RCI secrets they don't tell you

[besberry]

I prefer Worcestershire myself. ;)

Pronounced woostersher and not woostershyer I hope :D

[travelplus]

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

 

And the appreciation of not paying the high prices from these hagglers:) My Cousin who has an art gallery said one of the worst things you can do is purchase art on a cruise ship and its being shipped from Florida. If there is a problem in shipment who do you contact? It's better to buy art from a gallery in Santa Fe New Mexico or Sedona Arizona so at least if there is a problem your not dealing with a corporation.

 

Also its best to just purchase the painting without the frame and have a professional framer come to your house and match the frame to your wall.

[travelplus]

I prefer Worcestershire myself. ;)

 

Yes I know its Worcestershire but Wooster is a special mix that I make and its really good. If you want the recipe here it goes.

 

Take 3 Teaspoons of Celery Salt

2 Teaspoons of Grey Poupon Mustard

A pinch of Paprika

Green Tobasco Sauce

and grated cucumbers for garnish.

 

For the Vodka use Belvedere

 

Mix it in and you have Wooster Sauce(:

Edited October 16, 2013 by travelplus

[Anthony63]

The RCCL app does have deck plans, but, at least on my iPhone, they are not accessible in Airplane Mode. In Shipmate (which only 1.99, and I will be able to use on future cruises!) you CAN access it in Airplane mode. Thanks for the tip!!

 

i am only on page 15 someone might have offered my suggestion. get a screen capture app and capture each deck as an image put them in a folder on your phone and there you go.

 

also check with you service provider and add international roaming to your phone plan. plain text messages do not require data so you can text others in your party and if you meet people it is a great way to plan things if they have also added roaming.

 

you can also check on data plans it might be cheaper than the boats plans.

[ahecht]

i am only on page 15 someone might have offered my suggestion. get a screen capture app and capture each deck as an image put them in a folder on your phone and there you go.

 

also check with you service provider and add international roaming to your phone plan. plain text messages do not require data so you can text others in your party and if you meet people it is a great way to plan things if they have also added roaming.

 

you can also check on data plans it might be cheaper than the boats plans.

 

International roaming plans don't cover cruise ships, and the only carrier that offers a cruise ship calling plan is AT&T. That plan is $30 for 50 minutes, $60 for 50 minutes + 100 texts, and $120 for 50 minutes + 100 texts + 100 MB of data. Verizon offers a data-only package of 100MB for $25, but it's not 3G and calls are $2.50/min. T-Mobile and Sprint just charge $.02/KB ($20/MB) and don't have 3G speeds.

 

Texts are normally $.50 each to send and between free and $.15 each to receive, depending on your cell phone company.

Edited October 17, 2013 by ahecht

[svmodi]

These tips have been really helpful to me as a newbie RCI cruiser! Does anyone know if there is a similar thread specific to a cruise ship? I am looking for any hints, tips, "secret spots" specifically for Grandeur of the Seas. I am not sure if these hints, tips apply to all RCI ships.

[Anthony63]

International roaming plans don't cover cruise ships, and the only carrier that offers a cruise ship calling plan is AT&T. That plan is $30 for 50 minutes, $60 for 50 minutes + 100 texts, and $120 for 50 minutes + 100 texts + 100 MB of data. Verizon offers a data-only package of 100MB for $25, but it's not 3G and calls are $2.50/min. T-Mobile and Sprint just charge $.02/KB ($20/MB) and don't have 3G speeds.

 

Texts are normally $.50 each to send and between free and $.15 each to receive, depending on your cell phone company.

 

just called RCCL and SPRINT as that is my carrier. RCCL Said to talk to my provider to see if it was roaming or international roaming. Called Sprint and told then the boat Oasis of the seas and where i was cruising Eastern Caribbean. they Said it would be international roaming and for 30.00 i would have unlimited roaming with unlimited text. i can't text photos as that requires data but i could add a data plan to it. i did not get data price as if i need it i will find free in the ports.

 

hope this helps.

 

the best thing is to check with your own service provider.

 

i am traveling with family so the text and voice calls will help us coordinate our activities and meetings.

[ahecht]

just called RCCL and SPRINT as that is my carrier. RCCL Said to talk to my provider to see if it was roaming or international roaming. Called Sprint and told then the boat Oasis of the seas and where i was cruising Eastern Caribbean. they Said it would be international roaming and for 30.00 i would have unlimited roaming with unlimited text. i can't text photos as that requires data but i could add a data plan to it. i did not get data price as if i need it i will find free in the ports.

 

hope this helps.

 

the best thing is to check with your own service provider.

 

i am traveling with family so the text and voice calls will help us coordinate our activities and meetings.

