lalalisa

On 4/11/2020 at 10:09 AM, NCMtnBoys said:

I went on an 8-night Empress of the Seas sailing in January. The last time I sailed Royal prior to that was in April 2018. 

 

While on Empress, I played slots in the casino probably 6 of the 8 nights, earning roughly 2250 points by the end of the cruise, having spent about $2500. I knew I wasn't going to quite reach the threshold to earn a free cruise but that was alright. But the day before disembarking they placed a letter in my room giving me $500 off a future cruise. 

 

Within the last couple of months (before all this virus mess started) I have gotten 3-4 mailings offering me a free cruise for two on certain sailings in the months up until September. I couldn't take advantage of any of those, as I have a Harmony of the Seas sailing booked for October. None of the offers I'd received in the mail went out as far as October.

 

Last night I came across this thread advising of the Club Royale Offers website. Out of curiosity I checked and lo and behold there was an offer out there for a complimentary Caribbean cruise in an Oceanview cabin with $100 in free slot play for the period of September to December 2020. I called and it is valid for any sailing except holiday sailings and Odyssey sailings. Since this includes my Harmony sailing and we were not past final payment, we booked the same Harmony sailing using the casino offer, paid to upgrade to a Balcony cabin (Oceanview, not Boardwalk or Central Park), and cancelled our original Harmony booking. We were originally in a Central Park Balcony with our original booking. For the new booking, the fee to upgrade from an Oceanview to an Oceanview Balcony cabin was $215 per person. We saved over $1300 by switching to the casino offer. 

 

I'm Choice, evidently, since I didn't earn 2500 points to move to Prime. The Club Royale Offers website is showing six other offers in addition to the one I booked, including a complimentary interior on Med sailings this year and another complimentary Oceanview for Caribbean sailings in July and August. I didn't think I'd get offers like this since I didn't earn 2500 points, but they keep coming.

 

Whether this cruise will sail in October is anyone's guess. But at this point, by switching offers I saved a ton of money and I don't owe a large final payment at the end of July. So I won't be in the boat of having to decide whether to make the large final payment or cancel, wondering if it'll sail in October. We can still cancel before the final payment date and receive all our money back, or wait and see if it's going to sail or if it's going to be cancelled, and go from there with whatever options are offered for reimbursement. 

I took advantage of a similar offer a couple days ago.  Booked my free cruise for two and it includes two passes to Thrill waterpark at CocoCay.  I hope things are back to normal by November!  I almost missed the date I had to book by....I will never ignore another email from Royal again!

3 hours ago, Texas Flood said:

It was over $700 difference.

That's a big drop, but you could see it drop even more.  They are trying to fill up the ship before the sail date.  If only I lived close to a port...

I try not to look at prices after final payment has passed.  

20 minutes ago, lovescats5 said:

Nope, not an issue.  Just excited to have the points.  Did not realize it was a bad thing.  Like I said, we would rather have a genie than a concierge.  And Twangster I guess you are correct.  It really does not mean that much and I would rather have the Suite perkes than the P status.  So my mistake, I am glad there is no acknowledgement for D or D+ and I will be more than happy to leave them to their crowded room while I spend my time in the Suite Lounge.  Thanks, all you people who have been a downer concerning the fact we did achieve the points for a new level in the Royal hierarchy.  I remember a post where some one made Gold on a cruise and everyone was excited for them.  Guess that just applies when they do not get to your level.

I'm excited for you!  I'll be on board too :) 

 

Just imagine, I'm excited to have bathrobes in my stateroom this trip LOL  

You'll be okay in an inside.  You probably won't want to hang out in there, but it will be just fine for sleeping.  You might be able to go to the fitness center and use the showers in there if you are all trying to get ready for dinner at the same time.  I think it was on our Allure cruise that my friends did this because they were 3 ladies sharing a room.

I was just watching the marine traffic and thinking of all the people that might be missing their flights today!  Hopefully not too many.  Looks like Royal's Enchantment is very late too.

A change in the spelling of your name is not a problem when applying for a passport.  (I'm an acceptance agent). 

