ScooterScott22

From a sign in Cunard, the "fancy" dress was not only for esthetics but for practical reasons if you went overboard.

Not sure if I have a skewed perspective, but it seems like it is extra effort to get to the MDR when you have the UDP (and suites). We have not been to the MDR on our last five cruises and likely will not on our next one in a few weeks. While two were in Star Class, three were not. Two of those were also on Voyager and Freedom class ships but those were 4 and 5 day sailings. Breakfast is usually outside of the MDR (Windjammer, in-suite or Chops), while lunches are specialty first, Windjammer or one of the other venues (Johnny Rockets, Playmakers) and snacks at quick service or Windjammer. With all the options available on most ships, the MDR doesn't seem to be a much of an option. We did drop in once on one of our early cruises but it doesn't seem to matter, especially if you choose MTD.

I picture it this way. We are all the chocolates while Lucy and Ethel are the terminal staff. The plan is the initial conveyer system and the craziness starts when people start showing up early.

The first message is specific to your cruise so not really a mixed message. That is the one that you need to utilize as the "truth". You should still try to be there around your specified boarding time, taking into account any possible delays. I'm sure there will be some leeway accommodated in actual boarding time. The second message is standard message that goes out to everyone for every cruise. They are trying to avoid having people show up early just to get on the ship which will create issues like the lines pictured below for entrance to the terminal.

It can be quite fun and some can be from the Chef as well as the others that are in the class. Table mates can greatly impact your experience. We had fun when we last did it and our son was ten. If they have any interest in cooking or craft type activity it will will be helpful. Have they started them back up? We did not see them on our sailing about a month ago. The behind the scenes tours were still just getting rolling across the fleet.

Last month while boarding we did not meet the genie until the boarding. There are multiple steps that might interrupt your plans. Not sure what port you are embarking but at Ft Lauderdale there is a Star banner and a host to take your name and initial check in, a porter will come for the bags and a “shoreside genie” will take you to security and to the check in, then they took us to the lounge to wait while the genie came to take us on the ship. Not sure that the shoreside staff will be as accommodating as the genie. Pretty sure they are going to be a little more by the book.

The two ships have plenty to do so I’ll take that out of consideration for a moment. The Navigator is typically doing shorter cruises, we will be on her in a few weeks for the 4 night, so is the “savings” actually from comparing a longer cruise on Allure vs shorter on Navigator? Putting the ships head to head may not be the best comparison. I would probably choose the longer cruise unless other things are impacting. If the 4K is for a four day then the 6K for a seven day is actually a better “deal” if you look at the cost per day viewpoint.

It is not something you will encounter JUST in the US or Royal. It was a number of years ago but we encountered a similar thing sailing in Europe on Disney. Every guest had to go to the theater at a designated time, with passports, to meet with customs and immigration.

I would go with anytime including as early as possible. The only thing to consider here is traffic and it could be heavy heading into Miami in the morning but still shouldn’t be so horrible that you could be on the ship by 11 to 12 o’clock.

Yes, I tried my first shot at a Live Blog but failed. It started off OK, but after boarding the ship I went into full vacation mode. While I did not avoid the internet, I didn't really post. Learning point for me, vacation is more important. We have not had the ATS yet so hoping to learn from you. Jim @Rags1 did a great blog of the Royal Loft a few weeks before our sailing and covered it better than I ever could.

Reading through the thread and wanted to share some thoughts since we considered doing something similar in the past and have sailed in suites with friends who were not in a suite. - It really seems like the best choice here is to book her in the separate stateroom and link the reservations. - Ordering the any "Drink Package" really seems like it isn't logical unless she really plans to order coffees, sodas and beer/wine/cocktails routinely. - The UDP is something I would consider and could be of benefit, but you will have to determine how likely you are to go to different venues. The first thing is Coastal Kitchen, likely will not be utilized much. The non-suite quest probably will not be allowed if the recent trends are applied. That means all your group dining will have to be specialty, in-suite, or quick service/buffet. My guess is most likely breakfasts will be in the suite and therefore the need for juices/coffee is negligible from the drinks package and no dining package impacts. Not knowing the itinerary of the 11 days, there could be the opportunity to have a few lunches at specialty dining. While you could still order up to the suite, it might be nice to be out and about a little so the UDP would be helpful. Same thing for dinners, while you could do in-suite, the food will be fresher and it might be nice to get out of the room some by going to the dining venue. Also you may be headed out to a show after, and the suites are aft. While it is nice to be back there, it might be easier to get ready and head out for dinner and a show in one trip. it usually is not too much of an ask for the genie to include the linked guest in the reservation.

You forgot to include "a safe for you laptop" and so much closet space"!!! The videos are great and we love him too. Have fun sailing! We just did the Royal Loft on Allure and have a 2BR ATS in the future so we will be following.

Verifying that as long as they are noted in the reservations as someone the child can leave the ship with they can go. Our son sailed with us but went off the ship with grandparents. Reservations were linked, which helped, but they were noted as having the ability to sign him off and on the ship.

