BPyser1

Welcome to Nagasaki, Serenade of the Seas!  Here's the ship just about to dock at the Nagasaki Cruise Terminal from their webcam on Youtube.

Serenade in front of the Sydney Opera House as it goes in to dock!

Welcome to Sydney, Australia Serenade! 😄  I'll get another picture off the webcam once it docks at the terminal.  Here is the other webcam if you want to watch.  https://www.earthtv.com/en/webcam/sydney-opera-house/live-stream

If anybody abroad is interested in watching Serenade's sail-in / sail-out of Sydney Harbour, https://webcamsydney.com/ has got you covered.  They have prime viewing over the harbour and Opera House.  Serenade will be tendering from arrival until 2:00 pm (local time) since another ship is docked at the Overseas Passenger Terminal, so you won't be able to see them on the webcam.  But then from 3:00 pm (11 pm EST) until Midnight (8 AM EST tomorrow), they will be docked there, so that's the best time to watch.  I'll try to capture some images if I can, though of course those on the ship get the best view of all. 😆 

This is Serenade's tender / docking schedule for Sydney, which I mentioned above.

Welcome to Auckland, NZ Serenade of the Seas!  It's supposed to be raining the whole day, so make sure to take an umbrella or poncho 🙂  Wishing you all an enjoyable day in Aotearoa!

Welcome to Papeete, Tahiti, Serenade of the Seas.  Caught this shot of the ship pulling into the port off the Aremiti ferry webcam.  That island in the distance is Mo'orea, which Serenade visited yesterday.  It looks like a beautiful sunny day in tropical paradise, enjoy everyone!  🙂 

1 hour ago, rakes5 said:

We were also on that cruise. At the Top Tier Party, the CD said that they hadn't scheduled Aquanation for almost 2 months because they know the seas are rougher during these months. But the crew practices for the show, and that's why they performed a part of it for us. So it sounded like they plan on doing this again at some point.

Gotcha, thanks for the clarification.  Looks like I'll have to book another cruise on Symphony in the future to see it 🙂

I was on the January 25 sailing of Symphony.  There was a preview for Aquanation at the Top Tier Party, but that was the only time it was ever mentioned, they never showed it.  Now granted, one of the showings of Hero had to be rescheduled to another day due to wavy seas, so maybe that was it.

5 hours ago, bgoff60 said:

where is it listed in the cruise planner.  I am also on the Symphony (1-25-2020) and do not currently see it.  Everything else is showing but not that package... ???

It used to be showing until Cyber Monday, but then it disappeared.  I'm assuming they reached capacity on it after the $179 price.

I'm sailing on Symphony next month on 1/25.

The Unlimited Dining Package normal price was $215.  During their numerous sale periods, it dropped to $199, and then back to $215 when they were done.  For Black Friday and Cyber Monday they dropped to $179 and promptly got sold out.  Hope I can still get reservations when I get onboard.  We're early eaters, so I think we'll be fine 🙂

I'm on this cruise as well.  Fortunately, they were able to stabilize the man and he is now in critical, but stable condition  at a hospital in Honolulu, HI.  As for the cruise, the delay was enough for the captain to cancel Moorea.  Instead, we're having an extra sea day, getting to Bora Bora on Oct 8 from 8:00 am - 7:00 pm and Papeete, Tahiti on Oct 9 from 8:00 am - 11:59 pm before making our way to New Zealand.  Since all the French Polynesian ports are jumbled up now, hopefully those who booked private tours were able to get them rescheduled or refunded.  I wanted to visit Moorea as well (I've been there once before in 2011), it's such a beautiful island, but the health of the guests come first.  Ah well, I guess I'll be sailing this route again in the future 🙂

Hope you're having a nice cruise!  Here's the opposite view of Ovation live from the Hanalei Bay Resort.  If anyone else is interested in watching, you should be able to see it for a few hours as it sails along the Napali Coast.  https://hdontap.com/index.php/video/stream/hanalei-bay-resort

It's probably from the Fort Lauderdale Air and Sea Show (May 4-5).  Many boats sail in and out of Port Everglades to get a prime spot to view it, and will be causing congestion as they sail back when the show is over.  The main event is from 12:00 pm - 3:30 pm, and you may be able to see it from the ship after you board, it's a great show!

1 hour ago, Jimbo said:

How come when I signed up, only shows me as Sapphire when I'm a Diamond Plus Crown andAnchor

If you just signed up for MLife, you are a Sapphire.  You'll have to call them or email them and give them your Crown & Anchor number and MLife account number, and they'll match it for you.

If you're already signed up, the status gets dropped at the end of September every year.  You have to call/email them again to get it renewed again until the next year.  This happens every year.

