USCG Teacher

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This may sound boring to others, but this is one reason I enjoy going back on the same ship. I'm not a big show guy but I'll see everything once (except Broadway, just not my thing). When we go back, we don't feel obligated to see any shows again (besides comedy which changes of course) unless we decide to.
I'll likely make some show reservations when we go back on Wonder just to have the option (especially if my wife tells me she wants to see something again), but it's kind of nice to have the entire night free for DL snacks, dinner, drinks, a non-show activity, more dinner somewhere else (I like to eat), etc.

A "problem" with cruising is there's so much to do and sometimes not enough time to fit it all in !!  A nice problem to have though and probably common for a lot of us!  We like to have before-dinner drinks and not be rushed about getting to dinner.  Then while eating, we don't like feeling rushed to get to the show.  Your solution, USCG Teacher, is similar to what we'll do.  On some cruises, we find ourselves getting to bed after midnight though --  kind of late at our ages!  Oh well....  very excited about our upcoming cruises.  Enjoy yours!

In the early days of RU, I would win consistently from either balcony or JS to sky class (mostly CLS) but lately zero luck. I’m still bidding the same and on some occasions more money but still no luck. The demand for cruising is through the roof and the upgrade program has become a pipe dream. I still bid for every sailing but the expectations are set very low. 

Thanks, USCG Teacher.  Good suggestions.  Actually, the shows we've selected are mostly starting anywhere from 9:15 to 10:15 so we're thinking we'll ask the Concierge to get us the same dining time each evening.

You really expect the Royal IT department to act quickly updating things.

Yeah I was wrong about that, it was midnight and read it wrong, its 10:30. That's actually perfect. Hopefully on the ship at 10:45 and then we have an hour to explore before Chops at noon for a nice relaxing quiet lunch far, far away from the Windjammer. 

I want to point out that all the vintages are upset with my mother for inviting a strange man on our vacation. My mother is also upset because I told her once I get the blind gent on the ship, she will have to look out for him. 
Also @USCG Teacher I would appreciate all the insight. I have done European trains but never Amtrak for that long. 

I have to agree with @asquared17, this feels like a camera crew should be following you!
As an aside, I'm not sure if you've done long-haul Amtrak before or not, but if you have any questions/want suggestions, etc., please feel free to message me.  Otherwise, looking forward to see how this journey unfolds!

I feel your pain.  I am the family planner for our 12.  My family and my sister and her family. No vintages Started a google doc which no one reads.  Have to travel to venice , get to our hotel, spend 2 days in Venice,get to the bus station for the 2 hour shuttle ride to Ravenna,board the ship, find excurions in 4 ports and then get back to the airport.
Check in opened and 1 person did it.  So they can sit out and wait for their time while I am onboard enjoying the flowrider and drinks!  

No, not per person.  Per cruise.

Keep moving those goal posts, champ.  Sooner or later you're sure hit a point that people agree with you about!

I have to agree with @asquared17, this feels like a camera crew should be following you!
As an aside, I'm not sure if you've done long-haul Amtrak before or not, but if you have any questions/want suggestions, etc., please feel free to message me.  Otherwise, looking forward to see how this journey unfolds!

Well you got me reeled in. I do find it very fitting that this journey begins on Friday the 13th. 

Just found this video, made very recently. She claims exactly what I read. They drop you off on the opposite side to get you to walk through.  She shows the drop off point right at the 6 minute mark. At least now I know to be prepared to stop a few times on the walk back! 
 

Gotta give you credit, in your situation I would have given up the role of family travel agent a long time ago.  
I also would have insisted everyone pays a deposit right at the start.  You find out very quickly who is really serious when they have some skin in the game.  

Since a ship has several thousand guests there are always last minute changes going on.  RoyalUp is also around to manage last minute inventory that becomes available so it doesn't go to waste or given away for free to a Pinnacle or Diamond Plus member.  With folks like yourself submitting bids that's all in place and ready to go in the event someone cancels at the last minute.
Life happens.  Guests have unexpected events in their life or in a family member's life were all of a sudden a cruise vacation just isn't that important compared to something that just occured out of the blue.  
I had a real estate deal falling apart.  Had I not missed my cruise I would have lost the deal.  Only because I chose to make the real estate transaction more important did the deal go through.  It was hard walking away from a couple thousand dollar cruise but I had a good real estate deal lined up that saved me much more than that.
A child had an unexpected change in their bootcamp graduation date.  That was more important than a cruise so I walked away from the cruise.  What was I going to do?  Miss the graduation?  Nope.  
What happened to my cabin on those cruises?  I'll never know.  
When there are three, four, five, six thousand or more guests on a ship there will always be a handful of people who have last minute changes impact their ability to cruise.  
 
 

While this was unavoidable, and RC did offer a nice compensation, you still might need travel insurance, in my opinion. Many flights will cost more that $600. Especially if that is per couple, not per person.  I also always have hotels pre-paid, before and after cruises.   There could be transportation to airport or train station.  

You are exactly right. This is a one-way cruise, so folks have to pay to change their existing flights home to be from a different airport and earlier. Last minute flights are likely way more expensive. Travel insurance would cover that gap.
It could also cover any non-refundable costs for excursions outside of the cruiseline. If there were plans to stay in the debarkation city for an extended post-cruise trip, travel insurance would cover the costs to continue your trip.

That would make sense, sadly.  Hopefully someone with more recent intel can chime in!

"Welcome aboard folks.  The gangway's up and we'll be preparing to set sail from Kahului momentarily..."

Thanks @twangster I called today and had it resolved in less than 10 minutes. Even the boarding pass on the app changed colors to reflect her updated status

I'd call CAS at ‭(800) 526-9723‬.
If it were me I'd rather clear it up now so she boards with the proper status and it's one last thing to waste time on during your vacation onboard.  

Thanks! I hope this is still the case,that would be great. I read a few recent reviews that complained that they picked you up close, but dropped you off on the other side because they want you walking through the new port. 

"Welcome aboard folks.  The gangway's up and we'll be preparing to set sail from Kahului momentarily..."