LIVE LIVE LIVE from the MARINER with MERION MOM for 53 DAYS!!!

[Merion_Mom]

Hello Carol!

 

got brandy? :D:D:D

 

Please tell Len and Letty, Roger and Ivan and Bobbie that I said HI.

 

Hi, Jim! Funny, funny, funny!

 

Got brandy in Cozumel, as a matter of fact. :D

 

Greetings will be delivered tomorrow.

[Merion_Mom]

It took 16 hours, 5 Royal Caribbean employees, two visits by maintenance staff, and about a dozen trips (by me) between our AFT cabin on Deck 9 and the Guest Relations desk on Deck 5, but the SeaPass mess has been resolved.

 

Here was the nub of it:

 

Jeannine had to get her card replaced after it was stolen. We SHOULD have been told that we had to get ours replaced at the same time. They said that we didn't have to, but we did.

 

But here's the kicker: since we told them that ours simply didn't work, they tested them for de-magnetization (negative result - they weren't de-magnetized) and told us to try again. They still didn't work. Then they just made copies for us, and told us to try again. They still didn't work.

 

This is why: they made COPIES from old information. Their computer which provides the door information for the card still thought that we were in Grand Suite 1282, because no one had told it otherwise. Therefore, every time they made a new card, it was actually for 1282, not the RFS.

 

Gaston finally figured that out today, after all of this fuss. He fixed the computer's information, made us new cards (all white ;)), and POOF, all three work!

[Merion_Mom]

The Meet 'n' Mingle was this morning at 11:30.

 

Abe hosted it himself.

 

HUGE attendance, although I'm not good at numbers. The Lotus Lounge was pretty full.

 

There was a raffle, with beach mats and flashlight/clock thingies as prizes, plus two bottles of champagne.

 

What did I win?

 

Exactly what I always win at M 'n' M's.

 

Nada. Bupkus. Zilch. Goose Egg.

 

Oh well. I had fun anyway.

[Merion_Mom]

Today began cumulative trivia competition. This is in addition to regular, one-time, instant gratification trivia.

 

Every sea day at 1, Abe will host a 20 question trivia session. You keep the same team throughout the cruise.

 

Our team, Divas & Wannabees, did not do very well today, but we have time to regain lost ground.

 

I had to explain one question to Abe afterwards, as I told him why it was a bad question even though I had gotten his "right" answer. It was about Roman gladiators. :rolleyes: He pretended to listen. :D

[Merion_Mom]

Cocktail "hour" in the Lounges is a mad crush. There are SO many eligible passengers. Bartenders are hard-pressed to keep up with the orders, there are waiters running all over, and they are refilling the food troughs, er, dishes, constantly.

 

The advantage of main seating is that there is time to get a drink (drinks) before dinner AND an after-dinner drink. :D

 

We *did* discover tonight that although the CL on Deck 9 stays open until 8:30, the bar in the Dragon's Lair stops serving at 8 - an important lesson to learn! ;)

[Merion_Mom]

The wine tasting, which is free to C&A members with the coupon in the booklet, was today at 3 in the MDR.

 

We laughed and giggled our way through it.

 

Wine was the same mediocre stuff as last week and every other time I have attended.

 

A man keeled over, someone yelled, "Is there a doctor in the house?" (someone watches too much TV), and Jeannine sprang into action. She did the most important thing - she got people to move back away from the man so that they weren't sucking up all of his air!

 

He got up and walked out on his own power, so apparently he was fine.

[Merion_Mom]

Mark B's sets in the Wig & Gavel are fun, but he repeats the same songs every night. He is not really open to adding other songs. He smiles and acknowledges a shouted out request, but doesn't sing it.

 

No Nelson sightings tonight. :(

[Merion_Mom]

I don't know if I'm "getting old", or what the reason is, but smoke is affecting me much more lately. I really feel choked when I am near smokers, and it is NOT "in my head". I actually feel my lungs being irritated and closing up.

 

Dinner was delicious again. Mango and cranberry (chilled) soup, shrimp & crab cold salad, filet of beef. The beef was EXCELLENT.

 

I also indulged in a dessert sampler of chocolate cake (not the dense flourless one), white chocolate mousse and some other chocolate moussy thing. (sort of a ganache)

 

This was followed by a BRANDY (Jim!) in the Dragon's Lair, after I pouted at the bartender - "But it ISN'T 8 - it's two minutes BEFORE 8!!!"

[Merion_Mom]

Tonight we lose an hour of sleep, moving the clocks up an hour, to get ready for our next time zone.

 

G'night!

[Arizona Laura]

I don't know if I'm "getting old", or what the reason is, but smoke is affecting me much more lately. I really feel choked when I am near smokers, and it is NOT "in my head". I actually feel my lungs being irritated and closing up.

 

Dinner was delicious again. Mango and cranberry (chilled) soup, shrimp & crab cold salad, filet of beef. The beef was EXCELLENT.

 

I also indulged in a dessert sampler of chocolate cake (not the dense flourless one), white chocolate mousse and some other chocolate moussy thing. (sort of a ganache)

 

This was followed by a BRANDY (Jim!) in the Dragon's Lair, after I pouted at the bartender - "But it ISN'T 8 - it's two minutes BEFORE 8!!!"

 

Really liked Jimmy Blakemore in the Wig & Gavel on our Mariner cruise but the smoke was so heavy I had to leave. I can usually tolerate smoke but not there.

Since we will be on the inaugural cruise Feb 22 these postings are extra meaningful.

Thanks

Laura

[CruisinMommas]

Well it is still pouring and cold back in the Philadelphia area. The usual stuff is happening in the news.

Do you have a different table on this leg? Will you keep it throughout the trip?

