First Cruise in Three Years. Any Changes?

[Cruisin Redhead]

I am booked on the Voyager 1-3-10. It will be my 10th RCCL cruise, but my first in 3 years. Are there any changes I should know about?

Thanks,

Cruisin Redhead

[greartart]

due to national financial problems there are little things

no chocatets on pillow

less free drinks, canapes at parties

cut backs on meals

etc

but its still great to cruise art

[Powriv]

they are bringing back long oars to save fuel.

 

They draft passengers to help with the rowing

 

;):D;)

[unklez]

they are bringing back long oars to save fuel.

 

They draft passengers to help with the rowing

 

;):D;)

 

That's on CCL not on RCL :D

[PrincesScuba]

I am booked on the Voyager 1-3-10. It will be my 10th RCCL cruise, but my first in 3 years. Are there any changes I should know about?

Thanks,

Cruisin Redhead

Unless at least one of those nine previous cruises was in a suite or 12 nights or longer, you will be Diamond at the end of this cruise. At least you won't experience a "decrease in Diamond benefits." :)

 

As one of the other posters said, there will not be a CHOCOLATE on your pillow at turn-down unless you are in a full suite. If you ARE in a full suite, the chocolate will be very upgraded - it will be Ghirardelli chocolate.

 

If you are considering booking another cruise while you are on this one, think twice. You can only use one "benefit", so you can get the OBC for booking the cruise, but you can't combine it with anything else.

 

There is now a $4.95 cover charge at Johnny Rocket's, and the coupon book will NOT give you one free cover.

 

The coupon book in general will stink. You will have a buy one, get one free wine coupon, a $7.50 internet coupon, and some other nonsense coupons.

 

Instead of $2 slot coupons, you will have coupons for a "free spin" at a nonsensical slot machine. You MAY win a key chain, or a t-shirt, or a polo shirt. You COULD even win $5,000, according to the sign, but I have never seen or heard of anyone winning this.

 

You won't be able to get to your cabin until 1 P.M. The bulkhead doors to the cabin corridors will be closed, and will probably be guarded by ship's personnel. You'll have to keep your carry-ons with you until then.

 

Debarkation is now easier and more streamlined.

 

The recommended gratuities, amazingly, are still the same.

 

The charge for Portofino is $20 pp. Children under the age of 13 are now allowed on a reservation before 7 P.M.

 

You may no longer buy a bottle of liquor in the ship's store and pay a fee and take it back to your cabin with you. It will be held for you and delivered to your cabin on the last night for you to take home. (although that was true three years ago)

 

Same thing with liquor purchased in port. It will be taken and held.

 

You may not carry on any wine. You can only order THEIR wine if you want to have some in your cabin.

 

There are very few smoking areas on the ship now as compared to three years ago. There is no smoking inside any cabin, although smoking IS allowed on a balcony.

 

They are no longer giving out C&A gifts in the cabin as a "thank you".

 

The set-up of the Captain's Welcome Aboard party and Welcome Back party will be different, but it will change after September 1, so no one is quite sure exactly how it will look by January.

 

Keep track of your pool towels. They seem to have tightened up on charging you if you don't return them.

 

If you don't like either main seating or late seating, you can now choose "My Time Dining", in which you can eat whenever you like between 6 and 9:30. You have to sign up for it, and when you do, all gratuities will automatically be charged. (pre-cruise, to your credit card; on the cruise, to your SeaPass account). These are all of your standard gratuities: headwaiter, waiter, assistant waiter & cabin attendant. You will receive vouchers in your cabin on the last night with envelopes, so you can still add more if you wish.

 

You can only get soda on the soda card - no juice.

 

If you want cash in the casino, you will pay a 3% fee. The ATM on board charges a flat $6, so if you want more than $200, it's a "better buy".

 

I don't remember when they started - you now print out a Set Sail pass on the Royal Caribbean website for boarding. It will be encrypted with all of your information, so all they have to do at the pier is scan the barcode, and swipe your credit card, get you your SeaPass, and you are done. Be sure to print it out more than 72 hours before sailing.

 

That's all I can think of right now.

 

:)

 

Welcome back! :)

[Kittycatwlv]

After midnight there is a service fee of around $3.95 for room service :mad:

[Gracie115]

After midnight there is a service fee of around $3.95 for room service :mad:

 

if you want a "CHOPS" type steak in the MDR you pay $14.95.

 

There are no sommeliers in the MDR anymore, although that may have ended before your last RCCL cruise.

 

Apparently they are now removing the life jackets from the staterooms...

 

Entertainment may well be the same as the last time you cruised...:eek:

 

There is also no "free photo" coupon in the C & A book anymore.

 

There are "towel" animals on only about half the nights of a cruise

 

So many things have changed....having fun hasn't .... enjoy your cruise!!:)

[emilygrace]

Gracie, I don't think it was mentioned ANYWHERE that they are removing the lifejackets from the staterooms. The only change I am aware of is that you do not have to wear your lifejacket to the muster drill.

[ritaontherocks]

They don't put pool towels in your stateroom anymore. You have to pick them up out by the pool. But they don't scan your sea pass or take down your room # so I don't think there is a charge for non returned towels anymore. We were on the Freedom in June and most people leaving the pool at then end of the day would just leave the towels on the chairs for the staff to collect.

[barbarah33]

PrincessScuba did such a great job with all the changes.

 

The ships have gotten bigger and offer more activities and yes, I do think the food has gone downhill a bit but it is still a wonderful way to travel and an amazing vacation.

 

Enjoy being back at sea!!

[OV8]

Is it free refills if you buy a soda on board in any of the dining areas?

[Gracie115]

Gracie, I don't think it was mentioned ANYWHERE that they are removing the lifejackets from the staterooms. The only change I am aware of is that you do not have to wear your lifejacket to the muster drill.

 

RCCl is taking this fleet wide. The life vests will be stored at muster stations instead of in your cabin. :D posted by cruisecrazymama 7/26/09

 

Yes, it has been mentioned that they are removing from the staterooms, it was mentioned yesterday by the above person....I hope they're wrong.

[Gracie115]

Oh they also don't print the abbreviated world news daily in English and other languages anymore.....

[Cruisin Redhead]

Thank You everyone for your updates!

Cruisin Redhead

[PhoenixCruiser]

Is it free refills if you buy a soda on board in any of the dining areas?

 

Nope, it is sold per can.

 

If you purchase the soda card you will get fountain soda.

 

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