BrianB

Anthem Sept 26, 2019
Anthem Oct 5, 2019 (b2b)
Allure Oct 20, 2019
Anthem Nov 2, 2019
Anthem Dec 8, 2019
Anthem Jan 27, 2020
Anthem Feb 15, 2020
Anthem Feb 23, 2020 (b2b)
Anthem Mar 22, 2020
Adventure Apr 5, 2020
Oasis May 17, 2020
Adventure Sept 10, 2020
Adventure Sept 19, 2020 (b2b)
Oasis Oct 4, 2020
Thank you!
 

Anthem Sept 26, 2019
Anthem Oct 5, 2019 (b2b)
Allure Oct 20, 2019
Anthem Nov 2, 2019
Anthem Dec 8, 2019
Anthem Jan 27, 2020
Anthem Feb 15, 2020
Anthem Feb 23, 2020 (b2b)
Anthem Mar 22, 2020
Adventure Apr 5, 2020
Oasis May 17, 2020
Adventure Sept 10, 2020
Adventure Sept 19, 2020 (b2b)
Oasis Oct 4, 2020
Thank you!
 

Anthem Sept 26, 2019
Anthem Oct 5, 2019 (b2b)
Allure Oct 20, 2019
Anthem Nov 2, 2019
Anthem Dec 8, 2019
Anthem Jan 27, 2020
Anthem Feb 15, 2020
Anthem Feb 23, 2020 (b2b)
Anthem Mar 22, 2020
Adventure Apr 5, 2020
Oasis May 17, 2020
Adventure Sept 10, 2020
Adventure Sept 19, 2020 (b2b)
Oasis Oct 4, 2020
Thank you!
 

Anthem Sept 26, 2019
Anthem Oct 5, 2019 (b2b)
Allure Oct 20, 2019
Anthem Nov 2, 2019
Anthem Dec 8, 2019
Anthem Jan 27, 2020
Anthem Feb 15, 2020
Anthem Feb 23, 2020 (b2b)
Anthem Mar 22, 2020
Adventure Apr 5, 2020
Oasis May 17, 2020
Adventure Sept 10, 2020
Adventure Sept 19, 2020 (b2b)
Oasis Oct 4, 2020
Thank you!
 

You can list them all in one post.  Ship name and sail date including the year please.
We're just tracking the RCL cruises on the Master List.  Thanks.

I have more than one cruise booked. Should I post one at a time or just list them?
Thanks!
**see below signature. LOL!

I’m booked on the Allure for a 7 day in October and have neither received an email nor seen any change in my cruise planner. I guess the ports are close enough that speed is not an issue. I’m solo, retired and cruise frequently so this will just add a little excitement to my sailing. I feel sorry for those with families on vacation who have booked way in advance and have been eagerly anticipating their cruise...anxiety and nerves must be affected. Reservations, hotels, flights, etc. I hope the only inconvenience is the port schedule changes and that everything else goes perfectly for everyone.

I always use the parking garage. The only advice is to arrive early as the traffic lines will back up as the day goes on. The port has a huge amount of employees out directing traffic. They will hold up traffic in order to keep the front of the terminal moving along safely...cars dropping off and cars picking up...pedestrians crossing. 
After you pull up and drop off your checked bags to the porter, pull around the bend and into the parking garage. A machine will issue a parking ticket and the gate will go up. An attendant will hand you the ticket and tell you where to park. Other attendants will direct you up the ramp. I try to park on the second level (the first available) so that I won’t have to wait in line for the one and only elevator on disembarkation day. It’s quicker for me to walk up one flight (luckily I can carry my bags up). Park and take your keys. MAKE SURE YOU TAKE THE PARKING TICKET WITH YOU! Do NOT leave it in the car. You’ll need it to pay before you go back to your car.
On disembarking...after you pass through customs and leave the terminal (to the right) you will see the pay machines right by the entrance to the parking terminal. There will be attendants standing there to help. Some machines only take cash, so make sure you don’t waste time standing in a cash only line if you’re paying with a credit card. The attendant will show you how to put your parking ticket in and then your credit card. The machine will issue you a parking stub which you will need to get out of the lot, and a receipt. Don’t forget your credit card.
When you drive down the ramp to the exit, you will need to insert the parking stub into the machine which will raise the barrier. Again, there will be an attendant there to help. Then...you’re on your way!
This is probably more specific information than you need...but it pretty much covers all!
Enjoy your cruise!

