NS8VN

For someone replying to your theory with their experience in why it is probably not the case?  Really?

"At some point we don't have control over the weather."
I want to know at which point they DO! Lol

I carry my passport, CC and cash with me off the ship just in case of any emergency comes up. 
There is zero possibility of me being mugged at any of these ports as I am and will never be a victim. If you don't look like easy prey they will leave you alone. With me its easy just by the way I look and carry myself.  

When it comes to passports I'm #TeamSafe. 
If you miss the ship, for whatever reason, security goes into your safe and removes your passport.  They then give it to the port agent on the pier.  Security always has access to your safe.  If get locked out (like the time I forgot my passcode) security can open the safe.  
A water damaged passport becomes invalid because they can't verify it isn't an forgery attempt.  Fall off a tour boat, get soaked in a rain storm, etc, a water damaged passport is useless.  Stolen on a beach, mugged or it simply falls out of your pocket on a bus by mistake all can happen.  That is a much worst case scenario for me compared to having to track down the port agent, IF I miss the ship.
You will need some sort of government issued ID for any guest who isn't a minor.  This varies by port but Nassau has been known to insist on it.  Driver's license works great.  My TWIC card works great too.  This is the port people requiring this, not ship security.  The port employees are not Royal employees, they work for the local port.
Perfect Day (CocoCay) is Royal's private island and you only need the SeaPass card.  Bring some cash if you want to shop in the local market on the island.  No other documents are required at CocoCay.  

I'm personally in team "passport on ship, other ID in port".  There are ways to contact RCCL's port agent and have them leave your passport with the port authority if something happens and you are going to miss the ship.  It might seem to go against my firm "don't cruise without a passport" stance, but given the possibility of being mugged at any location (also a low chance, all things considered) I would rather not be carrying my passport around.
There should be little to no reason to carry it on Coco Cay, it is RCCL's private island.  On Nassau, it's just personal opinion.  The truth is that thousands of people visit that island every day and many don't even have a passport and get back on the ship in time with no issues whatsoever.  The odds of missing the ship, if you are being proactive and staying aware of the time, are low.  The odds of missing the ship and having no way of contacting the port agent in this day of cell phones is almost zero.  I personally consider the odds of taking the passport on land and having it stolen/damaged/lost to be considerably higher.
So anyway, whatever you do with it I hope you have a good cruise.  Welcome to the forum!

Since it seems to come up a lot, and although Twangster's detailed blog is far superior, I thought there may be one or two who might be curious about a recent experience.  I purchased it for my 4-night Mariner of the Seas cruise to Nassau/Coco Cay.  I was a solo traveler and I had a $25 onboard credit, so the price came to $55.  Between Voom and lunch on embarkation day, I'd already gotten my value, so it was really a no-brainer purchase for me.
Embarkation:  They called The Key people with the Pinnacle/Diamond/Diamond Plus members when they opened up the doors.  I suspect they just threw us in with them because it was so early and there were very few people in the terminal yet.
Delivery  of carry on luggage to stateroom:  A few of us wandered around trying to figure out where to drop off our carry on luggage when we first boarded - they were a little behind and didn't have a sign on the theatre door, or anyone in the theatre to take the bags yet.  In about 10 minutes we all figured it out (all 5 of us at that point) and someone did show up to start the process.  Unfortunately that person hadn't been provided with any luggage tags, so anyone who hadn't tagged their luggage had to wait a little while - I had my luggage tag on my one rolling carry on.  They also had business cards with Voom codes on it - but none of them matched the names of anyone who was there, so staff was confused. In the end they just gave us a card for whoever (sorry Adam Davis, or whoever's I had), and we were on our way.  I assume they managed to work it out in the end, but it was never an issue for me.
Lunch at Chops - was a nice treat!
Reserved seating section at shows - I only went to the comedy show really late on Embarkation day and on the last night.  There was a section roped off for The Key next to either higher C&A or suite folks - it really didn't matter at this show because there was really hardly anyone in the theatre.  The first night I sat in The Key section, the last night I sat somewhere else - it didn't matter.  But this is Mariner, not a Quantum or Oasis class ship, so I imagine it would make a difference on one of those ships.
Reserved times for Flow Rider/Rock Climbing Wall/Sky Pad/Perfect Storm - they had at least 2 hours set aside during the week for each activity. They weren't at the most convenient hours, but, at least on my sailing,  it wasn't necessary for a separate time - there was never a line at any of those activities - I never saw more than a few people in line for any of them and most of the time nobody was using them. Apparently this was a "sit by the pool and drink" cruise for folks.
On the 2nd day, I happened to stop by my cabin to pick something up and someone knocked on my door and delivered a fruit plate that was complimentary for The Key people. That was unexpected.
Priority tender - We only tendered at CoCo Cay - I went down to get on the tender about an hour after we anchored and there was a line (not a ridiculous line, but a line as you'd expect there to be).  There was no staff along the line at all to ask about The Key benefit, and I'm just not the type to walk past a bunch of people who are waiting to also get on the tender to get in front of them, so I just got on with everyone else.  I was able to get on the tender right away anyway, probably because I wasn't trying to get on the first tender of the day, so it was just fine with me. I could have been more assertive, but that's just not me. And the ending result would have been exactly the same in this case.
Disembarkation Day - it was nice to have a quiet, unrushed breakfast in the MDR.  It was the only time I'd sat with other people during a meal - almost the only time I'd spoken to any other people all week (I did talk to the iguana and the chickens on CoCo Cay earlier, that's a whole different story #retiredzookeeper) and I did enjoy that.  After breakfast, I ran back up to my room, grabbed my carry on, and went down to Deck 4, where there happened to be a staff member manning the line.  I asked him about The Key disembarkation, and he personally escorted me to the gangway past a long line, which was REALLY nice.
I liked the program, and it was defnintely worth it on a short sailing.  I was getting Voom anyway, and there were just enough things that I was going to enjoy along the way that it made it worth it to me.  I very much doubt that I'll get it on my Ovation sailing to Alaska in June - I will be going with my husband, who has no interest in Voom, and we will be meeting up with old friends, who will not have The Key, so we won't be taking advantage of reserved seating with shows and special times for activities since they won't be able to partake with us during those times. We'll evaluate it again on our Symphony sailing in Feb 2020 - things may have changed with the program, or the hubs may decide he wants internet access, so we'll see then.
Hope this helps someone out there!

