Tired of Carnival need help switching back to Royal

[LewLewBelle]

Our family sailed Royals Freedom of the Sea a few years back and Grandeur a couple years ago. Carnival had a closer port so we have sailed them a few times but don’t care for them as much. We tried lol but our hearts are with Royal.

 

My question are does Royal have anything you can purchase to get on ship faster and your room is ready when you board?

 

Do all ships have a place to keep your carryons until room is ready of the first question isn’t available? On Grandeur they had a staff person watch the Carry ons in a specific lounge.

 

If my mom is in my cabin can she board with me since it will be her first cruise?

 

Lastly how does the casino charges work with sign and sale card?

[Clarea]

No FTTF on Royal.

 

No place to put carry-ons except on Grandeur.

 

Your mom can board with you.

 

Casino only takes cash or cash our tickets.

[nealstuber]

As Bob said no FTtF or early rooms regardless of status or cabin category.

 

But we have had luck getting guest services to hold our bags on Liberty and Vision.

 

 

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[nealstuber]

As Bob said no FTtF or early rooms regardless of status or cabin category.

 

But we have had luck getting guest services to hold our bags on Liberty and Vision.

 

Casino is very different, not only is it “cash in” but “voucher out” no player bank as you are used to on Carnival, you have to take your voucher for winnings (or net losses) from machine to machine.

 

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[Ashland]

Cabins will usually be ready at around 1:00pm...just wait and board then if keeping your carry on with you isn't something you care to do.

[LewLewBelle]

Thanks for the great info!!! No worries when I make Diamond or book a Suite :) until then we will figure it out :). Mom will be 76 so I am trying to make it enjoyable for her first cruise. Found out I am 17 points from Platinum Yeah!

 

How early can we board Allure out of Port Everglades?

[Merion_Mom]

Thanks for the great info!!! No worries when I make Diamond or book a Suite :) until then we will figure it out :). Mom will be 76 so I am trying to make it enjoyable for her first cruise. Found out I am 17 points from Platinum Yeah!

 

How early can we board Allure out of Port Everglades?

Usually *around* 11 a.m. It really depends on whether there are any problems clearing off the previous cruise's passengers.

[SilkySal]

Thanks for the great info!!! No worries when I make Diamond or book a Suite :) until then we will figure it out :). Mom will be 76 so I am trying to make it enjoyable for her first cruise. Found out I am 17 points from Platinum Yeah!

 

How early can we board Allure out of Port Everglades?

 

Bet your mum would really enjoy the "suite" perks on the Allure since she will be in your room!!:hearteyes: ;p:cool:

[Nessa1dc]

Our family sailed Royals Freedom of the Sea a few years back and Grandeur a couple years ago. Carnival had a closer port so we have sailed them a few times but don’t care for them as much. We tried lol but our hearts are with Royal.

 

My question are does Royal have anything you can purchase to get on ship faster and your room is ready when you board?

 

Do all ships have a place to keep your carryons until room is ready of the first question isn’t available? On Grandeur they had a staff person watch the Carry ons in a specific lounge.

 

If my mom is in my cabin can she board with me since it will be her first cruise?

 

Lastly how does the casino charges work with sign and sale card?

 

Welcome Back!!!

 

1. Nothing to purchase to get on the ship faster. The rooms open about 1pm...so try to get there closer to that time. Or get there early and get a seat in the Windjammer and chill until 1pm.

 

2. I didn't know they had the ability to hold carry ons on the Grandeur. Wow...where? Anyhoo...I haven't seen it anywhere.

 

3. If your mom is in the same cabin she can definitely Board with you.

 

4. The casino does cash and tickets....the tickets normally come from the slot machines when you cash out. You use your Set N Sail card to register your play.

 

Remember, you can always rent a wheel chair on embarkation if your mom can't do too much walking, and Everything will be open. Lounges, theater, windjammer...so you can go and have a seat there until the rooms are ready.

[Dashofpepper]

Are you guys saying that RCCL has no priority boarding feature in any capacity? I'm planning on switching from NCL to RCCL, and while I'd get priority boarding because of my casino status, I would have gotten it anywhere for being a disabled vet.