As I sit here writing this it dawns on me this feels like a completely different cruise.   You might be thing thinking, DUH!  it is a different cruise!  
We have different entertainment acts on board.  I saw some folks with instruments in the terminal waiting to board so I knew we would be getting some different acts.  From the comedian in the Welcome Aboard Show to the band in the Music Hall. 
Something I missed the last cruise was a Two70 show at 9:45pm on day 1 to illustrate what the venue can do.  The show is called 'Two70 Tonight' and it's a sampler of different types of Two70 entertainment .  It's quite an amazing venue that cost $37M.
Eighteen individual projectors that need to be synched.

Throw in some aerial artists...


Then some awesome projected effects...

Plus a Symphony.  Hmmm,  Symphony... sounds familiar for some reason.

Then some singers and a band...

More aerial artistry.

Then Dance In a Box.  Too hard to explain but it really shows what the robotic flat panels can do.


Some aquarium time...

You have to see this live to get it.  Quite impressive to a geek like me.
Off to the Music Hall.  The Journey cover band has been replaced by a Led Zeppelin cover band.  Cool!


I thought I would be able to skip some stuff assuming it would just be repeats from last week.  Yeah, that's not going to work.   I better get some sleep.

Earlier I discussed my Emerald C&A status and that I would make Diamond on the 1st leg of my B2B. After muster I visited the loyalty desk and Luara took care of me.  A new Diamond SeaPass was printed and I am now enjoying a glass of wine in the Diamond lounge.  My old Emerald card is back in my cabin keeping the A/C going.  
Many thanks to those that replied to my post a few months ago asking what happens if you achieve a level on the 1st leg of a B2B.  It worked exactly as you said it would.  

Cabin tour!  I changed cabins on this B2B mostly on account of booking on short notice and booking each leg a few weeks apart.  
Inside Virtual Balcony on deck 9.  Cabin 9301, muster station E2.  I booked this as an inside guarantee so technically this is an upgrade over a standard inside cabin.  Thanks RCI!



The bathroom is identical.


As I was writing this the virtual balcony is in my desk mirror and I saw this boat approaching us very close. I turned around and realized it's the pilot boat. Clearly it's not the same as having a real balcony but I saved $400-$500 compared to booking a balcony cabin so I am impressed so far.   

In other news...  as I was walking around earlier the bar keep at Vintages flagged me down and asked if I lost my lens cap.  Phew! He knew I was doing a B2B so he didn't take it guest services.  The lens cap and sun shade on a fisheye lens isn't like a regular or common lens cap.  I had been calculating in my head what they might charge me for a replacement and trying to figure out how to protect this lens for the next 12 nights.    What great service!

Our arrival back to Bayonne:






Now I know how Super Mario felt when he told me on Freedom "Get Off My Ship!". 

 
B2B process:
We were asked to be in Boleros at 9:15am.  At 9:45am they escorted us off.  They collected our SeaPass cards as we scanned them to leave the ship.  As a group they held us in the terminal waiting for our new SeaPass cards before seeing customs.  After 20 minutes we formed a single file line for a separate customs officer and then a u-turn back in the direction we came.  We never did enter the terminal where I waited to board the first cruise.  We were now in the area where you would get your luggage and queue up for customs.  The doors to customs area now closed we were in a vast mostly empty section of the building where they set up rows of seats and escorted Sky Class to sit.  It was like we were on display with a crowd of zoo visitors curiously looking at us from their seats.  I'm sure they were wondering 'who are these people?'.  Right around 11am they allowed us to re-board.   That makes it 1h 15m off ship.  
I immediately went to Guest Services to get my Wow band re-coded to my new room.  Since I had the same muster station I was able to re-use mine from the first cruise.  I knew that was the case and why I paid the $5 to buy one.  For my Anthem cruise in January I'm far forward on port.  I suspect I'll be A2 so my E2 Wow band won't be re-useable.
It didn't take long for the crowds to build and with folks pushing, pulling or dragging their carry on luggage it felt very crowded and very slow to get around.  
Originally the signs said cabins would be ready by 1pm but at 1pm the same signs now said 2pm.  
Consecutive cruisers were treated to a sit down lunch in The Chic restaurant ay noon.  Quite tasty.

