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Day 10 - Haugesund This was the port stop that got added fairly last minute, and shore excursions took over a week to populate. Even after they were up in the Cruise Planner, there were no descriptions. So I picked the Akrafjord and Langford Waterfall excursion a bit randomly, with pretty much no research. Not like me at all! Turned out to be a great day, with lovely weather. No regrets! Sailing in to port: Driving through town, and the very pink town hall: Monument to the Viking warlord that united Norway: Farmhouse restaurant for lunch, plus a photo stop at said farmhouse: Boat cruise on the fjord to the gorgeous Langfoss: A campsite you can rent, with a view of the falls: 11pm:

2 days out from departure to London... No updates on the packing. The suitcases are still empty. We really need to get moving on that today. I've been tracking our flight to LHR on Flightaware and it looks pretty consistent as far as not being cancelled. Hoping for the best over this holiday weekend as all the domestic cancellations are making me anxious. This actually made me think of another question since we booked our flights through Air2Sea this time. If our flight does get cancelled and we rebook something on our own (without going through Air2Sea), will Air2Sea refund us (we booked refundable with them) since the airline cancelled and not us? Or would we be stuck waiting for Air2Sea to find us something else? On the Genie end, I woke up to a text from Leroy today wishing us a Happy Canada Day! I am impressed that he did that. After being blessed with the opportunity to sail several SC cruises, I am starting to learn that it is the small things like this that make a great Genie. Almost anyone can do the grand gestures (arrange for food, cake, decorations, etc.), but small things like this show that they pay attention to the details. I really don't want to miss this sailing.

Just venting about a minor irritation. I know there are other sites that let you narrow down your exact travel window, but I'd prefer to do it on RC's official website. I actually find the whole "search for a cruise" process really clunky and frustrating on RC's site (I know, I know, Royal IT...). What if I'm considering different room types? Go back and start over. What if I'm considering 1 vs 2 rooms. Go back and start over. Why do I often have to click twice on the page where you choose the floor for your room (once for floor and then "select")? And why can't the number of days selection be part of the other choices? Do many people really just choose a 3-5 day cruise with no other considerations? Ugh.

Got an email from the corporate office saying that they are issuing a refund and confirming the credit card, since it was originally booked in 2020 (on Grandeur OTS, RIP).

Many people including myself prefer the new approach of any drink, at any bar, at any time of day, including the private destinations. The nightly happy hour event had to change. It wasn't scalable with the growing number of Diamonds and during a pandemic it is a super spreader event. Yes, the virus is still with us and impacting cruising. Personally I love the new approach. Diamond is not being cancelled. It is still one of the best loyalty levels on any cruise line. The any time, any drink four voucher drinks made it even better. If you have grown weary there is nothing wrong sailing with other lines. NCL doesn't provide a nightly open bar for loyalty tiers. Carnival doesn't provide a nightly open bar for loyalty tiers. MSC doesn't provide a nightly open bar for loyalty tiers. Despite that if the grass is greener somewhere else for you, by all means go there. It's always good to try something different if for no reason than to remind yourself why Royal is still the best.

The four use any time for whatever you want drink vouchers per day is worth far more than the limited-selection happy hour drinks ever were.

YES ! This is so important. If you weren't going to gamble anyway, don't try and gamble your way to free drinks in the casino. It will not be worth your time. Only pursue this rating if you would be gambling anyway.

