Denise, I know that Seabourn did have a referral program at one time for Club Members and I think it was a $250 cruise credit for referring someone to them. It was Martha on the other board that mentioned it. Good idea. I wish SS would do it as well. We have had four couples that joined us on our last two SS cruises that had never been cruised on SS before.

Marc, I see that you only have 11 more days until you sail. You must be very excited. Are you packed yet? Hope you have a wonderful cruise.

Don,

SS gained four new couples and, hopefully, repeat guests, thanks to you. I have no doubt that each of us referred at least one couple/individual, and they referred someone, and so on! I think it's a small price to pay to build a steady and loyal following.

Don, yes, we are getting excited. As I will be out of town until late the evening before we leave, next weekend will be the time for packing.

Goodness, I could cut out a big cost of my cruise for all the people I am bringing on to MUSH if they did that! So could joannapv! Good idea, Don! I think SS and RSSC should get together. Combine SS's all inclusive, and closer to cruise pricing, and RSSC's early pricing. All the rest is no different to me from my one experience on SS that was great. They are a natural match, provided we do not lose the best of both.

Actually, Olivia, the suggestion of referral reward was one I chimed in with. This board has generated so much business for RSSC. We could all make a tidy sum!

Ngaire, maybe we should invite him to join us on the MUSH cruise, then we could have a 90 on 1 conversation with him about all our suggestions! LOL :D

He is a VERY NICE guy! He would have a lot of fun on MUSH with all of us.

We could invite him to our special order Prime Rib MUSH dinner ;)

I have no idea other than Marc is our kind of guy. Whatever cruise where he wants to join us would be fine with me!

Maybe he'd rather Mash Potatoe with Chester and all of us at the West Coast Gathering? Now VP Christian can REALLY dance!! Maybe we should invite him too?

Maybe it would help if we could see a photo of Chester so we could pick just the perfect dancing partner. :banana:

Hi Joanna, Maybe it's the way I phrased it, not sure, but the "regardless", was because she was a very nice lady, but her husband was one of the extremely rude people I had talked about and he embarrassed her in front of us very badly (well very badly to us), and when we saw her the next night, it was obvious that she was really drunk when she left Signatures, (they had the table behind us) and well that was a comment that my hubby made and said "I don't blame her, with a husband like that, I'd be drunk too and I agreed).

I'll repeat the brief story!

I met her briefly on the shuttle from downtown Skagway and she turned to chat with me about the train tour they had taken (we didn't take it). We chatted for about 5 min in total. That night she saw me sitting and waiting for hubby in the "smokeing lounge" and she asked if she could join me and smoke and I said sure.

She sat down and was there for all of 3 - 5 min chatting and having her cig and her husband comes over and says to her "did you eat breakfast already - they served it 20 min ago" She turned beet red, I think she just wanted to hide under the table, he waited till she was standing up and he turned and walked away, she appologized to us and I kept telling her not to worry she didn't have to appologzie, she said she would make him, but we said, no don't worry, perhaps he was just in a hurry or needed her, but she was so humiliated it was obvious, poor thing. The next evening she was "drunk".

I hope this clarifies, if not, I'll try harder.

I think that if you refer people to RSSC you should get something. Either a discount on your cruise or shipboard credit. From what I'm reading, RSSC has received many new "guests" because of you, this certainly deserves some kind of benefit to you.

Many businesses have a "thank you" of some sort for referrals. That is just good business practice in my opinion.

I would change one other thing, offer the room service menu in the bars at night for people wishing to have a lighter, quicker meal, but not necessarily in their rooms.

For us personally, and it would have encouraged me to say "I'll cruise again for sure" would ithave been if I could have enjoyed the room service menu in one of the lounges.

The food for me (and my digestive system and therefore my heath), was too heavy and rich, the simple menu didn't appeal to me really, and it said on the TV with the room service menu that this menu should be enjoyed "en-suite", so I didn't ask for it in the dining room.

I tried all 3 out of 4 restos, (only one we cancelled was Lattitudes). I'm not saying the food is not good, it's just way to heavy and rich for me and I honestly didn't enjoy it.

