HeWhoWaits

Many of the other potential options can't handle adding an extra ship on short notice. Port schedules are set years in advance for those with limited berthing/anchorage space.

We're a perfect example - I enjoy D+ benefits rather than my "mere" Diamond because I'm tied to my wife's history. I could sail 28 nights solo in a suite and still not quite catch her on points. If we're going to spend the money for one of us to go without the other, that money is better spent on her.

Celebrity lacks the more than sufficient number of drink vouchers that Royal offers.

That would be great if the merger included the BEST benefits of both programs but what if they opted for the lesser of similar benefits? Be careful what you wish for.

Saw this story a couple days ago. Naturally, it paints Norwegian in a bad light for the Captain being inflexible. As for me, I say "Bravo, Captain!!!" If the all aboard is clearly stated (it always is and in multiple ways) and all excursions purchased through the cruise line are back, it's time to close up and go.

VIP seating area - aka Suites, Pinnacles, and Key waiting area. Those 223 seats won't be enough for all the Suites, Pins, and Keys on the newest ships.

The Key Bridge was scheduled for deck replacement in 2025. That budget certainly won't cover the cost of removal of the debris, let alone replacement.

Surely it will be less expensive to fly to/from Florida than to pay for a month of parking on top of the cost to drive with a hotel stop each way.

I can't speak to whether the item would be permitted, but a workable option is to use the sofa cushions on the floor as a surrogate.

At home. Use ride share (or family/friends) for your transportation to the port.

Clearly, the first concern is the tragedy for those who were on the bridge and their families. As others have noted, thankfully this was in the middle of the night and not during busy traffic times. The impact on cruise ships/passengers is nothing compared to the disruption that will be caused to commerce. Baltimore is one of the busiest ports on the East Coast of the U.S. and the loss of the Key Bridge to truck traffic along the I-95 corridor will be very impactful.

So Kiba has decided to tolerate the interlopers?

You're more likely to get sideways glances or rude comments about not dressing "well enough" for the MDR on "formal" night than for your gender identity or health challenge. Don't worry about the few who may judge and just enjoy your vacation.

Did he wear his GOOD Lions jersey on formal night? It's been a long-standing joke that you can tell when it's Sunday in Cincinnati during the summer because that's the day the fans all wear their good Reds jerseys.

Lots of us have seen unexpected balances due when cruise planner changes were made after final payment, but for a sailing 8 months out this seems to be a brand new example of Royal IT incompetence.

You expected Royal IT to improve at the same rate as your foot? Silly man!

My wife and a couple friends used Viator for some activities in Hawaii post-cruise. They all said they would use Viator again for making arrangements.

We've done "formal" photos in front of scenic backdrops wearing the aforementioned khakis and a polo on multiple occasions. Not unlikely to be one of the selected Diamond free photos.

If the "best" you brought is khakis and a polo shirt for him (my default for dinner) and a sundress for her - that's your best If the "best" you brought is cargo shorts and a Metallica tee-shirt for him and a skort with a breezy top for her - that's your best If one wishes to dress up (we used to do so, not anymore) - the suit and tie (or more) for him and cocktail dress (or more) for her - that's your best

Unless it's Nassau.

And as @Matt will tell us, that float of dark rum should always be Kraken.

The problem there is that the selection is very static. Same items every day gets old in a hurry. Sure, you can get different ingredients in your omelet each day, but that's "variety" like switching between beef and chicken on your soft taco at Taco Bell is "variety." I'm a big fan of breakfast and by the end of a week-long cruise I start pining for a bowl of Froot Loops or Cap'n Crunch (neither of which is one of my go-to cereals) just for something different.

"Formal" is what they used to call it, now it's "Dress Your Best." There are no specific requirements for what is worn aside from the theoretical no swimwear in the MDR. Those nights tend to be the ones where professional photography opportunities are offered so if you're looking to get a fancy portrait done, wear what you want for the photo rather than any specific expectation in the MDR.

No ship is too small when you compare it to the alternative of not being on a ship at all.

When we started cruising, I would have described the MDR meals as bordering on fine dining. Now, I liken them to somewhere between "not quite as good as I would make at home" and "I believe I could get pretty close to that if I had ready access to the ingredients" depending on the dish.