[jk8]

Re: Late dining and Palo.

There is really not much you would miss out on with late seating. They repeat the shows and a lot of the adult activities are late anyway. I would say you would have most folk without little kids wanting the late seating. In fact some who have to pick the early seating wish they could chose the late. That being said I am so used to early that I really prefer that now. Does the thought of having to eat at 5:30 really bother you if you got that slot? Maybe it does not and you should just do early.

Palo: We did not eat at Palo our first cruise. I decided I did not want to worry about if I would get it or not since it can book up. Then there is the issue of not wanting Palo to be on the first night you are in Artist's Palette and it changes colors. (It only does that the first time). There is a different menu every night at the restaraunts. What would I miss? So, I just didn't do it and I didn't care because I would not know what I am missing.

This second cruise we did book Palo on the last night. I would not pick this again as this is the night you say goodbye to your servers and it is special. We ended up going to the dining room for a while and sitting and then going to Palo. Anyway, the food at Palo was good and it was different as it is Northern Italian cuisine. You dress up and men wear jackets. However, as nice as it was, it was long and fancy and in the end just not for me. I won't book again next time. The chocolate souffle was really good, though.

[jk8]

Originally Posted by WishUponAStar

I have another question...

In your stateroom is there an in-room safe? Is it the electric touch-button kind or lock/key kind? I get so nervous about taking these valuable documents with me; ie. passport, etc...

Also, do they do "Mousekeeping" in your stateroom? If so, how often?

What about tipping on the boat. Who & how much should we figure?

There is a safe and it works via swiping a magnetic card.

Your stateroom host will visit your room for cleaning and then for turndown service. You will see your steward often in the halls as they are allways busy keeping things tidy.

You will get tipping envelops a few nights before the end of the cruise. The suggested is based on a per person per day charge. This is the current suggested for a 7 night per person.

Dining Room Server: $25.75
Dining Room assist server: $18.75
Dining room head server: $6.50
Stateroom Host/Hostest: $25.25

You can tip bar attendants and room service upon receipt of service.

[WishUponAStar]

Originally Posted by jk8

You will get tipping envelops a few nights before the end of the cruise. The suggested is based on a per person per day charge. This is the current suggested for a 7 night per person.

Dining Room Server: $25.75
Dining Room assist server: $18.75
Dining room head server: $6.50
Stateroom Host/Hostest: $25.25

You can tip bar attendants and room service upon receipt of service.

OK, I am a little confused about the tipping. So those suggestions are PER PERSON, PER NIGHT right? So that means it would be the following for the whole cruise??

$365. for the dining room server
$262. for the dining room assistant server for the week
$91. for the head server
Stateroom host(ess): $353.

This seems like craziness to me. That would be a total of $1,071. something isn't right there! How could those suggestions be per person, per night??

[jk8]

Originally Posted by WishUponAStar

OK, I am a little confused about the tipping. So those suggestions are PER PERSON, PER NIGHT right? So that means it would be the following for the whole cruise??

$365. for the dining room server
$262. for the dining room assistant server for the week
$91. for the head server
Stateroom host(ess): $353.

This seems like craziness to me. That would be a total of $1,071. something isn't right there! How could those suggestions be per person, per night??

That price already has the nights figured in, sorry. For you and Daniel you would just times those by 2 for the total.

[WishUponAStar]

Originally Posted by jk8

That price already has the nights figured in, sorry. For you and Daniel you would just times those by 2 for the total.

OH!!! See, now that seems like too little. haha, I'll find a happy medium, I sware.

[WishUponAStar]

jk8...

We would NOT NOT NOT want to miss Artist Palette with all the fanfare. How did you know which night you were scheduled to eat there? I just would not want to book Palo on that night.

[jk8]

Originally Posted by WishUponAStar

jk8...

We would NOT NOT NOT want to miss Artist Palette with all the fanfare. How did you know which night you were scheduled to eat there? I just would not want to book Palo on that night.

That can get complicated. They just changed the dining schedules. It used to be you knew not to pick any of the first 3 nights and you were fine. Now it looks like you don't pick nights 1, 2 or 4. But, of course that could change before your cruise. You also don't know what your dining "rotation" will be until you board ship. When it comes closer it will be easier to figure out when would be good to book.

