DON M.

Every person should read the best seller "Don't sweat the small stuff" (And its all small stuff

except for HEALTH.)

It's my understanding that while an Uber driver does not know my exact destination when he/she picks me, they are given an estimation of time to destination on their app, & can decide whether or not to accept the request.

 

In, other words, it's pretty clear whether you're going to the corner bistro, taking a longer trip. (only if you've entered the destination on the app)

 

This has been made pretty clear to me by many Uber drivers.

 

& we don't, & won't tip any Uber driver, it would defeat the purpose of the uber app in my opinion.

This is true IF the passenger enters his/her destination. In 6 uber trips I have never

entered the destination.

One of the ways this billion dollar company continues to grow is the advertising that

tipping is not necessary. I will continue to tip the drivers- a personal decision.

Download the Royal App and make a reservation as soon as you board. No need to stand in line at the Seaplex or Guest Services or wait for the concierge.

 

The royal app can be used to book the Northstar and shows as well plus dinner reservations and probably other things as well.

Just returned, never saw the puzzle room on the App, had to go to guest services to book.

We were on this same cruise, and totally agree with Cot. on the fantastic entertainment.

The best we have experienced in 13 rcl cruises.

With Dynamic Dining, we discovered (late into the cruise) that while in 1 of the comp. rest.

you can order whatever you desire from any of the other comp. rest. They do not publicize this

and do not provide all those menus at each rest. Thus, you can see all menus on the room tv or on the app. or go ahead of time to the rest. and look at the menus.

That worked well for hard-to-please eaters like us. For example, we were in Chic the last eve.

and I saw that one of the wife's favorites, Halibut, was on the Grande menu. No problem. A

little more extra work for the waiter which I rewarded.

Great cruise.

It's very simple.

I have a God given right to breath fresh air. As a smoker, you may have a right to smoke as you wish. The second your right to smoke infringes on my right to breath fresh air all bets are off, you no longer have a right to smoke.

Did GOD also give you the right to breath thousands of harmful chemicals in that "fresh air".

I have learned over the years that in the MDR when the Head Waiter asks if there is

anything that I can get you I request things not on the menu ( within reason and a 1 day notice.)

My wife (a vegetarian) and myself are very,very picky. We dont eat anything we cant

pronounce.

On our last cruise last month, I asked for spaghetti and meat sauce and black-bean soup

Not on the menu- no problem. My wife got assorted vegetables, any one's she wanted. She

also had salmon 3 nights (only on the menu once). If its on the ship, they will try and accommodate you.

Just wondering what the quality of this steak is like? I remember way back a steak that RCCL had that was called "Ranch Steak" and that was not good at all.

IMO, this is basically the Ranch Steak under a different name. Thin, tough, and certainly a very low grade of beef. Order the Chops steak.

Just received e-mail, Radiance is now part of Diamond Drink Vouchers.

"Active casino players cannot smoke in the casino". Now thats funny. Another ingenious rule that is non-enforceable. Are they going to have smoking police stand next to a smoker at a slot machine to see if they are really gambling? Sir, you cannot smoke while waiting for a seat at the blackjack table. Please leave. Sir, we know you have lost $2,000 at Roulette,but your wife is smoking, she will have to leave. These people actually get paid to come up with these rules.

The casinos on the ship are going to be getting alot more smoke. Its 10:00 and you cant smoke in your room or on your balcony. You can go up to the pool deck but you could go into the casino maybe with the intention of not gambling at all. I know want Iam doing.

Studies have shown in Las Vegas, that the % of gamblers who smoke is about the same as

the national ave. 18-20%. Now throw in all the people who are just in the ships casino to smoke. A place where a few years ago would be one of a few options.

If I were a non-smoking zealot I would not be going into the casino.

Hi all... I posted this question on the Alaska forum but didn't get anything but "call the railroad"... :D So I'll try here. Have independently booked train to Seward that leaves Anchorage at 6:45am. Been doing a lot of reading and now find posts that refer to a train that leaves the airport train station (cruise train?) later in the day as well as the one that leaves Anchorage early in the morning.

 

My question is... what happens with our luggage? Do we pick that up when we get off the train in Seward and take it with us to the port and check it with porters like we do everywhere else? I thought I read somewhere that we could put it with the rest of the RCI luggage at the train station, but now I think that meant the other train...

 

A little confused... Thanks for any insight you can provide!

i think that if you are part of a pre-cruise tour your luggage is transferred to your ship or hotel as part of the tour. My plan for next month, is to pick up our luggage at the Seward depot, get a cab for the 1 mile ride and check it at the dock ourselves.Even when we get there,if they offer the depot to ship transfer i think I would rather take it myself.

Bid $99 for Aug-09 for 31/2 stars on Priceline and got the Intercontinental. For post-cruise bid the same and got the Sheraton Old San Juan. Happy with both.

Hi everyone -

 

My husband and I are sailing out of San Juan on February 8th - 14 day Caribbean Princess.

