twangster

The Tri Rail website fare calculator says it's $3.75 airport to airport. Not so?

In San Juan the drill is often around 5:45pm on day one.

I'm trying for a 10:40am Southwest flight out of FLL from Port Miami in March. It's risky but I have travel insurance and accept that I'm pushing my luck. There will be some out of pocket costs if I miss my flight but traveling alone, getting up early and being near the front of the self-assist line should help. A 10:20am flight will work if the stars align but understand you are pushing your luck.

My personal best off an Oasis class ship in Port Everglades using self-assist, taking a cab, checking a bag and using TSA Pre to get through FLL security got me to my gate at 7:55am. I would not plan on that because the stars aligned perfectly for me. It's simply to illustrate what is possible. On Monday I was coming off Brilliance and had a 10 hour fog delay. I barely made my 6:30pm flight. That gives you spectrum of best case to worst case scenario. Allure's luggage valet program requires the flight depart after 11:30am so that gives you an idea of what they consider safe.

If prices dropped they are trying to stimulate sales. I like to joke we see it when the next interim payment is due on current ship being built. If they need an influx of cash, put it on sale!

I think claiming bait and switch is a little extreme. It was probably popular, nearly or did sell out so they added another time slot. If you go to order history at the top of the page in the cruise planner and find it in there what does it indicate? If it’s wrong in order history call tnem. If you don’t like the answer you first get call back. I wouldn’t wait until you are on board. If 11:30 sells out they can’t switch it on board. When you call be polite, explain you tried to change it online etc.

Fourth busiest US cruise port. When you leave the same ship in place for too long bad things happen. Carnival has moved a number of ships in and out since Libery had been glued to Galveston. Don't get me wrong, Liberty is a great ship, but briefly adding Vision or Enchantment doesn't come close to Carnival's movement and rotation of ships into TX, including it's largest ships. Liberty has been doing the same two itineraries (for the most part) for a dog's age. Yawn. Snooze. Even Baltimore itineraries get some variety. 5, 7, 9, 12 Southern, Bermuda, Bahamas. It's pretty telling when some of Grandeur's itineraries look more enticing than a Freedom class ship in TX. It was either give up on the fourth largest cruise port in the US or shake it up and try to take on the competition.

You do not have to be out at 6am. There are two ways to disembark. Normal disembarkation where you pack your luggage except for clothes and items you need to leave with and place your luggage outside your cabin door in the hallway before 11pm the night before, or... Self-Assist where you keep your luggage but have to carry all your luggage off yourself in the morning. For families with young children or people who can't drag their luggage without assistance, self-assist isn't appropriate. This site has cruise compass posted from previous guests. This one includes the departure letter that explains the disembarkation options near the end. https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/cruise-compasses/freedom-of-the-seas/sun-2018-12-23-0000-0 There are several breakfast options on the morning of disembarkation.

No troubles but they tag your bag with a bright yellow tag "LATE CHECK IN" and warn you it might miss the flight. If it does they'll put it on the next flight but it's your responsibility to be at the airport for the next flight to get it. They won't deliver it to your home or hotel since it's your fault for checking in so late. She also said she would call the gate and let them know I was coming but I made it before boarding began and assumed my A32 boarding position about 4 minutes before boarding started. (A-list member) The check in area was empty and I have TSA Pre. If I had lines anywhere it would have been an issue. I got lucky ?

If you figure it out let me know ? It's more consistent on Oasis class ships. On Serenade in Port Everglades they didn't make it known but it was offered to suite guests so it must be available. I didn't see it offered on Indy but knew my 10:30am flight didn't qualify so didn't seek it. Suggest you ask guest services early in the cruise. They normally want it completed and returned by mid-cruise. Here is a valet letter from a previous cruise:

There are some roll calls on Cruise Critic. You might check there to see if a pub crawl is planned. The ship rarely gets involved with organized group events. Being involved with a pub crawl is something a lawyer somewhere is likely drooling over. Better to keep their distance.

Welcome to the message boards! There is no "always" when to comes to which side of the ship is to the pier. It tends to be starboard so it's pointed towards the sea and ready to sail but that isn't guaranteed. PTZtv.com has webcams for the Port of Miami and marinetraffic.com can be used to see which way the ship is pointed. Check them out on any given weekend and over time you'll see the trends, if there is one.

Technically the port and terminal are operated by Port Everglades, not Royal. They do not have curbside baggage people like WDW. Some ships do offer "Luggage Valet" for $25 per person if your flights fall with the guidelines. They collect your bags the night before debarking and you see them again when you land.

Southwest has a 4 hour checked bag rule. They won't accept it until 4 hours before flight time. FLL does have a luggage storage company: (this sign is in terminal 2 next door to terminal 1 that Southwest uses) Last week my taxi from Indy to FLL was $13. I tend to use Uber or Lyft to the port but I tend to use a taxi leaving the port to FLL. You can save a few bucks but some ride share drivers have a hard time entering the port and figuring out how to find you in Port Everglades. Taxis are there and ready to go. For the $2 difference it was easier to just jump in the cab. Last week I debarked Indy in Port Everglades and took Southwest from FLL to Tampa to board Brilliance. The $79 airfare was cheaper than any other way I could think of to get from Ft. Lauderdale to Tampa.

It never hurts to call and ask! Another idea is to check out the next best cabin type. Sometimes an upgrade with a small difference in cruise fare can be obtained after final payment due date. If you really like your cabin and location, enjoy it knowing those slightly cheaper fares are probably for cabins that may not be in the same exact category or not in a great location.

