Pima1988

There are a lot of IFS in your oost. WHAT ship? WHAT ports? WHAT Cabin upgrades did you bid on? For example Anthem out of Cape Liberty, Enchantment out of Baltimore is different than Symphony out of Miami or Liberty ...they are all different class ships. Jumping from interior to a balcony is several jumps and bids may vary due to the week you sail.... And again the ship plus itinerary. Just bid on the amount you feel comfortable with paying in the end. Don't try to game it. I would highly highly highly doubt it will be 50%. Last I read they are at 80+%.

Which ship? If its Anthem 10 will get me 20 you will be in the parking garage. Other ships may be kin the open lot. If you are in the open lot, pay for a porter when you debark. When we do the covered we don't pay for porters ....hubby and I get the luggage and than I wait by the garage as he runs to get the car and brings it down to loading level. Open air out door you will want to pay for a porter bc you can't drive the car closer and it's more of a haul....2 min walk in the sun, but when you are talking multiple luggage bags, carry ons and a stroller its a pain. The covered garage less than a min. and they can stand in the shade.

Being a Jersey girl born and raised I know NYC traffic...exit 8A. I was only talking about once you get near the terminal...ship in sight Trumps golf course on the right.

The one thing to realize there are actually 2 lots, one covered garage and 1 out in the open. They do not let you choose which one you park in, or at least they didn't pre covid. Both are a short walk and gated The point is if you are sailing in the summer, you should take a window shade for your car just in case. When we sailed Anthem we had the covered garage. When we sailed Adventure we were in the open lot. We were told that this is how it typically goes, which makes sense. Anthem sails on a different day than Adventure, it is a bigger ship. That means they fill up the garage leaving Adventure in the open garage. I do disagree about it not being super busy. There will be a bottle neck when you get close to the terminal. It can be a long line of bumper to bumper bc they funnel you down. Nothing insane, but frustrating. We always joke that it takes longer from the time we hit the FUNNEL for dropping off the luggage than it takes once we park the car and are on the ship ordering our 1st drink. One piece of advice keep your carry on with you in the car and not in the trunk. Learned that the hard way. We were traveling with another couple and drove our car. We placed our carry on in the trunk (SUV) and they threw their luggage on top of it. The porters just grab and pull. The next thing we knew after we parked the carryon was unloaded with the porter.

I did not pick a cabin just looked at which ones were available on what decks. Thus, in the 5 mins I was on all suites were sold out.

If it was me, if you want the JS bid on it now. I have multiple bids currently for my 4/30 cruise on Symphony. If I don't win one I am okay and happy, because....I am in a JS on the hump mid sh and the deck I chose. If I win a GS on another deck great, if not fine. Royal up you have to accept wherever they give you. Don't like being AFT than its better to rebook now for the cabin and deck level you want. As far as bidding, only you know how far you're willing to go.

Omg as I went to close out my RCCL fake booking page ...I had opened for my last post...what 5 minutes? It now says Royal suite class sold out. 5 minutes and both JSs gine.

I tried to do a fake booking for Symphony 4/30 the highest category to purchase now is JS. Its interesting to watch how it changes so quickly. A few days ago you could even get an Aqua, plus, OS, CLS, and GS. However, the only JS you could get was a guaranteed, no cabin choice. Today, no JS gty , but 2 cabins deck 11 and 12 OV, one even on the hump. The price drop was pretty significant too. Still much more than I paid, but than again I have had to lift and shift for Symphony since May 2020....covid plus family/work

All of my bids still say pending and not expired so I know I am still in the running just hate the waiting game

Congrats. We are JS and still waiting. Bummed right now, but will be happy either way

You all know you can purchase the WOW band? It is just like the sea pass...use it for drinks, open your door.

Yes, it is a mock booking. Your ship, the number of member's. The thing you need to understand with ROYAL UP you DO NOT get to choose the cabin, such as, deck level, aft, mid, port ,etc.. You only get to choose the cabin type. IE Balcony, JS, GS ,CLS, etc. Its akin to doing a guaranteed booking. If you are unwilling to pay the up bid and be placed on a deck you don't want than don,t bid IMPO.

I sad to my hubby that our week is probably the best. Past spring break. During Prom season, at least in my area. HS ACT/SATs. College kids end of school yr and their college graduations. Thus, for many people, especially with kids of any age this week would not be ideal. The amount of interior left are insane. OV and promenade or central park view are abundant too.

We are the week before you and Did a bid of 950 for 2 ...we too are a JS. We did it because we bought the UDP and will drop that and eat in the CK. Plus we did the Key, which we will drop. Thus, financially it is a trade off for not much more money. Have you also checked how many GSs are left? For our cruise there are several GSs still available less than 3 weeks out.

What I find interesting is how many CLS are available. I think it was 6 as of yesterday.

Congrats. I am on the week after you ...no news for us, but I have hope bc 3 weeks out and there are multiple GS, OS and CLS still available. Believe it or not they still have an Aqua available, the only 1 I did place a bid on, but might do so now. We have a JS on the hump, so I won't cry if we don't get it, but I placed the same amount for the CLS so I am hoping we might get it. What I found interesting is that I do a fake booking about 2x a week. For months the JS were sold out...couldn't pick or do a guaranteed, now this week JS guaranteed is available to purchase. Never have done royal up before I wonder if this is a sign that they are going to start handing out royal up bids.

