SolariumSnoozer

I agree and follow this approach.  The issue I have is what appears to be false advertising.  I have been watching the VOOM pricing on a future cruise and it was priced at $15.99/day with no promotion attached.  Then, after watching this for 2 months I logged on and VOOM was promoted as on sale for 20% off with the same price $15.99/day.  Most likely VOOM was always discounted the 20% it was just not advertised but it could also be interpreted as Royal raised the price to promote a 20% discount at the same price.

Amazing picture, your blogs always have something new to see or learn.

With our fabulous dinner over around 10pm I was too full to retire so I changed into shorts and went for a walk outside on deck 6.  Venturing forward we were sailing into some sea mist from the warm waters yet cooling air and there were some clouds in the sky but I also glimpsed what I thought was something I've photographed before in the night sky.  So I went back to grab my camera and mini tripod.
I've often sailed into the sunset but tonight we were sailing into the milky way.

Capturing the milky way requires long exposures but on a moving ship in the ocean it took some playing around to find some settings that worked.  With the 10 to 15 second exposures I was using I managed to catch some lighting in a distant storm on the horizon.
The bow is dark at night so the bridge crew can keep watch.  The long exposures captured enough light to make the bow look like it's illuminated but it isn't, that's just low levels of ambient light 

The sea mist, clouds and moving ship didn't make for the best astrophotography conditions but I'm pleased with the results.  More lightning:

On land the stars would be more precise and clear, that's the problem with shooting from a moving platform, but I'll take the results.

Enjoy the cruise and happy belated anniversary, living vicariously through your adventure.  This is definitely on the bucket list just don't know how soon.

I will be following along, I have this same itinerary booked for next summer.  You have some great excursions book, can't wait to hear about them.  Enjoy your cruise. 

I just wanted to tell you I love your user name!!!!   Awesome!!! Jane

I will be following along, I have this same itinerary booked for next summer.  You have some great excursions book, can't wait to hear about them.  Enjoy your cruise. 

...and the RC internet developers....  oh, wait.....

I found some time to stitch together a series of video clips that I took in between taking still photos of our morning in Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier.  11m52s
 
 

@twangster , thanks again for taking the time out of your vacation to share your experience and pictures with us.  One of your earlier Alaskan blogs caused me to book an Alaskan cruise.  This blog once again affirms that decision, making me happy I've booked the cruise but sad it's still 14 months away.

I have flown into JFK internationally a number of times and have not had any issues.  I live on long island, about 20 minutes from JFK, and on my last trip the time from gate to front door was just over an hour.   It was also 5AM so there was zero traffic.  On that trip I used Lyft, but normally I use a limo service which works equally well.  JFK has 6 terminals and each one is different.  If I researched it properly, Aer Lingus arrives at Terminal 5 and I have no experience with that terminal.  I always land at terminal 4 (Delta) which is a very large terminal so there is a lot of walking and a large curbside pickup area.  You need to arrange with your ride where you will be picked up, there are signs marked Passenger Area A-D, and whether the car will be on inside or outside road.  When you come out of the terminal you have to cross the street to the island and pickups can happen on either side of the island although Uber and Lyft are always on the outside.  I also highly recommend using the mobile passport app, it definitely saves time through customs.
Truthfully, I think your biggest issue is not JFK but the car ride home.  The Belt Parkway and Staten Island Expressway can be a nightmare.  Accidents, construction and rubber necking can easily double the time it takes to get to NJ.  If you have any choices on arrival times I would try and stay away from morning and evening rush hour.

Following along.  Can't wait to see your pictures.  I have an Alaskan cruise booked for summer 2020.  Thanks for taking the time from your vacation to share your experience.

My lone experience with having a cruise cancelled was as follows:
1. Royal offers to price protect your cabin fare on SELECT cruises.  These cruises were either on the same ship or a second ship sailing from the same port.  These cruises were earlier and later in time than the cancelled cruise.  What Royal didn't offer was protection pricing for the week the cruise was cancelled on any ship.  In my case, that was the issue since I didn't have the freedom the move my cruise to a different sailing period, even one week earlier or later.
2. Royal offers you OBC on any  re-booked cruise even if it's not price protected- in my case $200
3. Royal offered to cover up to $200 per guest for nonrefundable airline charges, if you re-booked.
4. Lastly Royal offers to fully refund your deposit if you don't re-book.

Yes, as @tiny260 said, you can take towels off the ship.  We usually get fresh towels the night before and have them in our cabin so we are ready to go the next morning.  Royal almost always has a towel drop right when you get back on the ship so you don't have to carry them back to the pool deck.

I posted the following previously, but its worth posting it here again:
There is some good information at this site that explains some of the differences in travel insurance and directs you to different companies depending upon your priorities.  It's not a one stop site but I found it a good place to start.
https://www.reviews.com/travel-insurance/

This is a great tip which I had never considered.  Thought I would highlight it since it is hidden deeper in this review from 2017 and not sure if others would read the entire review as I just did.

This is a great tip which I had never considered.  Thought I would highlight it since it is hidden deeper in this review from 2017 and not sure if others would read the entire review as I just did.

MEI Travel is a sponsor of this blog.  Many posts contain positive reviews of their agents.  I recently started using Michelle Cunningham (@michelle) and can give a her a very positive recommendation.  You can email her at [email protected].
 

Following, considering a 4 day cruise on Navigator this summer.

MEI Travel is a sponsor of this blog.  Many posts contain positive reviews of their agents.  I recently started using Michelle Cunningham (@michelle) and can give a her a very positive recommendation.  You can email her at [email protected].
 

I have brought a corkscrew on my last 3 cruises and have not had an issue.

I have always had success storing the suitcases under the bed.  We bring suitcases that can be nested so once they are empty we nest them and store them under the bed. 

I have always had success storing the suitcases under the bed.  We bring suitcases that can be nested so once they are empty we nest them and store them under the bed. 

Matt did podcast interviewing a bride who had her wedding with Royal,
https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/podcast/episode-249-royal-caribbean-wedding-review

OMG, how I PRAY that they are removing Cats from Oasis during her dry dock.