On my cruise here were the breakfast time for the last morning: My normal routine (as a morning person) is to be be up early, shower and head to the Windjammer for breakfast. It opened at 6am on my cruise and I was there close to that. Then I go back to my cabin, brush my teeth, finish packing last minute items I didn't pack the day before and then I head down to the self-assist meeting venue and join the line. I'm shocked! This must be the only cruise day you are up before 9am! (I know you are NOT a morning person) ?

Bought it on the Symphony transatlantic in October. At that time it was fairly new and I had the same questions. For my cruise it was go any time during open hours. The girls in the spa had no idea about it being offered at 15 minute time slots. They marked my SeaPass card and I could go anytime. I *think* the 15 minute times offered in the cruise planner are some sort of capacity control because time slots do sell out and become unavailable.

Just off Brilliance yesterday, sister ship to Radiance. I last sailed Radiance in September. Wonderful ship but no promenade. It does have a "Centrum" atrium area and a covered adult only solarium with retractable glass ceiling. No adult water slides, no zip line, no ice skating rink, no central park, no boardwalk, no flow rider. It's a very easy ship to get around. At around 90,000 gross tons it's much smaller than any Oasis class ship which are around 228,000 gross tons. That's why Symphony has all the space for those extra activities and venues. The helipad is open to the public unless it's windy. I've often wished Oasis class has helipad public access like Radiance class does.

The official term is "relationship". You will gain his status by informing them your are both in a relationship. It can be tricky if you've never sailed before because you may not be setup in their system or have a Crown and Anchor number yet. Call them at ‭(800) 526-9723‬ or email [email protected]. If you keep sailing once he levels up to platinum you will automatically gain that level once they have you both in a "relationship". Your points however will only indicate what you have actually sailed yourself.

No concrete information. Royal has not offered any firms dates or specific ship. The good news is that by 2021 all Oasis class will be great! It really won't matter which one.

From my Cruise Compass, here were the boarding day restaurant times from my cruise:

On this site there are a collection of "Cruise Compass": https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/cruise-compass?ship=277 This is a daily newsletter left in your cabin highlighting all that's going on around the ship and open times for activities and restaurants. Familiarize yourself with one from Liberty. They won't be identical to your cruise but usually close enough so you'll get an idea. This one is from my cruise on Liberty and contains the departure letter explaining self-assist: https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/cruise-compasses/liberty-of-the-seas/sun-2018-02-25-0000

Welcome to the message boards! Each specialty dining venue has it's own menu as you've seen. Most items are included but there are typically a few items that cost more than the cover charge you pay to eat there. Full Maine Lobster in Chops for example carries an additional charge above the cover charge. Those extra charge items have a price on the menu. The specialty dining restaurants tend to have some rules. You can't order 10 steaks in Chops for example. You might be able to order 10 side dishes though. To be honest it's so much food I've never tried. Your waiter will explain it all. Ask as many questions as you like. Soda packages typically work anywhere on the ship except room service. SeaPass cards are handed over when there is a chargeable item involved. When you visit the MDR (main dining room) they will ask your cabin number. You'll never have to produce your SeaPass card unless you request something that isn't free. If you have the soda package they'll ask for your card to confirm you do indeed have the soda package. Sorrentos is included so no SeaPass card involved. Asking for a chargeable beverage at Sorrentos will require a SeaPass card. Debarking - A letter will be provided a day or two before arriving back. The letter will explain the process and times for "self-assist" guests like yourselves who carry their own luggage off. Self assist typically starts as soon as US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) give them the clearance to start. There will be a stated time in the letter such as 7:30am to 8:30am for self-assist. Early birds will go to the designated self-assist meeting point before the stated start time. A line will begin to form and your place in the line is based on when you arrive at the self-assist meeting point. Once CBP give the go ahead, the line begins to move and you leave the ship. Once the line starts moving it typically is pretty fast to get through CBP so budget 30 to 60 minutes to reach your car. On my Liberty cruise last year the scheduled arrival was 8am. i lined up at 7am and was about 30 from the front of the line. They started letting us off at 7:30am (early). I was outside hailing a Lyft at 7:45am. I got lucky, have cruised a lot, know the routine and CBP was kind that day. My Lyft ride share had me at Hobby airport at 8:40am. On boarding day they always have some restaurants open typically starting around 11:30am. Getting on the ship right at 10am is unlikely. The terminal typically opens around 10am to begin check in and the ship has to wait for all previous guests to leave and only when US Customs says the ship is clear can they start taking on new guests. That is typically closer to between 11am to noon but if you are lucky could happen before 11am. Consequently there usually isn't much of a wait to enjoy lunch.

Great question. I'd ask your travel agent if they know. I purchase my insurance directly with an insurance company so I've never bought through the cruise line.

Be aware that just because they accept bids for a category of cabins does not mean one in each category is actually available. They accept bids in case a cabin opens up. That could be someone else "won" an upgrade and now their cabin is available to award to someone else who bid on it, or could be last minute cancellations that do happen from time to time. Or it could be no one cancels and no upgrades are awarded in any category. In some cases they know a certain cabin type is easier to sell last minute so they might award an upgrade to make a cabin available in a category that is easier to sell on the open market. It's all about them being ready to make more money should cabins be available. Revenue management. Otherwise a pinnacle in an interior cabin might get a free suite upgrade once they board. This way they can sell that suite upgrade, sell a balcony upgrade and sail with an empty interior cabin without ever giving away a free upgrade to a pinnacle.