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Far too early in the morning on July 4th of this year, I was checking prices on cruises. Prices tend to drop when kids go back to school, so I searched for cruises out of Florida between the Friday after Labor Day and the end of September. One of the best rates that came up was a 4-night cruise on Mariner of the Seas out of Port Miami. I’ve followed the news on Mariner’s renovation and the other ships receiving upgrades as part of the Royal Amplified initiative. Seeing what Royal Caribbean had planned, I thought this could be a ship for me. My other requirement was getting a real bargain on the fare. It looked like I would be sailing solo, and I resigned myself to paying a 200% single supplement — that is, covering the price of double occupancy even if only one person sailed. In the case only one person sails, Royal Caribbean collects taxes and fees for only one person. To make sure I was seeing this rate, I would select 1 passenger when pricing out a sailing. Usually, I’d see the base fare for one person at the same as when priced for two people, but one time… I didn’t. The price was much lower. I found a rare solo cruiser cabin and there was no single supplement at all. I’m a big proponent of travel agents, but 4am on July 4th is not quite the time to get someone on the phone. I decided I needed to book this cruise directly through the Royal Caribbean site or else someone else would. My Crown & Anchor account already had my contact information, so all I had to enter was my credit card. Well, that didn’t work for some reason. After a couple of other hiccups, I decided to call a Royal Caribbean agent. This turned out to be the right move. A really friendly guy saw that the cabin I wanted had a reservation lock from a purchase in progress. I chuckled and told him that was probably me. I gave him the email address on my Crown & Anchor membership and he was able to confirm my contact information. He put me on hold for a little under a minute to talk to someone who could release the reservation lock and allow him to complete the booking over the phone. Before this time when I needed to book at 4am on July 4th, I had worked with the same travel agent on all but my first cruise. When you find a travel agent who is a good match for you, there are benefits. Over time, your agent will get to know your cruising preferences. At the same time, I’m glad to know that when I needed them at an odd hour, there was a Royal Caribbean agent there to help me make the booking I wanted. In my case, I was after final payment date, but if I hadn’t been, and I had not yet paid for the cruise in full, I would have been able to transfer the booking to my usual travel agent. I’ve noticed my Crown & Anchor membership already saved me time twice making this reservation. It occurs to me that even though we affectionately tease the Pre-Gold membership, in my case, even being Pre-Gold would have saved me time when I was on the phone with the Royal Caribbean agent. If you’ve taken a Royal Caribbean cruise and you haven’t signed up for a Crown & Anchor membership, it’s an easy recommendation. I can’t think of any downside. You might get a gift in the room. You’ll get some onboard offers loaded onto your Sea Pass card the next time you sail. I guess I’m also saying if you’re reading this blog because you think you might take a Royal Caribbean cruise, but you haven’t booked yet, go ahead and sign up for a Pre-Gold membership. (All of this is free.) You might find the emails to be another source of Royal Caribbean news. Celebrity Constellation and Disney Magic, both medium-size ships, have been my favorite experiences so far. When I cruised solo this past December, I was on the mega-ship Norwegian Epic. I’m curious to see how those two experiences come together cruising solo on the medium-size Mariner of the Seas. If you’d like, you can read my liveblog from the Norwegian Epic sailing. Follow along as I liveblog here this week. That drink package was paired with streaming internet access, so I’ll also be on Periscope. If staying connected is important t you I recommend checking out the below posts: Keeping in Touch on Ship and Shore & How to Stay in Touch with Someone on Your Royal Caribbean Cruise You can follow me @cruisehabitric and while you’re at it, follow the main account @cruisehabit where Billy covers sail-aways from Port Everglades and Port Miami. Leave your questions in the comments and I’ll see what I can do to track down some answers. I’ll be on Mariner of the Seas to Nassau and Coco Cay with one sea day starting Monday, September 17th.

