twangster

For years now there are sites that display a ship without explicitly naming it. They slap some arbitrary price on the posting and sit back and wait. If someone comes along and expresses interest (some rich oil prince maybe?) they'll connect them with the owner for a smallish multimillion dollar finders fee. If anyone is referencing these sites are proof of something it's leaves a lot to be asked about the legitimacy of said person. These sites have been out there for years now and every couple month someone finds one and thinks it's breaking news.

I do agree with you, FCC should be more flexible to recognize the source of the funds that were applied in the first place. I myself have experienced this more than once. It's approaching money laundering from some perspectives, but completely unorganized and random. The fact that they give minor children hundreds of dollars of credit is incredible. If I give my sister $2,000 technically there should be tax implications. I can do it through Royal and she evades taxation. Nice. Try again with a different contact center agent or escalate to a different manager. If that doesn't work wait a bit and try again. Unfortunately everytime time you deal with Royal customer service there is a "spin the wheel to see if you won a prize" game involved.

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2020/06/29/shipyard-fire-odyssey-of-the-seas-results-damage-and-delays

The 360th episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast is now available, featuring how Ryan proposed to his girlfriend while on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Ryan took his girlfriend on Oasis of the Seas, and shares what steps he took to plan the perfect proposal. https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/podcast/episode-360-ryan-proposes

Anthem is a great ship and perfect for cooler weather cruising. Best solarium in the fleet and a large indoor pool area for families helps to keep the solarium adult only. Loads of pictures in my past Anthem trip reports: https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php?/topic/5068-anthem-112517-712-b2b/ https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php?/topic/5387-anthem-11918-9-night-bahamas/ https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php?/topic/17677-anthem-jan-5-2020-11-nights-southern-caribbean-recap/ They tend to put up the Christmas decorations just after Thanksgiving so you'll see what Anthem looks like at Christmas in that first thread. They put a lot of effort into their gingerbread houses.

Royal has call centers offshore and they have a history of not internally communicating changes well or proactively. If you received a letter with that verbiage I think you are good as long as you apply it before 12/31/2021 and sail before 4/30/2022 as it says.

The erroneous Sea Class label is a known bug. It doesn't mean you were upgraded. Has your credit card been charged? If you haven't paid in full I'd suggest you call Royal anyways and while they may not be able to service your booking because it's with an agent they might be able to advise if it's paid in full. At any rate I'd call your TA and leave a message and reach out to them again tomorrow.

Wasn't National Lampoon's Christmas vacation during Christmas? ?

Guinness is almost a diet beer given it's relatively low calorie count. At least that's how I justify it.

I cruised on Independence over Christmas one time and it was a very good experience. There will be more kids but for the most part they were well behaved on my cruise. Some families have made it a tradition year after year and some kids from different families knew each other from past Christmas cruises together. The best thing about a Christmas cruise is that everyone is happy! It's a magical time but they tend to be more expensive because traditionally demand has been strong for Christmas cruises. It's strong because people like it.

Coastal Kitchen is definitely something to explore since you have a JS. Closer to sailing the menus will be available in the app. I'd suggest you review the menus then consider what nights are higher priority based on your tastes. I view CK between specialty dining and the MDR most nights and for one or two menus they are equal to or superior to specialty dining. Most nights they are very good but not as good as specialty dining. The ambiance and service is usually better than the MDR but also review the MDR menus to see if any are less appealing or more appealing nights and balance that against the CK menus. Sometimes a JS will have a harder time securing reservations in CK however there is odd reservation smoke and mirrors used for CK reservations as they try to balance full suites, pinnacles and junior suites during dinner. I've seen where they say there are no reservations available but visiting the suite lounge you'll discover CK is half empty. It never hurts to drop by and ask how it looks tonight or if anyone didn't show up. Sometimes a JS can get in but not always during prime time every night so if there is an early show that would work with a later CK time that can often yield CK reservation success.

Some insurance becomes effective the day your purchase it. Should you have developed a qualifying medical condition or some other qualifying event occurred on day 2 after booking the insurance you could have filed a claim and received your deposit back and all, except for the cost of insurance. In the U.S. it's quite common for house or car insurance to issue a pro-rated refund if you cancel the policy before it reached it's normal end date. Travel insurance doesn't work that way. Forget the pandemic for a moment. If you book a refundable deposit cruise and acquire insurance with it then six months later before final payment due date you cancel you'll get your deposit back but you won't get insurance premium back. The insurance has been effective since day of booking and even though you booked a refundable cruise deposit the insurance isn't refundable. This is quite common with travel insurance.

This is exactly why one of my children chose AF. Subsequently they are finding themselves aerial being refueled where the saying is... There are two types of people: Those that have already vomited and those who are about to. Service is service and we thank you both for it.