Two things. First the D+ terminal entrance line. That was never a published or official perk. I recently told a story in another thread about how an unpublished benefit was lost when folks complained when the event wasn't offered on all ships. HQ didn't know it was occurring until people complained. The truth is the event was not supposed to occur, just some HD's were trying to be extra nice. That is how D+ lost Port Canaveral and Baltimore terminal entrance privileges. People complained that <insert name of other terminal here> didn't have a D+ entrance like Port Canaveral/Baltimore. HQ said "What D+ entrance line? That is not a published benefit for the CAS" and so they laid down the law and instructed all terminals not to offer this unpublished perk. Secondly, CAS priority queues at check in. As far as priority check in queues for the CAS that was on the way out before the pandemic hit us. Royal was working on frictionless check-in. The app was central to that effort. In 2018 at a tech event they vowed 15 minutes from curb to ship. A side effect was that priority check in queues for CAS would become unnecessary. You showed the app barcode to a terminal worker with a tablet and boom you were on your way. That was occuring in places like Miami Terminal One and it was rolling out across the world to all terminals before the shutdown. Keep in mind check in queues are different than getting into the terminal and going through security. Check in queues are found after security in most terminals. Aside from Port Canaveral and Baltimore, few terminals ever gave D+ priority entrance to the terminal or security. Everyone queued for security except Suites and Pinnacle. That hasn't changed minus Port Canaveral and Baltimore losing D+ entrance rights which were never a published perk for D+ (see above). However with expedited boarding that didn't matter. Once past security is where the CAS queues were placed. Back in the days of paper everything before the app existed those CAS queues were an important perk. Those were the queues where you could wait 30 minutes or more. The app changed all that as it streamlined the entire check in process. The pandemic and the CDC threw a wrench in the machine because of the need to show test results and proof of vaccination but that occurs before check in and so the CAS priority queues have no bearing on that aspect of the current experience. With the app priority check in queues for CAS are obsolete and would provide no value if implemented. Priority entrance to the terminal and for security was never a CAS perk so nothing is lost even with the newly imposed CDC protocol delays to enter the terminal. Since boarding is now delayed a bit for extra cleaning time they are still commencing the boarding process with top down CAS priority just like olden days. Back in the days when CAS queues were in place it wasn't unusual for the Diamond queue to be longer than the Gold and Pre-Gold queue. I recall looking at the Diamond queue and saying forget that. I chose the gold queue and was through check in faster than the entitled Diamond who chose to use the longer Diamond queue.

Well, I get it now. We finally were able to stay in a Crown Loft Suite and no idea how were going to go back now. It truly is something else. Every day we learn more and more benefits of our CLS-- looks like we'll have to do it again

Well just upgraded my 8 day Symphony 2023 sailing to a Jr suite for $700 total. So there's that. But I am still just a tad over $3.5k all in for the both of us. That is all the splurging I am doing...unless there is a great deal on a dining pkg that shows up.

I am onboard right now She’s a great ship. If the price is right and the itinerary is interesting, go for it!

Sky class only exists on Oasis class and Quantum class ships. So if you are in Sky Class you must be on one of those two classes of ship. Quantum class has never offered the 11-11 drinks. That has always been an exclusive feature of Oasis class. It's just the start of the inconsistencies that Royal delivers within their Suites portfolio. Be very careful understanding the nuances of what each ship provides for Suite guests.

Don't worry about it. It could as simple as a glare on the image. Not getting your card validated in the app isn't at all a disqualifier at the port.

Since Allure wasn't revamped, she has kept the 2-story Diamond Lounge located on deck 11..the best DL on an Oasis class ship!

D+ upgrades disappeared long before Royal Up came around. I was D+ in that era and have never been upgraded. It wasn't Royal Up that killed the upgrade fairy, it was sold out cruises. Two decades ago there were cabins empty to move guests into. Over the last decade they used casino comps and other last minute rates like Going, Going, Gone to fill ships. There were no cabins to upgrade people into before Royal Up became their tool of choice to ensure the ship sails full. Royal Up has displaced Going, Going, Gone if anything has been lost due to Royal Up.

Free coffee machine in the Diamond lounge for cappuccinos, lattes, espresso, etc. One of my favorite D perks.

I'm all for setting up check-in profiles much like airlines do.

We did a JS with a unlimited dining on Symphony and loved it, but our next one on Anthem will be a GS. When we did the $$$ th GS was really not much more. No need to do Voom or Key. We like Coastal so need for a specialty dining package. Just saying do all the numbers....25 pp per day would be about 350 for 2 for 7 days. Specialty about the same foe 2. The perks of a GS is a suite sun deck....no worry about pool chair hogs. Coastal for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Voom, priority seating for shows, happy hour with free cocktails and food too.