Another happy Oasis day in the books! Here is my happiness list worth noting... A nicely timed stop at St Thomas from 10:30 to 6:30 allowed for a relaxed morning while watching the arrival and late enough to have significant time in port. Nassau was a 2:30 all aboard that just felt like we left to early. Breakfast was at the Park Cafe and we took some snacks for our day ahead. Then up to see the ship sail into the harbor. We walked around a bit and then started our "five star" tour if the island. Honestly some of the tour was lacking but the full two hours at Megan beach was worth all five stars. The shopping on the Main Street was nothing to write about so I looked to see what was around. We saw that the second oldest synagogue in the western hemisphere was a 5 minute walk so we header there. The suprise was we were just in time for Yom Kippur services and were welcomed in. The building itself is amazing with white sand floors. Back on the ship and to the main dinning room with our usual table. I wasn't sure what to have for dessert so I said surprise me. Well, when dessert rolled around I had a large mashup of I ice cream and cookies. A fun surprise. We were tired so we didn't do much of the normal entertainment. Sometimes it's the unusual that is most enjoyable. We went down to the track took a seat the back of the ship where there are about a dozen wooden recliners. From there we watched St Thomas vanish in the night ski with the sound of the water churning by the props. While we were there the water show began and we were able to see the behind the scenes hustle and bustle stage crew and performers moving from stage left and right. Some quick thoughts- elevator banks can get busy but it's mostly the set at the back - I have seen more organized kids events which have made me smile such as the pirate parade and games on the board walk. - The captains update on channel 14 is a first for me on my 4 cruises and very much appreciated. Way more useful than the public address announcements during the day. Another port tomorrow with more beach time. Love the carribean sand and water!!

Royal Caribbean held a media event in Brazil to tout its Perfect Day at CocoCay work and it looks like Michael Bayley may have shed a bit more light on new private islands.

Hello all, will post a review of the day in just a bit but wanted to answer some questions that have been posted... 1. There is live Central Park music! I haven't gone back through but so far I remember Jazz on the park on the second night and tonight was string melodies with delite duo. 2. The vodka and soda water price was $9.38 checked at a bar POS. Not sure if that included the 18 percent gratuity but the wierd number suggests that. 3. For those about to go on Oasis, the ship will not disappoint! Recap to follow.

Checking in using the Royal Caribbean app has streamlined check-in for Mariner of the Seas. I was able to load my passport information and then use my iPhone’s camera to take a selfie for the ship’s records. I selected the time I expected to arrive at the port and the app produced a SetSail pass that could be scanned at the port. The new process looked good and it worked well. Around 10am on Monday, I departed from the CruiseHabit.com Global Headquarters (aka Billy and Larissa’s place) and drove to the port. This a drive I’ve made a few times now, but I still use Waze to get me there. Upon arrival, I promptly forgot the order of the letters in the alphabet, and even though Mariner of the Seas was at Terminal G, I drove to the Terminal A-D parking garage. Thankfully, Port Miami is one big loop. After a course correction of my own, I was able to get a parking spot, cross the street, drop of my checked baggage with the porter, and proceed through security. Once in the terminal, a Royal Caribbean agent noted the Gold status on my SetSail pass and directed me to the line for Gold members and fortunately, I was next to be checked in. After asking me a couple of public health questions, I got my SeaPass card and I walked right onto the ship. Easily the smoothest and quickest check-in process I’ve ever experienced. My first stop was of course the Windjammer, and of course, it was packed. After loading up a plate with some curries and chile con carne, I found a table with a young woman sitting alone and, with no other tables available, I asked if I could join her. I also got to meet her husband and learned they were on a vacation with the kids back at home. We had a great conversation (minor spoiler, I’ve run into both of them a few times on the cruise, and we have great conversations every time). Once the staterooms were available, I made my way down to Deck 2, where I’m staying in one of the four new single-occupancy staterooms. The staterooms are tucked away behind the Loyalty Ambassador’s desk, so there’s a feeling of being in a private space that no one else knows about. Having seen how small the interior staterooms on other lines can get, I was nervous. Turns out, I had nothing to worry about. The bed is approximately full-size and the bathroom is a standard size bathroom for a cruise ship. Given the chance, I would book this cabin again without hesitation. After staying up so late catching up with Billy and Larissa the night before, I was pretty beat, so I decided to set an alarm for 3:30pm and get a nap in before muster. Once I was up and moving around, I did a walk around the Royal Promenade and got to compare the area to the one on Harmony of the Seas. I sought out Playmakers to get a drink and see what Royal Caribbean’s new concept was all about. At 5:45pm, I went down to the Main Dining Room for an early dinner. The waiter assigned to my table, Rowen from India, was great. As I was dining by myself, I didn’t want dinner to go on too long. He picked up on this and made sure my courses came out with very little time in between. I started with the crab cake and the mushroom soup (both hits), and then had the fried seafood mix. The fish and shrimp on the platter worked just fine, but the breading on the scallop didn’t stick — still an enjoyable dish. After dinner, I went to The Bamboo Room and ordered a Saturn Landing. The flavors in this drink were unexpected, but all worked well together. I think the ginger syrup and the allspice liquor were flavors I’d never tasted in a drink before, but they were a hit. I’ll probably get another one of those before the last night of the cruise.

