucked away.

When's your next cruise?

Got this in the email today. 

Tried it on a transatlantic, and the deal works! 

https://www.msccruisesusa.com/cruise-deals/solo-traveler

On 3/13/2022 at 10:42 AM, RichYak said:

My suggestion would be to take the following steps:

• Use the email I posted above to get back to gold through January 2023.
• Match your MGM Gold to Hyatt Explorist through December 2022
• In January 2023 match your MGM Gold to Hyatt Explorist again, now thru December 2023
• In February 2023 match your Hyatt Explorist back to MGM Gold.

These MGM/Hyatt matches can be done instantly online so it's very convenient and efficient. No emails, phone calls, or visits to the rewards desk. Just repeat the last 2 steps every year as the staggered expiration dates let you match back and forth perpetually.

 

I've been doing this for years, but simply forgot the February step this year, so I had to start over using my Celebrity status.

I'll always be Diamond or higher on Royal. Can I just use that to perpetually match to MGM Gold? Do I have to do it each year, or can it only be done once?

15 hours ago, EZ1 said:

So we already had an inside on Mariner in Aug, from a bounce back in fall, that I used the money, instead of the list, to get one within a year.  3 days ago, got an offer for a balcony & that cruise was listed. Called & changed cabin. Today we get the March offer & same cruise was on it, now with $400 casino freeplay. So called today, & changed it to that offer. 

but you lost the first two offers, right?

1 hour ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Reserved area being set up for select few willing to reserve a table at the Long Island pool to watch the Super Bowl on the big screen . "For the special price of $250 for 2 people or $500 for 4 people you get drinks accompanied by mouth-watering American snacks !"

 

Note that there are no tables! Eat on your lap. Hahaha

I didn't get a notice. I just happened to be printing out my saved luggage tags when i saw the cabin being different from the app. 

After a little looking i saw they moved me from an interior lowest class to a standard balcony and gave me $125 extra onboard credit! So i didn't ask why. Another cruiser got the same.

Once on board I went to my old room twice. First to see if my key card was outside the door. No. in fact no doors nearby had keys. but it was late in the afternoon. But it got me to thinking so I returned during normal room cleaning hours and no stateroom attendant in sight. 

So i surmise they consolidated cruisers to save on staff. or didn't have enough staff. We sailed at about 30%

50 minutes ago, Birdnutty said:

Are folks that did not pay for the cabanas at Coco Beach still allowed to use the beach there if they don't use a chair or anything?  The snorkelling looks like it might be halfway decent there, but there's no way we could ever use a cabana. We're not "sit at the beach" types.  We really only enjoy snorkelling.  "Developing" the island completely changed its nature from the beauty it was 10 years ago, and there's very little talk of where to do the best snorkelling, altho they are more than willing to rent you snorkel gear for an outrageous price.

Someone suggested South Beach, (but then it was suggested that maybe South Beach was off-limits for pax)  and maybe around Chill Island.  Has anyone here had any experience with this?

In September I tried to swim from Breezy Bay around the floating cabanas. Figured I'd just walk along the beach back to Breezy Bay. But just as I neared the furthest out cabana, a floating lifeguard kindly asked which cabana I was staying in and upon hearing none said this is the end of the line. So I had to turn around and swim back. I was SOOO close to being done swimming! oh well. I lived. Then I looked more carefully and noticed that the beach was blocked off by rocks and foliage anyway....so I wouldn't have made it back by beach. But, if you're snorkeling with ears under water, you wouldn't be able to hear a lifeguard barking at you....😉

I was on a B2B2B on Mariner in September. Only the middle cruise used these fabric bracelets.  I took the dangling parts and safety pinned them to the part against the skin, so it was more like a bracelet. I hated dipping it in my food! or knocking myself in the nose when adjusting my glasses.

While at guest services, one lady complained she'd tightened it too much. The agent gently cut it off and gave her a new one.

Funny how people can't stand these on their wrist. I can't stand having to wear a lanyard, like at conferences. So can't please everyone.

I saw a crew member "guard" (I asked why they were there) at the entrance to the casino on Allure, symphony and mariner. Also at Schooner bar and also at the Theater V deck. with a long sleeve shirt, I had to pull up the cuff to show it.

I'm in the same # cabin. Don't know when it happened. I didn't check every day. Just noticed today when I checked on my orders in Cruise Planner. 

The location is the same, but it used to be sandwiched between two other cabins. Now there's the dreaded "white space" and a Big one, next to my cabin. I fear it's the crew stairwell/elevator. i'll look at changing.

1 hour ago, m32446 said:

Finally found one, from August 22. At this point they've probably stopped doing the deal with increased numbers of people on board. 

I've seen that recently on Mariner. But read carefully. It's actually BOGOHO. so not THAT great a savings.... but cool if you didn't know about the cruise planner....

49 minutes ago, brillohead said:

Well, it's flawed in the assumption that everyone who breaks even is having that many alcoholic beverages.  

Why so argumentative? Don't bother answer. I've blocked you.

1 hour ago, brillohead said:

I don't get the booze package myself (classic soda is all I need), but wanted to point out the flaw in your thinking.  

If someone gets a latte and a fresh-squeeze orange juice and a bottle of water in the morning, and a smoothie for a mid-morning snack, they've already used up their four vouchers without having a drop of liquor. An expresso after dinner would use up a fifth voucher.  

Four $13 cocktails/wine/whatever and a bottle of beer would break even on the DBP at that point. 

What would work better financially for people who do smoothies and foo-foo coffee drinks as well as booze drinks would be to get the Refreshment package and use that for sodas, bottles of water, smoothies, and coffee drinks, then use the 4-5-6 vouchers for the boozy drinks every day.  You'd just want to specify to the server that you want to use your package for the non-alcoholic drinks, so your vouchers would be available for the booze.

