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6 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

3-4 packing cubes

Packing cubes are everything, it's amazing the amount of s*** you can pack in them. They're like mini drawers great for not really having to re-pack at the end if you do it right.

This is a fan site and great for information so I'm not sure what hope to gather from this besides a vent session. I'm sorry you had such a crappy vacation. 

Part of being a traveler and especially for a solo traveler is to be flexible. It's no one else's responsibility to entertain you besides actual entertainment. I'm someone who moves between an introvert and an extrovert, depending on my mood or situation. I'm half horrified/half impressed when anyone on the crew makes it a point to remember my name. I know when I travel alone I have to manage my expectations. I count myself lucky when I meet people on a solo trip and get to share my time with them. I also know as a woman ANYWHERE I have to speak up for myself sometimes. If i'm not "seen" I make myself seen. I agree the spa people can be annoying but no one makes you buy anything. "No" - as many times as you need to say it. A lot of your issues could've been avoided if you spoke up for yourself. This is a life lesson - people will get away with what you let them. 

St Thomas is a beautiful island if you leave the dock - you may have not done an excursion to get the best out of your time there.

You booked Harmony mostly because of an escape room? 

Solo rooms are sometimes not worth the cost, you are not actually paying for two people but you are paying a lot. 

I'm sorry you got covid on your trip, 100% sucks. 

We had 15 I think. On embarkation day 2 of us went down to the main dining room and set it up for dinner every night. (the 2 of us were not linked to every single couple/single/family but somehow we did it.) They had tables set against the wall. 

1 hour ago, WAYNO said:

I have TSA pre-check, and I'm still often required to nearly completely undress for them.  And if that's not enough, occasionally they take me to the interrogation room for the second string to also feel me up. 

But the line is shorter to get to this point.

So as soon as we think we've got it figured out, we don't.

REALLY?!

Damn. My plan was to finally commit to the process of TSA pre check. For some unknown reason I get stopped A LOT, like a lot a lot. I've never been arrested, don't have speeding tickets (I know that doesn't count), never tried to get away with anything, don't do drugs...the list of how boring I am continues yet I've been stopped for feel-ups and full checks many many times. I present as a short and chubby Italian American woman who's probably middle aged and my last name isn't common. It's always NY (my home state) I have a problem, never within the country or even out of the country. I've never even had a meltdown on the plane. 

Good to know that there is still a chance of a full body pat down. 

18 hours ago, CrimsonCruiser said:

O.O

well...someone certainly lied to me lol

This made me laugh! I live on Long Island, part of the Atlantic hurricane season - in my lifetime we've gotten them as late as November and from my memory the worst ones for the Atlantic have been later on in the season. 

On 6/22/2022 at 1:25 PM, AandD said:

Royal adjusted our itinerary from eastern Caribbean to Aruba

I've heard this happens a bunch with hurricanes and tropical storms, they just change course. 

I'd be wary. I didn't do the same excursion so feel free to take with a grain of salt but...

A few years ago I did an excursion with RC that wasn't labeled strenuous which was 100% a lie. It was running up a mountain. At the time I jogged often but when I saw the people doing this excursion I knew I was in for it, they looked like runners. There is no way I can jog UP a mountain. There was a point where i realized my heart was beating too fast and this wasn't good for me.  I made it halfway and had to turn around and make my way back down. I could hike but running upwards was never in the cards for me. I was one of the last people who didn't make it to finally give up -  and had to wait for a guide to bring me back down. If in any way the excursion mentioned running I would have known not to do it. 

They have since labeled it "strenuous" and I'm glad. People must have complained and it was changed.

1 hour ago, Jersey Judie said:

Similar situation! I booked cruises to surprise my daughters and families.  Even though my reservations are linked and I can see them in the app, it won't allow me to secure reservations. When I click on their names to add them to my "My time dining reservation", it says they must reserve. 

I had no problem on the website last week. I did a bunch of MTD dining nights for myself and a friend who is linked to me.

I got them for a few days I think might be busy on the ship - thinking of chair hogs.

I also had cruise credit to blow so I don't care if it was a bad investment or not. 

Welcome! I know that if you link reservations when you're on the site and the app it shows that you are linked. 