The actions taken are not troll-like to me.  The OP logged in a few hours after posting and saw many of the responses.  Most likely they were hoping to see a mob ready to take it to Royal over this situation.  When they saw the pitchforks pointed in a much different direction there were 3 options to make: 1, admit emotions were (understandably) at play and maybe they were not entirely right in their assessment of the situation, 2, double down and start arguing, or 3, disappear.
Trolls would pick #2 and keep the fun going.  Most people pick #3.  Then the thread dies, unless someone decides to dredge it up.  Why anybody would want their question attached to this kind of topic instead of just starting their own is beyond me.

That has got to be the most hilarious thing I have read today.  As if people buy insurance planning on using it.
"Gee, I didn't buy life insurance because I didn't plan on dying soon."
"Gee, I didn't get car insurance because I didn't plan on crashing it."
"Gee, I didn't get homeowner insurance because I didn't plan on that tornado hitting."
I love how people think that their excuse should exclude them from the rules and how horribly shameful it is that they are treated exactly like everyone else.  To the point of joining a forum just to complain.  Nope, family member being diagnosed does NOT make a difference.  Nope, your fixed income does NOT make a difference.  This is a sad situation, but one that was preventable.  Your failure to prevent the financial loss is nobody's fault but your own.
Best of luck to your family member, I do sincerely hope for a happy outcome there.

People get it confused all the time, it's not the Jones Act (Merchant Marine Act of 1920), it is the PVSA (Passenger Vessel Services Act of 1886) that prohibits foreign flagged ships from doing closed-loop voyages that do not visit a foreign port.  While the Jones Act might get some waiver to increase commerce, it is unlikely the PVSA would fall under that as there is nothing to really gain by loosening it.
We can blame the Cleveland administration all we want, but RCCL is completely capable of flagging a ship in the US to do Hawaiian cruises.  They choose not to pay the associated taxes and hire and pay the people they would be required to with a US flagged ship.  I'm not saying they are wrong to not want to do that, I really like the international crew on most cruise ships, but they are just as capable of doing it as NCL is.  NCL just chose to do it, neither RCCL nor anybody else has at this time.
Welcome to the forum!

That has got to be the most hilarious thing I have read today.  As if people buy insurance planning on using it.
"Gee, I didn't buy life insurance because I didn't plan on dying soon."
"Gee, I didn't get car insurance because I didn't plan on crashing it."
"Gee, I didn't get homeowner insurance because I didn't plan on that tornado hitting."
I love how people think that their excuse should exclude them from the rules and how horribly shameful it is that they are treated exactly like everyone else.  To the point of joining a forum just to complain.  Nope, family member being diagnosed does NOT make a difference.  Nope, your fixed income does NOT make a difference.  This is a sad situation, but one that was preventable.  Your failure to prevent the financial loss is nobody's fault but your own.
Best of luck to your family member, I do sincerely hope for a happy outcome there.

