TheaFromCDA

WOW. this is an amazing explanation @twangster ! I guess for now I have to limit myself to those ships you mentioned (Oasis, Allure, Harmony, Anthem, Ovation, Quantum, Freedom and Independence)... Any chance you recall what ships of those you mentioned you had good success on state room wise? outside of Anthem I guess?

Hi Guys, I know that Harmony (and I guess Symphony when it comes out) has the "best" internet on a cruise ship and many people including Matt has raved about it... I dont know if I just had really bad luck when I went in December, or if it was the location of our stateroom pretty much 3 doors away from the back/ aft, but my internet was not what I would perceive as fast or reliable. Maybe my expectations were a bit too high when I signed up for the Stream and Surf package but streaming definitely was not feasible certain days... I did notice that mid-ship...or at least in the public areas (windjammer at least), the speed seemed to have improved. I was using an iphoneX, iphone 6 plus, ipad air 2... all pretty much had similar issues across the board. Im pretty sure I took a few speedtests, just gotta find them... As much as I would like to just disconnect from the "real" world while on vacation, I actually have to be fairly accessible if work (or family) needs me so booking a cruise, reliable internet speeds is kind of key. IF the internet is about the same as Harmony's, I think I can get away with or just deal with it... I am just concerned if I book anything older than Harmony, that the internet would decrease dramatically?

I really enjoyed Harmony...outside of getting massive food poisoning and being out of commission for the last 4 days of the cruise ... So now Im debating if booking on a smaller ship would be a let down... with regards to my friends and SO... I probably would aim for one of the ships with the bigger "wow" factor...in hopes they get addicted. When you say "GREAT" bargain.. how often do you guys see that a suite or even a junior suite would be close enough to a balcony cost to justify the upgrade?

Did you go through a TA? I know Matt and a few others advocates booking as soon as the schedules are released... so now I feel like I "missed out" on the best prices :(

According to RC's recategorization grid... these (outside of Navigator) are the only ones that seem to have ones that "Sleep 1"le ...listening to a few podcasts and reading a few sites, seems that even those solo rooms can be pricier than paying the single supplement. The only thing that I did notice on my 1st ever cruise was that (at least in Harmony's case) more geared for people travelling with one or more people... I did see on the cruise compass that there was a constant solo travellers meet up... but every time we walked by the Rising Tide, didnt really see a gathering or anything Its going to be interesting experiencing going on a cruise solo

yeah... I think you nailed it there... I love Canada but it seems none of the TA or even "large" cruise specialty companies here have the buying power or ability to offer deals the way US companies can :( I did find a few sites that shows the "best" deals for solo travellers and the % of the single supplements but I dont know how good they would be after you book with them...I am guessing not the same as Matt's relationship with MEI

I think they may have refurbished a few to include some (not included but has 4 also is Navigator but I kind of nixed Navigator and Majesty off my option list... Its more it seems on Royal you can filter by ship, date, port, etc but room isnt an option (Though I could be also wrong)

Weird... I thought that the deposit was 50% of your total cruise cost? Ie... if the cruise cost 1500... you had to put down $750 right away? Sadly my friends can pretty much only plan anything 2 to 4 weeks out. Significant other would also not be able to know his work schedule 90 days out so Id be committed pretty much with whatever option I elect for. Ok...maybe I am being extra dense but is there any way to filter by STATEROOM first (Rather than picking ship/date/etc) to narrow down what cruise options a solo traveller may have? I know studio rooms may not necessarily be cheaper (based on blogs, CC, etc) and/or would cost the same (or more) than just paying the single supplement in an interior room... but even knowing which ones have the option of a studio room (since I can be flexible on dates for solo travel) would be good.

yup you read it correctly! Ideally Id go one one with my SO, one with friends... and the other im fairly ok going by myself or others so that would be 3 but might get downgraded to just 2 :S

Ill take your recommendation and book for two. Another question... would you recommend I book one (in advance), then go book next cruise (though I know its not as good as the promos before)... or just book everything in advance now? With regards to changing of names...is that considered a "change" that will incur that $100 charge if I was to book non-refundable? Im so sorry to hear about you taking the loss financially and for their breakup.

