HeWhoWaits

Perhaps it is related to the sheer number of people who are at various levels for a given sailing. On some sailings, the "top tier event" is for Diamond + and above. On others, it is for Platinum and above. Large number of suites on the bigger ships plus the high number of Diamond members in Florida may make it so that that the expedited line would be overwhelmed.

The tap water onboard is more than sufficient. You can also fill your own water bottle by having your cabin steward bring you ice and letting it melt.

The only staterooms where a minimum number of occupants is stated are the multi-bedroom suites.

Didn't notice any signage indicating such on recent voyage, but we didn't look very hard either.

Or in ANY restaurant.

On Grandeur this month, I asked about savory bites at dinner on departure night. I got a completely blank stare from both our waiter (forgive him, it was his first cruise with RC) and assistant waiter. Fortunately, the Head Waiter knew what I was talking about and arranged for me to have them every night for the rest of the cruise. I would have been happy to see 5 or 6 each night - the number was 14 or 15 each night! Apparently, savory bites is no longer a standard bread selection - no new introductions to the delicacy.

Pizza in the Windjammer and at Park Café was pretty good this trip.

None to be found on the October 6-11 Grandeur sailing.

Somebody didn't read the cruise compass for Day 2 OR Day 3! It was included on both of them, as well as being included in Captain Thor's noon report on the sea day.

I was on the same cruise, and the Windjammer had "red velvet cake" on departure day. It WAS red, it WAS NOT red velvet.

He can probably get away with a skort.

So "wear your best" has lower requirements than "casual." There's the slippery slope - how long until swimsuits without a cover-up are okay?

But what would they do if someone showed up at the MDR wearing shorts, a tank top, and sandals who states "the dress for this evening is 'Wear Your Best' and THIS is the best I brought with me. I am wearing what YOU told me to wear."? I see a potential slippery slope for OTHER nights in the MDR - not sure that shorts will be prohibited for long.

That should be Grand!

I can't speak to the Florida itineraries, but Alaskan cruises through the Inside Passage have the casino open every evening.

Beverage packages onboard are not affected by being in port (except for some departure ports like Galveston having a more limited selection until the ship reaches international waters).

Have you BEEN to San Francisco in late September or early October?

In Barbados, if they offer the Mount Gay Distillery excursion - go for it.

When the old system of 1 point per cruise (up to 8 nights) changed to 1 point per night every cruise was credited with 7 points (regardless of the actual number of nights) and 1 extra point was added to the total to account for some 8 night cruises. We had been on three cruises - 3 old points became 22 new points.

If you like exercise consider the Chilkoot Trail hike and raft trip in Skagway. For a low impact family activity, the White Pass Railway is a good option there. If you like exercise and beer, the Juneau excursion called Glacier View Bike & Brew is great. In Victoria, I highly recommend Craigdarroch Castle and Butchart Gardens. We did a private tour for this one and got more time at the Gardens than the RCI tour.

Welcome aboard the boards, Chris. A fellow Chris.

If you have the leatherman with you, the box cutter and screwdriver are redundant.

With a group of 16, I don't recommend trying to do the My Time Dining option. It's much easier with a group that size to tell everyone in advance that dinner is at 6:00 every night than to communicate adjustments in MTD each day.

I would much rather have the Northeast and Canada route replacing Bermuda than Nassau. Just another case of different preferences.

Noticed the same thing, but for a couple more months I was still okay.