Verfai

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I have a question, we are doing the same cruise upcoming Monday… Did you have a VAT on the cruise? Its unclear if this cruise is free of VAT due to the stop in Gibraltar or not. Thanks for the reply :)

You might try cruising out of Galveston. The majority of the passengers are Texans, a very friendly bunch. You will also find southern good manners and polite conversation! Have also cruised from both coasts and Galveston cruises have had the most congenial table mates.

Just beware, there's a bunch of country music on those Galveston ships.:eek:;)

LOL! Ive met a few Texans...Differs a bit from we are used to and indeed country music was one of them :D If there is something I dont get its American country music :p, the lyrics really dont make any sence to a liberal European ;) no offence ;)

Verfai, I really think you have taken this experience too personally. We ourselves would have been delighted to be sat with you. It really is luck of the draw when it comes to table mates on a cruise. We've mostly been seated with wonderful folks from all walks of life,from all over the world.

 

You said you were on a 6 top table. I would suggest asking for a larger table arrangement when booking where there will be a lesser chance of folks bailing on their table. The reason I say that is because they too choose to be seated at a larger table.

 

I can only wish that you have better experiences in the future. I just don't believe any button is going to change the fact everyone is different even when they are the same. Hope that makes sense. :)

 

Happy Cruising!

Wel a lot of people have been saying the request a larger table...Would it not be the bomb of they would, when you book and fill in the dinner times, a ticker box that says I want to be sat with my party; I want a table of 4-6; I want a larger table...At this time the site asks nothing when booking.

In a way I take it personal yes, makes you wander if you really are a crazy person or other...For us its more the getting out of the daily comfort zone, I sit alone with the misses at a small table on a daily basis at home....Its why we cruise to sit on a bigger table with folks we dont know :)

It would have to be a computer based system, and given RCCLs track record lately with their website and reservations systems, I think their IT guys time would be better spent in those departments... [emoji6]

 

Hope your table mates for your next cruise make up for the last ones!

ROFL :D :D :D :D But sooooo true, the international website and the Celebrity one are even worse, the last one wont even let me book a cruise because it wants to give me US discounts which I am not entitled to and have to pay 1/3d more ;) They really have the worse IT dep I have ever come across with

You can select who you dine with or not each evening at no extra cost with My Time Dining and you don't leave others alone, if you're at a large table and not sitting alone in Traditional Dining, staring at your empty places.

Not everyone would want to dine in a specialty restaurants even if they felt really comfortable with new acquaintances. I guess there is the no extra cost Windjammer buffer option but that wouldn't be appealing to us. ;)

You dont even need to go to My time, just tell the head waiter that you are bringing new people, and have the decency to tell your former waiters that your moving to another table. We have done it this way with 7 people and never did they say no, even the contrary they go wild that their tables are full again :D

We love interacting and learning about other cultures, that is why we travel. But on a closed MDR table/cruise ship, I think is a different and some what too complex integration of cultures.

I can see a need, for English(for example) speaking first language cruisers, or other to who speak English to be grouped together.

Cultural dining habits can be some what a issue,I have experienced this, but I was not on a cruise.

Age is easy, but I'm 75 and still with it, so to speak, and do not want to sit with those who close to dementia. Also do not want to sit with uncouth younger cruisers as well.

Drinking for some is a issue but I drink whether anyone likes it or not. dinner without wine is not dinner.

 

Level in C&A (maybe) I really like to hear other people travel adventures but some cruisers are not true travelers. I like to sit/talk/enjoy people who tell stories about their good and bad adventures/issues in travel and Laugh about them, not complain about them. For us true travelers we know that travel is not rocket science and thing can go wrong.

 

Still what every method to chose table mates every thing is up for grabs. Kinda like a Blog on Dating web site that I follow, tales of horror and few tales of happiness.

I would see it as option boxes you tick on the site...So basically you can pick one, or just pick them all which would incline that you are willing to sit where ever with whomever.

I like this one "tales of horror and few tales of happiness" :D we start with horror by day 3 (alone) and end the loudest table by day 5-6 :D LOL

Have sailed on many cruises and we sit alone. If during the cruise we find people we feel comfortable with, we dine with them in specialty restaurants. This is most comfortable for us. Enjoy your cruise.

