AshleyDillo

I just threw mine in my wallet because my FL license isn't set to be renewed until next year and I don't want to be caught off-guard by the real ID compliance for airline travel that's going to kick in next year. Plus my DL photo looks nothing like me anymore ?

If you start one, I will chime in and hijack with my unsolicited thoughts and opinions!

Whew..that made my heart skip a beat for a moment. I always have my passport card in my wallet and I do take my birth certificate AND my passport when I cruise just to be extra sure!

Times can very from sailing to sailing, so I wouldn't really look for specific times but rather an estimate of how long after docking does the Disney transportation typically leave and how long before the all aboard time does the return transportation typically leave. That should give you somewhat of an idea of what to expect based on your scheduled port time. Just be aware that the port time can change or be altered due to a number of situations, so don't make any reservations that have non-refundable deposits required just in case.

Looks like Oasis is back out of Miami for Fall 2021.

Royal IT strikes again..apparently March 2022 is before January and February 2022. And the Harmony January 2022 sailing that was on the site disappeared again.

I do it whenever I get around to it (i.e. when I'm thinking about it and have my passport handy). No real advantage that I can see to getting it done. If you don't check in you can still just do it at the pier at embarkation and it only takes a few minutes longer.

Depending on when you are using it, the only option for the cruise may be the top level which is uncovered. It costs less than the covered option when you get to choose between the two.

Nope. You can turn charging privileges off for the kids, but otherwise if you set them up with spending privileges and don't link to a credit card it will cut them off at $300 before you have to pay down the account.

Yuck! Port Everglades isn't a pretty port to sit and stare at either. At least you'll have plenty to do and eat! ? Have a safe drive down!

Fulton Place Parking garage is convenient. You pre-pay for your parking reservation at: https://www.neworleansparking.com/ and then you show them your confirmation when you show up. You can easily walk (about 2 blocks) to the cruise terminal or they have a shuttle. If you use them, I suggest dropping off your party at the bottom level with the luggage before you park as the elevators are small and slow. It's much easier for a single person to take the stairs down without luggage after parking. Then on the way back just send the driver to pick up the car and drive to the port to pick up your party. Driving is a little further as you have to go all the way around the convention center that is between the parking garage and the port. You can see how close the garage is on this map. NCL uses the Julia Street terminal.

Does the fine print on the BOGO60 offer state it is only for non-refundable deposits? I have found the refundable price increases to be all over the place. Once when pricing for a solo the refundable deposit was more than the cruise price!

The only way I can see doing this to take advantage of the OBC you get from NextCruise from booking is to book the cruise you want with NextCruise and then have it transferred to MEI. This really only works to your benefit if you can get the same category cabin at the exact same price that you locked in when booking your future cruises with MEI. You also would need those future bookings you already have with MEI to be refundable since you would be canceling those to replace them with the NextCruise booking, otherwise you are also out part of the deposit. There is a lot of fine print with the NextCruise bookings so the massive amounts of OBC you see are limited to certain length sailings, cabin categories, and sometimes even certain sailings. They are also for non-refundable deposits. So the net effect of rebooking through NextCruise may not result in any significant savings as it really will come down to the current pricing. If you want to take advantage of NextCruise in the future, just find a new booking to make while you are onboard on a cruise and then have it transferred over to MEI so they can provide their TA services for that sailing. You can also bookmark the current NextCruise offer page (http://www.royalonboardsales.com/) and check it right before you sail so you have an idea of what the offer is and can price out a cruise quote with MEI right before you sail to take into your NextCruise appointment with an idea of what you want.

The pools typically aren't open very late on Royal.

Yes and yes!

Booking as soon as the cruise becomes available lets you lock in your cabin location and take advantage of price drops until final payment. Doesn't 100% guarantee the best prices as the cruiseline will reduce prices on cruises that don't sell well. This January, February, March time period comes right after the holidays where folks are weary of spending as they recoup from the holiday spending season. So anything that the cruiseline can do to get that deposit cash flow coming they will. If they can fill the cruises early in the year they won't have to reduce the prices further on down the line. I don't think the prices will necessarily be better, but there might be OBC offers or extra perks..they may even offer incentives to TAs who then can pass along more perks to their customers such as free dining.

Typically runs 3.25 + 18%, so about 3.84 a pop. You can catch the soda package regularly on sale before the cruise for 8.99 or 9.99/day which makes it worthwhile..plus you get a souvenir cup to keep.

Yes, only 12 per cabin. https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/food-drink-onboard-policy

If you have two cabins, then they would probably think the sparkling cider was wine and thus you would be allowed 4 bottles in total (2 per cabin). But as suggested above you can try it and just don't invest a lot of money in the cider in case they don't allow it. I would split it up between carry-ons as 2 bottles with each adult in hopes they won't be paying attention that you are getting around the 2 bottles per cabin limit. Even if you get a positive response from the cruiseline that it would be allowed, the folks at the port are not employees of the cruiseline and they are going off the security rules as they know them. Another option is to look for the bottles that fit the rules. There are sparkling ciders out there (non-alcoholic) that come in individual bottles. I notice the 12 bottles/cans policy doesn't state they have to be plastic or aluminum. https://www.amazon.com/Martinellis-Medal-Sparkling-Apple-Bottles/dp/B079SW7VFY/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=sparkling+cider+plastic+bottles&qid=1573655955&sr=8-3

Right..you should have been able to swing into Izumi and get up to $35 per person in sushi and then gone to your Chops dinner. Royal really fails at being consistent with their policies and the only thing you can really do is advocate for yourself on the ship and try to get it resolved at that time. Of course that means spending some of your precious cruise vacation arguing to get what you paid for. Unfortunately it may or may not be the same situation when you try it on Allure. though you will have more options.

I'm expecting that will be in phase 2 of the Europe releases..likely the Rome-based home port.

It is my understanding that with the package you can dine at multiple restaurants each night. However they won't allow you to make more than one reservation in an evening, so if you wanted to stop and get sushi they would have to do it based on space available. Also they have clarified that it's still one entree per visit and they try to say that the reference to multiple entrees in the package description means that you're doing multiple restaurant visits. I've read accounts where the package was honored for everything, and also accounts where the package wasn't even honored the way it was written. It appears to be up to the discretion of the current hotel director on board.

Nice!!! So Johnny Rockets milkshakes for all!

Oh yes! Tons of options..don't forget you can take advantage on embarkation day and use it wherever ends up being open! I hate long drawn out meals, so I'm hoping being solo I can pop into somewhere and grab a dish and be in and out within 30 minutes and do that a couple times each time. Probably a pipe dream..but we shall see. $175 is the cheapest I'm seeing it for Oasis class 7-days..so nab it at that price and hope for a Black Friday sale!

I'm not planning on keeping my time and when I go to modify it now it only gives me the option of my currently selected 9pm and 5:30pm..I'm pretty sure there were other options originally so who knows how they've programmed it. I just know I'm going to go first thing when I get onboard and schedule something for certain each night..and then probably end up eating sushi, BBQ or wings every night instead ?