WAAAYTOOO

We went by Honi-Honi but didn't go in. I think they were open but the summer rush is definitely winding down. We did eat dinner at Dutch's, which was excellent. The single thing that Leigh misses is a decent grocery store. The best they have in that area is a Shop 'N Save but she's a bit of a city slicker and misses her Harris Teeter and Wegman's. She was actually talking about going all the way to Moorefield (an hour from their place) just to get to a Food Lion, which is pretty sad. They do, however, already have a "favorite" butcher so she's very pleased with that aspect. We enjoyed our visit with them very much. They have a beautiful new (resale) home. Since they are in the real estate business, they got a very VERY good price even though it needs some work. They're young. They can do all that work ! The house is not actually ON the water (Deep Creek), but is considered lake property. They have another home that IS on the lake, that they rent out. They have not had but 3 vacant days for that property since March and it is rented solid all the way through the holidays. There is a small ski town (McHenry) nearby so with the lake and the ski lodge, that makes it a year-round destination. Who knew ??

Sounds like you have good instincts. The basic rule is, if the specialty restaurant is open and they can accommodate you, you can eat there. Of course, this is all pre-Covid...and none of us know what new restrictions, if any, they might impose...but these are the “rules” that have been in place before. If they have later boarding, which seems inevitable, my guess is the boarding day specialty lunch is gone. That’s a shame. It was maybe our favorite perk of the UDP. You mentioned that you might go to the MDR on lobster night. Don’t do it ! Don’t waste one of your specialty nights by going to the MDR just to get your lobster tails. You can go to any specialty restaurant on lobster night and ask the waiter to bring you MDR lobster tails in addition to whatever else you may be ordering from that restaurant’s menu. This is a very common request and they expect it. It doesn’t hurt to give them a head’s up earlier in the day that you plan on coming to the restaurant later and that you will be ordering the MDR lobster tail. That way they will be prepared. It’s just a common courtesy thing. BTW, this also works for any MDR main course menu item, not just lobster. Dan loves the lamb shank, and on nights when they are serving lamb shank in the MDR he always orders it at whatever specialty restaurant we are in, on that night. Again, a head’s up makes it much easier on your server. As far as reservations, it is best if you make all of your dinner reservations as soon as possible after boarding. As the week goes on, the specialty restaurants get more crowded and with likely reduced capacity, it’s going to be even more important than ever. You can always make changes as the cruise progresses, but you may need to be flexible with dinner times.

I paid $58.99 PP for the Coco Beach Club for our 13 Dec 2020 Oasis Cruise.

Update - Since the listing on our VA house went “live” yesterday (Thursday), we decided it would be best just to skeedaddle and run away to western MD to visit my daughter and see her new house. For @coneyraven, they live in Garrett County in Oakland. I don’t know much more about the area except that it is beautiful out here in the sticks (meant lovingly). We watched a big (probably 8 point) buck with his deer-ladies grazing in their yard (5 acres). Simply beautiful. Of course, all Dan could talk about was shootIng them with a bow, but I avoided a philosophical confrontation on the subject. Back to the house. I am overwhelmed by the attraction the house has generated ! We have over 30 confirmed viewing appointments between Thursday and Saturday plus an open house on Sunday. Getting out of town was the RIGHT move. We did have 1 negative review (objection to the yard slope, which is legitimate) but everything else has been ragingly positive. I think we’re going to be very happy with the decision to sell now. Our Agent is very pleased. We told him to hold all offers until we get back. Don’t want to deal with that right now. I change my mind daily (even more often some days) about whether to accept the job offer I have and remain in VA until the FL house is ready or move straight away to FL. He keeps sweetening the job offer so it’s getting harder to decline so I outsmarted him (I hope). I sent him a list of all my cruise dates for the next year ! That should discourage him ! Lol Off to breakfast with the fam.

Also concur with @Lovetocruise2002 She responded before I finished pecking !

I agree with @MLH. I have found the only reliable (and easy) way to get orders is via the Genie. It has been my experience that the room service number is useless. I am almost never able to get through. Also concur that standing orders - particularly for Starbucks In the morning - is ship-dependent. Some will, some won’t. I almost always have to tell the Genie to STOP bringing food. We can never eat everything they bring and I hate wasting. If there’s something you know you want and will eat, bring it on ! But unsolicited random food deliveries are rarely consumed by us. The arrival day snack is standard. Let the Genie know beforehand what you want and they will get it if they can. Just keep in mind that most of the specialty restaurants are closed during boarding hours so extensive specialty restaurant items will probably not be possible.

That’s yet to be determined but I wouldn’t be surprised if they did.

