Latest Royal Caribbean News: Raising Gratuities, Crown Lounge, Passenger overboard
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Editorial Summary
The creator provides a comprehensive update on several recent developments involving Royal Caribbean. The primary news involves an upcoming increase in automatic daily gratuities for standard and suite cabins beginning in November. Travelers can avoid these higher rates by prepaying their gratuities through a travel agent or the cruise line directly. Regarding loyalty benefits, the creator clarifies that the Crown Lounge may occasionally limit access during peak hours on specific sailings to prevent overcrowding, but this is not a fleet wide policy change. The video also features an inside look at the planned Royal Promenade for Icon of the Seas, detailing new features such as the Pearl Cafe for grab and go food, a dueling piano bar, and a new beverage dispenser system. Additionally, the creator discusses upcoming software improvements that will allow guests with dining packages to make restaurant reservations before their cruise. Finally, the update reports on a successful rescue operation involving a passenger who went overboard from Symphony of the Seas near Spain.
Written by TripBacon from this video's transcript.
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This review is more critical than the all-time creator consensus.
Source: Our analysis of the creator's lived experience, based on what they said in this video.
Creator's Key Takeaways
Royal Caribbean is raising its automatic gratuity rate beginning in November
I really don't care about getting into the crown lounge or being denied access as a pinnacle member
The good news is if you have a cruise already booked you can actually grandfather yourself into the old rate
Great news because usually it's very rare that someone who goes overboard is in fact rescued
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