bjlaac

I walk out of every restaurant without leaving a tip for the cooks and dishwashers, in fact I've never heard of anyone tipping someone other than the waiter or hotel made.

Closing in on an 11 night on the Anthem and decided to do a little menu comparisons. I've only been able to find the new menus for 7 night cruises, which is fine since my phone (app) only has 8 nights showing on my cruise even though its 11 nights coming up. What's on my phone is the old menus so to be up front I'm comparing 8 nights old to 7 nights new. So here's what i found: 1) New items on the new menu that I can't find on the old 8 night menus. Appetzers: Spinach & Artichoke Dip/Corn chips Golden Polenta Fries & Spice DiP Crispy Parmesan Arancini Mediteranean Tapas Medley Grilled Sweet Corn Cakes Citrus Avacado. Chili-Crusted Tacos Butter Chicken Grilled Carribean Chicken Pesto Tagliatelle Chicken Korma Dinners: Pan Roastd White Fish Aromatic Chicken Saag Curried Lamb Rogan Josh Creamy Mushroom Risotto Spiced Lamb Kofta Vegetable Greek Moussaka Chicken Chettinad Chili Limed Crusted Salmon Pulled Pork Enchiladas Carne Asada Stuffed Red Peppars Spicy Shrimp Jalfrezi Desserts: Chocolate Custard Boston Crème Pie Peanut-Caramel Bar Apple Cobbler Toasted Almond Puffs Cappuccino Chocolate Cake Oat & Berry Bar Peach Trifle Chocolate Brownie Chocolate Cherry Tart Caramel Flan Fudge Brownie Strawberry Shortcake Banana-Cocoa Custard 2) Items on the new menu, not on the 8 old menus, but somewhere on the old 11 night menus Appetzers: Coconut Shrimp Lentil Soup Asian Style Pork Tacos Honey soy Tofu Salad Vidalia Onion Tart Garlick -Herb Tiger Shrimp Dinners: Braised Lamb Turkey Dinner Cheese Tortellini Desserts: None 3) Items on the old menus but not the new ones Appetzers Chicken Waldorf Salad Antipasti Mushroom Soup Pumpkin Soup Pastry Mushroom Ragout Crispy Crab Cake Strawberry Bisque Arugula & Radicchio Salad Shrimp Ceviche Duck Terrine Cherry Tomato Gazpacho Eggplant & Kalamata Olive Tartare Seafood Puff Pastry Potato Soup Tuna Carpaccio Artichoke & Pea Salad Mushroom Tempura Roasted Garlic Soup Salmon & Shrimp Fritter Smoked Chicken & Orange Salad Bay Scallop Gratin Shrimp & Lobster Bisque Raw Vegetable Salad Rice Paper Rolls Polenta Fries Grilled Avocado Green Bean Croquette Vegetable Tempura Creamed Broccoli Soup Corn Fritters Romesco Oat Spread Rye Bread Caramelized Parsnip & Coconut Soup Ciabatta Salad Zucchini Fritters Grilled Peach & Panzanella Salad Avacado & Melon Salad Spring Onion Falafel Fennel & Quinoa Salad Artisan Cheese Plate Dinners: Pan-Seared Barramundi Eggplant Parmesan Battered Fish and Seafood Baked Polenta & Feta Cheese Coq Au Vin Stuffed Portobella Mushroom Shrimp Scampi Linguine Stuffed Portobella Mushroom Beef Short Ribs & Potato Gnocchi Sweet & Sour Tofu Braised Beef Short Ribs Grilled Pork Chop Beef Stroganoff Mojo-Marinated Grilled Pork Chop Greek Vegitarian Mousaka Almond Crusted Cod Braised Pork Shank Pappardelle Carbonara Eggplant Parmigiana Roasted Pork Loin Orzo Pasta Stew Carbonara Fried Rice Butternut Squash curry Eggplant Burger No-Egg Omlet Risotto Tofu Tacos Butternut Squash Risotto Desserts: Tiramisu Pineapple Sunshine Cake Grand Marnier Souffle English Trifle No Sugar Peach Shortcake Chocolate Lava Cake Mississippi Mud Pie No sugar Dark Chocolate Custard Bananas Foster Chocolate souffle Pecan Pie a la Mode No sugar Key Lime Shortcake Apple Coffee Crumble Eton Mess No Sugar Red & White Cheesecake Tahini Banana Soft Serve No-Bake Lemon Tart Crème Brulee Carbonara Wild Berry Bar Apple Blossom a la Mode Fruit medley Now I’m sure I missed something and I don’t post this to say one is better than the other because we all have our favorites and I only post this to point out some of the differences. The biggest change is obviously the elimination of the every night classic which are embedded, in part, in one or more of the new menus and a big reduction in vegan choices overall. Finally, if you don’t see one of your favorites above, then it’s still somewhere on the new menus (e.g. Lobster or Royal cheesecake)

Sorry, that's not the way a dining room should work. Whether someone does not want something or quite possibly is allergic to something they should ask the waiter to withhold it from their plates. Many a times there's a sauce or a condiment that I want changed or just don't like and I'll be damned if I should just eat what's on the plate. Might as well eat in the windjammer and serve yourself.....

Was on the Anthem Jan 2 through the 13th and had the original menus. Going back on the 24th and my app is only sowing 8 nights of old menus and closed venue for the remaining 3 nights. The Anthem is currently on a 11 nighter which is the same as my Jan 24th cruise. Somethings odd and it looks like they my be swapping menus for my cruise.

