Mrs. RoyalMoyal

She is a teacher, that constrains their flexibility.  He isn't, he can sail any time.
Gotta take one of the team!  ? 
 

Celebrity has much more specific verbiage on their site.  Veranda and above, no extra points for solo cruisers, classic members and above. 
Perhaps Celebrity came up with this promotion and had more time to bake their cake.  RCI seems to be building the airplane in flight.   

I'm trying to figure out the definitive answer on this now- because if it's at the prevailing rates it might not work out for everyone.

I look at this as an opportunity to make an additional 25% on my money.  Make final payment and then, once they cancel the cruise, get your extra 25% FCC.  I think of this as a "buying opportunity".
?

Note to self:  "Ask for the mule experience."

Happy Birthday!!  I turn 64 this Friday...not feeling too old yet...except maybe when my 5 grandkids leave after having done their schoolwork here all day (I just learned new math which was a real challenge!!!  ?)  I've got a second grader...third grader...fifth grader...sixth grader...and seventh grader. 
Can you see why I want to get back to cruising?????

Our first cruise we were concerned about dressing up on formal nights.
By the 4th cruise is was ... whatever ... business casual with a tropical twist usually. I have a few dress "cruise shirts" that are not too loud with an island/tropical print. That and a pair of cargo pant slacks and loafers.
I still see a few people that go all out. They are usually getting their photo taken and are part of some party or family celebrating something.
I occasionally see someone in cutoff jeans come dragging in. Personally, I think that is a bit too casual for the dining room. If you can't dress any better than that, go to the Windjammer or Johnny Rockets.
Have I ever seen seen anyone "torn apart" over their attire? Not once.

Oh we love the hotel stay, it adds another day to the vacation, and takes some stress away on the day of departure.  But this time, it may not be an option for the reasons stated.

We are fortunate in this regard, Miami and Ft Lauderdale are less than 3 hours away, so driving is always the option for us.  However, we are reconsidering our ususal hotel stay the night before. Instead we may elect to leave the house very early on the day of departure, thereby minimising our potential exposure a day prior. 
 
As I say, we are considering and have not yet made a firm decision.

My gut thoughts are that Cruise Director is a contract position and they probably are off contract right now.  The CD sets the entertainment schedule working in conjunction with the various teams involved.  Some shows draw backstage crews from another venue, a new cast requires blocking a venue for rehearsals which means some other show or event can't use it during that time.  There is quite a lot of coordination involved with setting the entertainment schedule and none of those crew are working right now.  
Plus they have to see what the Healthy Sail Panel says.  Some shows might not be offered or maybe they'll offer one show more frequently with fewer guests per show but that will result in cutting a different show.  

Back on the ship a brave (and cold) soul was thinking about the Flowrider.

Not so fast Charlie Brown.  
This live blog:  Feb 19, 2020 to Aug 31, 2021 = 549 days.
My live blog:  Jan. 18, 2020 to Jan 16, 2022 = 729 days.   
 

I just checked in for my Nov 13th cruise on the Anthem leaving from Port Liberty in NJ. Hopefully the cruise will sail and not be cancelled...fingers crossed!
My first concern will be inside the cruise terminal. Will I be able to even enter the terminal or be held outside until a certain time...and if so, will the system of who gets to go in next be well-planned or will there be the usual crowding about near the entrance. Short-cutters always looking for the short cut!
I am Diamond Plus but I also purchased The Key. I’m solo and I use the internet so it’s worth it for me....also because it gave me early boarding (in Port Liberty), carry-on bag drop-off and delivery to my cabin, lunch from Chops Grill, reserved times for the NorthStar, priority disembarkation at ports and end of cruise, and more. I’ll see how the Key program is managed this time...especially at check-in and boarding.
I understand that the cruise lines are making an effort to limit the number of passengers aboard ship to increase distancing between guests. If so, then hopefully they will be able to successfully manage the first day without too many issues...but I’m a little nervous being part of one of the first ‘test cases’......but I’m still hoping to go. I miss the Anthem and her crew!

That's a slippery slope.  How many slots do Full Suites vs. Junior Suites get?  Pinnacles?  The Key?  D+ then D and so on down the chain? 
It's one thing to say if you are checked in and waiting in the terminal, then here is the boarding order.   It's another to reserve slots for arrival because at what point do you they give up on a "class" that hasn't checked in online to get their arrival time?
I suspect they will adopt something like the Sydney, Australia format.  
In Sydney only Star Class really gets priority arrival/check-in at the terminal.   I didn't get a special early arrival time for my C&A status, I think I received what was available when I checked in.  I dropped my bags then went off to walk the Sydney Harbour Bridge and get pictures (to kill time).   Once back I was still too early for my arrival time.  It didn't matter what my C&A status was, I had to wait.  Walking from the ship luggage drop to the bridge, across the bridge and back isn't exactly a "quick" walk. I went to the museum up there too and I was still too early to check in when I got back.  I asked about C&A status ... nope, what time I had was the only thing that mattered.  This was before any pandemic.  
I think initially some Suites/Pinnacle/Key/D+ will be upset when they assume privilege.  Blah, blah, blah.  We'll hear about it without doubt.  But oh well, I'm okay losing this privilege if it means getting back on a ship.  Others will be more vocal but we all have to give in these difficult times.  Trying to appease special status may not work like it did before.  Eventually it will be back. Until then everyone needs a super large dose of "Calm down and cruise on".
 

https://www.portstmaartenwebcam.com She’s backing in now live. 