Enjoy the next two islands they are my favorites.

Another Carol

[berman947]

That was not a fun drive into work this morning. At least it wasn't ice. This thread is a great distraction from work. Keep the updates coming, MM!

[RoofingPrincess]

Carol, hmm a piano player and now a drummer?;):p:D

She's starting to organize her own band!!:)

I might be able to contribute a guitarist/vocalist! :D

Gee, Wrona, are you SURE you want to room with Carol & me??

[petesweet]

I've been traveling world wide since the mid 70's. I wouldn't think of leaving home without inquiring to the embassy about a visa.

 

I needed a visa to ski in France in 1987.

 

Strange. I've traveled to France many times since 1967 and never needed a visa.

[petesweet]

No visa required for Panama Canal:D

 

But you know what? - it might be smart to check a couple of months before you leave since those things could change. I'm starting to get smart (and paranoid).:)

[petesweet]

They need to add.........gratuities..........as an example!! Bobbies parents don't drink, gamble, use the specialty dining......but will use their OBC for excurisions.

 

I talked them into purchasing 100 shares of RCL stock.........which they got for $12.28 per share.....which gives them a $250.00 per leg OBC, plus they have the fuel supplement.......which is a $280.00 OBC.

 

They thought that they could get some cash from the casino against their OBC......but with no warning........RCCL changes their rules.

 

Maybe Bobbie's folks will loosen up a bit........knowing that they got to spend the OBC's:D;):)

 

I wonder how she is going to break this to them!!

 

Rick

 

I had prepaid our gratuities (I just like to handle everything before we leave and then forget it) and had booked three very expensive port excursions through RCCL. I called the other day and canceled all of that because even though they had my money through the prebooking, I was afraid I would lose my OBC that I had planned to use to "repay" what I had prebooked. Now I may miss out on the excursions if they are fully booked, but I didn't want to take a chance. Those are basically the only things we use our OBC for since we are not drinkers.

 

We also have to consider that we have the fuel surcharge to use up, but I presume that would be refundable whether used or not. I can't see any ethical way they could keep that.

[petesweet]

The post by cruisenfever does a pretty good job of explaining it, but the note does not include every possible detail. It does not mention the Fuel Surcharge refunded as OBC, but it would seem to me from their explanation that it would be cash refundable. The complimentary OBCs would seem to be just that, the ones that were provided at no cost to you, such as the stock benefit, or the credits from booking on previous cruises, etc.

 

As usual, the company folks don't quite do a good enough job with the details.

 

Here's the kicker though... if you have mixed OBC on your account, which do they use first? My bet is that the line will charge out the refundable credits first, leaving any balance in the non-refundable category. Clearly it would be better for the customer to do it the other way around. I can imagine folks becoming very angry if they try to do that, especially with no advance warning.

 

There seems to be a rash of surprise policy changes lately. Did they hire a new revenue enhancement team?

 

Theron

 

I think I'll go to the purser's desk first thing and cash out my fuel surcharge OBC just to be safe.

[MrZoey]

I grew up in Elkins Park, and graduated from Cheltenham High School.

 

We moved to St. Davids for a year after we returned from school out of state. Then 7 years in Wynnewood, and now 22 years in Merion.

 

:)

Hi Carol,

Thanks for the reply, I was Harriton High School class of '74, moved to Detroit suburbs 28 years ago. I knew lots of kids from your HS from "overnight" camp in the Poconos! I love reading all your posts, and you always have great info...... will go Diamond next Christmas (or earlier if I can talk DH into going another time;)). I always try to use your sage advice with all your experience! Have fun!

Kitty

[rubrrick]

There was actually a special letter in our cabin this morning emphasizing that OBC must be spent on board. (thus the name: ON BOARD credit). No refunds, no credits, no carryover from voyage to voyage. (our cruise is actually three separate cruises, in case anyone missed that point.)

 

 

Carol............could check with the front desk to see if gratuities are still being allowed with OBC's.

 

There is some discussion that the money that we spent for the fuel supplement...........if a direct outflow of cash..........and should come back to the cruises as cash........via the casino. The stockholders credit cannot come back as cash, but must be spent onboard. Does that include gratuities???:rolleyes:

 

Rick

[rubrrick]

 

I assume that my retainer check is in the mail?:rolleyes:

 

How's the bachelor life?

 

The Check will be in the mail if Carol can't get a straight answer while onboard in the next couple of days.

 

Batching it...........:D:D;)

 

See you in about 3 weeks!!

[xpcdoojk]

Thanks for posting this! It tell us we need to spend, not expect to get a refund! Gee, that'll be hard ------:D

 

I think I will have $400 of OBC on my next cruise, and there is zero chance of me needing a refund. Unfortunately.

 

jc

[Lynn the Cruiser]

Oh, believe me, I would if I could!!!!!

 

So, we were walking down the Royal Promenade this morning (Cindy and I), and who comes walking towards us, trying to look inconspicuous with their gorgeous golden locks shoved up under nondescript caps?

 

Matthew and Gunnar!!!!!

 

We greeted them, and got a cheery, "Hi, Carol!" in return.

 

I think that my heart stopped!

 

:D

 

P.S. Matthew is the older twin, by 40 minutes. ;)

Now you are really killing me!!!!!!:eek::D

[Lynn the Cruiser]

Well, up here in NE PA it is icy and I am off of school!!!! Yesterday I had an early dismissal. Now I won't have to read through pages and pages of posts!!!!:D

[spadercool]

I go back Monday :o

[wrp96]

I might be able to contribute a guitarist/vocalist! :D

Gee, Wrona, are you SURE you want to room with Carol & me??

 

ABSOLUTELY!!!:D Hope Carol puts in an order for some good entertainment for us!