I'm not saying they need to change the menu or anything, they do a wonderful job and it's not a complaint about the food or service or anything(I want that to be clear), it's a personal thing.

I honestly believe that if hubby and I could have enjoyed a much lighter menu in the lounges, it certainly would have had a big impact our our decision to cruise again and perhaps even book while we on board the ship.

I also think this would be a big factor for us since all other cruises require at least one formal night? (please correct me if I'm wrong). Hubby and I discussed this actually yesterday and I doubt that we would ever bring formal wear on a vacation. If they offered a lighter menu in a lounge especially during formal night, it would certainly be an alternative and more condusive for us to cruise again.

I also think the 2 nights in a port would be great, even in Alaska, hubby would go back on the Alaskan cruise if it was longer in ports, like this, we both agree that a cruise is not the way to do it. I hate to fly but if I have to fly to Vancouver to get on the ship, might as well fly to Alaska, or anywhere else for that matter.

I noticed that for next year they also have no round trip Vancouver, I think they need to re-think that as well as for me personally, that was the big selling point as well. Considering that the 2 round trips (vancouver) they offered both were sold out.

Mrs. Moose, you could request anything you wanted in the Compass Rose. If you have dietary concerns, you should speak to the Maitre D immediately and he will arrange with the kitchen a menu that is more to your liking. You can also discuss the fact that you like a quicker dinner and, if you sit by yourselves, this can be accommodated.

If you do not like to dress up, then on the formal nights, you could eat in the alternative restaurant by the pool...it is an Italian restaurant. They are able to accommodate special dinner requests as well. It does not have to be from their menu. You must give at least 24 hours notice, so they can accommodate your needs. However, yours appear so simple, I doubt that it would cause concern. It's not like you're asking for something quite special.

Live and learn that's my motto, thank you Sedona,
see I thought when on the TV screen, it said, that the room service menu should be enjoyed "en-suite" that for some reason they would not accomodate this request or that it would be a problem or just not well received. We had no formal on this cruise, but I also thought that if is a formal night "all restaurants" would require formal. Even when I booked this cruise, they said "no formal for Alaska", but that if it's formal night then formal is required, they never told me anything about alternative restaurants. So we assumed that other than room service you have to wear the formal.

Again live and listen and learn.

Mrs. Moose,

What a shame you did not know about special orders....my Mother and I were just on the "Wine " cruise (Dover to Monte Carlo, and I think we special ordered lobster or filet mignon at least 6 times!(much to my husband's distress....he thinks special orders are nonsense since the food choices on the menu are plentiful. Also requested shrimp cocktail for an appetiser most nights, unless we had enjoyed some during cocktail hour in the cabin (did that just a couple nights) and they will make a delicious caesar salad....the choices are endless.
Cruise again....you will figure all this out!
Cheers, Pam

Oh yea .. bowl of mixed nuts for munching in the cabin & a shrimp cocktail once in a while for a snack. Love 'em. Cheers, Anne

Hi Pam, I hope you had a great time, from the sound of it you did which I'm happy for, I love to hear good news! and
yes, the more I "chat here" the more I learn, and as my motto goes "live, listen and learn".

I'm not upset or anything, I still got my dream trip, but knowing for future referenace is good as I know I can reconsider cruising again, because just yesterday we were talking and we had both decided because of two issues, food and formal, we would probably not cruise again (now that the dust has settled and we could review the "cruise part" and if we would cruise again.

Mrs. Moose--

As others have said, RSSC is most accomodating--

Here is an example--

On formal night on Voyager a few nights ago, I was completed surprised when I saw a cheeseburger with fries whisked to a nearby table to a woman (late 40's/early 50's) at a table for two. I think her tablemate may have had meatloaf as it didn't look like anything recognizable on the menu (and it did look like meatloaf).

As others have said, they will try to accomodate your food preferences, particularly if notified at the beginning of the cruise or the night before.

Bill

Wow, I would have been so happy with either of those choices. Cheeseburger and a salad (no fries) or meatloaf and mashed potato (very little or no butter).

