Matt

Here Are Some Photos From Cozumel Today. Hope You Enjoy 

 

Thanks You. Here Are Some Photos I Took From Key West Yesterday

 

Welcome to the forums!
 
Regarding the TA, if a TA doesnt reach out to you within like 48 business hours (ie not the weekends) I'd find one close to you (they have a list of their TA's on MEI's website) and reach out to them directly.  That's how I met my MEI TA and she's been absolutely delightful to work with.
 
I also concur with the ones with offers that appear too good to be true.  Large OBCs, beverage packages for the entire cruise for the same price listed on Royal's website?  Too good to be true IMO.  The TA does get a kickback from Royal for every cruise through them, but not enough to give away nearly your entire cruise cost in free extras.  100-300 OBC for a 7 day cruise is normal and fine, but if they start offering 1000 OBC or whole entire packages, I'd be very leery of them.  To me, the relationship with your TA is you talk to them, find out about them.  A good TA will be fine in having a general getting to know you conversation about their experience, what they do for you, preferred method of communication etc.  If you dont mesh, thank them for their time and look elsewhere.  They wont take offense to you finding someone else.  It is a shopping decision for you and you deserve a TA you get along with well.

Hey, @BrewerJoe, welcome to the forums!
As a rule, prices are at their lowest when the itineraries are first announced and only go up from there. Sometimes a particular sailing, or cabin class within the sailing, will go down briefly if the cabins are filling up fast enough or there are still some unsold close to sail date, but it's the exception rather than the rule. If you're approaching your threshold for the trip getting too expensive, and it's definitely one you want to take, best to pull the trigger soon.
One thing to note -- if you're looking at the prices on Royal's web site, you're going to be seeing the non-refundable deposit pricing. Given the sailing is in July, there's probably no reason to not go with a non-refundable deposit at this point since final payment date is so close. But if you want to make a refundable booking just in case, that will cost a bit more. You can see how much more by starting a mock booking and going most of the way through the process -- select cabins and enter traveler info (feel free to make up most of it, just keep your state accurate on the off chance there's an offer available for residents of your state) -- then get to the screen after traveler info. Here you see the extra cost to buy insurance with Royal, pre-pay your gratuities... and book with a refundable deposit. Check that option and you'll see the adjusted price. Usually, there's also a reduction in any OBC or instant savings offered.
As @rjac noted, it's really best to go with a regular travel agency, rather than one of the internet resellers. I've also used MEI and will recommend them. Besides keeping an eye out for you with price reductions, you'll have someone who will go to bat for you with Royal should anything really bad happen between now and cruise date. (like, say, Royal deciding abruptly to cancel a cruise because the ship suddenly got chartered at the last minute -- yes, this really happened to someone here, and without their travel agent getting into the ring with Royal, there would have been a much less satisfactory ending)

Hey Joe,
Welcome to the message boards! Feel free to ask away with any questions you may have. There are a lot of seasoned cruise veterans here who will gladly help you out. As for as any price reductions for the July cruise you are looking at, I doubt it since it is just over 5 months away. I would book  now with a deposit and watch the prices. And I would recommend you book through MEI (they sponsor this blog). Many folks here have used Michelle Cunningham and are very happy with her. Her number is (703) 881-2727. If you see a drop in the price, contact her and she will get you the lower price. You will get personalized service with her. I'm not sure about going through a large internet seller, probably won't get the service you want. Once you get past the final payment date and there is a drop in the price, Royal will not give you the lower price. 
I usually book as far out as possible (1-2 years) for the lowest price. Hope this helps! 

Here's a good breakdown of the choices: https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2018/09/05/royal-caribbean-my-time-dining-versus-traditional-dining

I hate to do it, but had to "clean up" this thread.  It's okay not to agree, but there are two things we do not condone here:
1. Writing about ways to circumvent RC's rules
2. Personal insults/attacks
Keep it civil. Consider yourselves warned.

The primary advantage of getting to the port early is to get your vacation started earlier. The cruise fare you paid is the same whether you board at 11am or 2pm. May as well board at 11!

I'm not aware of any, but I could be wrong.