 

I see what you're saying, but I was specific in saying alcohol. so I don't think it's flawed.  Everyone's needs are different and should be evaluated by themselves.

9 hours ago, ULCajunCruiser said:

How does Debark/Embark day work??

Will I have to get off the ship??

Can I just stay in my cabin??

If I have The Key, can I go to the Departure Breakfast and then The Embarking Lunch??

Is alcohol available anywhere in the morning??

 

TIA

Bill

You might not have to get off the ship, but you will have to gather with the other B2Bers in a lounge and then depart or not. You will at least be the first one back on. 

I assume you are not moving cabins. If so, then you can return to your cabin after immigration. You'll likely have to open those intimidating, closed fire doors but can be done. Just stay out of the attendants' way! haha.

I know nothing about the Key.

A bar will reopen around 11....or maybe the Promenade Cafe earlier. I think most everything is closed from 9-11. So definitely take some nibbles and beverages with you to the B2B gathering lounge. Last time we sat there for an hour as they couldn't get passengers to disembark and had to find them.

On 10/4/2021 at 1:28 PM, fstuff1 said:

 

is it 4 drinks per day?

 

if so, why would any Diamond or above buy the drinks package?

Depends on how much you drink. Figuring each drink is $13, then you'd have to drink  five alcohol drinks to equal the typical $58 pre-cruise sale price. (or more if you wait and pay the discounted $82 onboard price) so with the four, five or six vouchers you'd have to figure you're drinking nine, ten or eleven alcohol drinks EVERY day to come out even. 

a better route, for some, is the wine and soda you can bring on board, the discounted "by the glass" beverages (if offered), cheaper daily drink specials, martini classes, whiskey class, beer class, hahaha 

On 10/4/2021 at 6:39 PM, sdsseattle said:

Allure recently had a Covid outbreak among crew. All the shows were shut down last week, not sure what this week’s  status is. His going home might have something to do with that. I also hope everything is well with him and the rest of the crew. 

I questioned on my survey why the Mamma Mia cast was out maskless and mingling with maskless guests on the Promenade and Windjammer.....yet the front two theater rows were still blocked off.

Last week two show dancers were with her visiting sister in the MDR on Mariner. Some Mariner crew said that they were being allowed to visit Port Canaveral starting this past Monday.

this year, on Symphony (can beer) and Allure (draught beer) my sheet said 50% off two beers. Both times I purchased, the bartender's cash register gave me 50% off one beer and full price for the other. I had to go to Guest Services with my letter and receipt to prove the bartender wrong and successfully got the proper credit.

Then a couple weeks later on my next three cruises on Mariner, the sheet said 50% off ONE beer. So I think they've changed it. The computers were correct but the printed onboard offers sheets were not. 

2 hours ago, luckyinpa said:

is there protocol or rules about rain/storms and if you can/must/should get back on the ship?

I was in thrill waterpark and they shut down the slides because of sighted lightning. Employees came down to base. But we could stay in the wave pool. It never did get very close. no rain. so only kind of answers your question...

However, it would be very tough to get everyone to the ship during a storm. the walk, totally exposed, is long, and I would guess, could be dangerous. Especially with wind or lightning at the pier.

I also printed this FAQ out. Guest Services didn't understand my request for a test appointment on the second day until I showed them this.

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/can-i-book-back-to-back-cruises-at-this-time

Guest services set up an appointment with medical.

That scheduled day, I tried to go to the testing set up for the kids in the conference center but was turned away and sent to medical, who tried to send me to the conference center and then somewhat reluctantly took the ten minutes to swab my nose. Came back in the afternoon for my test results printout.

Having the FAQ printout helped a lot, I think.

2 minutes ago, DJLDRUMS said:

You're right on the money ! a call to C&A this afternoon told me that whether the cruise is a B2B or a S2S that getting tested (free) on my first ship towards the end of the cruise that the results will be forwarded to the next ship I'm doing. In this case 3/22-3/29 then 3/29- 4/3. 

I did a side 2 side a couple weeks ago. no mention of forwarding my test results. They gave me a signed test result printout which made checking in to the second cruise very easy.

And this week on Allure I got from an interior to an ocean view balcony.  #winning

19 hours ago, Hogbay said:

I often requested the D+ complimentary upgrade, never been available. 🤑 think they are only interested in the silent auctions 🤑

Well I'm proof that they're not. 

I can confirm that the diamond plus free upgrade still works.  About an hour after boarding Symphony of the Sea Sunday,  I went to Guest Services to see if the sign of no upgrades available was displayed.  If was not. I told the greeter that I had come by to request the d+ complimentary upgrade.  He verified my card,  made a call to the back, and said I'd get a notification by sail away by phone call and note on door.  Sail away was 7 but ended up being 8. After dinner I went back by guest services and got the good news. A free upgrade from an interior,  the lowest category 4V, I think, to a Central Park balcony!

Now this 9000 passenger capacity ship only has 1400 passengers, so that might be why!! Haha. 

But doesn't ever hurt to ask. 

On 7/31/2021 at 5:29 PM, tiger-91 said:

This thread went downhill quickly. Why are people so up in arms about water!

 

So has anyone recently taken on board nonalcoholic beverages? I'm interested in taking Mountain Dew.  The FAQ says ok, but the eDocs for my August Symphony cruise says no. I guess I'll try regardless. But really does anyone have any experience? Seen it done? THIS year? Thank you.

I can confirm that when boarding symphony last Sunday I was able to bring in my carry-on two bottles of wine and twelve 16.9 FL Oz bottles of mountain dew. No personal inspection or questions at the scanner.  Passed right on through. Port of Miami