O.M.G. how fun. i'm sure it's not much like the London tea service but still fun. 

I'm about 11 weeks weeks out and every single day is the same for MTD - only times available are 7-9- in half hour slots. Specialty dining is all times available 530-9. 

11 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

I love the freestyle machines; I love that I can make my Coke Zero orange vanilla or have Fanta zero fruit punch. I drink Coke Zero/Coke at home, I am on vacation, it's time to live it up!

I'm not a big soda drinker but I lovvvvvvvve to mix sodas. It's weird but I like to flavor things that I wouldn't normally drink. Maybe a diet coke with a splash of regular cherry coke. 

On another note all of you people posting pics of saved cups are giving me major anxiety.  I've spent my weekend throwing out all unneeded stuff throughout my home. 

2 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Yes, there is a trick.

1.  Imagine yourself standing in the hallway, and on the deck layout, find the closest set of connecting staterooms (double-sided arrow). The stateroom on the right side of the double arrows is the "right" configuration (I call that the "right" configuration b/c I prefer this arrangement AND it is located on the right side of the adjoined pair.  Just makes sense).  The stateroom on the left is the "wrong" configuration.

2.  Then begin moving toward your cabin, alternating, right, wrong, right, wrong.  When you land on your cabin, you will know whether it is the "right" (bed by the balcony) or "wrong (bed by the bathroom).

If you don't place yourself INSIDE the ship, in the hallway you will get it exactly backwards...so be sure that you are "counting" from the inside perspective, not the outside of the ship.  Sorry if that's confusing.  Trust me, I have made that mistake before.

This is absolutely fascinating. Also, after doing it a few times to figure it out I reread your post and was not inside the ship. lol. 

2 hours ago, Pattycruise said:

Of course.  I’ve been sailing a number of years and never heard of this until this year.  On most every sailing I’ve been on 1/2 of the passengers are new to cruising (assumption based on having no crown and anchor number, perhaps they’ve sailed on another line) so it’s not likely they’ve heard of this. I learned of this via the FB sailing for a ship I was on or I’d still be in the dark,  most FB sailing groups I belong to have around 500 members so it does represent a decent # of families.  I’m sure awareness will become more widespread. 

I would think the same thing tho, and wonder if the room was cleaned if I found ducks in obvious places. 

32 minutes ago, Pattycruise said:

I think if that sign was on my door and I found a duck in my safe, drawer or other location I’d question the thoroughness of the cleaning staff.  

Maybe some of us can ask our room attendants if they know of the ducks, if they realize it's a thing. Maybeeeeee they leave on purpose? 

Because of this post I was reminded to pay mine now. One less thing to worry about. I'll being cash for the special people and the room attendant. 

Agree. My issue is the people who come here specifically to complain and then that's about all we hear from them. If any of the regulars or even the spotty members had a bad review it's easier to hear because we all know a little about them and their style of cruising. 

I've said this before, I'm loyal to no one but I happen to enjoy RC and most importantly love hearing all of your tips, reviews, blogs, etc... I came here to research a cruise and stayed for the rest because of you all.

Thanks for sharing your trip with us. sounds like you had a great time. 

This is great news. I keep hearing about all the cancellations and was concerned. Safe flight!!!!!

Just give me a cup. I don't care what it looks like. I used to like them but found they have a very short life and break easily.

wow. The pictures are amazing.

21 minutes ago, Vancity Cruiser said:

Since we are keeping track of Covid after cruising...........

 

I sort of get where you are coming from but how I see it is it prepares me for how I will conduct myself on the cruise. I may choose to wear masks in elevators or crowded places as I do now. I see this thread as a warning for people who choose to take it. 

I totally get your point about getting in anywhere else and not debating that at all, in fact I've done my best not to debate ANYTHING covid related on here. - I just think I'm coming at it a little differently.

1 hour ago, HappyHav said:

I believe the garage is for people with special needs.

It's for everyone. I've parked in the garage and not special needs. 

59 minutes ago, Jax said:

definitely more math skills required.

well then i'm screwed.

Book. ocean. alone. If I'm with people my favorite ones are the ones who can do the same. I can be social but my favorite is when the people i'm normally social with can chill in the same way. 

Also am a big people watcher.