Well now I know for next time. As I said, not complaining but nice to know for next time.

Thank you!!!!!

Wasn't it Lawrence that got served chicken noodle soup and a PB&J sandwich in Compass Rose when he asked for "sick food" when he was viral? Just goes to prove, RSSC will go out of their way to accomodate.

Masaki

I wish Mark Conroy would look into rebooking me on Bora Bora for my precruise that was changed by RSSC. I hope that RSSC will accomodate me! See my post RSSC changed precruise.

Babs

Yup. Nothing helps the flu like comfort food. They also insisted on giving me a lot of fresh fruit too for the vitamin C.

Lawrence, i think red wine does wonders for that pesky flu as well. Hope they helped you out with that as well.....

They sure did. Scotch is also very good for nuking colds and flus. When I was in Scotland visiting a friend, I caught a cold. So my friend's mother just started pouring Scotch down my throat - said it would "sterilize everything". Well, I did feel 100% better the next day. I guess that's why Nyquil has alcohol!

Mrs. Moose: Just got around to reading this thread again - gosh you sure met some odd ducks - of course, I can't imagine getting upset if Tony said to me what "Mrs Regardless's" hubby said to her - wouldn't be enough to make me get drunk but we're all different right???? Gosh you have a sensitive stomach - sorry about that!!! How do you handle all those great drinks you suggested???

Wasn't it Lawrence that got served chicken noodle soup and a PB&J sandwich in Compass Rose when he asked for "sick food" when he was viral? Just goes to prove, RSSC will go out of their way to accomodate.

Yes and his two mothers were there telling him to finish all of his soup!!!

Oh yes we were Joanna! I think it's called "comfort food" when you just have a taste for a PB & J or a grilled cheese sandwich.

Gosh, Mrs. Moose, my husband Tom is kind of a crazy sort and says and does whacky things all the time. I know him so well that none of it embarrasses me anymore and none of it is intended as vicious. He just has that kind of sick humor!

He just has that kind of sick humor!

Why TM is one of my favorites -

Marcie, Tom and I should get along just great then! :D

I emember on VJ7 that Lawrence got his dinner one night, and whatever it was he didn't like, and he sent it back and ordered PBJ in lieu of whatever it was. Lawrence, am I suffering from dementia? I even have a pictures of that PBJ. I do remember you were viral on one cruise.

On the Mariner my wife requested Beef Wellington and the next night got it. I don't think there is any dish that is more a pain the the neck to make for one person.

As to the earliler postings as to why the lounges appear to be not that busy before dinner;
Because we have free drinks in the room and free drinks at dinner.who wants to stop between the two and blow 20 or 30 dollars? I join those who would rather see free drinks at the bar. The liquor in the room seemed like a great benefit when we first booked and I gave a lot of thought as to what to order. When we got to the ship,I ended up ordering two bottles of wine as I realized I wasn't going to sit in the room and drink hard liquor. The last night,I hadn't opened the wine so we traded them for one bottle of Chopin vodka so I would have only one bottle to have to haul home (along with the unopened bottle of champagne from our arrival).

Well, maybe not 1/2 that if you only have one, but you make a good point. I guess I want it all, like on Silversea (only 1 cruise)

Hi
Joanna and Marcie, for some reason, I get the impression, that people (including myself and my hubby) would know that your husband's are jokeing. The wife, was so embarrassed we felt so bad for her.

We saw her and him come into the lounge she apparently had met these two couples and it looked like they asked her to sit with them, the husband sat on the next table till she forced him to move over and he just ignored those people, she was very friendly and chatty and then they eventually realized he wasn't into it so they left, you could see it unfolding, hard to write here, it one of those "you have to see it"

My husband and I think it's a combination of things, one she smokes and he doesn't like it at all, and second, he is just does not want to socialize at all in any way shape or form and I personally think he really didn't want to be "there" meaning on the cruise or was just not enjoying the cruise or something like that would be my thing. The few times I saw him, he just looked so miserable and unhappy.
When I first met her, (on the shuttle bus back to the ship from Skagway, her husband was mad that she started chatting I think. When we got to the ship which is about a 3 min ride from downtown Skagway, she tried to get him to walk with her while she chatted, he just walked away and left her on the dock so to speak.

