Allen2

Before you try to pick your room, go to cruisedeckplans.com. It will give you an easy-to-use overview of every deck and a visual of cabins, including U-Tube links. Before deciding further, click on "cabin check" to get additional insight about the proposed cabin(s). A little effort might save cruise-long issues with noise and problems. All you need is on the free portion of the website.

Cruise is for two people. There is a "cap" on the value of the cruise.

When a ship skips a port, there usually is a credit for return of port changes/taxes. If not given: ask!

You will not be alone. Many other passengers will be carrying and watching their carry-on luggage. Just use common sense; if having lunch and you are a party of two, get your food one at a time while the other person stays with the luggage.

Be aware that RCL will NOT automatically adjust downward - it is up to you and/or travel agent to periodically track pricing and request adjustment if price drops before final payment.

A while ago, on an Atlantic crossing, we heard a Beach Boy Tribute band - sounded as great as the original group. Love to see more Tribute artists! There are a couple of gentlemen playing Neil Diamond tributes, and well as Elvis tributes and Willie Nelson - all very good!

And use a bank logo ATM, as fees are almost always MUCH lower than other privately-owned ATMs!

I started out in the service industry, and tips kept food on our table. (Back then minimum wage did not exist). Then moved to the "back of the house" for straight wages. Then: back to tips! With tips I was rewarded for effort and friendliness. Onward to management, and I still believed in tips for employees who wanted daily to control their own financial destiny. Later, ownership, and I still feel a tipping culture is the best. A prior comment about good bartenders staying with the position for years rings so true! Tougher today to avoid the IRS on tip reporting, though, with much of tips trackable through credit cards. I fully embrace "extra" tips for ship employees who go the extra mile!

IMO, whatever else you do: ride the train in a dome car in Alaska!!!

We are like Matt, having gone on literally hundreds of cruises without insurance and never needed insurance. Then we purchased insurance for an Alaska cruise/tour and caught Covid with resulting quarantine and travel expenses. Several trips in the interim without insurance, but next trip is four B2Bs, coupled with land and train tours - with insurance. Our experience, after quoting and comparing coverage: prepare to pay in the 10 to 12% range of the cost of the trip for good coverage, although age is a factor in premium costs. Cheaper product is available.

We were cancelled. Compensation was border-line fair at best. Alternatives were mediocre. If vacation dates cannot be changed, the issue becomes bigger. It also is true that cancellations are somewhat few and far between.

Have let Royal know - ignored!

We are D+ and have 360 nights cruising - but we are looking around and have already booked six other cruises that in the past would have been on Royal. I feel the frustration mentioned in this threat.

Note that the photo MUST include the test, a copy of government ID, and a device (such as phone) that shows date and time.

Comment on flying to Ft Lauderdale the morning of a Miami cruise: IMO: don't do it. With all the delays and cancellations of late, you could easily miss the ship - at a great cost to you. Also, as mentioned above, ground transportation cost can be an issue. The price of a hotel the night before is inexpensive insurance, and might save an entire cruise.

Scheduled for crossing to Australia on another cruise line - current requirements include Covid Cards AND testing, although photo of self-test taken within 24 hours works. If self-test: test results, Government ID, and device (phone) with date and time showing in photo are all required to substantiate proof.

Did the same with credit left from RCL Visa card

Cunard has self-service laundromats

Same issue for us. We went to Loyalty Ambassador, and he claimed to have left a phone message (no messages on room or cell phones). He apparently made a mistake and did not "own up" to it. Left a very bad taste in my (and spouse') mouth.

Baltimore all the way.

Opinion: Only item that MIGHT BE worth purchasing on ship is a T-shirt. Inexpensive, great memory.

Bring back 2X daily room cleaning service; return to free room service; BRING BACK OLD (BETTER) DINING ROOM MENUS - as already stated.