Welcome @redchacalit29 to the message boards! I'm in 9392 right next door as I write this. The balcony of 9390 is triangular shaped. The balcony of 9390 has a door that swings open and a round window aft compared to other aft balconies that have a sliding patio style door. Your view aft will look like this: The obstruction is a beam that runs through the balcony but the beam is very close to the divider wall between 9390 and 9392. It's approx. 1 foot away from this divider leaving the bulk of the balcony open. Your balcony will have two chairs and a table. All in all it's a pretty great balcony. Apologies to @CruiseHabit Ric for hijacking his blog temporarily.

No corkscrew....NO problem. First, you remove the protective foil covering the top of the bottle (known as the "capsule.") Then, you place the bottom of the bottle inside the shoe to protect the glass, and then bang the sole of the shoe against the wall repeatedly until the cork eases out of the bottle.

Is it really that much of a problem?

This must be so painful for you! #poorpoorMatt Following along @CruiseHabit Ric! You're sailing with @twangster ?

Found this on the internet today. This is on my bucket list one day. My parents did a Galapagos cruises some years ago and the stories they tell and the pictures make me want to go really bad. Oliver ********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** The award-winning Celebrity Xpedition has emerged from a stunning seven-day makeover in Panama, surrounding guests in upgraded comforts as they explore the extraordinary Galapagos Islands. When she makes her stylish return to service on Sunday, September 23, 2018, the revitalized Celebrity Xpedition will debut an array of enhancements across the 100-guest mega-yacht, from redecorated staterooms, lounges, and restaurants that perfectly complement the natural beauty of this one-of-a-kind destination, to faster and more reliable Wi-Fi that allows guests to stay connected even as they disconnect. As part of her modernization, Celebrity Xpedition will receive meticulously thought-out enhancements from bow to stern: Suites and staterooms will be stunningly refreshed, adding new carpeting and balcony upgrades to a list of already impressive touches, like Celebrity’s eXhaleTM bedding, which make for a welcoming place to relax after the day’s adventures All suite and stateroom doors will be outfitted with RFID lock technology that makes it easier for guests to access their rooms An upgrade to the shipboard IT systems, including the addition of an O3B satellite will improve the speed and reliability of the ship’s full-coverage Wi-Fi, and the adjusted bandwidth will enhance both guest experience and crew efficiency The Beagle Grill will be outfitted with new furniture and lighting that enhance guests’ comfort as they dine under the sun and stars, as well as state-of-the-art new culinary equipment to bring the menus crafted by Celebrity’s Michelin-starred chef to life In The Discovery Lounge, guests will find a new, state-of-the-art video wall, upgraded finishes, and updated textiles, as well as a new dedicated DJ station to elevate the ambiance of this guest-favorite hangout The Darwin Dining Room will receive similar design enhancements with new lighting, carpet and millwork Water filtration system on every deck for guests to enjoy Crew area enhancements including new mattresses with Celebrity’s eXhaleTM bedding, carpets, and Dayroom TV to enjoy Then in June 2019, Celebrity Xpedition will debut enhanced suites services and amenities coinciding with the arrival of the new Celebrity Flora. Suite guests will be geared up with marine binoculars to use on their cruise, as well as premium backpacks and rain ponchos that they can take back home with them. When unwinding in their suites on board, guests will enjoy stateroom attendants who can help with packing and unpacking, full in-suite dinner service, upgraded premium bathrobes, luxurious Kuno bath products from Ecuador, and more.

@twangster That was my expectation, but when I got my tab for a $14 drink, there was a $13 discount on it, so the total was $1.18. Pleasant surprise.