I agree with Annette, call again. You may get a different (worse or better) answer. If you like the answer, act on it! Good luck
 

The cruises we have booked have all gone up; Junior Suites for 4 or solo cruises... but I HAVE saved about $300.00 on excursions, total because of excursion prices going down. Cococay Cabana, and a solo excursion in Jamaica. When I am alone, I prefer to be on a ship excursion. 

I agree with Annette, call again. You may get a different (worse or better) answer. If you like the answer, act on it! Good luck
 

I agree with Annette, call again. You may get a different (worse or better) answer. If you like the answer, act on it! Good luck
 

Yes, for minors, both parents/guardians (or some kind of permission from an ex) and the child need to go apply for a passport renewal, at the county clerk, on a weekday between 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM. It's a minor inconvenience...  at least in the county and state we live in. I picked my son up early from school to do this, and the secretary gave me "the look" when I told her why we were taking him out of school 15 minutes early. 
We had the same itinerary you are inquiring about, my son's passport was to expire 5 months after the cruise. I worried about the same issue; but it was not a problem. This was BEFORE Covid.....

Cabanas max out at 8 people so you may be in a situation where not everyone will be able to access your cabana.  The Chill Island cabanas, Oasis Lagoon cabanas and South Beach cabanas do have an option where you can add extra people for $50 each.  However it appears that the Beach Club cabanas don't have this option.
I would say go for the South Beach cabana and add the extra two people once you get onboard for $50 each.   That way your entire party will be able to meet up at the cabana.  You will have food/drink service and South Beach is a bit calmer than the Oasis Lagoon and Chill Island cabanas.  Those who want to can come and go to the Oasis pool.  Then get the kids the waterpark passes.  The ages shouldn't be an issue as the 9 year old will be with the 16 year old. 
If any of the adults are interested in visiting the waterpark as well you should keep an eye on the waterpark cabana prices as they include 6 admissions to the waterpark.  Sometimes the prices work out where it's cheaper per person to just get the cabana at the waterpark over buying individual admission, so you'd have one at the waterpark and one at South Beach.
Currently pulling the prices off of my April 2022 cruise, it's running:
South Beach cabana - $399 (includes 8 people, can opt to add 2 more onboard) Thrill Waterpark pass - $79/each Thrill Waterpark cabana with up to 6 passes - $699 Coco Beach Club pass - $79/each adult, $55/each child Coco Beach Club floating cabana - $1,049 (max 8 people, includes Beach Club access) Coco Beach Club cabana - $999 (max 8 people, includes Beach Club access) Oasis Lagoon cabana - $549 (includes 8 people, can opt to add 2 more onboard) Chill Island cabana - $549 (includes 8 people, can opt to add 2 more onboard) The South Beach cabanas are the furthest away from the dock and activities, so they tend to run cheaper.  But to me that would me the most cost effective way for everyone who wants the shade and service to have access to it.  There are trams that run throughout Coco Cay and it's really not a terrible walk from the Oasis Lagoon pool or the waterpark if you do not have any mobility issues.

They must have sensed the suite snob coming from a mile away! Lol.
Honestly, it was out of the blue.  We showed up early to the terminal out of habit so it was pretty quiet when we checked in. Right after we checked in, we settled down on some of the couches in the terminal and one of their cast members came up to us and said they would like to make us family of the day. It wasn’t our first DCL cruise but I still had no idea what it was. He then explained that we would get to board first and we would have to go with him to a separate boarding area and I was like, “Say no more! We’ll take it!” ?
After we were settled in our new area, I asked him how we got selected because I did not enter anything or do anything special and he said he was watching us since we walked into the terminal and we seemed so happy that they picked us. Must have been that pleasant Canadian personality! ?

There have been some situations in this ever changing rules with Royal where they allowed parents to take the FCC and use it.  It did depend on which person you got to help you in the call center.  I agree that the person that paid the bill should have some say so.  I was fighting with one a couple months ago and the person in the call center said if I had the kids write to say it was ok for the parents to have the FCC they would do it.... had a lot of fun asking the client of the 4 and 7 year old to have them write me an email or letter!

I would think this is one of the things that the healthy sailing panel will be addressing. The number of logistics they will be dealing with is truly mind boggling!

I have always had paid for duplicates when my children were born.  Our children are 30, 28 and 26.  We were a military family for decades and knowing that we would move often, we were told to do this by the legal advisers.  1 we kept with us.  1 was given to my Mom, in case it got lost during a move.  The lawyers not only advised us to do that, but also during his active duty career my Mom had an official copy of our marriage certificate, living wills and last will and testaments.  
Once we retired and grown kids, I got the birth certificates back from my Mom.  My kids have their original in their home, and I have an official in my home.
Point being it is smart investment to do so for the just in case.