HeWhoWaits

Can't speak to August, but in July the gardens were spectacular (enough so that we're going again next month). For May visits, the Butchart Gardens-only excursion (not combined with something else) is in the afternoon (we're doing the combined Craigdarroch Castle/Butchart Gardens excursion). We'll also do a little general exploring the city. As much as we love the gardens, if you're only doing one thing I would consider sticking with the general exploration. Getting to Butchart Gardens can be one of the many reasons you'll want to book another Alaska cruise in the future.

16 days from submitting photo of my vaccine card in the app and still "validating." Worst case scenario is they're going to look at the card anyway and it takes a couple extra seconds for them to scan it.

What do you get when a telescope bumps into a microscope? A kaleidoscope.

This would seem to be the part that implies cost of a one-way car rental and associated fuel if that was the best option available.

Wondering what the port fees are for Grand Cayman vs. Bonaire. If higher, we already paid in full so I'd make it an issue if they try to charge us more. If lower, I will fight for some OBC to make up the difference.

Even so, it will be a new port for me. Already been to Bonaire. Since we didn't have any excursions planned (nor did we expect to add any) nothing specific is lost by not going to Bonaire. If we find Grand Cayman to be as you describe there will be plenty to keep us occupied on board.

You are guaranteed no less than a JS. All guarantee staterooms are accounted for in the availability you see when doing a mock booking. We are on Ovation May 20 with a JS Guarantee booking. We had our stateroom assignment in February (very early for learning your stateroom on a guarantee).

Had the same Bonaire -> Grand Cayman change. The affected cruise still shows up in a cruise search as going to Bonaire - website hasn't caught up with the change yet.

I am amused by their statement "feel free to browse all the exciting shore excursion options for your sailing" given that there is nothing to see for George Town yet and the Curacao excursions are no longer available to browse. Also, no mention of what will happen to bookings for Chops Grille Lunch on 7/11 (was a sea day, now a port stop). If it's just refunded, the option to move to a different day will cost an extra $4 per person (at least that was the price last time I checked).

Just received this via email. Kralendijk, Bonaire has been replaced by George Town, Grand Cayman.

Since your wife can't drink, you can use her vouchers as well. The specialty coffee and fresh-squeezed orange juice she would use them on are less expensive than the libations.

Agreed. If something you consider to be a "better" stateroom is available for less than you paid, go for it.

If we want something (anything) we make the purchase the first time we consider the price "reasonable." Then we check the available prices frequently. If a price goes lower, we make the switch. If not, we were already comfortable with what we paid. Some purchases remain at the original price. Others we have cancelled and repurchased as many as five times (the reduction in price has to be "worth the effort").

You can drink it anywhere on board with the possible exceptions of Adventure Ocean, the bridge, and the engine room. I don't recommend trying to drink it in the shower.

Multiple browsers on multiple devices with all caches cleared. Never was able to make the payments online yesterday. Call to Royal with an amazingly short wait time did the trick.

30 days until we board. Looking forward to meeting @CHRIS WONG

Trying to make final payments on two cruises today. Online payment system has rejected multiple cards, all of which have no limit issues. Anybody else having trouble making payments to Royal online today?

@WAAAYTOOOis another.

Clearly this thread has devolved into multiple topics that have gotten confused with each other. You mentioned a reliable poster on CC reporting the same stuff as the OP of this thread. Incorrect assumptions made that the OP and that reliable poster were one and the same.

I trust that @FionaMG's assessment of the REAL@kimberleymarsh on CC is accurate. What isn't necessarily the case is that the poster claiming the username @kimberleymarsh on here is the same respected and respectable poster. For instance, I could go register as @twangster on some site that he doesn't currently frequent and post all sorts of garbage that he would never post. Someone familiar with his work here might defend the fake "twangster" based on the real deal here.

This is usually followed by a knock on the door within 30 seconds.

Another option is to find a parish near the port and attend Mass in person before heading to the ship. We did this once for an Easter departure in San Juan.

Until I see @kimberleymarshpost again, I will believe it to be a one and done complainer.

And you BELIEVE this?

It starts the SECOND you board!