Some of my thoughts before getting on Mariner of the Seas: Connecticut Gots’ta’s Are Florida Must-Do’s I’m excited to see what Royal Caribbean has packed into a medium-size ship as part of the Royal Amplified initiative. There are six new things on Mariner that Matt would call his gots’ta’s, for me, they’re my must-do’s: Jamie’s Italian The Perfect Storm water slides Playmakers The Bamboo Room tiki bar LaserTag SkyPad Jamie’s Italian sits at the top of my list of memorable meals on Harmony of the Seas. My friends and I enjoyed it there so much, we made it a point to get a second dinner there during our 7-night cruise. On our first visit, I ordered the lamb scottadita. This dish was so good I had to share it with my friends. On our second visit, we all ordered the lamb scottadita. My plan is to go by Jamie’s Italian after the muster drill and see if they have any promotions for dining on the first evening of the cruise. Everything else on my must-do list is new to me and (maybe not the waterslides) new to Royal Caribbean. Some friends of mine who I recently caught up with at a wedding went on the first sailing of Symphony of the Seas in the Mediterranean. They told me about Playmakers on that ship, so I know a little bit of what to expect from a firsthand account, but it’s tough to say that it would be exactly the same in a different space. I’d expect this venue to get rolled out to most, if not all, the Royal Amplified ships from here on out. When I told a friend of mine, who I’ve gone on three cruises with, about the Bamboo Room, he texted me back “Just when you think a cruise can't get more laid back, they add a tiki bar.” I could not have said it any better. The menu for the Bamboo Room looks great with at least three drinks I’d like to try. Wanting to sample from the menu here convinced me to get a drink package. Truth be told, I needed no convincing, but if you’re on the fence, have a look at the menu here. There’s a list of $12 drinks, which would be covered by the package, and there’s a list of $14 drinks that would be a charge of $2, since the drink package covers drinks up to $12 on this ship ($13 on Quantum class and Oasis class ships [Matt, check me on that]). I haven’t played LaserTag since the 80’s most likely. I have to start telling myself now, “I’m just happy to be here. I’m just happy to be here.” I’ll probably last 3 minutes. Hey kids, this is why grandpa buys the travel insurance. I think the arena has fluorescent blacklight, so I’ll have to remember to wear dark colors and not stop by on my way to the glow party. When I read the description of the SkyPad, I don’t know what to think. Seeing a picture of the SkyPad does nothing to clear things up. I have no idea what to expect out of the SkyPad except that I will have tried out the SkyPad. What I do know about it is: trampoline, bungee cord, virtual reality (?). Sure. I’ll do this.

Ah yes thats a good point - i knew there must be an upside somewhere ? We only completed our first ever cruise on Indy in the summer. Now we've already one booked for early next year on Adventure and soon to book this one for the Honeymoon. It's an addictive habit this cruising business!!

1. The cost is the difference between the 2. 2. Yes 3. Because RC doesn't typically do free upgrades especially on suites. Why? Because they don't have to. There are people checking the prices on the category above them daily to see if they can get the next category for a "good price". At about 4 weeks away the difference may be less but there will still be a difference. With all the JS on the ship, RC can offer a GS for say $XXXX more and someone will jump on the price. So the difference may come down but it is typically not free especially when it comes to suites.

Most of those things I don't even have at home....can't imagine why I would go buy them to go on a cruise.

Thank you ever so much guys, that is really helpful - looks like it’s a Loft Suite then. i better get saving now then - who needs guests at a wedding anyway ?

Not live any more, but this was our live blog of our Canada and New England Cruise. https://thesmallworldfamily.com/2018/08/31/canada-and-new-england-cruise-live-blog-day-1/

I am still new to this board but have read and learned so much over the past few months. Thank you all. Right now I am laying in bed on the 2nd day of an Eastern Caribbean itinerary. I have sailed Voyager and Freedom class before and was excited but worried about the size of this class. My verdict is in, Oasis class gets two thumbs up. Here are my observations from the first two days: - it's all about the width. The extra space creates venues that are not just larger but not pass throughs to other parts of the ship. Boleros and the Schooner bar are two examples much more self contained and pleasing. - Where are those crowds? The ship seems less crowded than the other two classes I have sailed. Using advice from you all, embarkation lunch at the solarium, Park Cafe for snacks, first night at a specialty restaurant and even using the Coke machine in the arcade all were great suggestions! - Entertainment... I liked Cats. The talent was top notch. Oasis of Dreams was terrific unique. Spent an enjoyable hour in the Schooner bar listening to the piano player. - Having the solarium in front of the forward elevators makes the whole area more peaceful. Again less through traffic compared to other classes. - Had a couples massage right at sail away from Port Canaveral. Got to say it was a great way to leave the stress at the Port. The one thing I can confirm crowding were the pools for a few hours. They seemed more like hot tubs with so many people in them. Tomorrow is the first sea day so I am looking forward to exploring more and trying out some other RCBlog tips. Feel free to share more! ?

Just make sure you put your phone into airplane mode. Otherwise you might end up with a whole load of extra charges.