Muster drill didn't use scanners to record guest presence like it did on cruise 1 for some reason.  Instead they were writing down everyone's cabin number on paper.  This slowed it down a lot.  At least I was in Two70 sitting down.  It was about 25m long and immediately after releasing us we began to push away from the pier.
Anthem muster locations:

It took roughly 30 minutes to reach the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.  It was much colder this time, 49 degrees and our cruise director staff were absent from the pool deck doing the bridge countdown.

I've done a B2B on Anthem and changed cabins. 
They ask you to pack everything except items hanging up in the closet.  You leave that in your cabin.  You'll be given a meeting time and place.  For me it was Boleros.  Other consecutive cruisers will all meet there and once the ship is getting close to zero count with all other guests leaving you are escorted to meet CBP in the terminal.  At that point we were given our new cards and we waited secluded by ourselves away from the new cruisers boarding that day.  Once the federal authorities cleared the ship we walked back on first.  Right after that it was Suites, Pinnacles and the regular boarding process commenced.  If changing cabins they ask you stay out until cabins are ready for the whole ship as they need to clean and sanitize your new cabin.  Your stuff will be there waiting for you in the new cabin.  
Consecutive cruisers were offered a special lunch.
You can read about my experience on Anthem and the B2B process here:
https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php?/topic/5068-anthem-112517-712-b2b/&do=findComment&comment=50324
If you are leaving to explore the area that day there is a different process to get new SeaPass cards early.

Yes, you will pack up all of your “loose” items but leave whatever is hanging in the closet, in the closet. Your attendant(s) will move everything. As far as new sea passes is concerned, the process will vary from ship-to-ship and will depend on the number of B2B cruisers that are on your sailing.  On our last B2B (NAV last month); we picked up our new sea passes at a Guest Services along with an “In Transit” Pass b/c we were leaving the ship for a while.  The advice I will offer is to make SURE that Guest Services is aware that you will be a B2B cruiser so that they can give you all of the intel you will need.  If you are traveling in a full suite, the Suite Concierge will help you.

Oh wow thank you. Great info. We are doing cash. Setting aside 110 bucks for parking right off the bat. Than you again. I think I have it down now but will reread this again before we go. 

Wow....that is an amazing photo to have!  I will say that it would be very neat to meet the cast and a very cool experience.  Thanks for sharing.

I have done this tour on the Anthem.
The reserved seating for the excursion is in the second row, center. The third and fourth row center is the reserved seating for the Key.
Upon arriving at the theater, you hand your excursion ticket to the cruise staff member standing by row 2. The excursion includes a specialty drink. After the show, you wait until everyone else has left the theater and then you are escorted back stage, behind the curtain. The cast is there and you will have a lot of time to talk with them, ask questions, take photos. Then they will all pose with each passenger for a group photo which they take with your camera/smartphone (in other words...no ship photographer for a fee). As you leave, you get a large photo of the cast signed by all of them. It was a very interesting, pleasant experience but you must decide if it is worth the price to you.
Happy cruising!

I have done this tour on the Anthem.
The reserved seating for the excursion is in the second row, center. The third and fourth row center is the reserved seating for the Key.
Upon arriving at the theater, you hand your excursion ticket to the cruise staff member standing by row 2. The excursion includes a specialty drink. After the show, you wait until everyone else has left the theater and then you are escorted back stage, behind the curtain. The cast is there and you will have a lot of time to talk with them, ask questions, take photos. Then they will all pose with each passenger for a group photo which they take with your camera/smartphone (in other words...no ship photographer for a fee). As you leave, you get a large photo of the cast signed by all of them. It was a very interesting, pleasant experience but you must decide if it is worth the price to you.
Happy cruising!

I have done this tour on the Anthem.
The reserved seating for the excursion is in the second row, center. The third and fourth row center is the reserved seating for the Key.
Upon arriving at the theater, you hand your excursion ticket to the cruise staff member standing by row 2. The excursion includes a specialty drink. After the show, you wait until everyone else has left the theater and then you are escorted back stage, behind the curtain. The cast is there and you will have a lot of time to talk with them, ask questions, take photos. Then they will all pose with each passenger for a group photo which they take with your camera/smartphone (in other words...no ship photographer for a fee). As you leave, you get a large photo of the cast signed by all of them. It was a very interesting, pleasant experience but you must decide if it is worth the price to you.
Happy cruising!

