katiel53

18 hours ago, Edward51 said:

  Thanks for pointing that out.  The card is even more reasonable than I thought.

 

Is there a particular coffee place that you like on Oasis Class ships?

I get my Mocha at the Cafe Promenade.  The standard size is 1 punch and the large is 2 punches.  They use Starbucks coffee there and have a few choices available.

On 12/24/2023 at 11:11 AM, alfaeric said:

It’s interesting that some of the people who want to be first on are the ones who want be first off. To us, boarding around 1pm is easy, and departing at 9am gives us a little more sleeping time. 

 We like to board as early as possible because we always get the UDP and, at this time, we aren't able to make reservations for the restaurants we want until we are onboard.  Waiting to get on until 1 or so means we won't get our choices as there are times when boarding early, we don't get some of the times we want.

As far as debarking early, to me, when it's over, it's over.  We also have flights to catch so we prefer to do self debarkation if that means we get home several hours earlier than staying onboard to sleep in another half an hour or so.  

On 12/5/2023 at 3:06 PM, lovesthebeach2 said:

I would like detail on these:
Culinary services staff

Other Hotel services teams

Others who work to enhance the overall cruise experience.

 

so even though they said 100% go to these groups, who knows who is actually IN these groups of “staff”,  “teams”,  “cruise experience enhancers”

 

staff could be anyone from bathroom cleaners to the Captain..they’re all staff.

 

 

On 12/5/2023 at 3:06 PM, lovesthebeach2 said:

I would like detail on these:
Culinary services staff

Other Hotel services teams

Others who work to enhance the overall cruise experience.

 

so even though they said 100% go to these groups, who knows who is actually IN these groups of “staff”,  “teams”,  “cruise experience enhancers”

 

staff could be anyone from bathroom cleaners to the Captain..they’re all staff.

 

 

I asked this question while on a ship a couple of years ago.  I was told that it is everyone that works on the ship except for the officers.  That includes the entertainment staff as well as guest services.  

On 11/20/2023 at 11:25 AM, livingonthebeach said:

 

It's advertised as the following:

 

"Whole Maine Lobster — 2 lb.: Stuffed with crab, topped with creamy béchamel sauce and grated Gruyere, then baked until golden brown served with choice of side"

 

I'm looking forward to indulging in the above on my Navigator cruise next week. I'll take two extra tails to make up for the half pound deficiency any day! 

 

On Wonder, I asked if the lobster was stuffed with the crabmeat as that's how I had it previously, but was told that it was just a plain lobster.  The menu didn't indicate anything about its'  being stuffed and that was another reason for asking.  I told the waiter that wasn't what I wanted.  He asked me what part of the lobster I liked and told him just the tail unless stuffed.  He said I can bring you up to 4 lobster tails.  I told him 2 would be fine.  This was in October.  The lobster tails were delicious.

On 10/15/2023 at 11:39 AM, Tree_skier said:

I'd like to know what sailing this is for.  Is there something special about this sailing that caused this or is truly an indication that this is the future.

We were on WONDER  Oct 8-15 and Diamonds weren't allowed in the lounge in the evening.  We are D+ and didn't try to go in the lounge, but heard a lot of complaints about the exclusions of Diamonds in the lounge.

On 9/22/2023 at 2:19 PM, firefly333 said:

I mentioned my 5 pm time Wednesday got changed to 745 pm monday with no notice to me. I just saw this post from the lady I shared a table with... .beware. started this week she said.

 

"FYI, Royal has just begun enforcing that Diamond Plus specialty dining must used night 1 or 2 ONLY, which of course means one cannot get to MDR for formal night  dinner. I suggested the Loyalty Ambassador  to the pass that on to her bosses that they at least let us use it night 3 as an option."

I have to disagree that with the policy of only being able to use the BOGO on nights 1 or 2, it means one cannot do formal night in the MDR.  On my Wonder of the Seas cruise 10/8, the first formal night is night 3 instead of night 2.  I think some other cruises/ships have changed the formal night to a sea day which is day 3 in many cases.

On 8/3/2022 at 7:11 PM, Bencruisin said:

That's exactly what I'm doing.  I had travel insurance so I'm not expecting to be out that much.

