Dawn T.

My husband and I just returned from a quick cruise to Cozumel on the Brilliance out of Tampa.  I just wanted to take a minute to post a couple of pictures to show some updates to the ship.  I know @Matt is sailing on Brilliance next month.  Last year (01/2018) and the prior year (01/2017), we sailed in JS cabin 1560.  Here are a couple of pics from the cabin and the dining room:


This year we couldn't get JS cabin 1560, so we had JS cabin 1568 just down the hall.  Here is a pic of the cabin and the dining room:


The dining room got new chairs and looks great.  Sorry, I only took the photo of our table rather than the whole dining room.  Of note in the cabin, new sofa (grey instead of dark blue), new chair (medium blue instead of burgandy), and new drapes (medium blue instead of burgandy).  I really liked the changes.  We both thought everything looked great!  The cabin furniture in 1568 may not have been new, since we were not in this cabin last year.  But we loved the different look!

My husband and I always request a table for 2 when booking.  I book really early (usually 1-1/2 to 2 years out).  We always went to the main dining room upon embarkation to confirm that we had a table for 2.  Sometimes we got one and sometimes we didn't.  They have always been able to move us to one, even if it takes a little persuasion.  Some ships do have more two tops than other ships.  You can also send an email to [email protected] about 2-3 weeks before sailing to ask for confirmation of your table for 2.  I do this now for all our cruises.  It makes it easier than waiting until you board.  Provide them with your ship, sail date and reservation number in the email.  I would also include that you are Diamond Plus.  

Hi.  So sorry for the long wait for a reply.  I just saw this.  I'm not sure you could find out on embarkation day, but I wouldn't be surprised.  From what I have been reading here, days before the trip is the norm for finding out of an upgrade through Royal Up.

Hi @Jakejosa.  My husband and I always use the valet option to park in Tampa.  We think it is worth the extra money.  Very easy to drop your luggage, give your key to the valet, then check in at the valet stand to get your ticket.  When the ship returns, you just go to the valet stand, and they bring your car to the curb.  It was an extra $5 per day the last time we were there.  Here is their website:  https://www.porttb.com/parking .  We always book it in advance.

My husband and I were on Symphony for the 9/11/21 cruise.  We had a grand suite booked.  We bid $990 (total) for an owner's suite, $990 (total) for a crown loft suite, and around $2,000 (total) for an aqua theater suite (2 BR).  Probably a couple of weeks before the cruise, the owner's suite bid and the aqua theater suite bid showed expired.  The crown loft suite bid continued to show pending.  Three days before the cruise the upgrade to the crown loft suite was awarded.  The crown loft suite was amazing!  We loved being on deck 17, so close to the Coastal Kitchen and the suite lounge.

My husband and I were on Symphony for the 9/11/21 cruise.  We had a grand suite booked.  We bid $990 (total) for an owner's suite, $990 (total) for a crown loft suite, and around $2,000 (total) for an aqua theater suite (2 BR).  Probably a couple of weeks before the cruise, the owner's suite bid and the aqua theater suite bid showed expired.  The crown loft suite bid continued to show pending.  Three days before the cruise the upgrade to the crown loft suite was awarded.  The crown loft suite was amazing!  We loved being on deck 17, so close to the Coastal Kitchen and the suite lounge.

My husband and I were on Symphony for the 9/11/21 cruise.  We had a grand suite booked.  We bid $990 (total) for an owner's suite, $990 (total) for a crown loft suite, and around $2,000 (total) for an aqua theater suite (2 BR).  Probably a couple of weeks before the cruise, the owner's suite bid and the aqua theater suite bid showed expired.  The crown loft suite bid continued to show pending.  Three days before the cruise the upgrade to the crown loft suite was awarded.  The crown loft suite was amazing!  We loved being on deck 17, so close to the Coastal Kitchen and the suite lounge.

My husband and I were on Symphony for the 9/11/21 cruise.  We had a grand suite booked.  We bid $990 (total) for an owner's suite, $990 (total) for a crown loft suite, and around $2,000 (total) for an aqua theater suite (2 BR).  Probably a couple of weeks before the cruise, the owner's suite bid and the aqua theater suite bid showed expired.  The crown loft suite bid continued to show pending.  Three days before the cruise the upgrade to the crown loft suite was awarded.  The crown loft suite was amazing!  We loved being on deck 17, so close to the Coastal Kitchen and the suite lounge.

Ooooh, I love this! I just checked my bids for 10/9, and everything is expired except for the Crown Loft.  I'll take this as a good sign, at least for now...

I will try not to lose hope while simultaneously also not getting my hopes up too much further! 😄 

Hi, Kayla.  Two of our royal up offers expired, but we had a crown loft suite pending for a least a week, maybe 2.  Then 3 days before we sailed, it was awarded.  Fingers crossed you might still get your JS!

Hi, Kayla.  Two of our royal up offers expired, but we had a crown loft suite pending for a least a week, maybe 2.  Then 3 days before we sailed, it was awarded.  Fingers crossed you might still get your JS!

