RCIfan1912

Just watching the weather channel and Anthem to Bermuda which we are on looks like it might be in trouble. Tropical storm that is gonna turn into a hurricane is heading very close but might miss Bermuda but still be in the way of our path getting there. We supposed to dock Monday 9/23. I mean I am just fine going to Canada but looks like this cruise might be diverted. Safety first is my motto so stay away from hurricanes.

I'm on Serenade leaving Boston 9/22 and scheduled to get into Bermuda 9/25.  It certainly looks like a close call for me.
Latest track has Jerry going past Bermuda between 9/24-9/25 as a tropical storm.  I really don't want to be going to Canada, but not much anyone can do about the weather.  There's still a long time to go, so hopefully the storm changes track and allows us at least some time in Bermuda.  If it's any consolation, Sunday and Monday are supposed to be hot up here in the northeast, so if we head north, we'll get at least one hot at sea day.

Have done Disney and Princess but this will be our first cruise with Royal.  We have 54 adults and children from our neighborhood cruising together and should have a blast!  Can’t stand the waiting, ready to go now!

No, you will not regret it.  Even a bad cruise (I've heard there are such things...I've never personally experienced one) is better than no cruise.  I know you will have a great time.  I really enjoy sailing out of Tampa.  We are sailing on Brilliance in November.
Off topic but....I have family in Rock Hill.  LOVE it there.

Thanks to you both for supporting our sponsor!

We booked our entire cruise with MEI by email. Beyond simple, never even had to make a phone call. Very happy going with MEI.

The best thing about pre cruise is the building of excitement. You book and you are super excited, you are going back on a cruise, but usually you are still months away or a year away. It's the building ever day to the cruise that's incredible. Usually 30 days out it's bonkers time with excitement. We are 32 days from Anthem and it's really building here. We are all talking about it everyday. God cruises really are the best vacation and Royal Caribbean is the best cruise line. 

I believe so, I think it opened just a few days after it passed.

Great replies, the excitement builds and builds. Then its cruise day and you just can't wait to get on the ship. Then you go through the boarding process and once you are board you are on vacation on a big beautiful cruise ship and its relax time. Its have fun time, its do whatever you want or do nothing at all if you want. I love that Royal does push you to do anything. Yeah they let you know what is going on but there isn't any bugging you do everything. 

The best thing about pre cruise is the building of excitement. You book and you are super excited, you are going back on a cruise, but usually you are still months away or a year away. It's the building ever day to the cruise that's incredible. Usually 30 days out it's bonkers time with excitement. We are 32 days from Anthem and it's really building here. We are all talking about it everyday. God cruises really are the best vacation and Royal Caribbean is the best cruise line. 

Yes, I booked the Odyssey trips on my own over the phone with Royal.  I'm planning to move the bookings to MEI once they contact me.

We booked our entire cruise with MEI by email. Beyond simple, never even had to make a phone call. Very happy going with MEI.

You can fill out the form on the main page of the blog on the right and an MEI agent will reach out to you.
@AnnetteJackson checks these boards too and I'm sure she can hook you up.
Using a TA is great..they will do all the leg work in helping find something that works for you and answer questions. You don't have any obligation to use them and you don't pay them anything for their service.  They are paid through commissions from the cruise line.
They will work with you in whatever way works best for you.  I hate phone calls so mine works with me through emails and text messages!

For the time being (this could change any day), if you purchase the dining plan from the cruise planner prior to sailing, the gratuities are already included.  If you wait until you get on board to purchase, the gratuity will be added onto the base price you pay.

Yes it is per person, so it will be a total of $198.  At an average of $33 per dinner, that's a good price if you're interested in specialty dining only for dinner.  I will be doing the same thing on a 3 day Oasis sailing in April.

Its per person but keep in mind that anything you buy will have an 18% gratuity charge added to it.  So its really 116.82 per person.  

The gratuity charge is not added on to the dining package if you buy it ahead of time in the cruise planner. I just double checked my confirmation email to make sure I wasn't making that up. 

I stand corrected.  We bought our dining package on board but at a discounted rate.  Now that I think about it adding the 18% to ours on board makes it about the same price that I saw on the cruise planner.  Thank you for the correct info.  

this is correct, the price in the cruise planner has the gratuity included

I am doing the same thing. Just in case why not have the paper tickets. 

I'm playing it safe by printing it out and having my app. You never know what may happen to your phone or papers!

We I really don’t care for being forward so if given a choice of forward or aft I would choose aft

Didn't know Odyssey was a possibility. My wife fell in love with the Anthem. She has a major birthday in 2021, if possible, I'll book either the Anthem or Odyssey for the 5 day Bermuda. Will also bring my daughter and her family along also as a surprise. The grands will have a great time! We may not even get off the ship! You ready for you trip next month? 

There are some pics of Coco Cay and it's just fine. I saw a bunch of them. It said they don't even have much branches down. Looks like it will open when they said it will. I'll try and find the link. 

FWIW, I've gone to the port with just the app set sail pass and no printed copy.  On one occasion, the app refused to load and I did not do what @Lovetocruise2002 recommended and take a screenshot of the digital pass.  They cross-references us to a printed guest manifest and completed the check in.
So if you complete online check-in and plan to use the app to complete it, you don't need to have a printed copy, but it's not a bad idea to have a backup.