ticktoneer

what is your rationale for that? I find nothing wrong with the wording especially since so many people CANNOT get married legally yet in America.

 

and for that matter lots of people choose to not get married at all for whatever reason.

 

isn't the whole point of a honeymoon to celebrate your love?

I disagree with you :-)

We had yet another fabulous meal in Paris this lunchtime. Laduree, which is on Champs Elysees. It's a world renowned tearoom and restaurant. You can have brunch or lunch, or dinner there. They also sell the most fabulous macaroons. Bookings recommended; we hadn't reserved and didn't have to wait long but the queues did become quite long, especially for just the macaroon purchase..... pics to follow!!

 

We meet up with a cousin from England who had the foresight to marry a Frenchman and lives in the capital. We now have a couple of hours to spare before dinner with the whole group! The diet starts tomorrow!

Thanks for an excellent blog Linda.

Would you do another river cruise?

So.

 

Let's talk noise.

Am in my room and we are under way.... will dock in Viviers in an hour or so....

 

I thought the engine sound in my room was bad enough, tolerable though. But we are under way and I feel like the Northern Line is running under my bed.... that's the London Underground for the US readers.... I have no idea if there is a warning on this location that there is noise involved.... room #2... I have just been offered to sleep in #1 or #3 which are vacant but they are in the same area. Tomorrow night we will be sailing all night.... I may go to sleep in the library..... peaceful as anything in there....

 

I'd appreciate it if anyone reading this can see what warnings are posted about noise in this area.... I didn't make the booking myself and what with my foot hurting like anything (I have a blister the size of a tartelette on the bite I picked up on the first night on board.... will visit a pharmacy first thing in the morning) I am currently feeling very hard done by.

 

Oh deep joy...... the hacking cough noise has subsided to a quivering rattle..... we are either in another lock or we are pulling in for the night.

 

Time to post some more pics I think.

Aw, I hope you start to enjoy it more :-)

If so, what was the dress attire? Business casual (jackets for men/dress for woman)

What is the menu like when eating with the Captain?

We dined at the Captains table with him last September on Freedom of the Seas.

We met 45 mins before dining and were served cocktails. Dinner was a special menu and you got to keep the menu along with being presented with a photo of all the Captains Table diners and the Captain that evening.

It was a formal, really memorable occasion.

Hooray !!! Can't wait to hear all about your adventure :-)

Have a FANTASTIC time !!

Can anyone comment on what their favorite dishes from the dining room, buffet, promenade or room service are that they are enjoying now that RCI has changed their menu. Thanks.:)

I like that they have BBB Crème Brulee available every day ! Yum Yum

And the Chicken Sliders in the MDR Brasserie 30 lunchtime menu are great.

Remember a lot of those points were acclimated back in the olden days when Mario would book short cruises and get upgraded to a suite and get double points so a 3 days cruise would now = 14 points after the conversion. I'm just trying to say that 4000 points does not necessarily equal 700 cruises and not knocking Mario's accomplishment.

I agree. It has always bugged me and still does that when people say we have sailed xxxxx nights with RCI that most of them really haven't sailed that many nights as many have got double points from suites or promotions

Thank you Ticktoner that's all I wanted to know. I don't want to do my time dining because that starts at six and am used to eating at five so even early seating is a little hard to do.

I appreciate your civil response and my worry was that the tips I paid would go to people other than wait staff. Again I thank you.

 

Sharon

No problem. Happy cruising. Let me know I can be if any further help :-)

Seriously You think I should sit down and read 20 pages of comments to get a simple answer. Seriously!! A simple answer was all that I was looking for not sarcastic remarks from someone who has already been on this particular subject from the very start. Thanks for the info!!!

 

Sharon

Ummmm.. . . . No !

Hopefully ask the question on here and a polite person might reply rather than a flamer shooting you and your question down.

Seriously You think I should sit down and read 20 pages of comments to get a simple answer. Seriously!! A simple answer was all that I was looking for not sarcastic remarks from someone who has already been on this particular subject from the very start. Thanks for the info!!!