That has got to be the most hilarious thing I have read today.  As if people buy insurance planning on using it.
"Gee, I didn't buy life insurance because I didn't plan on dying soon."
"Gee, I didn't get car insurance because I didn't plan on crashing it."
"Gee, I didn't get homeowner insurance because I didn't plan on that tornado hitting."
I love how people think that their excuse should exclude them from the rules and how horribly shameful it is that they are treated exactly like everyone else.  To the point of joining a forum just to complain.  Nope, family member being diagnosed does NOT make a difference.  Nope, your fixed income does NOT make a difference.  This is a sad situation, but one that was preventable.  Your failure to prevent the financial loss is nobody's fault but your own.
Best of luck to your family member, I do sincerely hope for a happy outcome there.

That has got to be the most hilarious thing I have read today.  As if people buy insurance planning on using it.
"Gee, I didn't buy life insurance because I didn't plan on dying soon."
"Gee, I didn't get car insurance because I didn't plan on crashing it."
"Gee, I didn't get homeowner insurance because I didn't plan on that tornado hitting."
I love how people think that their excuse should exclude them from the rules and how horribly shameful it is that they are treated exactly like everyone else.  To the point of joining a forum just to complain.  Nope, family member being diagnosed does NOT make a difference.  Nope, your fixed income does NOT make a difference.  This is a sad situation, but one that was preventable.  Your failure to prevent the financial loss is nobody's fault but your own.
Best of luck to your family member, I do sincerely hope for a happy outcome there.

Nope.  When ships overnight in Bermuda you can come and go as you please day and night, like a normal hotel.
Welcome to the forum!

That has got to be the most hilarious thing I have read today.  As if people buy insurance planning on using it.
"Gee, I didn't buy life insurance because I didn't plan on dying soon."
"Gee, I didn't get car insurance because I didn't plan on crashing it."
"Gee, I didn't get homeowner insurance because I didn't plan on that tornado hitting."
I love how people think that their excuse should exclude them from the rules and how horribly shameful it is that they are treated exactly like everyone else.  To the point of joining a forum just to complain.  Nope, family member being diagnosed does NOT make a difference.  Nope, your fixed income does NOT make a difference.  This is a sad situation, but one that was preventable.  Your failure to prevent the financial loss is nobody's fault but your own.
Best of luck to your family member, I do sincerely hope for a happy outcome there.

That has got to be the most hilarious thing I have read today.  As if people buy insurance planning on using it.
"Gee, I didn't buy life insurance because I didn't plan on dying soon."
"Gee, I didn't get car insurance because I didn't plan on crashing it."
"Gee, I didn't get homeowner insurance because I didn't plan on that tornado hitting."
I love how people think that their excuse should exclude them from the rules and how horribly shameful it is that they are treated exactly like everyone else.  To the point of joining a forum just to complain.  Nope, family member being diagnosed does NOT make a difference.  Nope, your fixed income does NOT make a difference.  This is a sad situation, but one that was preventable.  Your failure to prevent the financial loss is nobody's fault but your own.
Best of luck to your family member, I do sincerely hope for a happy outcome there.

That has got to be the most hilarious thing I have read today.  As if people buy insurance planning on using it.
"Gee, I didn't buy life insurance because I didn't plan on dying soon."
"Gee, I didn't get car insurance because I didn't plan on crashing it."
"Gee, I didn't get homeowner insurance because I didn't plan on that tornado hitting."
I love how people think that their excuse should exclude them from the rules and how horribly shameful it is that they are treated exactly like everyone else.  To the point of joining a forum just to complain.  Nope, family member being diagnosed does NOT make a difference.  Nope, your fixed income does NOT make a difference.  This is a sad situation, but one that was preventable.  Your failure to prevent the financial loss is nobody's fault but your own.
Best of luck to your family member, I do sincerely hope for a happy outcome there.