Hi, Kayla.  Two of our royal up offers expired, but we had a crown loft suite pending for a least a week, maybe 2.  Then 3 days before we sailed, it was awarded.  Fingers crossed you might still get your JS!

My husband and I were on Symphony for the 9/11/21 cruise.  We had a grand suite booked.  We bid $990 (total) for an owner's suite, $990 (total) for a crown loft suite, and around $2,000 (total) for an aqua theater suite (2 BR).  Probably a couple of weeks before the cruise, the owner's suite bid and the aqua theater suite bid showed expired.  The crown loft suite bid continued to show pending.  Three days before the cruise the upgrade to the crown loft suite was awarded.  The crown loft suite was amazing!  We loved being on deck 17, so close to the Coastal Kitchen and the suite lounge.

My husband and I were on Symphony for the 9/11/21 cruise.  We had a grand suite booked.  We bid $990 (total) for an owner's suite, $990 (total) for a crown loft suite, and around $2,000 (total) for an aqua theater suite (2 BR).  Probably a couple of weeks before the cruise, the owner's suite bid and the aqua theater suite bid showed expired.  The crown loft suite bid continued to show pending.  Three days before the cruise the upgrade to the crown loft suite was awarded.  The crown loft suite was amazing!  We loved being on deck 17, so close to the Coastal Kitchen and the suite lounge.

My husband and I were on Symphony for the 9/11/21 cruise.  We had a grand suite booked.  We bid $990 (total) for an owner's suite, $990 (total) for a crown loft suite, and around $2,000 (total) for an aqua theater suite (2 BR).  Probably a couple of weeks before the cruise, the owner's suite bid and the aqua theater suite bid showed expired.  The crown loft suite bid continued to show pending.  Three days before the cruise the upgrade to the crown loft suite was awarded.  The crown loft suite was amazing!  We loved being on deck 17, so close to the Coastal Kitchen and the suite lounge.

My husband bids all the time, but we have only won once.  It was on a 9-night Anthem New England / Canada cruise in October.  We went from a balcony to a junior suite.  He bid the max of $1,000.  The price difference to pay for the upgrade was consistently $3,000, which was the reason I booked the balcony.  We feel like we got a great deal.  We were assigned to JS 6632 which was awesome.  That balcony was really meant for a warm weather cruise!

My husband bids all the time, but we have only won once.  It was on a 9-night Anthem New England / Canada cruise in October.  We went from a balcony to a junior suite.  He bid the max of $1,000.  The price difference to pay for the upgrade was consistently $3,000, which was the reason I booked the balcony.  We feel like we got a great deal.  We were assigned to JS 6632 which was awesome.  That balcony was really meant for a warm weather cruise!

My husband bids all the time, but we have only won once.  It was on a 9-night Anthem New England / Canada cruise in October.  We went from a balcony to a junior suite.  He bid the max of $1,000.  The price difference to pay for the upgrade was consistently $3,000, which was the reason I booked the balcony.  We feel like we got a great deal.  We were assigned to JS 6632 which was awesome.  That balcony was really meant for a warm weather cruise!

My husband bids all the time, but we have only won once.  It was on a 9-night Anthem New England / Canada cruise in October.  We went from a balcony to a junior suite.  He bid the max of $1,000.  The price difference to pay for the upgrade was consistently $3,000, which was the reason I booked the balcony.  We feel like we got a great deal.  We were assigned to JS 6632 which was awesome.  That balcony was really meant for a warm weather cruise!

My husband bids all the time, but we have only won once.  It was on a 9-night Anthem New England / Canada cruise in October.  We went from a balcony to a junior suite.  He bid the max of $1,000.  The price difference to pay for the upgrade was consistently $3,000, which was the reason I booked the balcony.  We feel like we got a great deal.  We were assigned to JS 6632 which was awesome.  That balcony was really meant for a warm weather cruise!

My kids had cabin 10729 years ago.  You can definitely see the ocean.  It is a long walk down the hall to the back of the ship.  It is really a long walk to anywhere on an Oasis class ship!  My pictures aren't great, but this can give you an idea of the view.

Our flights are Lufthansa also, but booked through United.  They don't show cancelled.   Bummer.  Maybe the cancellation is coming?  I hope so.  We booked business class, so they weren't cheap.  I would love to get a refund and not be tied to one airline choice for next year's trip.

Hi @ScottinFLA1.  My husband and I were supposed to sail out of Rome on Explorer on 9/8/20.  We decided before making our final payment that we were not going (even if Royal didn't cancel), so I moved it to Rome September 2021 on Odyssey.  I did pay for our airfare back in December, so I'm waiting to see what the airline does.  If they cancel, I will take a refund.  If they don't cancel, I will take the future credit and use it for the cruise next year.

In Sydney, unlike the cruise ports in Florida, they enforce the actual boarding times on the SetSail pass.  We cruised out of Sydney in March 2019.  @twangster also mentioned this in his current blog:  The cruise terminal has no waiting area inside so appointment times are strictly enforced.  Once the ship is ready to board they’ll open the doors and start looking for early appointment times.