I really don't think that your husband's behave like that, I honstly have trouble believing that. This was not done to be funny, you had to be there, see his face, his mannerisims and his overal demeanor etc etc and you will understand what I mean.
Maybe it's not something that would make you drunk, but I think for her, when I saw her drunk it was towards the end of the cruise and it was after the incident with the other 2 couples and maybe she just had trouble dealing. I felt so bad for her honestly. She was such a pleasant person and he just looked like he was miserable with something

As for my stomach, yes it is more sensitive now since treatment. The one drink I would have trouble with is the daquiri, I can't have more than a half, they are to rich for me. Vodka, wine is ok, it's the "rich" food that does me in especially cream and butter. I don't drink that much, one or two cosmos before dinner and maybe a glass or two with dinner. Desert wines is one glass, but don't have them often as I find them too sweet.

As for the drinks in the room, I agree, can't see the point, would have preferred the bar included than the room set up, other than the beer which hubby liked when returned from shore excusion ane the diet sodas and botteled water for me, that I appreciated. I never drink at home unless we have guests, and I rarely if ever will drink alcohol in my hotel room. For us, going to the observation lounge after resting and/or napping from shore excusion, having our cocktail and caviar and discussing what we saw that day was a highlight of the cruise part of vacation, for me that was my "shipboard" life.

It's all about what you are used to at home I guess. I'm used to going out for a cocktail with the hubby here at home, not every night, and on vacation, yes, we go out for a cocktail every night before dinner, it's part of my vacation, I just can't drink in the room, not the same, as I just don't drink at home unless we entertain, and even then, I drink very little. I'm out for dinner a minimum of 2 nights a week when home and otherwise I just don't drink unless having a drink at lunch with friends.

We never drink champagne, hubby gets sick on the stuff regardless of quality he gets a migrane and I can take it or leave it, and would never drink it at home anyway, and we wouldn't pack the booze in case it broke, so really didn't need the in room setup. For the one or two little drinks hubby had in the room, it would not have mattered one way or the other.

I must say the observation lounge was rather busy pre-dinner. There were a lot of people enjoying a cocktail before dinner, and many enjoyed the caviar service. The other bar next to the Compass Rose was generally pretty empty.

On VJ7, there wasn't anything on the menu that looked interesting so I ordered the PB&J. I would never order food and send it back unless there was a serious flaw (like mosquitos doing backstrokes in my soup). On my 12/7/03 Voyager cruise, I fell ill with the flu and stayed in my room for 4 days. That was when I ordered the chicken noodle soup and PB&J.

Mrs. Moose (Jean), that guy really does sound like a miserable, A-1 jerk! Tony and Tom do and say crazy things sometimes but they're more harmless, little boy like antics.

Now for the drinks I think you can hold your own against anyone!

Jean, that does sound like a fun dinner!! The cosmos alone!!!
Cindy

I agree with the all inclusive suggestion. The in room setup was a waste, and we ended up bringing both bottles, plus the champagne, home. All inclusive would definitely encourage socializing.

On itineraries, I would like to see more variation in Europe. Radisson should try British Isles and Norwegian fjords, and go back to visiting Bermuda, New England, and "Top of the World" Most lines now go to the Baltic, Med., and Alaska in the summer, so Radisson could distinguish itself with different itineraries.

As for the tangent on which this thread has gotten, we ordered "crabs benedict" from room service just for the heck of it. We were told we could get it one day later, and were given our choice of several variations. The one we chose was delicious! Radisson really does bend over backwards to give you special order foods.

I guess I'm in the minority. I like having a bottle in the room. It's nice to sit back and relax with a gin and tonic or a scotch before starting dinner preparations, or prior to the afternoon nap. Of course, 2 litres is overkill, a couple of pints would be more than enough.