CrimsonCruiser

Boarding day counts as day 1 and that's when you can start using your purchased packages (drink, dining, photo); debarkation counts as "day 6" but i think that's only a technicality since nothing of your stuff rolls over to that day. Mocktails generally run about the same as cocktails at 12 or 13 each. You should also calculate in that with the refreshment package you also get specialty coffee, tea and juices and the cup which you can fill before you leave the ship. Honestly, I think the refreshment is a good deal if you drink coffee and mocktails. I tried convincng my mom to get it but we have a suite and can make coffee and tea in the room.

I also echo this. You may not want to deal with a momentarily disappointed child but I'm sure you'll both be much happier disappointed vs hurt or worse. Those inches may even come in before the cruise. Naturally.

From all the videos, I've seen that there is a mat....is the mat use optional? If so, may I ask why you would opt to go down without one? I feel like humid air + plastic slide + bare skin is a pretty reliable recipe for getting stuck....

I don't see why not! Woo!

I don't understand why you don't have access....seems perfectly reasonable to me. Must be darn Royal IT again

Gives me a chance to visit places in an "appetizer" fashion that I might have otherwise not have gone to. All-inclusive. Pretty pretty sea.

Hello all! I'm heading out on a cruise in August and looking to try a resort day pass for the first time ever but I'm stuck between my two options: Sunscape vs Mariott at Curaco. I was wondering if anyone has stayed at one or either of these resorts and can offer feedback, opinion, advice. My dilemma primarily comes because Sunscape doesn't include transportation but has unlimited food and drinks at all open restaurants while Mariott includes transport but only has a $65 food/drink voucher at one restaurant. Also - souvenir shopping at curacao? We did a quick stroll up the little market before the bridge last year (then caught a local taxi for a ride around) but it was small and full of mass-produced stuff. I much prefer things that at least look handmade and clothes.

I generally like around noon. It's around the same time I'm usually checking out of the hotel, not too far ahead of when the rooms generally open, but not so early I'm butt-up against all the other early birds. Later boarding gives you the perk of going straight to your room so if you're carrying on your own luggage or have heavy carry-ons later means you don't have to drag them all over the ship. But, on the flipside, if you were hoping to be first in the pool or to snag a good seat in the sun or at the windjammer, you're a little more out of luck. Really, it depends on what you want to do when you first get onboard. For us, we just like to find someplace chill to sit and take in the atmosphere, grab lunch, and look at the events and what not for the week so we can get a rough plan of our days.

I am always team lanyard - just makes it easy to find and keep track of even if you stick it in a pocket or belt loop. That said, the newer ships/cards have chips in them making it impossible to get it hole punched. So if you get a lanyard it's a good idea to get one with a plastic sleeve that you can slide the card in. As for luggage tags - YES. Do it! Not only do the stop the tags from getting beat up while in transit, they also make it easier to attach to non-traditional bags/luggage. we got these: https://www.amazon.com/Cruise-Luggage-Holder-Seal-Steel/

Flow rider no. But you will need to fill out the waiver before going on.

Digital or physical. I'm not sure how the physical option works as we just opt for the digital, The digital are emailed to you after the cruise (up to 2 weeks wait time I think) but you can also download them one by one via the ship's wifi for free while on board.

If one is in a suite can we just tell our concierge our preferences when we get that welcome email?

For us the best benefit to booking with next cruise is the up to $300 OBC. We booked with NextCruise and then had it transferred to our TA and ended up with almost $700 OBC between the two of them. But really that's it. NextCruise bookings don't have any cheaper fares, they abide by whatever sale is currently running and you don't have a dedicated TA once you get off the cruise to reprice or struggle with any Royal changes. It's really just the OBC I think that makes it worth it, to me.

Based on what I know...nope nope and nope. But this could be a YMMV situation as it seems certain port staff have a different understanding of what constitutes an extension cable/power strip. Universally, the safest ones that get on all ships at all times are pure USB towers. Some people report success with the usb/outlet combo but I've also read of people getting stopped and those getting confiscated.

I will agree with others - once you have a travel agent, all update emails go to them. The issue may be, the emails may not go directly to your individual agent but to a general email in the company. Which mean the email has to go from Royal to General company to all TAs to all clients of a TA and it may get lost in the shuffle. The most you can do, I think, is to check in regularly with your TA about any updates/changes/notices etc that may have come out.

Yeah, unfortunately Houston is far enough away from the port in Galveston that no hotels there find it worth the gas/time to have a shuttle all the way out to the port. We ran into this as well and were fortunate enough to see it in advance and plan to fly into Hobby which has a more direct highway route to the city of Galveston. Uber/Lyft is going to be your best option to get from Houston to Galveston (cost us about $50 each way back in 2017) but once you're in Galveston there are plenty of hotels that will offer you a free shuttle.

Thanks. at leas i have an idea what to ask for

Hijacking this thread to ask about the customizing the Emerald perk welcome beverages and snacks. Is this something we coordinate with our TA or with Royal ourselves? How far from the cruise can we do this? (I tried going to RoyalCaribbean.com/UpgradePreferences as listed on the C&A pdf fine print but it just sends me back to my base account page)

I've never done or seen a cruise ship scavenger hunt but if you're looking for suggestions, I love ones that involve harmless people watching. So a hunt could be: * People wearing matching custom family cruise shirts * The not-so-elusive hogged chair Also one that could be a fun bonus: evidence of the elevator day plate ninjas!

I just want to add in my support for the flowrider. I was interested in my first 3 cruises but too scared of embarrassing myself since the spectators were kinda harsh on those who wiped out. But on Odyssey with limited capacity, I got my chance with only a small crowd watching and it was great! The instructor kept an eye on me and corrected my form and when he saw I had a good handle of the belly board he showed me how to hop up on my knees and encouraged me even after I failed the first time. And I did it! managed to stay hands free for a whole 5 seconds but it was awesome! Now that I've gotten an opportunity under my belt, I'm looking forward to doing it again on Allure. Also - wiping out looks scarier than it really is. Both times I was scooped up into a sitting position by the water despite falling off the board forward facing and on the side. Got water up my nose and what not but nothing that hurt.

It's on rotation on the same channel that shows the map and course. I don't think they have a steady feed channel anymore.

On land and sea I have been mistaken for significantly under 21 and I haven't been carded once onboard. Sometimes when that happens I wonder if I just older that day or if they're lax or if my seapass has some indication that I'm not a minor...

No complimentary lunch but you can get complimentary breakfast in Chops as a suite guest. You do also get free room service including items from the MDR menu.

Odyssey had paper (or the like) straws in the bars and they actually held up really well. I got a beverage at a karaoke event, then decided to sign up to sing, was too nervous to drink and forgot to remove the straw the whole time....about 20 minutes later I finally took a sip and the straw was completely intact.

Uhhh Grab my what now?! Also.. my first thing....find out when the karaoke is!