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Medical evacuation is very expensive and the passenger is billed for it. That is why it is always a good idea to purchase travel insurance with evacuation coverage. You never know when you might be the one to be evacuated.

Medical evacuation is very expensive and the passenger is billed for it. That is why it is always a good idea to purchase travel insurance with evacuation coverage. You never know when you might be the one to be evacuated.

So I just got done reading @Whizbank live blog and she stated that she would pack lighter next time.  I'm now sitting and looking at the suitcase I'm going to have trouble closing today.  Ugh!  So thought I'd share some things I'm going to do for the European cruise this summer (16 days in Barcelona and on the ship) as an accountability post lol.  Please chime in with suggestions and encouragement lol.  I know like the drink pkg we have beaten this to death, but hey, it's fun! 
1.  Royal has amazing storage in their rooms, both interior and outside.I have sailed 5 classes now and fit everything every time.  Majesty had a dinky closet but a great big side table and window ledge.  Others have hidden shelves, ottomans, other closets.   Obviously the longer cruises are a bit more challenging which leads to....
2.  Rewear!  I have favorites that I take on every cruise that I could totally wear over.  Some things I will wash when I get home that I only wore once (or not at all) and they aren't even really dirty.  I get if it's super hot you might have to selectively rewear, but I don't pack that way.  7 days, pack for 9 lol.  Ugh!   Do I need 2 formal dresses? Heck no. Is it ok if people are me in the same outfit twice... Absolutely.    Do I need extra clothes not at all... That's where #3 comes in...
3. Laundry!  I will freely admit I haven't used it in the ship and I won't risk any favorite clothes (I worry about too hot dryers).  But I spend everywhere else...Porters, drink pkg, extra 2 dollars for my favorite ? etc....   A bag of laundry will not kill me to pay for!   And my bathing suits, etc, are wet when I came back...I can hand wash them in the shower.  Now again, with how long everything takes to dry I am not bringing detergent and hanging everything... But a small stain is solvable by a  quick rinse.
4.  Packing cubes....   That was a long thread earlier.  I personally love them but didn't use them correctly.  I was in 3 different places pre-cruise, cruise and post-cruise.  I should have packed the cubes that way rather than every time I wanted an outfit having to go through different ones.  I could have put my pre-cruise two outfits in a bag with a bathing suit and pair of jammies and never opened the rest!
5. Shoes....  Sigh.  I did do better this time.  I wore my tennis shoes on the plane and once again, it wasn't necessary for me personally to have them.  I will just wear my walking sandals on the plane too.  I took my lighter weight sandals this time and didn't fuss with the 3 inch heals I would wear once or twice. I actually packed 2 pairs of flip flops in case one pair broke....omg WHY?  Which leads to...
6.  This next cruise no matter what I'm going with the Rick Steve's packing rule which I never do but am going to start!  I love his travel blogs and YouTube videos and he says "always pack for the expected, not the unexpected".  Ok...I'm a pack for the unexpected....my shoe might break, my phone cord might break, I might spill coffee on my 4 sweaters... All 4!  All the unexpected back-ups come home unused and talking up space.  I'm not traveling to the middle of Africa where I might have trouble getting something!!!! (If you are, you are probably better at packing than I am anyway and not reading this!).  Next time I will truly try and follow this.  Heck I will pack a $100 extra dollars just for things I might need to get and when I don't, take myself out to a nice Cafe somewhere!  
7.  Go with your history and your gut.  Every trip I pack shorts "just in case I feel like wearing them" and workout clothes "just in case I want to work out".  Ok...I've now been on 6 cruises.  Not once have I put on shorts or tshirts (Im a sundress girl) and the only time I've set for in the fitness center is to take pics on day one.  If I haven't used something at home (do I really want that dress) or on a ship, it is just not gonna get used here!  
8.  Compare with the other lovely people in your family.  In March my family brilliantly brought 3 tubes of toothpaste.  Seriously.  We all packed our regular travel kits and we all have toothpaste.  Oh well.  Next time I'm going back to the family ziplocks...1 toothpaste and common shampoo, soap, etc.  And I'm getting slightly better at judging amount we use.  For example, I love using the bath & body works squirt soap better than the bars.  They smell nice and I just like them.  We don't need a whole bottle...I can bring a half-used one and then I have 2 more oz and space at the end of the trip!  Same goes for shampoo, lotion, etc!  
9.  Suitcase stuffing.  I'm a stuffer.  If the suitcase is at 40 lbs and not full, I can stuff just one more extra dress or pair of shoes just in case.  Nope.  The problem is that it takes me forever to fit everything in at home.  I don't have that time on the trip and what happens is I frantically stuff everything in and one day I'm gonna break the zipper.  I have had to buy and check an extra suitcase at Disney before (ok...I could get into souvenir shopping here.  I didn't buy the rum in Nassau because I knew I wouldn't have the space or weight lol).  So next time, things will fit better at the start.  I will do what you are supposed to... Pack and then unpack and take out a bunch you don't need!  Because I don't need the stress at the end of the trip!
So I've now spent time I should have been packing avoiding it but when I get home, this is what's I'm going to re-read before I pack!!!!!! Jane

