USCG Teacher

Lift and Shift promises to category protect your booking, but not specifically CABIN protect. If you're in an Oceanview balcony, you're guaranteed another Oceanview balcony (or better), but it could be anywhere in the ship that is the same category. Since you initially booked a GTY, I'd guess that they might put you back into a GTY status for '21, but as with all things Royal, consistently inconsistent seems to be the rule. I'm interested in finding out what happens in your case. Good luck to you! ?

THERE he is. ? Good to see you back, @KWong.

The Guard doesn't require a Congressional nomination for the Academy, so if he's all about that Ring Knocker life, he can do it without all the games. Just sayin'. ?

Went down memory lane with these and reminded me of a question I've always had for you, @twangster: what kind of wide angle lens to you use? They're always so sharp with minimal barrel distortion.

Yes, good point. I'd imagine just sitting on the bridge baking in the sun could have a major influence on the enjoyment factor! I've been fortunate enough to take a few through Europe, but I've never done Amtrak or Via. I hope to correct that discrepancy sooner rather than later. Having a son who is into trains will probably help to push the timeline along!

This is my #2 U.S. bucket list trip, preceded only by taking Coast Starlight from LA to Seattle in a sleeper car, then driving back along the PCH. Route 1 through the Keys looks like an amazing once in a lifetime type of trip.

Very glad to hear this ended up working out in your favor. Sorry you had to jump through so many hoops to make it happen. Good call. ?

Already have what was supposed to be my August 2020 cruise Lifted and Shifted to 2021, and finances allow me a cruise a year at most, so already thinking '22! ? The last cruise I was on was on Mariner, and the Voyager class was currently the largest class passenger ship at sea (I was also on Adventure and Voyager). I remember thinking at the time that I could not imagine there being a larger cruise ship. Swing and a miss there! As a Muse fan, I can not argue this point! Many thanks to you, @crisgold52, @sk8erguy1978 and @twangster! Sounds like this may just come down to what interesting pricing option Kathy at MEI can whip up, as I can't go wrong either way.

Okay, because I'm psychotic and enjoy thinking about and planning trips almost as much as I enjoy traveling, I'm already thinking of a short getaway for Easter Break 2022. Saw two cruises with the exact same itineraries for exactly the same price that fit the time window, one out of Port Canaveral and one out of Ft. Lauderdale. Both generally cost me about the same to get to from Philadelphia or Newark, so no real difference there. So the only difference seems to be, one is on Navigator and one is on Indy. I suppose I should mention that we'll be traveling as a family: me, my wife and my two sons, 10 & 7 at that point. We'd probably stay in connecting interior rooms unless there was some great deal available for another class cabin. So, with all that said, what are my fellow experienced cruisers' thoughts on the two? Prefer one to another? Figured I'd might as well tap in to the experience since I can! TIA!

I would say that this is prudent advice for any sort of special request: time is your friend. Giving the staff a heads up not only increases the likelihood that they'll be able to accommodate you, it also reduces the stress level on them.

1 bathroom in a Junior Suite.

1-888-305-4626

It really sounds like something that would appeal to my family, it's just too bad that it doesn't run when we can go (typical Spring Break/Summer Break limitations!). ?

Out of curiosity, what ship was this on?

I for one think you could pull this off, @twangster.

Just chiming in to say that this is absolutely 100% the correct answer.

Same. Was very pleasantly surprised!

That was me, and if I recall correctly, it was @Ogilthorpe who helped me out with that, so I'll pay it forward. ? If you call 1-888-305-4626, they can expedite the availability of the reward OBC and put it right into your cruise planner. I just contacted them last week with another redemption, and it was in my account within 15 minutes of hanging up the phone. ?

If you are thinking about doing it on the ship, and I can not stress this enough, GET THE CRUISE DIRECTOR INVOLVED! They live for this kind of thing and are really good at it. I proposed to my wide on Enchantment of the Seas nearly 20 years ago now. The director managed to lure her on stage between acts in the main theater on formal night after finding her SeaPass card that she had "misplaced." While doing a really funny bit with her about why it's important to never lose it, blah blah blah, the Assistant Cruise Director had met me at the back of theater, rushed me through backstage and had me appear on stage to propose. She had NO IDEA it was happening, and we got copies of the whole thing on tape from the ship's videographers. This was the plan we arrived at, but he had a number of ideas and possibilities: everything from quiet and romantic to a huge public declaration.

This is right from the State Department's website. While they still have quite a backlog to get through, it looks like they're making progress. The last two weeks, more went out than came in, so that's positive!

Okay, I'm just relieved that this is direction this thread is headed in...

I've worked with Kathy. She's awesome. VERY responsive and knowledgeable. You're in good hands. ?

My God, if this isn't a perfect summary of 2020 in general. Well said.