leaveitallbehind

From the RCI website, FAQ section regarding upgrades:

Royal Caribbean most often sails at full capacity, and therefore opportunities for upgrades are limited. Upgrades, when available, are at the discretion of Royal Caribbean and can be applied any time before the sail date.

From the RCI website, Crown & Anchor Society member area:

From time to time Royal Caribbean has a very small number of staterooms that become available for upgrades during the week prior to sailing. Should these staterooms become available, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Club members will be the first to be offered a complimentary upgrade. We have worked to make the process simpler and more efficient. Effective November 11th, 2013, for those that wish to be considered for an upgrade, please take a moment to select your upgrade preferences online. If an upgrade becomes available to you, we will contact you within a week of your sailing via the email address provided in your My Cruises account.

Hope this helps.

I thought Cococay was considered part of the ship? How can they do that with no airport or public transportation?

Coco Cay is only about 6 miles by boat to a harbor on the Berry Islands which has an airport that can handle small planes. Nassau is only about 55 miles and Ft. Lauderdale about 145 miles from there - both easily within reach by small plane.

Hardly. Perhaps you aren't aware of the member's propensity for posting misinformation for years and years here. Never apologizes when corrected or called out, never acknowledges mistakes. That's all. Others here mentioned it too - sorry you missed that.

Very accurately stated.

But how can that ever happen? In my experience, CB never returns to the same thread twice to see - or care - about the comments. Apparently not overly concerned about the information they post - but certainly keeps the post count going.....

 

If any TA is merely offering exactly what you can get by booking direct (retail) , find a TA that shows they appreciate your business (and don't charge unreasonable fees)

Find one the doesn't charge ANY extra fees! Any fee above what the normal compensation paid by the cruise line is unreasonable as it is simply a way to get extra compensation from you, which means you are paying more than you have to.

We have been with the same TA for almost 15 years and have never paid any fees for anything associated with our booking. As indicated before, this means originating, changing, modifying, or cancelling - of which over the years we have done all of the above.

With most mass market cruise lines the base stateroom rate will be exactly the same whether you book directly or through a TA. So there is no advantage or "deals" with that either way.

Any separate non-cruise line sponsored perks or price "deals" offered by a TA (OBC, paid gratuities, etc.) will come directly from their paid compensation from the cruise line for booking the stateroom.

Upgrades - when rarely offered - are also typically offered directly by the cruise line, regardless of how it is booked.

You also need to ask questions of a TA before booking anything with them to be sure there are no separate fees charged at any time regarding originating, modifying, changing, or cancelling a booking. Some TA's do, and those should be avoided. The only fees that should legitimately be charged would be those originating from the cruise lines for changes or cancellations past final payment, etc.

A good TA - and one who is a real person you can talk to - will offer advice on cruising based on experience in the travel industry, provide service to you for your booking, watch for price changes (decreases), and will be your advocate with the cruise lines for questions or issues.

Calm seas as well as rough seas can happen anywhere at any time, and there is no way to predict what the weather or seas will be like in a given month. The hurricane season in of itself is not a predictor of sea conditions either unless there happens to be a storm in a given area.

Even if that were to occur, the captain will do everything possible to reroute around it (including adjusting the itinerary en route) to avoid the storm and find the calmest seas possible. He will also have enough advance warning of any impending weather to determine the best and safest route.

Go and enjoy!

We have not heard of any announcement that RCI plans to move out of Balt.

 

As for the future...the bridges (Key Bridge and Chesapeake Bay Bridge)dictate the height that the ship can be. That rules out most of the RCI fleet. Anyone's guess as to how long RCI will be able to stay in that market. The cruises we have been on had been on a full ship so it appears that there is a market in Balt.

I have been told that the Radiance class ships also would fit under those bridges.

There already is an unofficial level between D+ & P. 340/350 adds in a couple/three perks. They should just go ahead and make that official.

Which would actually make sense - just so long as they don't "readjust" any of the current perks for the existing levels.

