twangster

That's the beauty of departing from San Juan - it's a port of call all unto itself so it's like getting an extra 'free' port on your itinerary.  

From Apple Maps:

This thread took an unexpected turn....

This thread took an unexpected turn....

21°C?  That's not so bad...

People abuse the system all the time.  A former neighbor claimed support animal so he wouldn't have to pay pet rent.  I drove him to pick up his puppy from the breeder.  It wasn't trained at anything, it was a ten week old puppy.   Sure enough though, he didn't have to pay pet fees.  With the talk of more restrictions coming, a year later he signed up for a 4 hour session that provided a whimsical certificate so that he could argue the dog had received professional support animal training.  It was basically a play session with other dogs or so he told me as he encouraged me to follow suit.
There have been many incidents reported on trains, planes and ships where a claimed 'service' or 'support' animal bit someone or otherwise behaved inconsistent with a properly trained service animal.  I imagine there is potential liability if another guest is injured by a fake service animal.   Even if the risk of legal action against Royal is low (or the chance of winning a suit is low), it certainly will create a negative experience for a guest to be impacted and have their vacation ruined by a misbehaving fake service or support animal.
Seeing someone else getting away with it may tempt more to try it.  "Why not bring Fluffy?, they did".
If Royal needs to lean on the ADA to support this change in policy, I'm all for it.  
 

I last sailed her about a year ago.  She was fine then. 
She's scheduled for the Royal Amplified program in 2020.  During that time it will receive new venues such as Playmakers and new activities such as water slides.
If you have your heart set on the latest new features she won't get them until 2020 however that doesn't mean she is run down or in need of care.
I sailed Independence the month before she went in for her most recent refresh and was pleasantly surprised how much she didn't look like she needed it.  She received new features like a Skypad and water slides but lately they aren't updating cabins at all so I'd expect the same with Freedom.  
If water slides are a must then I don't think anything home based out of San Juan offers that at the moment.  This blog has a group cruise on Freedom over the holidays in December 2019 and @Matt wouldn't plan that for a ship that wasn't capable of offering a great time even if it won't yet have the absolute latest and greatest.  

Maybe they are buying in bulk as they spruce up the M class ? 

Maybe they are buying in bulk as they spruce up the M class ? 

@twangster wrote a fantastic review of The Key right here: https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2018/12/04/review-royal-caribbeans-the-key-vip-guest-experience

LOL!  If only!  21F!!!  Yesterday was 12 for a high! and I live near that Mason Dixon Line

Maybe they are buying in bulk as they spruce up the M class ? 

By separating them they can get 4x the price for two different cruises (one over Christmas and one over NYE).  When it's combined they only get 4x for a single cruise.

@CGTLH
I need to borrow your foil hat!

@twangster's influence strikes again, as yet another succumbs to the desire to answer the question, "WWTD?", with the answer, "YOLO! Book it!!"

No.  I still can't get RCI marketing emails so I don't get the upgrade offers but in December I took my daughter with me on Navigator and she got the upgrade email so I used her email to bid.  We booked through a TA.  

What are you talking about?  All of my pictures are here...
Just Kidding - finally fixed them ? 

In my discussion with crew many of them have cell phones now with international features.  The ship offers reduced rates on wifi and it's not unusual to see crew hanging out at spots with free wifi on their breaks in port.
It's easier for them in Europe because cell data plans are cheaper over there.  The problem with a calling card is access to a phone to make the calls with.  With very few pay phones around these days they'd need a cell phone to use the calling card but if they don't have a good international plan they can't use a cell phone to place toll free calls to the calling card numbers leaving them in search of wifi hotspots and using wifi based apps.  
It's a nice idea but I question the benefit in this day and age.  

@CGTLH
I need to borrow your foil hat!

I last sailed her about a year ago.  She was fine then. 
She's scheduled for the Royal Amplified program in 2020.  During that time it will receive new venues such as Playmakers and new activities such as water slides.
If you have your heart set on the latest new features she won't get them until 2020 however that doesn't mean she is run down or in need of care.
I sailed Independence the month before she went in for her most recent refresh and was pleasantly surprised how much she didn't look like she needed it.  She received new features like a Skypad and water slides but lately they aren't updating cabins at all so I'd expect the same with Freedom.  
If water slides are a must then I don't think anything home based out of San Juan offers that at the moment.  This blog has a group cruise on Freedom over the holidays in December 2019 and @Matt wouldn't plan that for a ship that wasn't capable of offering a great time even if it won't yet have the absolute latest and greatest.  

@CGTLH
I need to borrow your foil hat!

@CGTLH
I need to borrow your foil hat!

You are required to give Uber your passport details.  As long as you are okay giving this private company your details, it works pretty much like it does in the US.  

@CGTLH
I need to borrow your foil hat!

@CGTLH
I need to borrow your foil hat!