BlackForest

Our family of 6 adults love to play games when we cruise. We play dominoes, cards, some board games, etc. I know the library is a good place to play games but what other possible places to play family games do you recommend? Sometimes the pool deck tables are too windy. And on Navigator of the Seas they close the Windjammer Buffet when they aren't serving. The Windjammer was always our go to because the tables are big...of course, we never went when it was busy with diners. We have tried the Cosmopolitan lounge but only during the day. Any "secret" or best location for playing games with the family? Thanks in advance.

Oh, man...good to know about the rum-less eggnog. I won't get my hopes up then.

Complimentary eggnog?! Well now you are talking.

This gets me so excited! Now the family is going to buy matching holiday PJs for a photo opp. It took some convincing for some of the men but they didn't want to be Grinchs themselves.

Glad paper is back, baby! Thanks for the explanation of the menu.

PigsCanFly mentioned they always request a paper menu for MDR. I haven't cruised post-pandemic. Are they no longer handing out paper menus unless requested?

I was wondering if the reason we won the Royal Up bid was because our family booked 3 cabins and we linked our reservations. It just seems very unusual for us to win TWO cabins for an upgrade and the upgraded cabins are right next to each other. We didn't bid on the 3rd cabin so we are two for two. Maybe they take into consideration the number of cabins one books when they "decide" who wins the bid???

Thanks for the explanation. I am counting myself very lucky!!!

Well then lock me up and bring on the drawn butter!

Oh my gosh! The Grinch would be sooooo cute!!

Having my one and only experience on Royal Up, I am interested in this topic. Can they really win a bid that is a downgrade? Wouldn't the bid options always be better than the guarantee category? Or was it just an oversight on the bidder that they didn't modify their bid when they made changes to their booking? I am interested because my experience may not be typical. Thanks.

Thanks for asking your daughter and granddaughter! I agree with you that we will have to see for ourselves as to how "bad" it is. I don't know why RC would cut costs on the tech end of this. This screen is a high-profile entertainment feature so why skimp in this public area? Eh, no matter what; it isn't going to rain on our parade. I just wish RC would get it right, no excuse in not having a high resolution screen. Especially if other ships can do it. Thanks again!

$200 for 12 in a group is actually not that bad. $17 bucks a person for a fun time like this, why not? But a regular season game for the Packers...hope it is free! 🤣

Early on there were numerous youtube reviews of Navigator of the Seas that mentioned the poolside screen has a terrible display...it is tinted green and the resolution is more tile-like. I hope that they have fixed the quality of the screen as I will be sailing on it over Christmas. Anyone sailed on NOS lately and noticed the poolside screen display? Thanks and Cheers!

Thank you for the details. This is super helpful. Happy Holidays! And enjoy your holiday cruise bburf42! What a great way to celebrate the holidays, right?!

I did Royal Up for the first time a month or so ago. I booked a guaranteed balcony but bid on 3 categories of suites (Junior, One Bedroom and Royal). 45 days from sailing we checked in and did the "trick" of adding the check-in set sail pass to the apple wallet so that we could see what cabin number we were assigned so we could go behind the veil of guaranteed. That is when I saw we received (via the guaranteed) a minor upgrade to a "spacious" balcony with a specific cabin number. We still had our bid in. Then 30 days from sailing, to the day, RC sent an email stating our previous bid was cancelled along and also confirmed our cabin number of our spacious balcony but added we could re-bid with more suite options available to bid on this time (added two bedroom suite and Owner's suite). About 5 days later we received congratulations that out Junior Suite bid was accepted (at $150 total). So the pattern for us was... 1) 45 days Check-in and knew cabin number by placing it in Apple Wallet 2) Placed Royal Up bid on 3 categories (Junior Suite on up) 2) 30 days received email from RC confirming our cabin number of a spacious balcony and stating previous bids were cancelled but now can re-bid. The Suite options for bidding were greater than previously provided 45 days out. 3) Then 25 days from sailing received congratulations that our Royal Up bid for a Junior Suite was accepted. Hope the pattern above applies to everyone so that your guaranteed cabin will be known to you before bids are granted. Cheers.

How romantic!

We will be sailing (Navigator of the Seas) with a toddler over the holidays. Does anyone know what day Santa comes?...Christmas Day, I assume. Any particular time...morning or afternoon? We will be in port on Christmas day so the family was just wondering. Thanks and happy holidays to all!

Sorry...SilkySal not Silly 🤣

Wow, SillySal, I love that negotiating tactic. Shrewd!

There are 6 adults and one toddler going with half of the adults not real big alcohol drinkers so I am hoping it is free. We shall see...I will report back. Cheers!

Wow, it sure does! And what a cute sign. We are going to try to book it...will let you all know after our sailing what the outcome was. Thanks all!

Yes, exactly that. We had 2 Spacious Room Balconies and won 2 aft JS through Royal Up. I was shocked that we won for both cabins and they placed us side by side. What are the odds? Maybe they saw we linked our reservations. We put in the same $150 total bid for each cabin and won.

Ha, The Fun Researcher, you are soooooo right about Rogers!!! Oh, it was free back in 2019. Hmmm. And thanks ajtaylor29...if last year your Genie booked it for you without you paying...then as Lloyd Christmas says "So you're telling me there is a chance!"

Thanks everyone for your replies. And I like reallyitsmema's "macgyver" ideas. Really creative!