TXcruzer

Agree to disagree. There is nothing they could build or develop in an American coastal city, that would make enough people pay a cruise fare to experience. All the same laws, taxes, and duties one has at home-it’s not an attractive proposition; hence it doesn’t really exist.

Come for what? Mobile is a failed embarkation point A continental US stop offers nothing the average cruiser wants. Port Canaveral, without access to Orlando would be unwanted (as it is a large percentage of the cruisers out of NY/NJ don’t get off the ship). Even Key West for all its charm was not an overly popular stop.

No one is going to spend money on a cruise stopping in Corpus Christi or Mobile

Well said, we have had more than one GTY booking where a cabin was not assigned until we were at check in (we had one where room assignment changed shortly after our first drink at the Trellis Bar)

without question

Search the internet and other boards; several verified reports of involuntary boarding denial, at the port on embarkation day, in the last 2 years or so I agree, a GTY room has no bearing on who this happens to.

You should research the history of these incidences; there is a fairly sizable group of people that want exactly what you described. My apologies, I could not tell you were joking, and weren't one of "them".

Exactly, if there was even the slightest hint of liability on the cruise line's part, it would be splattered everywhere already by our legal friend in south Florida.

No sir, that is incorrect, links to examples above, others easily found on cruise blogs.

When The Bahamas raised their passenger fees, Royal retroactively billed the increase to all existing reservations.

This is far from the first instance of this happening. Rare? Yes, but there are several involuntary boarding denial instances in the past few years. A GTY booking does not guarantee passage, neither does an assigned cabin booking, contractually speaking.

No they won't, ridiculous statement. There has been no successful litigation against cruise lines with respect to negligence or liability in any balcony or railing design. These designs are based on international standards for safety, there is absolutely no reason to circumvent these standards to prevent stupid people from doing stupid things.

As well as the very odd Martinique stop

Yes, but i was talking about (unclearly as I see now) of the roaming waiters and bar personnel in lounges, theaters, and pool decks. IMHO this was one of the greatest downfalls of the WOW band, and why it was a "one and done" for many people.

The never gave the bar staff scanners to scan the WOW bands, I’m sure they won’t get scanners to scan the sea pass cards

What are your travel arrangements? Where do you leave from and return to? Where are your stops?

Seems like Chase bank is the common denominator. I made about $1200 worth of cruise planner purchases on Nov, 9. All the transactions appear on my American Express statement as posted on the 9th. Also cancelled about $500 worth of purchases the same day, all refunds show as posted on Nov 10th.

If your travel agent is charging your card for your fare and not Royal directly, that’s a whole different concern.

The cruise-line keeps the entire process cloaked in mystery. What we know as fact is the minimum wage is currently $658 per month. This is mandated internationally. In my opinion that amount is the responsibility of the employer to pay from their revenue. The daily gratuity, again in my opinion, should be awarded ON TOP of the minimum; but there is no transparency this is being done. If the cruise-lines are using the daily charge to supplement the minimum wage, then the folks I want to reward with that money are not receiving full benefit. Therefore, I have chosen to not participate, to force the hand of the cruise-line. This way, I can assure my tips get into the hands of those I intend. As far as feeling the minimum wage is low, one needs to look at this through the eyes of the crew members and their perspective where they are from; not through an American union member’s eyes. This sum is quite a windfall, as is apparent my the folks that spend multiple years on the ships.

Exactly why I don’t participate in the daily gratuity. It’s for the cruise-line to fully fund that minimum. I tip cash

Minimum base salary is $658 monthly, raising to $666 on Jan 1 2024. No one NEEDS to pay for internet and alcohol

Give me a break, it was heavily covered on many news outlets.

If only I could afford the fare......

The paper compass availability varies from ship to ship. We have been accommodated at times, but more often than not, we are told it is not available any longer.

Her 2020 Drydock was cancelled