ChessE4

This is a fan site, bot Royal. When I do choose their partner (Aon), I look up the policy, emergency numbers, and claims process. I call before taking drastic action or filing a claim. I am sorry to hear about your friend.

While I understand your point, the total price for four seems reasonable when you consider all factors.

When I book a Royal excursion I select times. That's a start. The description should mention travel time or free time until meeting for return. You can query Internet for travel time to Florence from your port if description doesn't mention it. The length of the tour is another guide. A 6 hour tour that starts at 9 will be back at 3 pm, etc.

I'd take some Euros just in case, but our pastry shop in Barcelona took CC, as an example.

The night before I might alert your waiter...

As stated, it depends. The ship must be cleared first, but you can get an idea by looking at arrival time on invoice and adding extra time. To disembark early, sign up for self-assist if you don't have special status. If you are going to a hotel, you'll consider check-in time.

We always have trip insurance and use Air2Sea. Twice we arrived same day as cruise, Southampton and Barcelona. Both times we had delays but boarded successfully. My advice is to see if you can go a day early on your own and let the others take their chances. If you want to sightsee, go two days early.

We had a problem in 2015 when we filed a lost luggage claim and had to submit a form with our CC number. Next month erroneous charge on our RCL card. (BofA). I called B of A and explained we couldn't have been in Puerto Rico to shop at Walmart. The charges were fixed and our card number changed. I only use the card for online purchases or thru TA. No problems in 9 years.

Agree, that is overkill. I'm guessing you gave feedback on the survey...

Good points. Thanks for review.

We used goport for parking, and it was fine. We made the first shuttle to PC. On disembarkation, we carried off suitcase to get earliest shuttle. So if you are flying, think about disembarkation.

Harmony had a nice Hallmark movie. That's got to count for something! Been on both, but preferred Harmony because it was newer and more vibrant

I've flown SW to Hobby but United to Bush. Check All Things Galveston thread for lodging and ground transportation. Royal had airport shuttles but only on day of disembarkation or embarkation. If you fly a day or two early Royal won't work.

I should think it would be after RoyalUp. Just a guess. Our RoyalUp email came 9 weeks out. That cruise had been sold out except for suites.

We took the shuttle bus from the port to Cocoa Beach and walked a short distance ro the beach, dinosaur store, etc. You could also try a 3rd party excursion, such as a river dolphin sightseeing trip. If you are far out from cruise date the Royal excursions will populate later. Maybe 2 and 5 year olds don't want to walk very far.

Yes, the Rhapsody was so old that our room still had a shower curtain instead of a tube shower door! We found that putting suitcases under the bed was key to having room to move around.

We reserved ocean view rooms with a bunk that pulled down from the ceiling for our son, who was in college the last time we sailed as a party of three. We had a room once with a sofa bed. It's tight, but it can be done.

At Vigo I believe we took an excursion to an old village in Portugal. That was interesting. It's listed in my records as Valenca do Minho.

I admit I don't enjoy it a lot, but I do tolerate it because it is a cruise ritual. Monthly cruisers might tire of it, but I believe the majority don't cruise more than 1-3 times per year. Therefore, the tacky stuff, be it an art auction, t-shirt sale, or MDR dance is a pleasing reminder one is on a cruise vacation. We all have our vacation rituals, right? Hmm, it's been awhile since I played bingo...

You need to decide if you want adventure, which requires ferry to mainland as part of the excursion, or a relaxing beach day. You can find beaches anywhere, so I vote for the more exotic.

Look up the ports on your itinerary before you book a tour. Some are walkable or have available ground transportation that is cheaper than Royal. If you book thru Royal, as we often do, watch cruise planner prices You can cancel and rebook if price drops. Think about what you enjoy. I hate sticking with a guide who stops to talk all the time instead of being more selective. I am independent when I am comfortable with a port.

To avoid a ferry ride to mainland, try San Gervasio excursion, which has Mayan ruins but not pyramids. Other excursions like Tulum or Amazing Secret River do require a sometimes bumpy ride.

If you want to cut the price by 40 or 50 percent, try lunch. (We do.) Another option is to eat in the Main Dining Room but order a premium entree from Chops--lobster, steak, or surf and turf.

NAT GEO had a cruise video some years ago featuring that technology, so it isn't brand new. But it may have been enhanced in more recent ships. Not an engineer...

I don't think of Windjammer as luxury dining, but as an upgrade from hotel breakfast. I am an old diner guy who likes to watch the hustle and bustle of the kitchen while someone tops off my coffee. I get that for breakfast in Windjammer. The thrill of being on a cruise again is part of the atmosphere, as are the stunning views. If you want upscale buffets, try a line like Oceania, but Royal's Windjammer gives me the cruise experience I seek at breakfast or lunch. I am not disputing food reviews, just providing context.