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For ports you didn't mention Belize. We enjoyed the ABCs when we sailed on Mariner from PC. For us the itinerary is more important than the ship. Our son enjoyed Adventure Ocean/youth groups regardless of ship. In the end the family needs to consider what the trip goals are and then reach consensus balancing all factors.

You'll want to make sure the air travel is covered in case ship sails but storm affects your flight. Generally, you should be covered, but check fine print as others have stated.

It wouldn't be in CP but in Compas/App.

I can see a lot of cruises now.

I always listen for runners behind me and check before passing slower walkers. I am vigilant about obstructions or flooring changes. Oasis class has ramps periodically, for example. On smaller ships I don't wear a hat on top deck due to wind. I agree early AM is best time.

In the latter case you are talking round trip, I believe, not one-way.

I can see the appeal of a short cruise to complement a few days at a theme park within a 7-8 day vacation week.  I wouldn't do it now but 15 years ago it would have been a possibility.  A week at a theme park is a little much....

Correct, no issues for us because it is a private, secure area.

13 hours ago, CrimsonCruiser said:

resurrecting this to ask...has anyone had any price drops in the last couple months? We booked our August trip for this year onboard last august (for work reasons, it's the only time I can really be gone for a long while) and despite checking almost every day since booking....there has been 0 price drops. i know prices are going up but I'm a little surprised I can't even wrangle back $10 bucks!

I'd  guess August is prime travel time, so no discounts. We go off season and haven't  seen drops for our balcony staterooms.

I vote for going to a port you haven't visited before.  I haven't been to Progresso yet, and I'd love to see Chichen Itza...

1 minute ago, jeffmw said:

 

I'd be interested to know what, if anything, gets shaved off the top. Like when you donate to a charity and they say "100% of your donation will go to...", does any of that money end up with Royal as some kind of administration fee to the workers?

Going through the trouble of removing daily gratuities and doling all that money out individually seems like a lot of work (and you miss tipping some of the people you may not see, like laundry workers). But I'd be inclined to try doing it if it's not all going to the workers.

 

I assume virtually 100% is going to the workers.  Anything else is unethical, and while business-oriented, Royal appears to be ethical.  Folks who cancel gratuities and hand out cash are going down the wrong path because of the "invisible cruise ship workforce", in my opinion, but they have the right to do that.

We are AAA members, so we use their travel services.

8 hours ago, Babsy47 said:

Where is good snorkeling?

I go to Chill Island, beyond the swimmers to the rocks, or along the rope and farther out. Watch the current  beyond the rope.

No, another tier isn't needed. Moreover, tiers aren't really that motivational. We don't cruise for the tiers, but the experience. Royal should focus on the experience to build and retain business. Existing perks are sufficient provided the onboard experience doesn't erode. If that happens, well give up drink vouchers for a better cruise vacation on another line.

12 hours ago, Elisha2024 said:

Hi we are going on the Quantum of the seas in April. looking to go scuba diving at the 3 port stops.

Has anyone done this before? and are the ports tendered or docked.

We were just there on another line. Bora Bora and most others were tender. Papeete and Raiatea can handle small ships, but I don't know about Royal's size. Recommend ship excursions but the few onshore operators are cheaper for snorkeling. Sundays most ports shut down. French Polynesia not over- developed like Hawaii; surprisingly rural. Got lost in Papeete and locals very helpful despite my limited French.

And we were just on a 700 pax ship in French Polynesia which tendered almost everywhere. We docked in Papeete and Raiatea, which can handle ferry-sized ships. But Key makes sense only if 3rd party excursions are cheap enough or internet essential.

3 hours ago, FOB said:

Currently have 6 cruises booked and trying to work out if it is worth purchasing the key for any of them. 
I can do without internet so the big bit for me is early tendering slots if I am not on an RC excursion. 
Difficulty I have is I can’t find out which ports are tendering ones

And before anyone says “ it’s on your invoice” I have checked all 6 invoices for this year and neither them nor  the two from last year show which ports are tendering (and that includes ports like Portofino and Santorini where there is no docking option). Photo is of one of the invoices for last year

I also can’t find anything obvious on the RC website

TIA for your help, Fiona

Santorini is tender, as you stated. I would look at cruise compass. Don't  no about Mykonos but Civitavecchia, Turkey, and Athens are docked. We were docked at Palermo. Again, check compass for similar itinerary. The ports link on website might have something.

1 hour ago, Sal Brocato said:

This is my first time cruising on Royal Caribbean and I have a quick question. I have the Bank of America Royal Caribbean card and I have points that I am going to redeem. I want to use them for our excursion and drink package. When I redeem my points it states on-board credit. Before I redeem the points, can I use the "on-board" credit to pre-pay for my excursion and drink package? 

After you receive your OBC, you can spend it on cruise planner purchase, or you can use it on the ship. However, point redemptions may take time to process. If there is a good sale before your OBC is credited, you may want to pay with CC. Then on the ship, you can cash out OBC, use it for gratuities or spend it on other room charges.

I don't know which description you  are reading, but others have posted about smaller group size of a more expensive option under Shore Excursions forum. We had fun with the cheaper one, but we had about 40 on the bus.

1 hour ago, tonyfsu21 said:

It sounds like you enjoyed the smaller ship but I don’t think the company agrees with you re: first time cruiser/smaller ship. Based on the marketing and the deployment of Oasis Class ships for weekend sailings it appears the next generation cruiser is hooked on the biggest ships. The days of bargain cruising are pretty much over and the “free” options are being cut to make room for the millennials who will pay the price for an elevated experience. The cruiser of the past will be phased out and replaced with a generation of family cruisers who will be the new cash cow for Royal Caribbean. 

The next 2 cruises we have booked are Vision and Brillance with Serenade likely to follow. We still find affordable cruises.  That said, you may be on to something--a migration of cruisers (by demographic) to different lines with preferred class of ship.

I'll add snorkel vest. I've encountered strong currents before.

I will add that a vest is helpful when current is strong. So take one with your gear.

On 2/12/2024 at 8:00 PM, devbak150 said:

The map shows artisan Market, Showcase and Village. Which is the one to avoid?  I do want to get some souvenirs and I saw on video to avoid the pushy vendors but there is a store that has things that is ok.  We reserved a day bed in Adrenalin beach I believe.  I see there is a bar and I am guessing food somewhere close as well, cafe I think. Is that a buffet place? Are there jellyfish at all here, I was stung in Coco Cay. Any other tips, hints. Thanks!!

We avoid the back road between beaches and shop at the fixed price store. Have found what we want there.

On 11/5/2023 at 11:27 AM, ScottB said:

My husband and I just added this cruise. Will by my husband's first time on Vision (I went to Alaska in 2007)

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 

GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS 

PORTLAND, MAINE 

SAINT JOHN, NB (BAY OF FUNDY) 

SAINT JOHN, NB (BAY OF FUNDY) 

HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA

We are going on the 19th, which lists Boston instead of Gloucester. Oddly, my first cruise was to Canada in 2004, a 5 nighter from NJ. Looking forward to see how things have changed. Hope you have a great trip. We've always liked the Centrum on vision-class ships.

The excursions are synchronized with port arrival times.  I've had issues with Cruise Planner excursions being all messed up for our Med cruise.  So I wouldn't worry if you booked with Royal -- you will be given updated excursion times on the ship.  Also, the itinerary may change as you get closer to sail date.