S.A.M.J.R.

Pretty sure there's only a single sports court on Harmony. And it will be used for Volleyball, Basketball, and Soccer in addition to Pickleball.

eh, I just wanted a different word than "service". My point still stands.

If it's in the checked luggage, how do you cut the zip ties to get to it?

I'm assuming they have studies done that shows how many people purchase at each price point. If you have 100 people purchase at $63.99, you need 75 people to purchase at $85.99. So even if they lose 20% of their $63.99 sales, they're STILL ahead of the game. While it's not a "supply and demand", the role of any business is to get people to pay the most for the product.

You still won't have a leg to stand on unless the amenities list daily house keeping. If you assume that and show up to find out it's done on the 4th or 5th day, guess what? You still aren't getting it daily.

Or, you can call RCI, get the over 21 "non-drinker" a refreshment package and the "drinker" the deluxe package.

That's good that you have expectations. I'll tell you right now those expectations won't be met in the future. So, now what are you going to do? Unless the answer is "we won't cruise again", Royal doesn't care (they'll claim they do, but they really don't).

Marriott, Hilton, and Disney (this article is from a year ago)... Marriott's policies vary by property, but housekeeping is usually offered only upon request, with all rooms cleaned automatically every sixth night. Hilton's default is no more daily cleanings at most properties unless requested. Walt Disney World reduced service to light housekeeping every other day. That entails towel replacement and trash removal but doesn't necessarily include services you might expect, like getting your bed made. Other hotels have schedules, like the Hotel Solares in Santa Cruz, California: Three-night stays or fewer, no service, while six-night stays or fewer are cleaned once. The hotel recommends you leave trash outside your door. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hotels-end-basic-amenities-no-more-housekeeping-skimpflation/

Or people just accept they were business decisions made during covid, and since people didn't stop booking, they didn't need to go back to the previous levels. Maybe if people stop booking, hotels and cruises will start bringing back the "perks".

Many (most?) hotels are going to cleaning every 4-5 days. So I've done it. It's been fine. Dishes and cups? Call room service and tell them you're done. Wet towels? I generally only shower once a day, and if you hang them up, they'll dry out. If you ball them up and leave them on the floor, they'll stay damp. Full trash? How much are you generating in a day?

We've had to do it every time. And we spent a lot of time on the road with the kids at sports tournaments. It started during the pandemic. I've stayed in about a half dozen hotels in the last three and a half months. Every one has a note on the bathroom mirror saying they'll only clean every 4th or 5th day unless specially requested.

Our first cruise in 2013 stopped at Labadee. DW and I got an OTW cabana for $250. That also gave us access to the barefoot beach lunch. We stopped there on our cruise in July. Cabana prices have SKYROCKETED. Well over $1k (I think some push $3k). That's definitely different. They used to have a "ferry" to take you from the dock to/from Columbus Cove. Didn't see those running at all during our July cruise.

This is totally true. BUT, why shouldn't Royal find ways to cut costs/increase income PROVIDED people are still booking?

You carry your ice bucket while walking around the ship? I do think comparing to what you do at home is a little "apples to oranges"... I mean people do go on vacation so they DON'T have to do the same thing they do at home. I still compare this more to a hotel stay. And MANY hotel chains have gone from 1x/day cleaning to every 4-5 days. I've never been to a hotel where they've pulled out/put up the sofa bed.

Then it's between the bride and groom and the guests that wore shorts, right? As another guest, it has no impact on me.

Not necessarily. The passengers COULD put the sofa bed back to a sofa/return it to a bed at night... you know, like people do in hotel rooms. This isn't really any different than staying at a hotel in the US while on vacation. In fact, many hotels have gone away from once a day cleaning and is now every 4-5 days unless you request otherwise.

Please explain. Why do so many people pay attention to those OTHER than in their dining party?

How do you figure? Let's say for all cruises starting today, no one tips. So all of the workers lose out on that money. They're upset, but they're under contract (I don't know how "tight" the contract is). So now they have to work without getting that tip money until the end of their contract. So the workers suffer. Maybe new workers won't come on since they're not getting tipped. So Royal has to do (or tries to do) the same with less. So the passengers suffer. After some time with that, Royal finally decides to give the workers a decent enough wage that they don't have to rely on tips. How long until that happens? Until which the workers and passengers suffer. Sounds like a plan! 👍

That's a separate line item. Here's the pic from earlier...

So they're doing 25 cabins now and are getting bumped up to 30? And, you keep bringing in the $5 for housekeeping. Multiple people have posted the sheets that $3.55 (out of the $14.50) goes to housekeeping. So, if they're getting $1.50pppd, that would be 10%. However... if you take 25% of the $14.50 (old per person per day total), that's $3.62... awfully darn close to the $3.55. In fact, $3.55 (based on the sheets posted) is 24.4%. Are you sure THAT'S not the "25%" you've read on multiple sources? And, where do you get the $3500 from? Are you sure that includes tips? $3500/month * 10 month contract would be $35,000. Even with room and board included, that seems REALLY low to me, especially if you're including tips.

The note says "house keeping services". Does some need to go to those who do the laundry? I would think the attendant would get at least 50% if not more. It would be nice to know where @resetjet got the 25% from.

triple post

double post

Who gets the other 75%?

I guess that's following their policy, but it really doesn't make sense... A 3yo can travel (and berth with) cousin, grandparents, whoever, as long as there's an "adult" (21+). Just bring the "permission to travel" form, right? BUT if the same 3yo is on the same cruise with their parents, they can't berth with the same cousin, grandparents, adult?