 

We are flying in on the 6th and sailing the 8th so we need two nights accommodations. We really want to stay in Old San Juan.

 

My travel agent is recommending I book the Condado Plaza for $647.50 (two nights, including tax). I'm having a major "gulp" attack here.

 

Any recommendations? I've never used Priceline before and when I went to their site to look at San Juan accommodations, I'm not sure which areas to put in, etc.

 

Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

Thanks,

Erica

I have not seen any reports of anyone getting the Condado Plaza from Priceline. I would bid on the "resorts" of which they use 4 (or5) ie. Marriott, Hilton, Intercontin., El San Juan .All have very good reviews on CC with the Marriott probably having the most positive feedback. For your time of the year, I would start bidding at $140.00 per night and go from there.I dont think there is any way you would be paying $370.00 per at one the resorts Priceline uses.

I know this is a reach but does anyone know what shuffling technique they use

You will probably find alot of the tables have the continious muti-deck shuffler.

On NOS this May they used 8 decks at the table I played at ($5 minimum)

 

You could split, but could only have one card after that and not hit again, which I found confusing. Also, the dealers played so fast you had to have your wits about you - several times the woman dealer took my chips when I should have won, but I was too intimidated to challenge - next time I will

Are you sure you are not confusing spliting with double down. When you double down, you only get one card. When you split .2's for example, you play the two seperate hands and can hit all you want.

does anyone know the table max

Curly, I believe its $300 per hand but I could be wrong.

This may seem like a dumb question but for those of you who got the Stellaris did you enter your bid as 4 star or resort as they both seem relevent

I can only speak for Priceline, if a resort such as the Stellaris is desired bid on Resorts NOT 4 *, or you will probably get the LaConcha hotel.

Let me ask a question. If you win a bid and don't like the hotel can you cancel or are you stuck with it?

In my case, my husband smokes and I need a room that allows smoking. A lot of the hotels are non smoking ones, so can I cancel without penalty if I get one of those?

Thanks!

http://blogs.usatoday.com/hotelhotsheet/2007/02/puerto_rico_smo.htm

Ok I figured the priceline and hotwire thing out!

 

For the past four days, Hotwire has had a hotel for $163.00 per night for 3 people. I looked at the amenities listed, number of Trip Advisor posts, average Trip Advisor ratings, then compared them to the hotel website and Trip Advisor website. It looks like July 13th matches with the Intercontinental.

 

I wanted to save more money so I went with Priceline.

 

July 5th -- 3 star is Radisson Ambassador in Condado. $125.00 + taxes = $152.89 + resort fees of ?? %

 

July 13th -- Resort category--Caribe Hilton in Old San Juan. $130 + taxes = $ 158.95 + resort fee of 12%.

 

Not bad. I can't believe the 3 Star is almost the same as the Resort! Just because of the dates! 3 star on Saturday and Resort on Sunday!

 

I love this. Thanks to whomever started this sticky at this forum!

:D :D :D

Congrats. You did well, have a great time.

Thanks Don.

 

I don't have to have the Sheraton, but it would make it much easier for us. I will bid 3 stars starting at $85.00 and see what happens.

 

I was just wondering how some posters said they could figure out which one was which. I

 

Thanks!

Your welcome, when bidding on Priceline, no one knows what hotel has a surplus of rooms, convention, etc. that will generate the discounts. If you dont have any luck and have a budget of around $125.00 take a look at this hotel that gets very good reviews on Trip Advisor.http://www.hotelmilanopr.com/f1.htm

Ok. Still trying to understand the star thing.

 

When I look at the hotel's site, expedia, travelocity, hotwire, priceline, etc., they do not have the same number of stars. A hotel will be 2 star in one and 3 star in another.

 

Which one is right when bidding? If I am on priceline bidding part, do I go by Priceline's (non-bidding part) star system?

 

Thanks:confused:

On Priceline when you look for 3star hotels in San Juan they list 4 0r 5, Sheraton, Hoiliday Inn etc. If you want the Sheraton you would bid for 3 star hotels in San Juan. You may or may not get the Sheraton. A starting bid right now if I was bidding would be $85.00, and go from there. I would not use Priceline if you must have only the Sheraton.

Izeve,

I got 3 nights post cruise for the 8/3 sailing of AOS (8/10-8/13) at the El San Juan for $115/night :D

We will be going pre-cruise Aug. 09. When did you start bidding? Thanks.

Nothing really new about the resort fees, Resorts have been doing that for decades. At some, yes, you can opt out, wouldnt be a fight, either they will let you or they wont.

http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/03/12/travel/12prac.html

I should have said making a "comeback".

Just looked at my Priceline confirmation and see there is a resort fee supposedly charged....anyone been at the El San Juan and had to pay this?? Don't remember Priceline alerting bidders to this possibility....but it must be there in their documentation...have used Priceline multiple times and must admit I am somewhat careless.[/quote

These "resort" fees are starting in get very popular. I think the advice of people saying that at check-in look at what the resort fee includes and then calmly "fight" the charge.