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While I see your point, that's not at all an example of bait and switch. Royal advertises that you get free drinks in the lounge. You got free drinks in the lounge. Believing or assuming you should also get free drinks anywhere else is on you.

You all get on a scale and know?! No thank you. Ignorance is Bliss until i split my fat pants....

Oooo, yes! Saw this today! My wife also wants to find Rover! We can't tell Bella and Jake or they'll want to know why they can't come with us to meet their cousin! You opened the door with the Golden puppy pic! LOL! Our Bella and Jake "recovering" on New Year's Day at our friend's house! Jake cuddling with our friend, Jenn (sleeping under the blanket)! Bella (11.5 years old) on the left and Jake (6 years old) on the right.

I forgot to mention, that Hubby never made it into the WJ all cruise! Not even once. He was too preoccupied by the FlowRider

you have to do the tiktok trend; warm it in your hands for a few seconds, stab a row of holes in it with your fork, and then squeeze out like ribbons from there!

If only Matt would allow use of the RCLBlog private jet to take everyone to Southampton.

7 days to go. The two bags did not work out . I was so close too; it is this darn Chicago weather. I realized that I would have a coat, boots, and other cold weather accoutrements. And these items need to be packed and stored, so three bags it is. I also forgot with two hotel stays; I need my "I can only get in Chicago" snacks as well . I have given up on the RUB for Mariner as the suites have been sold out for a while. Surprisingly none of the shows on Wonder appear to be sold out. Which could mean that most of the pax are new and don't know to pre-book. The same for Allure, other than the Comedy show, everything is still available to book. There is supposed to be a winter storm this week and when we leave it will be single digits, So I am excited for almost 3 whole weeks of warm weather. We hit PDCC on all three sailings, but that is a good casino day, so I probably won't venture off. I have a ton of errands to complete this week and I am trying a new salon for my pedicure, so wish me luck. My fur baby knows something is up and has been sleeping around me every chance she gets; she is going to my grandmothers in a couple of days.

If any of you solo travelers ever need to drag someone along to help reduce the cost I’m happy to tag along. Heck I don’t even need to sleep in the room. Cruise on an oasis class and I can just sleep in Central Park on a bench. Make it seem even more like a real park with a homeless guy camping out

It looks like you enter the Hideaway from Thrill Island on Deck 16. Here is a screen shot from one of the "Making" videos.

Bad news @GregD. Hubby just took a look at the Visa charges this afternoon and said we are never booking the NYE tables again! Now cabanas and NYE are on the "no" list. However, I am not one to give up so easily lol. To be continued...

A quick word about the complimentary parka. This worked quite well for me. It is a two part design with an inner bubble style jacket that zips into the red waterproof outer shell. I didn't keep mine zippered into the shell, I simply put on the shell over the jacket. Sizing for me was perfect. I am typically a large ski jacket and this large fit well. I generally wore a long sleeve t-shirt and the Silversea parka on all excursions and I was never cold. The shell did a great job. Despite being splashed often on zodiac rides I was never wet inside.

Sorry this is a few days late... January 2024 7 - BrianB (Anthem) 12 - Snotarni (Allure) 13 - accio7 (Symphony) 19 - Snotarni (Allure) 21 - Monic.TW (Wonder) 27 - Big Tule (Brilliance) 27 - The Fox (Voyager) 27 - lovetocruise2002 (Icon Inaugural; Unofficial GC) 27 - SpeedNoodles (Icon Inaugural; Unofficial GC) And many more on the Icon Inaugural that did not add their name to the list! 28 - SPS (Harmony) 29 - ScottB (Liberty) If you would like to be included in this list in the future, please add your information to the following thread. https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php?/topic/17-when-is-your-next-cruise/ PSA: If you do not include all your info (ship, sail date, year), it will not be added.

Omg! I did not find out until dinner on that last night that he joined the “Best of the best” competition! I heard that you were there too. They introduced him as the guy who saw “Charlie” (another FlowRider guy) more than his own wife on that sailing!

Drive by...

Back when I started cruising, hubby was a Colonel in the Army, and treated the cruise as a mission. His mission was to make sure “my ass” didn’t knock over table lamps on my way off the ship. We always walked up and down the stairs, even up to the 15th floor from level three. Never gained weight, heck….I left the cruise feeling like I had done lunges continuously. Then he retired and was a director at Lockheed Martin. Ten floors up stairs was my limit. Maintained weight. Years later, hubby still runs every morning, but to the human eye it’s more of a jog. His ankles, from years of jumping out of an airplane, makes a funny cracking sound, even when he walks, He no longer “pushes” me more than a few floors of stair taking. He does continue to “roll his eyes” when I push the elevator button to go up, but he jumps in fast right behind me. The last cruise I gained three pounds. I call it “elevator” weight. This coming up cruise I’ll be happy with a three pound weight gain. I will say after years and years of gambling on cruises I have really strong hands, fingers in particular. I can sit 12 hours straight continuously hitting a button. All that exercise has left me with long thin fingers.