 

Sharon

Hi Sharon. I'll give you a civil answer without judgement or you being patronised. Some people on here are just plain horrible.

Yes the gratuities do include all waiting staff - for example you will still eat breakfast and lunch in the WJ and these staff are all waiting staff.

Hope that helps.

Kind regards & Happy Cruising :-)

Thanks for the kind words.

 

That's a beauty you have on your avatar. ;)

Thanks - I've got 3 Bernese Mountain Dogs and he is my beautiful boy called 'Toby'

(Sorry to hi-jack the thread with this post . . . . )

Edit - (Lol - I've just noticed that its my thread anyway )

Again... I never said it would lead to "bad" service. Of course they want to keep their job.

 

But, IF (and I don't know if tips are pooled as some suggest) the tips are pooled.... why give A+ service when the average server give B+ and no one complains.

 

LOL I hope that makes sense. I am not the best writer in the world.

 

If "everyone" makes the same..... incentives to be BETTER are gone. That doesn't mean anyone, let alone everyone, will be "bad".

I don't think you're "not the best writer in the world".

Your posts have been very well written and clear.

Thanks and keep on posting :-)

Hi :) We're going on Indy from Southampton in August. We started cruising on Thomson then we went on Ventura last year and loved it. It will be DD 14th birthday the day we go she is so excited, she didn't come on the Ventura so I am sure she will be amazed.

She WILL be amazed. You are going to have such a great cruise.

:-)

Royal Caribbean has switched over to the same gratuity collection system as Celebrity. Despite what those who deny it in this threa claim... tips are pooled now on Royal Caribbean.

They are not pooled :-)

:confused: its just my opinion. Sorry I won't post anymore. hanks for your other comments.

Ifoundmydream - you'll find people on here don't like opinions if it doesn't agree with theirs.

They don't just give their opinion back - on top of this they have to flame you and shoot yours down.

You'll have a much nicer experience on your first RCCL cruise :-)

Have a GREAT time

ahoy shipmates

 

 

if you must ask, then you wouldn't comprehend my reply

ok.

AHOY SHIPMATES

 

I dont know how to bump so please read my post- 80 on page 4 of this thread

I've read it. Now what ????????

Thanks Gina. That's great clarification straight from staff.

Cheers!

there are many things that are more of a problem on Cruise Critic than they are in real life!

So true !! So true !!

You can put lipstick on a pig ( and in this case a 155 million dollar tube of lipstick) but she will still be a pig. ;)

I agree - ha ha ha ha ha !!! That quote made me laugh so much - thank you.

:D

Stick with Freedom of the Seas.

I sailed Destiny (now sunshine) last year and I would rather have sat in a dark room with no food and pulled my finger nails out with pliers !

It was so crowded last year and I can believe they have added on a substantial number of new rooms in its dry dock.

You will queue for an hour for food, won't ever find a bed around the pool, will take 30 minutes to get a drink and . . . . Shall I go on ????

Have a great cruise on FOS :):):)

great job

Thanks

I live in Liverpool, England. I took the advice given here about sending an email. So imagine my surprise when on Monday I see 'Miami, Florida' calling my phone and answer to Mr Adam Goldstein himself! He was so thankful for my email about the positive experience we had on board. It was a very special cruise for us as we were married onboard! It made my day! :D

That's great. Well done :-)

Personally, I am not bothered if people withdraw their gratuities. Yes it can be seen as immoral, but what I care about the most is if I pay it or not.

Great - thanks for sharing your view :-)

And we will pay more for the same meal in a non- tipping country.

Last year in Rome, just past the busy season, many of the restaurants were trying to drum up business with signs declaring, No service charge!!!!!" We also pay a higher price for sitting down with our coffee/wine/nibbles.

 

In the long run, it all evens out.

 

iMNSVHO, what you write about a staffer is more consequential than the amount you tip. It is what it is. Those who believe the cruise staff are being treated shabbily, as well as those convinced the cruise line doesn't give our gratuities to the staff ... well, maybe you should consider foregoing cruise vacations.

 

Our prepaid gratuity is about 5% of the fare. Big whoop.

What is 'iMNSVHO' please?