It is and it isn't. Travel agencies receive a commission based on their volume of business. When I worked for a successful cruise agency (many years ago), we received 16% commission. I have no idea what the rate of commission is now. Often the owner would rebate some of that to the passengers as a discount and also "throw in" perks such as a bottle of wine in the cabin etc. So, although the base rate is the same as quoted by RCCL, the discounts and perks might make a difference.
I have always booked my own cruises since 1997 but I recently transferred 3 cruises to MEI, just from the recommendations I read on this blog. I am hoping to relieve some of the stress of keeping up with cancellation dates, air schedule changes, and cabin price changes, etc. , especially since there are so many glitches in the new website. I probably should have done this earlier but I haven't had a TA that I trust  since I left my job and then my agency owner retired a few years ago. I don't know if there will be any particular benefit but if I get in trouble and need help especially on our Mediterranean in October, I will call them first and I will let you know.

 

I asked the front desk about taking food off the ship when we were on a 6 hour excursion with no food provided. The answer was “ only if it is sealed.”  That would mean chips or candy bars etc purchased ir brought onboard. 

I wear scrubs in the office. Could I wear them as that is my business casual... Oh by the way...with or without bodily fluids??

I was with friends on Liberty in Jan and we ate at specialty restaurants three times. They wore shorts. Even on formal nights. I didn’t like it. But I kept my mouth shut. Too casual for me.
But nobody said anything to them.

Again, it's not about rules.  It is about being sensitive to the other guests.  RCI does a good job of preparing multiple venues for multiple interests, needs, and wants.  It's a shame when you want to take your significant other or family or friend to a nice restaurant and other guests think they're at the pool deck.  It is just self-centered to ignore the expectations of others when they are so well publicized, with the exception of extenuating circumstances.  I am all for casual because I'm retired, but I also try to think about the other guests.  This is why social norms come into play, not structured rules.  Having lost my luggage, I can understand some situations, but I'd have to agree that we could all (myself included) practice more sensitivity on the next cruise.  I am probably preaching to the choir, but social norms are more than rules (which can be arbitrary and discriminatory)--- there is some underlying basis for suggested attire and social customs.  And the caribbean is a lot more laid back than Europe...

Smart casual implies something like business casual. Do you wear shorts to the office?
On our cruise earlier this month, on formal nights the NO SHORTS IN THE DINING ROOM was in large bold print.
I never saw shorts in the dining room except on the first and last night when clothes were packed.
 

Wear it on the ship; lock it in the safe when in port. Easy Peasy. 

Re: documents required- You must have a letter signed by at least one parent of the niece. The letter states name of ship, sail date and itinerary. It gives you permission to take the child, sign waivers onboard and seek medical attention. It must be notarized.. If parents are divorced it’s better if both parents sign  
We just returned from cruise with teenage grandchildren and we were asked for the letter at checkin and they made a copy of it. 
A passport is better than a birth certificate. 

I have seen passengers  leave the dining room with  plates with the plastic  warm cover presumably for someone who couldn't make dinner. In fact, 4 years ago, I was that person and the waiter asked my husband if he wanted a dinner for me to "take out." Also, you can go to the windjammer and take a plate to the cabin.

I worked for a cruise only travel agency for three years- ending in 2001. For many years I enjoyed booking my own cruises. However the present website is not very user friendly so now I use a TA. It’s not worth the hassle anymore. 

Re: documents required- You must have a letter signed by at least one parent of the niece. The letter states name of ship, sail date and itinerary. It gives you permission to take the child, sign waivers onboard and seek medical attention. It must be notarized.. If parents are divorced it’s better if both parents sign  
We just returned from cruise with teenage grandchildren and we were asked for the letter at checkin and they made a copy of it. 
A passport is better than a birth certificate. 

Re: documents required- You must have a letter signed by at least one parent of the niece. The letter states name of ship, sail date and itinerary. It gives you permission to take the child, sign waivers onboard and seek medical attention. It must be notarized.. If parents are divorced it’s better if both parents sign  
We just returned from cruise with teenage grandchildren and we were asked for the letter at checkin and they made a copy of it. 
A passport is better than a birth certificate. 