 

I have Sprint as well, and my experience is that if you call them four times with the same question you'll get four different answers (and often none of them are right!). You can get the official international roaming information at http://shop2.sprint.com/assets/pdfs/en/support/guides/services/worldwide/Worldwide_eflyer.pdf (scroll down to Cruise Ship Roaming).

 

I've never heard of an unlimited international voice/text roaming plan with Sprint (they used to have unlimited data roaming to certain countries, but that plan was discontinued years ago and didn't cover ships). Their normal international roaming plan doesn't provide any discount on Cruise Ships. Their multi-country International Data Pack works on many of the Caribbean Islands, but not on the ships.

 

You should contact Sprint's Worldwide Care department and confirm that you are getting what you think you are getting (and not, for example, a plan that allows you to call and text to the Eastern Caribbean from the US). You can contact them at http://sprintworldwide.custhelp.com/app/chat/chat_launch

 

If such a plan does exist, can you ask them for the Service Offer Code (SOC)? It may be a new offering, and I'd be interested in that myself.

Edited October 18, 2013 by ahecht

[Anthony63]

I have Sprint as well, and my experience is that if you call them four times with the same question you'll get four different answers (and often none of them are right!). You can get the official international roaming information at http://shop2.sprint.com/assets/pdfs/en/support/guides/services/worldwide/Worldwide_eflyer.pdf (scroll down to Cruise Ship Roaming).

 

I've never heard of an unlimited international voice/text roaming plan with Sprint (they used to have unlimited data roaming to certain countries, but that plan was discontinued years ago and didn't cover ships). Their normal international roaming plan doesn't provide any discount on Cruise Ships. Their multi-country International Data Pack works on many of the Caribbean Islands, but not on the ships.

 

You should contact Sprint's Worldwide Care department and confirm that you are getting what you think you are getting (and not, for example, a plan that allows you to call and text to the Eastern Caribbean from the US). You can contact them at http://sprintworldwide.custhelp.com/app/chat/chat_launch

 

If such a plan does exist, can you ask them for the Service Offer Code (SOC)? It may be a new offering, and I'd be interested in that myself.

 

i have contacted them 3 times and each time got the same answer. RCCL has recently added cell towers to their ships. so it could be a new thing. the cell towers do not operate on their ship to shore.

[ahecht]

i have contacted them 3 times and each time got the same answer. RCCL has recently added cell towers to their ships. so it could be a new thing. the cell towers do not operate on their ship to shore.

 

RCCL has had towers on their ships for a while now. If there is such a plan, I would be very interested in it. However, I can't find any evidence that it exists. When I contact their Worldwide department (that handles international roaming) they claim no such plan exists. Could you possibly find out the SOC of that plan from Sprint so I could give it to the people I am talking to?

 

This was my chat with the worldwide department:

 

AHECHT: Do you offer an international roaming plan that covers calls and texts made from the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Oasis of the Seas?

Armand K.: Hi, my name is Armand K.. Thank you for your chat request. Please wait while I review your information.

AHECHT: Hi

Armand K.: As I understand it, you need to know about using phone on a cruise.

AHECHT: Yes.

Armand K.: Thank you, one moment while I provide you with the roaming rates.

Armand K.: Coverage is available on Cruise Ships. Here are the rates.

 

Standard Voice pricing is $2.99 per minute.

 

Text pricing is $0.50 to send a message, and $0.15 to receive a message. (One text message is 160 characters.)

 

 

Unfortunately we do not have plans that will reduce the voice rates on Cruise Ships.

AHECHT: Thank you.

Armand K.: Is there anything else I can assist you with? Have I answered all of your questions and concerns?

 

If so, I would just like to confirm with you that if asked about your overall experience with me today, you would be able to say that you are completely satisfied with the level of customer service I have provided you with today.

AHECHT: Yes, I was satistied

SWW Lead 1 has joined the chat.

SWW Lead 1: Sorry to interrupt. I am the Senior Specialist currently on duty, and I have been monitoring this session.

 

I wanted a quick opportunity to join this chat to thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve you.

AHECHT: you're welcome

Armand K.: Well If there isn't anything else, we take pride in providing the best customer service possible to our customers. It has been my pleasure assisting you today. I appreciate your business and thank you for being the best part of Sprint. Have a great day.

Armand K. has disconnected.

SWW Lead 1 has disconnected.

[Anthony63]

well spent over an hour with several departments and well i am glad you question what i posted. what they were trying to sell me was international calling. so you are right. Thanks.

 

but here is a tip in St. Maartin you are covered by your domestic plan.

[Anthony63]

my chat was almost the exact same as your. but then i also called the international department. thanks again.

