Rocket3D

17 hours ago, Newport55 said:

Booked on Odyssey OTS and arriving on Friday, 13 Nov 2020 along with Empress and Symphony. Estimated pax count at 14,000.  Seriously RCI who schedules this??

Here's a different slant.

In order to get approval/funding for port expansion terminals in say Ft Lauderdale and Miami, they needed to agree to more passenger port days .... more port traffic = more port fees for the cities involved

Get it?

So, Navigator, Independence, and Mariner, to name a few, have shifted from longer cruises to 3 and 4 day cruises to ... guess where, their private, close-by island.  Almost doubling port fees for the govt.

It is all about money.... but virus caught the world off guard.

Anyway..... stay safe!

>>>>>> The doctors note was an incredibly stupid idea of CLIA<<<<

Oh well.

Nobody knows the future.  I treat all their talk as possible, maybe, or wishing.

I don't believe anything they say, just watching what they do.

So, I personally am not booking anything in the future.  Will only book last minute, after final payment.

We'll see how it goes.

10 hours ago, PattiHere said:

....Just wondering if any other over 70 year old people are still booking a cruise......

We are done cruising.  Way too much impending hassle. 

We have no interest in booking cruises, but may book a cruise just to use our FCC before end of 2021.

IMHO, Royal will need much time to return to former self.... after flu passes.

Even then, it may take months to re-assemble crews, and entertainment casts, etc.

Basically, the cruise experience will not be as 'care-free and fun as before'.... for a long time.

Never say never!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH_YbBHVF4g

It figures that doctors and lawyers would create

the requirement for a 'letter'.

But, hold on for a reality check: If you don't have the flu,

the last place  you want to go is a doctor's office,

or a hospital (to get a 'note' signed) ....

that is where the sick people go.

Think about it.

Yup, they have lo$t the 70+ crowd.

1. Kids sail FREE (but don't buy Drink Packages).

2. Families with kids don't usually buy Deluxe Dining Packages.

3. Gamblers get free cruises (except for tax).

4. Gamblers get free drinks so don't need Drink Package.

5. Debt service to pay on junk bonds.

6. They must get that 125% FCC back.

It follows that prices will climb.

:-]

Washy of Di'Sease.

15 minutes ago, julia said:

After 25 cruises, I think we're done.  We have found the ships to be more crowded, less relaxing, less entertaining, and more expensive than ever.  Oh, and don't expect that "70 Dr's note thing" to go away.  Why?  The cruise lines have been targeting a younger demographic for years.  The older folks (with massive Captain's Club perks) aren't quite as useful to them anymore.

Yup.

Discounts are rare.... 'see if you qualify' is simply a 'data mining' technique that they can use for many reasons such as advertising to certain demographic groups.

Good for you if you see a price change.

Worst DL I have used this year.... amped/ruined Navigator (version 2.0). 

On 9/16/2019 at 5:44 PM, loman said:

Just off the Allure yesterday .

I saw 3 , possibly 4 little doggies on the cruise .

None were wearing service vests .

I saw little kids playing with one and petting it and the owner was pleased with the attention his cruise partner was getting .

I don't think service animals like to be handled by strangers.

I'm glad they weren't large dogs , but just give it time .

 

 

 

We were on Adventure last year. At Officers Q&A in theater, Officer Bill said strangest request they received for a 'service animal' was a request for a 'service squirrel'. 

On 8/28/2019 at 7:38 AM, Magicat said:

I thought they said no video taping during the ice show?😎😀

Just off Symphony, they said no flash photography, and please turn down the brightness of the screen on your phone so it doesn’t bother folks behind you.

Wow...never noticed the 'fine' print, haha.

I see the problem, it is only printed in English.

They should print it in 15 languages like the

instruction booklet for my Home Depot grill.

🙂

Good cabin location there, 4591!  Had that cabin several times!

Easy on/off ship. Muster station is 010 in Boleros (A/C).

Booked 6 of these bargain Ex-Cuba cruises this summer. Nice old ship. You can see the genesis of future Royal ship design in the atrium.

It now appears Royal are keeping Majesty and Empress until April 2021.  Had lunch with officers last week and obviously the Cuba thang caught Royal unawares... seems they are now re-purposing these small ships into the role 'ferry boats' for Coco Cay, and their newly acquired Lucaya resort in Freeport.  Good for them; good for crew; good for stockholders.

The production shows...... hmmmm.  The cast, and singers are terrific, really are.  The actual shows are dated. Remains to be seen if they update these ships with new shows which are usually licensed for 5 years or so. The physical limits of the stage size is also a factor for sure.

