SpeedNoodles

I'd push my friends into their own cabin for 6 extra points. #noshame

I'm having no luck trying to convince the DH that double points and dinner in CK is worth a $2500 upgrade ?

YES! We have this on our list of things to do on one of our stops next year!

Check the "People Connections" of this forum, and also check on Facebook - just search for Mariner Sept 16 - if a page has been created then definitely join that. Or start one!

Ha! I didn't even look at the dates. Ugh, sorry - I'm not awake yet. I know better than to post right when I get up.

Well, you know I'll be following - the blog is a double bonus for me (Twangster blog + we'll be following a month later in June on Ovation). We're already thinking about our next Alaskan cruise, and I'm jonesing to go to Sitka and Icy Straight Point, so I'm really looking forward to seeing those from your blog perspective (and sharing the blog with Mr. SpeedNoodles along the way).

I thought you were on the May sailing? I’m so confused.

I did too, but nowhere did it address where to find people to help you with tender or disembarkation - hopefully that's changed fleetwide (I had The Key in February).

The one thing I did find lacking was direction on who or where Key people should find to get priority tenders and disembarkation. There seemed to be no system.

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/podcast/episode-182-dealing-being-sick

I was listening to a podcast recently where they said the cost to walk in the door for an evaluation was around $160 (don't quote me - it was between $150 and $200 though). I'm not sure if this was one circumstance, has changed in price, varies from ship to ship - just not sure.

Yeah, but you're worth it. ?

Absolutely. For my cruises they've always been a wash, but I always check separately because Royal.

The "from $500" is likely for the lowest category of balcony - a 2D (mid ship) is going to be the most expensive balcony usually (I've been booking 2Ds so I get where you're coming from).

Fellow animal lover also from Minnesota here - worked for over 16 years as a zookeeper at the Minnesota Zoo. Tampa Zoo is on our radar for things to do when we take our cruise out of Tampa next!

This is one of the sagest, most useful, bits of advice I've ever read, and will be very useful in many aspects of my life (specifically thinking about the short lives of dogs, but for many things).

omg, I do the spreadsheet thing too!!

Maybe I need to ask Mr Jarvis if he knows anything.

Yep, which is why I'm also confused! And why I care is anyone's guess - just curiosity I suppose!

There's usually an option for the Deluxe Drink Package + 1 Voom device - keep an eye out for that when it comes out. You'll most likely get the best price for that - buy it when you see it, but keep an eye on it for the price to come down during sales.

Yeah, that's why I said "maybe" - it was just a point of discussion last night and JRs came up, then we got into the disagreement about whether it will, or will not, be on the ship by June (or ever). Not this time - we're traveling with another couple, so we've pretty much committed to the MDR this trip. I"m seriously thinking about it for Symphony next year though, since they have so many more venues.

When they send out the RoyalUp emails there's no guarantee that there are even cabins available for that category. I got my Royal Up with the ability to bid on a Junior Suite or a Grand Suite, both of which had been sold out for at least 2 months already. There's no negligible rhyme or reason to how the program works, therefore nothing that ever happens with it surprises me .

Honestly, this is more of just a curiosity thing, and maybe another place to find breakfast. We have a Johnny Rocket's near us (Mall of America), and I tried it again on Mariner, and neither time was it remotely good. The fries are especially unremarkable. Except for the shakes, those were ok.

OMG that's a long walk up. Not sure my asthma will be able to handle it! Oh well, there's always the awesomest pool!