[ahecht]

well spent over an hour with several departments and well i am glad you question what i posted. what they were trying to sell me was international calling. so you are right. Thanks.

 

but here is a tip in St. Maartin you are covered by your domestic plan.

 

Glad I could help. I'd love it if there were an international voice roaming plan on the ships, but I guess the satellite link is too expensive.

 

Oh, and I think you meant St. Thomas, not St. Marten.

[Anthony63]

Glad I could help. I'd love it if there were an international voice roaming plan on the ships, but I guess the satellite link is too expensive.

 

Oh, and I think you meant St. Thomas, not St. Marten.

 

See that is what being up for 25 hours gets you. yes St. Thomas not St. Maarten

[debby21]

We order $2 bills from the bank before leaving on a cruise. We don't need so many $1 bills, and people really like getting them. They will remember you.

[LMaxwell]

We order $2 bills from the bank before leaving on a cruise. We don't need so many $1 bills, and people really like getting them. They will remember you.

 

They may be gracious accepting them, but everywhere outside of the US these things are like monopoly money; almost useless to the crew as I was informed on here. $1 and $5 works fine. $2, not so much.

[WetToes]

We order $2 bills from the bank before leaving on a cruise. We don't need so many $1 bills, and people really like getting them. They will remember you.

 

 

I wouldn't recommend doing this. I've been told that a lot of the crew thinks that they are fake, along with the $1.00 coins.

Maybe that's why they remember you. ;)

[Paulxyz2004]

We order $2 bills from the bank before leaving on a cruise. We don't need so many $1 bills, and people really like getting them. They will remember you.

 

Having to order them from the bank in the US should give you a hint about how widespread they are.;)

[Tucker in Texas]

Having to order them from the bank in the US should give you a hint about how widespread they are.;)

 

Only time I have seen the "widespread" was on a tour at Monticello, Jefferson's home in Charlottesville, VA. The admission was $8 and anyone that paid with a $10 bill got a $2 in change (lol).

 

I just bring a lot of $1 and $5 in my neck bag (my kids called it the "3rd boob") or have them break down bigger bills on the ship at the desk.

 

Tucker in Texas

[Paulxyz2004]

Only time I have seen the "widespread" was on a tour at Monticello, Jefferson's home in Charlottesville, VA. The admission was $8 and anyone that paid with a $10 bill got a $2 in change (lol).

 

I just bring a lot of $1 and $5 in my neck bag (my kids called it the "3rd boob") or have them break down bigger bills on the ship at the desk.

 

Tucker in Texas

 

To be honest I´ve never seen a $2 bill other than on a pic.

 

Here´s what I found on Wiki about it:

 

Today, it is seldom seen in circulation, and as a result, the production of the note is the lowest of U.S. banknotes: fewer than 1% of all notes currently produced are $2 bills. This comparative scarcity in circulation, coupled with a lack of public awareness that the bill is still in circulation, has also inspired urban legends and occasionally has created problems for people trying to use the bill to make purchases.

[Yenom]

We order $2 bills from the bank before leaving on a cruise. We don't need so many $1 bills, and people really like getting them. They will remember you.

 

My Step-Dad thought this was a great idea a few cruises ago too. Unfortunately, they aren't as appreciated as you might think. Oftentimes, crew have a hard time getting these bills (AND $1 coins) converted. Outside of the U.S., it is not recommended to use either. Sadly, they might remember you because of the added effort they have to go through. Needless to say, we all carry a bundle of $1 when cruising now.

 

BTW - Nice idea in theory. $2 bills are pretty cool looking.

[Lionesss]

We have 10 ---$2 bills.

We went and got them at the bank the day they were issued and then went to the post office to have them stamped and dated as commerative souviniers, hoping someday they will be worth money......now after the battle of the houses (capital hill), they probably are worth only the two dollar investment.:rolleyes:

I have never gotten one as change, but I do get the one dollar coins as change.

Sea Ya

[jcool]

I would not use dollar piece because I was in Jamaica and I try to tip someone dollar pieces because all I had was $20 dollar bills when I went to hand this man dollar pieces he told me a few bad word and throw it at me we got scared so we got away from this man. So I started talking to a person who was trying to sell me something and told her what happened and she told me that they do not use dollar pieces in Jamaica remember that was years ago.

[cruzincurt]

When my wife was a parimutual teller at the horse track, some old ladies thought they were cool using them for $2.00 bets. The track hated them as there wasn't a slot in the cash drawer for them and no one would take them as pay outs for winning.

 

If someone gave me a $2.00 bill as change I'd give it back.

[Anthony63]

Well after 11 post i think 2.00 bill is bad. good idea but bad in practice. i know it us to much to ask that we all agree on this.