sk8erguy1978

They'll let us board together, so no biggie. In the app you need do each person separately, strange but makes sense in a way. Gives you the flexibility to check in yourself or everyone. 
I started a few minutes after midnight too. Needed to sledgehammer the app for it to recognize check-in was open. 

Ya must have gone crazy fast. I was on right at midnight eastern and got 12:00. Crazy they didn't put your wife in the same group with you since you are traveling together.

I fell asleep waiting, I got up at 5;00 am and I could only get 1:00 pm 😞

I’m sure you will eventually meet back up with her on the ship. 

I was personally looking forward to it. Now instead I'll be on the Icon inaugural sailing. Blah, not the same 🙂

Just paid final payment on my replacement cruise.
 
Oh what could have been....

Finally booked flights. Prices are down about $600 from last week. Little bit of points, little bit of cash. I'm definitely disorganized this cruise, working on fixing that. 
And hey, lay flats on the return. Rare for Miami to Newark flight. 

Sorry your wife cannot make it. My wife's time off hasn't been officially approved yet either, ER nurse. It's always a gamble for us booking something before she can put in the request. We'll know in a few weeks I guess. 

Could I get the link also, this is my first inaugural, and trying to get prepared- I'm behind the 8ball already as I don't have anything planned.
Going to be my 13yo son and I, doesn't look like wife will make it unfortunately.  
 
Thanks all!

Fair warning, there's a whole lot of chatter in the groupme group lol
Careful what you ask for 🤣

I sent you the link in a private message.

If you booked through MEI, I know they were trying to see if they could get something set up for us as a group but no promises. We have a GroupMe chat going if you want to download that app and chat with us.

Finally booked flights. Prices are down about $600 from last week. Little bit of points, little bit of cash. I'm definitely disorganized this cruise, working on fixing that. 
And hey, lay flats on the return. Rare for Miami to Newark flight. 

Yep. I get the raised prices, even the sticker shock ones like the $92 dollars per day for a drink package and the $3800 floating cabana I'm seeing in my cruise planner for Icon's Inaugural sailing. $2 dollars plus 20% gratuity to warm up a cookie is insulting. Typically I cruise about once per year (although guilty of cruising a bit more during the restart days) so for me, whatever.
But I feel bad for those that only take cruise vacations, multiple times per year. It's going to ruin the experience for them if they have to open up their wallet for stupid *cough, cough* stuff like a cookie.
Just my opinion of course and as long as the core experience is still the same people may be okay with the nickel-and-dime tactics, even if they are just suggestions or test pilots.  

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I'm sorry, how is $2.40 "a small fee" for sticking the (what sounds like) same old cookie in the oven? Is that per cookie? I'll stand there with a lighter and warm it up that way out of spite.
Side note, does anyone have a lighter I can borrow LOL! 
 

Just wanted to say thanks to Matt for recommending the Lava Flow with Kraken. I've had 4 already and it's only my 2nd day! 🤣

I'm in 😇

Right. I'm thinking bigger than the cookie. I am a bit of a pessimistic person and can see this as the beginning of a lot of "complementary" offerings becoming à la carte. But, as you said/implied, cruisers will vote with their wallets. Time will tell.

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I'm sorry, how is $2.40 "a small fee" for sticking the (what sounds like) same old cookie in the oven? Is that per cookie? I'll stand there with a lighter and warm it up that way out of spite.
Side note, does anyone have a lighter I can borrow LOL! 
 

80th Birthday today, will celebrate with two solo cruises in October. Family doesnt like cruising and friends would rather stay home and watch TV LOL!

Been awhile since I've been around, but I wanted to share some thoughts.
In October of last year I took a spur of the moment (get away from real life) last minute cruise on my own.  Was a three night simple trip on Independence, only plans were for an inside cabin room and the deluxe beverage package, no excursions were planned or other frills.  And I wanted to come here and say that I LOVED every moment of this trip!  It was liberating and exactly what I needed to get away from some stress.
I had more fun on this trip than the six nighter that I just went on that July when I was with someone.  I got to meet so many more people, have a bunch of fun and random conversations with strangers, ALL of them friendly and having a great time.  I'm not the most outgoing person and this was still very easy to do. 
While sharing a trip with someone and making memories is a great thing, I did enjoy my time alone not having to worry about what another person wanted to do.  The only time it felt a little odd was when it was time to eat, but even then, if you wanted to strike up a conversation in the main dining room, or at a place like Playmakers, it was super easy.
So if you are on the fence about traveling alone on a cruise, be brave and go for it!  You only live once, so why not be adventurous

We are in!  B2B Icon Inaugural and Independance. 

Regarding whether or not a staff member actually keeps the cash tips or puts them into a combined fund...I have finally decided that it isn't my business and I don't really worry about it.  I leave the tip I'm going to leave and what happens to it after it leaves my hand is irrelevant to me.  Sure, I would rather have the person who provided me the service get the money, but the tip sharing policy is not something that I have any control over.  The only thing I can control is whether or not I leave a tip, so I do.
I follow this "rule" whether it's a bartender or a meal server.  I tip at every meal whether I eat at a specialty restaurant or the Windjammer.  99% of the time I leave my tip on the table and depart the pattern.  What happens to that money after I leave is, and will always remain, a mystery.  It's simply none of my business.

Just take some $1 or exchange them.
This was my 7th RC cruise and for most I've had the DDP. I know grats are already added but I decided after reading facebook and blogs like RCBlog to tip a few bucks when getting drinks.
This was helped by winning $20 with my free slot rolls 🙂 
I have to say while you don't need to tip it really made a difference. 
I get beer mostly so it didn't impact the alcohol level but the friendliness of the staff (they were always friendly before but the level of friendliness increased) and the speed at getting served was improved.
Perhaps not noticeable if you haven't tipped before but I definitely noticed it when the pool bars got busy.
I will definitely be tipping bar staff in the future. 🙂 
 
 
 

I always tip the bartenders…they work hard for their money! 🎶 🎼