The only problem with applying the ban to all of the U.S is that includes regions or states that are doing quite well, as good or better than the EU. The U.S. is pretty sizable both in population and land size. The EU is made up of a number of small countries that are easier to apply labels to and definitions. I get it, it's easier to create definitions based on a passport compared to driver's license but if we stop for a moment and try to reimagine changes to better determine how to move into reopening we must think beyond traditional measures. This applies to domestic policy within the U.S. as well. I get it, it's easier to label people from their state of residence rather than their county but in so doing we prevent areas that are less impacted from reaping economic gains. Expecting government to be dynamic and agile is an act of futility but that is exactly what we need to minimize the economic impact and hardship caused by the pandemic. It's a shame that it's governments that are causing as much or more pain than the virus itself. We need to find a way to allow commerce when there is less potential impact from spread regardless of the state or country or continent or hemisphere. The virus doesn't know borders and neither can our response.

How much more is fully refundable on it?

When there is no CK on a ship then typically there is a suite breakfast in a specialty restaurant. The name of the venue doesn't really matter, it's the same breakfast menu which is basically the CK breakfast menu. It could be Chops or it could be Giovanni's. Chops seems pretty common. Even Empress does a Suites/Pinnacle breakfast in Chops. They even allow Diamond Plus in on the breakfast fun (Empress only). Note: I don't know if this is done on all ships in all regions.

I like the idea although I think the petition could have been written better. At the moment I think the CDC is doing the right thing but I do think they'll remain too restrictive longer than they'll need to and that is when they'll do irreparable harm to the cruise industry. If this petition is successful it will take months for the process to work and any, if any, outcome to begin. Any attention or awareness to the issue at the federal level is a good thing.

No system will be perfect and only completely shutting borders to everyone including citizens will be absolute. Some countries did that and stranded their citizens around the world including some ship crew. That wasn't a very good solution either. There may be ones and twos that slip through but contrast that to 400 people on a plane or 3,000 on a transatlantic cruise from America or country X as this evolves. That's got to help slow spread from hotspot regions.

Looks like the EU ban of Americans is moving forward. https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/26/europe/eu-coronavirus-travel-ban-us-intl/index.html An EU diplomat told CNN that it was very "unlikely" travelers from the US would be allowed in, adding that even though the list had not been finalized "the US's chances are close to zero." The diplomat also said, "with their infection rates ... not even they can believe in that possibility." Personally I don't see this as retaliation, it's simple science, the same reason why the US banned the EU in March. The US didn't banned the EU for political reasons so this action has to be viewed in the same light.

Oasis class was somewhat secretive, at least until she was far enough along that a competitor couldn't steal ideas and ruin their reveal. Even the introduction of flowriders were secret back in the day - those were kept under cover so as not to spoil the reveal. Lately Royal has proven to be careful to talk up the ship two or there away from delivery so as to not impact bookings and the limelight for the next ship to be delivered. Some people looking to book Odyssey could see hype for a future ship and decide to wait for the latest and greatest. At the moment Royal is so focused on the pandemic and damage control that I can't see a lot of marketing cycles being spent on Icon right now. Launching Odyssey with maximum hype could be a banner moment as cruising resumes post-pandemic so I can see them spending maximum resources to her and this effort, all but ignoring Icon marketing for now.

