RCI secrets they don't tell you

[Jsim2011]

They are magnified "wonders" throughout the ship on Oasis and Allure. Here's a picture of one

 

Thanks!!

[dolfansam]

Walmart, dollar store, but I've read they also have them on the ship. Probably for a premium. :)

 

If you go to the casino sometimes they hand out seapass holders. Lanyards or coiled key holders that latch on to belt loop or purse strap.

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[Barb Nahoumi]

On Freedom class ships (not sure about the others) on the day you leave, the crew will direct you to the Windjammer for lunch, if you want to skip the crowd you can have pizza or a sandwich on the Promenade deck. What a great way to start your cruise!

 

It would be great if the MDR served lunch on embarkation day. NCL does this with a limited menu, but it's nice to be waited on with no crowds.

[Barb Nahoumi]

The "Real Secret" is to explore the entire ship, deck by deck, to see what is there.

 

Print deck plans from the RCI Web Site before you board and then just wander and explore.

 

You will be glad you did!

 

 

Here is proof that this system works.

 

On our first cruise on the Jewel of the Seas, every time we went to the Windjammer we got our food and then found a nearby place to sit down and eat. At lunch on the 4th day, the Windjammer was pretty full so we kept heading aft to find an open table. And we found the open air seating area across the stern of the ship. For the rest of the cruise, that is where we ate.

 

Had we not walked back there we would never have found it!

 

 

Does the Explorer have an area like this? We'll be on her in March-----can't wait.

[Clarea]

Does the Explorer have an area like this? We'll be on her in March-----can't wait.

No, those aft Windjammer tables are only on Radiance class.

[Pack My Bags]

Hey Ria! How you been. Any great cruises lately? Did Russia and Baltics in June. Nothing until Jan when we are doing 10 days out of Baltimore on the Grandeur. Never been on her before.

 

Hi!

Sally is that You? Nothing on the roster till the Q in 2015. Was on the Grandeur in 06? She is well kept. Easy to navigate. I know it sounds corny, but I love the theatre upholstery, carpet & couches. She has been cleaned up very nicely. I think I know more people on that sailing.

[jimgo140]

RCI secrets they don't tell you.....Um, well, men should wear clean underwear to The Quest. ;)

 

 

What's "The Quest"?

[wynstay]

RCI secrets they don't tell you.....Um, well, men should wear clean underwear to The Quest. ;)

 

 

What's "The Quest"?

 

I asked that question too :) Here's the link to the thread.....

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1908607

 

Interesting !

 

 

Angela, Sydney Australia.

[jimgo140]

As for 'bagging' a table first in the Buffet, well we always find a suitable table first and then someone sits while the others go and get their food

 

That's what we do, seems pretty obvious :)

 

Doesn't work too well for solo cruisers.

[Preacherman46]

Ooooh...I like that idea

I have "Caribbean Escape" hand sanitizer from Bath and Body for the cruise.:)

Edited October 12, 2013 by Preacherman46

[Yenom]

Doesn't work too well for solo cruisers.

 

 

When dining in the WJ solo, I bring a few things with me that I can set on the table (if I don't have anything with me, I grab the rolled up silverware and a glass on the way in). I then go to the buffet and know I have a table waiting for me.

[APDMOM]

Random tips, rather than secrets...

 

1. Chocolate milk and regular milk are readily available at lunch and dinner in the Windjammer - just ask at the drinks counter - there is a hidden fridge and it only takes 2 seconds to ask. No need to stock up in the small stateroom fridge :)

 

2. On embarkation day, eat in the promenade cafe. There were only 6 of us in the entire cafe during our June cruise on FOS. No mad rush, and plenty of room for our carry-on stuff.

 

3. On disembarkation day, eat breakfast in the main dining room. It is much more calm than the rush in the Windjammer.

 

4. When using wifi - Save money and minutes by doing the following:

Download your e-mail. Log off. Read e-mail. Create replies and store in outbox. Log back on. Send all e-mail at once. This way you don't waste minutes while typing responses. :)

 

5. Downy wrinkle release works well.

 

6. If you have $1 bills left on the last day, randomly hand them out to the cleaning and maintenance crew. You will be amazed at the responses of appreciation!

