Donut23

As someone who lives in Alaska I have to make a couple of comments regarding Icy Strait Point/Hoonah. I've been there three times, and I find it to be a breath of fresh air. I love Hoonah, which is the largest Tlingit community in the state.

 

ISP/Hoonah is the least commercialized port on most cruise line's itinerary. If you have come to Alaska to shop in a Diamonds International then you will be disappointed in this port. But if you are interested in visiting an authentic Alaskan fishing community, inhabited by Alaskan residents who can tell you what their community is like during the winter, you will appreciate the lack of commercialization here. My husband worked out of Ketchikan the summer of 1974, and his reaction to Hoonah is that it is a clone of Ketchikan in the mid-1970s before the impact of the cruise industry.

 

Also,we find the walk from ISP into Hoonah very easy. There is paved pathway along the coast, and it is flat. On a port call there in 1979 we walked part of the way back to the ship with a young family with two girls -- the oldest was probably 7 or maybe 8 years old, and the younger one was pre-kingergarten. The family had walked in, taking their time, and were walking back as the girls were looking for eagles in the trees.

Thank you!

Our first trip was pre Zipline and we fell in love. We did a busy whale watch and just walked all over. Perhaps because the weather that day was Chamber of Commerce perfect, perhaps because everyone was so pleasant. We were charmed. Oh boy did we get photographs!

Next trips we have returned to whale watching, BEAR watching was great!!!!! DH hated seeing the Zipline invade the pristine beauty but because it was so big and long, he took a ride. Of course he was hooked!

Maybe BECAUSE there are NO Alaska Tee Shirt Shops this place has a quiet charm for us.

Yes, we are careful. The Company Store has items Made in China.....we do not do our shopping there.

Shopping for us is the Anchorage weekend Market or the little store at the end on the right in Skagway which sells only authorized Made in Alaska items.

Icy Straight is a gift for those of us who prefer to take a moment to celebrate the gifts of Nature.........and the occasional ride on a Zipline.

We have it on the Radiance on Alaska this summer. We call the balcony the 'beach' because it's so big.

Very good video on you tube of cabin 1100 on the Radiance.

Apparently the reason the auto grats began was because of the number of guests who were walking away without paying. I have to say, I am surprised/sad people actually ask to have them removed.

One cruise we were at a table for 4 vs. the large table we prefer. The last night they were no shows for dinner. I have always wondered........

Tipping can be a very personal topic. Visit the Disney boards and ask about tipping a Mousekeeper then run for your life as the discussion falls into insults.

I'm in a JS but walk with a cane. My JS takes precedence over my handicap? In the past we've showed our handicap plackard and get to immediately go to the front of the line to check in.

I remember our Brilliance cruise beginning in Quebec City. The walk from checkin to the ship was very long. They sent the assorted limpy people (wheelchairs, canes--I used my walker) down first. They told us they didn't want us to be trampled halfway down by the more mobile guests. I had to stop twice down so I appreciated the head start!

I remember when we were married onboard in Juneau. It reminded me of one of those late night SiFi movies where everyone on the planet were suddenly missing. There were no passengers.....but few staff about except for guest services. GREAT for wedding pics....we were everywhere and never had to dodge people.

I have a variety of playlists setup in my phone I play in the car.

My biggie pre-cruise?

About 1 month ahead I change my phone's ring tone to the Love Boat theme!

You rent a car at the Orlando airport, and turn it in at the rental agency office near the port. The agency then shuttles you to the cruise terminal for no extra charge. I know that Avis, Budget, and Hertz do this, and there are probably others.

If you are early enough, Stop by and drop off your bags (not carryon) so you can avoid schleppage in the car rental shuttle back to the ship.

Provided they book it before someone else who wants it does. Just because they have 4 people shouldn't give them any clout over anybody else.

Group hug!

I stand firm.

Want my cabin? Just be on the phone before me. I should not be penalized because I plan better than you.

OK, without reading every post . . . is this really policy or just ranting and speculation? Was the answer ever clear from AG?