[Clarea]

Are you guys saying that RCCL has no priority boarding feature in any capacity? I'm planning on switching from NCL to RCCL, and while I'd get priority boarding because of my casino status, I would have gotten it anywhere for being a disabled vet.

 

Priority boarding is for suites and Pinnacle members. Some terminals also extend boarding order to lower C&A levels. Besides booking a suite, there's no way to "buy" priority boarding for a cruise.

[Qstrom]

So am I hearing correctly......on charging casino money to our cards.....? Only cash to play .....? We're aboard the Explorer in Sept. and can't remember from our last RCI cruise.......thanks

[Dashofpepper]

Priority boarding is for suites and Pinnacle members. Some terminals also extend boarding order to lower C&A levels. Besides booking a suite, there's no way to "buy" priority boarding for a cruise.

 

What about disabled people? I waited through the regular line on my last cruise at the port, and when I got to the front and presented my ID and stuff to get my boarding passes and stuff printed out, they asked why I hadn't used the priority line.

[Dashofpepper]

So am I hearing correctly......on charging casino money to our cards.....? Only cash to play .....? We're aboard the Explorer in Sept. and can't remember from our last RCI cruise.......thanks

 

Cash to play. All casino ships also have ATMs, but you can expect a hefty ATM charge. $5 - $10.

 

If you're talking a lot of cash, you can also wire transfer to the ship in advance, or open a line of credit to avoid having to carry cash.

[Qstrom]

Cash to play. All casino ships also have ATMs, but you can expect a hefty ATM charge. $5 - $10.

 

If you're talking a lot of cash, you can also wire transfer to the ship in advance, or open a line of credit to avoid having to carry cash.

 

Thank you for the information.......I don't remember that from our last Navigator cruise in 2016......we'll take some cash to play. It's just nice to get the points through your credit card......

[Dashofpepper]

Thank you for the information.......I don't remember that from our last Navigator cruise in 2016......we'll take some cash to play. It's just nice to get the points through your credit card......

 

You have options:

 

1. Book the cruise on your card. Tie your room to your card, charge everything to your card or back to your room.

 

2. Here's the part you'll have to research: Credit card companies treat purchases at casinos as a cash advance, and assess a 5-10% cash advance fee to prevent people from exploiting their membership rewards. Can you imagine? $100,000 deposit at a casino, get 1% cash back points, cash out the $100,000, pay off your card, and you've just made $1,000. Who WOULDN'T do that?

 

You'll have to call your cruise line casino booking person and ask them if you are allowed to do any of the following:

a.) Get cash at the casino charged to your room.

b.) open a line of credit at the casino, billed to your room

 

There's an entire industry of people who spend countless hours maximizing reward points and comps on various credit cards; it's called "churning." There are even churning communities. https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/

 

You might also look into whether you can purchase a prepaid visa with your credit card, then use that prepaid visa onboard to exchange for cash - but unless your points are particularly good, you'll pay more for the purchase/activation fee than you will get back in reward points.

 

My credit card has 1% anything cashback points, and 2% for gas and groceries. They charge 3% or 5% to vendors, so they still make a profit. I don't churn; double dips, doublebacks, none of it - like going to target to buy a Disney giftcard with my credit card, getting credit card points, then getting target points, then loading the Disney giftcard onto a Disney account since I was going to Disney anyway.

 

Carnival has prepaid carnival giftcards. RCCL has gift certificates. Look into whether you can buy those with your credit card, then use them on the ship to turn into casino cash.

 

There ARE ways; it just depends on the work you're willing to do.

 

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*edit*

 

I just took a look at the RCCL gift certificates - the T&Cs say that they can't be redeemed for games of chance - so you can't redeem a gift certificate at the casino and exchange it for money. Or you can, and the T&Cs are just saying that you can't gamble the certificate because it has no cash value in itself. But you could call the cruise line and find out if you can redeem the value of a gift certificate and have the balance added to your room account to use for spending onboard, and if you can acquire cash on board the ship against your room balance.