Vancouver has pre-clearance, so you won't need to go through customs again once you land in the USA.

Picture credit: Loyal to Royal group on Facebook

I’m shocked ! I tell you….SHOCKED ! This can’t be true !

You may not be too late. When my Dad became ill in early December, we scrambled to purchase insurance for our next 3 cruises that final payment was already in for. It was not too late. We bought our insurance through Allianz and they said the better way to do it is after final payment. As far as cost, it is going to depend on how much you want to insure and your age. But call them. We literally bought insurance for Odyssey two weeks before sailing.

three bags. i am at peace.

"Excuse me, there's a snail in my soup. "

We always eat in the MDR but never get dessert. We like to get in and get out. Last cruise the waiter whipped out his guitar just before we were going to leave. We felt bad so we stuck around for his bit (which wasn't overly good), but come on. And I agree with the others, get rid of the dining room shows. There are other shows on the ship. Though I'd still find it amusing to see twangster get a sling shot attack by a dropped escargot snail from someone's napkin.

Why would anyone book it as a solo then? Just book a 2nd person and have them no show. Or are they figuring out a way around that as well?

Re: Solo pricing I noticed this in in November. I booked the Ascent with my brother. But in late November my mother wanted to come. A solo cabin for her was $800 more than what it was costing for the two of us. I booked a concierge cabin for 3 and it was only $554 more than her solo. I normally travel solo, so I was hoping Celebrity would have better pricing, but it looks like I might be sticking with Royal as I am closer to getting the 340 single supplement.

Aw, our four-legged peeps always know what's up. That or they just love suitcases. Either way!

I just mocked a booking for Celebrity and it seems that the issue is that they aren't applying their "75% off 2nd guest" discount on the solo supplement. Easy fix - book the cabin with a phantom guest who - oh no! - missed their flight.

My impression is that it varies by cruise/ship. I have seen some report being able to have dinner in CK every night and others having far less success.

yeah that's why i don't get it. totally agree if it was butter in a container that was opened and have to be thrown out, i would agree with the change. but these are just the little pre-wrapped individual butters that they then put into a container. there would be no reason to need to throw out any that were unopened. and then at that point leave them out. it also helps them thaw out by being left out. nothing i hate more than hard frozen butter

Voyager class size, give or take a few GT, seems ideal. Small enough to go some more restricted places, big enough to still feature the bells and whistles.

i'm so glad you made it through this ride!! it was definitely the most eventful sailing we've ever had -- i will be happy if we don't have a single ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA on this next one i am very grateful for our community here, and everyone's patience and support with me as everything unfolded. couldn't have done it without you all!

I would be very surprised if anything is announced about another class while the iron is still hot with Icon class.

I know it's a ways off, but I'd be happy to host a meet up in our cabin if anyone is interested. I know it's a short cruise but if anyone wants to catch the aquashow from our balcony on one of the evenings I may be able to arrange that! We are in an aquatheater suite for this sailing

That's crazy. There were tons of newbies on Wonder in June (like half the ship) and not many D and above but stuff still sold out well before the cruise IIRC.

During this exhibition I also dislike the folks that insist on waving their napkins in the air flinging whatever morsels of food from dinner are on them to all the neighboring tables. Please don't.

Doesn't he know he is married to the YOLO Book it Queen? You may have to send him back to steerage. In all seriousness though, thank you for sharing your trip with all of us. It looks like you all had an amazing time even though we forced you into the WJ. I'm glad your trip home was somewhat uneventful. Can't wait to sail with you guys again in 357 days, even if Hubby is still being Scrooge. I like this idea!!

I am just now catching up on this blog and so excited. And I'm with you, Allure was my favorite ship until Symphony. Symphony is special. So classy, so amazing. Such great memories traveling the Mediterranean with my son on that ship. I hope you have a great cruise!

As well as the two mentioned above, my Symphony sailing next month lists a moet&chandon champagne tasting experience. They are not showing on my others, which are farther ahead.

Included..it's calling your liquor brand. You can do that with any drink you order..you don't have to go with the house brand.

Solo cruising has been a HOT topic this last week. I have sailed Celebrity many times solo and now with this new philosophy of charging excessively is really churning with many people across the board because of their excuse saying it's supplement fee for what 2 people would spend onboard. Even did a mock booking with Royal as solo and rate was at least $475 higher than double occupancy. It's really disappointing to say the least because it's putting a stigma against Solo travelers. I know Facebook has blown up to CEO of both Celebrity and Royal over this craziness. Reality is what gets spent on a cruise solo or as couple in a stateroom goes both ways. Some people don't spend an extra dime once onboard nor tip any crew members so how their realization is losing money from solo traveling alone makes no sense. It's gonna make people look at other cruise lines who welcome Solo travelers I can't wait til board Celebrity in few weeks to speak to concierge about it and hear their response.