Food reports are always hard to comment on because taste is so subjective and food experiences with the same menu will often vary greatly from person to person. Nobody's opinion about their experience is wrong, and there have been many comments both pro and con regarding the new menu. In our case, we have found our own pros and cons with both the old and the new menu, but in general have not had the experience as you report.

Did you try any of the other venues? If you only ate in the MDR, that too would not necessarily reflect the overall food quality on the ship as there are numerous alternative venues available that would likely have provided different experiences for your evaluation.

Another cost cutting exercise.

One, unfortunately, that makes sense however as the vast majority of the food prepared was not consumed and mostly wound up simply as camera material with the majority of people who passed through the line just looking at it.

However, we too remember those days fondly and always enjoyed at least sampling some of the food.

Not sure which ship would fit the description you present in terms of this year, but Legend of the Seas is reported on line as the "most-traveled in the fleet" overall as it has been based in Asia, New Zealand, Australia, South Pacific, Alaska, Caribbean, Central America, Baltic, Mediterranean, and the Middle East since being launched in 1995.

I didnt know Izumi had a cover charge??

$3 for lunch / $5 for dinner and the menu is ala carte - individual item charges.

It is only available on ships that offer at least the three following restaurants - Chops, Portofino's -or- Giovanni's Table, and Izumi. (Oasis / Allure also include the Solarium Bistro as an alternative to Izumi). The offer is a dinner at each one for a package price that covers the surcharge. As example it was offered on our last Grandeur cruise.

The dining dates and times are flexible to your schedule - just reserve the times you want.

Izumi's is ala carte but as I understand it the charge is applied to the total there which includes the cover.

How many times have you done MTD? ;)

...unfortunately we may never know as she is not likely to return to the thread for a second post. :rolleyes:

Yes....each person is charged. If you bring someone under 13 years old, you will need to book the earliest available time...right when the restaurant opens. They discourage young children in the specialty restaurant.

Once again, CB, another incorrect and misinformed post. :rolleyes:

TeeChi - per the RCI website FAQ's regarding children and the specialty restaurants, here is the correct information regarding the highlighted portion of CB's post:

Children with a parent or guardian are welcome in our specialty restaurants throughout serving hours. The only exceptions are Chef's Table which requires all guests to be 21 years of age or older, and 150 Central Park which requires families with children under 13 years of age to dine before 7 p.m. Reservations can be made online or onboard at the restaurant based on availability.

So we should have the "lobster" option on our 5 night Brilliance cruise (out of Tampa)?? Even if it only has 1 formal night (at least that's my understanding)?? We have never done shorter than 6 nights (IOS)....

 

I'm pretty sure some in our party will be disappointed if they don't get the "lobster" option :(.

That would be correct, and as confirmed by Ourusualbeach. We had it on our 5-night Bermuda cruise on Explorer in 2012.

You are very fortunate to have a good TA. We moved here 3 years ago and are still looking for a good one. Everyone I ask here for a recommendation say they do their own bookings for any kind of travel, including the priest at our church.

I wish I could help but we cannot discuss specific TA's. But I can safely suggest to continue to search for one who has no fees of any type or at any time associated with doing business, is a person in an agency that you can talk directly to, and one who has a long track record of business experience that specializes in cruises. Just ask a lot of questions first to understand who they are and how they conduct their business.

Nah, I'll just leave the shower running in the 2nd bathroom and flood the balcony

Now THERE'S an idea!

I would just like to add that, check with the TA to see if there are any cancellation charges. Two different TAs that we have used charged $200. When you book direct with the cruise line, you get a full refund before final payment. However, travel insurance is not refundable.

That is true - and unfortunate - as we have used the same TA for the past 15 years because of the fact she not only offers excellent service, but also has absolutely no origination, modification, change, or cancellation charges with any booking. And we have had several cruises where, once booked, some form of change, modification, or cancellation with the booking has occurred. The only time a fee or penalty would be charged by her is if it is one directly charged by policy from RCI.

