NutsAboutGolf

FYI: Two items pressed

Not sure on his exact quote but did find one with him saying now that the covid protocols were dropped, they received a "strong booking BOOST". Also that the RCI Ikon bookings had blown away their previous records. However, even if he did say RCG as a whole had "strong bookings" it's just so intentionally vague that it's all marketing fluff

With Blu: -There's a regular section and clean cuisine section which includes the tenderloin/filet at least twice on a 7 night sailing. -In Blu, you could always order items off of the MDR, nothing new. Most see the value of AQ for $20/night but not everyone. To me, in order I value Blu, spa access, CC points of 5/night, increased room size in M-class, panel shower and daily waters. Personally I do not value anything else in such as the in-room items, fitness classes or daily canapes

Blu generally has better service and you have the ability to order off the Blu menu or MDR menu on most ships (Equinox in Sept said new Blu rule, can only order the timeless classics). With that being said, for most the best food on the ship is at specialty restaurants as even suite guests frequent them.

I’ve complained about the internet, guest services always sends me to the iLounge

Short of it, X posted this schedule of their internet page and later replaced it with “coming soon”. In the following thread one person claims they’re ahead of schedule by a week or two. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/index.php?app=core&module=system&controller=redirect&url=https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2888068-resolved-the-scheduleship-order-of-when-starlink-will-be-active-on-the-fleet-exist/?source=122648&key=21d255a022e82086306ec19327c884915161a1d252f7a55742ac9a353e95843a&email=1&type=notification_new_comment

The timeline has already been pushed forward, for X, only 7 of 12 ships are scheduled to go live by the end id Q1.

Glad you had a great week! Our sailing was around 1,300, validated by the person who scans your seapass with when you visit a port

My bad, I believe it’s $10/person. However, prices can increase at anytime

Can you try the speed test using the speed test measuring site/map and do them back to back, with and without VPN? In your screenshot, they're possibly different sites and are nearly 5 hours apart. Time of day has always been an issue based on my direct experience. Internet is the worst during sail-aways both embarkation and when departing a port and the half hour before and after meal service starts. Usually 10pm-6am is the fastest you're going to get.

Typically the comped offers on the select sailings are in the very near future and generally have cheaper fares. The best deal you can get is if you qualify for the $10/night AquaClass upgrade, you have to call in and ask.

I wanted to expand and simplify how URComped works. In your URComp account, you have to upload existing free room casino offers, if you don't have any, you're probably not getting a comped sailing. With URComped offers, there are player requirements and if they're not met, URComped may end their relationship with you and it sets you back with receiving future comped offers from the cruise line. X's Casino dept/BCC offers are not tied to any player requirements yet if you don't play, you won't receive any future offers. With that being said, we have lots of datapoints from X cruisers stating they have received BCC comped offers despite having low-no play. No one can yet determine what "triggers" some passengers to receive casino offers when they've never visited the casino.

I’ve repeatedly lobbied the Exec team to give comped cruisers the internet based and included three datapoints of land based casino have free internet, other cruise lines like NCL and CCL include perks like the internet in their offer and if they’re not willing to give the internet for free, they offer a 15% off the drink package and therefore should be the same for the internet…Their reply? Gamble more and you’ll get it for free (lol)

Expectation vs Reality...Reality: You'll probably see t-shirts and shorts every night. How it seems to work, with the sole exception of men wearing hats where they'll ask that you remove it, is you can wear whatever you want and get in, then if someone complains, the M'D will ask you not wear the offending item next time

Makes zero sense that X would advertise an internet "minimum speed" because once it goes below that, there would be a wave of passengers demanding a refund

On the 15 night Millie Panama Canal sailing last month, we put two red bull 10 packs in one piece of luggage which was dropped off with the porter. We were ready to possibly report to the naughty room but it made it fine. If one would rather carry on, most cardboard soda boxes aren't very strong so one could search for a cheap duffle back and carry it on

You left out the internet, spa services, fitness classes, behind the scene tours, photo package, laundry/dry cleaning, wine tasting events, room service after 11pm, etc... 🙃

With Le Petite the biggest complaint I’ve heard is the lack of choice of food items as you only have the regular and an alternative menus

You have to pay for each device; each subsequent device added gets progressively cheaper. One tip is you can wait until mid sailing and pay the prorated rate

Mind expanding on this? Was it the food, service, atmosphere, etc?

Yes although it's 18%. Obviously you're welcome to tip more

Call to find out, if it's cheaper they can cancel and refund you the booked package and re-book/re-charge you at the cheaper rate. BCC sells the beverage for 15% off, I'm unclear if they stack with CC discount but would imagine it does which is why I suggest calling. I've called the BCC multiple times for the internet, they always transfer me to reg X

Forgot about that as I already have it; had a friend wait over a year to get their GE interview

Just off her last Saturday, saw people playing in the sports court but I can't comment on size. My two cents is unless your paddle costs you more (airline baggage fees, etc) simply bring it with you. It's there for you if you choose to use it or if you don't use it, no big deal.

I've personally never seen more than two dozen, over all your sailings, is seeing more than two dozen common? Did one Alaska sailing pre-pandemic and 9 since the restart including the 5th Edge sailing after the restart. Most I saw was a 5-nighter over presidents day