Policy.......anyone know when it officially begins?

It was a comment about the general situation, not your personal situation.

 

Disabled rooms are reserved for those with a disability, until later. If you do not have 'justification' you cannot book them period. Even if they are in great positions, and even if they are larger than the standard size of the same class.

 

Your argument is that because they have better positions e.g. middle, near the lifts, and better size, than you should be able to book them as long as you get in first, regardless of need.

 

3 people cannot book a double only room. Period. They can only book the larger rooms, hence they have a need. You booking such a room first not because of need but because you want (prefer) them is selfishly disregarding others needs, the same as booking a disabled room would be when you don't have a need.

These rooms are a special circumstance and do not apply to this discussion. The cruiseline is required to make accommodation for handicapped. As far as I know the Federal Government has not yet established guidelines on triple and quad cabins.

So I presume you have the same thought about booking disabled cabins too? Everyone just should get in first if they have special needs. All 3/4 people cabins booked out... too bad, so sad eh?

Technically, my physician would write a letter to qualify for a handicapped room. I have a handicapped card for my car.

I do not, however, consider myself handicapped and we go out of our way to stay in regular balcony cabins in spite of the challenges.

If the day comes when I need the handicapped cabin, I'll book it, thank you.

If you have special needs which require you have a handicapped cabin are you saying you cannot book it because it is setup as a quad? Hummmmm, I think you may have a little trouble with the federal government if you plan to deny access to a handicapped guest.

I don't think you did anything wrong the first time! :) He said the policy hadn't changed, but I think it has definitely changed - which is what this whole thread is about! :)

 

It would seem we're finding out though, that the policy change will be flexible and apply much more during peak (read: school is out) periods, and be much less rigidly applied during other times.

......and we try not to cruise when school out.

Whew. I would hate to give up little jems like 1688.

Oops!

:confused: I'm confused, I'm pretty sure the policy HAS changed, thus all the threads and angst! :)

In the case of our Alaska cruise, aft facing cabins on Radiance Class Ships are doubles. In this case, it does not affect our reservation. Not all aft facing balcony cabins ARE doubles, however.

Our preferred cabin on Voyager class ships are 1688 or 1388 so we book waaaaaaaay early to catch one of two. We have always had 1688 and it has a sofa bed.

Did I do better this time? :-)

I, for one, think that if you only have two people, you should book a two person room. People with three or four people don't have the luxury of choosing a cabin for two.

You know, our Alaska cabin is a double so the point this cruise is moot. However, Jim booked the day reservations opened...as we normally do. I have no trouble taking what's left when we book and I'm sure RCI had fun playing with our deposit for over 450 days total before we cruise.

If I want 1688 on the Explorer with that sofa bed (there is only one other cabin like it on the ship) and I'm willing to tie up our deposit for over a year and a half, personally, I have no problem with that.

You want 1688 or 1388, just be the caller ahead of me. Fair is fair.

The width is 21.5 inches and will fit thru the standard cabin door. Mine (Golden Companion) also breaks down to fit in trunk, but is 23.5 inches wide.

Parking in the hallway is rude in my opinion; I have seen some parked by the steps and out of the way which is a 'better' option...

 

As for the letter, I do agree that Mr Goldstein needs to work on his PR skills. I am curious however, as to why people try to email him directly as opposed to "The office of" or customer service, where people are trained to meet your needs?

Have a great day, All!

I was told that your cabin attendant will store/charge your scooter for you to keep it out of the hallway. I agree. No one needs to dodge them in the hall.

That was honestly my first thought too - you had an idea due to this thread, but otherwise the reaction would be "Wrong? How?" Makes it tough to answer the question he asked of where you got wrong information without telling you what that wrong information was...

 

Sent from my Galaxy S4 via Tapatalk

My reaction to his email was I had upset him, he typed an email and pushed 'send' before he should have. Very unprofessional compared to the thoughtful phone call I had received earlier.

