twangster

Passport cards have another benefit when flying domestically if your state doesn't participate in enhanced drivers licenses or real ID.  Passport cards are accepted when flying in place of a state DL Real ID.

While the deadline has been pushed around a bit October 2020 is looming and carrying a passport card solves any ambiguity over the matter.  

The only cruises where the online check in required a passport book were one-way Alaska (to or from Canada) and transatlantics.  In my experience the on-line check in won't let you check in using inadequate ID for the journey.  

When I did the San Juan Adventure repositioning cruise to Bayonne I checked in with my passport card.  I find cruises easier with passport card when allowed, easy to carry and pull out of a pocket in the terminal like photo ID when flying.  The only time I haven't used my passport card were the times listed above.  

I've never cruised without a passport so have no experience using a birth certificate.

40+ cruises and never done a cabana on any cruise line.  

Recently at an all inclusive resort cabanas were offered much cheaper than CocoCay and I still didn't get one.  

A cabana is NOT required to have a great day at CocoCay.  

As far as the water park selling out no water park in the world has infinite capacity.  If they don't limit the volume of passengers trying to share slides there will be long lines and complaints that people can't use the slides they paid for.  

All excursions are capacity controlled.  No excursion is offered with infinite space for the whole ship.  

What am I missing?  Why is this a surprise or a controversy?

Are you flying home on the day the cruise ends?  

When you land in the U.S. immigration won't care about you going on cruise so much as what day you plan to leave the U.S. at the end of your visit.  That is what will help them decide if you are admissible on the day your plane lands at the start of your trip.   

You might call your airline.  Typically your airline is going to validate you have a valid passport and you are staying within guidelines for a non-visa duration because they will be responsible if you don't meet basic admissibility guidelines.  

1 minute ago, monctonguy said:

Not an issue...there are about 6000 on the ship and they aren't all trying to using the slides on the ship....no different on cocoa cay..just a $$ grab like a lot of things Royal does now unfortunately.....the cost of Cabana's etc at Coco Cay is absurd compared to what they used to go for.

Its like everything else..they start off low and slowly start to increase the price till they fool the masses into think that double what the price was awhile ago is now such a good deal.

It's like every thing in life.  The market dictates pricing.  If people aren't buying them it's priced too high.  If they are selling well it's priced right.  If they sell out quickly the price is too low. 

Consumers ultimately dictate the prices.  Same with drink packages and specialty dining and excursions and just about every thing else.  

It depends.  Mariner did not get her cabins touched.  Many thought that was a miss.  Voyager might include a cabin refresh. 

$97M isn't chump change.  While it's short of Navigator's $115M it's still a $97M makeover.

The slides look like they are right from Mariner, at least in the renderings.  The lack of skypad isn't shocking given that Mariner's skypad remains closed and Navigator didn't get one.  

Presumably a suite lounge is coming and the concierge club is going but that wasn't specifically mentioned.

It seems the discontent is about the Promenade and lack of announced changes to that area.   

Too many unknowns.  It's not cast in stone that all new ships do a season in the Med before proceeding to their forever home.   Where is it's forever home?  Unknown.  

There are ride share shuttles if you are are opposed to the 6 minute walk.  

Have her booked in 2021.

I wonder if the Cuba situation caused them to scale it back several million.   

Well if it's on FB it must be true.

On ships that put the cards outside the cabin your SetSail pass has a barcode on it that you use to scan onto the ship and for any purchases prior to getting your SeaPass card.

The SetSail pass I had in April for Liberty is of that variety but I missed the cruise so I can't confirm it actually follows the new practice.  

$150pp seems high for that route, it's often lower than that.

The gotcha is luggage.  Once you check your bags it can be difficult to retrieve them should you need to back out and drive.

I've done flights from Ft. Lauderdale to Tampa getting off one ship and onto another.  But there is risk.

My insurance claim travel blog  documented what should have been an easy direct flight the morning of a cruise.  If everything had gone well it would have been a great cruise.  I missed the ship.  Different airports but that may not matter.  

When things go off the rails when flying the day of departure it really doesn't matter how far you are flying.  A flight that is 20 minutes in the air or 90 minutes in the air is subject to the same risk.  Weather, mechanical, personnel issues, security incidents, protests, etc all can ruin a flight or delay it.  Delays are the worst.  They never tell you straight out how long the actual delay will be, 60 minutes turns into 90 minutes turns into 4 hours.  Once you check a bag it can be very time consuming to get your bag back if you choose not to fly.   

If you are carrying on luggage at least you can make the decision to forget flying and drive while safely predicting the time involved.  Once you or your bag are on the plane it's another matter. 

1989 DISKO - Russian cargo ship converted to carry passengers all of 2,097 GT.

Cruising down Søndre Strømfjord in Greenland was breathtaking and probably what got me hooked.  It was smooth as glass and a lot of my friends were drinking a fair bit.  I was soaking it all in. 

