cruisegirl1

On 5/28/2024 at 7:30 PM, taglovestocruise said:

For Formal night Specialty..

T-shirt and shorts. I see these shirts every now and then. The same as any other printed or logo T/shirt. 
 

There is no dress code anywhere. Those who want to dress up, can. Those who want to wear shorts and a T shirt can as well 

m

6 hours ago, little britain said:

Why do wine prices vary on the fleet?

 

It’s  irritating that I could get Whispering Angel by the glass ( so within our daily $$ limit) whilst on Brilliance out of Sydney in January and on Oasis transatlantic from Miami last month; but on Anthem from England - where the daily $$ is actually higher) a glass of WA is still out of budget?!  

Also sometimes WA appears on the MDR menu as available by the glass: and sometimes in on the MDR menu as by the bottle only 🤷‍♀️ why?!

 

Another question: has anyone been successful in using vouchers to buy a bottle of wine ? If so, how many? 
 

thanks 🙏 

At the return to sailing some ships allowed five vouchers for a bottle of wine but I haven’t seen that in a while. 
m

On 6/1/2024 at 6:40 AM, nelblu said:

I'm not going anywhere until they X institutes a "Solo Supplement" policy and the drink allowance benefits.

 

By the way, I don't want to research, but does X have the same gifts as offered by the C&A. eg..  water, wine allowances, bogo, etc. 

No. The benefits for Celebrity Loyalty and Royal Caribbean loyalty are different.  
 

What we have is reciprocal level but  the benefits are specific to each line. 
 

m

All of our Celebrity cruises have been on Solstice  class ships.  How does this class compare to solstice class?  
thx. 
 

15 hours ago, ncdebe said:

We are sailing Icon in Sept. What is closed on port days besides the casino? Are the water slides,etc. Open? We have visited these ports many times and I want to explore the ship!

Thanks!

Deb

We usually get off on most ports even if we have visited before BUT also plan to stay onboard for our Icon cruise.  

M

Many of the specialty restaurants are closed on port days, or open about 2PM.  

M

We rode it in June, 2019, shortly after it opened.  It was less than $30pp and well worth it. I recall the ride was about 15-20 minutes   We only went half way up  because of winds but had great views. The person running the balloon told us interesting facts about the construction of the attraction and the balloon operation.  He lived on Coco Cay and was hired just for the balloon attraction.  There is no ride like this where I live so it was a nice treat.  

M

On 5/19/2024 at 3:32 PM, leaveitallbehind said:

Funny how time flies by - we were on her on December 14, 1996, for her maiden voyage. (Met Richard Fain, at the time Chairman and CEO of RCCL, on board).  Sailed on her two other times since. Enjoyed those cruises a lot. And she is now the oldest ship in the RCCL fleet, and likely soon to be no more.  

Lovely memories as well of  our first RCCL and Grandeur cruise back in April of 1997. Still have the boarding photo with the " Miami Inaugural Season" as part of the photo backdrop.  Have been back on a few times throughout the years.  I like to see what has changed, and what has not. 

M

On 5/19/2024 at 1:55 PM, LisaDee said:

In Baltimore after my carry on bag went through the X-ray machine I was asked to take out my bottle of wine and the security lady inspected it closely.  In Civitavecchia (Rome) nobody cared, it was the quickest security process ever.

We've also had our wine inspected each time when cruising out of Baltimore.   Mos tother ports don't really care. 

If you want to scam the system, that is fine but please don't announce  your methods on social media.   I like being able to bring a bottle of wine on board. 

M

The ship seemed  to be in good shape. Most of the common areas are nice, and our cabins (2 different B2B balcony cabins)  were in good condition except for the dirty looking couches. Easily fixed by simply covering  them with a sheet. 
 

Internet was good when we were not kicked off.  Worked fine in the first cabin, but not in the second.   Seem to work fine in public areas. . 
 

