HeWhoWaits

Great news - enjoy your trip.

Pennsyltucky - you can buy beer and wine at the same store, you can buy wine and liquor at the same store, you can't buy beer and liquor at the same store. Ohio - you can buy "liquor" at the grocery store but only a watered down version (less than 40 proof). If you're going to mix your liquor with water anyway, not a bad option. If you want a real cocktail, fuhgeddaboudit.

One size fits all, some better than others - the classic conundrum.

We'll also be on this sailing, along with two other couples.

You think most of these one-and-done posters have been on a cruise?

Points are accumulated for sailing, not for how the cruise fare was paid.

The wines available in the suite lounge will be decent, but nothing special. I am not a "wine snob" per se, but I am an afficionado and will often purchase next-level wines in addition to what is available in the suite lounge. The wines included on Diamond vouchers without paying the difference don't qualify as next-level for me.

Coming from anywhere north of Ft. Lauderdale, that port is an hour closer than Miami even before you consider Miami traffic. Unless you're looking for a specific ship or itinerary, FLL>>>>>MIA every time.

Another possible solution for the future - spend the extra to get both a passport and a passport card. When you need to renew, send in the old passport and keep the card.

I'll play. I won't win, but I'll play.

7 night dream itinerary - leave a port that is an easy enough drive from my home to not require travel the previous day (not currently an option on Royal), sail around for a week, return to that same port. No stops, just sea days.

Forget the suite-to-suite comparison. Royal suite $ cost approximately equals Disney regular cabin $ cost. Which gives you more?

The size of the vessels is a significant limiting factor for nightlife on river cruises. There's not much to do because there's nowhere to do it.

Different deck than the casino. Makes it tough to navigate there considering the distance involved.

Self assist and pre-book your rideshare.

FIFY

As with any Cruise Planner purchase, if you're comfortable with the current price buy it. If the price goes down later you can cancel and re-purchase.

I used a hotel shuttle at FLL one time. I could have walked to the hotel in about half the combined wait, pick up others who were waiting, and travel time.

AI bots gonna do their thing.

You might consider a one-way rental. Pick up the car at FLL and drop it off at MIA (or an alternate location nearer the port).

My thoughts exactly. Depending on the port, you may also want to consider a third option - explore the port area on your own. No need to be in the crowds exiting the ship for departing excursions - wait until that madness passes then head into town and explore, shop if that' your thing, people watch, etc.

We got a small discount on a cruise out of Baltimore in 2018 based on our North Carolina residence. Most of us here won't see age or residency discounts because they don't stack with C&A discounts, which are usually higher.

Status match is not dependent on how you are booked on the cruise. Yes, his status will match yours if you have the relationship recorded in C&A.

September 21, 2025 - Brilliance

Another way to get a reasonable idea of the likely schedule is to look at the current cruise on the same itinerary. In the app, select a different cruise and put in Symphony this week as the cruise. For a 6/8 rotation, you may have to look next week if this week is the 8 night version.