livingonthebeach

Okay that makes sense but it also deters people from asking for their rightfully deserved price difference so it could be a "killing two birds with one stone" type of deal.

I've always wondered how the gratuity gets distributed. Who decides what and how much goes to whom? Are some tipped more than others? Do the room steward and waiters know you've asked to remove gratuities and want pay cash tips? Some many questions.....so little answers.... I always like to give cash tips to those that have provided great direct service but now that someone mentioned those behind the scenes....do the laundry people and engine room people get tips too? Or does it all go to RCI?

That makes sense but on an excursion even if it's over $10, like someone mentioned, I might risk losing my time slot. I wonder why I was told it was 30+ days if it's only a few days? New policy? New lie? Inept rep?

Taste of Royal is a lunch which you can choose the day at least it let me on Jewel and now on Grandeur.

And don't forget the Bionic Bar robot that spills half your drink for an extra 18% on your tab. Mini bar? I thought they discontinued that years ago? If they ever bring it back I expect a 20% tip each time for getting my own drinks.

Probably crafted so you don't ask for the lower price. They are getting very crafty these days.....I realize they need to recoup $$$ they lost during the shut down but being told you have to pay again NOW and not get reimbursed for money they've had for months and have to wait even more time to get reimbursed? Is it some new sophisticated arbitrage or a way to earn extra interest? 😖

Here's my conundrum (BTW I love Conundrum wine by Caymus): The price of one of my excursions on my upcoming Grandeur cruise went down. If I cancel and rebook at the lower price, I was told it would take 30 days to see the credit on my card, yet they would have to charge me the new price today. Don't understand why they can't just credit me the difference even if it takes 30 days I would be okay with that. What I'm not okay with is paying twice and having to chase down a credit a month later. I guess if the price difference were huge I would do it but for a small difference hardly worth it. What do you when this happens to you? Leave it alone? Cancel and rebook? Did you ever see your credit 30+ days later?

Definitely worth it! I did it after the restart on Jewel. Delicious and the wine pairing was awesome!

It's up to $38 as of now - went up since yesterday - Carnival and NCL are down.

Agreed. It's certainly a workaround the new rule. I admit I didn't go through all the nine pages -- didn't see your subsequent post.

Yes conceivably one could go on multiple b2bs but in reality only people like Super Mario and a few Pinns go on a b2b2b2b2b2b2b......I'm sure the bean counters (or the clowns in Miami as some have said) have run the numbers and that is what they came up with -- I don't say it's right or wrong, stupid or not stupid, fair or not, or that I agree or disagree. That's what we have to live with at the moment if we want to cruise or not. Personally, I think it's a small step in the direction of getting back to cruising as we knew it.

The Graveyard Cocktail: combine vodka, tequila, gin, rum, bourbon, and scotch with triple sec for sweetness add a bit of light and stout beer and voila - you'll soon be in the graveyard.

Yes - I took Freedom out of A back then as well but I think that's an exception now.. Best to double check.

When you use the UDP on your embarkation day lunch at a specialty restaurant make all your reservations there. If for some reason you don't get the times you prefer then go to the DL concierge.

That's right -- terminal A is usually reserved for Oasis Class ships and G is for all the rest. Since I live on the north side of Miami and go south on I-95 I can usually see which RCI ships are at which terminals but I really think there should be digital signs indicating which ships are at which terminals. I know that many passengers on my last Jewel cruise were dropped of at A and had to take another Uber for $10 to get to G.

It's a bolted-to-the-wall, all-in-one, soap, body wash, shampoo, conditioner, face cleanser, laundry detergent, dish soap, degreaser, antiseptic and lubricating oil. BYOB

Totally off topic but thought this tidbit from the NYT could interest some: "In 1974, the median American family earned just under $13,000 a year. A new home could be had for $36,000, an average new car for $4,400. Attending a four-year private college cost around $2,000 a year: affordable, with some scrimping, to even median earners. As for public university, it was a bargain at $510 a year." Back to the birthday door decorations, my vote is to celebrate whoever's birthday it is and tell the non-birthday person their door will be decorated when it's their birthday.....be it on a ship, a hotel room, bedroom at home, dorm, igloo, yurt, tepee or tent.

Miami has only one port -- PortMiami but several terminals. Terminal AA/AAA – MSC Cruises (2023) Terminal A – Royal Caribbean | The Crown of Miami Terminal B – Norwegian Cruise Line | The Pearl of Miami Cruise Terminal C – Norwegian, Disney Cruises Terminals D & E – Carnival, Princess Cruises, P&O, Holland America Line Terminal F – MSC Cruises Terminal G – Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises Terminal J – small vessels and luxury cruises (Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas) Terminal K – Disney Cruise Line (2023) Terminal V – Virgin Voyages | Palm Grove

Try the Regent Seven Seas Regent Suite at $11,000 per night based on double occupancy. At 4,443 square-feet, it's one of the most expensive staterooms that exist.

I read it the same as you -- glad it was not another Titanic or Poseidon -- LOL

From the posts on this thread, you'd think some have already been mixing several Margaritas, Palomas and Mamacitas in honor of Tequila Day.

As long as the shorts don't look like this and you're not wearing a see-through tank top, you'll be fine.

Not sure which area you're from but here almost all drugstores and urgent care places have the rapid tests (a few hours).

That is very noble indeed, however I'd rather donate the entire cost of the drink instead of drinking it to the Crew Welfare Fund. Snark pipe smoking allowed at the BB?