I'm sure you have checked your insurance to see if you have a valid claim.  I know that most insurance companies don't cover not having the proper boarding docs as that is the cruiser's responsibility.  As far as the RC agent's not telling you about the Puerto Rican birth certificates, I feel she/he answered your question as to the acceptability of a birth certificate.  I would not expect the agent to discuss Puerto Rican regulations. 

I'm sorry you were denied boarding and posting on here may help others even if not you.

If the drink ordered is more than $14, she would pay the additional charge plus 18% gratuity.  Having said that, I order frozen drinks and have not gone over the $14 limit.

When we were on Mardi Gras last year, we had to cancel the Chef's table at the last minute because my family was chosen to be on Family Feud and since one of the contestants in the family was 15, we couldn't get to do the later shows.    We cancelled and our refund was applied to the Sail & Sign card as we were onboard.  It was NOT refunded to the original payment.  

I wonder if that may have been the case with the OP.

I love the pork belly appetizer and the Lobster Thermidor.  The peanut butter taste is to die for!

I rented a scooter from Scootaround.com.  It was waiting for me outside the ship at Pt Canaveral.  It was so easy to pick it up there and ride it onto the ship.

I had asked the shuttle driver from the hotel in Orlando,

where I would pick up the scooter and he drove us right to where the pick up was so I didn't have to walk far.  When we got off the ship, I was able to ride the scooter all the way to the shuttle.  Scootaround had a rep meet me, unknown to me, when I got off the ship and the rep went all the way to the shuttle so he could drive it back to the original location.  It was really great and I'd rent from them again without any question.

On 6/23/2023 at 11:49 AM, jenrock said:

Were you the main person on the room or was your wife?  I am asking because my dad may not be able to go and he is main person for the room.  So if he doesnt go, he has a great casino rate,  does the rate change for the second person.  

I have not personally experienced this, but from what I have read, if it is a casino rate and the person who has/had the offer does not board, the other in the room will be charged the full price.  I would call Carnival and ask what would happen so that I wouldn't be surprised.  

Please post the info Carnival tells you should you call to ask.  Thanks.

For the last several years we have only sailed on Oasis class ships.  Chops has not been open for lunch because the wait staff etc are used for the Key which is now served in the MDR.

The Key passengers get a Chops lunch on boarding day as part of the program.  We have gone to Giovanni's/Jamies, Playmakers and Sabor for lunches, depending upon what ship we were on.

We get the UDP on all our cruises.  We tip  $5 per person for lunch and $10 per person for dinner.  While in the restaurants we use our Diamond vouchers for a drink at lunch and a couple or 3 glasses of wine with dinner.

There is no tip included for the Diamond drinks, so we feel we should definitely tip extra and some of that tip is for the great service we get.  

We had dinner at Wonderland on Symphony and wouldn't do it again. It was not our first time dining in Wonderland.  I have an allergy to shrimp and allowed our waiter to order for us as long as it wasn't shrimp.

We had been to Wonderland on Harmony and felt it was just okay,  but this time we had someone  new traveling with us so wanted to try it again.  I think the biggest problems were the waiter and the Mad Hatter, who was almost invisible because he spent his time talking to the people next to us. They ordered a drink with cotton candy and he brought them a huge bowl of cotton candy.  When he wasn't talking to the people next to us, he was up at the counter where food was prepared.  He just kind of hung out there and didn't spend time with other tables.

Our waiter seemed to be high on something because he lost  his place in what he was bringing us.  We were on the entree and he came again with the liquid lobster and then the "dirt" vegetables. We told him we had already had those courses and he said he knew we liked them so brought them again.

Perhaps things have improved since we were there in January, but it is a don't do again venue for us.

8 hours ago, Donsyb said:

We were under whelmed by Chops as well.  It was fine, not bad, but the steak lacked seasoning and we expected more.

 

we are planning Hooked, Wonderland, and 150 CP using the 3 night package on our next cruise, I also got Izumi Hibachi when they had the really low price a few weeks ago.

The OP is going on Harmony and, unfortunately, there is no Hooked restaurant.