Which we could do all the specialty restaurants with the new friends we make :D

There is enough divisiveness in this world without adding any kind of segregation on a cruise ship dining room! Personally, I could care less what anyone eats so long as they do not force it down my throat. Being on a cruise ship is like a mini-United Nations. It's an outstanding opportunity to meet all kinds of people, from all cultures, backgrounds and religions, and to learn about each other in a very neutral environment.

 

And there is no where on a cruise booking that asks for ANY information about religious preferences. That would be religious discrimination, which is illegal in the U.S.

Okay why is there a Kosher option on the dietary needs and not a Halal or other I can not think of??? Sounds to me like discrimination...

I know why you reacted and I highly agree, but you reacted to reply of somebody else who did change it to segregation...I am really only and solely after easy options to avoid people running away from us :D

I was just applying your logic to my preference. We are family of Scots born people of Irish, Scottish and German extraction who now are happily living in Australia as Australian citizens.

Anyhow.......Last reaction to this

No my logic was easy

-Language (a ticker that says I speak following languages)

-Age (a bunch of ranges)

-Repeat cruisers (C&A stats)

-drinkers/non drinkers

-Religion (I think they already do this)

Has nothing to do where you are from or who you are, just what language you want to speak, your not going to offend somebody by drinking or eating an animal of some sort in font of them and you do or do not want to share past cruise experiences

Seems like a lot of work for minimal gain.

Its already a lot of work now, as the head waiters tell me they really dont do it randomly at this time....It might make it easier as a computer will be able to put people together, no?

I think I catch what you are saying. I wonder how easy it would be to profile potential table mates? Did you say that they already profile you by religion. I love meeting those who have different faiths, languages, cultures etc. and I agree I would prefer to meet those from different backgrounds on a cruise.

They already profile now, mostly by country of origin and I also believe they put the diamonds and above together.

As for the religion, there are a lot of people who by religion are offended by what you eat or drink...An easy example (and I mean no offence to anybody->), I you have 3 couples from lets say Saoedi Arabia onboard, I think it would be a good idea to put those people together by default, its not 100% waterproof that they all will be practicing Muslims, but a pretty high probability same goes for Jews or even Vegan's...

WHICH is what I mean by my question to you all, its not because you are from Saoedi Arabia, that you are Muslim, so with the possibility of advanced preferences you would be able to tick other options

My question to you all is:

What would you think, if there or should there be an option, to tick your preferences for table mates when booking a cruise and choosing a classic dining time?

This was the second cruise we where on where our table mates ran away from us...Leaving us alone at a table for 6 (this time in the dead center of the MDR), not really the point of choosing classic dining imo.

We have had numerous reasons, read "excuses" why people ran away, a few in a nut shell, language barrier, to young ie subjects at table (<-really :D), first timers that did not know it was classic dining and preferd windjammer, people that just asked a different table and never said anything, etc...!DONT GET ME WRONG!, you are free to do so if you wish...But its not really the point in classic dining and might be helped if you can say in advance with what sort of people you would want or prefer to be seated with.

I dont mean like actual persons (<-unless you have linked reservation naturally), but things like:

-Language (a ticker that says I speak following languages)

-Age (a bunch of ranges)

-Repeat cruisers (C&A stats)

-drinkers/non drinkers

-Religion (I think they already do this)

Like us from Belgium, we speak Dutch and French, but we prefer to be sat with repeaters and English speakers, we want to meet new people from other countries and customs that have cruised before....However on this last one on Splendour and than Serenade, we where always stuck with Dutch people, no offence, but I want to speak English on a cruise with people that dont eat and drink the same things we would do.

Anyhow my two cents ;) LOL...And before anybody else says it :D...No we are not just dislikable people, we luckily are able to refill our table again by making new friends onboard, and arranging them to join to join our table. Ever since everybody auto tips and tips are shared, staff does not make an issue about it...So it all ends well :D

Thanks for your replies, I was planning on writing an email to RCI about it, but will first await some replies here ;)

As a European I advise you to exchange in the most official place you can find asap...The 500€ bills are not widley excepted as they hold to much value, as a consequence to that a lot of shops, bars, restaurants etc dont take it as money because loads of people have never seen nor held the bill before and so cant make out if its counterfit or not.