1 hour ago, vistapat said:

Thanks for bringing this to our attention.  I have two questions about the program.  Do you know if the $100 dollar dining credit has to be used immediately after it's issued, or if not, is there an expiration date on it?  And, do you know if the certificate is usable at any Total Rewards property, or only in Las Vegas?  We're asking because we're MLife Gold and are thinking of going to a Harrah's casino here in Southern California to apply for the Total Rewards Diamond status.  But we're not going to Las Vegas for a few months.  We'd like to get the dining credit here, and then use it later in Las Vegas.  Any idea if this is doable?

 

Thanks,

 

Pat

You usually get a year to use your dining credit, so if you get it, it shouldn't expire until Jan 2020.  It is good at any Caesar's (Total Rewards) restaurant around the nation that they actually own.  It can't be a private restaurant not owned by them.  But when you're at Harrah's, they'll tell you what restaurants you'll be able to use it at.  As for your other question, assuming it's just the two of you, you'll both get a $100 dinner voucher, $200 total.  You can use one $100 credit at the Harrah's casino and then the other one when you get to Vegas.  You can't use the $100 credit partially though.  So, say if you're dinner is $80, after you use the $100 dinner voucher, you won't get $20 back to use again.

5 hours ago, LeeW said:

What on Earth do you get for a $100 Diamond Celebration Dinner at Starbucks?

A round of mocha lattes for everyone there if you're feeling charitable, lol!

4 hours ago, Atlantix2000 said:

Can you really chain your loyalty programs like this?  In other words, if I get MLife status through RCI, would Hyatt actually recognize that status or would they say we can't honor that because it's a complimentary status not an earned status?  I'm thinking the latter is more likely unless Hyatt also has a relationship with RCI.

It doesn't matter if it's complimentary or earned, as long as you are a particular level in MLife, Hyatt will match you to their equivalent level.  It's done on a yearly basis, just as it is with RCL / MLife, so you have to keep renewing it.

Those are pretty much the places you have to choose from late night.  The Windjammer closes at 9:00 pm.  However,  the Cafe Promenade is open until 3 am and serves all kinds of sandwiches, cookies, and also pizza.  Here's an Adventure Cruise Compass from October 2018 and has the opening/closing times for all the dining establishments.

https://www.*****.com/cruise-compasses/adventure-of-the-seas/sat-2018-10-27-0000

I'm sure most here know this, but if you didn't already know, you can get two additional complimentary status matches from your MLife membership earned from RCL if you're MLife Gold or Higher (Crown & Anchor Emerald or higher).

1. Hyatt Hotels - World of Hyatt - https://www.mgmresorts.com/en/mlife-rewards-program/preferred-partners/hyatt-hotels.html

If you have MLife Gold or Platinum status, that gives you automatic World of Hyatt Explorist status (the second highest level).  With this status, you get four Club lounge passes, complimentary upgrades, premium internet, etc.  Of course, you'll have to renew this every year, after renewing your MLife status, when it expires.

2. Caesar's Hotels - Total Rewards - https://www.caesars.com/total-rewards/promotions/diamond-tier-upgrade

Again, with your MLife Gold or Platinum status, you can match that to Diamond status by visiting any loyalty desk at a Caesar's hotel.  The biggest perk out of this is a complimentary $100 dinner certificate to any Caesar's owned restaurant.  That reward is combinable.  So, if you bring your family and friends along and you are all able to match, that's $100 for each of you.  You do have to use the $100 all at once though.  I've attached a photo below of the places where you can use your dinner reward in Las Vegas, which is where you'll likely be using it.

Of course, you'll get the other benefits with it like complimentary upgrades and skip the line passes, but that celebration dinner sure is a nice perk.  I used mine last year for a delicious dinner at the Bacchanal Buffet in Caesar's Palace.  That also includes a skip the line pass, since you're Diamond!  Of course, they won't let you match again the next year.  So if you've done this already before, you won't be able to do it again for 2019.  If this is your first time, then enjoy your Total Rewards Diamond Status until Jan 31, 2020.

Although the site says that it may take up to 30 days for that match to happen, I was able to get it done instantly at their loyalty desk and was able to use my dinner reward right away after matching.

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It's nice to see all the amazing perks you can get out of being a Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Member including high status in the MLife, Hyatt, and Total Rewards programs, including that nice $100+ dinner (depending on how many are with you)!

I think the 75% discount is correct.

 

$8.00 per min X 75% = $6.00

$8.00 - $6.00 = $2.00

 

If it was 25% then

$8.00 per min X 25% = $2.00

$8.00 - $2.00 = $6.00 not $2.00

 

I hope the math is right.

Oh, you're absolutely right.

