Baked Alaska

This is nice. I didn't see this on cruisedeckplans.com. this is a nice upgrade!

https://cruisedeckplans.com/DP/deckplans/decks.php?ship=Independence-of-the-Seas To me, it looks like a misprint. I also see what you are seeing with the asterik "Spacious Ocean View Balcony*." There is either Spacious Ocean View (catagories 3M-4M, ) or Spacious Balcony ( catagories 1B-4B, CB) which are mostly on the hump, and the Ultra Spacious Ocean View (catagory 1K).

WOW!! This shot below is from Cruisemapper, which does not agree with Cruiseingtimes. However, it does agree with the itinerary on Royal Caribbean. Coco Cay could see A LOT of people on Dec 27th.

Check your Cruise Planner DAILY! It will appear and disappear. Sometimes, hourly.

This is what the Optum store is showing as of today (10/30/2021):

If the suites show "sold out" then why do they show up in the Royal Up? In case they get cancelations? Or, are they holding those back for the Royal Up?

We are 59 days out, so I'm not checking daily. . . Yet!

The credit card charge is the number one consideration (ditto on the monthly payoff). My own opinion is that it is the "pressure-o-meter;" Royal lists their minimum bid, and after that, it is the equivalent of the auctioneer pointing at YOU for your next bid "Ma'am, $500 to you" waiting for you to raise it to $600.

How much weight or credence should I put into the bid-o-meter? That is, is a "weak" bid according to the bid-o-meter really "weak?" By what standards is it judged "weak?"

Yep. And, it's gone again. I was able to cancel the three three-night dining package and grab two more of the UDP for $196 a piece for a total of 3 UDPs (see above).

UDP just showed back up for our Dec 26th cruise!

The Crown Loft suite comes with Sky amenities. The Royal Loft and Star Loft suites are the loft suite with Star amenities.

I wish I had received this survey. I'm very concerned about getting tested for our Dec 26th cruise. We will need to test on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. We will go the proctored route with the at-home test, but so will the rest of the world. ARGH!

One of these: a) Overnight accomodations at Coco Cay b) Acquisition of another "widget." Thinking about how Carnival Cruiseline purchased the White Pass/Yukon Railroad in Skagway c) New partnership with some "celebrity" d) Acquisition of another line or new class of ship e) World Cruise

Try here: https://www.cruisetimetables.com/ and do this search:

Also, has anyone used https://www.cruisingexcursions.com?

@Rodand @Wilson which excursions did you book and can you tell me about them? Thanks!

We were late leaving Juneau last time we were in port due to someone (and their family) debarking and leaving in an ambulance. I wondered how much that trip, hospitalization, and a further trip to the lower 48 (assuming) would cost and if they had trip insurance to cover that (excursion).

I would appreciate that. Thank you!

Yes, that's it. Thank you! Come on cruising gods, give Speedy her upgrade!

Okay, question for all you suite snobs (affectionately, of course!): We will be on Oasis OTS in a CL for NYE. Does Coastal Kitchen do anything different for the NYE dinner? Trying to figure out if we should eat there for NYE or head to Giovanni's for their Holiday Dinner. Paging @Lovetocruise2002 and @WAAAYTOOO!

I recall there was a web address for Royalup. Can someone refresh my memory please?

@SpeedNoodlesI have the same problem. My Barclays card tries to protect me from myself. Ugh. If I need a new phone, it always denies the initial purchase. I have to call Barclays and tell them the transaction is going through a second time. My BOFA RCG card, which I want to be done with after our next cruise happens, doesn't flag potential fraud purchases that Barclays does. Yay?

Next summer, we are headed back to Alaska on Radiance OS, spending almost a week before in the Anchorage and Seward area fishing. My son is bringing along his buddy, (let's call him DB). The three of us, DS, DH, and I, are covered by our travel insurance policy. I don't know how to get DB covered for the cruise, though. We are paying for all of his expenses except for the air travel to ANC and from YVR. His mom purchased travel insurance for the airfare since she purchased the airfare. However, how can we ensure that he is covered should something unexpected happen (I'm thinking medical emergency/evacuation) DURING THE CRUISE? Or can we? Our travel insurance company says that he cannot be covered since he doesn't live in the same household as the rest of us. To add another nuance to this, he is also unvaccinated and will remain unvaccinated, which could preclude him from the cruise, anyway. I am prepared for that scenario. It is the unexpected medical portion that gives me pause. Does anyone have any ideas on this? @Sharla?