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First time cruising on RCC

peanut1277

By peanut1277,
in Royal Caribbean International

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peanut1277

peanut1277

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This will be our first time cruising on a RCC . Looking for some tips or suggestions when it comes tipping , if we should do the sit down dinner - is it worth it or do buffet?  drink packages, excursions. Any advice will be great. We cruise in January 2020

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karena1

karena1

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Just do the prepaid tips. Easiest and best way to go.  Then you can tip extra to those you feel deserve it.  We live My Time Dining as we like the flexibility of eating when we want vs having a set time for dinner.  

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blackshirt

blackshirt

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Tips will automatically be charged daily to your onboard account unless you prepay or go to guest services and have them removed. Best to pay the automatic tips and tip extra as you see fit. If you do plan to remove the automatic tips, don’t admit it here. It’s a volatile subject.

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Tree_skier "Live from...." Rare

Tree_skier

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Do the MDR for your dinner meals. It is free and included so I'm not sure what you mean by "is it worth it" If you don't like it you can always go to the buffet.

 

We prefer MTD.  You can reserve a specific time for each day in advance through the Cruise Planner online and get the best of both worlds.  Have preset dining times depending on the schedule you have for the day.  For us, we prefer earlier times for sea days and later times on port days.

 

You can also request to be seated with other people is you are interested or you can dine alone.

 

Check previous cruise compasses for your ship and itinerary for ideas on what nights you have shows and activities you want to schedule your meals around.

 

Drink packages are worth it in my book.  I don't think you need to drink a ton of adult beverages to make it pay like some people think.  When you consider the cost of soda, bottled water, fresh squeezed OJ (my favorite in the morning!) and Latte's that are all included it isn't very hard to do better than break even.

 

I found that on sea days I make come out way ahead and on port days less so but still ahead.

 

What ship will you be on.

Edited by Tree_skier
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DarthGrady

DarthGrady

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27 minutes ago, peanut1277 said:

This will be our first time cruising on a RCC . Looking for some tips or suggestions when it comes tipping , if we should do the sit down dinner - is it worth it or do buffet?  drink packages, excursions. Any advice will be great. We cruise in January 2020

 

Since it's your first time on RCI I would say try as many dining venues as you can. I generally do the dining room for lunch on sea days for the nice salad bar, and the buffet for dinner to avoid the crowds. The drink package is worth it only if you plan on having more than just a few drinks during the days. I'm not sure what the current per-day cost is, but usually the break even point for beers is in the 6-8 per day range, and probably 5 or 6 mixed drinks. Some people just like to buy the package so the cost is known up front, and don't have to worry about how many they've purchased. Whether or not that's important is something only you can decide. As far as tipping goes, I just leave the automatic tips on my account, and carry extra singles for whomever may give me above average service.

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UFMOM

UFMOM

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What ship are you booked on. Large ship or smaller? On large ships it may be advantageous to book entertainment and specialty dining ahead. You can even reserve a time for my time dining. Also for excursion tips you will need to post your itinerary. Great information can be found in the port of call board for all your ports. We have cruised on many lines and we have found Royal to be very enjoyable so I am sure you will have a great cruise no matter which ship you booked. We will be on the Symphony this Saturday.😁

 

 

Mary Ann

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Tree_skier "Live from...." Rare

Tree_skier

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2 hours ago, George C said:

Strongest thing is there entertainment, do not miss the great ice show. 

Ditto this...

 

The Ice show is always the hi light of entertainment for me!

 

Get there early for that.  There are no bad seats but I love to get there early to sit right on the rail. It adds a whole new dimension to the show if you have never done it.

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Rewind "Live from...." Rare

Rewind

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What date are you sailing? - we are on Explorer on Jan 10th, 2020.

 

Buffet can be hit or miss depending on your tastes.  We have switched over to eating more in the buffet as we can get in and out quicker and many times they have the same dishes as the Main Dining Room (but not always).

 

Formal nights are more of a suggestion now but not enforced.

 

As for excursions, what ports are you visiting?  If you are sailing on Jan 10, I already know the answer.  😄

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Rewind "Live from...." Rare

Rewind

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Labadee is a private beach day - they have a smaller roller coaster and I think they now have two zip lines (one traditional, one where you are laying down).  All excursions here are handled through Royal, no independents.  There are two shopping areas, one is a large building where it seems to be low pressure, but past that to the right is a path that has high pressure sales.  If you are heading this way, friendly no thank-yous seem to work well enough if you keep walking.

 

As for the ABCs - We haven't decided what to do in Aruba yet, we are deciding between a snorkel excursion or the off road jeep tour with snorkeling in Bonaire, and Curacao is fun to walk around in.

