bobroo

The direct answer certainly is to take the OW class on the first sailing. Over the week you’ll become good friends with your instructor and the ships dive team; that will carry over to week two.  In case there are any rough spots with the class, you’ll have sailing #2 to make things up (there won’t be an additional charge). On the other hand, if things go well; you can look forward to diving at Stuart Cove’s in Nassau. Providing the time in port cooperates, most of the Stuart Cove dive sites will be great places for going on your first dives. The visibility is always great, the water 80, and it’s shark central— so there’s lots to like.

But being more than a year away, have you considered taking an OW class BEFORE going on the cruise? That way you’d have dives in Aruba and Curacao to look forward too.

Welcome to Pinnacle Club Ryan! You are going to be a breath of fresh air!

If you are willing to do an El Cheapo hotel when sailing out of Miami, I think the sweet spot is any of the El Cheapos on NW 36th St on the north side of the airport/ some might call the area Miami Springs.

The area has some bright spots of things that I'd be looking for. Airport Cafe and Liquors is a great pace to pick up "one bottle of wine per one adult, per cabin" and you'll be surprised by the amount of others dining there--it's because their Cuban food is super good. The Old Tom's Sports Bar consistently sees some my money and I 100% guarantee you won't be the only embarking cruiser who is there. The iHop? Well... it's an iHop and IMO sure beats any of the free DIY waffles you can get at your El Cheapo. The real plus is that all these places are a walkable distance.  I think my average Uber or Green District Taxi is about $20 to the port and co-incidentally takes about 20 minutes.

There are some notable downsides to staying on 36th St, but if you are looking to do a Miami Quick N' Dirty; then spending the night on 36th is a solid option.

Here is how I like to add some spice to a lazy sea day:

Go down to the pool and take a random chair hog’s towel clips, crappy book, and grimy flip flops and switch it with another random chair hog on the opposite side of the pool. Leaving the towels cause they are all the same. I’ve found you just need to shuffle an arbitrary 5-6 of them and it takes less than two minutes to do. Oh! You see an odd number of reserved chairs like three? Make sure you do it to the one in the middle!

Then I like to grab a big cappuccino and go up to the Viking Crown. The Viking Crown offers the perfect vantage point for watching the unsuspecting chair hogs as I giggle like a school girl.

You’ll dock in Livorno, it’s about an hour away.

Yes, it is well worth the effort to see Michelangelo’s David and the three unfinished Michelangelo works. 

All this discussion and concern about the new blocks is leading me to believe that passengers really, really like the blocks as a gift. Therefore, masses of passengers were never leaving them behind in their staterooms after a cruise like we were recently told.

1 hour ago, smokeybandit said:

I don't know what is new on this list, but RC says it's updated and begins March 10.

 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/content/dam/royal/resources/pdf/cas-amenities-feb-2023.pdf

This is clear as mud.
 

 You Guys!  Aaaaagh!

Also, don't go to Canada if you have a drug conviction; even a small amount of cannabis from your Woodstock days.

Don't go if you've been convicted of a felony.

And....do NOT go there if you are going to work while you are there.

'Know who would absolutely know the definitive answer to this question? Costco!

Call them at (877) 849-2730

Or....potentially they park the rolling ladder they use to water the wall of plants in front of your bonus balcony space. Maybe.... 

Although you can not fly with them, I’ve seen a lot of CPAP/O2 users onboard use small, portable power stations.  Have you considered using one?

If I have to make the towel animals myself I am going to end up with a bunch of snakes! 

I have thought of doing this very same thing!

I would love to walk into Casino Monte Carlo wearing Brioni and order a very dry, shaken Martini. 

Now...the table minimums will dictate how long this charade goes on for; but it would be fun!

Note to self: zero solar panels in the above picture nor mentioned by any of the posters in this article.

14 minutes ago, Vancity Cruiser said:

We have sailed with Captain Marek twice now. On one occasion we were enjoying dinner in Chops for my wife's birthday when he stopped by our table to say happy birthday! I don't know if he does this with all birthdays on board (tracks down where they are having dinner through seapass card) but it was definitely unique and made my wife's day. 

