Ron Rico

Thank you, both! First time B2B and excited!

Also, I think I posted this under the incorrect header, but I very much appreciate the responses! 

Happy Cruising, everyone! 

Has anyone done a B2B out of Port Canaveral and driven to the port?

We will be using Terminal 1, which has you pay before parking. How does it work for B2B cruises, when you won't be leaving the garage until the end of cruise #2?

Thanks, all!

Dang - that's crazy expensive! I got the 100 photo package for an upcoming family cruise for $125 on a Black Friday sale last November. It's now the $299 (on sale)! Earlier planning paid off, I guess. Wow!

@GA Cruiser I'm on Wonder May 14 - Western Caribbean  (Cozumel, Roatan & Costa Maya) - our formal nights are days 3 (sea day) and 6 (Costa Maya). Hope this helps you in your planning. 

Tack on top of the traffic due to the launch, there are 4 ships (including Mariner) in port that day. Oy vey - the traffic.... 

@tonyfsu21 We will be in the Beachline parking lot, too. Guess I will need to pack my patience and leave early.

BTW - Go Noles!!!  And FYI - Playmakers on Sunday 9/4 @  7:30 p.m. for the FSU Watch Party!!

We sailed on Harmony in May, and there was a long line outside. However, it was because the Coast Guard was doing their annual ship inspection and no one was allowed on the ship until it was finished. So, everything was backed up. Luckily, we were Star Class and were quickly shuttled through the process and waited in a standing room only suite lounge. Once allowed on board, I remember looking at the long line from our balcony. The line was backed up to the gargage entrance.  I have never seen it like that before. It is amazing that an hour delay in boarding can cause such a ripple down effect.  Thinking back, I'm not sure I would have waited in that line. Instead, I think I would have walked to one of the near by restaurants to have a cold drink and let the line die down a little. Thank goodness I didn't have to make that choice. 

That said my advice is to have your test result printed along with your vaccination card and passport easily accessible for the port agents to check. So much time is wasted by people trying to hunt down their test results on their phones, or digging through their bags for their vaccination card or passports.   Having everything ready to go makes this step in the boarding process seemless, and the agents are happy to assist you and get you moving along. 

Enjoy your cruise! 

35 minutes ago, MLH said:

If you park your car towards the left side of the garage as you enter the garage and take the far left elevator, you will come directly down to the star class banner without having to weed through everyone with your luggage.  FYI This was precovid however.

Thank you!!  So appreciate all these tips!! 

On 4/14/2022 at 3:45 PM, WAAAYTOOO said:

Each person booked in a SC suite gets 1 complimentary surf & stream device however, if you want to be able to have more than 1 device active at once, you can purchase additional Voom capability.  We had a friend who needed to have at least 2 devices operating at the same time (work requirements) so he purchased additional capability.  Not sure what he did but the Genie hooked him up.

@Pooch@WAAAYTOOOand @CGTLH thank you!   All of this information has helped!! 
 

Very much, appreciated!! 

8 minutes ago, CGTLH said:

Just sailed Star class April 10 out of Port Canaveral.

Process is the easiest of the ports in my opinion. When you pull in head to luggage drop off area. If the spot in front of the Star class banner is available stop there. Otherwise follow the guidance of the person directing traffic.

If you have to stop beyond the banner a porter will load your luggage on a flat bed style cart and bring it over to the podium/Star class banner. At that point they should apply the Star class luggage tags. Only once the Star class tags are on would I be comfortable having the luggage leave sight.

As of late I haven't heard of any reports of being escorted on with luggage at Port Canaveral.

After the luggage drop off loop around to the parking garage. 

 

Email the Genie had sent of the process...

Facing the main entrance of "Terminal 1", there will be Star Class purple banner and “Pier Genies” who will be in charge of receiving your luggage and guide you through the security and check in process. Please only drop your luggage at this designated Star Class area so we can make sure it gets expedited to your Suite, DO NOT leave your luggage with the regular porters; there will be a Star Class purple banner sign and designated pier staff ready to assist outside the main entrance. In order to receive expedited delivery and identify your belongings, if possible, tag your luggage accordingly with the Suite number. If for any reason you are unable to do so, we will also have Star Class tags available at the terminal.

Thank you so much! 

19 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

@Poochbrings up a very important point.  Whatever you decide to do about arrival, DO NOT drop your luggage at the curbside drop-off.  Either keep your luggage in your possession at all times (my preference) or make sure you drop it with a Star Class porter.  Better yet, take it all the way to the SC greeter and have him/her advise you to whom to give your luggage.  Sometimes even the SC porter is not the right move (as I found out the hard way once….had to go retrieve it and bring it to the SC greeter).