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Royal Caribbean Gift Certificates Terms and Conditions

 

1. This certificate can be redeemed by the holder of the Certificate (the "Holder") for up to the face value of the Certificate, only on Royal Caribbean International sailings and can be used towards the purchase of any Royal Caribbean International cruise vacation or as an onboard credit. This certificate is not valid on any other cruise line, including any affiliate of Royal Caribbean International. Gift certificates may be supplemented with other acceptable forms of payment.

 

2. The recipient of this certificate must be 21 years of age or older and the recipient and any additional guest(s) must satisfy Royal Caribbean International's additional requirements for passage.

 

3. To use toward the payment of a cruise vacation, reservation(s) must be made at least 14 business days prior to the sail date and/or the gift certificate must be redeemed before the final payment date (at least 10 business days prior to the sail date).

 

4. To use as an onboard credit, the gift certificate must be redeemed 10 business days prior to the sail date. If reservation is paid in full, then the gift certificate cannot be used as payment towards a cruise vacation. If final payment has already been made, then the gift certificate can be applied as an onboard credit as long as it is applied 10 business days prior the sail date. Travel Agents should call Royal Caribbean International at (800) 722-5970 and reference the Royal Caribbean International Gift Certificate.

 

5. Changes to the reservation may be permitted, subject to availability and any other restrictions and any applicable cancellation charges.

 

6. This certificate is nonrefundable, is not replaceable and has no cash value if lost, stolen, altered, photocopied or reproduced in any way.

 

7. Gift certificates may be redeemed online at http://www.royalcaribbean.com/giftcertificates or by calling (800) 722-5970.

 

8. Gift certificate must be redeemed prior to your cruise vacation. Gift certificates cannot be redeemed onboard.

 

9. This certificate may not be used to pay for any government fees, taxes, onboard gratuities, games of chance and or similar activities. This certificate cannot be used and is not applicable for charters and may not be used for certain customized group programs (i.e. value add groups).

Edited July 27, 2018 by Dashofpepper

[BillOh]

No FTTF on Royal.

 

No place to put carry-ons except on Grandeur.

 

Your mom can board with you.

 

Casino only takes cash or cash our tickets.

 

 

A place for Carry ons, on Granduer? I haven't heard of this, but there is Bob's law, "What ever Bob says is law" Despite my best effort, I learned something today. Given Granduer is currently homeporting where might consider driving to, this is good information, maybe I will use someday.

[Clarea]

A place for Carry ons, on Granduer? I haven't heard of this, but there is Bob's law, "What ever Bob says is law" Despite my best effort, I learned something today. Given Granduer is currently homeporting where might consider driving to, this is good information, maybe I will use someday.

Someone else (Carol?) will know details, but holding carry-ons has been reported on Grandeur for years. Maybe in the MDR?

[Janet524]

Someone else (Carol?) will know details, but holding carry-ons has been reported on Grandeur for years. Maybe in the MDR?

Last time we were on Grandeur they held the luggage in the lounge located aft of the Schooner Bar (Safari Lounge?).

 

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[zippydo1]

Grandeur keeps carry-ins in the South Pacific Lounge in the aft through the Schooner Bar.

[Clarea]

Last time we were on Grandeur they held the luggage in the lounge located aft of the Schooner Bar (Safari Lounge?).

Thank-you.

[lovescats5]

Actually, on ships with genies, your room is ready when you board. We were on Oasis and our suite was ready by 10 am when the genie walked us on board, and our luggage was there before we were. Now I am not sure about ships without genies but we will find that out in Sept 2019 when we are in a suite on Liberty.

[LewLewBelle]

Actually, on ships with genies, your room is ready when you board. We were on Oasis and our suite was ready by 10 am when the genie walked us on board, and our luggage was there before we were. Now I am not sure about ships without genies but we will find that out in Sept 2019 when we are in a suite on Liberty.

 

What is a genie on the ship? I was told Suites are ready as soon as you board. Not thinking we will have a Suite this time but we have 2 balconies booked :)

[sparks1093]

Bummer that the casino only takes cash but at least it saves me money. :)

[Clarea]

What is a genie on the ship? I was told Suites are ready as soon as you board. Not thinking we will have a Suite this time but we have 2 balconies booked :)

A genie is sort of a personalized concierge and only comes with Star class suites on Oasis and Quantum class ships:

 

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/royalsuiteclass/star/