Groucho

Can anyone provide the above referenced email addresses? Its time to go to the top.

Thanks!

Bob

So my husband called C&A today to inquire about the "missing" pool in the Solarium on Harmony. He was told that there WILL be a pool in place for our sailing next Sept 2017. He of course didn't get any details and that's all I have, but I wanted to share the news. :)

In my opinion, just more typical BS from Royal.

Saw this posted on facebook today....

 

4.95 for a burger, pizza,salmon, or scotch egg.

3.00 for eggs your way or a chorizo breakfast tortilla.

 

Not sure if this menu is exclusive to the UK..hopefully it doesn't continue when she comes to Port Everglades..

Another example of Royal's nickel and diming and incessant upselling.

As my wife noted on Anthem, if you don't want to pay the charge, just go to the Windjammer or Café Promenade and bring the food back to the room.

I just checked my bookings. My CK reservations are still there for Anthem sailings in the fall and next year. I checked my Allure cruise planner for this summer and all restaurants except for CK are shown. I called Royal's reservations and they said to book CK on board.

I have no idea why CK is available on line for Anthem but not for Allure.

Did you book CK before last week? If you try now, I am guessing that it will tell you to book onboard.

I'm going to log in and see if my reservations for CK on Anthem are still there. Also, we were on Quantum Jan 2015 and Anthem last month in a JS and both times we were able to eat in CK for breakfast, lunch and dinner. CK was never more than half full. The only thing that is consistent with Royal is inconsistency.

We like it when we need it for an early flight. You do have to wake up much earlier (5:00 AM) and get breakfast very early in the WJ if you want. Because of flight schedules and requirements at home we have caught flights as early as 7:50 AM arriving at FLL by 6:45 AM by walking off. No lines at immigration and at airport security at that time.

Typically we don't have to get home that early and wake up later and have a easy paced breakfast in the WJ. Those times we just walk off at around 10:00 with the "number groups".

Interesting. I have a JS booked on Anthem in October and in Feb. 2016 and I was able to reserve all dinning including CK. However, on a B2B this summer on Allure no dinner reservations are available--yet.

So I talked with guest services and they said they'd call the police in Ft Lauderdale if I couldn't settle it by the end of the cruise.

 

I have an emergency American Express at home that I left specifically for my friend. He is pet sitting my cats and it is there in case they needed to go to the vet. I turned my phone on and had my friend send a picture of the card. They won't take a number of a card, they said the only way is to swipe it.

 

I can't have a friend or family member deposit that much money. I am sick and this is ruining my trip real quick.

Good luck with your problem.

Just a comment: Royal takes credit card payment over the phone all of the time for deposits, final payment, shore excursions, drink packages, etc. I don't understand why they won't take it verbally on board. Ask to speak to the Hotel Manager. If that does not work ask them to allow you to call Royal's home office, on their dime, and get as high up on the food chain as possible and explain your problem.

One time there was a problem with my credit card travel notice and the CC company shut down all charges as fraud protection. Guest Services allowed me to call my company from one of their phones at the front desk. The problem was corrected and charges were authorized for the remaining part of the cruise.

Good luck again.

I will never pay $45. Having eaten there last night we all agreed we would never pay full price. We only ate there because of the package deal. My husband paid the additional $21 to get lobster and said it wasn't worth it. Last year he tried the upgraded steaks and the quality was not good.

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk

At $39.00 pp Chops was too expensive; $45.00 pp is just stupid. Quality is not good. Service is nothing special. Their "Something Special" add on items, in my opinion, are a rip off.

We have canceled one Royal cruise this year and are starting to move away from Royal to other vacation options. I know they are in business to make money but I don't feel relaxed with Royal constantly in my pocket gouging me while on vacation. If people keep paying their price, they will keep charging more. Royal is about to lose a previously good customer because of their pricing and revenue "enhancement" practices.

I'm trying to repost the picture but it's not working from the cruise critic app :(

And Allure came out of dry dock recently. You would think Royal would have done a deep cleaning of the entire ship. But, maintaining the vents and filters should be on a regular schedule, which obviously was missed in that cabin.

Also, we recently returned from the Allure transatlantic. We had a great time, but both concierges in the suite lounge were completely unimpressive. I don't know if you had the same ones.

I have no problem paying a lot of money for a great steak. My point is that it isn't a great steak anymore and they raised the prices. Same with the dessert.

 

By the way, Chops was half empty on night 3 of the cruise from 7:30-9:30. In my previous times there, the place was always crowded. We made reservations on that day and could've picked any night we wanted. If they are trying to make shareholders more money, wouldn't a full restaurant make more money?

We agree that Chops has gone down hill, a lot, and is not worth the extra money, particularity the "Something Special" $20.00 add ons to the base cover charge. And talk about half full, it is so poorly attended now that Royal promotes Chops by offering BOGO half off throughout the cruise, which is the only way we will go in.

I had the lobster at Chops on Freedom this past March. Seriously one of the worst tails I've ever eaten. I've had better at a Red Lobster in Colorado. Totally not worth the up charge.

I agree with your opinion Based on my own experience on Oasis. The "Somethings Special" add on lobster and steak are, in my opinion, a total rip off for an added fee of about $20.00 each on Oasis.

Are you using choice air? We are and did not receive our docs. I called Royal and they said this was typical with people who use choice air. I was put on hold for a minute or two and was told the docs would be emailed shortly. I received them less than five minutes later.

