wannabecruiseexpert

There are several sailings available now!

There are several sailings available now!

I noticed that the unlimited packages stopped being offered a few months ago - the ones I purchased were still in my cruise planner, but those sailingshave all been canceled now. The highest I have seen on new sailings is only 100 now.

And the answer is....Empress has not been sold!
https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2020/08/19/no-royal-caribbean-still-has-not-sold-empress-of-the-seas

In the past, when searching the RC site, it would give an option to search by sailings going to Cococay or search by sailings that offer free kids. Are you all able to see those options still? I don't and am trying to see if it's just my browser - or if anyone knows a way to search that way.

Yeah I probably should have added more details ☺️
General cruising backstory: Feb ‘19 was our first cruise ever, which was a 4 day inside with Carnival. It was just DH and myself. Kids stayed home and it was our first trip leaving them. One of our kids had never even stayed the night away from us. But the trip was amazing and getting out of “mommy mode” was really amazing. I was hooked. Nov ‘19 was our first with the kids and with Royal. Still an inside, but going from Carnival Elation to Indy was quite a shock. We should have been on one April ‘20 with the kids for spring break and then another this week for a milestone birthday. Missing this one had me feeling sad. 
Backstory to this booking: I’ve been debating when we should schedule the next just so I can have something to look forward to.  I’ve been switching from Thanksgiving to Christmas and then back to Thanksgiving again. Until a few days ago when I saw a post on here about a good deal for Oct ‘21 on Allure. I looked and saw 2 star class cabins available so I went to a different site to get some quotes.
I spent a day or so researching, and happened to read a post about the difference between booking with MEI so I sent a request through the website. Michelle emailed me back with quotes and   during our emails back and forth, I knew I only wanted to work with her. I didn’t care about the “so called perks” of using a different company. She has been so friendly and has answered every question so quickly. So today I checked the Royal website again and I wasn’t seeing the rooms available. I just knew I waited too long. I immediately emailed Michelle to see if they were still available and when she said yes, I asked about the 2brATS (please forgive my abbreviations/acronyms as I’m still trying to learn how everyone writes on here 😂)  because that was what I really wanted. When she said yes, all of my sadness immediately went away. I didn’t even know that she could see rooms available that I couldn’t. 
 
So in a little over 500 days, I’ll be on a 7 nighter on Allure going to Cococay, Labadee, Nassau and (I think) Jamaica. I doubt I can wait that long so I’m sure I’ll have one or 2 between now and then but they definitely won’t be star class. I may spring for an ocean view or obstructed balcony.....maybe even a junior suite 😁
 

@wannabecruiseexpert, just make sure you can visualize your family with one bathroom. OR make sure your suite has at least one and a half. Travelling with our teenage daughter one bathroom is truly aggravating, some of the OS and 1 bed grands albeit could accommodate 2 baths only have one, we are so much more comfortable with 2 ! I always take that into consideration when travelling with her. 
 

Perfect. I just can’t decide yet and I don’t want to be a trouble maker for them 😊

Ahhh...thanks. I knew what a patreon was but didn't put 2 and 2 together. I'll go check it out 

Ahhh...thanks. I knew what a patreon was but didn't put 2 and 2 together. I'll go check it out 

Yes! I think I’ve read every live blog on here throughout the last few months. I’m not sailing until February so I’ll need these blogs to get me through 😂

Thank you! Yes this helps a ton. We’re going to choose the loft. 
 
Thank you everyone for your help!

Thank you! Yes this helps a ton. We’re going to choose the loft. 
 
Thank you everyone for your help!

Thank you! Yes this helps a ton. We’re going to choose the loft. 
 
Thank you everyone for your help!

Thank you! Yes this helps a ton. We’re going to choose the loft. 
 
Thank you everyone for your help!

Woohoo!!! #teamDeck17!

Thank you! Yes this helps a ton. We’re going to choose the loft. 
 
Thank you everyone for your help!

Thank you! Yes this helps a ton. We’re going to choose the loft. 
 
Thank you everyone for your help!

Crown Loft our favorite cabin.

We stayed in 11240 (OS) on the Harmony, glad we experienced it, now we know we don't like it! Lol.  Our choice would be a crown loft if facing the ocean not the sports courts. The OS looked lovely, we had our breakfast and were able to lay out on the lounge chairs on that huge balcony. That was nice, the negatives we personally experienced and we wish we knew ahead of time were, 
The pole, be careful at night! @WAAAYTOOO warned us of the pole. 
The doorbell, seriously it was like fingers were drawn to it all day and ALL night. 
The actual dining area floor IF there is another OS above you. The loud dragging of the chairs in the cabin above you across their floor, we were treated to this always was really really loud.
I will never ever book this suite again, even if it is the last one left. 7 nights of this really became uncomfortable. 
#deck17
 
 

IMO, nothing beats the WOW factor of the loft and being on Deck 17.  I would take loft over OS any day, with or without my two kids (11, 13).  Also as @CGTLH mentioned, that second full bath downstairs makes a huge difference with the kids.  It's not as narrow as it looks in some pictures and videos.  Even with the couch pulled out, you still have a bit of walking space in the downstairs area.

With four people I'd swing more towards the loft. Key reason, is that extra bathroom.However neither bathroom has a tub on Oasis. Other good reason is you could at least get some separation from the kids.
The table in the loft I don't think is that small, catch is only two chairs. To me it does seem ample if two extra chairs were brought in, I think the table can also slide a bit more.

Plus being on 17 you'll have easier access to the Suite Lounge and Coastal Kitchen. Nice benefit of being close the the Suite Lounge is being able to stock up on in room beverages. Other nice thing, dare I say it, is Windjammer is one deck down. Great for being able to run down to get a small plate of night time snacks.
 
Also adding, after the 2 BR Aqua it is nice having a wide-open corridor getting back to the room. Minimal amount of playing dodge cart and having making way for others. It becomes one heck of a long walk to the 2 BR Aqua after a while, especially if you happen to make a wrong turn.

So there’s 9 OS (throughout floors 14, 11 and 10) and 18 CLS available so there’s a lot of options to choose from. The bidet may be the selling point though.....since we got one for home, it’s hard going places without it 😳

So there’s 9 OS (throughout floors 14, 11 and 10) and 18 CLS available so there’s a lot of options to choose from. The bidet may be the selling point though.....since we got one for home, it’s hard going places without it 😳

So there’s 9 OS (throughout floors 14, 11 and 10) and 18 CLS available so there’s a lot of options to choose from. The bidet may be the selling point though.....since we got one for home, it’s hard going places without it 😳