This just in from CNBC. FCC approves SpaceX Starlink service to vehicles, boats, planes (cnbc.com)

I'm still cruising regularly but my spending has dropped like a rock, just not worth it to pay the crazy prices. CocoCay is free if you just want to enjoy the beach and snorkle with your own mask

4 days out from departure to London.... With the stress of wrapping up the school year and Grade 8 Graduation (both planning one for my class and celebrating my own daughter's) behind us, the focus is now on this trip. We have not packed a thing. I will likely spend the next few days doing that. I am not going to deny that I am most definitely stressed. Between the talk and news all over the place of flight cancellations, lost baggage (I still am traumatized from the March Break experience), LHR being a complete mess and long lines, rising covid rates in the UK, and the need to test on Wednesday while there, I feel like we still have a lot of obstacles before @GregD, The Boss, Hubby, and I can toast to tequila at sail away. This particular sailing (we have done several since the restart) I feel the most stress. Hubby is saying that there is too much beyond our control here and we need to just roll with whatever happens. If we get covid over the next week, at least we will get a good vacation in London, England out of it. I am trying to focus hard on the positives. There is only one non-stop flight leaving out of DTW-LHR on July 3rd and we are on it. So no connections and hopefully they won't cancel it since it's the only non-stop that day. The flight is pretty much full. Not sure what positives we can look at for the baggage. At the moment, we are trying to decide how early we need to get to DTW on July 3rd. Our flight is scheduled to depart at 6:50pm. I am getting stressed just typing all this out lol so I think the plan is to binge watch Obi Wan Kenobi tonight (it's been on the back burner due to craziness at work and Stanley Cup Playoffs) and worry about the trip some more tomorrow.

Big change. I just got a letter from Royal Caribbean inviting me to reserve a cabana at Labadee for a cruise on 12-18-22. In the past, the Barefoot Beach cabanas did not go on sale prior to boarding, therefore, Star Class guests had the first chance to reserve the cabanas - through the Genie. Now it appears as though those cabanas will be selling long before the Genie has a chance to reserve them for us. Also, the BB cabanas are now listed in the Cruise Planner so no more priority reserving for SC ! The prices are too high so I wouldn't be reserving a cabana anyway but now we will have to hustle and reserve early....no more waiting for the Genie to reserve for us !

Our ‘suite spot’ is JS to CLS. We sail JS on older ships without a Coastal Kitchen, and full suites on ships with more suite amenities. The days of a balcony cabin are behind us, if hubby has his way.

Just paying it forward!

My family and I have one of the Owners Suites booked for August 14-20 on the Allure and just looking at videos and pictures, I truly fear that my days of ocean view only are coming to an end. It was a toss up between that or one of the CLS, so if nothing else, this will be our gateway suite

Through my experience if we ask for extra liquor or a drink and a shot there has yet to be an issue, but to each their own

Same- I don't ever ask for a double, I just tip well in advance and let them know I like my drink strong.

Sorry, I'm really fun at parties can't you tell!

I have not started packing yet either. I'll eventually get to it. We have to be at the airport around 2pm on Wednesday. I'll pack that morning.

Well I guess I won't accidentally be booking one, even in a GS.

1). Live Music. Dancing is "OK" with a DJ, but dancing to live music is a real treat. Boleros and Music Hall ... here we come. 2). "A la carte" cruising. Being able to choose what the experience is (rather than "Always Included style") allows us to pick only the things we really want. The amount we drink, eat, stay connected, and "play" with the "expensive" toys (Coco Cay, on board extras, excursions, etc) varies from cruise to cruise ... choice is something we must have. 3). Entertainment ... To see Broadway/West End at sea is a real treat. Some of the other larger ship entertainment is "off the charts" (The Gift ... definitely not you). 4). Higher Level Loyalty Perks ... we have not done our homework, but the Royal program seems to have some significant advantages. Our sense is they will "pull back" over time, but compared to others they seem to have a significant advantage. 5). Did I mention Live Music? Curt from Canada

Got the same email.

We’re looking forward to hitting Diamond for the drink vouchers. Once in a while I’ll get the soda package, but mostly we just drink the complementary beverages. Four vouchers a day each will be nice. If our points get doubled for our upcoming August sailing, we’ll be at 79 points and are planning on booking an October sailing out of NJ after our son’s wedding craziness is over, so that would add another 7 to make 86. If not, we’ll have to wait till next spring. Either way, it’ll be a treat.