When sailing from a European port with a VAT, which as I understand it, will be charged to an Internet purchase at a rate of about 21 percent, does it make sense to prepurchase the package and avoid the VAT, or wait and get the on board discount and pay the tax?

Thanks!

Does anyone know if Royal keeps a part of the DSC? I have heard of some land base establishments of keeping a percentage of their staff's tips.

Thanks to all for your responses!

Hi, all!

My wife and I are considering a transatlantic cruise and are wondering if on formal nights the dress is more "formal" than on a typical Caribbean cruise. My assumption is the guests will tend to more retirees as schools are in session, and by that reasioning the dress may not be as casual as a Caribbean cruise.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Hi all' date='

 

Cruisin' the Mediterranean in a couple of weeks and wondering about the duty free shop on the Barcelona pier once you pass security and start heading onto the ship.

 

For any previous cruiser from this port, can we purchase wine (or other libations) to bring on with us here? They technically have already X-rayed our luggage and have inspected our allowed 2 bottles.

 

Just wondering about extra.[/quote']

 

Can anyone let me know if you can buy mouth wash and tooth paste at any of the shops past the port entrance security?

 

THANKS!

Just call Royal and ask them what to do.

When we were on the Freedom in June, my DH who spent his career working as an engineer in various power plants around the world working on emission systems, talked to one of the head contractors hired to install the new scrubbers on the stacks. He found the man sitting on the heliport during the night as he was taking a break and they had an interesting conversation.

 

The new scrubber project was expected to take several months. They have an area walled off with tarps just behind the VCL and up into the stacks. The project is to reduce the amount of emissions that the stacks blow into the air. (Think acid rain) These scrubbers are going to be installed on all ships in the future, much like power plants are doing now.

 

There was a LOT of welding going on up on those stacks and a lot of contractors working on the project.

 

Several on this thread have mentioned the scrubber work. When we saw the article about the fire, and the location of the smoke, my DH immediately said. "Yeah, I bet I know what happened"

 

Will be interesting to find out if this was the cause.

A spark from a welding lead?

We went into these cabins during a B2B turn around. I'm 6'5" and to me, the ceiling in the shower is very low and doors to the bed room and bathroom are very small. The balcony on the deck 14 suite is absolutely ridiculous. It is so narrow that a chair barely fits and at one point the balcony stops half way around the room (not contiguous). The SF listed on the web site for the balcony makes it seem huge, but it is because of the length of the balcony. I may be wrong on my estimate here but I believe the width of the deck 14 suite balconys is only about 3 feet or so. We had the same problem in the master bedroom shower in the deck 8 Aqua Theater suite on Allure.

We would much rather be in a standard GS or JS.

I believe Oasis has had some additional cabins added in 2014. However, that alone would not account for the increase in lines that you are referring to.

I read somewhere that the added cabins increased the ships capacity by about 64 people. Insignificant when considering the previous capacity was about 6,200 people.

It has nothing to do with age. However, your experience with Chops with a different menu many years ago is may not be as relevant as more recent experiences. No one is saying you are not entitled to your opinion either. I do notice from past threads though that you seem to go out of your way to bash Chops. You mentioned you were given your meal in Chops for free one time. How did that come about?

 

Think about this:

 

If you go to Trip Advisor to read hotel reviews for a certain property which ones are the most important to you? The ones from 2015 or the ones from 2009?

First, how we ate for no cost in Chops has no bearing on the discussion, plus it is none of your business.

Yes, I have given poor reviews recently because it has gone down hill, and in my opinion, Royal has downgraded the menu in order to induce people to order the so called "Something Specal" steak for an additional $20.00 pp.I don't like that type of business practice. Royal also does that type of practice with the price of drinks and the drink packages, which we don't buy.

Finally, you say it is not about age but then you reference my experience "many years ago". I agree with your analogy about Trip Advisor, and trust me, my experience with Chops is very recent (April 2015) and my opinion is based on that recent experience---Chops on Oasis is not worth the cover charge or the add on fees.

Right:rolleyes:

 

"We will not spend our money until they improve it. "

 

Thanks, so now we can believe chops is greatly improved to you in the last year.

What?

Another Chops cheerleader who has no clue what they are talking about. We did not spend our money there genius.

We were given two comps from Royal to Chops and found it had not improved. We used to go there at least twice a cruise. We went because it was no cost. It is at least on par with the main dinning room, just not worth $39.00 pp base cover.

So, smart guy, we still will not spend our money there until it improves.

People can only visit the Chops of today and not the Chops of the past.

 

McDonald's used to use beef tallow which was full of saturated fat to fry their french fries. People still rave about the old McDonald's fries. In the early 1990s McDonald's switched to vegetable oils for their fries (with some beef flavoring) and they are definitely not the same.

 

However, two points:

 

1. You cannot get the old McDonald's fries anymore.

 

2. Kids today never had the pre-90s fries and these are the only ones they know

 

Would it be fair for older people to tell young people today not to eat the fries at McDonald's because they were better in the past? (and cheaper)

 

Things change. :)

Don't make this into an age thing. You don't know me and you have no idea how much change in the world I have experienced, nor do know how well I handle it. All opinions are based on past experience.

This board is for opinions and I'm giving mine. I'm expressing my disappoint with Chops because I have the base line experience about how much it has gone down in value and quality. And, if someone asks for an opinion on Chops it would be ridiculous not to base my opinion on my past experience. How else could anyone give a valid opinion on something without experience?

They say ignorance is bliss.

So, if you don't want an opinion by tapping into people who have more experience than you, well go and be happy.