I meant them, the financial team on Rhapsody, who decided that a 75% discount should really only be a 25% discount.

Thanks Bob, this one is clear:

 

 

1. (2701) Stateroom Phone discount of $2.00 per minute. (Guests will receive a discounted rate on stateroom phone call charges for the entire sailing. Phone calls must be made from stateroom [savings of 75%])
   

Yes, they told me the "misprint" was that the 75% should have said 25%, and whoever wrote up the discount made that mistake.

Did this discount replace CAS offer 2701?

 

(2701) Stateroom Phone discount of $2.00 per minute.

According to Noreen, who is with the Executive Guest Relations team, it is supposed to be $2.00 per minute. On Rhapsody, I showed them the paper with the 2701 discount and they told me it was a misprint and they "interpreted" it to say that it was literally a $2.00 discount off the normal $7.95 price per minute.

Thank-you. It was a lot of work for you to get it corrected, but I appreciate that the perk has been established to be equal no matter the ship.

Sorry you had such a difficult time, but it's good to hear the problem was resolved.

Glad to hear you got it resolved and let's hope that the message from C&A truly does get to all the ships. We'll be on Rhapsody next month. Hope to not have to use the phone but I'll check to see that if we do it will be at the $2.00/min rate.

Thanks all for the comments! It's glad to finally get an official response to this. Hopefully they can reword the discount so it stops getting misinterpreted.

Just FYI the OP is from the UK where there is no charge for an Australian visa.

The is from the UK GOV travel website.

"You need a visa to travel to Australia. British citizens can get the following types of electronic visitor visa:

1. eVisitor visa direct from the Department of Immigration & Border Protection. There is no visa application charge or service fee for this;

2. Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) via your travel agent or airline. There is no visa application charge, but a service fee of A$20 applies"

The ETA is "free" but $20 AUD after the service fee

You have your choice of 1 or 2. I don't know the convenience of getting the e-visa since I'm from the USA, where we only have the choice of an ETA. But if getting it is just as convenient and easy as getting the ETA, then go for it :)

EDIT:

Okay I found the link for #1, here you go and as Bobal said, it's free for UK citizens. We, from the USA, can only get the $20 AUD ETA.

http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visi/Visi/Visitor-visas/eVisitor-online-application

This is the official website for getting an Australia ETA

https://www.eta.immi.gov.au/ETAS3/etas?submit=apply

It's $20 AUD, which is just about 10 pounds right now.

Hello fellow Cruise Critters,

My family and I were sailing on the Rhapsody of the Seas for the 16 night Transatlantic crossing from Barcelona, Spain to Santos, Brazil on November 19, 2015. While onboard, we had to use the phone a couple of times. In the past, our Diamond Plus discount was that the phone charge would be $2.00 a minute. When we went to Guest Relations, they told us no, it was never $2.00 per minute, but a $2.00 discount off the normal price, per minute. We argued with them saying it was $2.00 per minute on other ships and we even showed them the Diamond Plus paper with our discounts. The paper showed that it was $2.00 per minute. They then went to the financial team who told us that it was a misprint and it was a $2.00 discount.

Shocked, we then went to the Loyalty Ambassador who called Corporate for us. Corporate told her that it was $2.00 per minute and not a $2.00 discount off the normal price. She told us that she would tell the financial team to correct it and we were finally happy, or were we?

A couple of days later, we had to use the phone again, and when we went to Guest Relations to confirm that it was $2.00 per minute, they still told us no, it was a $2.00 discount. We were angry... We went back to the Loyalty Ambassador and she told us that Corporate was wrong and the financial team was right, it was going to be a $2.00 discount rate. We realized that we were going to have to take care of this ourselves. We spoke to Noreen in the executive office and she told us that different RCL ships were doing different things. Some were doing the $2.00 per minute charge, others were doing the $2.00 discount charge, up to the discretion of the individual ship's financial team, which definitely wasn't right. She said that she would investigate this for us and write us back when she found a solution. Well, today, we finally got the situation resolved and here is what she wrote back to us in an email.

"I have been advised the stateroom phone call benefit for Diamond Plus members of our Crown & Anchor Society is $2.00 per minute with no limit. I have asked our Crown & Anchor Society to please send out a reminder to the ships so that we do not have this difficulty again. Thank you for bringing this to our attention so that we could correct it."

She also gave us $100 onboard credit to use on a future cruise so we're happy despite the problems we ran into :D

Have any of you other Diamond Plus / Pinnacle cruisers had problems with the phone discount? We complained not only for our sake but for all the other Diamond Plus people (and Pinnacles as well). There should be consistency on the loyalty perks and it shouldn't be different from ship to ship!

She's Here :D