RCIfan1912

Now that the 2025 NJ cruise schedule has been released I am honing in on [maybe minutes away from booking] a back to back cruise, 2 shorts together to make a long cruise. Liberty OTS out of NJ 4 days to Halifax Canada and then 5 days to Bermuda. We will be booking the same cabin as that is easiest and suggested. Any info, suggestions, tips, insight would be awesome. Kinda excited at the idea and I LOVE the idea of going North to Canada and then south to Bermuda. An interesting combo. Thanks for any info.

Can't wait for the North East cruise schedule to be released sometime this week. I can see a booking on day one.

I actually take this back but it's strange. Our upcoming Anthem cruise February 25th the safety vids are in the daily planner portion of the app. Our Liberty cruise in Oct it is not there. I feel like the Anthem safety vids have been up for a very long time though not just cause we are 2 weeks away. On our last cruise in Oct on Liberty I watched the vids from the house before we left for the port and that counted. We are only 35 minutes or so from Cape Liberty. When we boarded we literally went straight to our muster station and we were all done with that. Beautiful thing.

I do not understand this change. Anthem is made perfectly for NJ in the fall and winter. Why this change to a ship that is less made for the cold makes little sense.

The videos are in the app all the time they just made them harder to find for strange reason. Under the "daily planner" portion of the app you will see at 10 AM "required guest safety briefing". If you click that the vids and additional safety info is all there. It'll have your assembly station and where to find it. Mine at least is always there.

We do Chops for lunch on Embarkation day on every cruise, or some specialty restaurant, dress code is pretty much non existent. Excellent, relaxing way to start your cruise. Only way we do it now. We have Jaime's for lunch on Anthem this month.

We use Matt Hoffman who has a YouTube channel, Hoffman travels and he has been absolutely amazing. This guy or his assistant answers emails within minutes. He was sailing on Icon and changed the cabin we are in on Liberty in October. His assistant responded, then he responded and we upgraded to a bigger cabin. There are lots of great ones out there in sure.

My wife really wants to try "taste of Royal" lunch and honestly it sounds like fun actually to me as well. The issue on my end is I'm not a real big fan of steak or Filet Mignon. Are you allowed any substitutions? Can I swap just that one thing out?

Hopefully Liberty OTS is next. She is an amazing fun ship but needs attention kinda badly.

Excellent question that I hope someone has an answer to because I have no idea at all. Mine always get rejected.

Yes, I stopped doing my own picture because they always make me do it over again at the port. It's kinda a waste of time.

Yeah I should have said just those 2 huge suites, 1854 and I think the other is 1802? Definitely looking into booking one when the schedule is released in a week or so. Assuming Liberty will still be up here in NJ a portion of the year. Maybe a sister ship also if that is up here.

I can't believe you get full suite perks. That blows my mind actually because they are not expensive at all. There are two that are enormous, 1854 being one. I think we may book this when the schedule is released. Not having a balcony not a huge deal to us because of those enormous windows with incredible views. You get breakfast in Chops? Is that correct? Every day? Reservations needed?

2 points on those too correct? I love those cabins and forget to look for them most of the time. Thanks for the info.

Excellent info. I used to not care or pay attention to the release date of the cruise season but with prices skyrocketing I am now. The first week should be the cheapest. Thanks for the info. My eyes are peeled.

We were on Oasis last summer and the entire ship seemed to be in great shape including our cabin. Liberty on the other hand is showing her she pretty bad. We had an absolute blast sailing on her, so much fun but she needs attention soon.

Just making sure because Royal does strange things sometimes.

Uh interesting question, I knew that part. What if you booked a junior suite but then bid on a Grand suite? I assume you would still get double points?

That is incredible! Really cool random and free perk. I guess it's just a lottery thing at certain ports. That is so freaking cool though.

I don't think they do this here in NJ at Cape Liberty. Honestly we typically board in 20 minutes or so. It's super fast and efficient. It is interesting this perk though.

Where would you find this "express boarding"? Do you get an email or see it somewhere on your reservation?

We are a family of 4 one being 2 years old, we have one big suitcase, a small suitcase and a carry on. No where near 200 pounds that is sure. What a nightmare that would be to lug around.

I know that but it seems like on the older ships the junior suites really aren't worth it. That's the info that I see. To remember.

A junior suite wouldn't be bad either for us. I mean the extra points and extra room is nice. I know that is not a suite in any other way. Kinda treated as 2nd class "suite guests". Now how are the junior suites on Odyssey? Worth it? I'm guessing not so much on Liberty or Adventure?

It's usually quite a bit of savings with the guarantee but I have a few other cabin ideas too so we'll see.