S.A.M.J.R.

13 minutes ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

I think all three of you would be much happier in two cabins where everyone has their own bed. 

Our wallets wouldn't be though.

We're on Harmony next week.  DS is 6'0, but only 150.  I'll see if I can get a pic.

8 minutes ago, snaefell said:

20 coffees a day.....do you get any sleep?😆😆

Actually, I don't drink coffee and try to avoid caffeine.  I was trying to say someone who "gets their money's worth" out of the deluxe package without getting enough alcohol is wasting money. 

1 minute ago, goldfish65 said:

Maybe on this cruise, pay as you go, and see if you wished you had the package. 

 

One point people make about the alcohol package, is they can try new drinks and if they don't like them simply get another and that saves them money. But I think without the package, if you order a drink and don't like it, a bartender will replace it and not charge you. 

Or, you can buy a drink, don't like it, then throw it out.  Yes, you've "wasted" $14.  OK.  But how many drinks are people throwing away if they have the package?  If you (general) don't drink enough to cover your package price, how much money are you "wasting" there?  

19 minutes ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

If I wasn’t clear, I agreed with your approach to compare the price of the refreshment package to the price of the deluxe drink package. Similar to what you said, if I only drank two alcoholic drinks a day, it would be wiser to get the refreshment package and pay for the two drinks every day.  

God, I apologize.  I TOTALLY misread your post.  I saw "isN'T a good approach".  That's not what you wrote.  And I looked over it three times.  I am so sorry. 

1 minute ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

Looking at the price difference between the deluxe and refreshment packages is a good approach

People frequently comment on this site that the deluxe drink package includes a lot more than just alcoholic drinks, which I agree with 100 percent. However, if you are only having a few alcoholic drinks per day it wouldn’t make financial sense to buy the deluxe drink package. Most of the people I cruise with do not fall into that category. I have friends who are prime in the casino, diamond or diamond plus, and they still buy the deluxe drink package every cruise. 

God, I wish we could break up quotes.

First, WHY is it not a good approach to look at the price difference between packages?  Let's take your coffee person.  Let's say they drink 20 cups of coffee in a day, and one alcoholic drink.  Are you saying it's better that they get the deluxe package (at $75/day), when the refreshment package covers all the coffee, and the alcoholic drink is an extra $14 (so <$40/day)?  

It doesn't make financial sense to buy the deluxe unless you're going to have (purchase) at least four drinks a day every day of the cruise.  You can drink all of that on day 1 if you want.  

Just because others buy the deluxe doesn't mean it makes sense for everyone.  

I'm not going to begrudge anyone who feels they need to get the deluxe package.  BUT, if you looking at it financially, it comes down to how much you drink.  

It does give you the benefit of knowing how much your bar bill will be at the end of the cruise.  And that is worth "something".  

If you think you'll have four alcoholic drinks for each day of the cruise, sure, go for it!  If not, there are other options. 

8 hours ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

I assume you are talking about the deluxe drink package (not sure what the ultimate package is). Keep in mind the package covers a lot more than just alcohol drinks. Personally I hate coffee but I have friends who probably come close to breaking even with the amount of coffee they drink every day, without even counting drinks with alcohol.  

Yes, sorry, I keep mixing up the deluxe drink package with the ultimate dining package. 

Regarding other drinks, the refreshment package runs ~$50-60 cheaper per day than the deluxe, and includes EVERYTHING the deluxe does with the exception of the alcohol.  So you need to average at least four ALCOHOLIC drinks every day to justify the deluxe.  At least IMO. 

If someone is getting the deluxe, getting enough coffee, water, and soda to justify the price, and not getting alcohol, I'd still say they're wasting money. 

1 hour ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Love it on the internet that when someone gets corrected on something that they post and they try to spin it and put it all back on the person that corrected them.

True or false?  SOME people need to pre pay grats to sign up for MTD when booking (based on where they book from)?  Based on responses here, that's TRUE.  If that's wrong, go ahead, correct me.  

