Royal Suite Class perks not showing up in Cruise Planner

[Caribbean Tom]

So I wonder if we go ahead and book our restaurants now if it will just be refunded as OBC once we board? I am a bit OCD about planning so waiting until the genie contacts us has me worried if our preferred dining times will still be available.

 

....so j/k, just checked the cruise planner and all my preferred times for specific restaurants are already taken. I guess we'll see what kind of magic the genie works!

 

Funny! We're almost in lock step (and I'm OCD on these things as well) and looking around the posts for the same info. We have tried to guess formal nights (first night at sea and 6th night but not 100% sure) and scheduled our entertainment around that and our early seating.

 

AFTER that we upgraded from CLS to the GLS so now we have free specialty dining. I looked at the specialty dining reservation system tonight and it showed a scheduling conflict on the times we were scheduled for the shows. It also showed a charge. I'm reasonably sure if I booked a specialty restaurant that it's going to hit my credit card and not the on board account the same way it does for shore excursions. I probably don't want any more OBC's as we should have plenty.

 

Also, we like to dress up on formal nights so we're probably dining in the main dining room on those nights. We're going to have to trust that the genie/concierge help us work out the specialty dining nights based on the response that Tom N Cheryl posted.

[A&L_Ont]

So I wonder if we go ahead and book our restaurants now if it will just be refunded as OBC once we board? I am a bit OCD about planning so waiting until the genie contacts us has me worried if our preferred dining times will still be available.

 

....so j/k, just checked the cruise planner and all my preferred times for specific restaurants are already taken. I guess we'll see what kind of magic the genie works!

 

Once the Beta testers have reported back (thank-you guys and gals) I might just still book to get the times we want and get it credited later as OBC. I know we will be out the $ for a period of time but with a 9 year old, or at least our one, you really can't go to dinner at 8pm or later.

[NicoleAndChris]

Funny! We're almost in lock step (and I'm OCD on these things as well) and looking around the posts for the same info. We have tried to guess formal nights (first night at sea and 6th night but not 100% sure) and scheduled our entertainment around that and our early seating.

 

AFTER that we upgraded from CLS to the GLS so now we have free specialty dining. I looked at the specialty dining reservation system tonight and it showed a scheduling conflict on the times we were scheduled for the shows. It also showed a charge. I'm reasonably sure if I booked a specialty restaurant that it's going to hit my credit card and not the on board account the same way it does for shore excursions. I probably don't want any more OBC's as we should have plenty.

 

Also, we like to dress up on formal nights so we're probably dining in the main dining room on those nights. We're going to have to trust that the genie/concierge help us work out the specialty dining nights based on the response that Tom N Cheryl posted.

 

Too funny, glad I'm not the only one! Tom, for our sailing I believe I have figured out that the formal nights are the 2nd and 5th nights. (Western Carib May 7th Oasis)

I had called Royal and after being transferred from person to person they finally found a 'specialist' who assured me that the genie will handle all dining reservations. I do know that they don't release all times/tables in the cruise planner and do hold some availability back for people booking on board. During our September cruise I needed a tables to accommodate a group of 14 and there was no availability prior to boarding. The concierge contacted us 3 weeks out and they were able to confirm tables without an issue. So if concierge can do it for a table of 14 in a lowly owner's suite, I am assuming genies can def do it for star class :)

 

We also participate in dressing up, we'll likely do Chops the first formal night and Coastal Kitchen the second. I've also seen that 150 Central Park is a great venue for those who like to go a bit more formal!

[A&L_Ont]

I wonder how a genie will help in getting a cabana at Barefoot Beach? I usually email the concereige a month in advance an get one put aside. However, will my Genie be able to get the same cabana a week before I sail? A prime example is a beach front cabana, and there are only two of them and they are our favourite spot. A Genie can easily get you a table as not are all released prior to the sailing, where as cabanas might be harder to do. The fact that the prices have doubled have slowed the demand on them. With exchange an over the water cabana is almost $500 Canadian.

 

I think the cruisers that are wise to the "secrets" might beat their Genie to the punch on some aspects.

Edited April 12, 2016 by A&L_Ont

[Caribbean Tom]

Nicole and Chris, thanks for staying with Royal to get the info. It seems to match what others are getting from Royal also. I was hoping they keep reservations open as you say. Thanks for the update on formal night. Our entertainment choices were largely based on when they offered the dates/times. Can't wait to hear from our Genie!

[MattInFLL]

I wonder how a genie will help in getting a cabana at Barefoot Beach? I usually email the concereige a month in advance an get one put aside. However, will my Genie be able to get the same cabana a week before I sail? A prime example is a beach front cabana, and there are only two of them and they are our favourite spot. A Genie can easily get you a table as not are all released prior to the sailing, where as cabanas might be harder to do. The fact that the prices have doubled have slowed the demand on them. With exchange an over the water cabana is almost $500 Canadian.

 

I think the cruisers that are wise to the "secrets" might beat their Genie to the punch on some aspects.

 

Well, remember that the Genies are supposed to contact you within a week of your booking, and then again about a week before - so technically a cabana issue may have already been handled well in advance. As well as all the dining issues everyone else is wondering about. (For the record, I'm still holding my pre-paid reservations to make sure we have the times and restaurants we want).

 

But anyway, for those of us on these early cruises and still waiting - I am hoping we get that first email in the next week or two, now that they are all on board Ovation and preparing to go to their various ships.

Edited April 13, 2016 by MattInFLL

[Caribbean Tom]

NicoleandChris, I downloaded the TA flyer a while back posted on the other thread we were following and it says in a couple of places that the Genie's going to take care of entertainment and dining reservations on board. Just search for "flyer". So I don't think it matters that our perks are not showing up. I've even received emails to reserve my dining and drink package in the past couple of days. So it appears we're getting standard marketing despite our perks and the genie's going to take care of everything just like you said in your previous post.

[MattInFLL]

From the FB pages of one of the Genies - they are all on their way to their respective ships to go on board over the next several days. So it would seem they will be starting to contact guests soon.

[A&L_Ont]

From the FB pages of one of the Genies - they are all on their way to their respective ships to go on board over the next several days. So it would seem they will be starting to contact guests soon.

 

It is exciting. I still remember, almost two years ago, when they announced the genie program the response here on the boards. I wonder if they delayed the roll out from the fall of 2015 to now, so it would begin and train on Ovation as there would be no guests onboard?

 

I don't fault you for keeping your own reservations either. I would have.