I have done this tour on the Anthem.
The reserved seating for the excursion is in the second row, center. The third and fourth row center is the reserved seating for the Key.
Upon arriving at the theater, you hand your excursion ticket to the cruise staff member standing by row 2. The excursion includes a specialty drink. After the show, you wait until everyone else has left the theater and then you are escorted back stage, behind the curtain. The cast is there and you will have a lot of time to talk with them, ask questions, take photos. Then they will all pose with each passenger for a group photo which they take with your camera/smartphone (in other words...no ship photographer for a fee). As you leave, you get a large photo of the cast signed by all of them. It was a very interesting, pleasant experience but you must decide if it is worth the price to you.
Happy cruising!

I always use the parking garage. The only advice is to arrive early as the traffic lines will back up as the day goes on. The port has a huge amount of employees out directing traffic. They will hold up traffic in order to keep the front of the terminal moving along safely...cars dropping off and cars picking up...pedestrians crossing. 
After you pull up and drop off your checked bags to the porter, pull around the bend and into the parking garage. A machine will issue a parking ticket and the gate will go up. An attendant will hand you the ticket and tell you where to park. Other attendants will direct you up the ramp. I try to park on the second level (the first available) so that I won’t have to wait in line for the one and only elevator on disembarkation day. It’s quicker for me to walk up one flight (luckily I can carry my bags up). Park and take your keys. MAKE SURE YOU TAKE THE PARKING TICKET WITH YOU! Do NOT leave it in the car. You’ll need it to pay before you go back to your car.
On disembarking...after you pass through customs and leave the terminal (to the right) you will see the pay machines right by the entrance to the parking terminal. There will be attendants standing there to help. Some machines only take cash, so make sure you don’t waste time standing in a cash only line if you’re paying with a credit card. The attendant will show you how to put your parking ticket in and then your credit card. The machine will issue you a parking stub which you will need to get out of the lot, and a receipt. Don’t forget your credit card.
When you drive down the ramp to the exit, you will need to insert the parking stub into the machine which will raise the barrier. Again, there will be an attendant there to help. Then...you’re on your way!
This is probably more specific information than you need...but it pretty much covers all!
Enjoy your cruise!

I have used the stock OBC many times and in the past, any OBC given during booking would be subtracted from the $100 stock benefit. For instance, I received $50 for booking a balcony on a 7 night cruise and the stock benefit was reduced to $50. I have not yet applied for the benefit since the change in June. I’ll find out on my Sept booking when I email my shareholder benefit request form.
Investment-wise, I have been happy with the performance of the stock over time. Also...In addition to the OBC benefit, the stock also pays dividends...which some other cruise lines do not. As always with any stock, future performance can not be predicted by past performance and any investment can result in loss of principal.
Happy cruising!

I always use the parking garage. The only advice is to arrive early as the traffic lines will back up as the day goes on. The port has a huge amount of employees out directing traffic. They will hold up traffic in order to keep the front of the terminal moving along safely...cars dropping off and cars picking up...pedestrians crossing. 
After you pull up and drop off your checked bags to the porter, pull around the bend and into the parking garage. A machine will issue a parking ticket and the gate will go up. An attendant will hand you the ticket and tell you where to park. Other attendants will direct you up the ramp. I try to park on the second level (the first available) so that I won’t have to wait in line for the one and only elevator on disembarkation day. It’s quicker for me to walk up one flight (luckily I can carry my bags up). Park and take your keys. MAKE SURE YOU TAKE THE PARKING TICKET WITH YOU! Do NOT leave it in the car. You’ll need it to pay before you go back to your car.
On disembarking...after you pass through customs and leave the terminal (to the right) you will see the pay machines right by the entrance to the parking terminal. There will be attendants standing there to help. Some machines only take cash, so make sure you don’t waste time standing in a cash only line if you’re paying with a credit card. The attendant will show you how to put your parking ticket in and then your credit card. The machine will issue you a parking stub which you will need to get out of the lot, and a receipt. Don’t forget your credit card.
When you drive down the ramp to the exit, you will need to insert the parking stub into the machine which will raise the barrier. Again, there will be an attendant there to help. Then...you’re on your way!
This is probably more specific information than you need...but it pretty much covers all!
Enjoy your cruise!

