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Concur with @1978bucketlist since you got a great price on the Refreshment package. good job!

18 for the casino. I did see a young man asked for his ID once, but that was a few years ago.

I have specific experience with this. Normally, if you convert points to OBC a couple of weeks before your cruise, it will be available on the ship. I normally convert before then, but I must call the toll free number to make the OBC accessible to Cruise Planner. Alternatively, call the awards center initially (instead of converting points online), and tell them you want the OBC for immediate purchases. They have told me the conversion would go through in a few days. I find I like using my Royal CC for Cruise Planner purchases so I get double points, and then I can use the OBC on the ship. But I have also used some for Cruise Planner. Have a great trip!

You've heard just about everything from other members, but I have to say it depends upon the excursion. If you are going swimming, etc., it's hard to safeguard your real passport. A driver's license can get wet, but not your passport. If you are just shopping for jewelry, that's another story. So think about what you will be doing and the sort of purse/bag you'll have. Some excursion sites have lockers, but some lockers aren't trustworthy. Have a great cruise....

To follow up on what @melski94 said, we just received an e-mail from AAA marketing their excursions (in our ports of call) up to 40% off. So you do have options....

Generally, you can get cheaper excursions from 3rd parties, but you need to consider what might happen if you are late getting back to the ship. There are benefits to using Royal's excursions, but Matt states you should consider all options -- maybe a mix of providers is just fine. We visited Pisa, which is a tad commercial and over-rated, so next trip we'll do Florence. Still, I can claim I saw the Leaning Tower.... In Rome, there is lots you can walk to once you arrange transportation downtown. Royal has an "at your leisure" tour in most cities, which does just that. We found the Acropolis very crowded, so if you take that tour (from anyone), you need to get there early during tourist season. (Piraeus) We loved the Ephesus excursion Royal provided us at Kusadasi, but you can also walk to some local sites and shops at the port. In Santorini, remember to plan your return to allow for the line to take the tram back to the port (from the mountain top) as well as tenders to the ship. We found vendors in Turkey very aggressive, and you must bargain for best price. You also need to bargain in most gift shops in Italy (the small stands), many don't tag their gifts or quote a high price. Last tip is not to overdo it. Especially in summer, which is hot, you will want to pace yourself and drink lots of water. Have a great trip!

On the issue of carry on, you will want to take on one item with things you will need Day 1/Night 1. Don't give that item to porters. You might not get your checked bag until after dinner, so your carry on should have your valuables, medicines, and dinner attire (if you are in shorts when you board), or perhaps a bathing suit, sunscreen, sun glasses, etc. You always keep valuables on your person or in a bag you keep close. Barcelona is notorious for pickpockets, and although we sailed problem-free our dinner companions weren't so lucky. I can't comment on all of your other questions, but you will want to arrive as soon as you are able (to get the most out of your trip) given the guidance you received from Royal. We boarded at 1 PM, which was fine for us because we arrived at the airport the same day. On departure, we always do the "drag your own luggage off the ship" which means leaving early in the AM, not sure your arrival time. We leave at 6:30 or so when the ship docks at 6 AM, for example. Your itinerary will show the planned arrival time, although that may change during your cruise. Someone who has just sailed from Barcelona can tell you when they boarded, etc. Have a great trip!

Welcome to the blog! Generally, it is helpful if you pick a descriptive title to your post, such as Share Van from NJ to Philly? or whatever. Then folks know at a glance what your post is about. Have a great cruise!

You might want to check out the Cruise Planner for a similar itinerary of your ship. That will give you an idea of the recommended dinner attire or activities that your family would enjoy. The link to Cruise Compass is at the very top of this web page. Have a great cruise! And I also applaud your husband's service as a retired Army civilian employee.

Concur with the other posts. Additionally, when we cruised just after Dorian, we notice how calm the seas were and how nice the weather was. So assume you miss the hurricane, you could be in for a real treat!! I would only add to protect your cruise investment with appropriate travel insurance.

I concur with @Ogilthorpe that there are some benefits to booking on board, as explained. However, whether you really get a good price depends upon the cruise you select. In many cases the price is the same as you would book off the ship, but you have the benefit of a smaller deposit and/or OBC. We once booked a cruise on the ship which wasn't discounted, but it was larger than normal. For me, the takeaway is that I won't book a cruise on the ship unless I know in advance it's one I've wanted to book, AND the price is fair. Whatever you choose, have a great cruise.

We are two years out for our next cruise, and I am already so excited I've downloaded excursion brochures for similar itineraries to start my "study". My emotions are fueled by Royal's computer, which insists on sending me to the Cruise Planner even though nothing can be booked this far out. Have a great trip!

For us, our initial experiences with Royal were very positive, and we haven't seen a need to change. Overall, we have found the service outstanding, and the standard of care/amenities seems luxurious to us. Our frame of reference is "middle class", so we are thrilled when someone waits on us so diligently. Regarding some other lines, there is simply too much bad press--cutting corners to save $$$ which hurts guests in the end. But we are not big drinkers or big party-hounds. As for itineraries, we do a lot in the Caribbean, but I prefer Europe when my wife is willing to fly. If your plans are flexible, go in the off season when you can get a great rate -- we avoid paying premium prices in the summer.