Not related to dry dock but we thought the entertainment was terrific. Much better than most other ships.  Of course we understand that the shows are low tech but the talent ( headliners and Royal Caribbean singers and dancers ) was wonderful.  
 

Had terrific cruises. If you go on these smaller older ships and expect an oasis class experience, you will be disappointed. Every ship has something special to offer. 

m

47 minutes ago, bucfan2 said:

Some may remember a time when you could bring a portable bar along. Also replenish at ports. 

Yes, then after the George Smith incident on Brilliance, the rules changed to no alcohol to be brought on board.   This was the policy for a while. 

m

Many  of you may not remember a time  when  not even one bottle of wine  was allowed to be brought on board. It would be sad if they took our wine bottle allowance  away because it was abused and folks tried to scam the system. 
 

m
 

It has been a few years since a NYE cruise but once on board there were advertisements and table tents to purchase space  at any seating venue in the promenade  ( or centrum on older ships.)

Prices were steep. 
 

m

1 hour ago, time4u2go said:

He was the head of entertainment, so his departure could affect the direction the entertainment takes.

Thanks for the info. I read of his  position in the posts but didn’t think his leaving will  have any direct effect for me.
 

I’ve enjoyed Royal Caribbean entertainment since our first RCCL cruise in 1997. I can’t imagine a change in a specific position will make that much difference to me. 

There is  always some entertainment I like more than others, and I suspect it will be that way in the future as well

m

I guess I am out of the loop when it comes to RCCL corporate decisions, but why does this even matter?  It is posted here and on other social media.  What am I missing?

M

We've noticed many times rather than a breakfast and lunch meal, there is a brunch.  Most often, but not always, it is on (just) one or two  but not all sea days.   The other days there is generally breakfast and lunch.   The brunch menu includes lunch items and closes just 30 minutes earlier than traditional lunch. 

M

3 hours ago, little britain said:

Oasis didn’t. 
Of course a lady would take her bag to the bathroom. Well, this lady does. 

Haven’t been on Icon,  but as far as I know, Wonder  is the only CK with restrooms. 
 

I didn’t know that a lady should  take a handbag to the bathroom.  Learn something new every day. Thanks. 
m
 

1 minute ago, little britain said:

Because when I go out to the bathroom, which is outside the CK area… I have to wait for someone to let me back in 

Hardly dignified 

Has happened to me as well.  I've never given it a second thought. Even with access I would likely not have my purse/key with me anyway and would have to knock to be let back in. 

Luckily Wonder has a ladies room in CK.  Problem solved. 

M

4 hours ago, little britain said:

The OA TA crossing was handled very badly by the C&A team in board. 
We are NPE ( not pinnacle enough) to be allowed into CK, however it was like a game of Chinese whispers on board. Some people said we got one free speciality coffee ( which they usually do on top heavy cruises) but others said they were getting 2pd. Never any official notification from C&A.

 

Then on about the 3rd day of the cruise another whisper went around that the NPEs were going to be allowed into CK for 2 nights.  I went straight up to book, to get ahead of the rush as I ( and others) naturally expected this would be formally announced by the C&A guys at the Pin lunch. Which it wasn’t. 
I met some other NPEs on the last day and they had no idea about the 2 day access. And boy, were they furious! 😡 

 

And having to stand outside CK waiting to be let in like a poor relation is frankly embarrassing. 

Frankly, I am never embarrassed when I have occasional  access and have to wait to be let in.     I am permitted to be there.   I'm not trying to enter a place that is off limits.  

What is embarrassing? 

Edit to add -  I don't recall seeing even one post by someone in a JS  who is embarrassed to have to knock on  CK dinner .   In fact, they seem happy to dine there 

M

On 5/12/2024 at 8:31 AM, TeeRick said:

IMO Royal should just keep the suite amenities for paying guests and have separate loyalty benefits for non-suite Pinnacles.  Mixing the lounge and dining benefits and areas is often confusing as this thread details.