[traceyleigh15]

Concerning wifi....do some RCI ships have a buy one price for wifi now or is it for a set amount of minutes.......

Thx

[Clarea]

Concerning wifi....do some RCI ships have a buy one price for wifi now or is it for a set amount of minutes.......

Thx

To my knowledge, only Allure has unlimited pricing at $179 per 7 day cruise for one device at a time. The other ships are priced per minute, starting at $0.65 or $0.75 per minute.

[sharpasice]

4. When using wifi - Save money and minutes by doing the following:

Download your e-mail. Log off. Read e-mail. Create replies and store in outbox. Log back on. Send all e-mail at once. This way you don't waste minutes while typing responses. :)

 

 

[/size]

 

How do I download my email? I've never done it..thanks

[CRUISEFAN0001]

4. When using wifi - Save money and minutes by doing the following:

Download your e-mail. Log off. Read e-mail. Create replies and store in outbox. Log back on. Send all e-mail at once. This way you don't waste minutes while typing responses. :) [/size]

Agree that logging in first....having the e-mail download, and then read and respond OFFLINE (when logged off) is a great way to reduce the time/cost for minutes used. Then when ready with responses...just log back in and have the responses all sent.

 

Nice tip (used it myself more than once).

Edited October 14, 2013 by CRUISEFAN0001

[Clarea]

 

How do I download my email? I've never done it..thanks

You've got to be running a program that gives you this ability, such as Outlook or Thunderbird. Web based email does not have download ability.

[brillohead]

How do I download my email? I've never done it..thanks

You've got to be running a program that gives you this ability, such as Outlook or Thunderbird. Web based email does not have download ability.

 

If you use Gmail and the Chrome browser, you can also use Gmail offline:

 

Gmail Offline App (click here)

[jb9991]

I have a Galaxy S4 and I have the ShipMate App. Works in airplane mode. Just type in Cruise and it will come along with the other cruiseline apps.

[travelplus]

One thing that they don't tell you is that boarding begins around 11:00 so if they say come a bit later you can indeed board the ship earlier unless it has not been cleared.

 

I make it a point to eat my first lunch on the ship as I have paid for the time so its just extra time to enjoy. On embarkation day the pools aren't crowded so its fun to swim before the muster drill.

 

In the Promenade Cafe and other places with coffee. Take a Hot Chocolate packet and mix it in with coffee and half/half and add a packet of sugar or artificial sweetner and you have a mocha. I actually have asked for this in the main dining room and they made it well.

 

When your at Portifino and they give you the Bailey's Irish Cream Shot ask for two and then ask for hot coffee. You can add them to your coffee which I did to avoid paying for the Irish Cream coffee it was good.

 

At Breakfast if you want a Non Alcoholic Bloody Mary ask for Tomato Juice,Tobasco Sauce and Horshradish and pepper. If there is Wooster Sauce ask for it as well. Makes for a great drink.

 

If you want to make your own orange juice go to the Windjammer before breakfast and see if they can cut your orange in half. Then add some water and mix the orange with water and add some lemonade to it.

 

Do you like those fruit infused waters that you get at the Promenade Cafe? What I do is take sliced fruit and put it in my water and ask for a lemon or lime and add a bit to it. Its' really good alternative to Soda. Also ask for half lemonade and half water then add your fruits . Squeeze Strawberries, Orange and put some Pineapple in .

 

 

The Tutti Salad Bar and Hot Items in the Main Dining Room at lunch on sea days are not to be missed.

 

Oh and on Sea Days there is the Pool Deck BBQ and in the promenade there were some other food offerings and its free. I had some of the best brisket at this BBQ and there is salads and a large cake. There was so much cake left over they sent me with another one to take to my room.

