Podcast Cruise 6.0!!! Official Info

[Linda1]

If you are thinking about the internet package, but haven't purchased it yet, be aware they have changed the maximum number of devices from 5 to 2.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Long time listener of the podcasts and viewer of the youtubes, happy to say just registered on the boards and finalized booking of my first cruise ever today!

12648 - roboender - Robert and Joel

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

It looks like there are a lot of active outdoorsy types of excursions but I'm kind of leaning toward doing something calm that day. The High Tea at the Great House might suit us. I'll have to run it by DW.

We're doing the Bamboo Beach Club & Falls VIP package. A group did the tea the last time we went, and everyone really enjoyed it. The last time I went we did the Blue Hole and rafting down the river excursion (non-cruise). It was great, and one of my favorite days. We used this tour group: http://www.courtneytaylortours.com/

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

42 Days!

 

[coachsomer]

How much cash should we take for tips, gifts...etc. we're doing Bamboo Beach Club & Falls VIP package and the Dis sweets and drink tour and RCL private island. can you charge things to your room key on RCL island. do you tip bus drivers, tour guide, beach chair guy etc. also dumb question 101, I assume the on board casino would only use cash? I'm thinking of the cash spend mostly off of the ship. TY

 

[roboender]

As this is my first cruise, does anyone have any feelings good or bad about the multi-day dining premium dining package? I would like to try the upcharge restaurants and it seems like a decent value, however there are some unknowns - such as availability and reservation times etc. Just wanted to reach out to the community and see if anyone has booked this previously and all recommendations are welcome. thanks!

 

[roboender]

As this is my first cruise, does anyone have any feelings good or bad about the multi-day dining premium dining package? I would like to try the upcharge restaurants and it seems like a decent value, however there are some unknowns - such as availability and reservation times etc. Just wanted to reach out to the community and see if anyone has booked this previously and all recommendations are welcome. thanks!

And i apologize if this is handled in another forum post - I searched and didn't find anything useful. Although, I did rewatch the Dreams podcast from 2/22/16

 

[Cherinva]

Thanks! look forward to contributing more, and meeting everyone aboard the cruise!

Welcome !! If you see us, please say hi..

 

[Cherinva]

Good Afternoon everyone.....it's getting closer now....I do need to start gathering items to pack

 

[Jobie]

As this is my first cruise, does anyone have any feelings good or bad about the multi-day dining premium dining package? I would like to try the upcharge restaurants and it seems like a decent value, however there are some unknowns - such as availability and reservation times etc. Just wanted to reach out to the community and see if anyone has booked this previously and all recommendations are welcome. thanks!

This is going to be my 7th cruise, and I have yet to dine at a specialty restaurant. The one's on this ship look good, but I always have an issue with paying again for food that I have already paid for in the price of the cruise. I know others have different opinions, but I find the food in the main dining room to be great.

However, we will be going to Giovanni's Table this cruise, because a free voucher is supposed to come with our room (if what I have read is correct). If this is the case, it might change my mind on the specialty restaurants.

Because this is your first cruise I would do the the following:

1. Look at the menus from the main dining room. This seems like a reliable source for the current menus: http://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2...-room-menu-royal-caribbeans-oasis-of-the-seas. If there is a day where there is nothing that grabs your interest, then that would be a great day to try a specialty restaurant or the buffet (Windjammers).

2. Look over the menus at the different specialty restaurants. The main website has sample menus up, but there are also other places where they are located. If there is a must have, or something that stands out, choose to eat there on a night where the main menu does not appeal to you.

3. Compare the number of nights where the specialty restaurants seems to appeal to you more than the menu for the main dining room. If there are several of these nights, then maybe the specialty dining plan will be good for you!

 

[roboender]

This is going to be my 7th cruise, and I have yet to dine at a specialty restaurant. The one's on this ship look good, but I always have an issue with paying again for food that I have already paid for in the price of the cruise. I know others have different opinions, but I find the food in the main dining room to be great.

However, we will be going to Giovanni's Table this cruise, because a free voucher is supposed to come with our room (if what I have read is correct). If this is the case, it might change my mind on the specialty restaurants.

Because this is your first cruise I would do the the following:

1. Look at the menus from the main dining room. This seems like a reliable source for the current menus: http://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2...-room-menu-royal-caribbeans-oasis-of-the-seas. If there is a day where there is nothing that grabs your interest, then that would be a great day to try a specialty restaurant or the buffet (Windjammers).

2. Look over the menus at the different specialty restaurants. The main website has sample menus up, but there are also other places where they are located. If there is a must have, or something that stands out, choose to eat there on a night where the main menu does not appeal to you.

3. Compare the number of nights where the specialty restaurants seems to appeal to you more than the menu for the main dining room. If there are several of these nights, then maybe the specialty dining plan will be good for you!