2 hours ago, tokidoki said:

Thx! On the Royal blog, I was surprised when he recommended that if someone ordered a drink to get a water too, but it seemed like it was free?  

I believe the person advising to get a bottled water when ordering a drink had the alcohol beverage package.  It is no charge to them, but being Diamond, it counts as one of your 4 drinks.

We were on Mardi Gras in October and on Symphony of the Seas two weeks ago.  Each ship has its' own benefits.  I liked the cabin size on Symphony whereas, on MG, I felt as though it were a smaller space and felt crowded.

I liked how the shops etc were on one level on Symphony and wasn't crazy about how they were on different levels on MG.  It seems, to me, MG is very chopped up as opposed to more open, usable spaces on Symphony.

I liked the game shows on MG.  They had enthusiastic audiences.  I thought the entertainment on Symphony was better in that we enjoyed the ice skating show, the Aqua Theatre show and the fact that there was a Broadway show.  Carnival is more do it  yourself/audience participation.  I didn't like having to make reservations for shows on Symphony.  

One thing we all liked better was the choices for included food as opposed to Symphony.  When we sail an Oasis class ship, we always choose the UDP because food in the dining room isn't that great.  On MG we went to the steak house, which was wonderful as we had 11 people and we were seated in a small separate room when we went for dinner. The steak house on MG is considerably less expensive than Chops.  We liked the Italian restaurant and there was no charge for it where the Italian restaurant on Symphony had a charge for lunch and dinner.

We were disappointed in Rudy's as a few of us had the lobster stuffed with crabmeat and the crabmeat wasn't fresh.  It was kind of awful and none of us ate more than one bite of it.  We all liked Shaq's and some of us weren't crazy about Guy's burgers.  For me, they were too overdone, but I do understand needing to cook them well done. Chi Bang was interesting.  We all loved the beignets at Emeril's.  We didn't get to try some places, but will do so another time.  

One of my favorite parts of MG is the casino and all of us who gambled loved how large the non-smoking area was.  Symphony casino is not as chopped us as MG, but it appears smaller overall.

We usually sail on RC and MG was a ship we all wanted to try.  I wouldn't hesitate to sail on MG again or Celebration.  They're just different styles of ships, but both were a great vacation.

DRUMEXPERT510

"For my main, this is where Chops doesn’t win… usually I have been getting two entrees to try around the menu. At Jaime’s, I was able to get a half sized Pasta and another entree. At 150 I was able to get the tenderloin and the lobster Thermidor… But at Chops, I was told only one entree or it would be an additional $10. This seems weird to me because I find the service, food and quality of 150 to be wayyy higher then Chops (I mean even the bread is better) and to go further with it, you get lobster included at 150 and at Chops it is around a $20 up-charge. It just seems like if they are going to implement that rules it should be at all of their restaurants, none of them or maybe 150… that’s just my observation."

I wanted to quote your post without the photos, but I am not savvy enough to know how to do that, so I just posted the part I wanted to quote.

I don't understand why you were told an extra entree would be $10 when this is what it stated on the RC website regarding the Unlimited Dining Plan:

Overview

"Savor the savings with the Unlimited Dining Package. For one low price, you can enjoy multiple entrees and visit multiple specialty restaurants every night of your sailing. And as an added perk, this unlimited package also applies to lunch at specialty restaurants on sea days."

If one is allowed multiple entrees, isn't a second one considered part of the multiple?  I haven't ever asked for a second, but I'd have a really hard time accepting a no should I desire a second one based on THEIR OWN info.

On 1/4/2023 at 3:55 PM, Ret MP said:

It has been our experience that if you are in the CK, or any venue for that matter, and there is something that is being served in the MDR that you want, they will get it for you if you ask.  Of course, tip generously if that happens.  No matter where we eat, we always check what is being served in the MDR so we don't miss anything.  I actually had baklava delivered to me in the CK.   

 

We were in the Hibachi one night on the Symphony and my granddaughter who hates any kind of seafood, she's actually allergic to much of it, had a JR's burger, fries and shake delivered to her in the Hibachi.  I don't think the same accommodations can't/won't be made in the CK.  