Oh I totally respect your opinion. I get it. We were concerned too after reading posts here and watching YouTube. I am just saying that since Seattle is a major port city for RCCL and Alaskan cruises, people new to the forum and new to traveling to Seattle should always have as many personal experiences and opinions from all sides as possible. I made an informed decision based upon lots of comments, family that live there, and family that used to live there. Believe me, even some of my family members who live in Bellevue and Kirkland say to stay away from Seattle. On the other hand, I have friends and family that live in Manhattan, DT Seattle, Atlanta, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Wa. D.C. They don't notice the crime and stuff while we certainly do. Crime is "possible" anywhere. My neighborhood is a suburban area in Southern California and considered one of the safest, if not safest cities in the Country. Believe me, there is crime. There is serious crime here too. I thank you for your past service and for your current service on these forums! Your comments and input are very much appreciated.

You are right about the military but Musk will leverage the military so that it benefits the consumer use cases. Much of the cost of the platform will be covered by military money. Our tax dollars at work. The significant prices the military pays will ensure their traffic is secure and prioritized. Consumers come second. Musk will use the consumer profits to line his pockets. Good for him, it's a great business model. There is little doubt in my mind his arrangement with the military included some influence being applied to gain favor with the FCC. That's how it works.

If it is handled as an onboard credit that should be a refundable onboard credit. When you cancel onboard make sure they issue it as a refundable onboard credit.

The OBC is the best value for loyalty points (gold coins) for RC with MyVegas. Side note: you're limited to one reward (either OBC, free play, cruise discount, or comped cruise) per reservation (meaning Jack and Jill cannot both use $100 OBC on the same stateroom reservation) and 2 RC rewards per person in a rolling 180 day period.

Was on Allure in April and the 2nd floor was roped off every day for the Chef's Table.

Nothing wrong with the Radiance class ships.

Once SpaceX lowers the light shields and begins using lasers between satellites. That is the key to low latency Starlink but it will have the astronomical societies up in arms. By that point the military uses will allow Starlink to steam roller over the astronomical societies.

With the current cruise planner sale, the deluxe drink package might be less.

So someone who plays only slots would need $12500 worth of play to achieve Prime.

Upcoming Cruise - Oasis of the Seas, May 14. 2023

Yeah, you mean that somehow burnt bread with not melted and cold cheese, called a grilled cheese?

I have never spent a dime in a casino; but I am curious and hope not to come off nosey. Ballpark, what do you think the casino spend is to achieve Prime status?

Case and point here just now. We have 2 cruises booked, one July 26th and then August 14th. We are all checked in for the July 26th cruise but today the August 14th cruise opened today for check in. Just carry EVERTHING over! Vaccine cards and all. Some was autofill but some other stuff was messed up, my son's passport has the wrong expiration date from the right one on the July 26th cruise. The pictures we took should also carry over since its on 19 days apart. This should not be this hard.

You should gamble some money in the casino and get to Prime status because if you want free drinks then this is your golden ticket. Forget Diamond status and the 4 free drinks, Prime is drinks on the house ALL NIGHT LONG.

1. They moved to 3 days out (4 if you're counting today) last week. They did this once before and then went back to 7. 2. The price reported elsewhere is $128.99 and it depends on how you answer the questions. I posted that 2nd part about the q's earlier in this thread. You will know after you answer the questions if you are going to be charged or not. They are still free but not for healthy people using them solely for travel. Read between the lines.

We all piled back onto the bus to go the hour and a half to our last included excursion of the land tour, the Alaska Sea Life Center. We saw dall sheep along the way on the mountains next to the road, but no pictures. The Sea Life Center is at the far end of Seward, and as we drove though, we caught a glimpse of how our day would end. A few on the bus wanted to just be dropped off, but we continued on to the aquarium as planned. We have a pretty big aquarium close to home, so this one felt a little small, but they had a long bank of touch tanks, puffins, seals, a sea lion, an octopus, and lunch...I mean a red king crab. We were fortunate that our visit happened to be at feeding time for the sea lion. You could tell he knew what was going on when all the people started to gather. The pictures don't really do the sea lion or crab justice, they were both huge. The seal and sea lion tanks also have an underwater viewing area on the bottom floor of the center. The only salmon we were able to see this trip - they don't run until July. We're planning our return trip a little later in the season so we can see them in the wild. After about an hour, we boarded the bus one last time, and you could feel the excitement. It was cruise time!