VACruiser

I'll be there in a couple of weeks. Nice pictures.

I have three: Independence of the Seas - 29 April 19; Freedom of the Seas March 8 2020; Norwegian Joy - Feb 2021 so I can guess I fall in to the category of planning way ahead for my cruises.

37 minutes ago, DublinFC said:

I have never heard of it.  And Rocky Horror just sounded unentertaining from all ive heard about it.

well just google Tim Curry Rocky Horror Picture Show and you will get the picture - literally 

1 minute ago, SpeedNoodles said:

Seriously, I'm lucky I have the two that I have.

They are great, I just don't like to owe much at the end of my cruises, so that's what I meant about not putting up with it.  Get it all paid and out of the way ahead of time. They are both new cruisers so they're pretty malleable still.

So manipulation for the cruise newbies - gotcha, just get their credit card numbers from them, make sure you get the tricky three digit security code, and go to the next cruise desk while on ship, and book ya a new cruise. Just kidding!!! We all need friends

6 hours ago, SpeedNoodles said:

Well, I'm hoping to be able to have all of this taken care of from home and not have to see a check in counter like I had on Mariner (we'll be on Navigator). We will all have credit cards.  I'll just have to talk them all into paying their gratuities ahead of time - I'm not putting up with doing it at the end. That's wholesale unacceptable.

@SpeedNoodles - sounds like you need better friends 

I am also on this cruise - I have never been to Port Everglades so it will be a new experience.

@twangster what is the PEV App?  It looks like something I may need

There are over 15 thousand stories because of this accident and I am sure there are some scenarios that I can't even imagine because of this event. Life happens and you have to be flexible but I can't envision how I would feel if I had booked this cruise 2 years ago and I was to be on the ship on Sunday, 7 April 19, and I now found myself left adrift (excuse the pun). It would be mentally difficult for a couple of hours before I collected myself and came up with a new plan and that was just a vacation (1st world issues). I am sure there are some interesting stories of what was to be - marriages for example...wow I can't even image how this affects so many people.

I am on Indy the latter part of the month and this new has got me thinking what would I do if it happened. Contingency planning if you will.

That would be such a bummer if that happened. My son and DIL are coming in from Alaska for the cruise and we look forward to these outings together and a cruise makes it a logical thing to do. Praying for the best to occur and I will first one in my room after an AMP and that just makes it feel special whether it is or not.

I'm on the March 8th, 2020 FOS Cruise to the ABC Islands and St. Thomas. First one out of dry-dock which could be dangerous if there is a delay in something.

I am cruising on Independence of the Seas, INDY if you will, the end of April and bought The Key for my wife and myself so I can let you know then. I watched videos and read some blogs on it and for our 5 day cruise it made sense especially when I got it for 20% off and used my OBC to buy it down further. I shall give it a shot and see how it works out. When I was cruising on Carnival we always bought Faster-to-the-Fun which gave some perks, mainly getting on and off more quickly but was cheaper than RC.

8 hours ago, SpeedNoodles said:

Beautiful dog!

Mine are actually Borzoi (aka Russian Wolfhounds).

Gorgeous!!! I have two Shiloh's so I know about the hair - oh my.

28 minutes ago, dodgestang said:

I love dogs....but....if someone's 'support animal' peed on my or any member of my family the animal would be in need of a vet since I would have punted it while it was defecating.  And if I was in the right place....I would have scored a goal with it on the owners face.

I would rather you punt the human and leave the dog alone. The dog shouldn't have be there in the first place.

Should we start a thread on our animals. SpeedNoodles has her Collie in the picture so I shall show my Shiloh Shepherd female, Kali Mae.

At my work office there is a service animal for a ex-Military person connected with a PTSD issue. The dog is very well behaved to the point that you really don't notice the animal at all. A very well trained dog that never interacts with her people but is around people all day long.  We had lawyers come and talk to us before the dog was brought up and we were told not to interact with the dog. It was more for the comfort of the service-member who wouldn't want to talk about their service related injuries. They told us to no pay attention to the dog and just go about our normal duties. It's hard for me because I am such a dog lover and the dog is really cute.

