KJones

This may vary by port. RC has a list of ports that require excursions to be the cruiseline.

@ChanaCCruise planner refunds don't usually take 30-45 days, so hopefully you won't have to wait that long! Generally only about 2 weeks.

Another option would be to get in the no-reservation MTD line a bit before 6:30.

Not sure how they got those numbers. They will add 18% gratuity to the pass price, but that still doesn't come to the same amounts RC quoted. I would just try the Cruise Planner again later. Including the 18% gratuity, individual fitness classes are about $23. I've only done the bootcamp/trx style classes, and they were good workouts. Personally, I don't take them on port days, so I've purchased the 3-pack on a 10-night sailing, or just signed up onboard for individual classes if only doing 1-2.

We didn't purchase anything in advance. Just outside the port, there a tons of people/companies who offer tours. We opted for one that gave us a tour the island for a couple hours, dropped us off a beach for another couple hours, then returned us to port. There were about 15 people (not just our group) in our mini-bus, each paying around $25-30 I think.

There's no guarantee that the current non-refundable pricing will be lower than the original rate you got when you booked it. Most times, rates increase as sailing date approaches so your July refundable pricing might be cheaper. You can always ask your TA or call Royal to see what current rates are. I would do it at least a week before final payment, so there's extra time to make sure the changes get properly processed and there's no concerns on final payment date.

We will also be doing the Seward - Anchorage route this summer. The non-RC sponsored options are: bus/motorcoach ($70ish); train ($105-205); rental car (don't know, since we aren't considering this option). I think RC also has bus/train options (train for sure) but I don't think they will be any less expensive than the non-RC options.

Obviously it would be an additional cost, but you could get (2) beach beds, and it would still be cheaper than the cabana

It will be refunded to the payment method you used to purchase it

The cruise had to be booked by September 30, 2021 to qualify for the double points

I believe they use the same lids for dessert as the hot food items, and the hole really helps prevent hot food from getting soggy. Good idea for the ziplocks! I'll have to remember to bring some on our next sailing.

@TXcruzerThen I guess our experiences have differed

@TXcruzerif you have the refreshment package and order an alcoholic cocktail, they will charge you for the price difference between a mocktail and cocktail...

You can't purchase the DBP and a refreshment combo online via the Cruise Planner. You will have to call and tell them you want 1 DBP and 1 Refreshment package. If you do end up having an alcoholic beverage, they should only charge you for the difference (not the entire drink) with the Refreshment package.

The drink package pricing should not change.

I enjoyed the Harmony escape room. Pre-covid available spots filled up fast, and sessions were often sold out. If it's open for your sailing, I would recommend reserving as soon as you can - either right after boarding, or if available, on the Cruise Planner.

Could be that the sailing has reached capacity, so they aren't allowing any new additional bookings

I don't think I've seen MTD options any earlier than 6:30pm, so it could be that the 6:30 and 6:45 slots have already filled up. If 7pm is too late, you can always arrive early, and get in the no-reservation line. A cruise compass from a similar sailing can help you identify shows and scheduled times: https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/cruise-compass

Show times don't generally change between sailings. If you look at previous Cruise Compasses, you can see the schedule for the entire sailing, and it will likely be the same as yours.

Maya Chan in Costa Maya is popular choice (and I would agree!), though it's strictly a beach day excursion. If you're visiting the ruins, like Chichen Itza, on the mainland via Cozumel, would 100% recommend going the RC route, even if it's more expensive. The upcharge for booking through RC is worth not having to stress about getting back to the ship on time with such a lengthy excursion. It really is an all-day tour, and we had maybe an hour between when we returned and the ship left the port.

I think you would also get refunded anything purchased via Cruise Planner

My FCC does not show up on my account online. I booked through a TA, and the FCC email was sent to each guest individually. My TA might also have a copy, but unknown for sure.

Personally, I would not book that flight. If the ship docks at 6am, you probably won't be allowed off the boat until 7am. It's an hour from the port to the airport without any traffic issues, so you would really need to be among the first off the ship. Security lines can take awhile at FCO, and unfortunately global entry/ TSA precheck doesn't transfer over to countries (they should work on that! lol). Again, I wouldn't do it, but I hope everything works in your favor if you do!

You can use the RC app for free with the ship's wifi. To do anything else that requires internet (incl. email, messaging, web browsing, streaming), you will need to purchase one of the packages.

Yes, you can call RC or your travel agent and if there's availability they can switch you. If not you can be put on a wait list, and/or ask the head waiter once onboard.