Once we hit the North Atlantic several hours later it was very rough.  I tried to sleep but with passenger beds in the very bow of the ship my head was lifted off the pillow with each wave.  My friends regretted drinking so much and all became green with seasickness.  I did pretty good but eventually the sound of dry heaving all around me caught up with me.  The return voyage was much smoother thank goodness.    

Liquor purchased in the duty free shops on board will be held until the end of the cruise.  It is not for consumption on the ship.

Pre-purchased liquor packages are typically 375ml bottles and much higher cost compared to the 750ml or 1l bottles one normally associates with a bottle of booze.

Jealous!  B2B in Alaska!

Typically moving cabins B2B requires you pack your cabin except for hanging stuff in your closet.  You leave all your stuff in your cabin and crew move it.

Confirm this upon boarding to make sure they know on the ship that you are B2B.  Typically when other guests get their luggage tags to leave, you'll get a "Consecutive Cruiser" letter explaining what to do.

In the US this usually involves meeting when instructed and being escorted to see CBP (US Customs) before re-boarding the ship. 

No special discounts or incentives, you just need a credit card.

Ideally you can keep the same cabin on the second leg but that isn't a requirement.  If there are no "same cabins" available for both you will move between cruises, they don't set aside cabins for this purpose or ask guests to move for your B2B.  

If you manage to book two cruises in a row you or your travel agent should let Royal know else you look like any other guests on each cruise - they are two separate bookings until linked and you become a "consecutive cruiser".

55 minutes ago, KathyC said:

 We got an amazing resident rate which made it affordable, 

Another difference... Celebrity does tend to offer resident rates more than Royal.  Definitely take the time to enter your state when looking at rates on Celebrity.

24 minutes ago, Kelly N said:

Do you have to reserve for the My Time Dining?  I see it on my cruise planner but it’s late times like after 8pm. I thought you could come whenever and risk the waiting time?

No reservations required.  You can wing it and just go during open hours.  Going during peak hours will see a wait, early or late and probably not.

Muck like a restaurant in your home town.  

5 hours ago, Magandsons said:

Is it difficult to get another cab back to the ship? 

If you wait until the park is nearly empty and you should have been on the ship already, perhaps.  

It's the US.  Cell phones work.  Talk to the cab driver on the way there, ask him or her.  Get the number for the taxi company.  Leave yourself lots of time.  

Most stops in Juneau have long times in port so it's generally not an issue unless you push your luck and make it one.

1 hour ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

Thanks but I cannot take credit. I have only learned from the best...

@twangster

I'm retired.  Time for the young rising star to assume her rightful and earned seat on the throne.

Well done BTW...

14 minutes ago, OPads67 said:

I'm going on the Adventure of the Seas in August with my family.  We have 2 - 18 year olds who are going to want to explore away from the family.  Is there an app that we can use that works with the ship's wifi and that we won't get charged for?  Such as What's App or something like that?

The Royal IQ works only on a few ships and does not include the Adventure of the Seas.

I don't want to really pay for the Wifi because it's so expensive and all we need it is for texting anyway.

Suggestions???

Thanks in advance.  

Not on Adventure.  Until the new app rolls out the texting capability you'll need other means to keep in touch.  

Air2Sea hasn't charged me a fee but maybe it's the airline I've used (Delta).

They aren't always cheaper but can be.  One a couple occasions I've received a better price through Air2Sea compared to Delta's website.

It doesn't hurt to check:

http://www.cruisingpower.com/choiceair/protected/home.do

All my usual perks for being a frequent flier with Delta still apply including free checked bags and upgrades.  

10 hours ago, mom2mybugs said:

At what point does it make sense to sail celebrity with using royal loyalty level?  In other words, I'm trying to figure out how to have a better level on celebrity.  Does it matter below diamond on royal?  It won't dictate my choice, but I'm curious.  Also I'm confused on aquaclass... Is this like star class? Are they suites?   Jane

Aquaclass is not like Star Class at all.  More like a slightly better balcony cabin with access to the spa and a speciality restaurant (Blu) for meals.

Celebrity classes do not map to Royal directly.  There is no Star Class equivalent with a Genie for example.  Celebrity's Sky Class entry level suite is much better than Junior Suites but not quite a full Grand Suite experience.   Sky Suites on Celebrity have a dedicated suite restaurant on all ships, not just newer ships like with Sky Class and Coastal Kitchen on Royal.  Aqua and Concierge class have no equivalent on Royal.  Completely different approach.

A lot of people come to the conclusion that Diamond matching to Elite in Captain's Club makes for the best bang.

It stops there so climbing higher doesn't net you anything.  

https://www.celebritycruises.com/ca/captains-club/tiers-and-benefits

Clay Anderson assisted Royal create Flight.  Maybe he will be in attendance or maybe they'll bring other former astronauts on board.  That would be cool.

Yes, accidents occur while people are on vacation.  In Colorado a charter bus crash killed two and sent more to hospitals.  Terrible accidents happen every where including tourists destination and right here at home.