Northern Europe/Norway, Panama Canal, and Japan are on our bucket list. But being able to travel with loved ones every year is the best reward.

are we twins? Cause those are the exact places I would be!

The TA will run interference for you with the cruise line if anything goes wrong..that's the biggest benefit provided you use a TA with good customer service.

Daytime is on a lounger by the pool in the solarium. Evening is Viking crown lounge. Night is the schooner bar (but I love to the casino bar for my martinis and then come back as schooner bars just aren’t as good)

Yes, Our upcoming cruise next month has them listed under the beverage package section!

it was practice for dealing with all of us here

Dreams do come true so surely Sabrina will have her wish granted from the cruise genie As rates continue to increase across the board with cuts in services and now even more than normal for Solo travelers that has been rambling across the Internet, it definitely could change ways in cruising or even with which cruise lines some of us sail. Fact is we are all always sailing by reading everyone's Live Blog and that is rewarding for each person to take the time on their cruise to bring us all along in for their venture. One big family...

You’ve got to get a new card that all cruise charges go on and hubby doesn’t have access to

Music Hall bar on a Quantum ship.

Continuing on.... We have a balcony room on deck 14 near the middle. Our perfect spot. We like being high up and near the middle, helps with some rocking and has better views. We also like being away from the hustle and bustle of everyone near the stairwells. One son got a GTY balcony room which was a bit scary for us since we have never done that before and have read horror stories of people being kicked off for overbooking. Well it turned out ok, we found out his room almost 30 days ahead of time and feel better. he ended up on deck 10 in a balcony somewhere between middle and front (near the front stairs). It will be interesting to see how he likes that. This is his first balcony experience too since he was in an interior on Serenade and his girlfriend's first ever cruise. Our other son has an interior on deck 11 in the front.......that's a long story . He has that room all to himself. I should include we are Diamond Crown and Anchor. I mention this because we LOVE our free drinks. This is the only time either of us drink alcohol! Our last drinks were at our last dinner on Oasis in January 2023. Nothing since then so the next drinks will be at our first dinner of the cruise! We have recently started to find we enjoy getting the drink of the day at dinner.....and if we enjoy it we make it two!. The rest usually get used up at an evening show. 4 drinks a day is more than enough for us.......unless there is rum punch on an excursion.......then it's game over!!!! That is my favorite, locals make it soooooooo good. Might end up being a bit tipsy after this All shows have been booked! Also booked the escape room but could only get 6 in at a time slot so will try to add more once on the ship (assuming they hold some slots for on board sign ups). We really enjoyed the water show on Oasis so looking forward to what Wonder has. Loved the comedy club too, can't wait for some laughs. Curious about the Music Hall band, last time on Oasis was an Aerosmith cover band that was pretty good, but loud (I feel so old saying that). The excursions we have are: Cruise #1 Coco Cay = Chill Island Cabana Cozumel = All Terrain Buggy and Snorkel Roatan = Two Reef Snorkel (third party) Puerto Costa Maya = Chacchoben Mayan Ruins & Bacalar Lagoon Cruise #2 Coco Cay = Nothing yet, just chill on chair somewhere or see if they lower the price on a beach bed (they are crazy stupid expensive still) St Thomas = Skyride & Pirates Treasure Museum St Maarten = Plane Spotting at Maho Beach We will be recording these excursions and posting videos of them later (when I have time to put together). We fly out Thursday January 25th to Orlando in the afternoon and then have a hotel in the Lake Nona area (best price at our preferred chain). We picked the afternoon flight for price and then we don't have to get up crazy early. We rented a car for the couple days we are there, so that will be interesting. Friday January 26th is all day Universal (any tips appreciated). Unfortunately they close at 6pm for some special event (super bummer). We binged watched Harry Potter to get refreshed on it for this day!!! Saturday January 27th we will drive to Downtown Disney and check that out and see what has changed. My parents fly in that day also so we will meet them and have dinner. If anyone has suggestions near the Lake Nona area for dinner, we are all ears to it! Sunday January 28th is cruise day with a shuttle taking us to the port (they said about an hour or so). We plan to get to the port early to get on and start eating and check out the ship. We also need to check the dining room seats to see if they honored our requests...... As more happens and I think of details I will post them.

We are booked on this sailing. I was keeping it a quiet for a friend, but let it slip today. I was going to set up an elaborate meet up with her genie involved but its even more exciting to be able to talk pre cruise. It's our first inaugural! Hope to meet some of the great posters on here.