I don't specifically know but I can tell you my experience. He is one of the remaining captains to have a nightly Captian's Table in the MDR. After we were done dining...he works the room. Wow!

I hope that everyone here gets to sail with Captain Marek Slaby. He has been tenured on Radiance for a number of years; there is a running rumor he may tapped for Icon— and for good reason. He is the most personable and likable captain I have sailed with. His announcements are honest, frank, and each day he rattles off every birthday aboard, including crew. Passengers stop and listen to his words when he is on the PA.   Honest.

Let me describe how Captian Merek deals with those who are late to come back aboard. “This is Captian Merek coming to you from the bridge. It’s now 5:40 and all aboard was at 5:30. We are still waiting for Tom and Mary in cabin 9632, Rueben from cabin 3126, and Estelle from cabin 1174…..” There a grins from ear to ear on everyone onboard when they hear the captain very publicly call out those who are late.

Those grins turn out to widespread laughter the next port stop when you here the following “the local authorities have cleared the ship and the gangway on deck 2 is now open. I would like to remind Estelle in cabin 1174, Tom and Mary from cabin 9632, and Reuben from cabin 3126 that all aboard is at 6:30 pm tonight….”

Allow me to say one more nice thing about Captian Marek. Capt Marek loves to sing. He has single handedly created a show that happens once a week in the Centrum; Rock’in With the Captain. It’s the band and six or seven crew members (all amateurs) who also like to sing and are shockingly quite good! They are wearing their work uniforms of cabin attendant, server, laundry person, etc. They sing whatever songs they want across any genre. The Captain…..his jam is 80’s Judas Priest!

 The supply/demand data derived from Royal Up has escalated prices above Royals costs plus normal profit margin AND the ships are sailing full. This is why Jason Liberty is happy.
 

I think these price increases will continue until passengers stop bidding. Right now there is no end in sight.

Galveston, and more notably San Juan, have always been leaders in the the "Lowest Cost Cruise Fare on a Per Night Basis" category. However they also both rank high in the "Cruise Ports With the Most Obstacles To Get To It" category.

So-- the lower cruise fares sort of make up for obstacles to get to the cruise port and make them closer to on par with sailings from other US ports. 

I love sailing out of Galveston. There is always the bonus of going to Buc-ee's on the way to the port. 

I'd steal a couple of his pool towels and return them as my own. Then call it even....

There are a bunch of RCBlog Cruising Best Practices and High Recommendations. IMO, at the top of that list ls obtain a passport.  #2 should be take a picture on your phone of the picture page of that passport before you leave on your trip.

That image will be enough to get you out of any type diplomatic trouble a person could get themselves into while they are on a Royal Caribbean excursion. 

My promised glass block arrived yesterday, a couple quick notes:

--This new glass block is BIGGER! It is slightly taller and thicker than the others I have.

--Rather than a plain, two piece navy color box; the box has been redesigned to have a C & S Logo on the top and the lid has a magnetic closure--it's much, much nicer!!!

Just an FYI: I've received a shipping notification from a company called Team SCG out of Pompano Beach regarding an owed crystal block. The message line from their email is Your Order Has Shipped.

I can easily see where this unexpected email might be confused as spam.

A little research proved that this is legit and this Team SCG company is a corporate gifting/reward outfit.

They ship via Fed Ex.

Thanks to the OP for bringing this topic up, it’s made me think that Royal should  have redesigned excursions specifically for Icon port stops.

Ya' know.......if it was April 1st I think we might all appreciate or see humor in "the burp"

Here is why I regard Tampa as a Gold Star port:

I sailed out of there last month and stayed at the Hampton Inn Downtown Tampa Channelside.

My walking time (with luggage) to the port for embarkation……8 minutes.

Full service Starbucks in the same building.

A CVS across the street.

Lots of good restaurants within walking distance. 
 
Clean, safe upscale neighborhood and the friendliest staff of any cruise terminal.