 

Keep in mind, I/we tip often and generously.  LOL

Geez, once again you and I disagree!  We were on Harmony in Chops in July and I asked our waiter for the lobster tail that was served in the MDR on the second formal night.  I was told he couldn't do that and he sent the Chops manager over to speak with me.  

I explained that on Allure in June we were able to do that as well as get the beet salad from 150 in Chops. (Not both the lobster and beet salad on the same night as we had dinner in Chops 3X.)  I was told by the manager there was no way this was going to happen on Harmony and he was tired of hearing about how things were on Allure.  I had NEVER spoken to the manager prior so I am guessing others have told him the same thing.  

He told me it wasn't safe to transfer food from one restaurant to another, which made me wonder what was in the food that made it unsafe to go a short distance, but I just let him know how disappointed I was.

I am going on Symphony soon and asked through instant messenger if I will be able to get the lobster tail in Chops along with my Chops steak on the second formal night and was told no.  So now, at least from my experience,  RC is not allowing food from one restaurant to be served in another one. 

I guess I should go to dinner early in the MDR, get my lobster and then go late to Chops, lol.  Seriously though, I couldn't /wouldn't do that, but that seems like the solution RC is offering.

Allure is my favorite Oasis class ship, but I have only sailed from FL on her.  I have not yet sailed on Wonder, but that is going to be the next one I book.

When sailing from Pt Canaveral, we stay in Orlando and take a shuttle to the port.  It is less expensive in Orlando and the shuttles we have used were excellent.

Harmony is my absolute least favorite ship of all time.  We always get the UDP and there is a big difference with that program on Harmony.   For example, at 150 Central Park, the lobster Thermidor is always at least one piece less than on Allure and Symphony.  The first time we went to 150, the serving size was 1/2 a lobster tail whereas on Allure it was 2 halves, and the same on Symphony.

The next time we were on Harmony, the lobster was 2 halves, but on Allure, it was 3 halves.  On Symphony and Allure if we wanted something from another restaurant in place of an app served, we could get it.  For example we would order the beet salad from 150 at Chops.  Harmony was a flat out no!

We were able to get the lobster served in the MDR on the 2nd formal night served in Chops on Allure and Symphony.  Not on Harmony.

 These are just a couple of examples and there are others such as giving wrong info for self service debarkation with someone with a scooter.  It seems, to me, the hotel manager or perhaps the food and beverage manager is more concerned with the bottom line for his department than any service to passengers.

I have not sailed on RC since July and I have been led to understand that serving food from anyplace other than the restaurant the passenger is in, is no longer available.  I am ok with it if it is  a company wide policy, but not just for one ship.

I know there are many who will think my thoughts are silly, but one of the main reasons we cruise is for the food in the specialty restaurants.

37 minutes ago, Ret MP said:

Ya, I believe that is what it is at Chops, crispy pork belly with some BBQ sauce or some sweet sauce drizzled on it. 

The bacon served in Chops is a long piece of bacon that is thick  sliced and served with a glaze.  The pork belly in 150 is about an inch square.  They are totally different, but to many, both delicious.

2 hours ago, Ret MP said:

My favorite at Chops, other than the Ribeye, is the BBQ or whatever it is, pork belly. 

 

  

I don't like the bacon or whatever it is called there, but i love the crispy pork belly at 150 Central Park.  It is just a small piece, but it is so crispy and delicious.  I think that's part of why 150 is my favorite restaurant.

I was told by RC that the new "permanent" menus were starting Jan 1 and looking at Symphony, the menus do look slightly different from what I remember seeing on the test menu.  It appears that the strip steak and some kind of Bolognese are shown nightly, whereas, they weren't on the test menu.

I rented a scooter when I sailed on Harmony in July,  I did not have a handicap cabin and with the scooter inside the cabin, it was very, very tight and not easy to get around to use the lavatory at night.

I decided to see if the procedure I used on Allure in June was the same on Harmony and it was.  I was told I could keep the scooter in the hallway for short periods during the day.  I did so when showering for dinner etc and when it was bedtime, I parked the scooter and called housekeeping.  They picked up the scooter, charged it overnight and returned it in the morning.

This worked well for me and I plan to do the same on Symphony.