Continue to search TA's as there are many with policies similar to the one we use.

Can't wait-we're sailing in 8084 next month-no chair hogs to worry about

....while the balcony is quite large (in fact the largest on the ship) it unfortunately does not have its own pool, so you may still have some of that issue at the main pool. :D;) (Although this past July on Grandeur it was usually pretty easy to find chairs at the Solarium).

In the case of Royal Caribbean, the prices that are charged are pretty much the same whether you go through a TA or direct. The differences that come into play are that the TA can give you extra bonus stuff like OBC, Prepaid Gratuities, and other free stuff.

 

But the basic price remains the same.

In the case of RCI (and most mass market lines) the price of the staterooms are not "pretty much the same" - they are exactly the same. The stateroom rates are the same through RCI or a TA as there is no stateroom discounting allowed through a TA.

What will appear as a "discounted" price through a TA is what some may offer (as you indicate) as an OBC, prepaid gratuities, and other "free stuff". But all of this comes directly from the TA - not RCI - as either a block (TA group) of rooms which allows a one person at no charge credit to the TA for every eight rooms blocked - some or all of which may be passed on proportionately to the passengers who book from those blocks - or out of their agent commission, or a combination of both.

RCI's on board booking program offers a reduced deposit ($100 for a standard stateroom, with only one person required to deposit to hold the double occupancy rate, and an OBC). They also offer a future cruise certificate with the same offer that is also transferrable to a TA for booking through them at a later date.

But do not fall under the misconception that a TA has lower or better stateroom rates than RCI directly. As indicated, any perk offered from them comes in some form or another out of their booking compensation.

Honestly, we were sleeping.

I know - just couldn't help asking! :)

Here is my review that with pictures of OS 11240. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1474659&highlight=11240+mirror The a cabin was port side and gives quieter views when in port. The starboard side gives you views of the pier. It is the same for Oasis or Allure.

 

In Saint Martin they take on bunker fuel for almost the entire day on the port side. So if you do an Eastern sailing and are on the port side remember that it will be "noisy" and a bit smelly outside. We still used our balcony but others might find it to be not as user friendly that day.

 

Hope this helps,

Andrew

.....not sure we ever got the real story on what made that mirror fall!? :D;)

Best to you and your family.

(johnstoc13 - sorry for the thread steal)

I am sailing in 9 days and yesterday I wanted to access my reservation to purchase 2 soda packages. Everything on my set sail pass has been completed and was ready to print months ago. I was unable to access my reservation on the RCCL system using either my husband's name or mine. When I tried to call I was left on hold for over one half hour and finally got through. I spoke with a gentleman with a very heavy Indian accent. I could barely understand him. He apologized when we was unable to access my reservation and suggested that I wait a few days. This will put me at a week out.

Additionally, I asked him about the propulsion problems that are currently plaguing the Allure, causing it to shorten port times in its calls on Nassau and St Thomas during the last month. He claimed to have no knowledge of these events. He put me on hold for awhile, then came back on and again said that customer service was not aware of any problems.

Why did I waste my time and phone call?

If you are a Crown & Anchor member try calling them back at 800-526-9723. They have always been extremely helpful to us. (Even if you are not, try them anyway - I'm sure they will try to help).

As for the propulsion issue, they may not have much or any information about it. We sailed last March on Independence and only learned on board during a ship tour that there was a similar situation with their center azipod and it was shut down in preparation of the April scheduled refurb. Fortunately it did not affect our port times, but it was not something widely known - and maybe as there was no impact, that is why.

But to my knowledge there was no advance reporting of it on CC or with RCI and it was not apparently not known on board other than to the group on the tour as that was the first and only time I heard of it. Ours also was not the first or last Independence cruise impacted by this - there were several.

You can sign up on board if it is not showing on the on line options. Doubt that you will have any trouble with a desired day or time.