Since I live in a landlocked state well away from any coast I have to fly to cruise. With the extra cost and time burden of flying if I'm getting on an airplane to cruise I might as well cruise twice or more. Consequently I look for opportunities to stay on the same ship or move to another ship before flying home. The latter is sometimes called a side-to-side while staying on is called back-to-back. Royal calls such guests "Consecutive Cruisers". You will often see terms like B2B, B3B or B4B used in internet forums like this one to indicate a back to back or staying on for three or four in a row. Less commonly you may see S2S for side to side. From Royal's perspective each cruise is an seperate event. When staying on for the next cruise certain things are treated like you are a new guest on the next cruise. Different onboard account, different seapass card, different reservations for meals and entertainment. For these items it's as if you never did take the last cruise, the cruise you are on now stands on its own. You need to check in for both cruises online ahead of time as if they are different cruises which in fact they are. The most desireable B2B often means booking the same cabin for both cruises. There is no check box for this when searching for cruise, it's up to you or your travel agent to find a cabin that is available to book for both cruises. This is easier to do when booking cruises that are far in the future. When booking the cruises closer to sail date it's often harder or impossible to book the same cabin for both cruises. The cruise line offers no assistance in this effort and they will not ask someone to change cabins so that you can stay on for the next cruise. Sometimes a B2B involves changing cabins one cruise to the next. This typically involves packing your suitcases of all your belongings except for items hanging in the closet. The cabin attendants will facilitate moving your suitcases and hanging items from the first cabin to the next. There are exceptions to this where the onus is on you to move all your belongings but those are rare. Because a B2B involves two separate cruise bookings there are numerous times when changing cabins between cruises is required or is simply appealing. For one cruise perhaps a balcony or suite is available at an attractive rate but on the other cruise the same cabin is unavailable or cost prohibitive. Perhaps you want to try different cabins to sample each type or location so you know better in the future if a specific cabin location or deck makes a difference for your personal preferences. The cheapest rates are sometime "guarantee" type rates where the cruise line selects your cabin. In the case of a B2B with two guarantee type bookings its very unlikely they will assign you the same cabin for both cruises as the cruise line views the two bookings as unrelated until you step onboard. For one cruise a balcony might be cheaper than an ocean view but on the next cruise a balcony is very expensive and a suite is only a few dollars more. There are a number of scenarios that end up with a cabin change for a B2B. When you book two consecutive cruises you or your travel agent needs to notify the cruise line that you have booked two in a row. Until you do the cruise line has no awareness you booked two consecutive cruises. Once on board the first cruise it's always a good idea to stop by guest services and ensure they have you on the list as a consecutive cruiser otherwise they expect you to leave like a regular guest at the end of the first cruise. In America, the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) dictates the process for consecutive cruisers. More often than not they will require all guests disembark so that the ship reaches "zero count" before they allow guests for the next sailing to begin boarding. For consecutive cruisers near the end of the first cruise you'll get a letter in your cabin describing the process. This generally involves meeting at a designated location and time when all other guests are disembarking. Once the bulk of all other guests have left the ship as a group consecutive cruisers are led off the ship to meet with CBP. Once inspected and cleared by CBP there is often a short wait while CBP confirms zero guests remain on board (zero count) before they allow consecutive cruisers to return on board. Boarding of the next cruise starts with consecutive cruisers followed by wedding parties, suites and high ranking members in the loyalty program. CBP will sometimes board the ship and inspect consecutive cruisers on board at the designated meeting location. No one knows how CBP decides if guest must leave or stay on board. I suspect they look at the guest list and depending on the names and details they make a game day call. For example if only US citizens are B2B and they all have passports on file then most of the inspection work is done ahead of time and they already know if there are any standouts that require more investigation. If there are foreigners or a name that matches a watch list or comes up matching someone with an outstanding arrest warrant they are less likely to allow the group to remain on board. In my experiences only once have I remained on board. All other times have involved 30 to 55 minutes off the ship going through the process. In other regions of the world different border authorities have different processes and often you can stay on board. For mediterranean cruises often these itineraries stay within the European Union and with the open borders of the EU there is no customs or immigration process between cruises. Side to side cruising is another option to consider. This could involve moving to another Royal ship or a different cruise line. In Florida a side to side can involve different cruise ports. I've cruised from Ft. Lauderdale then flew the same day to a ship in Tampa. I've sailed from Miami then rented a car and boarded a ship in Port Canaveral the same day. The easiest side to side involve changing ships at the same port like Miami, or moving from Miami to Ft. Lauderdale as these two ports are less than 30 miles apart. In the case of Miami and Ft. Lauderdale on two occasions Royal saw that I was moving between ships and they offered complimentary shuttle service for me. This is not standard and should not be expected but sometimes it happens. Sometimes the ship schedules don't align perfectly and there is a need for a hotel stay between ships. One thing to consider is laundry. You'll need to pack wisely when your overall journey is longer. Some items can be repeated such as formal wear for both cruises. Some items like bathing suits can be rinsed and hung to dry so they work for both cruises. Sometimes you just need to bring more clothes and more suitcases to last for both cruises or just plan to pay for laundry services on board. A side to side with a night in a hotel in between provides an opportunity to book a hotel with a laundry. Sometimes consecutive cruisers are offered a special lunch or sometimes they are offered sparkling wine and mimosas upon reboarding. This varies from ship to ship. Here are some cruise trip reports I've done involving a B2B or S2S: https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php?/topic/14213-empress-b2b-14-nights-on-the-biggest-little-ship-july-2019/ https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php?/topic/5068-anthem-112517-712-b2b/ https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php?/topic/17015-an-amplified-agglomeration-of-oasis-pictures-post-amplification/ Here are two cruises as a S2S with a car rental between them: https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php?/topic/9391-recap-mariner-4-night-bahamas-sept-21-2018/ AND https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php?/topic/9359-recap-enchantment-ots-3-night-bahamas-92118/ This is an example of a S2S with a hotel stay in between: https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php?/topic/14700-empress-8-night-eastern-caribbean-?-oops-i-booked-it-again-?/ AND https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php?/topic/14968-the-magic-of-majesty-august-2019-and-then-again-in-october/ Personally I love doing a B2B and if I had more time and money I'd do more of them.

Straight ahead when you walk into the WJ. There is seating in this area and through the seating is the bar. Left or right further down the sides of the WJ is where the food starts.

I just upgraded a studio interior to an ocean view. FCC was left alone, I just needed to follow the math to make sure my new invoice was correct.

Welcome to the message boards! Interesting observation. In the bigger scheme of things I'm not sure it matters much unless you are booked that weekend.

Welcome to the message boards! Cafe Promenade will have lattes. The bar in the Windjammer will be able to make them as well.