Call RCI and ask if they can do it at guest services...If not get rid of them at the airport asap.(BTW 200 and 100€ bills are also nearly never used, or will give you crossed faces when they have to give you change to them....Get 50,20,10 and 5)

Hey all,

I never understood it and ALL cruises lines do it, even the once that are EU based, I don't see what legal firewall is prohibiting near ALL cruise lines on offering their discounts world wide...I would book an extra cruise per year if I would be able to safe up on a drink package and gratuities!

Anyhow, I thank you all for understanding my frustration ;) .

I switched to the US site after deleting history and cookies...and it did work than.

However it sort of makes me angry...I'm thinking the reason for the error is the offer on the cruise that is running right now...usually its only applicable to US and CA residents, its so unfear that we cant get those massive discounts or free gratuities or drink package...Its full prise for us on the cruise + the rest that the offer includes...I would not have known if they would have their IT in order. Now I am sort of reluctant to look further.

Anyhow thanks all for looking up the availability.

Plenty of balcony cabins available on the UK site as far as I can see.

Thanks mate! :) Time to contact X

Hey all,

I'm am hoping its a X site error...But nearly every sailing I look up, near ALL rooms any class are sold out (looking FEB and MAR)...I always get this ridiculous error message:

"Oops.

Unfortunately we ran out of Veranda staterooms for this sailing. Let's try again by choosing another class, shall we? Or search for a different sailing"

I just got this error message looking up Reflection March 26 2016...Can somebody, preferably not in a EU location (<-different site location) check if the same pops up when looking up this sailing.

Thanks!

EDIT: Sry for posting room....Cabin.....;)

Last sentence is on the dot...Royal's exchange rate is robbery.

I wonder if there is a good reason. I suspect that if they had to evacuate the ship it might be faster to use the lifeboats than to try and get everyone out down stairs and through a few small doors.

You nearly always need to use the stairs to get to the lifeboats :) unless you are on the deck where they are by coincidence...Plus one side of the ship will be at the port, so lowering lifeboats there will be a bit of a hassle and will probably injure more people when they hit the ground and probably fall over.

So looks like day two will be the winner so to read...Thanks!

Hey all,

Quick question if there is somebody on this board that had an overnight stay of the ship in the port of embarkation?

Our cruise on Serenade has an overnight stay in Barcelona and we would want to take full advantage of it.

However the muster can be downer here as it will be mandatory to stay on the ship till its over (usually around 5pm day one)...Ideal would be to have the muster on day 02 before the ship actually departs imo....However were down to guessing in the roll call on what day it can be.

Thanks!

I don't know why they don't list the correct port on the itinerary? I know there's lots of different places to travel to in the area but we wanted to keep it simple and relaxed as it is the first port of four back to back ports incl Rome and Florence/Pisa. I fear we'll be flagging as we have a 7 year old and there's a lot of walking involved with the other trips.

 

Thanks for the advice.

My advise, if you want to get off the ship, just go for a walk, on the 15 walk I told you about you will pass through a very impressive park at the sea side, its a great picture moment with ship in the background :D.

Also the town center of LSSM has a few bars where you can sit and have a drink, there is also a fisherman's harbour you can walk through.

It has always been like this, they ships NEVER docks in Toulon...Why they do this, I have no clue.

Head to the right when you get out of thee port, you will hit the town center of LSSM after a 15min walk , you can take a bus or a water taxi to Toulon from that point.

Do they still give free drinks on formal night on a 4 day cruise? Years back they gave you screwdrivers and rum punch do they still do this or is it just champagne?

Its more like a free drink (<-one) :D of the bad tasting (<-my taste) house sparkling white wine and non alcoholic fruit juice drink that they give out

If you want more, make friends with as much pool waiters as possible, they are normally also the people handing out the drinks, if they know you, you will get more ;) LOL