twangster

Deposits are always per person. Basically an FCC can only be applied to an existing booking. You can't book a new cruise and use the FCC to pay the deposit, the booking has to exist in the system to apply the FCC against. Once a valid booking exists, seconds later the FCC can be applied. For a booking to be valid, deposits for each guest on the booking are required. The only work around I have once managed success with is booking a cabin solo, then adding a guest later. They didn't request additional deposits when adding guests later. You have to be careful with this strategy though, there are pitfalls. You might consider engaging a travel agent for this one. They may have some tricks I don't know. FCC's can be a pain and frequently phone agents don't know the rules. If you really want to book with Royal, book through the C&A team, they can also do new cruise bookings but tend to be more experienced. ‭(800) 526-9723‬

For what it's worth I'm able to jump in and out of several cruises for check in purposes. I've got 8 cruises within 90 days that I can access check in without issue on the US website. The Royal app on the other is another story. I get emails telling to check in using the app but I can't check in on the app, it reports I have no cruises eligible for check in yet I do.

Goes to show how different people can like different things. I like Quantum class. I rarely have issues with the WJ compared to Oasis class which is my least favorite WJ. I actually like Quantum class WJ and consider it the best all of the fleet. The outside aft seating area is icing on that cake. The Esplanade is my only disappointment with Quantum class. The poor traffic flow is by design to get you to slow down and browse the sea of kiosks and tables of cruise items for sale. I tend to avoid it and traverse fore or aft VIA the Bionic bar area one deck up. The constant Esplanade sale events also impact specialty dining in Wonderland and Izumi since the sounds of the Esplanade invade these venues. That's really my only complaint with Quantum class. Voyager and Freedom class Promenade also become very busy during events there like 70's or 80's nights - it's hard to walk from one end to the other. During sale events it too is a choke point. I wish Quantum class had a suite lounge. The Concierge lounge is very nice but lacks 11am to 11pm drinks that the suite lounge on Oasis class provides. in fact Oasis is the only class of ship that provides complimentary suite drinks in the suite lounge (beyond Diamond Happy Hour drinks early evening). Two70° and the VIA create almost a neighborhood in concept from Oasis secreting away scores of guests from other areas. So does the SeaPlex and Solarium which is also one the best in the fleet. I also like the pubs on Quantum class then there is the music hall which is another favorite yet well isolated if your are not into that sort of thing. The North Star bar is a great hangout with views of the sea. I wouldn't want every ship to be Quantum class but I wouldn't want every ship to be Oasis class either. Quantum class differences are what draw me back. If every ship was more or less the same that would be very boring. I've got six more Quantum class bookings and I'm eagerly waiting Odyssey bookings to open up to add a seventh.

Assume you tried incognito or private browser window? Clearing cache and website content also works wonders with Royal's site.

The deposit is standard, my advice would be to pay it and then if the final pre-tax cruise fare is less than your FCC the funds will be credited back to your credit card. Keep in mind that FCC can not be used for the taxes and ports fees of the new cruise, it covers base cruise fare only. It also can't be used to pay gratuities or travel insurance if applied to the new booking. Those items have to be paid normally. I used my Oasis FCC to pay for my Ovation Alaska cruise in May. I had to pay the taxes and fees out of pocket but the base cruise fare was covered by my Oasis FCC. I had some left over FCC so that was applied to another cruise. My taxes and port fees were $330 each so I paid that amount using my credit card. I also added pre-paid gratuity so that was paid on my credit card (not FCC funds). Since the taxes and fees for my cruise were $330, a $250 deposit would effectively pay for most of that leaving $80 to be paid at final payment due date.

From Navigator but Freedom will be similar. Chops lunch menu is one page: Chops dinner menu: Dinner dessert menu: I would expect no major changes to the menu through dry dock.

Depending on your AT&T plan and countries your ship visits you may may need an international add on plan for use off the ship while in port. Some newer AT&T plans include Canada and Mexico in the home area. Other countries may require "day pass" type add on plans. This works no different than flying to the same countries. Suggest you call or visit an AT&T store with a list of the countries on your cruise and inquire directly from the source (AT&T). There are so many AT&T plans some with grandfathering clauses that I wouldn't want to mislead you. The benefit of Surf and Steam versus Surf is speed. Uploading lots of pictures to social media or a chat app requires upstream bandwidth. That will go slow over Surf since you only get 0.25Mbps upstream. Surf and Stream offers 6 times the upstream bandwidth (1.5 Mbps upstream) so sending pictures will go faster. Surf and Stream will provide a better user experience even if you don't actually stream anything.

