island lady

LOL...same here. I have never used the bionic bar, and actually don't see a lot of pax using it either. IMHO...pretty much a waste of space. 😉

The only limit is to keep it under 14.00 a drink. Though you can still get the higher priced drinks, you will simply have to pay the extra. My DH loves his Oberon Cab for dinner....having to pay a whopping 1.18 over being a 15.00 drink...plus they add the 18% gratuity on the difference. Though we always tip a buck a drink in cash with each one anyway. Not sure what ship you are on, but the one exception I can think of is the bionic bar on Oasis class. Those mechanical bartenders don't have much personality anyway. 😉

You are most welcome. I do love that secret staircase on the cute little Vision class ships while staying in an aft cabin...favorite being those great corner aft JS cabins. 😉

OCSCMike is totally correct. No need for you to go to the DL to use your vouchers. Take your friend..."bar hopping" around the ship. Do keep in mind you only have the four vouchers a day to share. And though you are allowed in the DL now...your friend will not be able to go in there with you.

Believe me I have had to roll with changes quite a bit during the last year or so. IMHO...each time I board a ship...seems like something else has been taken away. Now....for me...it is time RCI started having things taken away from them. After many years of being a Loyal Royal...much of my new bookings are not with RCI. 😉

Our Next Cruise agent was extremely clear about the non refundable deposit...highlighting it in red and asking us several times if we were OK with it. Jumped in...did not look back. 😉

If the twice a day cleaning is that important....just book a JS and above.

Totally agree. Can't tell you how many times we have done the "hallway walk of frustration" well after most have already received their luggage. 🫤

I agree. It's a shame they don't really value us any longer. But....it is finally giving me the excuse to start booking with other lines...much to my DH's happiness. He has been wanting to branch out to different lines for some time now.

Does make me wonder how many of us will be on the WC.

Welcome to Cruise Critic. You do realize there are other lines out there besides Royal? I am Pinnacle and sail in suites....but I have since started booking with other lines now.

I have no intention of cutting my tips. Don't need to, and would never consider it. I am one that always prepays my tips and then tip extra on top of that. But I am not everyone. Though I do listen to what the crewmembers tell me about their experiences. All of them. And I have been on "just a few" cruises that I have done so each time.

Yeah, that was kind of what I thought. 😉

Ok...found it. It's the Suites only version as in CK on other RCI ships, but instead a buffet. I don't see how lower level C&A Diamond members would be in there if not in a full suite. The Silver Dining area is reserved for guests with a suite-level cabin on board. A buffet is served for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The food is said to be slightly higher quality than what is found in the Windjammer dining area. You can also expect the crowd to be significantly smaller. There likely won't be a line for food at the Silver Dining Lounge. You'll have no problem finding seating as well. The ambiance is also improved when compared to the main buffet area. You can expect great service here. While there's not a fixed bar for drink orders, a bar is wheeled in for happy hour at dinner. Many gold-level passengers prefer the Silver Dining area over that dedicated to the Gold-level.

Ahh..thanks...very interesting!

Silver lounge? Are you sure you have the right cruise line?

We are (or rather were) "loyal Royals" for many years. So many things have changed with them, that we are now trying other lines. Very happy to have the Viking river and ocean adventures booked, as I have heard so many good things about them. Have done one river cruise in Europe many years ago, but it was not Viking. We loved it, and are happy to do another one finally. 🙂

Enjoy your adventure. Now that flights are finally booked...I feel I am really going now and getting very excited about our first Viking river cruise. 🙂

Thanks! That was what I was assuming as well...hope it all works out for us too. I did check the assigned seats before I upgraded. Even though, like you, I paid the extra 799.00 per person for premium economy, only 2 of the total of 6 legs (round trip) were actually in premium economy. The other 4 were in regular economy. I was happy I upgraded to business class.

Instead of guessing by either of us, I suggest asking your cabin attendant on your upcoming cruise how it is working out for them now.

On which ship?

Do you have any idea how many pax go to GS have the grats taken off? There is a way the attendants know who does it. One showed me one day. Many of us tip in cash above the scheduled grats, that are either prepaid or taken out daily on your sea pass account. How many of those will now not tip as much for "half service"?

Don't count on it Sherri. 😞

Our cabin attendant on Jewel went from 18 to 25. None of the cabin attendants are happy with this change. They work much later since most select morning service, giving them less time to go ashore when they are allowed. Yes, does not affect JS cabins and above...still twice a day. To those who think the attendants will make more money? What about the pax who now decide to pay less for "half service" of just once a day?

Not sure on that one...above my pay grade. 😮😉