I enjoy the small ships as well as the monstrosities. 

BTW, Vernon does a great job as C&A rep.  The 'Event' in RCL is 4:30 - 8:00PM nightly.

They have pics of all guests... don't worry.... they know D and ups.

Cheers!

4 hours ago, pstone1 said:

 

Congratulations on Pinnacle!  We were just talking about you today!  Jim and I decided to book a short cruise out of FLL to "visit" the MJ in November, and are planning to go on the Cozumel Bar Hop! Can't think about that without thinking of you!  Hope you and Robbin are both doing well!

Hi Paula and Jim,

Thanks! All good here.

We will be in Coz 11/7, 11/11, and 11/23, 2019

... but not on MJ, bummer....

Oh, bunch of FoHos cruising on Jan 24, 2020, Indy.

We'll be celebrating my 50th Hop. Cheers!

On 6/8/2019 at 11:08 AM, djjoe said:

A few years ago you made Pinnacle on the cruise that you completed 700 cruise points. Is this still the case? Recently I was told that you had to complete the cruise and received it on your next cruise, just like D or D+.  Is the policy uniform on all ships, or does it vary from ship to ship?

We turned Pineapple on an Indy cruise recently.

I say turned because the exact day was the third

day of the cruise.

I requested, and received, concierge's help to

allow us to be 'recognized' on our next cruise,

which was Allure, three weeks later.

It was a good decision.

Our exact points caught up to us 10 days later

on the C&A website, and it said Pinnacle Club, yeahh!

So we were official and received Pinnacle cards when

boarding. Concierge was wonderful. Recognition

was day 2, at C&A event, Aqua Theater.

We were treated to gifts, lunch at Captains table,

discussion of benefits, Coastal Kitchen/Suite Lounge,

behind-the-scenes tours....awesome, WOW.

The other end of the spectrum is if you become

Pineapple on a short cruise, say 3 days on Navigator,

or on Empress. They may not 'celebrate and recognize'

new pinnacles....is what they said.

In fact I received a printed sheet on Indy (5 nt cruise)

specifically saying that changes to new levels of

C&A tiers would not take effect until the official points

are posted on your C&A web page.

IMHO, leave 2 weeks between actual day you

turn pinnacle (you will certainly know, ha) and

your next cruise...so official points tally up.

AGREE...each ship is different, short cruises, smallest

ships, may not be staffed, or equipped, or have the

time to organize your 'recognition'.... even on your

first official pinnacle cruise.

Bottom line for us was (being pro-active) to get the

concierges involved on the cruise before, during, and

planning your 'official' recognition. 

Reread this last sentence, lol!

Hope it goes well!

Ya.  Maybe just use CC for info occasionally, and not post.

3 hours ago, broberts said:

Send an email to community@ceruisecritic.com

Ya....did that a few months ago, but they didn't cancel it.

Can't find info on canceling?

Just curious if anyone every heard any waiter say they get a bonus from the 'gratuities' we pay?

If you just do some rough math...about $300,000 to $400,000 per week long cruise.

Funny comment by Bill, the HD on AD during Captain's Corner

Q&A session recently...

"We had a request for a comfort/service squirrel."

We listened to the sales pitch for a few minutes,

but the times available would not have worked

for us because they interfered with show times.

The specialty dining quality is not as good as 8 years ago,

when we started cruising with Royal.

The menu of Chops is loaded with purines...if you ever

had a gout attack...you know.

High salt...chefs love salt, they put salt on salt, lol.

Cost has doubled, or more, in 8 years.

We just don't see specialty dining as good value anymore.

Have fun.

In CM yesterday. The $3 tram

would not stop at Krazy Lobster.

They drove to the far end of town

and when I told him we wanted to go to

Krazy Lobster...he said we had to walk back.

Option is walk out of gate

and hire a cab to Krazy Lobster.

I figured they would get those port aft elevators working

after we left, LOL....

I was on Mariner 6 weeks....last 2 weeks only 2 elevators

went to 14. Agree...always full since folks would get on

and ride...eventually getting to correct deck.

Mariner does not have C&A events or formal nights.

The DL is overcrowded first and last nights .....

some folks arrive 1/2 hour early and grab their seats....

some walking up stairs to 14....ha.

Kicker is the Suite Lounge was mostly empty...larger

and way less folks....they should switch.

Lots for kids to do ... good because lots of kids on 

Mariner....even in Sept and Oct. 

Agree, some production shows were late hours.

Ice show good, cast changing over soon.

Crew was great but decided we prefer longer cruises

and won’t be back on the 4 or 3 day cruises out of POM.

Have fun.

...not sure why new site is double spacing lines...