I always use the parking garage. The only advice is to arrive early as the traffic lines will back up as the day goes on. The port has a huge amount of employees out directing traffic. They will hold up traffic in order to keep the front of the terminal moving along safely...cars dropping off and cars picking up...pedestrians crossing. 
After you pull up and drop off your checked bags to the porter, pull around the bend and into the parking garage. A machine will issue a parking ticket and the gate will go up. An attendant will hand you the ticket and tell you where to park. Other attendants will direct you up the ramp. I try to park on the second level (the first available) so that I won’t have to wait in line for the one and only elevator on disembarkation day. It’s quicker for me to walk up one flight (luckily I can carry my bags up). Park and take your keys. MAKE SURE YOU TAKE THE PARKING TICKET WITH YOU! Do NOT leave it in the car. You’ll need it to pay before you go back to your car.
On disembarking...after you pass through customs and leave the terminal (to the right) you will see the pay machines right by the entrance to the parking terminal. There will be attendants standing there to help. Some machines only take cash, so make sure you don’t waste time standing in a cash only line if you’re paying with a credit card. The attendant will show you how to put your parking ticket in and then your credit card. The machine will issue you a parking stub which you will need to get out of the lot, and a receipt. Don’t forget your credit card.
When you drive down the ramp to the exit, you will need to insert the parking stub into the machine which will raise the barrier. Again, there will be an attendant there to help. Then...you’re on your way!
This is probably more specific information than you need...but it pretty much covers all!
Enjoy your cruise!

Hi! Just got back yesterday from my Anthem cruise. We sailed from Port Liberty in Bayonne NJ...
First...I purchased the Key because it made sense for me. I travel solo so I only had to pay for me. The price was $19.99 per day so considering that I would have purchased the Voom stream package anyway, it was a no-brainer.
Upon arriving in Port Liberty...I was directed to a special security line and then the check in kiosk with the Key logo above it. The same security and check in as the upper loyalty levels. After checking in, I was seated in the second row along with the upper loyalty level folks...directly behind the passengers requiring assistance. My trip through the terminal went smooth, as all of the port employees knew about the Key and where to direct me.
Upon boarding the ship, i went right to the theater and dropped off my carry-on. I was given a list describing the amenities that come with the Key and a wrist band that identified me as a Key member. Later, when I got to my cabin, I found my bag was stored out of sight in the closet which I thought was a nice touch.
On the Anthem, lunch was available in Chops Grille or Jaime Oliver’s. I went to Chops and had a fantastic lunch. There were plenty of empty tables available and the service was typical Chops...perfect.
When I received my SeaPass card at my cabin, the Key emblem was on the bottom and I removed my Key wrist band. There was a welcome envelope which contained the schedule with the Key access times for the Rock Climbing Wall, Flow Rider, Northstar and iFly...and my access code for the Voom WiFi. I also received information for disembarkation at Port Canaveral, Coco Cay and Nassau.
On day two, I received a complimentary fruit plate in my cabin with a card from the Key program, welcoming me aboard.
When I went to the shows (We Will Rock You and The Gift were great!) in the theater...I was directed to reserved Key seating in the third and fourth row center. Excellent seats! Manned by ship personnel to ensure only Key members could sit there. At ten minutes prior to the show, just as the stand by line was admitted, the rows were opened so that any available seats could be filled.
In each port...we went to the lower level of the Music Hall and as soon as the ship was cleared by the local authorities, we disembarked. I was late getting to the Music Hall in Port Canaveral. When I got there, I was immediately escorted by a crew member holding up a paddle with the Key emblem on it, past the long line of passengers waiting to disembark, and directly to the security desk at the gangway.
On the day before arriving back at Port Liberty, I received an envelope with the Key luggage tags and disembarkation information. This included a sit down breakfast in the MDR and then escort off the ship. After breakfast, we were to go to the Shore Excursion desk which was directly across from the gangway, and then right to the head of the line. I did not take advantage of this perk as I was with others who did not have the Key. We came down early for self walk-off and found ourselves near the head of the line.
My conclusions...for me, the purchase of the Key made perfect sense, especially since I needed the WiFi anyway. Being solo, I did not have to pay for more than one as I would have had to do if there were others in my cabin. The VIP treatment at the pier, boarding, carry-on drop off, lunch, theater seating and disembarkation arrangements was very nice and convenient. Although I did not take advantage of the reserved times for the activities, I did see other Key members using them. I was impressed that every employee at Port Liberty...and every ship’s crew member I interacted with...was aware of the Key and the access that came with it. There was no confusion or misunderstanding. All in all it was a very impressive, pleasant and smooth experience and I will definitely do it again.
Happy sailings!