suometar

7 hours ago, Mezqal said:

yes, you can use the exit to leave the cabin, but you can't enter through that door.

Gives new meaning to the phrase "coming out of the closet." (LOL!)

Morpheus, thank you for that information. I have read on these boards that the crew is supposed to turn over cash tips to be pooled, but I did not think that this would apply to staff that are not part of the DSC, such as the butler and the concierge on NCL.

I have $675 OBC from my TA. On NCL I am able to use the OBC from my account to tip the Haven butler, concierge and steward  In fact, the concierge has a form that is used for this purpose. Can this be done on MSC? 

14 hours ago, Jay Es said:

Gawd, MSC website and app are the absolute worst. I can't even enter my address at the start of the check-in process. It doesn't recognize my zip code. And there is no way for me to type in my City and State.

I called them and they manually entered my address and issued my ticket and luggage tags. But, because I didn't complete the check-in online, I can't add any packages. They don't even show up as options.

Now I'm trying to take a photo with the app. It told me my face needs to be more illuminated. 😐🤬 What, I need to bleach my face? And there wasn't even a button to take the photo anyway.

There is an orange button at the top of the address page marked "search." Click on that and it will fill out the address (who knew?) But since you called MSC and they entered your information manually and issued your edocs there is no need for you to take a picture, they will take it at the port. 

Thanks for your post Brighton Line, but I called MSC this morning about the check-in and also asked about the health questionnaire and was informed that it is no longer needed. She also emailed the embarkation forms which I printed out and there is no health questionnaire included. (Please see post #4 above.)

I had the same problem as you guys. I did manage to have the picture taken on the app but then it wanted me to scan my passport and that didn't work too well. I decided to use my Chromebook instead and was able to input passport info manually, but when it came to the picture it was a no-go. I finally gave up and called MSC and the pleasant agent said that the picture will be taken at the port and  completed my check-in and promptly emailed it to me. (And I wasn't even put on hold!)

We sail on the Meraviglia on Mar. 10. I needed help with my check-in and just phoned MSC. While on the phone I asked about the health questionnaire and the agent told me that they don't require it anymore.

We were in star class on the Anthem and the tour was complimentary (or pre-paid as I think of it, considering what we paid for the cabin). We got to see the kitchen, back stage, and the bridge.

13 hours ago, JamieLogical said:

 

That's exactly how the tables for two in the NCL MDRs are as well. You are basically just sitting with 2-4 other people with 4 inches on between.

I have cruised on NCL extensively (Breakaway 3X, Getaway, Spirit, Dawn, Sky, Jewel, Gem, Star, Pearl, and Sea) and do not remember tables for two being that close together. I'm not saying that they don't exist, just that we have never experienced it, unlike our experiences with Celebrity, where we we basically a party of four, or six, or eight.

I was on last week's sailing where we skipped Port Canaveral. Just checked my credit card account and saw that Royal has refunded one day's fare. I'm a happy camper!

First ime Royal cruisers here. We will be at Coco Cay next week Does RCL hand out that map or is it on some other site?

Thanks for the info. We will be on the Anthem on Sunday (hi Toddcan, maybe we'll see you around the ship).

We have done this cruise about eight times (it's our anniversary celebration) but on NCL. We were planning to skip P.C anyway, so it isn't an issue for us. In Nassau we might go to Junkanoo beach--or not.

I do like the OBC part, though,

Just now, suometar said:

 

I'd like to thank you and also The Fun Researcher for both of your detailed replies. Here I should tell you that this is m first time on RCL (almost all our cruises have been on NCL) so I am not used to reserved dining. But we have special dining and also access to Coastal Kitchen because we are in a suite. I was just wondering if we can just show up at a MR if we like that night's menu. 

Thanks again for explaining how it works!

17 minutes ago, Granite543 said:

Great questions!  The rock show was mostly in the evenings on port days and the sea days i saw it at 2pm so it does play in the afternoon occasionally.  The show's music was great, but it did have a storyline and it was very very weird.  I don't want to spoil it but its definitely not for everyone.  Still the music and lights and spectacle of it all was pretty cool.

