twangster

One of these is from Harmony, the other Serenade. Harmony was 2017 but Serenade was 2018. I don't recall which is which is which. Both state WN (Southwest) is 11:30am to 6pm. Other airlines allow later flight times. Southwest I've heard has a small storage area at FLL so they can't hold bags longer. Plus Southwest when I have flown them is a stickler for the 4 hour rule not allowing bags to be checked before 4 hours prior to flight time. Note you have to do this several days before the end of the cruise. On Serenade I had to ask for the form. When I saw another guest carry one into an elevator I realized my cabin attendant didn't deliver one to my cabin. They not only checked my bags but also printed my boarding passes. I'm elite with Delta so I get free checked bags. This was respected and I was never charged. This is why it has to be done several days prior - so they can validate any fees and flight times with each airline. Even though you are on WN they have to verify flight times and the airline has to 'accept' your bags against your flight reservation days prior so it's not just about the fees or lack of.

Confirmed - not enforced. If you arrive at the terminal shortly after 10am you may have to wait until boarding commences. Boarding, when it does start, will see consecutive cruisers board first along with wedding parties, then suites and Pinnacle guests. Boarding continues down through the Crown and Anchor tiers, Diamond Plus, Diamond, Emerald, Platinum, Gold, pre-Gold. If you don't mind sitting while they run through those tiers until they reach your level, you can go prior to your 12:30 "appointment". Actual boarding starts when US customs clears the ship and/or if Coast Guard has routine inspections that day, once those complete.. It's out of Royal's hands - they want to start as soon as we all do since it's a huge task to 'turn' a ship's population but they have to respect the government and we as guests have to as well.

In a loft suite on Oasis (sky class) I couldn't make reservations one night until later in the evening. I don't know for sure but I suspect that some folks in JS who might have experienced what I did might perceive that to be a JS shun when in reality it's just that it fills up and prime reservations fill up. That happens in the restaurant business, on land or at sea. We were fine for the first couple of nights but once everyone 'found' CK that is when the 'problem' occurred. We just took the 8:30pm reservation and went to Izumi for something to tide us over. The suite concierge informed us to make reservations for the week next time which is exactly what I did next cruise on Allure. I overhead a guest complaining that elevators favor deck 17 like it's some sort of magic floor. Totally unfounded in my experience on multiple ships as a guest on deck 17 but people will project and perceive what they want to even if it is completely unfounded. Deck 2 guests received the same 'privilege' - it's the end of the line so no place to go but down from 17 or up from 2. Visit CK on the first day and try to make them for the week. Don't assume or read too much into anything. If they specifically tell you JS can only make reservations the day of that would be interesting to know so report back, but at least try and don't assume just because someone else couldn't get the exact reservation they wanted that the sky fell on them (sky class that is, pun intended).

Compañía de Turismo de Puerto Rico This was in December so the Christmas lights were out.

Just be aware that not all sales apply to all cruises. I'd avoid waiting and hoping for a big future sale event just in case it doesn't apply to your cruise. Buy it now, you can always get a full refund and repurchase if a better sale comes along. If a BBD doesn't happen (Bigger Better Deal) then you have at least acquired it cheaper than on board. Same with excursions. They can sell out or the best times go first. If you hold off waiting, you may lose out. Canceling and repurchasing an excursion doesn't always give you the same time slot so be prepared to be flexible to save money if an excursion drops in price.

No free soda. Free beverage options include water, lemonade, usually another juice that varies day to day, tea and coffee. Buffet has milk as well, orange juice at breakfast. If your kids like a particular juice that you can bring in powder form you can make your own. I often bring Gatorade powder with me.

You're welcome hubby!

When Quantum is in China the Solarium has been reported to be suites only so no surprise really. China is such a different market and lacks the die hard decades old volumes of C&A so it works there. If/When they try that here there is likely going to be a mutiny.

This exactly why you can't give a lot of attention to bad reviews.

Apparently it's better for sex due to cabin layout when sailing with children according to one user who compared RCI to DCL. That had several of us scratching our heads.

I try to avoid connecting rooms. Yes you can hear your neighbors. On Freedom I heard cackling laughter or what at times sounded like noises an animal would make, like a random screech a large bird might make. I was somewhat surprised to see a young couple exit the cabin one day as I was returning. I'm a sound sleeper so it never bothered me. I've often wondered if they hold back a couple cabins from inventory to deal with issues on board, much like a large hotel would.

I'm leveraging Singapore for that purpose. YOLO!

