MikeK

I doubt if they will this year. I do not mind it as it is another layer of protection and filter out any possible issues, minimising cases on-board

This is where a TA…. Oh wait.  Never mind.

Just be aware that if you pay your onboard account with a debit card that the bank will put a hold on your checking account for some period of time after the bill is processed.  For the most part it is not advisable to use a debit card for your onboard account.

On the flip side, we use credit for EVERYTHING!  Better protections, no hands in my checking account, paid in full every month, maximum rewards.  

Edited to add everyone has their own financial plans and comfort levels.  just sharing my thoughts. 😁

I just wrapped on a cruise where we were able to adopt the new protocols including no masks.  As I entered the Windjammer i was amazed at the number of people that refused to use hand sanitizer.  A good 30% walked right past the washy washy girl asking everyone to use the hand sanitizer.  This was never the case when we all masked up.   It seems some people are done with ALL protocols. 
So if these people are handling the tongs and dropping the tongs into the food (a common occurence pre-shutdown) then I'm all for the served WJ buffet.  
 

Yeah it’s not just covid.  It was gross and unsanitary before and it’s gross and unsanitary now!

I hope never!  I prefer the staff handle the serving utensils.  Sorry but people are pigs!!!

Long before the shutdown when I first made Diamond I stopped buying the drink package on most sailings.  I would purchase a few beverages during the day and then during happy I would drink happy hour drinks.  I called my hybrid drink plan.  Even if i spent $20 - $30 on purchased drinks (back then) after a few happy hour evening drinks that was enough.  
Fast forward to today and the any time, any bar, any drink vouchers and my hybrid drink plan is even more efficient.  I can often go whole cruises now and only buy one or two drinks.  If i use my 50% off two beer/wine vouchers wisely I can go quite far with just my drink vouchers.
I do tip for every drink so there is that cost but given free drinks every day of the cruise that's the least I can do.  

But make sure it's a certified copy of the license not a copy off the printer.

Some of the big box travel agencies (CostCo, for example) do not participate in RoyalUp so if you want to still be eligible for RU, do not go with a big online agency.
MEI is the sponsor of this blog and most everyone who has used an MEI agent is very happy with their service.
We use Michelle Cunningham and think she is awesome !  Good luck
Michelle Cunningham [email protected] Phone. 703-881-2727

I am sure I will miss many benefits but here goes: TA takes care of booking, final payment, price adjustments, following for and applying FCCs if applicable, CWC if applicable, you can receive TA perks such as OBC, they are your point of contact so it will be your TA that waits on hold, the right TA is invaluable.  I value a TA that responds to my requests quickly and has knowledge and specializes in cruising. That way I can relax knowing I am in good hands.  
Yes you can still royal up.  Communication relating to your reservation is done through your TA but you remain in charge of any cruise planner purchases. 

As a general rule, it is not advisable to pay in full early.  For example, repricing a cruise, should there be a fare reduction, is more complicated if the cruise has been paid in full.  As @AshleyDillosaid, there is certainly no advantage to paying it off early.  I often pay everything except a small final payment (e.g., $100) and then pay the final balance closer to final payment date.

Check-in will still be open at 45 days out. There's really no reason to make final payment until it is due.

I don't know...I feel that way about the insurance industry  😂

Qualifying for and receiving a LEO/FF discount are two very different things, lol.  

Khakis are the closest thing to "formal" I do on a cruise. And that's not even a guarantee.

That's me I''m so over packing suits to wear on cruises, when I'm on vacation I don't want to wear a suit I wear one to work everyday when I'm not working from home.  On cruises I pack some nice jeans and button down shirts and of course fancy shoes to wear to dinner every night.  I think I stopped wearing suits on cruises in 2017, I get some people love the formality of formal night and I did enjoy it for quite some time. I took my first cruise ever in 2008 but by 2017 I was over it, no more wearing 2 piece suits on cruises for me.

Yeah I let them take it at the port.  One less thing I need to hassle with.

Don't gamble?  If you are in the stock market then you are in the biggest legal gambling scheme there is. 

RoyalUp is operated by a 3rd party called PlusGrade. 
PlusGrade does not have full visibility into the Royal reservation system.  They get a very limited view and limited functionality to perform simple upgrades and notify Royal of the cabins involved.  They take their fee and the rest of the money goes to Royal.  
Upgrading linked cabins is extremely complex.  By the time RoyalUp begins to function which is normally in the final month before sailing there are rarely groups of connecting or nearby cabins available for PlusGrade to consider.  That can also change the math as one cabin might make sense to upgrade while another may result in less new revenue compared to giving that 2nd cabin to completely different party.
More importantly one month before a cruise departs there is usually a hodgepodge of inventory all over the ship.  One balcony here, another balcony on another deck far away.   
Combining cabins into one is even more complex and impacts the cruise contracts for the cabins involved.  It's one thing to change the cabin number on a booking and give a booking an upgrade to a different category.  It's another matter altogether to cancel a booking and move guests from that booking into a new booking.  That has all sort of implications to it.  
I just don't see it happening for groups of linked or connecting cabins. 
 

Invicta is horrific. I enjoy nice quality watches and the word “Invicta” is off limits in my house. I don’t get it. 

Yeah, but they can delay your bags from getting to those who DO deliver your bags.
Many years ago we sailed out of Bayonne.  I have metal tags with a very strong metal attaching wire.  I always tip the porters (particularly in NJ as those guys are longshoremen) and I did that time, too….but when my bags finally got to my room, those metal tags were missing.  They had to have been cut.  No way they just “fell off”.  I will never know who cut them but my suspicion has always been with the curbside handlers.  I guess they thought I should have tipped more.  We tip $2 per bags.  Still do.

We like to bring a whole bunch of mainly $5 bills, and some 10s and 20s with us.  It's hard to get small bills once on board.  In spite of Covid, we've had a couple of really good years.  Generally, it's not unusual for us to tip over 50% on meals out at home.  On the ship, we'll spend a few hundred on cash tips. 

There is more to the story. The pre-pay prior to voyage goes to the room steward, dining room exc and is pooled as a collective tip. I believe there is an option to either pre-pay this or pay daily onboard off room account. Then you have the 18% that’s added to every single purchase onboard (bar drinks, speciality dining exc). If you tip more then the 18% (which many people including myself do) it’s easy to just add in what you wish on the signed sales receipt. When I buy a bar drink I normally add another $1.00 per beer in addition to the 18% gratuity. The bar tenders do not look at this as “cheap” at all. For speciality dining (family of 4) I will add $50.00 on top of the 18%. In the casino after 10+ beers the tips get better and better! Hope this helps. 

Clearing up some confusion...
18% tip is applied towards certain purchases. Mainly beverage, specialty dining, and spa services.
When purchasing a beverage or specialty dining package this 18% is included when purchasing. It might be a separate entry or included in a bundled price. You can also tip additional if you desire.
 
Pre-paid tips are the either $14.50 or $17.50 per person per day that goes towards housekeeping and dining services. This is added to your invoice for the cruise. If you don't pre-pay they'll be charged onboard. This is separate from the 18%.