I agree, short and too the point. I see nothing wrong with his answer. Seems like he wanted more information and maybe take it from there.

His answer also was not as bad as the one sent to the other person. Then again, Donut's email to him was much better.

Sorry, I'm going to disagree.....and let me tell you why. (DH always settles back in his chair when I say....and let me tell you why.). My comments come from a lifetime in Sales.

Every person a RCI headquarters who communicates with a guest is immediately in sales at some level. Their communication can impact a guests choice to continue a relationship with the cruiseline. This corporate philosophy should have no greater cheerleader than it's corporate leader.

I am sorry. I don't buy the line ...... I am too busy to take an extra moment to be as polite as possible, even when the email is rude. If this isn't your strong suit, assign this responsibility to someone else. I found his note rude when I made a special effort to be lighthearted.

It takes a moment to review an email, especially one as short and curt as Mr. Goldstein's.

Just my opinion......worth a grain of sand a low tide I guess.

By the way, don't you find it odd that he would tell me I was wrong and not take the effort to clarify why so I would not be confused.

You would expect him to be very busy, so I would appreciate the attention and not expect it to be long-winded or flowery. I think the above response is reasonable.

 

It is accurate as others have pointed out as well, so is reasonable on both counts.

He should have taken a lesson from his own staff in Curtomer Service. The telephone call I received hours after the email was sent was 1,000 times more polite. He should have left it to the professionals.

What kind of a scooter are you using? I don't think that mine will fit through a door that is not a handicapped cabin. Do the Aft balcony cabins have wider doors?

Pride Revo-3 wheel

It's the one which can breakdown into 5 pieces to stuff in your car. It DOES seem a bit more narrow than some and the 3 wheel version corners like a sportscar.

I'm pretty sure the doorways are the same size.

You wrote a very good letter. I have written to Mr.Goldstein about some ideas. Last year I got this call from the Executive Office from a nice woman who spoke with me at length about my ideas and she was going to pass this along to Mr. Goldstein and the team at their next monthly meeting.

 

I have been emailing Mr. Goldstein and his department about ways to improve Royal Caribbean and it has really worked out. For instance I suggested that they have a Towel Exchange bin when you come off and on from shore excursions. It really works for beach excursions etc.

 

Please let us know if you get a response.

I got a lovely call and the short email is above.

Sounds like you have had far more success.

Trying to give him the benefit of the doubt, you know, busy CEO. Should take the time to read before he pushes 'SEND'.

All I could think of was how happy I am he has a big Customer Service Department so he doesn't deal with guests often.

Sigh. I don't think I'll bother emailing him again.

Sweet! I have 1388 for my August cruise on the Navigator. I'm even more excited now!

It's going to spoil you!

I'm not sure they should allow Adam Goldstein to email customers. The phone call from staff was charming. Is it me? Doesn't this sound a little.........snarky? I tried to be nice in my note.

Cathy,

It would be helpful to us if you could let us know how you came to possess

this information that is completely wrong. Thank you.

Adam

And my answer sent 30 minutes later around 8 am today:

Good Morning!

Thank you so much for your attention to my worries.

The Cruise Critic boards have had various discussions regarding a new policy.

Specifically, 2 guests will no longer be allowed to reserve cabins which will accommodate triples or quads.

We have become spoiled in your aft facing balcony cabins but this may be a problem if we move above the Radiance Class. If true, we feel we are being penalized simply because we are a couple. It also penalizes my......scooter which does not fit in the smaller cabin.

Anyway, if this is wrong, I'll be the short blond with the big smile!

Cathy

And I have heard nothing since sending this. What do you think?

You do realize the post that you quoted is from 2012 and the video you want them to look at was actually posted by the person you quoted?:eek::p

 

Someone pulled up an older thread.

Oh well. Thanks for bringing my errors to my attention. If you plan to keep this up, you will be a very busy person!

We can call it a blonde moment. Just don't call it a senior moment yet.

Perhaps another cabin 1100 guest will enjoy it instead.