SpeedNoodles

That works even better. Thanks for the clarification!

So to clarify (because I'm trying to decide how to play this one), if I book a non-refundable fare on cruise X and I cancel I lose all $500 (the deposit for 2 people). But if I just change the sailing to cruise Y I really only lose $200? (the refundable fare is $1000 more, I'm thinking that changing it to non-refundable would be a better gamble).

I dined alone in the MDR while solo cruising. I rarely waited long for anything - they had me in and out pretty quickly. I think my longest meal was 45 minutes. For me it was better than having food at the Windjammer, getting up to get more food and finding that my place had been taken and there was nowhere else to sit.

Welcome to the forum!! Le Club Voyage is Azamara cruise line's loyalty program. Captain's Club is the Celebrity cruise line's loyalty program. Both lines are owned by Royal Caribbean corporation.

My rejection email came the morning of my cruise sailing.

Omg, I wish they still showed fares this way (with the difference between non-refundable and refundable deposits) instead of making you go through the entire reservation process before you see that your refundable fare is $500 more (in my last case).

The best option is doing your research and knowing exactly what you WANT to be covered and finding a policy that covers it. Different policies cover different things. For instance, while many people may not need this protection, I personally need "cancel for work reasons" due to the fact that my work can rescind my PTO last minute. I should consider "cancel for any reason" due to the fact that insurance doesn't usually consider "pet sitter backed out" to be an emergency. Some people wouldn't need this. Some websites (there are a few) will give you a quote from a variety of providers with different levels of coverage. Sites like insuremytrip.com and tripinsurance.com are just two - others may have different suggestions. The key is, as boring as it is, read and know what it covers before you purchase it.

This is consistent with what Zack told me over messenger.

Hmmm.... we retire in June 2024. Sounds like a great retirement cruise!

I'm keeping a copy of this handy.

Agreed. I thought about putting in a bid, but it didn't make sense on my next sailing w/o double C&A points.

They gave me one when I dropped off my luggage AND there was one in my room. They weren't even the same code. Go figure.

But in the end it's the same amount of money, yes? For all I care, they can call it a Honey Badger Victim Counseling Fee.

Maybe I'm stupid (ok, I'm probably stupid), but isn't it just semantics whether they call it gratuities or a service fee?

Radiance class ships are gorgeous. The glass everywhere is incredible - it doesn't hide you away from the ocean. I haven't been on Oasis/Quantum class ships yet, but I do like Radiance class much more than Voyageur class ships (they just look like shopping malls to me).

Because Royal Caribbean IT department.

I was on deck 6 and heard almost no noise BUT I had a room above Guest Services. The crowd stayed forward of that area.

I've worn full-length evening gowns for formal night, and saw quite a few on my 4-night night Mariner cruise in Feb (where there's a "Dress Your Best" night. Seeing the evening gown women sitting next to the table with the guy in a graphics t-shirt and shorts was interesting.

In addition to the great podcasts and blogs here, @monorailmedic did a really nice podcast on Key West on cruisehabit.com - after listening to that we booked one that included Key West.

There are plenty of available cruises to the Antarctic without having to intentionally sail with a bunch of whack jobs.

I didn't even know that getting a Coco Loco in a pineapple was an option. They just gave it to me in a cup. Maybe you have to specify pineapple?

I thought the water in February was warm enough to go into, and I'm a freeze baby.

Me trying to play ping pong on a cruise ship. I'll NEVER hear the end of it.

I received my Royal Up email for my Ovation sailing 76 days prior to sailing.

Hey, you're just down the hallway from us (although probably not the same sail date)!