CruisingRoyally

I've stayed on deck 10 on both Freedom and Independence both mid ship with interior cabins and I had 0 noise issues. I think it's a great deck to be on because it's only one flight to the pool and windjammer.

No, regardless of how much you put down now, you follow all the same "deadlines" as if you only paid the minimum deposit. However, it won't make a difference to how quickly your room is assigned.

Hello, does anyone know if the Empress of the Seas has the Freestyle Coke machines?

 

Thanks in advance for any info you may be able to provide.

 

 

Go Saints!!!

No unfortunately Empress did not receive freestyle machines.

Ship - Empress of the Seas

Deck - 4

Stateroom # - 4611

Stateroom Category – Interior (Cat N)

Starboard or Port Side - Starboard

Quiet Stateroom? (With comments on problems) – No, located below the Schooner Bar, piano/singing and foot traffic very audible

Was stateroom a connecting stateroom? - No

Any specific problems with this cabin? - Noise level is the biggest problem. If you are a light sleeper, or early to bed avoid this room.

Any other comments? - Overhead lighting in the room is not good, bathroom and vanity lights are bright.

No, C&A benefits are specific to individual passengers, they are not shared with cabin mates.

I would have to agree that either there was a glitch or a category change if a single came out higher then a double. I have booked several single cabins when traveling with family, including all of my current upcoming. In the case of all of my upcoming cruises, my single room is cheaper (just slightly) then my families double rooms of the exact same category. This is caused by not paying the second persons taxes and port fees (also gratuities if you include them at booking).

Definitely less than it used to be. On my most recent sailings, it seems like other than the Captains daily announcements, the only other ones I heard were disembarking information while in ports.

Do RC ships stay on home port time or do they change to in-port time?

I have had cruises even to the Caribbean that the ship time changed to match the port. However, I haven't seen it recently. But if they do change the time it will be list on the Cruise Compass.

Ship time. Always stay on Ship time

I haven't been on Anthem, however most of the ships do offer an "All Access Tour" of the ship. Usually it contains a tour of the Bridge, Galley, Theater etc. Check the "Cruise Planner" on your reservation from the RCI website to see if it's offered and price.

You can use your Seapass to get cash from the casino. However, there is a minimum and a surcharge. I believe it's $50 min and 5% charge, but don't quote me on that.

Got the same message on two of the last three sailings. Only once did it seem like a longer than usual wait in the terminal. That delay was because if large then normal late disembarking guests and then getting through customs. But still ended up on the ship by noon.

Deck 14 forward is my preferred location for sail away.

The "hidden balconies" were nice also but that point is void given the changes from dry dock.

Does anyone know the price of the non alcoholic beverage package that includes premium coffee etc. ? The website doesn't have this information even if I access my reservation. Thank you.

If you access your reservation and click to enter the "Cruise Planner". All of the available beverage packages with daily price will be listed. The Royal Replenishment package includes premium coffee, premium tea, fresh OJ, non-alcoholic drinks, soda and bottled water.

Many are paying the same that you are for your cruise and probably many are paying more...no reason for them to be delegated to the WJ if they prefer the dining room service and menu's...enjoy your dinner and let them too. ;)

Why do I have to eat at the WJ without a jacket? You are now making me feel like I am Jack Dawson not being able to eat with you fine folks! 😎

To clarify, I'm not suggesting separation of classes. However, if they want to enjoy the MDR, then simply follow the dress code. Does it have to be a tux or suit, no. But my original comment was about the fact that saying the cruise lines don't enforce dress code has caused the extreme opposite of formal, T-shirts and shorts ect.

Question, If the OP said he prefers to enjoy the pool naked instead of in a swimsuit, would people still be saying "He paid too, let him enjoy it"???

The dress suggestions are not enforced by the cruise line and many people just wear whatever they want.

Although this is true, I don't think it's right this issue is continually perpetuated by the fact that everyone knows the cruise line won't do anything. I completely understand not wanting to have the extra hassle of lugging the suite around. If you don't want to do that, then eat at one of the other less formal options, like the WJ.

First, the Empress transfer was a debacle, now, reports are the Harmony is a total mess!!! They have changed their minds on the Majesty a few times. ANy thoughts on what is going on?

The problem with comparing Empress and Harmony issues is that you want to have your cake and eat it too. Empress was a "debacle" because when they started the Reno they found that it needed more work then anticipated. So they kept the ship in Dry Dock and completed the work. Disappointing? Yes including myself that was booked for second week of May on her.

Harmony on the other hand is being reported that it isn't ready. Now was that the fault of RCI or the Shipyard, I don't know, but either way lets also remember the complaints are about a pre-inaugural sailing. Work being done on the ship while it's "in service" is nothing new. From general cleaning to regular preventive maintenance, someone is always fixing or painting or replacing something.

As stated the Golf Channel and FOX are not available. However, I would wait and see if it's on one of the other channels. Several of the channels that the ship gets are Caribbean/Mexico channels. I've seen ESPN on the ship show things that are usually on one of the major networks, best example I can give, is the Superbowl.

I still haven't figured this out yet. Some ships require tickets to the ice show and some don't. On our last Oasis cruise, there was no one at the door and we just walked right in. On our previous Allure we needed a reservation. On Navigator we couldn't get a ticket to save our lives but on Freedom we just walked in.