There is a reason that many of us use travel agents to book with Royal. They then have to deal with the website and customer service phone nonsense and all the stress and headaches that come with it. I think it was less a bait and switch scam and more just a website glitch and a customer service agent who just couldn’t comprehend that and/or didn’t believe you for some reason (but still very annoying and I understand your frustration!) If you are willing to give Royal another try, I would try having a travel agent rebook it so that they can navigate that for you. The nice thing is that they come with lots of knowledge and experience and it costs you nothing extra. They get paid by Royal so it’s a win/win. 

We love having a balcony. Wife is an early riser, me not so much. She can get up and read her books outside while I get that extra needed recovery sleep before we start another day.

Pancho’s Backyard!  Hands down. We go every time we stop in Cozumel. 

Final thoughts-maybe
The Wifi really does need some improvement. I realize being in the Gulf and relying on the satellite is iffy but this was ridiculous. You're on then you're off. Then you can't get back on. 
Also the Royal app is equally funky onboard. It kept telling me I had to have wifi to use it and of course, you don't need to. And it was not necessarily accurate. We used it mainly to check the menus. I say it's nice but the good old Compass is the more reliable.
Saturday Night Live show really needs to be changed. It is getting old even for this old gal. I've seen it many time in many venues. Let's get a new show! The Two Funny Guys were-  two funny guys! Even the teenagers thought they were funny. 
The food in MTD and our waiter and assistant waiter were outstanding! I saw very few passengers dressed formally for formal night-the majority wore what is sometimes called business casual or country club casual. The men especially have given up the coats and ties. First and last night were very casual with shorts everywhere . Two nights the people before us took long to eat or came late and we had to change tables and wait. 
Our cabin 9200 was huge and with curtains drawn actually gave us 3 private sleeping areas. Cherton was our cabin steward and he was a dream. The kids were amazed at how the beds were magically made up twice a day and if you left something on the bed it was right there after he made it "to the centimeter." We got our exercise walking to the very front of the ship.
If you are looking for a quiet place to read or nap, go to Deck 4 Starboard near the shuffleboards. It is shady, breezy and quiet. Port side had a lot of smokers.
The Diamond club was not too crowded and in spite of the "rules" our grandkids and at least one other grandparent- grandkid family group were allowed in.  I was surprised to see obviously underage children being served alcohol and one young girl left the club with a 12 ounce glass filled with Irish Creme. Not cool!
Debarkation in Galveston was quick and efficient. We were out the door and at our car by 9:30.
Honestly it was one of the smoothest, most enjoyable cruises we have taken on a long time. 
 
 
 

Final thoughts-maybe
The Wifi really does need some improvement. I realize being in the Gulf and relying on the satellite is iffy but this was ridiculous. You're on then you're off. Then you can't get back on. 
Also the Royal app is equally funky onboard. It kept telling me I had to have wifi to use it and of course, you don't need to. And it was not necessarily accurate. We used it mainly to check the menus. I say it's nice but the good old Compass is the more reliable.
Saturday Night Live show really needs to be changed. It is getting old even for this old gal. I've seen it many time in many venues. Let's get a new show! The Two Funny Guys were-  two funny guys! Even the teenagers thought they were funny. 
The food in MTD and our waiter and assistant waiter were outstanding! I saw very few passengers dressed formally for formal night-the majority wore what is sometimes called business casual or country club casual. The men especially have given up the coats and ties. First and last night were very casual with shorts everywhere . Two nights the people before us took long to eat or came late and we had to change tables and wait. 
Our cabin 9200 was huge and with curtains drawn actually gave us 3 private sleeping areas. Cherton was our cabin steward and he was a dream. The kids were amazed at how the beds were magically made up twice a day and if you left something on the bed it was right there after he made it "to the centimeter." We got our exercise walking to the very front of the ship.
If you are looking for a quiet place to read or nap, go to Deck 4 Starboard near the shuffleboards. It is shady, breezy and quiet. Port side had a lot of smokers.
The Diamond club was not too crowded and in spite of the "rules" our grandkids and at least one other grandparent- grandkid family group were allowed in.  I was surprised to see obviously underage children being served alcohol and one young girl left the club with a 12 ounce glass filled with Irish Creme. Not cool!
Debarkation in Galveston was quick and efficient. We were out the door and at our car by 9:30.
Honestly it was one of the smoothest, most enjoyable cruises we have taken on a long time. 
 
