Neesa

@twangster Amazing, thank you so much for posting this. I enjoyed it so much, as the very last time we were there we went on a DCL sponsored "Beach break" with the masses and wanted to venture out a bit on our own, this gives me appropriate comfort. I really appreciate it, have a great rest of your day!

Anyone experience this excursion? I booked through Resortsforaday and was trying to figure out how close it is, (says 5 minute walk from ship) and if it is worth the cost? Thanks so much!

@Matt We will be visiting Coco Cay for the very first time 11/25/19, will there be more then just the Harmony there? Better yet, where may I research this for my future cruises on RCCL? I am relieved your estimation is the island can handle everyone, as you may know we are coming over from DCL and the private island when the bigger ships are in is hectic and nothing like they profess it to be, the water is people soup and if not early your not getting a chair or shade, period. Thanks so much!

Wow, Thanks @R.T. our first RCCL sailing is in 20 days, and your questions was one I would have asked if I had known I hadn't known it! I would have dreaded walking around with that cup all day. Thanks so much for asking....I LOVE this blog, the posters here are so kind a full of information. I know I will have a great experience due to some amazing advice, non descript thin lanyards check, luggage tag holders/protectors check, #Team CK check, lobster vs champagne lobster check, educated Royal up bidding check, MEI, check, check, check!! This community is awesome, from our family to yours, a huge THANK YOU! Enjoy your sailing @R.T.

I received my Royal Up bid opportunity 9/26/19 for my 11/24/19 7 night sailing on the Harmony. There were 4 separate offers, I am currently booked in an OS. I researched knowing our specific criteria and decided to place a minimal bid on a 2 Bedroom Aqua Suite. We are 23 days out and have not heard back yet, when I receive any response I will update but no communication as of now. I know this is a near sold out sailing so I am not that enthusiastic that our bid will be accepted but the process was neat, so much better then the way DCL handles begging for even eye contact at the "supervisors desk" . I enjoyed the anticipation and research that went along with the process, I will continue to stand by....

MEI, my TA Sharla is the best! Saved me money 2X so far and my sailing isn't until June 2020. Another vote for MEI!!

Ugh, that's are hard lesson. I utilized everyone here especially @WAAAYTOOO and @Love2cruise2002 and refined my bidding knowing exactly what I would be "winning" (If I won!) You are correct sometimes "winning" isn't all it's cut out to be. Huge lesson learned but FEEL BETTER, you are going on a cruise! Enjoy your breakfast out there, a glass of wine in the evenings before dinner, (bring it in your carry on) as stipulated by the RC rules and make the very best of it. The money is spent, can't change it don't let it take away from what will be your best vacation yet. Enjoy your sailing :) ** I just looked you are mid-ship starboard now instead of being port aft. I think your updated location now is much better too!!

@WAAAYTOOO you are my cruise God Mother! The way you explained everything to me I am clear and comfortable with my decision not to place that bid. There are 2 adults plus my 13 year old and we are sailing November 24 to December1, 2019 I paid a big price for the 3 of us in the OS. So much so that when I called to possibly switch rooms to a Crown Loft (it came available after final payment) the CL was close to $3,000.00 cheaper and they had no problem making the switch but they were keeping the entire $3,000.00 I could not wrap my head around that so we stayed put. The way you explained the possibility of basketball courts also helped, my luck I would be outside and hear the bounce of the ball and it would drive me crazy. (used to live in a City very sensitive to certain noises) for the added price of $2600.00 if we "won" and then to possibly be miserable, ah no way no how. In addition for our first RC sailing we are #team CK and the refreshment package so not so much savings there either. Thanks so much, have a great evening!

This just happened to me and I lost my 150.00 OBC BUT I saved an extra $500.00 so at the end of the day I was up. My TA keeps an eye for me and when there are more savings to be had well she gets it done. I am sure before February 2021 you will see additional flash sales but I do think every sale is inclusive of themselves and can't be combined, I believe. I am sure some wonderful other cruisers will chime in shortly. Good Luck and happy sailing!!

I just received a Royal Up bid possibility for our sailing in a few weeks. As of now we are in an Owners Suite with a minimal bid in for a 2 Bedroom Aqua (really would prefer 2 bathrooms) but nothing was available at time of booking. My question is two fold, does anyone know the stateroom numbers of the Star Loft Suites so I can see their location and your thoughts if you have stayed there? ie part balcony in proximity to the basketball court etc. The minimum bid requested is $1300.00 so even if we bid that my CC gets hit for $2600.00 if we "win" Planning on staying low key so we will be in stateroom a great deal. Your thoughts would be so appreciated, what would you do? Thanks a bunch Sailing Harmony

MEI, MEI! I felt most comfortable when I used this travel agency, my TA is Sharla. They are experts at the RCCL vacation and believe me that makes a huge difference. Since I have booked I have received two price adjustments without lifting a finger, just turned on my computer to the email from Sharla, guess what you just saved money as there was a sale. I had used another TA previous due to booking with a group of friends and there is no way I would ever use someone not as familiar again. Any question I have I send off to her (or ask on here) the answers are kind and come fast and furious LOL. Go with the TA that is invested in your not only enjoying your vacation but that respects your needs, MEI. (No I do not work for them, not affiliated at all just a very satisfied customer) Good Luck and enjoy your planning, sometimes that can be just as much fun! I have previously said a trusting relationship and ability to communicate with an expert TA is better then a little amount of OBC any day.