They could have created a new Cruise Line, marketed it under that brand and the same would be true - the ship would be locked into that region. There is a lot of effort moving a ship into or out of the Asia region. Gambling is very big and more space is dedicated to that. Signage, restaurants, etc. If the booking support it, I wouldn't move ships into and out of the region either, it costs too much and to what end? There is another Quantum Ultra coming and Oasis #5 plus a whole new class of ship over the coming years. Plenty of new ships for other regions but this move is designed to generate revenue and I suspect it will.

I guess we'll have to wait to see how it plays out on board, but China is a developing cruise segment and given the population has the ability to become a significant cruise market. I believe the intent is to create a ship designed for the Asian segment, not simply another western based ship visiting the area. That I think is part of the marketing they intend to use in the region. "We built this ship for Asia and it's staying here, it belongs here". My expectation is find it much more immersive compared to sailing a western ship that part-times in the region. I'm hoping for that actually. I have cruises booked on Voyager and Quantum later in 2019 so I'll see first hand eventually. I noted no Diamond club on the deck plans. I suspect Crown and Anchor doesn't have the same volume of Diamond and above members in the region so they've used that space for better purposes. Pure speculation on my part.

Totally based on Asian culture I suspect. Note that it's "Golden" not simply 'gold'. A subtle difference but also cultural I suspect.

I saw those as well and that's what I am assuming. Silver Junior is three times the price of my current bookings. I can't justify that when I'm solo. If I didn't have all my other 2019 cruises I might. Sticking with steerage. Just call me Jack Dawson and maybe I'll get lucky.

Just imagine the stories that don't make the headlines. The hotel industry is also the source of many great stories. The things a front desk clerk has seen... oh my.

Eastern transatlantic, FL to Spain. Oasis is heading to Europe for the summer (and a dry dock).

I've got some of them booked later in the year on other ships. Hong Kong and Vietnam will be first time experiences. I would have jumped on an earlier sailing but I'll be on the Oasis transatlantic then.

Having lived in the Arctic I always got strange looks connecting on flights in Ottawa during the spring and summer hauling a winter coat on the plane with me.

Also note that there appears to be forward facing balconies on deck 8-11. If so those would be amazing. EDIT - reported to be Ocean View, just deck plan graphics being odd.

If you can't add it once the deposit is made, then I'd call to talk to them about it. I've never tried to add a 'hold' to my cruise list but suspect that is the issue.

Last night I got home late and saw @Matt's blog post about Spectrum of the Seas https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2018/06/11/royal-caribbean-reveals-first-look-spectrum-of-the-seas YOLO! Booked it! Given that it is just released the website is acting strange. I couldn't book a suite, it would return me to the main page as I stepped through the pages so I grabbed a studio balcony as plan B. Steerage here I come. The website would allow me to enter my C&A number for the balcony discount but when I tried to pay the deposit it reported my C&A number was invalid. Given the website weirdness with Spectrum and the late hour I booked her without my C&A number. A quick call to the C&A desk this morning solved that and they re-priced it with my C&A discount. That saved me $56 for a 4 night studio balcony and $93 for a 9 night studio balcony on the B2B. Booking are refundable so why not! YOLO! Looks like the current plan for her initial sailings is: April 18, 2019 - 16 Nights Barcelona to Dubai VIA the Suez Canal May 4, 2019 - 14 Nights Dubai to Singapore May 18, 2019 - 3 Nights Singapore to Malaysia May 21, 2019 - 4 Nights Singapore to Malaysia May 25, 2019 - 9 Nights to Vietnam, Hong Kong, Shanghai By this point she has reached her home port of Shanghai where she begins regular service for several months. I'm booked on the 4th and 5th sailings, May 21 and May 25. Deck plans are interesting. While it is not immediately clear which areas are suite only, the forward areas of the higher decks are very different compare to other Quantum class ships. Decks 14, 15 and 16. The jogging track now wraps around NorthStar where on other Quantum ships the jogging tracks approaches the front of the ship around the indoor pool and the spa treatment rooms which now appear to be suite cabins. Several new areas on decks 14, 15 and 16 forward. The big question is, which of these are suite only? There appears to be at least two levels of suites. Silver and Golden. Each has their own dining areas. Junior suites are available in both Silver and Golden. No Diamond or Concierge lounges that I can find on the deck plans.

I did 19 nights on Anthem (7+12) and I used the laundry special on the 2nd cruise. It's a small bag but I only washed small items. Most of the time I was in shorts. Formal wear was used for dinner only then I changed. I made a plan before sailing and packed accordingly. It wasn't too bad. By not over packing but taking a few extra items it wasn't too bad at all. I have several long cruises next year (10, 13, 14 and 16 nights) and will do the same.

You know what that means? YOLO! Book it!