 
 

Final thoughts-maybe
The Wifi really does need some improvement. I realize being in the Gulf and relying on the satellite is iffy but this was ridiculous. You're on then you're off. Then you can't get back on. 
Also the Royal app is equally funky onboard. It kept telling me I had to have wifi to use it and of course, you don't need to. And it was not necessarily accurate. We used it mainly to check the menus. I say it's nice but the good old Compass is the more reliable.
Saturday Night Live show really needs to be changed. It is getting old even for this old gal. I've seen it many time in many venues. Let's get a new show! The Two Funny Guys were-  two funny guys! Even the teenagers thought they were funny. 
The food in MTD and our waiter and assistant waiter were outstanding! I saw very few passengers dressed formally for formal night-the majority wore what is sometimes called business casual or country club casual. The men especially have given up the coats and ties. First and last night were very casual with shorts everywhere . Two nights the people before us took long to eat or came late and we had to change tables and wait. 
Our cabin 9200 was huge and with curtains drawn actually gave us 3 private sleeping areas. Cherton was our cabin steward and he was a dream. The kids were amazed at how the beds were magically made up twice a day and if you left something on the bed it was right there after he made it "to the centimeter." We got our exercise walking to the very front of the ship.
If you are looking for a quiet place to read or nap, go to Deck 4 Starboard near the shuffleboards. It is shady, breezy and quiet. Port side had a lot of smokers.
The Diamond club was not too crowded and in spite of the "rules" our grandkids and at least one other grandparent- grandkid family group were allowed in.  I was surprised to see obviously underage children being served alcohol and one young girl left the club with a 12 ounce glass filled with Irish Creme. Not cool!
Debarkation in Galveston was quick and efficient. We were out the door and at our car by 9:30.
Honestly it was one of the smoothest, most enjoyable cruises we have taken on a long time. 
 
 
 

Day 6- sea day ‼️‼️‼️‼️
Also 2nd formal night and lobsters in dining room. Every table got a birthday cake to celebrate RCCL 50th birthday. Grandkids had to rummage around to find clothes that weren’t dirty or wrinkled  ???
We booked our next cruise at  Nextcruise. Transatlantic on Anthem April 2020 Cape Liberty to Southhampton then we will stay over a few days in London. 
All pools were too crowded so we found a quiet spot on Deck 4 to read and play shuffleboard. Kids finally got to sleep late. 
Good news is someone finally turned down the music on Deck 5 at 6:00am?
Unfortunately all 4 of us have had problems with the ship WIFI. We are constantly being knocked off and can’t get back on☹️

Day 5- Falmouth Jamaica 
I was pleasantly surprised at this port. The gated shopping restaurant area is very nice and safe. A nice change from the haranguing you experience at the Cozumel port shopping area. And it was very organized to meet your excursion. 
We took the Dreamer catamaran and snorkeling tour-  I believe we paid about $70 per person and it was well worth it. The catamaran is very nice, comfortable and provides some  shade. The bus ride was comfortable. The crew was great very nice, enthusiastic, and entertaining as they danced to the Carribbean music. The snorkeling sight evidently was great too. Our grandkids really enjoyed the day. 
We made it back in time to eat lunch and recuperate from 6 hours in the heat. 
We decided to skip the In the Air show  
A fun day was has by all.
 

Day 6- sea day ‼️‼️‼️‼️
Also 2nd formal night and lobsters in dining room. Every table got a birthday cake to celebrate RCCL 50th birthday. Grandkids had to rummage around to find clothes that weren’t dirty or wrinkled  ???
We booked our next cruise at  Nextcruise. Transatlantic on Anthem April 2020 Cape Liberty to Southhampton then we will stay over a few days in London. 
All pools were too crowded so we found a quiet spot on Deck 4 to read and play shuffleboard. Kids finally got to sleep late. 
Good news is someone finally turned down the music on Deck 5 at 6:00am?
Unfortunately all 4 of us have had problems with the ship WIFI. We are constantly being knocked off and can’t get back on☹️

Day 6- sea day ‼️‼️‼️‼️
Also 2nd formal night and lobsters in dining room. Every table got a birthday cake to celebrate RCCL 50th birthday. Grandkids had to rummage around to find clothes that weren’t dirty or wrinkled  ???
We booked our next cruise at  Nextcruise. Transatlantic on Anthem April 2020 Cape Liberty to Southhampton then we will stay over a few days in London. 
All pools were too crowded so we found a quiet spot on Deck 4 to read and play shuffleboard. Kids finally got to sleep late. 
Good news is someone finally turned down the music on Deck 5 at 6:00am?
Unfortunately all 4 of us have had problems with the ship WIFI. We are constantly being knocked off and can’t get back on☹️