IRMO12HD

This is GREAT news.
We got The Key because it combos some things we would have had to buy separately. 1) Internet, 2) Chops. The clincher priority at ports to get the heck out, is basically free/super cheap after the cost of those purchases.
 
Added: I have not got this e-mail yet

First time Star Class in January so I definitely was wanting the full experience, BUUTTTT I am not complaining since I am just happy to be back on a ship! I will arrive one hour earlier than whatever check in time I receive. Fingers crossed its 12:00 and then I will get to arrive at 11 just like the Key holders. With the strict check in times, that is a definite advantage of the Key, almost worth paying for. 

WOW !  That changed back very quickly !  Wonder if they were losing Key sales or if they really are returning to a pre-cruise tempo.  Very interesting.  Also nice if they truly are keeping the perks of waived room service fee and 25% off specialty dining.  Those are pretty nice additions.

More changes.
If Key holders can check in early, regardless of their slotted time, does this mean suites + pins can too?
 
https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2021/10/28/spotted-royal-caribbean-brings-back-early-check-and-welcome-lunch-the-key
 

If it makes you feel any better -- we in the West have to wake up at 4:30 a.m. to make a 5:00 a.m Zoom meeting when it's held at 8:00 a.m. on the East Coast . . .

If it makes you feel any better -- we in the West have to wake up at 4:30 a.m. to make a 5:00 a.m Zoom meeting when it's held at 8:00 a.m. on the East Coast . . .

If you live in the Pacific Time Zone, check in is at 9 pm!
 

Oct 24 Oasis of the Seas...3630. Apparently a new milestone. The Windjammer Buffet has opened for dinner for the first time since the restart. 
To recap;
Sept 19...2081 --- Sept 26...2580 --- Oct 17...3147 --- Oct 24...3630.

They can't really.  Crew visas don't allow them to get off the ship and stay on land so crew onboard are onboard regardless how many guests there are one week to the next.  
They are taking cabin attendants from closed sections and tasking them with cleaning duties elsewhere like constantly wiping down railings and cleaning tables in the WJ between guests.  So when a cabin attendant isn't being a cabin attendant when his or her section is closed they find other things for them to do.  

You nailed it.
This program is actually brilliant on several levels. It can maximize additional revenue with this chain acceptance method. It can be used for data mining to get an idea of what people may be willing to pay for cabins. It allows for a resale of last minute cancellations. That's why you can't really assume anything from what cabins are offered to you to bid on.

They don't consider bids individually, they consider chains of bids that tie together, and in some cases the fact that you bid maximum can be overridden by the fact that they can construct a longer chain of bids by giving them to someone else who bid less.
An example: Suppose you're in an Aqua Theater Suite 1 bedroom and you bid the maximum to upgrade to ATS 2 bedroom which happens to be $1000 per person.  Someone else in a Crown Loft Suite only bids $700 per person for an ATS 2 bedroom. BUT they also have someone looking to move up from a Junior Suite to a Crown Loft Suite who have bid $500 per person.
If they give the bid to you, they get $1000 for 2 people for a total of $2000. If they give it to the Crown Loft person they get $700x2 plus $500x2 for a total of $2400. They're going to give the ATS 2 bedroom to the lower bid because they end up making more money in total.

No one really knows all the details or the decision criteria.  The same company handles several different cruise lines as well as some airlines. 
It's all about maximizing new revenue.  NEW revenue.  If they upgrade a JS to GS that opens a JS that they can charge a balcony to upgrade into which open up a balcony that an ocean view can upgrade into which opens up an ocean view that an interior can upgrade into.  But only if the right number of people will fit into those cabins and the associated muster stations and lifeboats for those cabins.  Upgrading two guests into a cabin that can sleep four might not make sense.  Upgrading four guests into a muster station with only two empty spots can't be done - everyone needs a spot in the right lifeboat by law.  
The line of succession upgrades can generate more new revenue for one scenario more than a different scenario.  How much you paid initially or your loyalty status has no bearing.  It's all about new revenue.  

"Ok, NOW we're sure!"

This is likely the answer. Just b/c they allow you to bid for a RoyalUp does not mean that there is actually a cabin in that category available. They allow you to bid b/c there’s a possibility that someone in that sold out category may either cancel or win a RoyalUp and move out of their cabin, leaving a vacancy for someone else to move up and so on, down the line.

If you live in the Pacific Time Zone, check in is at 9 pm!
 

Man, that is cool for those on the West coast, not really fair to those on the East coast. Thank you for sharing this though, I was curious about this. 

When we are in straight cruise mode, we stay near the airport.  It's just the two of us, and the room is simply a place to sleep when arrive the day before we board.  Coming from Maine, we can't seem to avoid LaGuardia and its delays, so we like a short trip from the airport to hotel.
We look at prices online then call the hotel directly to book.  We've found prices to be decent (relatively speaking), especially if you don't mind a Days Inn, Comfort Inn, or similar.
If we get in late, we have food delivered to the room, otherwise I ask someone working at the hotel where to go for a decent, local meal. The port is a relatively quick Lyft ride away unless traffic is horrible.
I think we're staying at the Airport Embassy Suites just east of the airport next month....as I recall, it was under $180ish.  This is kinda a "splurge" for us.  We tend to be cheap frugal.
 

Yes the military discount is very hit or miss. For our Explorer cruise, was not there to start, found it a month or two later at $620!  It’s still there now but down to around $200.  Boy you gotta look ALL THE TIME!!

My guess is you entered your state of residence and that particular cruise had a discount available to residents of that state and the second cruise did not.  My husband is a veteran and WHEN a military discount is available, it lists as Military NRD.  Again I am guessing but there must be a reason they ask for state of residence under other exclusive discounts.

One of my cruising companions for a cruise that leaves next weekend is in the Seattle area and she has found success booking online through both CVS and Walgreens.  Walgreens doesn't open up their availability until closer to the cruise date, but finding an appointment online hasn't been an issue for her.
That said there are several options to use as Plans B-Z including getting tested day of at the port which you can book an appointment at:
https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/what-if-i-dont-find-a-pre-cruise-test-or-get-test-results-in-time
I'm looking at last minute testing options myself for a cruise in a few weeks where I won't even have a 24 hour window to get testing done.  I'm finding a lot of last minute options that I'm not too stressed about it at all. So as long as you've done your research you should be armed with the information you need to find something down in Florida if you absolutely can not find testing that will have you results before you get on that plane.

In other related news.
I took a Covid PCR test yesterday for unrelated reasons (had a guest stay who later came down with Covid).    I took the test at ~9 am.   I expected to wait 4-5 days for the material to be sent to the lab, processed and posted.   
I had the results today ~11 am.  Just about 26 hours later.   I was stunned.   I wish I could count on that response time.   The location is about 1 mile from my house.   

Congrats to our friend @CHRIS WONG on being featured!
 

Budget bidet?

If you clicked to add to your card, it should have moved the offer to your Added to Card tab. When these offers appear you have to actually click the Add to Card to save it to your account. American Express limits the total numbers of offers than be saved to cards, so you have to claim them when you see them. It shouldn't disappear after being added and you'll have until the expiration to use it.

Hi,
To me it is not clear on how and why you get this on your Amex Card. My wife and I have in total 4 different American Express cards and only on one showed the offer. For me it was: spend $500, get $200 back - a no-brainer. The statement credit showed up 2 days after my purchase. I would check special offers on your cards after every billing cycle. What I have observed is that offers seem to change thereafter.
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