[rlcarmichael]

1) Go late. Shows are offered to accomidate both.
2) Limited by your money and time only.
3) Book when you have your cruise reservations. Charged to your shipboard account/credit card.
4) arrange my own.
5) "romance package"? YES. Next time I'll take someone with me to enjoy it with.
6) Go BALCONY! Or at least oceanview cabin.

[rlcarmichael]

Originally Posted by WishUponAStar

OK, I am a little confused about the tipping. So those suggestions are PER PERSON, PER NIGHT right? So that means it would be the following for the whole cruise??

$365. for the dining room server
$262. for the dining room assistant server for the week
$91. for the head server
Stateroom host(ess): $353.

This seems like craziness to me. That would be a total of $1,071. something isn't right there! How could those suggestions be per person, per night??

MAN, I've got to get a job with DCL if the tips are that good!

[Peppertink]

Originally Posted by WishUponAStar

OK, I am a little confused about the tipping. So those suggestions are PER PERSON, PER NIGHT right? So that means it would be the following for the whole cruise??

$365. for the dining room server
$262. for the dining room assistant server for the week
$91. for the head server
Stateroom host(ess): $353.

This seems like craziness to me. That would be a total of $1,071. something isn't right there! How could those suggestions be per person, per night??

NO! I believe those were a total per person per server for the cruise.

[KiKi]

Here's a thought ...

If you are still unsure about which seating to book, book the early seating for now. There are always families with small children who are dying to switch from late to early (we were one of them). I'm sure you will be able to switch at any time from late to early, but not the other way around.

[Dopey]

I figured the two of us would do better with late seating. Hopefully the youngest will be somewhere else on the ship.

[llama]

Originally Posted by WishUponAStar

What kind of shopping on St. Thomas? I know you said it was good, but like what do they have there, is it worth a couple hours or 1/2 the day?

Did you get to eat at Palo? What was it like?

Thank you.

Jewellery shopping!! Gold, diamonds, gems!!! I have three Cartier bracelets and 3 carat diamond studds and they all came from cruises to St. Thomas. This is where you're husband REALLY proves he loves you! They'll even give you wine while you decide. It's definitely worth a couple of hours. All the top stores have outlets. They also have some fantastic little bistros - out of the way places - hunt one out for a great lunch. The little streets are really charming.

Palo is beautiful. The food amazing. The service is impecible. (They even send you a thank-you note for dining). One thing I'd suggest is make your reservation for early in the week. We made ours for our last night (to be special), but by that time we were so full of good food and eating every night that we didn't enjoy it as much - it was like, oh no, we have to eat ANOTHER dinner. So go early in the week to get the full experience.

[WishUponAStar]

Originally Posted by llama

Jewellery shopping!! Gold, diamonds, gems!!! I have three Cartier bracelets and 3 carat diamond studds and they all came from cruises to St. Thomas. This is where you're husband REALLY proves he loves you! They'll even give you wine while you decide. It's definitely worth a couple of hours. All the top stores have outlets. They also have some fantastic little bistros - out of the way places - hunt one out for a great lunch. The little streets are really charming.

Palo is beautiful. The food amazing. The service is impecible. (They even send you a thank-you note for dining). One thing I'd suggest is make your reservation for early in the week. We made ours for our last night (to be special), but by that time we were so full of good food and eating every night that we didn't enjoy it as much - it was like, oh no, we have to eat ANOTHER dinner. So go early in the week to get the full experience.

Wow, that sounds awesome! ABSOLUTELY no gem or diamond shopping for me though. I received my 5 year anniversary/30th birthday present early & let's just say it's no chopped liver! Bella saw it, she'll atest. i think if Daniel even HEARD the word diamond come out of my mouth on this cruise he'll jump the ship.

[llama]

Originally Posted by WishUponAStar

Wow, that sounds awesome! ABSOLUTELY no gem or diamond shopping for me though. I received my 5 year anniversary/30th birthday present early & let's just say it's no chopped liver! Bella saw it, she'll atest. i think if Daniel even HEARD the word diamond come out of my mouth on this cruise he'll jump the ship.

Gold is nice... OH! and it's an INVESTMENT!