Gayle V

Thanks for sharing your experience so far.  We'll be interested to read more, if you continue.

You might want to write up a sticky note, and attach it to the tray,  telling your cabin steward leave the tray in you cabin.  Otherwise he'll take it away when he cleans up.

When we sailed the Navigator in March, we had three side by side cabins, 6 adults, same family.  Hubby and I are Diamond, sons and DILs status varied from first timer to Emerald.  I asked one of the workers, as we walked through the first part of the line, and was told all should go together through the Diamond line,  We did, no problems or questions. 

Thank you for the info firemanbobswife. I tried to find that info on the web site, but couldn't. I had been looking at our check-in pages etc, and noticed we were listed as Gold. I could have sworn we were Platinum already, but I guess not. The only way we'd have enough points for that would have been if they had given double points for the suite we had last time. I'm fairly sure that's the way RCI does it, (double points for suites, I mean.) So I have to be remembering back when we were Platinum on Royal. My memory just ain't was it used to be, and all the cruises seem to merge together after a while. Still the best vacation out there.

Does Carnival's VIFP program give extra points for booking suites?

Is that only for kids, or adults too? and is there a weight limit?

Hello Skakybeef. I have the Carnival MC but have only recently started using it much. ( I was using my RCI card then used up the point on a cruise with them.) Now I'm back to the Carnival card but have not been watching the points. I'm a bit confused. Could you give an example of how "statement credit" compares to "OBC" for the same amount of points? Like Micah's Granddad's example: He used 70,000 points to get $700 OBC. What kind of statement credit would he have gotten for that amount of points? Is there a formula or something to figure this out?

Thanks for sharing the info on the bedding Shakybeef. I for one will be thrilled with a hard bed. I have on occasion had to spread a blanket on the floor and slept there, when hotel or ship beds were what others call "comfy". On the other hand there have been even more occasions when I would have given a fortune for a soft, squishy down pillow, instead of those over stuffed "basketballs in a pillowcase" that they often have. I expect it would be impossible to make us all happy at the same time.

Let me second Lazydayz suggestions. Stay with the later flight and visit the Aquarium. We really enjoyed the place. You won't need any transportation to get there as it's right next door. You'll walk farther through the terminal building, than getting to the door of the Aquarium. And no need to worry about your luggage, as there is a place that will watch your luggage just to the left as you exit the terminal (attached to the terminal building). For a small fee of course.

The hot stone massages are fabulous. ( love the deep tissue massage also) One thought about choosing a day and time for your massage, if you tend to get sunburn during your vacation, you'll enjoy the massage much more early in the week, before that happens. And in the reverse, beware of going out to lay out in the sun right after the massage. Those oils on your skin will have you frying.

What makes the "winging it" such a poor idea, is the fact that you cannot also "wing it" with the shows. You really need to make those show reservations in advance if you want to see them. And being that they are one of the best parts of the newer classes of ships, you really do want to see them. (Not including Cats on Oasis, JMHO). And once you have a reservation for the show, you must fit your dining in around the show times. Waiting on line to get a table can ruin the whole evening.

And I do think the OP, and the Character breakfast posts are on the mark. Together they can predict the future, which is that you will eventually have to pay for all your meals, for the same reason you now pay for the Character breakfast, to get you financially invested in showing up for your reservation. And in a way, also the Johnny Rockets issue. You have to pay now, when you didn't before, supposedly to solve a problem created by inconsiderate people. The fact that this now makes the company more money didn't break any corporate hearts.

This is a beautiful spot that is rarely utilized (just off the running track).

Let me second that idea. Lovely spot. I spent several hours there, reading and watching the ships wake, just ten days ago. Sure wish I was back there now.

They have thought of that- they're hoping you're tired of those menus after a couple of days.... tired enough to pay for the for fee restaurants. :)

Just saying: I think you've hit the nail on the head. It's all about the money.

Really sad that now we've finally hit Diamond, we will likely end up cruising other lines.

OMG ! What a nightmare. Literally, I have nightmares of that happening. I will be following this thread , for sure. I do hope all was well with your son?

When our documents were first issued, some of out excursions were not listed. I really wanted everything showing as it should, so e-mailed my TA, and had her request the docs be reissued. It was done in just a few days. (If you book with a TA , the request has to come from them. If you book with Royal, just call them)

The docs don't change automatically. However, if you call whoever booked your cruise, you can request the docs be re-issued.

Hi Clarea, Just saying thanks again. I did as you suggested, and now have all my excursions listed. All set to board that ship.

The docs don't change automatically. However, if you call whoever booked your cruise, you can request the docs be re-issued.

Thank you clarea. I will try that. I know I'm being OCD, but I will feel much better with all my excursions listed.

Well we sail one month from today. Our on line documents are ready to print, (and I finally found them and figured out how to do that.) But in the section of excursion confirmations, they are missing two of our most recently booked excursions.

So, I called Royal, and talked to one of their representatives. She assures me that we are indeed booked on those two excursions. When asked about them not showing, she just keeps saying they might not show up, because we booked them at a different day from the others.

But all the excursions were booked on separate days, even adding in an extra person on another day, And they show, so that doesn't seem to be a realistic explanation. She doesn't seem to be able to understand my desire to have ALL of our other excursions listed on the docs.

So here's my question, (The Royal Caribbean phone rep did not seem able to answer either yes or no to this. ) :

Do the docs ever change, once they are available for printing? Will those excursions show up later. Have you ever added in an excursion or spa treatment, or specialty restaurant, after they were available for printing, and then had that new confirmation show up on the documents page. (I will print them now, if there's no chance of them showing, or I will wait till later, if it's likely for them to show.)

The changes to departure time for Allure begin Nov 16. I suppose it is possible that since you are sailing on the 8th that the change begins after you cruise...?

 

 

 

What a gift! Looks like today is going to be another great day:)

Oh Wilda, I didn't see that bit. Thank you. I feel a little better about it now. It's kind of worrisome when you don't know if you're missing something important.

We're on Oasis the week after you...we received two text messages (2 different phones) and an e-mail yesterday. We have two more RCI cruises booked for 2015 -- Serenade in March and Liberty in December, but we haven't been notified about departure changes for either of those.

Thanks Cindy. I guess I just keep reading the boards for info. As I seriously doubt if call Royal will do any good. I've only gotten useless or erroneous info the last several times I've talked to the.

Not just Allure. We've been notified that our Serenade sailing for Feb 2016 will leave 30 mins earlier at 4pm. All those slower sailings must amount to big bucks in fuel savings.

Hello Peteukmcr, How were you notified? E-mail? When was this?

For some reason, all we get are the e-mails that try to talk us into spending money. But any other info never reaches us. (Like when everyone was told about the change from Hairspray to Cats, etc.)

If there's really any worry about him simply not having luggage with him, there's no reason why he can't just carry one of their bags. Pick the smallest one and off you go. Who's to say that wasn't the only one that was his. And if knowing what in the bag is a question, heck, my husband hasn't a clue ever what's in our bags, I do all the packing coming and going. What's the difference.

True, make sure the one who carries the items is the one who claims them.

I seriously doubt if they would even notice when each of you leave. Just so long as you do.

Same message to Oasis cruisers

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

Hello jcg4550, How did you find this out? We are on the Oasis in November and have not received any kind of notice.