Assuming that's true, saying "RCI hasn't required pre-paid grats for 5 years" is the false statement.  Coming back and saying "Oh, I just meant for those booking in NA" is the "spin".  

1 minute ago, not-enough-cruising said:

As of now, absolutely nothing to worry about for Galveston, Sunday

 

A sharpie can fix that. 😉

58 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Sorry but it would be impossible to post variations for every country and this is very much predominately North American guests.  I was also replying to you who I see lives in NA.  If someone had a UK address in their signature I could have answered appropriately

I get it.  But adding "at least for NA bookings" I don't think is too much.

1 hour ago, Ourusualbeach said:

MTD has not required pre paid gratuities for the last 5 years or close to that

39 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

UK cruisers follow different guidelines.  I only post NA policies.

With all due respect, and I know you're very helpful on the boards, but if someone doesn't know your "rule" about only posting NA policies, they may take your first statement and assume it applies to them (which could be incorrect).  

15 minutes ago, Fishfan0073 said:

That $6.00 difference is money well spent when I don't have to think about what my bill will be at the end of the cruise.  Even if it is $6.00 per day X 7 days = $42.00 still a worth the worry free mentality.  

And that's fine.  I agree there is some benefit to having the package, other than the cost.  

To *ME*, I want to make sure I at least get close to breaking even.  The one time I had the Ultimate package, I needed to make sure I averaged 4 alcoholic drinks each day.  Easy at the start of the cruise, and on sea days.  Toward the end of the cruise and port days, yea, got a little difficult.  AND I was stressing over making sure I got my money's worth.  

At this point, the ultimate package does NOT make sense for ME.  And this is always what I advocate when people ask "is it worth it"... it's totally up to the individual.  You need to have a realistic expectation of what/how you drink. 

I don't know that I could agree "many people haven't found out about Park Cafe yet".  DW & I took our first cruise on Oasis in 2013.  This picture was taken about 30 minutes after boarding, and shows the line for Park Cafe...

Sign in to the web site.  You should see your upcoming cruise.  Click on "View More Details"

It opens down and you click "Luggage Tags".

That gives you a PDF to print or save.

As PP said, this won't show up until ~30 days from departure.

11 minutes ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

I have thought for a while passengers should be able to select Windjammer as a dining option. I have a few friends I cruise with occasionally who eat every meal in the Windjammer. I also know from reading online and watching videos that they are far from the only ones who only eat in the Windjammer. Allowing passengers to do this would keep people from being assigned to a table in the MDR that they will never use. 

Or, allow them to select MTD and not require pre-paid grats.  Then, MTD = "any venue, with no specific time".  Truly "MY time Dining". 

I think it's the polite and nice thing to do to notify them you won't be needing the table.  That frees it up for someone on the waitlist or someone w/MTD.  If you want to do that once you're on board (to avoid pre paying grats), I get it, but I think it should be done. 

3 hours ago, Scottdalfonso said:

No, only for the Key package holders, otherwise you still have the Windjammer, Sorrentos, and the specialty restaurants, including Playmakers and Johnny rockets, and I think El Loco Fresh is open, as well. 

Park Cafe? Or is that considered "specialty".

6 hours ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

One thing people tend to overlook is you only pay gratuity on the daily amount of the drink package. So if I buy the drink package at $75 a day, I pay 18% gratuity on $75. Now if I drink 6 drinks a day at $14 each without the drink package, I am paying 18% gratuity on $84 (6x14). I realize this is a simple example, but you can also save money gratuity wise if you decide the deluxe drink package makes sense for you to buy. 

On the flip side, if you got the package and only have 5 drinks a day, you "used" $82 (5x14+18%), but you spent $88 (75+18%). 🙂

3 hours ago, Sizzlechest said:

 

Where did you read in my post that I said "including all closed loop cruises?"

Well, you quoted a post referring to closed loop cruises, so it stands to reason thats what you were referring to.

