Tom-n-Cheryl

I was watching a video that indicated their top cabin (75-100k?) was pretty much sold throughout the end of this year. The same video was describing a few of the extra charge items, which were blowing me away. That people would pay $600/day for basically two (not private) loungers with a frame around them is crazy. Having said that, I get it. If they can charge that and people are willing to pay it, more power to them. But, I wonder why I bought so many shares of Carnival years ago when Royal seems to have done much better! I know why, it's because I was cruising Carnival a lot more then. With something like 80 Carnival cruises under my belt, and 10 on Royal, I certainly see the draw for guests to sail on Royal. You'll see far fewer bubba's and people wearing wife beaters on Royal, compared to carnival. We sailed on the Allure a couple of weeks ago, and went ahead and booked another one for the first of March. GS for the first, the next one is an aqua theater suite, which Cheryl has been wanting to try. It was just a couple thousand, with a casino discount. Not too bad in my opinion. I went ahead and booked a sailing on the Star of the Seas for early 2026. I found a week where the GS was "only" about 13,000 for two. For roughly the same week in 2025 I have a Presidential suite booked on the Mardi Gras. It's a little under 10,000, but comes with a beverage package and $2,000 on board credit, thanks to the casino. The deposits for both are non-refundable, but I was able to reserve the Mardi Gras for $200 versus $1,300 for the Star. Royal definitely wants to make sure you have more skin in the game, and thus less volatility for them

So - I've used the AARP cards for a few sailings on Carnival -- purchasing about 40 of the $500 cards for $450. That was some nice savings 🙂 With Carnival, you can use the cards to pay down your balance online, pay for gifts/dining pre-cruise, even load them up on your ship card during the cruise to pay for onboard expenses (including casino chip purchases!). Last night (on the Royal site) I put a reservation on hold (Star) for '26. I then checked the AARP site and saw the same deal ($500 cards for $450). First off -- are there actually issues applying these to a booking? And.. is that the only way you can use them? Tom

Just found this thread (after having an Allure cruise last weekend). We were offered twice daily cabin service - but only requested PM. Is that because we were in a GS cabin, or some other reason? Tom

Your follow up is a WINNER ! 😄 Tom

I was poking about the Royal website (Casino Royale) and saw this... can anyone identify what in this image isn't "right" ? Tom

Yep - I check there from time to time. Offers come/go, perhaps there's a new one or two since the prior week, I'm not sure. Either way, there's always been some balcony offers offered there (and in the mailings I get every couple of weeks or so). My offers which have really gone downhill are those from Celebrity. Perhaps they're now able to skim from a higher level in the cup. I used to get 60% off suites, now I get crumbs... The one which throws juicy offers my way continues to be Carnival... full drink package, free (entry level) suites - though "suites" with them is just a word, up to $2,000 OBC or free play. I'd much rather sail on Celebrity or Royal than Carnival, for multiple reasons. Come to think of it, NCL has dropped off the radar too (offers wise - nothing since Covid I'd say). Tom

I had the perks on that sailing (left over from prior earning I guess, even though they zeroed out my points). So, I suspect I'd have them through 3/31 either way? Club Royale ins/outs are rather new territory to me. Tom

After two nights, they gave me a sheet for a free interior (or, might have been OV) and I chuckled. We've always stayed in a GS or higher with Royal. I went ahead and put a deposit down for two future cruises (not yet picked dates/ships). I know that I can call and they'll give me some type of credit towards the cabin of our choice. It would have to be another 3-nt Allure out of the port (so I basically don't miss work). So, probably $1,500+ out of pocket to kick up to a suite... to get free drinks and fee free chips. If I could win what I did this last weekend, I'd take that deal every weekend. However, typically, those free perks would cost me much more than the value of said perks --- the nature of comps !! Tom

I don't know the game - but I "know" those chips 😄 Tom

Just off the 3-day Allure this last weekend. I went in as Prime owing to a couple prior sailings on the Independence, but my points had reset to -0-, since it had been over a year or so. After two days of playing BJ (non-smoking mini-casino), I asked the host where I stood points wise, I was told 1,500. With one more day to play I figured I'd get another 750, bringing me to 2,250. On the third night I played in the full casino, non-smoking side. Surprisingly, I didn't detect much in the way of smoke smell from the "other side". At any rate, my points just posted this morning online, and I'm now at 2,478. So, I picked up nearly 1,000 points on the last night. I really didn't play any different (amounts or duration) that I could see. Some pit folks might just be more observant than others I suppose. So, if I want to retain my "Prime" status (if only for the no charge chip purchases and "free" drinks), do I actually need to cruise again by 3/31 to earn an additional 22 points? ! No, option B ? When I called yesterday to speak to someone at Club Royale to see if they could see my points before they posted, I was told no, and that it would take up to a couple of weeks to see them. I mentioned that I was surprised that they didn't, in their app, have the ability for real-time (or, at least daily) points tracking... similar to what Carnival has. Oh well. Favorite hand of the cruise (I play two hands), and never take the side bets:

meh... I'm done with the points chasing (power up points)

Are the premium carts something new? I don't recall that option (May '23). What's the difference in cost? Tom

Me too - cigarettes might as well be a burning house. At least pipes/cigar have an element of aroma to them. Tom

"Tommy" ? Am I missing something here - why the edge ?

Lighten up Francis

It's fortunate that they have two concierges ! Yep, their workload has increased... just like the prices 😉 Tom

I haven't received any emails from them regarding this cruise. Should I be expecting one (shortly)? Tom

I don't suppose that there's any firsthand info about recent experiences in the Rotterdam casino - with regard to smoking? Fingers crossed for November ! If I hold my breath long enough, they'll eventually wake up and smell the coffee... Tom

The last time we were on the Allure we were in a Star Class suite, and had some back/forth communications with the concierge prior to the cruise (way back when they had first rolled out the Royal Genie deal). This time (next weekend) we're in a GS cabin. Twice, over the last couple of weeks, I used the same two (01, 02) email addresses which I had from before, but have received no response (nor notification of email delivery "failure"). My only request was for a fan in the room, and I'd just like to get that set up ahead of time. Anyone have recent success communicating with the concierge? THANKS

My guess is that their reasoning for this is because something like CHEERS does not have a "limited" number available. Tom

It is - but that also helps to cull the ranks, so to speak (so, it's good and bad) 🙂 Tom

We tried one (twice), but would not again - the value is just not there. For ~$2k, I feel the need to use it more than we end up wanting to. There are some days where the weather makes the decision for you - too hot, no breeze, too windy, rain (you get the picture). If nothing else, they need to install ceiling fans in them! Tom

Yep, I assume a little too much as well. 😁

On our recent Celebration sailing, we enjoyed several food items at no charge (Excel suite). We ordered coffee a few times, and it was also NC. I think it's spelled out somewhere that beverages are not included (you will be charged) even if you have CHEERS, it does not apply through room service, no matter the cabin type. Tom

That's the way I read it too 🙂