 

I did sit in the main dining room for dinners on the last half of the cruise and highly recommend it.  I had signed up for My time dining only because early seating is too early and late seating is too late lol.  Anyway, as it worked out, the "release" the early dining seating at 5:45pm everyday for people who don't have a set dining time to use (I wish someone would have told me this on Day 1). You just line up outside the dining room in the non-reservation line.  I got there by 5:40pm or so and even though I was toward the back of the initial line, my party of 7 got seated fairly rapidly.  I feel like this was easily the best compromise.  The downside is you get a different waiter every time, but the good side is you get a different dining room everytime too (and they were all very pretty and unique so that was a bonus).  The other downside is you do have to wait just a bit.  Now if you waited for the regular my time dining which opens up like 6:30 or something, then there is a considerable line and probably easily a 20 minute wait.  Still not terrible but something to plan for.

Thanks for the review! We will be on the Anthem next month so this was very helpful.

I just have a couple of questions: what days and times was the rock show? Did it have a story line or was it just a collection or Queen songs?

You said that you went to the main dining room. Did you need a reservation or can you just show up and be seated? 

I think I saw a post that it is complimentary for Star Class. Can anybody confirm this? 

1 hour ago, bajathree said:

I am betting that they would much prefer cash in hand...just saying.

We do leave cash tips for waiters and bartenders, but I suspect the genie expects a little more than one or five dollar bills 😄

12 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

 

 Go to the suite Concierge and request an additional gratuities form.  Fill out this form naming the specific person and their position or a venue on the ship.  Turn this back in to the Concierge or to Guest Services.  The total amount of gratuities will be charged to your onboard account, which goes again any OBC with remainder going against your credit card or cash account. 

 

This is what I did on Quantum of the Seas on our last cruise to tip the sushi chef and our stateroom attendant.

.  

Thank you!

First time on RCL. Originally booked the Sky Loft suite but switched to Grand Loft suite because of all the extras included in the star class (including the Genie). We usually sail NCL in the Haven which includes a butler and concierge whom we tip using OBC. Can we do that on RCL? We prefer not to carry a lot of cash around.

On 1/30/2023 at 7:06 PM, kenny said:

Cane Bay St Croix is a shore dive, and a good shop right there. Starts sandy and shallow then gets to some good coral about 20' deep then on to 50' and to the deepest wall in the Caribbean about 200 yards out.

 

After Bonaire  Cane Bay in St. Croix is our favorite beach dive. Beautiful beach, easy entry, dive shop right across the road with great dive guides. (Tip:check out the carousel horse which sits at a depth of appr. 20 feet. It makes for a great photo opp.)

1 minute ago, alfaeric said:

Hard to say- you actually need to know the pattern from the cruises prior to yours.  If the previous cruise had WWRY at the end, you will have it at the beginning.  Which would put "The Gift" at the end.  And vice-versa.  They do that to reduce the amount of packing up of the stage stuff.

 

Once you know that, though- there will be a matinee and evening show of both The Gift and WWRY on the sea days.

Thanks! That's very helpful. Now my next question is: what the heck is "The Gift?"

We will be on the Anthem 3/12 sailing. I see Spectra on the planner, but can somebody tell me what days and time the other shows are? I am trying to coordinate shows with dining times. Thanks! 

The showers at my local YMCA have only one dispenser, labeled "moisturising shampoo and bodywash." Whatever labels you use, it's just soap.

Go to www.catalogchoice.org, type the catalog you want to discontine, and follow the directions. I did this for for the Viking catalogs which I used to receive on the average of three a week and have been Viking-free ever since.

1 hour ago, GeezerCouple said:

Apparently some of you aren't aware of the very annoying fact that women's clothing doesn't always have pockets.  It can be *so* inconvenient!

Grrrrrr!

 

GC

I always pack a small shoulder bag for necessities, such as glasses, camera, etc. and stick the key card in an outside pocket.