NutsAboutGolf

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php?/topic/36989-change-in-frequency-of-housekeeping-service/

Yes and I'll add there's built in seating in the pool, visual aid:

Pre-pandemic there wasn't a fee besides the late night charge Now for dinner, you have only have two complimentary choices, the buffet/pizza and MDR(s). My WAG ("Wild A$$ Guess) is on average the buffet is cheaper in both costs and labor than room service but room service is cheaper than a MDR visit. So for dinner at least, this could actually cost X more money by steering pax to the MDR

Most people do not enjoy the mast grill or X's baked desserts. People say try the desserts at Café al Bacio (CaB) because they're free but most items (specifically the cakes) just aren't good and I could only imagine the backlash if they started charging for them. I spend a lot of time at CaB with my laptop and often see half eaten desserts left on plates on tables and do NOT ever see people go back for seconds. Where you see people go back for seconds (or thirds) is the Eden Cafe for their cookies and brownies

Pizza is very good, this is an area where high quality ingredients are used. They can make you anything you want if you're willing to wait. Ask for a calzone but be sure to specify "with sauce" or "no sauce (and when ready ask for sauce on the side)" as different pizza makers may make them differently Another tip, on a sea day the buffet opens at noon and the pizza line gets long as many are waiting for the pepperoni pizza. Try to arrive 10-15mins early, get your pizza and a table.

Seems to be based on demand. I've yet to see this elusive discount, if I try to barter they just state the only discount is the standard multi-night package discount

Everyone has different tastes yet I do not see lines at the Mast Grill, a couple have told me when the pool bar is busy they head to the mast bar for a drink. I always see lines at Guys burgers on Carnival

Yes, says two a days remain for junior suites or higher

Remember you can use OBC a the casino and cash it out; at the moment you cannot do so on the Reflection but can on other ships

Yes Yes Yes It's in your cruise planner and varies by your status and obviously the duration of the sailing

Good to know with the flat rate...I 100% agree many cab drivers have bad attitudes, I avoid them where ever possible but have had consistent bad luck at Port Everglades with rideshare drivers cancelling rides...Often the rideshare amounts are right around $20 anyways

Another reason I don't see it going away, a lot of Officers and entertainment staff eat their dinner there

To use wi-fi calling you will need premium, however if you want to use third party apps like FB Messager calling or Whatapps calling, basic should work Also can sign up for basic all cruise long then mid way upgrade to premium at a prorated amount

On a "reasonable and logical" scale of one to ten, ten being the most reasonable and logical: Room service charge: 7.5 Soda package: 5 No more dinner at the buffet: 1 X is well aware of the staffing challenges at the MDR therefore it makes zero sense to eliminate dinner assuming they don't add some other options In a FB group I can no longer remember where I saw it (I'm in a bunch of ship specific ones and another 7 sailing specific ones), someone was claiming they heard X is getting rid of all photographers. No idea how true that is

FYI, it was served with a side of butter. How did they communicate the fresh seafood, the waitstaff simply mentioned this? Also when was this sailing?

Exact same for the Millie

They’re now putting a sauce on the MDR tails, this was on the Solstice; no mention in the menu description, seems to be based on their steak Diane sauce but spicier

I have done multiple behind the scene tours and they always say something along the lines of "all food comes aboard frozen"...There may be some expectations to that such as produce but yes, all meats are come on frozen and some will immediately be thawed

In the buffet, there’s free coffee 24/7

You’re wrongly assuming each passenger will pay for a bag. In order to obtain an accurate answer you would need to know who would only carry one. I’ve seen this first hand, more people than I realize only take carryons. Many will reduce their items to fit in a carry on. Many won’t want to book more than 7 nights because they don’t want to pay the fee. I could go on and on but it’s all covered in my previous post

I don’t see it like that, you have multiple complimentary food options and will clean your room at least once a day. Can you imagine if X started charging per meal at the MDR? If and when that ever happens, it’ll most likely be CCL and RGI who pave the way

Drum roll please…

On a recent FB sailing group, one person said the food quality went down and the post blew up with comment, my guess is about 70% agreeing and 30% disagreeing. I have sailed many times since the restart and it does indeed continue to decline. Instead of vague blanket statements many post on here, I'll post specifics for the worst three offenders: 1. Mast grill: Hot dog is inedible and the burger while edible is flavorless and not worth the calories...RCL and Carnival shouldn't be able to make better burger and dogs as X but they clearly do 2. MDR/Buffet baked desserts: Cakes are flavorless, except for the peanut butter cookies or the Eden Cafe, all cookies are worse than Chips Ahoy 3. MDR/Buffet meats: Bland and not tender; often poultry dishes are way overcooked and often the steaks appearing looking medium rare (for example) are as tough and chewy as if it was cooked well done...Land based chain restaurants produce far better meats Good thing we don't cruise for the food, the foods greatest value to us is its convenience

100% agree. I can see greatly reduced, perhaps no more carving station(s)