pennielz

Where does the $.24 come from? Math please:D

3% (18% - 15%) x $8 = $0.24

Gustavo Butcher says he is going off after this week's cruise on Indy.

Yes - The designated Smoking areas allow cigars. Just off Indy yesterday. I did see a few people sneaking cigarettes on the pool deck in non smoking areas. I also did notice a few people sneaking a smoke on the balconies. None of this was bothersome to me - I am not a smoker.

 

It was a very nice ship and very well kept up. Enjoy

I am a non-smoker and it does bother me. I was on your cruise and did report those smoking in non-smoking areas. The provide smokers a location to smoke, please keep your smoking there and I will stay in the nonsmoking section. I respect the right to smoke, please respect my right to not smoke by staying in the smoking section.

Has it been increased to 18% from 15%?

To be honest, I don't know. But, it should be 18% if it is not.

Are you serious it's gonna be more expensive to drink and have fun SERIOUSLY that spoils the fun out of cruising man grrr great not happy now thanks RCI

I can't believe $0.24 on an $8 drink is going to "seriously" spoil your fun. Besides, the crew works very hard to earn that $0.24. If you're going to drink enough for $0.24 to make a difference buy the drink package. That's what we do. And we give gratuities to bar staff over and above what is included in the drink package. Maybe that's why we always get exceptional service!

Shots, 1 1/2 ounces, range between $7.75 and up to $45, depending on what you get. I would say the average for most medium range is $8. Gratuities are 18%. You can do the math from there.

Pennie

Hot tea is listed as one of the "free" beverages on board RC ships. Does anyone know what types or brands of hot tea are available? I may bring my own box of Twinings with me...

They use both Fields and Twinings. We found the teas to be very good. We had hot tea from the Cafe Promenade, MDR, Windjammer and Concierge Lounge.

If you want to, you can bring it....room service will send hot water, but it certainly won't be boiling. Same with the hot water dispenser in the WJ...it's hot, but not boiling. In the dining room, they will bring hot water in one of those containers....again, not boiling!

While the water may not be "boiling" the moment you receive it, it is way too hot to drink and will brew tea fine. I asked for hot tea in the MDR and it was way too hot to drink for most of dinner.

Just off Indy yesterday. Smoking is allowed on the port side of the pool deck, casino, and outdoor Promenade on deck 4. It is not allowed on balconies, period. If you decide to try it, don't be surprised if security knocks on your door. Someone on another balcony will report it. Stick to the designated smoking areas and you will be fine.

Indy had a 100% charter cruise sailing on November 15th that allowed smoking on all of the pool deck.that was because it was a chartered cruise.

Pennie

You can get them on Brilliance in the Solarium Bistro.

They book day rooms here, 10am-5pm. Maybe they were backed up on getting the rooms ready

Then why did they offer to let me check in before 3:00 if I paid $20?

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I wonder if you didn't have the car, if you would have been able to check in?

 

Some hotels do charge for early arrival/late checkout. Wouldn't expect a Rodeway, tho.

I've heard of charging for late checkout but, never early. If the room was ready, I could check in with no problem.

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LOL, indeed.

 

 

 

OP, my guess is that they would have given you the room early anyway but tried to get you to cough up the 20 bucks first. :rolleyes::p

That is what they did. The room is fine and parking is good for the price. Just didn't appreciate the attempted extortion.

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There are a whole list of reasons not to stay at the Rodeway Inn. This just adds to it.

What are the other reasons?

After sitting in the lobby for ten minutes, they decided to go ahead and give us a room. It is a nice hotel. Just don't pay extra to check in early!

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If you choose to do the park and stay at Rodeway Inn near FLL, do NOT arrive before 3:00 pm. If you try to check in BEFORE 3:00 the will ask you to pay $20 other wise you have to wait until 3:00. They do provide you seating in the lobby while you wait. 😠

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Yes, you will get the BOGO deal along with the onboard booking bonus!

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Yes, you can set up a cash account and then pay for it with a debit card. The issue that has been discussed involves holds on debit cards not being released timely. That is an issue with the financial institution, not RCI.

Pennie

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That I explains why I've never seen it. I'm an early riser and tend to miss the late night stuff. :rolleyes:

I've never heard of a white night on Royal. They do typically do a 70's night.

I talked with RCCL agent yesterday morning about MTD advanced reservation since we were cross referenced with two other bookings. The computer only allowed me to book 4 people total for a time. If I added the other two from another stateroom it would remove the additional other to trying to make the reservation for 6. I explained this to the VP, and he said just show up at the time reserved and they would sit all 6 of us. He then informed me that the advance reservations for MTD would be going away due to people never showing and people wanting to be seated and tables sitting empty but being held. According to him MTD will be a first come first serve like a restaurant.

I can believe that. We see people not showing up all the time. That is one reason, there is always a line for walk-up. If people would just cancel there reservation, they could give the table to a walk-up.:confused: I will miss not being able to make a reservation and have the same wait staff.:(

We didn't miss any stops on The Oasis last week but I was credited about $29 for overages we paid on Port Fees. Showed on my final invoice.

That's because the port fees went down. They don't always go up, especially when new business comes into a port.

Having spent many years in ocean-going shipping, I can tell you that port charges change, frequently. I have a cruise booked in May and November 2015. One has been booked since March and the second since Seotember. The port fees on my booking agreement are what was in affect when I booked. It is likely that one or more of the ports will increase their port charges effective January 1st. RCI will be paying the higher port fees but, not me.

If I had a good cruise and not getting a $30 refund was all that happened and I had paid a low rate, I would just "breathe in, breathe out, and move on"! :):)

Pennie

Please come back and report your experience with having MTD reservations. Curious if the reservations result in minimal waiting as Erica posted above.

We always do MTD with advance reservations. We have never had to wait!

Pennie

It was Michelle. Here is a picture of the bottle.