twangster

For US cell carriers they do not care what your location is to use WiFi calling. A hotel in Barcelona, a cafe in Paris, a ship with Voom. WiFi calling essentially makes the internet a cell tower in your home area rate plan. Rogers/Fido - I have some experience with them from family and they suck. Sorry, but compared to other carriers in the world they charge for things even when you purchase a monthly US roaming plan that includes data they still charge for using that data at exorbitant rates. I have family that left them for Bell due to their sleazy tactics. So it would not surprise me at all for Rogers to charge for WiFi calling based on where your phone's location reports that it is at any given moment.

Royal has to consider many things when it looks at AMPs and refreshments. Voyager's market beyond Australia is a factor in that, it has to appeal to vastly different cultures more so than ships in the West.

It's an interesting objective if you can make it work while not forgetting why you cruise. Perhaps start with trying to sail all within a class such as all Oasis class or all Vision class. I'm missing Rhapsody in that class but I wasn't going to sail her to Cozumel at a premium price compared to other ships that can get me to Cozumel. Along came an interesting Greece itinerary next year so I'm looking at it which will complete the Vision class for me. Same with Jewel in Radiance class. Spectrum and Voyager at the moment represent a challenge. That's not insurmountable but cruising out of China just to say you've sailed it isn't my thing, I'd rather put that money towards a bucket list itinerary on another ship even if I've sailed that ship. I've found a South Pacific on Voyager in 2021 after she is AMPED that is bucket list so that will complete the Voyager class for me but my purpose in that booking wasn't to sail Voyager so much as reach some specific ports in the South Pacific. So if you can make it happen in the long term that's great but don't forget why you cruise in that journey.

Royal has had Spectrum in the booking system long enough to know if the region can support two Q ships in Asia at the same time. It's possible with Spectrum now in China that they are looking to adjust capacity and have Quantum spend some of it's time elsewhere. Royal has been very successful in China but I'm not sure if that success would support Spectrum and OA5 at the same time. That's a pretty significant bump in capacity, demand would have to be very strong, like Spectrum is consistently sold out months in advance kind of demand. If OA5 goes to Galveston that could free up a Freedom class ship to find a new home somewhere. Freedom class would fit into Australia now and be something new.

Convince your leaders to expand your ports. Royal is trying to, that's why they spoke at the convention but they alone can't motivate your ports to expand.

Ovation was the newest Quantum class ship until Spectrum came along but Spectrum was purpose built specifically for Asia. So to say Australia is treated 2nd rate isn't fair. Australia has had the newest non-Asian ship that can fit into Sydney for some time now. If Australia had expanded it's ports 10 years ago Oasis class would probably already be there. Oasis deployed in 2009 so Australia has had 10 years to work on this. It's too bad Australia treats Royal 2nd rate.

I believe you have to go to Shore Excursion on board and provide the names and cabin of the other guests. Personally I'd be very leery of a stranger on a ship coming over to me and saying "buddy, give me $25 and I'll get you a pass. Just give me your name and cabin number".

Somewhat related: https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/115156230/dramatic-changes-needed-as-next-nz-cruise-season-looms

When a bartender swipes a card the screen indicates if alcohol is allowed. I imagine it might even prevent a bartender from attempting to charge an alcoholic drink to the account. Last year I cruised with a 20 year old. The card also indicates non-adult status, I think it said teen or something but it was clear and stood out that she wasn't 21. I bought the DX on board for that cruise. Initially they said both have to buy it so I pointed she was 20. They had a print out they looked over and confirmed only me in the cabin was 21 or older so I was able to buy it just for me. Last cruise that will happen. Now that she is 21 at home it's getting expensive having another person at dinner ordering a drink :). I miss the old days...

Or Edge class. RCCL covers all brands, not just RCI.

For JR unfortunately this is decided by the ship. That means it could one week but not another. At the moment many people are reporting success but that could change. For Sabor it should, if Sabor is open on a sea day.

Welcome to the message boards! I know a lot of people who would be very excited to see that come to fruition and it may one day. There is a lot of work that needs to get done before it can though. Currently Brisbane is the only port capable of taking such a large ship. Once several more ports of call expand to accept mega ships it could be become a reality. Five, ten or fifteen years from now will be very different from today. Hopefully in that period some more ports decide to grow to accommodate bigger ships because Royal isn't the only cruise line with plans for larger and larger ships. Unfortunately it doesn't seem like Sydney will be able to grow to accommodate mega ships which is a huge blow to the effort to bring Oasis to Australia. RCCL’s Associate Vice President of Marine & Safety, Captain Nik Antalis recently addressed the Australian Cruise Association conference and he was clearly trying to motivate the Australian cruise industry to start thinking about it. Otherwise in a decade or two no mega ship will be able to call on Australia.

iFly employees are not Royal crew, they work for iFly. iFly has venues all across the country. A select handful of iFly employees work on the ships. iflyworld.com I would write them and note your experience. They won't likely do or offer anything but at least you'll help other guests from facing the same experience.

Taxi. Coming back after sunset took some time to call a cab but we had a late departure so it worked out.

Scuba diving in the morning then Eagle beach late afternoon through sunset.

This was taken from Eagle Beach

They aren't supposed to provide a drink if you have an unfinished drink in front of you. For example you can't order 6 beers in a row to stockpile in your cabin. There are exceptions such as you order a drink and hate it, then you can slide it back across the bar and request something different. Be aware that sharing drinks is expressly forbidden. If caught sharing they can revoke the package without any refund.

No. One you have a Passport of either kind you no longer need your birth certificates. If you are going through the motion of getting a Passport Card have you considered a Passport Book? The card is good for land and sea travel ony, a passport book is required to fly. If you are going to do just one, the book is a better idea.

I should also point out that FCC can not be used to pay the deposit of a new booking. FCC has to be applied to a booked cruise even if they apply it at the same time you create the booking. A cruise booking doesn't exist until the deposit has been paid. Trying to use FCC to pay the deposit is like putting the cart in front of the horse, it doesn't work.

Yes, I applied 2 today to paid in full cruises under 90 days away.

Typically they are emailed within a week or two. They can be applied towards the cruise fare on another future cruise. They can't be spent in the cruise planner for other purchases. They typically expire in one year, meaning the future cruise must be depart within a year of issue. Every guest will get an FCC and they are named to each guest and not transferable. They can't be used to pay ports fees or taxes. Let's say you are looking at or have booked a cruise where the base fare is $750 each plus $125 taxes and port fees each. The cruise therefore costs $750 + $125 x 2 for two people = $1,750. You paid $500 deposit so your remaining balance is $1,750 - $500 = $1,250. Now you get an FCC. You both get some amount based on what you paid for the impacted cruise, let's say it's $100 for this example. Assuming you are both booked on this fictitious example cruise the base fare is lowered by $100 each $750 - $100 = $650pp. $650 + $125 taxes x 2 = $1,550. You paid $500 deposit so your remaining balance is $1,550 - $500 = $1,050. If you have a future cruise that is paid in full when you apply an FCC you will get a credit card refund because you have now technically overpaid.

@monorailmedic CruiseHabit was live from Equinox which is also on site sending supplies today. You can see the tenders being lowered and a local tug coming out to the ship.

Probably varies by state but it's quite common for airlines to advertise a mistaken rate and cancel bookings without legal repercussions.

Keep in mind each situation is handled on an individual basis. Last year some folks were offered 50% off the daily rate to extend packages. Next time may yield something different.

Highly variable by ship. If interested ask the Suite Concierge when staying in GS or above.