gliles

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SETSAIL is for boarding. SEAPASS is your cabin key. You don't get the SEAPASS until you board the ship.

OMG. Obviously they were talking about set sail.

I really hope they do.

I am so glad to see this thread. We are booked on Ovation in October Tainjin to Singapore and when I read the reviews, the ones where the ship is in Asia are dreadful and the ones where it's in Australia, are wonderful. It's almost funny. Luckily we've been on over 20 cruises and while some are better than others, we've never been on a bad one. We booked this one when we were on the Explorer from Sydney last year and it seemed like a good deal for a GS so worst case, we hang out on the balcony and get room service when we aren't in port! I was disappointed that the two Philippines stops were replaced with three Vietnam stops but hey, maybe that'll be better? BU I am thankful for this wealth of information as to why it gets a bad rap.

We'll have a great time none the less, we'll get to see the great wall and are staying at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, I am excited.

Double points! We like it but we are Emerald and working our way to Diamond, this next cruise will do it. We like the GS, we like the lounge, reserved seating, free room service and mostly the larger room.

Me too, I hope they come back. I've gotten $250 OBC twice and want to do it again!

I have used it for the 250.00 credit that is no longer available. I also cashed in for 100.00 credit last weekend for an upcoming cruise. However, RC is not listed as a reward partner now. Hope they return!

Oh wow, that sucks. I am gonna check with my friend who works at RCI.

Since we have no status (we'll finally make Diamond on our next cruise) the GS is worth it for us to have the perks.

We've used the $250 OBC two times, I did notice that the most OBC they have now is $100 but hey, it costs me nothing. It's on auto spin on my table while I am watching TV! I've also used some in Vegas at the Mirage. And some ice bar at the MGM I think. I like it. A lot.

This is not parental advice just that I would never do that in fear that something would happen and I wouldn't make it back. However if that happened, they'd be in a better place than me so never mind!!

Thanks all. I think I will email the President again and cc RoyalGuestRelations@rccl.com . I am sort of surprised I have not received a response back yet. Its really nothing super urgent but an issue that was quite disappointing and frustrating (even more so since a Manager on the phone did promise to call me last Friday). Never heard from him. Again, that lack of a return call alone disappointed and frustrated me even more.

If it isn't super urgent and it's for a cruise you haven't taken yet, I am sure they aren't in a hurry. I emailed them about an issue when they changed over the drink packages essentially from 3 to 2 and heard back right away from a lovely woman from his office who I remain in contact with today. I send her the good and bad from all our cruises and she calls me to talk about it and if I ever have a question about anything, I'll send her a note and she'll reply or call right away. I don't abuse it though. I have to say she's a big reason after 20+ cruises, we have only cruised on Royal since that initial contact. I hope they realize how valuable she is. I get a survey after each contact and try to ensure they know.

Airlines are doing the same thing, basing status and perks on money spent. You can get to be Diamond by cruising in insides but they make the money on suites. The people who spend the money are those who they want to reward.

Thanks, now I am really excited. That balcony looks great.

Hi all...can someone tell me if the pictures I found of cabin 12646 on the Anthem will be the same as the Ovation because I am really excited about the balcony! TIA!

Lucky you, if I am looking at the right itinerary you get to make 3 stops in Vietnam and even a stop in Taipei, :D

Yes, we were to make 2 stops in the Philippines but that changed which is a little disappointing but we know it happens. You think we lucked out?

We are leaving in a few days for an Empress to Cuba, very excited about that.

Someone asked earlier if I would review the ship so here goes an abbreviated version. I would say I liked it more than the Oasis class as it was not so spread out.

 

A few locations seemed out of place. The Concierge Lounge is a long way from anything being all the way aft on Deck 12. But the size of it and the amazing view made up for all the walking. And we did as we spent the at sea mornings there with coffee and Kindles.

The Focus photo center was on deck 5 will all the restaurants and bars rather than deck 4 with all the shops. I know, nitpicking but I am a slow learner so twice I went looking for it on deck 4. ;p

 

Loved all the coffee bars in Windjammer, La Parisserie, Cafe 270. Saved me a trip to the CL if I wanted a latte.