I don't have a good or confirmed answer for for why it's different on different ships. I've always assumed it was at the discretion of the Cruise Director or someone else on board. In the last three years I've had: 1) Pick up paper tickets at "X" location for the show you want 2) Because of your Muster Station you go to "X" show. 3) Book the show you want and they scan your Seapass at the door. 4) also seen no one at the door as early as 15 minutes before show time and walked right in

Good to know as we also sail regularly from Galveston. Yes it is weird and would like to know the reason why.

 

We don't usually have one at sail away but enjoy plenty later in the cruise and would certainly miss them if that had been the case.

Also speculating on this one, but my thoughts on this. Texas, has a citrus quarantine as previously mentioned. This "Citrus" quarantine is due to Citrus Canker issue. Citrus Canker is disease that effects citrus, including limes. So I'm speculating that the Limes they get for the ship come from outside the quarantine zone they can't be cut/served etc inside the quarantine. Or vise versa they are from the quarantine zone and can't be cut/served in Texas outside the quarantine.

As a separate thought about the OP's comment in regards to tips. I know he mentioned that he changed rooms and lost the OBC. I assume this was because he changed rooms that resulted in a price change. I know he said he always pre pays, but was that confirmed that they were still prepaid on the new confirmation after the room change? If the OBC was lost then it was what they consider a completely new booking, maybe the agent forgot to add them. Just a thought, I do know sometimes mistake happens and they charge the room even if they were prepaid.

I am booked on a bogo 1/2 off oasis . What happens to the price if I want to add someone to the room after already booked solo? If I do a mock order, the price is at least 500 dollars more. Does that sound about right? I was thinking I could add someone at no additional charge since what I bought was already inclusive of another person. Hmmmm

The only difference would be the cost of taxes and port fees for the second person. I've done it before, both added and removing someone after price change. Since the cost for 1 person in a room is the same as 2 (except for taxes and port fees) you already basically have a cruise for two booked. Of course the cost of the taxes and port fees varies by ship & itinerary, but for the exact amount refer to your current booking confirmation. Whatever you were charged for "Taxes, Fees and Port Expenses" under Guest 1 is the amount more that you will be charged for adding a second person.

This is also assuming you didn't prepay the Gratuities. If you did you will have to add that in for the second person also, again your confirmation can give you the amount you need to add for that.

If I'm not mistaken from the information I read when I did my last on board booking. Wasn't the deposit amount that you paid for the cruise you booked the same amount as the OBC you received? Therefore you technically haven't lost anything by cancelling, because you would have paid the same amount on your stateroom bill at the end of the cruise.

I understand that you are saying that you specifically asked. However, there has to be a way for them recoup the OBC that they gave you if you cancel. Otherwise anyone could go an book 10 Next Cruises, get $500+ OBC, then go home and get all there money back.

My suggestion would be if you just feel you can't afford the cruise you booked now because you are looking to save, just change the booking for a later date. The Next Cruise bookings are transferable, so you could just call and have the cruise changed to something later on. Then when you feel you can afford it, pick one and change it again. Just make sure you remember the final payment due date for any changes you make so you don't lose the booking.

Here's a link to an article talking about Empress to Cuba. According to the article, Vicki Freed, Royal's senior vice president of sales, trade support and services was quoted as saying “We’re not going out too far, because we’re waiting for Cuba to open up,”

http://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Upgraded-Empress-could-become-Royal-Caribbean-Cuba-ship

Once they open up the terminal for check in you can proceed to check in at any point. There have been times that due to capacity within the terminal, especially terminal 29 at Everglades, that they will stop the process of going through security, until they begin boarding and make more room in the terminal. But simply put yes you can arrive earlier and no you won't be forced to wait till 12:30, you only have to wait behind whoever arrived before you.

Ship - Freedom of the Seas

Deck - 10

Stateroom # - 1307

Stateroom Category – K

Starboard or Port Side - Starboard

Quiet Stateroom? (With comments on problems) – Yes

Was stateroom a connecting stateroom? - Yes

Balcony View - Give comments on view, noting if location of any obstructions was an issue. – N/A

Balcony Size? Normal or oversized for class? - N/A

Was wind a problem? - N/A

If an aft cabin, was soot a problem? - N/A

Any specific problems with this cabin? - No

Any other comments? - Room as 2 Pullman beds, sleeps up to 4 people

It is not "free".

 

You paid Thousands of dollars for the cruise.

 

And they barely give you the basics.

 

But for an extra $20 a day, you can have the stuff we used to give you.

 

In 5 years you will be paying for the "ice water package".....

Little bitter aren't we? Do you not think it’s fairer for everyone if the overall cost stays low and you only pay for something you use? Tell you what maybe we let them raise the cost of the cruise for everyone by $100-$200 and then we get free soda, but why stop there. Heck why don’t we have them raise the cost by $700 for everyone and make the all the spa treatments free.

And I would hardly say that they “barely give you the basics”. You get a fully furnished room, even some with a view. You get 3 meals a day and you get to choose from more than several options, not to mention access to food available 24 hours a day. You get entertainment from team trivia to production shows and musicals. You get transportation to multiple ports around the world. Oh and you get more than just water to drink, tea, coffee, lemonade and juice cost them money and they include it. So if you only consider this “barely the basics” you must live a much different life from me. Maybe you should try a luxury cruise line, and then you can really “pay thousands of dollars”