Thanks so much to all who replied, we had a super rough year (husbands both parents gone within months of each other) and decided spending the Thanksgiving Holiday away from home would help get through it. We usually only cruise in warmer months as we enjoy the warmth. Loving that we may be disembarking from a decked out Christmas ship, tree and such! Now by lots of families & kids would you compare the number to that of DCL? Just curious because this time around in an OS and plan to be extra low key this sailing. Appreciate it everyone!

Hello Everyone! Sailing on the Harmony November 24, 2019 to encompass Thanksgiving Day. Has anyone sailed this week and are there any special things to look forward to ? Thanks in advance!!

Seriously, I would book a cruise where you were the Cruise Director!! Looking forward to your future Vlogs. Thanks so much young man, you are a breath of fresh air!

Perfect! I can always count on @WAAATOOO!! Thanks so much, Denise

Hello~ I would like to confirm for my upcoming sailing a question about CK. We will be dining there every evening and forgo the MDR on this our 1st RCCL sailing. ( I like acclimating in a much smaller venue) I checked the app and the menu's are pretty much listed albeit I know some may not be that accurate. If we go to CK and notice an offering on the MDR menu (mushroom soup vs tomato for an example) may we order it? Secondly, is it a huge pain in the a$$ to do this to the wait staff? I know they work hard enough and don't want to be "that person" who messes with the servers timing etc. If he has to run all over the ship I don't believe I would do this (except for lobster night but we will give them the heads up before that evening) Basically just because I may doesn't mean I should? Thank you for your thoughts, I also don't want to take the server from the other tables they have if this is a long process, then I totally would not enjoy what I thought I would! Thanks everyone.

We enjoyed this very much, looking forward to more. Thanks so much!

@AnnetteJackson, That's wonderful news! To clarify my particular inquiry was "do you have an OBC scale like Small World?" Whatever the case may be I totally stand by the belief that an OBC does not always = a great TA. Sharla had our business with her customer care and communication skills, knowing we will be receiving an additional gift, well that's just icing on the cake. Thanks for educating me on MEI and confirming once again how I made the correct choice, have a lovely day! (In Sharlas defense I had so many questions at the time and was so excited to be booking another sailing (I had just cancelled a B2B DCL) that she may have mentioned the gift but I missed it. #MEI

We have sailed 10X with DCL and Small World Vacations had the OBC amounts all laid out in print very searchable on-line. Fast forward pretty much disgusted with the DCL experience in relation to the prices as well as the diminishing services and finally customer service pretty much gone we came over here to RCCL for our 1st sailing in a few weeks. The TA picked by the group offered a decent OBC so they went with her BUT alas she is no RCCL expert. Can't even minimally compare to my previous TA. I researched for our summer 2020 sailing and landed on MEI as recommended from this site for our 2cd RCCL sailing, as there was no way I could book with the previous one. I was surprised when I asked about OBC she said they didn't offer it, but just speaking with her I KNEW she was the best for our family. (Sharla) has taken the best care to adjust my pricing (price drop within 1st week of booking) as well as answer any questions I had. I feel like I have an RCCL expert advocating for me and since we are cruisers and will most likely now sail exclusively with RCCL I believe I made the correct choice, I would rather a good relationship and feeling of comfort versus an OBC at the end of the day! #TeamSharla

What time does the club area for the 13 year olds stay open until? If staying past 2200hrs do you pay by the hour? Does anyone know the cost? Thank you!

Thanks @WAAATOOO See I'm so excited I forgot to mention the name of the ship, Harmony of the Seas! Thanks for the great advice. Since this week includes Thanksgiving Day as well as the ship being close to capacity (I was told) I am planning on making my CK reservations when I am contacted the week before. We perused all of the menu offerings and prefer the smaller venue of CK so we will be #TeamCK all week! We will be sure to note the lobster tail versus the champagne sauce also, so thankful for the heads up on that!

Please @Love2Cruise2002 & @WAAATOOO and anyone else who would like to chime in, we are sailing in 36 days and are told the sailing is pretty much full. Never heard anything from Royal Up yet so we will be in an OS deck 11. Our embarkation lunch we plan to go to the CK on 17, is this super crowded on embarkation day? With the SL open 11-11 can we get a glass of wine with lunch as the amenity? We have the refreshment package as when I did the math even with our max of possibly 4 glasses a day, and even that is a stretch, it would not make sense cost wise to purchase the DBP At what time should we expect to be allowed into our stateroom? I am a 50 something mom and I am excited like a little kid, I just can't wait. Any additional advice for this first time family? Thanks so much!!

@Love2cruise2002 In the Owners suite do they provide shower caps or can you request them? Thanks again!

Thanks so much @Love2cruise2002 and @WAAATOOO! You are correct I was referring to the Suite Lounge and CK as one entity. I just watched a video showing the layout and realize the proximity of the 2. No problem at all, on DCL we each retrieved a glass of wine at forward concierge lounge and sometimes walked it to aft for dinner so this set up is super easy. In addition our menu's showed up on my app and because of your suggestions we will inform our wait staff (early on) we would prefer the lobster tail for night 6 I saw the lobster in champagne sauce and now know to steer clear. Thanks so much for all of your help, have a great day oh, and @WAAATOOO enjoy your sailing this Saturday CHEERS!

Clarification request please? We have the refreshment package booked and are staying in the owners suite so have access to CK. What are the hours of the cocktail hour within CK? While we really don't imbibe to much I will have a glass of wine with dinner. So specifically if we are eating within CK at 1745hrs each evening may I order wine with dinner included within the lounge amenity? Do I have to go and retrieve it for myself before being seated? Either way is fine just hate looking like I am a first timer, (even though we are lol) Also, TY to everyone here, I was just able to pull up all of the menu's on my RCCL app because someone else here said they were available. Sailing 11/24/2019 Harmony Good evening, Denise