When you hear about these kinds of events you know the dog is not a service animal and is not trained; it is just a pet that someone is trying to pass off as a service animal. And, that person is already a very selfish person just by their actions so that he didn't respond to a dressing-down is of no surprise.

If it ever makes it a jury you never know what juries will do. I can't imagine you could call this anything but negligence on the part of the Cruise Line. Based upon his injuries and future earnings that could be disrupted, it's hard to tell where it will end up. I would imagine that RC has insurance for these kinds of things. If it were me, I wouldn't settle for a mere 250K. It would have to be 7 figures.  

Well I do need a place to spend my retirement years

I would advise to add "It's not your bag baby" in your best Austin Power's voice!

2 hours ago, SpeedNoodles said:

Most likely either Tampa or Fort Lauderdale - I kind of have Key West on the brain. Thanks for your input!!

I went to Key West last year and really liked it. It's a very small community of locals surrounded by a lot of people that go for the weather. And, then there Kermits Key Lime Pies - oh my the best I have ever had. The only problem I had was it was not enough time. We arrived at 0700 and left by 1400 (2PM)...just not enough time but I will be back.

I have a cruise the latter part of April and just put in my bids for the Royal Up program. Looking at my cruise it doesn't show any suites available so I am not thinking I have a high chance of getting one unless someone drops out. I have read where it has worked for some and not for others. I just plan on going into the room they gave me, and if that changes and I get a suite, then that works too.

Your children look so happy in all the pictures. As an older person now I think it would have done my heart proud to see the children having an awesome time with smiles  on their little faces.

I have really enjoyed this blog and I have come here daily to look what your family is up to. I'm not sure I will ever travel at the Star Class level, unless I do it as a my retirement cruise, but that is still a ways off (7 years).  I am impressed with your Genie, and I am not even there daily to see all that they can do; however, I think you have provided valuable information to those that are contemplating doing this on a cruise and what to expect. On the downside for genies, maybe yours is one of the best, and the others better up their game to get close to yours abilities because this blog will be seen by anyone that googles Royal Caribbean Star Class or genies.

I am leaving on a Cruise the end of April on Independence of the Seas, out of Ft. Lauderdale,  and this blog made me think about my cruise every day, as if I wouldn't have anyways.

Glad to see you guys had fun on your cruise. I hope your children know how well they had. Again, now the downside they will expect this every time for a cruise.

I went on that excursion last year. The crew is very laid back and you can bring what ever you like to swim with. There were lot of kids on the catamaran during snorkeling time that stayed close to their parents while in the water. The crew puts a member in the water with you during snorkeling and tries to keep the group together. The rest of the crew are on the boat and are watching. The water is not deep, maybe 6-8 feet, but does have lots of fish. Bring extra money with you if you want pictures of you and the fish...The guy in the water has food in his hand to bring the fish close. It's  feeding time  for the fish.

There is drinking on the boat and dancing. It's a fun excursion. They take you to a beach as the last part of the excursion for about hour and half and then get back to the boat to take you back to the ship. It's very safe and enjoyable.  

As a person who consumes these blogs I love the detail as it makes you feel like you are there.

I have a cruise in March 2020 out of Puerto Rico. I originally booked the cruise in late 2018 and have thus far rebooked the cruise three times and now I'm up to $400 onboard credit (OBC) and the cruise has dropped about $600 in total price. All this was done through my TA at MEI, Michelle Cunningham (she's a gem) and kept my same room and nothing has changed but the price. Working with a TA is so much easier than fighting RC, and who ever answers the phone that moment, when I used to call for answers.

1 hour ago, SpeedNoodles said:

I think I totally sold this room to my roommates based on the term "stripper pole" - they were leaning towards an inside cabin and I felt it was not our best option, LOL.

You may want to call Royal Caribbean's Advertising Department and sell them on this new terminology  - Stripper Pole Room of Adventure...it may be worth a free cruise for you