Thanks Jobie! great info

 

[OKW Lover]

This is going to be my 7th cruise, and I have yet to dine at a specialty restaurant. The one's on this ship look good, but I always have an issue with paying again for food that I have already paid for in the price of the cruise. I know others have different opinions, but I find the food in the main dining room to be great.

Perfectly understandable. However, consider if you would pay the same for a meal at cracker barrel type restaurant and one at a good steak house. There is a difference in the level of service and quality of the food you get at the specialty restaurants and what you get in the Main Dining Rooms. Not trying to say that the MDR food/service is bad, just that the specialty restaurants are better. That's what you are paying the up charge for.

 

[disneysteve]

This is going to be my 7th cruise, and I have yet to dine at a specialty restaurant. The one's on this ship look good, but I always have an issue with paying again for food that I have already paid for in the price of the cruise. I know others have different opinions, but I find the food in the main dining room to be great.

Perfectly understandable. However, consider if you would pay the same for a meal at cracker barrel type restaurant and one at a good steak house. There is a difference in the level of service and quality of the food you get at the specialty restaurants and what you get in the Main Dining Rooms.

This will be our 5th cruise and our 3rd cruise line. On our 4 previous cruises we went to a specialty restaurant once. It was our anniversary so I booked dinner at the French restaurant on Norwegian Dawn. The room was pretty though we were given a less than desirable table right opposite the kitchen door. The food was good and different than what was served in the MDR but neither of us felt we could say it was better than the MDR. The service was fine, but again no better than the MDR. In fact, on a ship with traditional fixed time dining, I think the MDR service is better because your server gets to know you after the first couple of meals. We both definitely agreed that it wasn't worth the upcharge.

Maybe Oasis is different, but I don't plan to find out. I'm with Jobie. We've already paid for our meals. I don't want to get on the ship and pay again. And to be fair, Jeff, I doubt the included restaurants are as low quality as Cracker Barrel. That certainly hasn't been our experience on our other cruises, though this will be our first time sailing RCCL so I can't comment on their quality.

 

[nrsldy]

I am excited to be going on this cruise and making new friends! Main Dinning for us. Past experience for us has been by the evening I'm not that hungry from eating all day so I do not plan on making reservations at any restaurants.

 

[Starryice]

As this is my first cruise, does anyone have any feelings good or bad about the multi-day dining premium dining package? I would like to try the upcharge restaurants and it seems like a decent value, however there are some unknowns - such as availability and reservation times etc. Just wanted to reach out to the community and see if anyone has booked this previously and all recommendations are welcome. thanks!

My husband and I are in the same boat. This is my first cruise and we did just book the 3 day dining package. I am kinda bummed that after I booked, it doesn't let you even pick the first restaurant. All it lets you choose is will you be dining in that restaurant day one or two. Also, you cannot make reservations for any other nights of your dining package until you are actually on the ship, so I am a little concerned that the the good times will be all booked up.

 

[corky441]

My husband and I are in the same boat. This is my first cruise and we did just book the 3 day dining package. I am kinda bummed that after I booked, it doesn't let you even pick the first restaurant. All it lets you choose is will you be dining in that restaurant day one or two. Also, you cannot make reservations for any other nights of your dining package until you are actually on the ship, so I am a little concerned that the the good times will be all booked up.

We've decided to book three meals in the Specialty restaurants.
But, for the exact reasons stated above, we did not book a dining package.

I wanted to dine in specific restaurants on specific days at specific times - so I just made our reservations for what I wanted and when.
I know I could have saved a few $$, but getting what I wanted was more important to me.

 

[roboender]

My husband and I are in the same boat. This is my first cruise and we did just book the 3 day dining package. I am kinda bummed that after I booked, it doesn't let you even pick the first restaurant. All it lets you choose is will you be dining in that restaurant day one or two. Also, you cannot make reservations for any other nights of your dining package until you are actually on the ship, so I am a little concerned that the the good times will be all booked up.

great point, I actually missed that nuance when looking into the packages - thanks!

 

[mdvlprof]

We tend to skip the specialty restaurants. Paying extra for types of food we can get at home just makes no sense. Ethnic food we can't get at home?, we're in!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

We tend to eat in the main dining room, also. We have My Time Dining, so I made reservations for various times. This is our first time using it. In the past we've either eaten at main or late dining. It's always been fun running in to fellow DISers at that time. On the Alaska cruise, I roomed with two friends, and we were sitting at a table next to a group of DISers. It seemed that we were the only DISers in that whole room. We ended up sitting together for the rest of the cruise, and had a wonderful time - all eleven of us at the table. For this upcoming cruise we'll probably only eat in a specialty dining room if plans to meet up with friends work out and that is where they want to eat. Otherwise, my companions won't know the difference

 

[Jobie]

If ya'll want to get a good idea on the type of planned activities that take place on board the ship, here is a link to the Cruise Compass from the October 8, 2016 sailing.

https://issuu.com/hochmania/docs/james_crowell_-_oasis_of_the_seas__/1?e=2025714/39747768