17 minutes ago, like2cruise said:

I like Bloody Caesars too...have you tried one (clam juice)

No, I never have.  I'll give it a try in a couple weeks!  I remember my grandfather always had a bottle of clamato juice in the fridge.  He really liked that stuff!

Aruba had the most beautiful white sand beach I have ever seen.  I would book Freedom for that reason, if it were me! 

Nothing starts my day like Bloody Mary!  And later in the day I like to sip on a Miami Vice--which is half strawberry daquari, half pina colada.

 

I have MTD on my upcoming cruise.  I can go into the cruise planner and choose my times.

 

8 hours ago, ReneeFLL said:

We eat in the Windjammer a lot. One thing that I do is to never touch any buffet serving utensils with my left hand. If I want to eat some bread or touch any of my food I will only use my left hand for that. Right hand for utensils and left hand for food. 😀

That sounds like a good plan.  The others that say they go wash their hands....so what do you do with your plate of food? lol  Seriously though, I'm not too worried about it.  I always visit the buffet multiple times and have never gotten sick on a cruise (knock on wood).  

7 hours ago, thrifty99 said:

Hi Minnie - we were also on the shortened Harmony cruise back in September and are booked on the Harmony again in April. 
 

Just be extra careful / aware on your Harmony cruise.  I’d suggest avoiding food served with shared utensils (Windjammer self serve stations) and stick with food served by crew. I see too many clueless passengers coughing into their hand and then grabbing a serving utensil. 
 

As others said, use sanitizer as much as possible and don’t touch your face with your hands. 
 

With the additional restrictions on who can travel and health screenings you are probably safer on your upcoming cruise than we were on the Majesty 2 weeks ago. 
 

Have a great cruise!!!

Eek!  I might throw some gloves in my luggage and use one every time I go to the buffet.  We plan to eat there almost all our meals.

I've been wondering the same thing...I'm cruising the same dates (different ship).  I hate losing an hour of sleep. lol

2 hours ago, FLACRUISER99 said:

Sometimes the ships water can taste like you are drinking from a rusty can. If you haven't experienced this you haven't cruised enough.

I think you're right....I haven't cruised enough 😂😂😂

Hmmm...an electrolyte drink.  Just drink the ship's water.  It's purified with no weird taste. 

I was just reading a cruise compass and this is the info on one of the pages regarding the smoking areas:

To improve our guests' cruise vacation experience, we have designated the following smoking areas: Casino Royale on deck 5, open deck areas on starboard side decks 5 & 9.

I was on her last week. My favorite places were--
Breakfast- Park Cafe, for their made-to-order bagels
Lunch- Dining room (when open) and Windjammer when it was not.
Dinner- Only ate in the Dining room, except for the night we did the Rita's Fiesta, which I recommend! We had such a good time that night...good food, good service and even some dancing.

Funny....this is posted right on the RC website under dining options:

 

Brasserie 30

Join us for lunch on port days in the Main Dining Room. This venue serves world-class cuisine in 30 minutes or less by offering international fare, daily chef specials along with a Tutti Salad station.

 

I remembered reading it, because I thought it was only on sea days!

4 DAYS!!! Yahooooooo!!!! :D

So hard to wait, especially when it's booked so far ahead!

The waiting is almost over!!!

Just back from the 3 nighter on May 17th. I will be posting a review and pix in a day or so and will put up the compasses also, after I get them scanned.

 

I will say this...all in all a great staff, crew, ship, and cruise!!! :)

 

Great! Can't wait to read your review and see the compasses! :)

Our suite had them and it was awesome. I don't know if all the cabins do or not n

 

Thank you for the reply! We will be in a JS, if that makes any difference. Funny, I've searched this forum and the net but couldn't find anything saying they were onboard...just past reports that they are going to be.

I have a question...I had read that The Enchantment was one of the 5 ships that were getting iPads in every stateroom by 2014. Does she have them yet? I will be sailing in September. :D

Nothing earth shattering, but on the first formal night I realized I didn't have one single piece of jewelry to wear. Left it all at home. Luckily, my friends packed enough to share.

Fascinating thread! More stories, please! :)