I have 3 answers. Chops: Goat Cheese salad....@Waytoo will say the red velvet cake MDR sea day. Tutti Salad for lunch. I think its called the world....chocolate dessert at Wonderland. Caveat, if you're on a ship that offers the Chefs table than hands down anything you are served at that meal.

We use a TA. They will run your state, age and military. For us, the military discount was never the best discount. Point being a TA can look at every aspect. They do the work for you and you don't pay them. RCCL does. Off topic, but best part they will be your liaison ....no need to be on hold on the phone for repricing. Just saying....

I am sure somebody in a JS got into the CK day 1, but I would think it is few and far between.....rare, rare, rare. Usually, you yo to the CK on Embarkation day and inform the host you are in a JS. They will try to work with you for the cruise. However, you are space available. As has been stated, times not be what you want. Next @YellowBrickRoad think about the length of your cruise. I have been on Anthem 5 night out of Cape Liberty. If you purchased a 3 night dining, than it will be 2 in the MDR. Let me say this....so nah people purchase the dining package that the MDR is fun to me and I get better service impo. They have less tables to wait on and they get to know you ~~~~Did a cousins cruise 3 yrs ago on Anthem. The family did MDR in only ...late sitting. 10 of us so lots of people to keep track of for the cruise when it comes to personal choices and service.. Hubby and I had done multiple Royal cruises so I knew what to do...ordered wedge salad for the week(off the menu) on night 1. My cousin due to medical reasons can only eat fish or pasta. End of dinner night 1 they asked his deires regarding fish and pasta. They worked hard to make the MDR a specialty. They knew that my husband and I always had Bourbon and coke for dinner, cappuccinos after dinner...we never ordered them after night 1, however every night there was our cocktail as soon as we sat and cappuccinos for ue after dinner. They also knew I was always too full to have dessert and they would pack it up to go for me to put in the mini cooler. CK is great and technically he service is amazing, but if you are in a JS and not doing the dining package you might but be pleasantly surprised how amazing the MDR can be...sea day make sure you goto the MDR d get the tuttisalad.

They exist everywhere. For example: Old Navy, DSW, Lowes, etc. American express will reimburse your annual fee for a platinum credit card....that means when you fly you get to enjoy private lounges in the airport with food, beverages Nd comfy chairs for free. AS FOR CRUISING... We have never used our military ID (21 yrs AD and now retired). We always use a TA. ..... They put in our state, age, military, and even specific credit cards we would use for discounts. Many times you can't combine, hence use a TA if you want to save time

I agree...let everybody off 1st.

We all know chair hogs are the top of the list, but what would you add. This might help 1st time cruisers. Me: Cheating at Schooner Trivia....play by the rules....NO PHONES. PLEASE! Seriously, you win a highlighter or a key fob....there is no trophy. Googling doesn't make you look smarter....instead we all, ok my group and other groups around you that have done this multiple times will all look and just mock you in a low voice at their table.... Usually the common joke is they dont know the prize they won was a key fob. This is really not about winning its about the interaction and laughter. losing is part of winning. Sorry if that offends.

I am not a fan of Radiance class, but if it means I can sail out of NOLA I would do it...caveat the ports. I really would want it to be port heavy instead of multiple sea days. The other positive for that class is I find people are creature of habit. Small size ships like that you make friends easier...i.e. Schooner bar for trivia...70s party, Solarium, casino, etc. Bc you all keep showing up at the same time. Larger ships you have more activities to do, but the negative is they can't go to smaller ports.

Late to the conversation, but like others I have never used my cup. The machines are not always ideally located. I.E. easier to show your sea pass card at the bar than carrying that cup and walking from the pool to WJ. My husband does use it, but only in the a.m. he goes to the freestyle machine and gets Powerade before he hits the gym. The rest of the day it sits on the dresser. We stopped using lanyards yrs ago. I also don't do the phone wallet/slots. Found it too annoying. I always take a pool bag with me during the day....towel clips, kindle, phone, sunblock etc. So I just throw both of ours in my bag. That bag goes with me to the pool or port excursions. Putting it on a lanyard, you're just going to have to take it every time you want to go in the water. Putting it in a sleeve you're just going to have fight getting it out when the wait staff at the Solarium comes around for your drink order. When we go to dinner or shows at night my husband than takes mine with him and places it in his wallet. Third reason...., due to our jobs, my hubby have multiple ones in our house since we need to wear them daily. They get dirty. Now think about this....7 night Caribbean cruise in May ...how much sunblock are you slathering on you everyday? Now, let's add the sweat, around the back of your neck, your hands every time you yank down on it mixed with sunblock. Not done yet....wearing it for dinner to use for your beverage package, wear perfume or cologne and you have a cacophony of lovely odors. In no way am I a germaphobe, (I work retail management), but after the 1st cruise long ago when they would hole punch your card we have never done it again. Take a picture of the neck area for the lanyard before you where it and the day you get home. It just made me go....yuck....hence, why no more lanyards.

I agree with other NJ residents. No way would I ever fly in or out using LaGuardia sailing out from Cape Liberty. Maybe if I was sailing NCL, which sails from NYC, but not Cape Liberty. Anyone from NJ that works in NYC would tell you pay 100, 200 bucks more and fly in and out Newark (EWR). It is well worth it just from a stress level!