AshleyDillo

Ft. Lauderdale has a ton of options depending on what you are looking for. The port is super close to the airport which has a lot of hotels that offer airport shuttles. We usually stay at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Fort Lauderdale 17th Street as I'm typically cruising with my mother and that's her preference. Personally I feel like it's overpriced, but it's really close to the port and has a good breakfast. There is also a shopping plaza with a grocery store and restaurants that is walkable so you can easily grab your wine, soda, sunscreen and dinner the night before. The Dania Pointe area has some good choices as well. It's a little further to the port but closer to the airport. Of course there are beach hotels as well, but I'm not a beach person so I wouldn't pay the premium to stay at any of those.

Woohoo! I'm on the first leg of your sailing, the "friends" part and official blog group cruise. I'm also doing the 3 night right before it that goes to Belgium because it was a casino comp. Maybe I will post some of that in here..maybe not. I've been feeling pretty lazy when it comes to doing more than just approving messages on here lately

I am a Moderator in that group. It is legit.

You get the $40 credit regardless of what you paid for the reservation.

Izumi hibachi is a fixed cost. If you prepay in the cruise planner, you will not have to pay anything additional when you dine there and you will be able to choose whichever 2 proteins you want regardless of the combos given on the menu. Your meal will include salad, hibachi with your 2 protein choices, rice, and vegetables and one dessert choice. You can chose to add sushi or drinks at the ala carte menu price. If you have a drink package, the drinks will be included. If you have the dining package, there's a $15 upcharge for dining at Izumi hibachi. If you do not prepay for Izumi hibachi, you will pay the menu prices for whatever you order. When you prepay in the cruise planner to dine at Izumi sushi you can either opt for the $39.99 prix fixe menu which gives you 1 small plate option, 2 large plate options, and 1 dessert. Or you can choose to go ala carte which in that case you will get a credit for up to $40 in (food) menu items. If you do not pre-pay then you pay menu pricing for whatever you order. One of those menu options is the $39.99 prix fixe deal. If you have a drink package, the drinks will be included.

It's basically India's answer to a funnel cake. Should have a sweet syrup on it that's infused with something aromatic depending on what they have available.

As I said it's pretty rare. I think it's not allowed for NY residents at all and when I was shopping travel insurance most of the time it excluded FL residents also. The coverage doesn't technically meet the definition of insurance, so it's more of an added feature/benefit of a policy. Sometimes it's referred to as missed port cover or cruise itinerary change coverage and it is specific to providing a flat payout for a port change. I see it a lot more on insurance policies outside of the US. Even for carriers that offer it, it's described very vaguely on their site and you can't really explore the policy language surrounding it without purchasing a policy.

For travel insurance policies that include this coverage they do cover at any point the itinerary changes from the date you book. It's a pretty rare clause and specifically just gives you a payout if there's a change without requiring any proof you suffered a financial loss.

I've never seen them on a ship, but a dosa is basically a savory Indian crepe.

I'd create an account and sign up for their mailing list. I get emailed promo codes all the time for Brightline.

You're right about the drinks. You use a voucher regardless of being in the lounge or not. Seems like the only inconvenience is you won't have the happy hour snacks available during the closure or unlimited 24/7 coffee machine usage.

It varies from port to port.

The one time it did ($19 Deluxe drink package) it kicked off a pandemic!

The gratuity is included but you will be given a $0 check at the end of the meal with a tip line if you wish to add anything additional.

Does the snorkeling specifically say that it's a tour? I wasn't aware that they offered anything guided at CocoCay. I think the snorkeling offered in the cruise planner is more of a rent the equipment kind of thing and you are on your own to swim around. I think I would opt out of the snorkeling and just keep the Thrill Water park passes. Hit up the water park first thing to beat the lines and then spend the rest of the day exploring the island.

The casino comps were doing this pretty often if I recall. I think @WAAAYTOOO may have experienced it at some point.

I love the Monkey Business drink because I like the cracked ice they use! I also am down with coffee and banana flavors so it just works for me. I do like most of the frozen concoctions they have in the machines. Not really a fan of the edible straws though.

Just cart on cases of sunscreen and all good! Yup. This is how full ship charters work.

They usually aren't looking at arrival times in Tampa. If anything you may even show up before they open the terminal doors depending on how long you drag getting off of the ship. They tend to not start boarding until closer to 11am from all of my experiences with Tampa.

Yes..they are my favorite rooms on the ship!

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php?/forum/47-legend-of-the-seas-roll-calls/

Don't apologize for the bougie. I likely will be offering my balcony for aqua show viewings to folks in the group on a nightly basis. My mother also will refuse to step into the dining room, so I will not likely be there at all in the evenings.

Basically when they offer shuttles usually they throw you on the airport transfer buses. Once those empty at the airport they're picking up embarking guests which they would then drop off back at the terminal. There's a chance that when you get off the ship that the airport transfer bus would make a stop at the other terminal if it doesn't leave full to try and fill it up before heading to the airport. With walking not being ideal, taxi is likely the best solution. If you're not going the shuttle route, I would have a leisurely breakfast in the MDR as late as you can and get off the ship as late as you can to minimize your wait to board the second leg. There also may be some independent airport shuttle vendors (those who hold signs at the terminal exit) that you could ask if they'd kindly be willing to take you over to the other terminal.

@Matt Paging someone above my pay grade.

They will group everyone together in the MDR based on your dining time selection if you choose a set dining time and decide you don't want to do the Unlimited Dining. If you're interested in doing the ultimate dining, I wouldn't worry about any conflicts there. Most of the group activities will not be during dinner times. If you're interested in any excursions booked through Royal, go ahead and book those to lock in pricing. You can always cancel later if there ends up being a group excursion. A bar crawl will happen on one of the sea days and usually it starts after lunch. Unlike a convention, these group cruises aren't heavily scheduled. Activities will be scattered here and there..usually there's at least one activity planned daily whether it be meeting up at a particular beach bar at Labadee or a private ice skating session or a non-private meetup at the pub onboard. Basically, it will be like any other cruise outside of the special activities except you will bump into a lot more of the same people over and over again that you recognize because you met them at the first group meetup on boarding day. Once we are past final payment there will be a Facebook group set up and a GroupMe chat so everyone can start getting to know each other better.