 

Some suggestions:

All Pinnacles on board should have their own loyalty lounge with free drinks 5-8 and no coupons required.  This could be the current Crown Lounge.  The D+ and D members could use it outside these hours.  Or maybe newer ship designs could include a designated Pinnacle Lounge or Pinnacle Club with a Loyalty Ambassador/Concierge.  The Pinnacle numbers and rate of increase will justify this.  As well as their loyalty.

 

Coastal Kitchen should be for suite guests only and the JS guests need better access (like Luminae on Celebrity for all level of suites).  Pinnacles could get substantial Specialty Dining discounts, or get a number of free vouchers to Specialty Dining.  

 

As a D+ on Royal, I would be happy with these changes.  I am ok with my 5 vouchers at any lounge and have no need for the HH in the Crown Lounge.  I will use the suite areas like CK and SL when I sail suites and pay for them.

We had 8 pinnacles on my cruise last week.  2 of us never went to  any lounge, so  NO need to have a lounge for maybe 6 passengers. 

When Royal created  Pinnacle evening events because Ps were not allowed in the  lounges ( ex - about 150 Ps on Wonder)  attendance at the evening event was dismal.  Seems many wanted lounge access  and decided  a separate event was not good enough.  The events were discontinued.    

I can't answer for anyone but I know that cheap complementary drinks for hours will not lure me to a lounge.  I want specific brands and am more than willing to use a voucher for it  or pay a premium to have it.  I don't want cheap free booze.  I didn't drink it before the 6 daily vouchers and I'm not likely to start now. 

P's have use of a Diamond/crown concierge already.  Again, not very ship has hundreds of Ps.

The issue isn't Ps.  Take a  look at the list of cruisers at any given C&A event and see the huge numbers of D/D+.  Then so many make their boyfriend/girlfriend  of the month  a D and that person retains  that status for ever. 

Maybe we don't need and C&A  lounges at all?  Use vouchers for your drinks, meet others at venues around the ship.  I speak from experience that it is possible  to have a wonderful cruise experience and not  use any C&A/Suite lounge for evening use.  Full disclosure, I may pop in to get some decal espresso to use for an espresso martini.  

M 

17 hours ago, Tree_skier said:

Not that it makes a difference to me since I am 550 miles away from Pinnacle but I am just curious... When you access the SL during HH do you have to use your vouchers?  And what about the wine and beer that is on offer from 11 to 11 on Oasis class ships.  Does that require a voucher as well or are treated like suite passengers and get the free drinks on top of your 6 vouchers?  

 

 

Pinnacle members not staying in a suite are required to use vouchers. Suite guests, regardless of crown and anchor designation, receive the complementary drinks.

m
 

We’ve been on the grandeur for the last four days. With the exception of the Royal Caribbean programming and some kids programming, this is basically what we get for all of the news/prime one TV channels.  No news or even limited programming all cruise. I think there is one sport channel. 

We had our diamond pins turned into a pair of cufflinks. Of course, this was back in 2005 when  men often wore tuxedos/formal shirts on formal night so we would be able to use them for every cruise. Needless to say, haven’t worn them on a cruise in many many years.  
m

You may bring flowers. We bring flowers every cruise since they stopped the flower cart years ago. 

20 hours ago, BND said:

It was a technical drydock which means mechanical and maintenance issues including some cosmetic stuff.  They usually do carpeting, upholstery during technical drydocks (that's what Vision's is also). Our steward on Vision last week said they were pulling up and replacing carpet in the hallways.  What they didn't do on GR and aren't on Vision is adding anything new such as venues.  It's a great time to deep clean and replace carpet and broken items.  They had already started some things when we were on Vision the last two cruises.  There were shipyard contractors onboard working on cabling in hallways, etc.  They were onboard both cruises as we saw them during turnaround day of our b2b doing the same thing we were, walking off and back on.  

Thx - not expecting any new venues, but she does need a few cosmetic changes.  Sailing next week and anxious to be on board the first  RCCL ship we sailed back in 1997. 

M