I'll chime in since we had the GLS on the starboard side (10720) for an Alaska sailing (Ovation) a few years ago. We really enjoyed the stateroom. Granted we had not done one of the larger GLS before so we did not have any perspective one how much space we could have had with the middle versions. Space was never an issue for our party of three, since we would most commonly cruise in a regular veranda stateroom this room was nicer. Our son did have to use the downstairs and the closet down there. As far as noise, the was some noise from the Owners Loft Suite below just after boarding as the group opened their champagne to toast. Otherwise it was really quiet the while time. What we did like was having the extra veranda's for Alaska. Being able to get outside to look at wildlife or the scenery from the side or back and even the upstairs bedroom was nice. With that sailing there is almost always something to see out there and you neve know when something interesting might show up (whales, seals and eagles) that you want to get outside quickly for. We did have one of the center GLS on deck 8 booked for sailing that was cancelled so can't give a direct comparison. Have fun, no matter where you end up!

Just being realistic to help manage expectations - Suites, Pinnacle and The Key will all be allowed into the terminal first. Those same groups will be the first to board, after the back to back cruisers are cleared and boarded (if they come off the ship at your port). Clearing the ship and inspections can also cause delays to the boarding process. I'm not saying you cannot try to get the most of your day by attempting to be as early as possible, but stick relatively close to your check-in/boarding time for the best process. It could be disappointing to find that your port is adhering to check-in times and you have to wait. Even if you have an earlier check-in and you show up at 9 am, it would not be fun to start vacation only to find that your stuck waiting to get in until those other groups are allowed in, and then stuck sitting in the holding area until those other groups board. It may go relatively fast but can seem like forever.

Check the App or the cruise compass. As mentioned, some of the staff maybe involved in boarding day duties such as manning a muster station check-in. So this can be impacted by the number of staff and the roles that they have outside of activities. Because the question is "on embarkation day", I'll say yes it is likely to be open but many not open until after sail away, dependent on staffing. That is from a Freedom sailing last fall. That is day one, so it was open while in port that day.

Agree with the suggestion above to put some of the party into another transport. The process @BethW mentioned is feasible but is that really what you want to do? Drop off will not be an issue, and returning to the hotel is not much of a time loss but both trips into the port area could encounter some traffic/delays. The major factor is those waiting at the port. The folks waiting at the hotel for the second trip, while the first group is dropped, will not have any issue. Those at the port are sort of stuck in limbo while waiting for the second group. Not sure how the reservations are setup across the group but if the right parties are together, the first group certainly could go through the check in process and everyone meet up on the ship. Is that what you wanted? If you wanted the group together for the whole boarding process, there really is not a great spot for the first group to wait for the second group. There is an upstairs hall that the first group could sit at while waiting for the second group. They would go through security and the check-in and just wait there before boarding. There are a few potential things to consider if boarding in two separate groups. First is that OK with the whole group or did you want to be all together through out the process? Second, there is a boarding photo opportunity. Would you even want a boarding photo and if so do you want one of the whole group together? And finally, easier to manage, but will all the right people be in all the right places for check-in/boarding in the two group scenario. If any bags, people or paperwork are not in the right bunch, it can be worked out but may not be as easy as the one group scenario.

Sorry, sarcasm does not always come through on computer messages (text/email/posts). Thought the frozen smile might have helped convey sarcasm. Yes, I grew up in the mid-west, moved to the mountains and was even on ski patrol so I know what "real" cold is. I'll admit I'm not quite as hearty as I once was, 16 + years here, but October - March is great.

Expect that it is horrible in February. It gets so cold here in Florida that during most of February our AC is actually turned off.

The ship type probably matters most. We had no issues gaining access to the lounge on a Harmony sailing. On Freedom we went up and at first could not access the lounge, but the concierge host happened to be headed in as we were waiting for the elevator and he let us in.

Not all places will do this for cruise visitors. I asked while we were in Curaçao and couldn't find anyone that knew of a place to get a stamp. There were a few places we inquired in the past, like Cartegena, that did not have a place that was available since they clear the whole ship in one process. There are others that were quite accommodating. While transiting the canal, a Panamanian immigration officer came onboard and was available at guest services to provide passport stamps. It also gives you another reason to have your passport with you when you leave the ship while in port.

Based on two successful, and many more not successful bid, including observations from others that we know when they got notifications. Most of this is based on our successful bids. Also factoring in, being one of the only Owners Suites on a Freedom that was "booked", and reading/chatting with a number of folks that won their royal up on that cruise. It seems that the sweet spot is about a month to a week before the cruise to get the notification of a successful bid. Any earlier and they are likely still open to regular bookings. My guess is Royal probably has instruction for the royal up administrators to start the royal up process if the original cruise fare plus the bid is likely to be more than any revenue they might recuperate from last minute bookings. Once you get inside of a week the likelihood of successful bid is probably dropping and totally dependent on a cancellation or someone missing the ship.

There is another office that you might be thinking of, I'm referencing one right next to the port. The other office is about 3 miles away.

It has been a few years since we have been to Nassau and even longer since we stopped in for the passport stamp. So this may not be totally accurate. After you walk off the pier area, I recommend to not follow the crowd. Most people seem to go straight or to the right out towards the tours and taxi's. There is a small gate along the left that is manned by a guard/military/police. It looks like you cannot use that but we asked and they let us through. Right outside of that is a governmental building and they do (or did) the passport stamps. As you enter the building make a right and the room is about halfway down the hall on the right.

Stowaway Piano player was out and about on the Wonder in March. Can’t remember which but saw him around on either the Harmony or Navigator earlier in the past year. Did not see him on Allure last month.