 

The ship is designed real well for tendering which is important since there are over 4000 passengers. They can tender from two locations and their tender boats are huge so they can get a lot of people off the ship quickly. Also when you come back by tender boat the area of the ship is also huge for processing passengers back on board. They can easily queue all the passengers from one tender boat inside the ship so no bottleneck get back aboard. Both ports that we tendered we were on the ship in about 30 minutes.

 

Loved that the casino was smoke free (sorry smokers). It was nice after making our nightly donations to the casino gods not coming away with watering eyes and smelling like an ashtray.

 

Loved the mandatory hand washing stations at Windjammer. On other ships I never cared for the squirts of hand sanitizer, especially since it does nothing to prevent Noro. Of course it's not fail safe, observed a family of 5 walk straight through the washing station. I being the master of subtlety called out it was nice to see parents raising a family of pigs but they never broke stride.

 

I can say the ship is in great condition but it should be since it is only 2 years old. Found a couple elevator buttons that did not work but other than that excellent shape.

 

We really like the Coastal Kitchen. I know it had some strange rules that others didn't like (but didn't effect us) such as no guests. For us the staff was great, friendly, funny and not too slow. Also ice that we could get the Diamond voucher drinks there so we didn't have to haul one with us. They had a bigger selection of wine too. Food was tasty and hot. Enjoyed that they made some off the menu dishes for us.

 

That is all I can think of right now, maybe others that were there have some observations.

Thanks so much. I think it was me. We are going in October in a GS from Beijing to Singapore so you can imagine I have been following this post daily and am almost as sad that your trip is over as you might be!

I really wanted to try the scorpion but with us flying home in the morning I didn't want to take chances. Next time.

We are starting our cruise there so I'll eat one and report back :)

I can see why you are upset and don't understand why RC can't split it as you'd like, what difference does it make to them? Anyway sorry this happened, I'd be very disappointed.

Probably because you were in a GS or higher and not on ship with Sea/Sky/Star Class.

 

 

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We were in a GS, what does the rest even mean? "not on ship with Sea/Sky/Star Class."

 

However, the only level that has an effect on card color is Pinnacle, which is 700 points.

We had a gold card on our last two and we are NOT Pinnacle!

Please don't attack me. I am flying from DFW to Connecticut for my daughter's graduation with her masters, first one in the family to achieve that and I am so proud. My mother recently passed away so I am hauling some stuff of my mother's up there for my daughter and cousin who lives close (stick with me, I'll get to the question) then I'll fly to MIA and will use the extra luggage space for stuff shipped to my daughter (yo-yos, toothbrushes, feminine hygiene stuff, etc. to bring to the Cuban people then I'll again have space for cigars and rum as souvenirs (we don't smoke but what the heck?) and since this is a well orchestrated packing plan, I'd like to know really what to expect people to wear. We've been on 22 cruises and we always dress for formal nights and always dress for regular nights like we remember from our first cruises, we don't mind packing dresses and slacks (DH is meeting me in MIA, he doesn't do well with back to back trips so won't be in CT, I'll be there with my ex , my sister, other daughter and aforementioned cousin), I know there is no formal night but will people literally be in shorts in the dining room? I don't mind dressing but if I find that I packed nice outfits and everyone is in shorts, I'll feel stupid. Please don't tell me to dress however I want, I know I can but I'd like to know what others will be wearing because stupid or not, I want to fit in.

We are very much looking forward to seeing Cuba, it's been a bucket list item for some time and we know the ship is small and old, we don't care. In October we'll be in the Ovation for our anniversary and that'll be awesome.

Thanks in advance!

Am I the only one that thinks those prices are insane for a 4 nighter?

um nope, I wondered the same but will admit I've never priced a 4-nighter but have paid less than that for 7+ nights.

I am surprised that they discussed it with staff and they didn't insist they leave it at GS.

My thoughts...we like the dining room. We like meeting people. We also like the specialty restaurants but we usually hurt ourselves there :) Too much, too rich, too good. We find the main dining room to be good as we don't need gourmet, rich food every night. We typically cruise for our anniversary so we'll do Chops or something that night but stick with the dining room the rest of the time making the night in Chops that much better.

Also if you have a limited budget like most of us do, maybe the money would be better spent on excursions? Anyway, congratulations on whatever you do and I hope she loves the cruise!

Our 1 year old and 3 year old where both charged for junior suite tips. We had the one year olds removed. Felt it was reasonable to only tip for one young child.

I would never do that, my kids were slobs. More work to clean up after them.