Usually ~ 2-3 days before departure all cruise planner sales are locked. At this point you have to deal with it on board and likely pay on-board rates. There will be a Voom specialist on board who can assist changing your package. The day one cruise compass should provide times and location for the Voom specialist.

There is usually both options. You can do a full service MDR breakfast ordering from a menu or you can visit the buffet within the MDR. Not a pain, no question is irrelevant, welcome and ask away!

As far as we know there are no plans to remove or replace Sorrento's.

Burgers are nearly one constant that is always available in the WJ, except at breakfast. Hot dogs typically as well, and fries. Generally available lunch and dinner in the WJ. Add you own toppings and/or cheese at your discretion. Sometimes the dinner hamburger patties and buns are a step up from lunch.

In North America as long as you don't already have FCC applied to a booking you can apply FCC towards an existing booking. Any given booking can only have one FCC applied to it. Final payment made or date doesn't matter. Twice I've applied FCC to existing bookings that resulted in an overpayment occurring. The overpayment was refunded to my credit card. I've also applied FCC to a cruise booked under 90 days away. When you book under 90 days the final due date has passed and you have to pay in full when you book. There is no option to pay some of the total and let FCC take care of the balance when you book past final payment due date. FCC can't be applied until you have a booking but to be booked you have to pay 100%. So in that case I was charged the full cruise payment to my credit card and days later the FCC amount was refunded to my credit card since upon applying it I had overpaid for the cruise.

Looking at my last SetSail pass for San Juan, it states: *Due to government regulations, SetSail guests whose cruise departs from ports in the United States are required to be onboard no later than 60 minutes prior to the published sailing time. The muster drill for this sailing was 4:45pm. Sail away was 8:30pm. My understanding is that there was a second muster drill for any guest who missed the one at 4:45pm. Doing something the morning of the cruise departure is not a problem. You might choose to swing by and drop luggage off and return later to embark. Personally I'd try to be on board for the first muster drill. Given nearly a full day around San Juan being on board around 3 to 3:30 pm gives you time to reach your cabin, maybe change clothes, have a cocktail and attend the first muster drill.

Drink charges are essentially the same as any bar on the ship, they don't charge extra to use the Bionic Bar. While I am not a fan of losing the Champagne Bar and rarely use any Bionic Bar there is no ulterior motive with the Bionic Bar. It's marketing related to appeal to some members of the cruise audience who are attracted to such technology. It's not my thing, but it's also not my ship or my company. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.

Here is a typical Luggage Valet form for Port Everglades:

Hubbard and GLBA - very nice!

Welcome to the message boards and congratulations! Too late to let who know? Royal does have a wedding department. The marketing is geared towards full wedding ceremonies but there may some information or ideas within that to draw from depending on what you are looking for. https://www.royalcaribbean.com/plan-a-cruise/cruise-weddings https://www.royalcaribbean.com/content/dam/royal/resources/pdf/royal-weddings-brochure.pdf Clearly these links are for full new weddings but the information within may help guide you to someone at Royal that can assist with what you are looking for.

Radiance class can fit into Baltimore, or so Michael Bayley has stated. The issue is that Royal makes more money with Radiance class ships elsewhere right now. Radiance was #10 in revenue in 2018, ahead of Indy and Liberty. Putting her in Baltimore would needlessly give up revenue. Why do that? That's a potential problem when it's time for Vision class to leave the fleet. Why move a ship that's capable of making more money elsewhere into Baltimore? Until then Lady G is a hometown favorite. Why mess with success? In 2026 when Norway goes zero emissions in the fjords they'll need new summer routes for some ships. That might change the revenue topography and bring Baltimore into consideration.

Grandeur? I don't know that cabanas on CocoCay have ever been suite only. I think Francis did you a pretty good solid if he moved at the same cost of a bungalow. The new overwater cabanas will be the cost of a cruise. With current cabanas often advertised for $1,299 I expect the overwater ones to be approaching $2k.

Just jump in a hot tub afterwards ... to burn off the germs.

Speed is the primary difference. Surf: Surf and stream: WiFi calling works over Surf only.

It seems from the picture you are on the wrong side of the railing.

I should have said I tolerate family when they want to cruise with me, but secretly I prefer cruising solo

I love Labadee. It's a beach day but they've done a nice job on their little secluded area. Royal employees nearly 500 locals so it's good for locals of this very poor nation. Some local artisans are allowed to sell their wares in a straw market. They can be aggressive in their tactics but understand they are very poor and only trying to support their family so I cut them some slack. They must remain in the market area so if that puts you off, simply avoid that area and you'll be fine.

Exactly. A few here have taken this approach.