Thanks for the feedback guys! lots of stuff to think about! and I have to re-read Twangster's breakdown again... I thought Id just basically be paying the fare for two people if travelling solo so 1.75 is better than 2 fares... Unsure if I will be going the Non-Refundable Deposit route but that info is good to know...I didn't realize you could get refunds after final payment.... I thought as soon as final payment is done, you can spend MORE but not get refunds after the 90 day cutoff. I definitely see the merit of booking early and trying to re-price... which kind of creates my conundrum that most of my friends and my significant other cannot plan that far out in advance. My job is fairly good and I can normally chart out far in advance vacations but since none of the people I can travel with can do the same. I do want to book early...but didn't know which route (passenger number wise) to try and get. My preference is to to travel with friends to get them hooked on cruising too... but im open to travelling solo... unfortunately, RCL seems to have less "solo" focus than say NCL. Those offers of pre-paid gratuities included by some travel agents as a perk...would that impact which option would be best to do?

thats good to know! I wasn't sure if I didn't notify them of travelling solo, if they'd say I'd have to pay for the 2nd "person". On a related note... How hard would it be to ADD a 3rd person to a booking (so long as the stateroom type allows for more than 2 people)? Not sure if you CAN do that (especially if it is before final payment due date... and there's an offer of 3rd passenger free type deal)? OR if I wait for one of those deals are up, booking three people, then deleting (or leaving booking as is and adjusting at guest service the actual number of passengers) (Sorry for the add on... Had my first taste of cruising on Harmony December 2017 ...and now I want to go on more... aiming for 2 or 3 cruises in 2018 )

Thanks Matt... if I do the leaving the reservation as is but travelling solo, will I still have to pay the gratuities for the second "passenger" even if there isn't one?

Hi Guys, I think Matt has mentioned a few times that its not a big deal to change a passenger to another...just a few questions: 1. Up till when can you generally change out the passenger(s)? Is it by final payment? or pretty much right before going like when you can book on Cruise Planner? If I do not know yet if I will be travelling solo or WHO I would be bringing if I was to bring someone: 2. I know for Royal its pretty much paying the fare for double occupancy even if you're travelling solo unless you luck out with getting one of the studios.. I am wondering what strategy would be best? - Is it best to just book solo then add another passenger later on if someone decides to come along? OR - Delete a passenger from a double occupancy booking and travel solo? Thanks in advance for your responses, Thea

so sorry to ask but my cruise sails out this Saturday...is it too late to request that all items be removed from the fridge?

Thanks everyone! ... so ... is it possible to get dessert before the appetizer or main meal? LOL I know dessert normally is a reward for eating all your food...but for me, i find that it's my favourite part of my meals (fat kid inside...and slightly outside ) so I dont want to miss out by being too full

Thanks Guys! We have a Jamie's Italian 10 minutes from my place so I will doublecheck to see if its the exact same fare... @Matt Thank you for the clarification RE ordering at Chops! RE 2 vs 3 dining, we are pretty flexible...I just want to make sure its "worth it" vs just going to the MDR. How often do you see people ordering multiple meals at MDR or Giovanni's? If you order more than one appetizer, entree, and/or dessert, will people stare or will the servers think that you are being gluttonous ? I checked photos that people posted RE the size of entrees but I do not know the scale of it...i.e. if it is more an amuse bouche size but people zoom in... Or it is a regular standard "American-sized" portion... I would feel bad if we were wasteful and do not finish our food if we were ordering more than 1 entree, though I know I can "try" to see the sizes the 1st night, I figure if I have an idea the size, I can advise my SO... given...if its dessert my logic is there is ALWAYS room for dessert... (oh... this is going to sound bad but has anyone ever ordered dessert BEFORE their appetizer or entree?)

HI Guys, I am sorry if these questions have been asked before, This will by me first time every cruising and I chose to go on RCL's Harmony of the Seas Dec 2, 2017 with my SO... 1. I am looking at the dining options and I see the BOGO 2 Night dining package but I do not see the First Night Done Right deal... Will that show up later or the fact its not showing up means it's sold out? 2. Between doing the BOGO 2 night dining and the 3 night dining deal, which ones would you suggest? 3. With regards to NON A-La-Carte dining, is it like the MDR where you can order as much or one of each dish? Toodle68 in another thread mentioned: I wanted to try all 3 sauces and you would think I had just kicked a dog. The steaks are ok, the 'shareable' sides were nothing special. Do you only pick one appetizer, side and dessert per person? I thought Matt had said you in this thread https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2015/08/20/5-things-you-will-love-about-royal-caribbeans-chops-grille-restaurant to order one of everything? 4. Outside of Wonderland (because my SO does not like molecular gastronomy) and Sobor (as per some people's feedback here that $19 isnt worth it) for dinner, what other non-a-la-carte dining would you recommend? 5. for the MTD which was the only option that was available when I booked, I know someone mentioned having to check out per day... I am just wondering, does MTD reservations only open up 90 days and under in? Thanks in advance for your patience and replies