twangster

I've looked at many 3rd party excursions sites. The devil IS in the details. Make sure you read the "guarantee", call and ask questions. I discovered one that the "guarantee" was more like "we'll try and you'll get dinner and taxi to the airport but you need to make flight arrangements on your own". My take - they are well aware of the issue, but if a flat tire or accident happens, well... YMMV". Lot's of people do their own thing. I've done it and still do at some ports. Just understand what you are getting into. Don't assume. Ask. You'll own it in the end.

No problem! FYI - it was identical on Harmony a few weeks ago. Bartenders can make any drink, this "menu" is just to give folks who can't decide something to look at and consider.

Just posted this in another thread, but it's related to the "No Dairy" Through a conversation with RCI I was emailed a form for "Special Needs" . The form covers a lot of different needs, its 3 pages long. One page has the following related to dairy.

Earlier today I put a hold on a cabin with RCI direct. The customer service rep emailed me a form that covers various considerations aka "Special Needs". It encompasses a number of items from wheelchairs, oxygen, dialysis, pregnancy and "Medical Related Dietary Requests". I noted there is a section that includes lactose related issues. My advice - contact them directly, even if booked through an agency. Call the agency too, if booked through one.

On Harmony recently a little girl boarded the elevator with one. The conversation with (presumably) her dad went like this: Dad: "Where are you" Girl: "I'm on the elevator" Dad: "What floor?" Girl: " 6, no 7" Dad: "Where are you going?" Girl: "Deck 16" Dad: "No, get off at deck 15" Girl: "I'm going to Windjammer" Dad: "No, get off at deck 15 and find us, we are by the pool" Girl: "I'm hungry" Dad: "Get off at deck 15" Girl: "I need to eat" Dad: "GET OFF AT DECK 15!" Needless to say all this was at top volume and everyone else in the elevator was exchanging glances. Seriously? I've flown a bunch and I'm a million miler with Delta. It always amazes me how you will see people boarding the plane yacking away on their phone while striking people with their 2 carry on bags, coffee in one hand, cell phone in the other, oblivious to how loud they are as they waddle down the aisle. A couple times they are on speakerphone. Seriously? Come on people, have some awareness of your surroundings, have some respect for your fellow travelers. So yeah, I am okay with people who use them responsibly, but I don't want to be resting my eyes by the pool when "BLEEP: Dad! Marcus pushed me!!!!!!", "BLEEP: I did not!!!" - Actually happened on a Carnival cruise, went on for a lot longer than it should have.

Just booked another Anthem cruise in January tonight and the tour is absent from the cruise planner. Hmmm.

I saw what you dd there. I had an Awesome Allure Adventure Almost six months ago. No updates yet for Allure 12/24 on their home page so plan on ports as booked. They'll likely see how some of the 1st cruises back to now closed ports go before making further changes.

Forecasting weather in the Caribbean is hard. Predicting wind is no different. They'll be looking at the whole day, not only to offload passengers, but just as important what it will be like to reload passengers. i doubt they make these calls a week away. Its more a game-day decision. RCI is the 1st cruise line with a full time Chief Meteorologist. You can follow him on twitter @JamesVanFleet, maybe even ask him this question.

For me it appears after selecting Activities, in the banner at the top for both cruises "All Access Ship Tour", plus in the list of 'Onboard Activities' below. Well look at that, darn it, Sprinkle Time Cupcake Decorating Class is full.

I booked ~45 days away, it was there from that point, listed under activities, same price both Anthem cruises. Heads up - long pants and closed toe shoes required (no flip flops). No video but photos are allowed (obviously).

I'm sailing on Anthem 12/2 and so far, only St Maarten has been changed to St Thomas. San Juan is still on the itinerary. I'm really looking forward to St Thomas as I have some history there. I'm hoping San Juan doesn't get dropped if for no other reason then to get there and spend some money. I know local residents have been hit hard and the loss of tourism is almost as devastating as the hurricane was. They still have bills to pay like the rest of us and income from a tourism related job helps to give them hope and a sense of purpose.

It's $99 on Anthem coming up. I did it on Harmony earlier this month for $119. I posted pics and a brief description in my recap in the Live Blogs. Scroll down to day 5. Harmony 9/30-10/7 Recap

I was recently aft deck 6 with a balcony on Harmony and I loved the location. On other Oasis class I was higher up and the ocean seemed so far away. You can go down to the jogging track and get some ocean time, there are a couple of chairs on the stern below the aqua theater with a nice views aft plus a few other places along the jogging track to peep out. Enjoyed some of your scopes, thanks for those and congratulations!

In no particular order: Night time stroll in Central Park Zip line / Ultimate Abyss / Perfect Storm water slides Lounge in the solarium, kid free Take in some live pub music / Jazz on 4 / piano in Schooner bar Love and marriage show

Here is Allure from May. Only managed to capture 1 side though. Definitely must have stopped by a bar this time.

This is from Oasis October 2016 so its one year old, but it will give you an idea. Sorry for the crumpled page, I must have stopped by a bar on the way back to my cabin :)

Boarding lines vary at some ports. In Baltimore Gold was lumped in with the never sailed, but its a small facility and went pretty quickly. They do load special offers onto your SeaPass card as a C&A member. Offers get better with status, but even Gold members get something. Here were the offers as a Gold member on Grandeur a couple months ago.

FLL is a breeze. Suggest a window seat on the left side of the plane after the cruise. This was Allure after our cruise in May as we climbed out of FLL.

Seems like October 2018 sailings remain in Ft Lauderdale. November 5 2018 she sails from Miami for the first time. The last Ft Lauderdale sailing returns to Ft Lauderdale on Nov 4. Her next sailing departs Miami the next day, Nov 5 as a 6 night. She then returns to the regular 7 night Sunday departures from Miami. So they are not changing arrival and departure ports during the cruise, they have a night off to move to Miami. Most likely to keep it a closed loop cruise, otherwise there are implications to having different embarkation and debarkation ports for a cruise.

Frustrating yes, but I've also been in situations where prices increased dramatically, much more than I paid. So it goes both ways. Like getting a mortgage on a house. We all want the cheapest rate but if you lock in and close it then rates drop we are bummed, but if rates increase we are happy.

Ah, the dance of the cruise ships. I like when they move them around, some ports are easier and cheaper to fly into than others and it gives local residents a different ship to explore.

Same experience on Harmony. i replied to Concierge email in the days before the cruise and it was done. I had heard others state they made CK reservations in the cruise planner but for Harmony it was never in the cruise planner. For an upcoming Anthem cruise I see CK in the cruise planner but alas I'm not in a suite so no access.

I was there last October so I understand. Royal Caribbean has a healthy following of dedicated cruisers - Loyal to Royal. High ranking C&A guests will be on your ship. They've sailed a lot, they know the routine, they'll be asking too. I'd plan on sailing in the cabin booked, but it never hurts to ask.

On other ships when I've booked a suite I've paid a healthy price to do so. One way or another, I will make it on board. As you've suggested, emergencies happen, but short of a suite guest having an emergency, its unlikely someone just won't show up. Not even for balcony cabins, or ocean view or inside. Most folks book a cruise fully intending to take it. It never hurts to ask, all they can say is no. However if someone is going to get an upgrade its most likely going to be someone with a high level of Crown and Anchor status which is understandable, reward frequent guests. What's your C&A level?

Lots of time. Check the week of US Thanksgiving, often sales then. Maybe over Christmas, President's Day, random weekends, etc. Check the message boards here frequently, @Matt often posts when a sale is announced.