Matt

I have played with it, it's a very neat idea!

When Emma told me about it, I checked it out and it's a fun idea.  Watching the ship replays is quite satisfying

1 hour ago, RCIfan1912 said:

now I see they are back as package or combo that I think is actually a decent price

Where are you seeing this?

I have no @twangster level data to back this up, but I feel like luggage delivery has been pretty quick, where we have it within an hour or two of cabins opening.

1 hour ago, Jolly Ogre said:

No bonus discounts for my Dec sailing. Everything is the same 30% off.

Correct, it's September and October only

There's nothing saying you can't try MEI out for one cruise and "take it for a test drive"

I recently tried Turquoise Bay https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2025/03/18/roatan-all-inclusive-resort-turquoise-bay-review

They can change the itinerary at any time, even the day of the visit.

In my experience, it seems they wait to see if there's any chance they can make it in and only then do they cancel when there's 0% chance.  But they don't cancel until it's zero. 

So I'd expect a last minute change, if there's going to be one.

20 hours ago, KentF said:

In her opinion, RC must be using antiquated hardware and/or software for Crown & Anchor.

I know their servers were on AS/400 not too long ago. Not sure if that finally got migrated, but that technical debt was indeed part of the equation.

I’m finally going on a cruise after a crazy long drought!

11 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

I just googled the menu. Jeez, that's hardly a perk at all.

It’s like the old diamond happy hour benefit. 

On the plus side, when you hit Pinnacle/Zenith, you get a free drink package on celebrity!

You need to make a new reservation and then link them. 

Before you do that, I’d work with a good travel agent. Future you will thank yourself

What you're seeing are a series of sea trials, shakedown cruises, and other employee only events.  It's basically how the app is set up so that they can test things out.

I can confirm the rooms dont have to be connecting to have only minors in them, just need to be either adjacent or across the hall.

Which tour?

If it makes a difference, it's not Royal Caribbean implementing these rules; it's the tour operator.  Royal is simply the middle man.

I suspect the reason you're not allowed because of your age is because of the tour operator's liability requirements. Insurance, manufacturer recommendations, et al. They simply cannot afford to be cavalier with the rules or it leaves them open to legal troubles should you be injured.

You might consider finding a third party excursion offering the same activity that would allow you to participate. 

14 hours ago, Hoppy2BHere said:

Loud but plenty of places to escape

Exactly. I don't spend any time on the pool deck, especially on embarkation day.

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2024/02/12/venice-to-ravenna-cruise-port

While not nearly as detailed as @twangster post, here's my live blog when we stayed in Pan Pacific and then cruised out of Vancouver: https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2022/06/06/serenade-of-the-seas-live-blog-day-1-embarkation-day

22 hours ago, mworkman said:

Royal shifting to the 3/4 night sailings and limiting the longer sailings down to 7 days.  They’re quietly pushing those of us that enjoy longer sailings over to the sister company

That's not a bad idea too, but I think they're primary idea is:

New cruisers on 3/4 nighters

Established cruisers on 7 nighters on Icon class.  Other ships in the fleet are a good second option.

I really don't think such a forecast, if it exists, is useful. 

Not only are there few weather stations in the middle of the Atlantic to help formulate such a forecast, the North Atlantic is notoriously unpredictable.

I think whatever the forecast would be is like a @smokeybandit post here. You read it, squint, and then think "that may or may not happen".

17 minutes ago, Jolly Ogre said:

On Wonder and Utopia they totally enclosed the Solarium so no fresh breezes. Big fail I think.

In the Caribbean, I'd much rather have full enclosed so it can be climate controlled.  It's not so much the issue of heat or a breeze, but the humidity.  Being enclosed means it's not super sticky.

Makes the Solarium enjoyable even if you aren't in the pool

3 minutes ago, RCIfan1912 said:

I suppose this new add on has no exceptions for children? 

It's the same as The Key. Under 6 is free, but kids 6 and above cost the same

2 hours ago, TZsavonH said:

They've known labadee wouldn't be open for weeks

Incorrect. The first cancellations were announced this past Wednesday, less than 7 days ago

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2025/04/15/royal-caribbean-canceling-again-visits-private-destination-haiti

2 hours ago, TZsavonH said:

refund as onboard credit instead of giving cruisers their money back to spend the way they chose

That form of onboard credit is refundable so at the end of the cruise, unused money would be refunded back to your credit card.

Also, the port cancellations have been pre-cruise, so those "thousands on excursions and cabanas" have been refunded pre-cruise.