Family turned Diamond on last cruise and we will be taking a cruise in a few days as Diamond and need some basic help 1) We are not big drinkers but will have a drink once in a while, where do you see the number of drinks you have or that are remaining each day. 2) Do you need to tell the waiter to use the drink voucher or will they do it automatically 3) Where can you see the drink list on a ship with its prices once onboard 4) Besides alcohol, what other drinks are available 5) Can the vouchers be used throughout the day or are they limited to what was once the "happy hour" Thanks so much for anyone who knows where to find this info or knows the answers.

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I never thought mock bookings gave you an accurate idea of capacity. My wife and I did mock bookings side by side on two different computers at the same time and we were each given a completely different set of rooms to choose from. It makes sense when you consider there are multiple people that could be looking at the same cruise and the issues it would cause if two people tried to book the same room at the same time. I think a more accurate measure is if you go to a mack booking and see certain categories unavailable. We've been on two cruises in the past few months and they were both near or at capacity.

Before anyone makes sly remarks, maybe you should think a little or do some simple math. That $20 daily charge could be as much as 37% for a sail away cabin or 55% if there were 4 passengers in an inside cabin on the cruise referenced. These cabins are priced for a certain class of individual and they "can" afford to cruise. How many more people are going to say screw it now and just remove the charges altogether. Going forward, I'm never going to pay more than 20% in gratuities even if that requires an adjustment to the daily charge for no reason at all. Especially if they have their hands out with envelopes for even more tips. Everyone should do as they wish or feel right.

We have several cruises booked, mostly with RCL, but do have one with NCL. Just got a letter they are "nominally" raising the daily service charge from $16.00 to $20.00 for those below their version of suites and $25 for everyone above. This is a 25% increase, which is hardly nominal, and comes on top of the April 2022 increase to $16.00. Now I'm all for tipping the crew and don't believe the removal of these charges are warranted unless there's a real good reason, but this is rediculous! How long before RCL follows suit?

Thanks for the answers so far, but how close to sailing does it occur. For example, I did mine last week but am still 30 days out and its not on my planner at all.

We decided to use our visa points for onboard credit on cruise which is about 30 days away. When it was processed, all the Visa web site said was that OBC are posted in order of cruise dates and should be posted around 2 weeks before sailing. Does anyone know when it actually happens and where can we find out that it has? Thanks for any help on this one.

We have been on 84 cruises, however, this will be our first one in a virtual Interior Cabin that is surrounded by the "upper Level" of 2 Loft Cabins. The cabin we are interested in is Cabin 9319 and it is surrounded on all sides by Loft Cabins 8324 and 8724. We think it is surrounded by the bedrooms, bathrooms, or perhaps closets. RCI told us that there is no way for us to "see" placement of furniture on their website. This is the only cabin of its kind and we want to know if anyone traveled in this cabin. What is the Noise level? Is the shared wall the bathroom? Many thanks.

We have medicare, secondary medical from my employer and trip insurance medical regardless of the trip interuption amount we choose....so yeah I think we have the medical $$$covered....but thanks for reminding everyone to have more than one plan

Allianz is exactly what I'm looking at, been using them for decades. Right now we have three cruises booked and the $2,000 covers two of them but the third is $700 in total over the the $2,000 cost (Fare Only) because of a 3rd traveler. Its about $230 dollars different to insure for $5,000 over the $2,000 amount but way too much coverage and a waste in my opinion. Probably going to go with lower amount and risk being uninsured for the third trip. Hopefully its a none issue. As many point out it would primarily apply if we missed the trip and to a lessor amount if it happened mid-cruise at which time the $2,000 limit would most likely cover the prorated loss.

That's certainly what I expect but you should know that last year we were on a cruise that skipped Puerto Rico in january when the Covid Rates sky rocketed and were not refunded port charges/taxes. The official line...corporate has not told us anything

Thank you probably good advice. We are at the age that you never now what could happen or need to be airlifted or just can't board because of covid. I hate to over insure and the annual plan I'm looking at has $2,000 level and $5,000 level of interuption. Really need $3,000 but it seems that's not offered LOL

What about if you need to leave the cruise in the middle of it same thing, prorated fees/taxes refunded?

Hey folks, trying to decide on travel insurance amounts and a couple of questions regarding gov't fees and taxes Assuming a cruise fare is $3,000 and govt taxes and fees are $360 for a total of $3,360. 1) What should be insured, both or will the gov't fees and taxes be refunded if we miss the cruise? 2) Same question of we start the cruise and need to cut it short. You guys are always insightful, thanks for any advice.

Long time cruiser here and this has been going on for decades. The shops whether on the ship or in the Islands will always say its duty free, which it is from excise and import duty tax. However there is a limit up to $800 per person or $1,600 if you stop in the USVI. I don't think the amounts have changed in a long time. Use to be everyone had to fill out the custom forms but that stopped a while ago any only if you exceeded the limit did you need to complete it. Now the cruise lines could be a little more reminding but its really each individual to know the law and their limits. Always assume you'll be stopped by customs and if you are not...move along.

Are there any wines (by the glass) available to use with the diamond drink vouchers?

I don't see a topic with my specific question so this seems to be the best place to start...apologies if I'm wrong. We have an eleven day cruise starting on 1/2/23 when we both will qualify for diamond status. I know that doesn't happen until after the cruise is complete which will be 1/13/23. Typically the points are credited in a week or so which should be around 1/20/23. We then have a trip booked starting on 1/24/23 which we should be Diamond. So here's my question...what if the system doesn't update before we sail on the 24th? Is there a way once onboard to straighten out our status and receive diamond status benefits and what do we need to accomplish that? Thanks in advance for all your help folks..we really appreciate it.

How do you check it online if the credit was applied?

Thank you I'll give it a try

The same form online or is there an actual email?

Need some help folks I applied for shareholder OBC for 3 upcoming cruise all on the same day a week ago. Today I received confirmation for two sailings in January but not for the third which is three weeks away. Any advice or contact numbers?