Here's a neat little tool that fits in my wallet, it's called a "pocket monkey" and comes in very handy. https://zootility.com/products/pocketmonkey. What can it do you may be asking? How about a Bottle Opener, Flat Screwdriver, Philips Screwdriver, Micro Screwdriver, Phone Kickstand, Bottle Opener, Letter Opener, Door Latch Slip, Hex Wrenches, Ruler, Headphone wrap, Straightedge and Orange Peeler. Check it out, had no problem at ship security with it this past March either.

I've never had good luck with the shout wipes either. But I swear by the Wet Ones antibacterial wipes. They will take out most anything you spill on you. And then we obviously use them too to wipe our hands, tables etc to disinfect!

https://bhphotovideo.com -- still alive and kicking

Indeed. Kraken is 23% more expensive on Mariner compared to other recent ships including Radiance a few weeks ago, yet a Kraken Lavaflow is the same price.

I am booked on 4 of these suites. The price is a big difference from my original price. I know I am grandfathered in. One of the cruise is a B2B while the other is B2B2B. My husband is happy. This is a win-win for me.

Haha - I've read @twangster blogs - and been in awe of those pictures too! I managed to ruin my DSLR body earlier in the year,..sob sob!

I have not done this treatment, but I have done a couple massage before. Frankly, they are overpriced and you are better off financially just booking two individual massages in all likelihood.

Just don't start reading @twangster's live blogs. You'll wake up one morning wondering why your credit card is showing 5 more booking deposits and a B&H Photo order for $1,500 of new camera gear. ?

The box cutter, leatherman and screwdriver are unnecessary in my humble opinion ?

Yes, Jeffrey is the cruise director. I know people have different preferences in cruise directors but I like him. Two years ago on Liberty we were soaking up the sun and lost track of time. We were literally the last ones off and there was Jeffrey greeting us in the terminal. He said no worries and that is truly the way to finish off every second the cruise. ?

Love to see pictures of the solo cabins. I've got one booked next year.

We've done it twice, one time we got 4 cups the other only 2.

yep I will tour all the suites and get you the insights on the program itself - they do have some unique perks that are nice and amenities they offer -

Looking forward to following along your adventure! I've been dying to get on Mariner since her refurb.

Loft suite without a doubt! I use to think that the L2s would be too busy for me but after reading this blog by @bellemiche, it doesn't look that bad at all. I guess for me it would depend on the price difference. I would prefer the ocean view but if the price difference is $1000 (which it is for my Harmony March 2019 cruise), I would take the sports court view. The balcony is definitely wider with the GS, and you have loungers and a dining table/chairs. With the loft suites, there is less furniture. But I would personally say that less furniture and smaller balcony is a good trade off for the WOW factor of the loft and being on Deck 17.

Personally I would go with a loft suite every time. I've done both on Oasis class. L1 loft face the side, L2 loft face the aft. Some like the aft view and saving a few bucks. Some prefer the privacy of side facing L1. Leave your curtain opens even at night sort of thing. Wake up with amazing views out of the two story windows. All loft suites are on deck 17. I like the convenience to Coastal Kitchen and the Suite Lounge. I was able to easily go get a drink while my lady friend was able to get ready for dinner without me in the cabin or grab her a drink to consume while she got ready. Small thing but the suite lounge has the best views of any bar/restaurant on the ship. GS or L1/L2 will get you into there but having to take an elevator every time can be a drag. When you are on deck 17 it's super convenient for breakfast or dinner (or drinks). The two level loft suites are a 'must do' if it's in your budget. GS is nice enough, but they just don't have that WOW! factor that loft suites have from the moment you open the door for the first time. For a honeymoon I'd go loft suite. L1 if you can swing it, or L2 if you like to people watch. Oh yeah - Congratulations!

I am on that sailing as well! Quite a few my my CC roll call are dressing up. We are not sure yet if we are though. We've sailed over Halloween twice before; it's always a lot of fun!

Thanks to all of you who responded to my post .... and yes I did give wrong ship name !! We are sailing on the “serenade of the seas”.

Thanks for tracking this down, @Scatmanjack ! Pinging @FloridaCruiseGirl1210

I don't deny kids can behave badly. But I also have seen far more annoying drunk adults on cruises than loud children.