Thanks so much! 

16 minutes ago, Pooch said:

We were not Star class but don’t think the garage staff would know that anyway.  We pulled in and you first come to the area where you would drop off passengers and luggage.  We didn’t need to do that so we drove around the corner & dropped the luggage only with the porters there.  Then we parked & walked to the security check in just outside the terminal.  So for us it was  drop off luggage, park car, 2 minute walk together to security check in.  From pulling into the garage to standing in the security line couldn’t have been more than 7-8 minutes.

Thanks! We’ve been to PC many times on Royal, but Star Class has a different set up, from what I understand. Trying to understand. 

However, I do appreciate you helping out a fellow cruiser!

So, can anyone explain the drop off of luggage at the Star Class banner at Port Canaveral and parking your own car?

It’s our first Star Class experience, so we have researched everywhere to find out how the process of dropping of luggage and parking you own car works at PC  

Should some of the party stay with the luggage while the driver leaves to park?

I’m probably way overthinking how this process works (can’t help it - I’m a planner), but it was a bone of contention last night (OK - stupidly arguing) over what happens - drop off luggage, park car, go through security, etc. 

Any enlightenment will be greatly appreciated and maybe get me out of the doghouse  

TIA

@WAAAYTOOO @twangster.  &. @jay1021

Thank you all for your insight!! Very much appreciated! 

1 hour ago, jay1021 said:

You only get to use one log-in at a time.  If you want and have 3 devices you can, for example, log into the system on your phone, disconnect then log in on your tablet, log off and then log into you laptop.  

Thank you! 

57 minutes ago, twangster said:

Plus each person can log in on different devices as long as its only one at a time.  

Some cruise lines lock the plan to the first device that connects and no other devices can use it.  

On Royal you can log out one device and log in on a different device.  

Thanks, @twangster !

Thank you!! 

Does anyone know if there is a limit to how many devices you can set up with Voom in a Star Class Suite? 

I know each person gets it, but is is one device per person? 

TIA

@Cruisin and Boozin Any idea how many guests are on board this cruise? We are on Harmony in a couple of weeks, so curious how full the ship feels.  TIA 

I’m following! We are on Harmony next month.  Been on Harmony before, but not Star Class.  Most curious about port arrival and the process for actually getting on the ship.  TIA! 

Have a great cruise! Enjoy! 

And safe travels to the port 

Independence last weekend (3/4-3/7) count was ~3,200 guest (85% capacity). 
 

One crew member stated that it was the highest guest count, so far,  since coming back.  They were expected higher counts to continue.  

We were on Indy this past weekend, too. I was told ~3,200 guest and 85% capacity.  It felt like 85%, too! lol

Also agree, Playmakers crew were running around like crazy. Kind of felt bad for them. They definitely needed backup.  
 

We were on Indy for NYE  and it was so different. 50% capacity is like having a cruise ship to yourself. 
 

I was glad to see they were brought back the pool contest (Sexiest Man and Belly Flop) this time around. Felt like things were getting back to normal.  Little by little.  
 

We will be back again April 1 (one weekend before you), so it will be interesting to see if any other changes occur in the next few weeks. 
 

Happy cruising! 

Looking forward to your blog. Very interested in reading about your 2 bedroom ATS and over the water cabana experiences, as I have these booked on Harmony for May 2022. Loving the ice cream party, too! Have a blast! 

I'm on Allure May 2021. Was hoping for slides, but prefer Sabor to Playmakers, so chips and salsa, here I come!

26 minutes ago, Andrew72681 said:

We’ve toyed with that room as well as the space looks great, I think if I was on a very port intensive cruise (like Freedom out of San Juan) I’d like it better. 
It would be a slam dunk if they would have rolled out the Royal Suites Class program on the Freedom class. Do you think you would get much benefit out of the Suites Lounge?

You have a great point - port intensive = slam dunk! The cruise I'm looking is not, well usual Western Caribbean stops. Not sure if I'll get off the ship - well, maybe Perfect Day at Coco Cay - I'll get off the ship for that. So, I think you have helped me decide. Balcony it is. Enjoy the outside, the water and the view from my own balcony! Heck, with the savings maybe I'll treat myself to some room service!   Thanks! 

1 hour ago, Andrew72681 said:

How much do you really need the balcony? also, how much difference will the full fledged suite perks make?

Need a balcony....  or want balcony - that's the real question. Not sure, always had one, so I don't know if I would miss it or not. 

You get full fledged suite perks with this room category - VP. Is it worth it on the Freedom class of ships, IDK? 

I know all of this is truly personal decision, but just wanted to know if anyone really loved or really hated these types of cabins. 

Thanks!