CruiseGus

A warning for those that use ANY 3rd Party to book a hotel.

What one must remember when booking with air2sea is that they are a form of Consolidator, (BASIC DEF: Flight consolidators are brokers that book airline seats in bulk at discount rates and then resell them to travel agencies) so most of the reservation until almost 2-3 weeks before the flight are "Soft" reservations for the airline. It is much like booking a Hotel through a 3rd party, this will be the first to be walked by the hotel. Reservations direct with the company/airline will get accommodated better, especially when the airlines make the changes made further out. Now I'm not saying there cannot be advantages to using air2sea, because there can be, I'm just saying know what you are getting. I also wholeheartedly agree with @USCG Teacher about getting the airline app and using it while waiting to board a flight.

Per the link in the post below it is $15

Know that when leaving and returning to Galveston, there is a period of time (maybe around early morning on day 6 till after midnight that night) when you are almost or even out of connectivity for the internet. Middle of the gulf is not well covered with satellite coverage. This time period my cause connection drops, just be aware of it.

I actually saw this happen recently on one of my cruises, early on in the cruise like day 1 or 2.

Have sailed out of NOLA a few times (also on other cruise lines). I have never flown to a NOLA cruise, always drive there, so no help on that subject. The terminals are on the River behind and adjacent to the Convention Center. Royal departs from the Julia St Terminal which is at the South end of the RiverWalk Mall. All this is just south of the Aquarium as a reference. It is an easy walk over to Bourbon Street and Jackson Square. We actually like sailing from NOLA, wish Royal did it more. There is a forum on the WWW That has a "Port of Call" section that has New Orleans information specifically. A well versed poster there is named Saint Greg. Good luck finding more info on your search.

Sounds like a well written survey comment is in order.

If i remember correctly, only a few of the specialty restaurants, not all of them, have the special additional up-charge Holiday meal. Other than that if your getting on early and you are at least somewhat flexible, I don't think you will have a problem fitting in your 3 meals.

also an important consideration is if the ship has been Amplified, on Freedom/Voyager Class if make a big difference in my opinion.

I like to book onboard using the Next Cruise options, that way i have less deposit money on the table prior to final payment time, after that I consider Insurance to kick in for problems that I might encounter.

We love the Freedom Class ships, just a step up from Voyager Class but not quite the crowds of Oasis. They also need to bring one back to San Juan PR for the winter, the smaller ships just don't cut it at that fantastic Winter port.

@CALFROMsince you are in a CLS I would decide weather your comfortable carrying your own luggage off or not. Either way I would leave my room at 8 and head to the suite lounge, if your carrying off your luggage it can sit there. Have a relaxing breakfast in CK and then if you want sit around the lounge for a bit. Let the Suite Concierge know what your plans are. If you like I'm sure the Concierge will escort you off the ship when you or the ship is ready for you to go.

I have heard of you dining reservations causing this 2 hour block when trying to book shows. So to me it would make sense that it applies to another resturant reservation also

Normally if the ship show prices individually for most drinks at $14, all those drinks will be covered by the DBP with no extra charge.

when i clicked on this thread, I'd high hope that Smoking in the Casino would be listed, but alas it was not. That would have been my vote. Then like @Husky1987 that would have also been an excellent choice.

every one will have a different opinion, mine is picking up Labadee was a WIN, especially if you get Coco Cay on the same cruise. I'd also just enjoy the ship at the other 2 stops while most everyone else gets off. For me that change is a win win. JMHO

they are not "Free", it is a business they give "Comp Cruises" to get spenders back in the casino. I personally like my story from a good work friend, he always came in and told us how well he did, how much he won, free cruises. I know he had just come back from a cruise, on Monday he was quite, not his happy go self stayed that way, by Wed or Thursday can't remember now no real improvement, so that morning I asked him "lunch today, my treat" during that lunch he confided in me, he dropped over 10k in the casino on that cruise, he definitely reminded me it was in confidence (Since no one on here knows him I feel OK about sharing his story) Now did he still enjoy his time when gambling, Yes. He considered it entertainment. Did his family go hungry, No, so as long as it's his disposable income it is not a problem. Friends ask me why I cruise 4-5 weeks a year, it is my entertainment, as long as it is "disposable income" it is my decision.

it is up to the bar tenders and what ever agreement they have made with each other, therefore it can be different at different bars or even between shifts. Example in Suite lounge on one ship they pooled, on another ship they did not. In one bar the bar tenders working the bar pooled among themselves, but the waiters bar servers were on their own. Now all of this only applies to CASH tips. All Gratuity from the package, individual drinks purchased, and any extra written on the receipts goes into the Beverage Dept common pool.

we docked at the south pier. They said in our instruction to be there at 8:45, very quick walk This is the entrance to a resort where they are located the street that is semi circle at south pier dead ends here

A lot will depend on if you carry off your own luggage or not. I have not sailed out of Miami yet, But in a Suite this year at both Port Canaveral and Port Everglades I have had the Suite Concierge escort me with my luggage to the front of the line to get "Dinged" off the ship around 7:30 am. that said Early flights can always be risky if something delays disembarkation, which can happen. Last cruise out of Galveston the face recognition was down and that cause somewhat of a delay also.

No way that i know of to find out which dining room you have been assigned prior to boarding the ship. This has changed post Covid. On most ships I have been on since the return to sailing, MTD has been on the lowest deck and has followed immediately after tables are cleared from the first Traditional seating on that deck. My last sailing in May, they were encouraging the 5:30 traditional seating to come at 5:15 in an attempt to get MTD going sooner. MTD has not been on a different deck of its own on any of my 10 sailing this past year.

We have used them also. Found them to be an excellent catamaran and snorkeling excursion. We stopped at 3 different spots to snorkel, each having a unique view of different species of fish. Small group on maybe 16 or so. Within walking distance from our pier. They do sell out early most often. Reputation is excellent and deserved. They have made our short list of repeat again excursions.

I haven't converted any of my points to OBC yet but from what I have read on the forums, Calling is the way to go as opposed to the on-line method, especially if you want it applied immediately.

@BrianB did a good job with his pictures for you. We cruise every year over Xmas, yes it is the most expensive time of year in the Caribbean, well that and New Years. We cruise then and pay the price because that week my wife's College shut down for all staff and it does Not count again your vacation time, so an extra week we can cruise every year. But other than the decorations, maybe a special Xmas themed show, themed photo opportunities, Santa for kids and of course the additional Xmas day option of a turkey dinner on the menu in MDR (btw some Specialty restaurants will have a special dinner that does not fall under the UDP and will be quite an expensive special upcharge) The rest of the cruise will be pretty much the same except for lots and lots of kids and definitely a Full Capacity cruise.

I even clicked on the other blog link you provided and it confirmed what I thought I remembered from a few years back, that we referred to them as WOW envelopes. (to tip extra to someone that provide the Royal WOW experience) Personally I believe that your providing your cabin steward with a "large extra tip at the begging of the cruise" has made them think you are a Big Extra Tipper and they want to make sure you have every opportunity. Now each of us has our own opinion and belief on Tipping and all are valid. Myself I have decided that in principle anytime a business either adds a tip automatically, offer an option to prepay the tip, or says tip is included that is all that they get. Are there exceptions, Yes but rarely.