Ditchdoc

RE bathing suits, pools and Windjammer .... The Windjammer and pools are usually on the same deck and there is generally no issue with taking a meal from the Windjammer out to the pool deck to eat. That is pretty easy especially if its finger food like hot dogs, burgers, fries etc. Soft serve ice cream is usually served on the pool deck as well. So .... it might be easier to bring the food to the kids rather than take the kids to food in some cases.

Absolutely ... just presenting an alternate view point and a potential work around in the hypothetical scenario that RC did do this.

Well .. just to be contrary .... If you can not find time/money for at least a 3 night cruise every 2 years, you probably don't have much loyalty to begin with. It maintaining all that loyalty actually means that much to you and you simply can not find the time, find the cheapest, shortest, inside room you can, pay the $300 bucks, reset the loyalty and stay home for another 2 years if you want. Actually, right now, RC has a one way from Miami to Panama for $151. I would think that kind of price would be worth it to keep from loosing your loyalty status for a couple of years if you absolutely could not make the trip. This is assuming paying and not going still count toward your loyalty.

If you are going to carry everything you own on board, I would say there is not much purpose to the luggage tags that identify your cabin. If you travel very light, this might be and option. Cabins are generally accessible in the early afternoon. If you board early, you may have to carry your luggage around with you for 3 or 4 hours or more. This is valuable vacation time you can get to know your way around, enjoy the pools or whatever you want. Toting or rolling a bunch of luggage around may not be what you want to do. The RC provided tags for check in, if you want your bags delivered to your room, are included in your Set Sail Pass. The Set Set Sail Pass is a printable document sent to your email address. You can print as many copies as you like. Instructions are included for folding and stapling to your luggage. Available also are clear plastic luggage tag holders that are more durable and attach easily to your luggage. They are reusable an can be found on Amazon. As a side note, being able to carry all your bags on departure allows you to be among the first to disembark and could be helpful getting a quick start toward home.

Due to uncertainty in the market world wide, cruise reservations are down across the industry according to some news outlets.

Very NICE! The first time I went to France, I stopped in a restaurant and no one spoke English and I did not know French. I was looking over the menu, baffled, trying to figure out what anything was. I flipped the menu over and there on the back was a gorgeous photo of a seafood platter. I just pointed at it to the waiter and soon feasted. There is truth to 'a picture is worth a thousand words'.

I've been trying to do a similar thing on Star of the Seas. I want to do a Chops +, add the Chefs table (which is discounted) and an onboard credit for the package. The Chefs Table is apparently not available yet and I kept getting an error. So I removed Chops fro the cart. Earlier, the RC web site asked what time and day I wanted to do Chops. After trying again later, I no longer got those choices, just add names of those going, put it in the cart and pay. So I am not sure what is going on with the web site. I called in to RC to see if they could 'ring it up' and it sounded like they were heaving the same issue and the RC person seemed to know less than I did about the Chefs Table. So ..... I am attributing the confusion to the fact I am still 200+ days out and it is a work in progress. I just wanted to get the reservations in early because the Chefs Table is limited to about 12 each night and with 6000+ passengers ..... the competition may be fierce.

Kicking off the holiday season.

OK...I am pretty familiar with most specialty dinner choices. We have a week long cruise on Star in November. We are planning on three specialty dinners. So far we have decided on Chops and The Chefs Table. We are undecided on the third dinner. Based on your experience, what would you choose?

Its changed quite a bit since we did the Alaskan cruise/land tour. A week long cruise and another week land tour. The weather was optimal and the scenery was other worldly. At the time RC owned the two level train car. The top was a 360 view while sitting in recliners with a bar and the lower level was half kitchen half dining room. The hotels were all 4 and 5 star. Alaska is very casual. Bags were picked up and delivered to the hotel room door. If you had two bags is was recommended to put your dress clothes in one for storage on the bus for the duration of the land tour. The scenery, weather and people all contributed to making it a trip of a lifetime.

We really liked the central park balcony. Over looking the park was pleasant. One evening an acoustic guitar player entertained for an hour or so. There was some noise from the pool deck but generally only during the day when we were mostly out and about. We have another central park on Star reserved.

Facial recognition is supposed to be used on a limited trial basis for cabin access on Star.

Went to Havana on Empress in 2018. It was a fabulous destination. Only one dock was suitable. Other docks were in disrepair. The city was in large part renovated. The architecture and people were great. Cruises could help the economy in a lot of ways. Too bad there is so much politics.

Biometrics is coming.

There are 3 or 4 levels overlooking surfside. Higher levels may be a bit quieter. If you have an infinity balcony, close the glass and the curtain to block sound. Finally, after 10pm or so, its pretty quiet. Some day time activities are pretty noisy. Most times, just having the TV on drowns outside noise. Maybe a white noise generator at night just in case?