AshleyDillo

The Facebook group and GroupMe are set up. There was an issue with the Facebook group so it's paused right now. If you need invites to either ask your MEI agent and they should be able to get you added!

This is the hack I use when I have to check in when I'm on a ship.

Not sure. I was in an oceanview but I'm a night owl and slept in most days past when the morning housekeeping would have been.

Nope, VOOM was included. It was already loaded when I boarded. I didn't either, but since my mom was paying I decided to be a guinea pig and try it out and report back to her. But for me I was on a casino comp in an oceanview room and solo on a 3-nighter, so that $900 for it was nothing compared to what others end up paying with multiple in their room on longer sailings.

Onboard the ship, swim diapers are only allowed in specific areas. The big children's splash area does not allow swim diapers. However, the splash areas on CocoCay do allow swim diapers.

Royal Genie also gives you internet which is another monetary component to factor into the pricing. Ships with the Royal Genie program do not use the suite classes. A Grand Suite on Oasis, Quantum and Icon classes is Sky class and gets Sky class benefits, but a Grand Suite on Independence and Freedom will not give all the same benefits. Again, the biggest missing piece of those benefits is the free internet.

Can't get enough of us now can you, Tim?

No. It's just the way the system is set up to sell the passes.

You have to call Royal to allow it. They will make her purchase the Refreshment package.

Ughhh...I would hate the beach to be first on a tour with no way to shower and change after!

Not to hijack, but @Matt posted his review of the Genie program this morning in case anyone was interested: https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2025/07/02/royal-genie-package-review

Yay! It will be great to sail with you guys again.

You have to pay upfront for their package but it will get refunded when they no show (as will port fees and taxes). If you want a good DX price you are seeing in the Cruise Planner, call Royal to book and tell them the other person doesn't drink and they will allow you to purchase the Refreshment package for them which gives you a less upfront outlay.

Might as well do it now. Turn on airplane mode and connect to wifi and enable wifi calling. I don't have an iPhone, so I couldn't tell you how to do it. If you have problems with it and can't find the solution online, if you visit your cell phone provider store they can probably assist.

Drinking age in the Bahamas is 18+, I thought.

Unfortunately more details will not come until we are closer to the sail date. Once we are past final payment, they should set up a GroupMe chat and private Facebook group for the people who booked with the group through MEI and that's always fun to meet your fellow cruisers and get hyped up for the sailing. The GroupMe chat keeps going through the cruise for those who have internet access. @Beci will get those set up some time after final payment. As far as specifics on activities, they are at the mercy of working with Royal Caribbean to secure locations and times, so not much gets released before they do that. Even after they get that information, it's subject to change once we are on the ship. This cruise is also celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Royal Caribbean Blog INSIDERS program. If you're not an INSIDER yet, you can join at https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/support. Everyone who has been on a group cruise before is really hyped up about this October sailing, so it should be a great time!

I got full laundry on Indy. Are we shocked it's inconsistent as per usual? They also gave me some of the suite amenities like the lip balm and the cucumber eye pads. However they didn't have the Malin & Goetz in my room (and I didnt bother asking). I did have the D+ individual toiletries in my bathroom, but I am D+ so I should have had them anyways. Of course they didn't give me them on my second leg when I wasnt doing the Genie package. Seems a bit nitpicky, but it will get a mention on the survey to point out inconsistency.

They're definitely from Montreal..they spoke French and English!

No they're Pinns from Montreal. I met them when they stalked my Genie and tried to hijack our conversation

Had to walk through the casino to get to my room to pack. Yay.

Here...I contributed.

You might want to look into URComped. They can shop you to other lines and land casinos and get you offers.

For me that came in a later email. They also email you a Genie luggage tag to print but it's just a PDF of the ones they usually have at the port.

You're welcome!