Regarding (1), when you book on the ship through Next Cruise you can still elect to book with a refundable deposit, but you need to be clear that is what you want. Otherwise, you will probably be quoted the lowest price, which involves nonrefundable deposits. Other members can share their latest experiences. (2) I haven't actually booked a cruise on Royal's website, so I'm not sure how the prices are displayed at the end of the booking process. I book with a travel agent, and I specify refundable deposit unless we are close to the payment deadline. We have never needed to cancel a cruise, but absent travel insurance (with different carriers providing different cancellation reasons), if you cancel early you get everything back (refundable deposit is all you've spent so far). With nonrefundable deposit, you lose it when you cancel (absent any insurance benefits). For us, the fare difference between refundable or nonrefundable deposits hasn't been very much, and certainly not $275. But we are booking ocean view or balcony rooms, not suites. Many cancellations occur after final payment date, which is why travel insurance is important. Royal tries to sell their policy (through AON) by including a "cancel for any reason benefit", albeit with future cruise credit up to 75% of your fare, if my recollection is correct. Without travel insurance, the cancellation penalty varies based on when you cancel and the length of the cruise (it's in the cruise contract or other literature). Regarding (3), repricing a booked cruise with the same room because of a drop in the fare isn't a cancellation. It is handled differently, as explained in other threads. Some members are real pros on repricing. The purpose of a refundable deposit is, well, to get your deposit back. It's more important when you are booking well in advance and realize life may change your plans. When you are locked and loaded to go on a specific vacation within a year, it may not be necessary (apply the $$ you save with a lower fare to travel insurance). Other members have different thoughts, but that is my approach. I hope you enjoy your upcoming cruise, and the ones after that.....

On our cruise in September we had traditional early seating, requested a table with others, and ended up with just one guest. We had delightful conversations all week long, and we were actually given a table by a window, first time for me in about 13 years. We have also had an MTD experience in which we were placed at a table with others, but that seemed to be because of a shortage of wait staff. It only occured on one or two nights. So our experience has been consistent with the advice of @Atlantix2000 .

I've never been able to request a specific table for the Main Dining Room, but you can request a table for 2 vs a larger table to share with other guests. I do that through my travel agent when I book the cruise. Sounds like you'll need to contact Royal. I am sure other members will share their tips. Not sure if you are traditional seating (early or late) or My Time Dining. PS. There is a separate forum for dining questions.

My approach is to look at the bottom line price and decide if it is fair. We had an ocean view balcony on the Harmony in September which was about $876 (purchased 16 months in advance) per person plus taxes/port fees, or about the $2147 you thought your were going to pay. So if I were you, I would try to do better than the $3K and change quote because you are in the "off season". Maybe other members can share their pricing experience.

I would wear tennis shoes as you'll be carrying the tube.

Without an excursion, you can, eat, swim, snorkel off the beach (admittedly not the greatest), lounge around, barter with locals or go to the fixed price gift shop, etc.

I have also read good reviews of Tabyana, but we chose Maya Key. The snorkeling requires a guide (who you tip at the end) to take you through the narrow opening in the coral to get to the best snorkeling spot. The Key has a buffet lunch, beaches, swimming pool, bar, Mayan exhibit, and several wild animals to see. I also like the locker room and gift shop. Lockers were $3 on our trip in September, but we didn't need them for our suits/clothes. Shuttles take you back to the ship (we were docked) on a regular schedule, so you can stay all of your port day or return early. If you don't want the constraints/pleasures of having a small group guide, then don't pick Maya Key. It was affordable in Cruise Planner. Have a great cruise!

We've used the soda package before, as my wife doesn't drink much but ordering a soda helps keep our table when we are dancing!

Most e-mail isn't secure, so unless you have a special encrypted system, don't send payment information, SSNs, and other PII through e-mail. (And if you do, tell recipient to double delete as you will do.) Best to use a landline and talk to your agent by phone. Landlines less likely to be hacked. Can you survive e-mail? Probably, but hackers are everywhere..... Regarding deposits, one factor is whether you have travel insurance of some sort that will protect you in case of a cancellation.

When we did the cave tubing, you didn't swim, but you got wet first loading up into the tubes and then getting off. The pool was about 3-4 feet deep, but you didn't need to swim. That said, it is possible to fall out of an inner tube, although others are there to assist in an emergency.

Try to capture the full name of the crew member, and if you can't get a WOW envelope to him or to her, the end-of-cruise survey is a chance to offer your praise. I have also left notes at Guest Services.

Concur with @WAAAYTOOO , and remember to use your stateroom safe when you are onboard the ship. That way your extra cash won't fall through the hole in your pocket as you pass through the casino! When we go off the ship, we allow about $100 per person for shopping or emergency transportation. I bring the leftover currency from a previous trip just in case I need it, but visiting the same ports I've usually used USD.