twangster

A good bot is way ahead... pre-cleared before the ship hits the dock.

On Ovation Pixels is the only bookable show. It does not have a broadway show like Oasis or Freedom class. All main theater entertainment will be first come, first seated.

When I get a free specialty dinner from my travel agent, or even on board credit from my travel agent, it is only available on board. When you first board I would suggest you visit the kiosk or table they have setup for specialty dining or visit any specialty restaurant. You should be able to make reservations there. If you do this soon after boarding versus waiting until the night you wish to dine you will have better choices of venues and times. Make sure to tell them you have a complimentary dinner for booking. Be aware that travel agent specialty dinners do have some restrictions and might not be redeemed at all specialty restaurants on board. This can vary ship to ship and cruise to cruise depending on how well bookings are selling out for a particular restaurant. Rarely is this a hassle and no different than if you purchase a dining package. Dining packages also require on-board reservation and sometimes have restaurant restrictions. If you have any issues make sure you contact your travel agent or whomever granted you the complimentary meals, the crew on board won't know how to solve any issues you have. If you do this soon after boarding your cell phone should still work in port.

I've been fortunate to stay in nice suites a handful of times. What I remember most about those cruises isn't the cabin but memories made outside the cabin. Don't get me wrong, a full suite is nice but there are lots of ways to spend money on a vacation that will create lasting memories. If I won the lottery, full suites! Absent of the lottery in my life, no.

Simply visit guest services and request an extra key. They will have to carry two keys, one to present at a bar to order a drink or when leaving the ship and one to open the door to the 'other' cabin but Royal doesn't care where you sleep. If two single people meet and spend the rest of the cruise in what ever cabin, Royal doesn't know or care.

On Rhapsody the difference in benefits is simply not worth $1,100 per person in my opinion. Put that money into awesome excursions and really enjoy your cruise.

Conversely if one adult doesn't drink and the other does, splitting the adults between cabins means that one adult can buy the deluxe drink package without forcing the other adult to buy a package since they are in different cabins. You can't share drinks from one drink package but in many cases one adult simply doesn't drink so this strategy works out better for them.

For anyone's first cruise it's hard NOT to overpack. Fifty cruises later and I still pack things I never wear, just fewer of them. In some ways packing for a European land vacation where you'll ride trains and use taxis can be harder to pack for. Several big suitcases for a family and it will take two elevator rides at many hotels. As long as your luggage is within weight limits for your airline don't put too much energy into thinking about. Enjoy your cruise!

Double check your arrival and departure time in at Port Canaveral. Many times there isn't a lot of time to experience Disney World properly when stopping at Port Canaveral during a cruise. Given the cost of Disney World a few hours once you do all the transfers and such makes for a hurried day. Some rides or activities can have long lines at Disney World. Many people come to the conclusion it's not a great way to experience Disney World.

Boleros *might* have a spicy Tequila, if any bar has one.

"Hi, were checking into Hotel Cadiz, we have a reservation. I know we are early but wanted to see if it's possible our room might be ready?"

Still is. They've slowed to 14 knots and will continue to position herself getting ready for a 4-18 arrival into Cadiz. Better to be early rather than late.

Welcome Andrea!

That's what they said in 1968. And 1969. And 1970. Any 1971...

You can take a look at a cruise compass from a past guest here: https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/cruise-compass On some ships day 1 room service begins at 5pm. This could vary by ship though.

Regular Uber is around $50 which works for two people but any more and you venture into Uber XL which runs more, in the $70-$80 range. There are private shuttle companies, some offering a shared experience, some a dedicated experience. For one or two people this might not make sense but for more perhaps. If you have a long wait before your flight the Tri-Rail is an inexpensive way to move between MIA airport and FLL airport. You'd still need something to get from port to the airport. It's a good way to kill off two hours if you have time for it and cheaper but with some work involved.

@Danaboy7591 Welcome to the message boards! I had an 8pm sail away from Port Everglades once. We caught a beautiful sunset over Ft. Lauderdale on our way out of port. Enjoy your cruise!

It won't cause motion. That's the luck of sea swell. One azipod can't run at full speed. That takes a few knots off her top speed. It should have no other effect in terms rocking or motion, simply slowing her down a bit.

Indeed. I first saw it as a kid and later took my own kids. Just unbelievable. As simple as it may be, Alaska is a destination I kept on putting off. Sun in the Caribbean seemed better than jackets in the North. When I finally said YOLO and booked it, after my trip I asked myself why? Why did I wait so long to visit Alaska?

Peak season is somewhat irrelevant. She sails nearly full every trip. Depending on the issue and path to resolution she may have several weeks or several months before what ever is broken can be fixed. Will people cancel cruises because she has to leave San Juan a little early and arrive in Labadee a little late? I'm not so sure. A few might but many will go with it rather than cancel a long anticipated cruise. There will never be a good time to cancel a cruise for her repair but it also can only be done when it can be done. If it is another dinged propellor it took many months to forge a new one last time. She may have no choice but to limp through until what ever part(s) are required can be prepared AND time in a shipyard secured to do the work. Let's not forget the dry dock where they last fixed her is down at the moment. That may take months to get back into service if it even can be. If they had to run across the Atlantic to get the work done that's likely four cancelled cruises by the time she makes the round trip. The smart business decision may be to limp through. A lot of people won't even know they have a speed restriction in effect at the moment.

That is a very personal question. Some people are retired or on a fixed income, some are well off, some have to save for years for a cruise. Technically your are not obliged to tip any more than the daily gratuities that have been charged to your room. If you feel you would like to give more that is fine and I am sure they will appreciate anything you decide to tip beyond the daily gratuity.

Many airport hotels at EWR have a free airport shuttle. An airport hotel near EWR is usually your best bet. Morning Lyft ride to the port was $15.87. Lyft back to EWR after the cruise was $20.

HBO GO or HBO Now on tablet with a Voom Surf and Stream package is tour best bet. That's what I'll be doing.

Two out of three isn't bad...

Worked well for me, I was nearly the only person at iFly who had done it. Guy was impressed, I checked in in 15 seconds, everyone else had waivers and questions and...