That has got to be the most hilarious thing I have read today.  As if people buy insurance planning on using it.
"Gee, I didn't buy life insurance because I didn't plan on dying soon."
"Gee, I didn't get car insurance because I didn't plan on crashing it."
"Gee, I didn't get homeowner insurance because I didn't plan on that tornado hitting."
I love how people think that their excuse should exclude them from the rules and how horribly shameful it is that they are treated exactly like everyone else.  To the point of joining a forum just to complain.  Nope, family member being diagnosed does NOT make a difference.  Nope, your fixed income does NOT make a difference.  This is a sad situation, but one that was preventable.  Your failure to prevent the financial loss is nobody's fault but your own.
Best of luck to your family member, I do sincerely hope for a happy outcome there.

Susie, after reading all of the comments I don't think you're in a minority on this at all. Every comment I read included a statement of sympathy for this poster's family member, and that's a sentiment I share. Having someone become sick out of the blue in a way that's serious enough to require cancellation of any kind of vacation or other plans is always a horrible event.
But...
The poster also made a point of making a claim that Royal's behavior in this case is shameful and that they're taking advantage of her. And here also, I agree with the general sentiment expressed. Cruises in general are a big expense, and one that typically has to be purchased a year or more in advance. No one plans on anything bad happening in that year, let alone the 3 months after final payment, but the universe doesn't care -- Bad things still happen anyway, and completely at random. It's one thing to take a gamble like that for a week or two; the odds are very much in your favor. But carry that out to three months or longer, and while the odds are still in your favor, they do get worse and worse as the time increases. To not purchase travel insurance on every single cruise is, to my thinking, rolling the dice in way that you have to be ready to pay for.
To @Janyth -- I too am sorry for your family member and whatever diagnosis they received. And I am sorry that you had to pay a financial price for having to cancel after final payment. But I am not going to blame Royal for shabby treatment when this is spelled out clearly as the price you'll have to pay for canceling at the last minute without insurance to cover this possibility.

That has got to be the most hilarious thing I have read today.  As if people buy insurance planning on using it.
"Gee, I didn't buy life insurance because I didn't plan on dying soon."
"Gee, I didn't get car insurance because I didn't plan on crashing it."
"Gee, I didn't get homeowner insurance because I didn't plan on that tornado hitting."
I love how people think that their excuse should exclude them from the rules and how horribly shameful it is that they are treated exactly like everyone else.  To the point of joining a forum just to complain.  Nope, family member being diagnosed does NOT make a difference.  Nope, your fixed income does NOT make a difference.  This is a sad situation, but one that was preventable.  Your failure to prevent the financial loss is nobody's fault but your own.
Best of luck to your family member, I do sincerely hope for a happy outcome there.

That has got to be the most hilarious thing I have read today.  As if people buy insurance planning on using it.
"Gee, I didn't buy life insurance because I didn't plan on dying soon."
"Gee, I didn't get car insurance because I didn't plan on crashing it."
"Gee, I didn't get homeowner insurance because I didn't plan on that tornado hitting."
I love how people think that their excuse should exclude them from the rules and how horribly shameful it is that they are treated exactly like everyone else.  To the point of joining a forum just to complain.  Nope, family member being diagnosed does NOT make a difference.  Nope, your fixed income does NOT make a difference.  This is a sad situation, but one that was preventable.  Your failure to prevent the financial loss is nobody's fault but your own.
Best of luck to your family member, I do sincerely hope for a happy outcome there.

I only have a single reference point, but our pours were plenty generous on Indy this past November with the package.  We would watch them mixing for someone without the package and then ours and didn't notice any difference.  I don't think it really matters much to the bartender (they aren't buying the liquor after all) and although we usually tipped an extra dollar with each order I didn't notice bartenders who didn't know us going any lighter than the ones who knew us.

I only have a single reference point, but our pours were plenty generous on Indy this past November with the package.  We would watch them mixing for someone without the package and then ours and didn't notice any difference.  I don't think it really matters much to the bartender (they aren't buying the liquor after all) and although we usually tipped an extra dollar with each order I didn't notice bartenders who didn't know us going any lighter than the ones who knew us.

Nope, you are not locked in to the higher price.  You can cancel your current package and rebook it at the new price.  Keep in mind that this will refund the original purchase on to the credit card it was ordered with and could take a couple days to process.
RCCL is very good about these things, most all Cruise Planner purchases are fully refundable up to 3 days before your cruise.  That's why the standard recommendation here is to purchase things right away to protect against price increases (when you book 18 months in advance like some of us, that is a real concern) and then keep an eye out for sales.
Welcome to the forum and enjoy your cruise!

AKA an interest free loan using your money.  

People have been able to book those things for quite a while.  It is in no way indicative of RCCL's confidence in something being open, all they have to do is refund the money if things aren't open.