Royal Caribbean has not announced what the changes will be for Allure (or even Oasis this year).
Looks like first cruise back is May 24, 2020

If you are adamant about booking through Royal Caribbean, Mayan Princess in Roatan wasn't bad at all https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2018/12/18/mayan-princess-resort-beach-break-roatan-review

Umm..I think @twangster is referring to Mr. Oasis Class Denier, not this nice Canadian who happens to love OA class!  The more they build the better for me ?
 

With prices starting from $29,990 he'll be cancelling a lot of Caribbean cruises!

Thanks! Always amazes me how much information is around this site and the people on it! Thanks for all that info, super helpful! we decided to get the Key, even though it's our first sailing, it's not likely to be a regular thing for us to be able to cruise, as we are in Washington on the west coast. However, an Alaska cruise is definitely on our bucket list! 

No problem with newbie questions, ask away!
When you first enter the terminal to check in for your cruise you will have to walk through a metal detector and all other 'stuff' has to go through an x-ray machine.  It's similar to airport security screening but not as intense.  You don't have to remove your shoes for example.  Some people mistakenly think it's TSA but it's not.  As you could imagine a large suitcase won't fit through the x-ray machine and the waiting areas and walkways are not designed for people with large suitcases.  
Imagine what the gate area at an airport would look like if everyone had to drag their big suitcases right to the gate before a flight.  Not pretty.  
When you pull up to a terminal in a bus, car, taxi or Uber there will be porters with large carts to take your checked luggage.  As you get closer to sailing, luggage tags will be available for you to print at home and attach to your checked luggage, or porters can hand write a luggage tag on the spot.  Everyone's large suitcases are checked in this fashion, even suite guests and top elites.  Carts of luggage are lifted onto the ship by forklifts and once on board the crew manually distribute luggage to various decks based on the luggage tags.
Valuables, documentation including passports, medication and anything you will need before seeing your luggage again should go into carry on bags that you carry with you.  Sunscreen and a bathing suit are common items people bring in carry on so they can use the pool before luggage is delivered on the ship.  At some point your checked luggage will be delivered outside your cabin in the hall.  It can take hours for luggage to arrive so don't worry if your luggage isn't there when cabins are made available.
Arriving at the terminal goes like this...
Take luggage from car/bus/taxi/uber and give to the porters.  A small tip is customary, after all these people see that your bags will get loaded onto the ship.  With your carry on bags with you, head to the terminal entrance.  Terminal employees will ask to see SetSail pass and ID to enter the terminal.   Once inside security is next.  Keys, cell phones, loose change etc go through x-ray with your carry on bags.  You walk through metal detector. Grab your carry on and head towards check in.  Signs will direct you, repeat cruisers who have status in the Crown and Anchor society will be directed into queues for them, everyone else goes into the general queue.  Staff will point you into the right queue since you have the Key. Wait in line until its your turn at the check in counter.  Present documents and get checked in. Once checked in if the ship isn't boarding yet, wait in the designated areas.  Boarding will be announced starting with Suite and Pinnacles (top elite) followed other levels of the C&A program, then general boarding.   Key boarding is called somewhere after Suites and Pinnacles but before general boarding.   Once the ship is boarding and it's your turn follow the crowds onto the ship.  Somewhere along the way they will scan your SetSail pass or SeaPass card which is how they know you are on the ship.  

Hi Everyone Im Thought I Share Some Photo I Took A Few Weeks Ago On Brilliance. Hope You Enjoy.
  

I'm actively working on what I've codenamed "Project Sabrina" as a way to weed out the unwanted and/or Canadian posts.

I'm actively working on what I've codenamed "Project Sabrina" as a way to weed out the unwanted and/or Canadian posts.

I'm actively working on what I've codenamed "Project Sabrina" as a way to weed out the unwanted and/or Canadian posts.

I think this is exactly what everyone ought to be doing. You're spending thousands of dollars on a vacation, wouldn't doing a little homework to ensure you aren't making a mistake or missing out on something greatly benefit you? 
By asking these kinds of questions, you're doing yourself a big favor!

I'm actively working on what I've codenamed "Project Sabrina" as a way to weed out the unwanted and/or Canadian posts.

FWIW there is a new Cruise Planner sale that just started. Perhaps related to that. The way to know is after sale ends, if price jumps back up.