Perryhouse

Just fill the forms in as honestly as possible, don't worry about putting in something different to what the travel agent has- except for name/DOB. They are very helpful at check in and will correct any problems there.

They have implemented this a month ago needing emails and cell phones for emergencies for any last minute changes
They have had big issues getting a hold of clients directly to tell them of changes like ship is late, or cancelled so
they are asking for some kind of communication for these things now and its required that TA provide
this for their clients if the client does not
 
All residency items or military discounts etc are supposed to be verified at the pier
and you can make changes at the pier if you input the wrong information
 
As a TA I do online check in a lot for clients and just put one address and contact for
all parties so I think it will be fine, cause they can make changes at the pier.

No, they will not refuse you for a paperwork inconsistency like that. They will get you all straightened out at the port if not before. It might cost you a little extra time checking in but they will help you. Trust me, they do NOT want to deny you boarding ! They will go to extraordinary measures to get you onboard ! Probably the only thing that can really cost you dearly is if you don't bring proper identification docs (passports, etc)
 
As Doc said, they might have to deny you specific discounts if you claimed a discount that you cannot validate (military, first responder or state discount) but not for just data inconsistency.
 
Having said all of this, I would call the RCCL customer service and ask them for help getting whatever glitch you have, worked out. Better to avoid unnecessary delays wherever you can.
 
I had erroneously assigned myself as being responsible for the sea pass account when I did our most recent online checkin and could NOT get it changed to show my husbands name as being responsible and even the customer service lady could not fix it for me. We finally just had to go with it but when we got to the port and were checking in they simply don't care whose name is on the online checkin....they just wanted a credit card and once he slapped his down on the counter, they were happy !
 
So I'm not sure the online checkin is really all that important in the long run. It definitely won't be enough for them to deny you boarding.
 
Relax...

I always have a tendency to ignore the really great reviews and the really horrible reviews and look at the rest.  There are some people you just cannot please and there are the cheerleaders.
 
My advice, this being your first cruise, is to not have any hard and fast expectations.  Be flexible, go with the flow and you'll have a great time.

Yip- 29th June, 2 weeks of heaven- get me out of here!!!!
Can't wait now! Just check your cruise compass booklet every night for things you want to do the following day and you can't go wrong.
Enjoy!

@Booly100 we are on the same cruise I assume on 29th June? Have a great holiday too.
 
Thank you everyone you have all helped put my mind at ease I am now looking forward to my holiday again and not dreading it.

@Booly100 we are on the same cruise I assume on 29th June? Have a great holiday too.
 
Thank you everyone you have all helped put my mind at ease I am now looking forward to my holiday again and not dreading it.

I've been in a similar situation prior to various cruises I've been on, overly concerned with a number of bad reviews, only to find out that they were meritless once I was onboard.  Keep in mind that much of what is reported by other cruises is very much personal and subjective.  Thus, what is important to you can be very different to someone else, much like food quality/taste arguments.  In addition, I've noticed that the number of bad cruises increases when ships are on short itineraries (perhaps the crew is more tired having to make over the ship more frequently) or when they are moving from one itinerary (e.g., North America) to another (e.g., Europe).  I've seen similar reviews regarding the Brilliance and I expect a few "hiccups" as she makes her way to Europe.  However, I also know that the experience on 4/5 night cruises is very different than what passengers will be having on 12 night cruises.

My advice is to take any review with a grain of salt.  Everyone is different and everyone finds different things good or bad.  Look at food as an example, some dish I find utterly disgusting you may absolutely love. Doesnt mean either of us are wrong.  Same with cruise reviews.  I'd keep what you have, have an open mind and enjoy your vacation!

I agree with WAAAYTOOO... some people like to complain and you may not know the true intent or source (also you know what they say... people by nature are more likely to speak out to complain than they are to compliment).  
The main dining room food and service is excellent... you are generally served by the same waitstaff team each evening and they get to know your preferences.  Even the casino dealers and staff are very friendly... it's not a typical casino atmosphere where they cannot offer any advice/suggestions if asked, etc...
 
You will be hooked after the cruise... that cruise (although our 3rd overall) led to the booking of RC cruises this year (Liberty of the Seas) and next year (Allure of the Seas)!

Perryhouse, please do not be overly concerned with the reviews that you read online. It has been my experience that some people just like to complain. Honestly, I don't know where some of these complaints come from ! I wonder if it's a competitor just planting bogus bad reviews sometimes.
 
I sailed on the Explorer in November of 2014 for 14 days (repositioning from NYC to Port Canaveral - before the refurb) and it was glorious ! I think it all comes down to what you expect, going in. If you expect perfection then you will be disappointed. This is your first cruise so you don't have anything to compare it to. You will love it ! I found the crew to be very thoughtful and pleasant.
 
Don't let those bogus reviews worry you. The ship will be beautiful, big, fun and you will have a blast.
 
I'm not sure what upgrades they made to the Explorer in drydock but I'm sure they will make her an even more beautiful ship. It looks like they have replaced Portofino's with a Chops Grill (steakhouse - Deck 11) and they have added Giovanni's Table down on deck 4. Honestly, the food is wonderful in the Main Dining Room so if you don't feel you want to spend the extra money on the "premium" restaurants, don't. I rarely do !
 
Have fun and don't worry. You will be hooked after just 1 cruise !

Hello!
 
I can only speak from my experience on the ship prior to the refurb/upgrade back in October 2013 (7-night cruise... Cape Liberty, NJ to Bermuda)...
 
Back then, the captain was Henrik Loy... the cruise was enjoyable with absolutely no issues... food, service and entertainment was excellent in our opinion (went with my wife, mother-in-law, and my wife's aunt and uncle).
 
Yes, especially pre-refurb as an older and smaller class of ship, it could have used some cosmetic upgrading/updating, but we knew this going in and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves (we also chose a balcony stateroom).
 
I believe they have added more dining and entertainment choices and really spruced up the ship... back in 2013, the only specialty dining choice was Portofino (which we enjoyed!).
 
I'm sure there are more experienced forum members that can answer your other questions... I hope you have a spectacular time!  :)
 
- John

Windjammer has food throughout the day.  On Quantum of the Seas, it's open 24 hours!
 
It's always buffet style, no matter what time of day and Windjammer does not have the dress code that the main dining room has.  So you can go to Windjammer in sweats on formal night without a problem!

bcarney's post about "83 day countdown" made me wonder. My own countdown is 61 days, and my mind keeps looking for something cruise-related to do.
 
The cruise is paid in full. We've got hotel and air reservations done. We're set for My Time Dining, but don't need reservations since we go early. The only thing left to plan is shore excursions, and we've talked a bit about that.
 
So what does one do to keep one occupied as the countdown decreases ever so slowly?
 
I know one thing I'm doing — watching Love Boat episodes! I'm thrilled that my local MeTV channel started airing Love Boat a few months ago, so I've got my TiVo recording (and saving) all the episodes. So far, I've got 19 episodes recorded. 
 
Otherwise, I'm watching Allure of the Seas' Royal Promenade web cam as my computer's desktop (wishing I were there, of course), spending lots of time reading cruise-related forums, and listening to cruise-related podcasts.
 
You'd think I'd be all cruised out from all this, but it's like an insatiable craving until I get onboard!
 
At least among friends here, others will probably know what I mean.

If you have your cabin number you can even look it up on the Internet to ensure your happy with it. You will find a lot of information on locations to avoid on every ship. My must is to have cabins above and below us. This ensures noise is kept to a minimum.
 
Welcome to cruising! Hopefully you find it as enjoyable as the rest of us!