 

In the Windjammer do a tour before you eat. You will find items such as Latin style and other items you never knew existed. Take a sampling from items you never heard of or have never tried. If the spice is not enough ask your waiter to bring hot sauce or Tobasco Sauce.

 

If your shore excursion is later then go to the Main Dining Room for breakfast its less crowded on days when there are earlier shore excursions.

 

Do you like listening to your IPOD then bring your docking station and listen to your IPOD. You can also pickup some local radio stations as well. If you have extra speakers plug it into the docking station and run a wire and listen to it on your balcony at a low level.

 

Want to have a party in your stateroom then ask for 2-4 of the items you want to order. You can even head down to the Park Cafe and bring some grab n go sandwiches and add it to the party. . Be sure to tip your room service attendant.

 

During the afternoon snacks if you find the scones are too dry then add some of the vanilla sauce they use for the bread pudding. Also don't forget to eat the bread pudding too. Its sooo good. You can get the soft serve ice cream as well on the side.

 

If you don't like the tea selections then bring your own stash. I always bring my own Twinnings Tea and a French Press with film canisters filled with coffee. When I'm visiting local ports I will have them grind up some beans. All I do is bring the French Press with ground beans to breakfast and ask the Waiter or Waitress to fill it up with hot water. Then I let it sit before I push the plunger down. Voilla you have better coffee than you can get there. You can do the same with Espresso and add milk to it.

 

If you have room you can bring your own travel pillows and towels from home. I have this water filled pillow that is so comfortable and makes for a comfortable night's sleep.

 

If you want brighter lights then bring your own lightbulbs that emits a brighter lights you just take out their lightbulbs and put yours in. Remember to take it out before you leave your stateroom. My Grandfather did this when we traveled and you get brighter light.

 

If your in an inside cabin and want to have brighter light then get a light machine that wakes you up with the light slowly getting brighter.

 

Want to eliminate noise from other guests then bring along or downlaod whitenosie and other nature sounds to your MP3 player.

 

Hope these tips work.

[travelplus]

If you like champagne, you can basically score a free glass every day if you go to the art auction previews. You don't even have to register for the auctions (even though that's free) just show up at the preview and sip while enjoying the art.

 

The Allure of the Seas has some great "secret" spots that aren't really secrets. At the back of the ship on Deck 5 there are chairs outside and we enjoyed watching port sail away from there. Also there are two balconies on either side of the ship above the aqua theater suites, they're great for watching sail away or the shows. Decks 11 and 12 all the way aft. The Sun Deck all the way forward on Deck 14 and only accessible from the port side is a quite spot since no one can seem to find it, the people in the Solarium will look down at you and wonder how to get there.

 

Also on the Allure, the Champagne Bar has a fantastic Scotch selection and some great champagne cocktails. They'll also bring you appetizers if you're there before dinner to enjoy a drink.

 

Hey Rachel we're in the same club of going to the Art Auction for the Champagne. Oh and don't forget the Captains Party and Crown and Anchor Party.

[wynstay]

Hey Rachel we're in the same club of going to the Art Auction for the Champagne. Oh and don't forget the Captains Party and Crown and Anchor Party.

 

Thanks for the tip ! I suddenly have an appreciation of fine art LOL :)

 

 

Angela, Sydney Australia.

[sharpasice]

You've got to be running a program that gives you this ability, such as Outlook or Thunderbird. Web based email does not have download ability.

 

thank you Bob.

[besberry]

At Breakfast if you want a Non Alcoholic Bloody Mary ask for Tomato Juice,Tobasco Sauce and Horshradish and pepper. If there is Wooster Sauce ask for it as well. Makes for a great drink.

Wooster sauce? As in Jeeves and Wooster? I'd recommend Worcester sauce personally!! ;)

[WetToes]

Wooster sauce? As in Jeeves and Wooster? I'd recommend Worcester sauce personally!! ;)

 

I prefer Worcestershire myself. ;)