0917182150.mp4 0917182150.mp4 ....and now the highlights from yesterday!! After our breakfast stroll we made our way to the beach pool to relax. This is our first summer cruise and was glad for partly cloudy skies cause that sun was hot! After a couple hours of time we moved to the shade of the solarium and again was again impressed with the layout of the area on this class of ship. We average one drink a day so we pay per drink and had a wonderful surprise. We decide to split a pina colada and our bartender asked if we wanted two straws. As we waited I gave my sweetie a kiss or two and bam, two drinks appeared. It was a nice gesture that will be remembered for years. Lunch was at the Park Cafe and featured the made to order salad. Having the tongs not touched by thousands is a big plus. Later in the afternoon I hit the track which I can confirm is the best I have seen at sea. Being dedicated space on deck five makes its usable all day long and at 2.4 laps per mile limits the gerbil wheel feel of going around and around. A typical solid dining room dinner was followed by a set at the piano bar, the headliner show and then some funk by the ship orchestra at dazzles. The headliner was Savannah Jack and kept the almost full Opal hopping for about an hour. I was a tad disappointed in the funk set at dazzles cause a lead singer was missed. All in all relaxing sea day with good food and still overwhelmed with so many entertainment options at night. My mission today is to have a blast taking the "5 star tour" and pricing out the vodka and soda!

Waiting for the headliner show so just enough time to post a few photos from the OTS. Beautiful calm seas ahead of a port day at St. Thomas.

Please please don't beat me with a wet noodle for posting this. We usually go to Chops if we are celebrating a special occasion onboard. We enjoy the food and the ambiance-usually.The last time we were seated in the back of the restaurant near a large table of a family celebrating a birthday-which is fine! However, an hour or so into the service the small children were getting restless and tired. This particular night the kids began crying, sleeping at the table and even running around the restaurant like Chuck E Cheese's. The adults were drinking, toasting, and ignoring the behavior. Our quiet dinner was very unpleasant and I stopped by the desk on the way out to mention it. The hostess apologized and said they were busy and had no where else to seat us .I also gave it a poor rating on the post cruise survey. Somewhere I read to plan 2-21/2 hours for a meal in the specialty restaurants so please don't subject your little ones to hours of boredom and waiting for service, especially if you plan on a late dining time. SORRY SORRY SORRY DON'T KILL THE MESSENGER!

It seems to me if he had the flu...he needed to be quarantined......take it from someone who was exposed to the flu by a sick passenger . I was between jobs, so no insurance, I missed my first week of training because I was so ill. It also cost me over $300 in doctors bills. I didn’t blame RCCL for becoming ill, I blame the passenger who was contagious and spread it around.

I think Royal does a very good boarding their ships. When Oasis was first conceived they spent a lot of time considering how to board so many people and that research has benefited other ships in the Royal fleet as well. Other cruise lines with half as many guests have chaos during boarding. Even as a gold you will get on board fairly quickly once boarding commences. As others have said, arrive early if you can, soon after 10am regardless what 'appointment' time you have.

I cruised Explorer in June. We ate in the MDR almost every night, never had any issues with the food. They ran out of food? I've never heard of such a thing. I met people this morning while waiting to board Mariner who were on that same cruise and they didn't mention any issues. It's unfortunate you got sick from another guest. I've heard of people refusing to give up their cruise because they were sick and they boarded any ways. Getting sick happens on land as well. As a frequent business traveler I can't count the number of times I've gotten sick after flying domestically within the U.S. They only quarantine when it's appropriate. Not going to the doctor for fear of quarantine puts other guests at risk. If you've both gotten this sick you've likely infected someone else. Imagine how they feel.

I would call and capitalize on this before they discover their error.

https://www.royalcaribbean.co.uk/ FREE drinks on UK site :)))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Verizon's $5 Travel Pass does NOT include cruise ships. Here is from Verizon's International Travel page. The Travel Pass would cover many of the ports but not while on the ship nor does it cover data. Now if you are only going to send and receive only a handful of texts, even using the pay as you go rate would be cheaper than VOOM. The following is copied from Verizon's website. ************************************* For cruises: Use your phone on more than 400 cruise ships with pay-as-you-go plans. Visit the Trip Planner and enter your ship or destination to check availability. Cruise Ship Rates You can talk and message on more than 400 cruise ships. Cruise ship Pay as You Go pricing Voice Pricing $2.99/min Text Messaging $0.50/message sent$0.05/message received

Eternity? Is that like the Hotel California? "You can check in anytime you like, but you can never leave..." For some reason I keep getting images of a funeral parlor, or line of caskets in mind. "This is our Eternity series, because only the best for your loved ones". Elegance works though.

And if they really mean that one, then they have to follow up with the Celebrity Bill!