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SuiteLady

SuiteLady

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On ‎8‎/‎21‎/‎2019 at 8:32 AM, peanut1277 said:

tree-skier we are on the Explorer of the sea and leave port on Jan 2020 . thank you for the helpful info 

The Explorer was my first RCI ship!  She was the reason that I fell in love with RCI (Did Carnival previously). I have become accustomed to liking the larger ships (Quantum and Oasis classes), but Explorer was lovely when I sailed on her!  We had the aft 2 bedroom family suite and it was a very memorable cruise!  I am sure you will enjoy her!  We ate in the MDR every night and had great service.  We always do pre-paid gratuities and then tip extra along the way.  I also usually do the beverage package- seems like a steep price, however as others said above, I find it easy to always get my monies worth!  Also beats signing a receipt each time you get a drink (just more convenient).  On Labadee, you use your beverage package just like you are on the ship!  I love Labadee (been there 4-5 times) and my next cruise I will actually be going to CoCo Cay,which I have never been to before!  Haven't been to the other ports yet.  Again, enjoy!  I have to wait until May 2020 (going on the Oasis this time).

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Sancho_proudfoot

Sancho_proudfoot

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As you are sailing from the US, and not from Southampton, you will find that the formal night suggested attire is very much not followed. It's a different story this side of the pond, with true formal wear making a strong comeback, with 75% to 80% dressing formally.

 

We came off Explorer three weeks ago; ignore the naysayers who cry the ship down, and shout nonsense like "it's a rust bucket, should be scrapped". She's in good form; yes, the dry dock and amping in the Spring will benefit her but there is nothing onboard to put you off.

 

We found the entertainment to be a notch or two higher than our last RCL cruise a year previously. Obviously the headliners will have changed but overall l reckon you can expect a very good standard.

 

The food was fine. Despite some comments about MDR repetitiveness, we didn't find it so. Staff were their usual friendly, smiling selves.

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vacationlover_mn Great Review Rare

vacationlover_mn

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We love to do a big table in the MDR for dinner, and bond with random people.  We don’t do mytime, we prefer the early seating 🙂. The only time we tip beyond the gratuities they charge you for, is $1 per drink, and we always get the drink pkg.  oh, we also tip on excursions.

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Jimnbigd

Jimnbigd

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Tips are automatically added but some tip beyond this and take extra cash for this.

 

Casino requires cash. There is an extra charge if you get cash from your shipboard account in the casino.

RCI usually has really good entertainment and music. I usually stay up until midnight to enjoy the nightlife.

 

Unlike Carnival, there is no free "Guy's Burgers". Your ship has Johnny Rockets but it costs extra.

 

Cabins are small (aren't they all) but has good storage. The mirrors on each side of the desk in the cabin open up -- good for perfumes and other small bottles like lotions and medicine. One of the mirrors in the bathroom also opens.

 

I prefer the dining room, but the buffet at night is really nice and has much of the same food as the MDR. Note that you are expected to tip the same even if you never eat in the MDR -- The waiters in the buffet work hard too. In the buffet, be sure to walk all the way towards the back of the ship. The first part is a somewhat small Asian section; the back has your typical American and other types of foods. Also your ship will have Cafe Promenade (CP) on deck 5 -- good pre-made sandwiches, desserts, and coffee. I think CP has the best free coffee. CP is open just about all the time. I think the desserts in CP are better than the MDR, and usually get one (or two) after the entertainment ends around midnight.

 

As others mentioned, don't miss the (free) ice show. There will be multiple shows all the same. The first show is usually the most crowded. There is also free ice skating with skates and helmet provided at no charge. The ice rink is "Studio B", deck 3, with access near the rear elevators/stairs. Also note that the "rear" elevators and stairs are not in the very back but more towards the middle of the ship -- really about 2/3 of the way back. It's a pretty good walk from the back cabins to the back elevators/stairs. Some cruises I've been on had free tickets passed out the first morning on the ship -- those with tickets get into Studio B first. Lately though its been like any other ship -- just walk in and find a seat. I don't think ship requires pre-booking of shows like the oasis class does.

 

Other places I like:

* Schooner bar -- a piano bar

* The lounge at the front of the ship on deck 5 -- usually good live music -- your lounge is called "Star Lounge".

* The theater shows. My favorite is a singer with the 9-piece ship's orchestra, but the ship's singers and dancers usually put on a good show too. No extra charge of course.

* Helipad. Quite windy when the ship is moving. A good place to see stars (in the sky, not celebrities). Get there by walking up stairs in the front outside on deck 4, or going out a starboard side door in the Star Lounge and going left once you are outside.

 

The only free drinks will probably be at the Captain's party night 2 -- Champagne -- and I suspect this will also be your one formal night. (5-day cruises have only one formal night.) People on RCI don't dress up as much as we used to -- I see lots of men in just nice shirts and slacks, but many will still be in suits, and a few in a tuxedo.

 

One more thing -- the Quest game show. It's not for everyone. I like it; my wife does not. It is a PG-13 (sometimes R) rated adult game show, probably night 4 of your cruise around 10:30pm or so in Studio B. I say try it -- You can always leave if you don't like. You can find youtube videos of this on different ships, including some non-RCI ships.

Edited by Jimnbigd
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