54 minutes ago, Sizzlechest said:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go/travelers-with-special-considerations/cruise-ship-passengers.html

 

"Apply early for your passport, or make sure your current one will be valid at least six months beyond your travel dates and has two or more blank pages. Your cruise company may also require you to have a passport even if U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) or foreign port of entry does not."

 

Where does that page talk about closed loop cruises?  

Many (most) cruisers also don't take their passports off the ship with them.  That page you linked says you should.  

Now, please, explain the logic, where, on a cruise where a passport isn't even required, you need to have 6 months left on it if you bring it?  

8 minutes ago, dragontrainer said:

I'm not the OP, but decided to look it up to see where in North America this is the case (I'm more aware of it for travel to Europe).

 

Looking at countries on the US governement site (Travel.state.gov) countries I found for a quick search are:

Antigua and Barbuda (technically 180 days)

Cuba (6 months)

French West Indies (6 months)

Grenada (6 months)

Haiti (6 months)

Trinidad and Tobago (6 months)

Honduras (3 months)

 

There are notes for some that it is for airlines and private sea vessels, while cruises are noted in places as accepting WHTI compliant documents:

 

For example (Antigua and Barbuda International Travel Information (state.gov))

Passports and visa: U.S. citizens must have a U.S. passport that is valid for 180 days following your departure date. No visa is required if you have an onward or return ticket, confirmation of accommodation, and can produce evidence of your ability to maintain yourself. Passport cards are not accepted.

NOTE: Generally, all U.S. citizens are required to present a valid U.S. passport when traveling to Antigua and Barbuda, as well as proof of anticipated departure from the country. This includes travelers arriving by airplane and by private sea-going vessel. Those traveling to Antigua and Barbuda on a cruise may use another Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) compliant document. However, we strongly recommend visitors obtain a passport before travel in case of an unforeseen emergency that requires a cruise passenger to disembark and return by air.

 

With all of that said, for some on even this list it's likely a semantic argument as closed-loop cruises may be treated differently.

I think your last sentence sums it up.  Again, if you're allowed to use a BC/DL, why would you HAVE to have 6 months left on a passport.  

Not that we've been on a lot of cruises, but we've always used TAs.  We've gotten price breaks and OBC to make it more financially "worth it".  

There's horror stories and good stories for both. 

Just now, cruisinfly said:

Thank you for the well wishes. I'll post if I find out about any changes. Things are still a bit iffy but I think we have a good chance of cruising, somewhere, at least!

I noticed you do have two sea days on the front end, so that should give them some options on where to go.  We just have one sea day, and I'm honestly not sure what the options even would be (but I don't think it will be needed, at least for us). 

51 minutes ago, Sizzlechest said:

One more thing to worry about: If you have a passport, make sure they don't expire within 6 months of travel. Certain countries will not accept them. People have been prevented from boarding because of this.

Name 5.  

If you can cruise with a BC, you can use a passport that's going to expire within 6 months. 

1 hour ago, Fishfan0073 said:

Second, the ability to try new things and just throw them away if we do not like them.

And of course, you can do that if you buy a la carte also.  

"But then I fell like I'm wasting money!"  -- A valid point.  BUT, if you don't drink enough after buying the package, you're wasting money.  

So it really comes down to how much to you (general) REALISTICALLY think you'll drink.  No one can answer that except for that individual. 

The individual should also take into account (in my opinion), if they're going to get tired/burned out on the alcohol (sacrilege to some, I'm sure).

"But water and juice and coffee is included, not just alcohol".  It's also included in the package that's $50-60/day CHEAPER.  So, are you (again, general), going to drink enough alcohol to justify that $50-60/day extra?  Four alcoholic drinks a day, every day. 

I tried it once, and I was ALWAYS counting my drinks, because I wanted to make sure I wasn't wasting money.  I'd rather throw out a drink I don't like (which I've done) and "waste" $15 than come up short on the week and possibly waste $50-100.