If the cruise you already booked is one that is eligible for the $$$ off coupon, then yes, you can rebook and used the $$ off coupon. Just be aware that they will reprice your cruise and if the cruise fare has increased enough it may negate the value of your coupon. Never hurts to try though !

We received a bunch of casino offers for summer sailings. I guess they are some of the “new” itineraries

Unless the Brilliance itin out of Tampa is objectionable to you, I would just stay on Brilliance and keep the room you want. Who knows where you'd end up on Indy.

Resurrecting an old thread. I wanted to report on a GREAT experience with American Airlines and itinerary changes. I had to change a flight NOT once, but TWICE. For both calls, AA made the necessary changes quickly and without charging a dime in change fees. I am thrilled with this new policy. The first time I changed it, there was an increase in fare (which I absolutely expected) so I just paid the increased fare. The second time I changed it, the fare went DOWN by over $350 PP so I got credit vouchers for that fare difference. After so many bad experiences trying to change air itineraries, I was happy for some good news. I hope they NEVER change their no change fee policy !!!

Of course, Black Friday/Cyber Monday is coming up and historically there have been good sales around that time, but who knows what will happen this year. Last year’s holiday sales were a dud.

I believe this is 100% likely. I fear that onboard prices are going to be sky-high. At some point, the Cruise Planner prices are going to shoot up and stay there. I really don’t see any downside to purchasing CP items on sale. The worst that can happen is that you get a refund or FCC if the cruise is cancelled.

I purchased the DBP+1 Voom for our May Serenade Alaska cruise for $48 PP/PD. The DBP only is $40 PP/PD. I realize that the Voom is highly unreliable on Serenade in Alaska but it is what it is. Pretty good price, IMO.

That's a great question. I would guess that there will be additional "precautions" taken with luggage - perhaps some type of disinfecting mist or something....so it may take longer than it used to....but then again, we won't be onboard until later, so maybe it's a wash.

Other than the "big move" we don't have anything but cruises planned. Believe it or not, Dan has never gone to Disney World. He grew up in SoCal so he's been to Disneyland a brazillion times but never WDW. We may sneak up to Orlando once we get settled if the parks are open and we can fit it in between cruises !! We have 21 cruises on the books from Nov 2020 through April 2022. I hold out very little hope that our 4 in 2020 (2 in NOV and 2 in DEC) will actually sail, but they're still on the books and I received cruise docs for my B2B on NAV Nov 6-13. Most of these are B2B with 1 B3B (Jan 2022 on Oasis). 1 casino comp to Alaska (our first time to AK !!!!) and the big AUS/NZ/HI/? trip in March and April of 22.

Our last cruise was the Anthem cruise that was truncated due to suspected COVID cases (which proved to be completely false). We were supposed to go to the Bahamas and ended up in Bermuda instead. The nice part of the cruise was the reduced capacity - I think we sailed with around 60% capacity. It was nice, even though shorter than it was supposed to be. We had a great time. We were supposed to receive OBC for 50% of the cruise fare and receive an FCC for the other 50%...essentially a free cruise...but somehow we came out ahead by about $650. No idea how that happened. We went out with a bang !!

Yes, and I said the same thing ! I hope I don’t regret this decision.

Yeah, I guess it does ! If global warming leads to an ice age (one of my geology professor's hypotheses) then I guess I may have to worry about that !

Dan had an automatic sprinkler system installed here about 12 years ago. He's a "yard guy" (he's out there right now, picking up twigs and leaves) so he has enjoyed the green yard, all year round. The nice thing about our new community - no yard work !! It's all included in the HOA.

You're right about this ! They gave us a price list for upgrades when we were there last time. YIKES ! $285 to have a power outlet installed in the floor (so you don't have to run extension cords all over the room for a table lamp). I think we have already accumulated in the neighborhood of $50K in upgrades ! ....and that's just from looking at the list they gave us ! I'm sure there are plenty of upgrades that aren't even on this list. Under normal circumstances, I would agree with you about not financing the appliances and upgrade flooring, etc. ...but with the interest rates as low as they are, they're almost financing them for free ! Sure, we could buy all of those things ourselves but we've decided to hold onto our cash. ...and there's another factor. Dan is absolutely DONE with home improvements and DYI. He wants a turnkey operation and I don't blame him. We went through 1 entire year of home renovation and he said "never again !".

I'll save a lot for you !

Got it. Sorry.

You betcha. It would have to have a casino on board though. Aside from that, we would definitely do it.

Club Royale is the Royal Caribbean casino player loyalty program. You are automatically enrolled when you use your seapass card in the casino (either in the slot machine or at the table). Like all loyalty programs, your rewards are based on your level of play in the casino. The more you wager and the more you play, the better your rewards. You accumulate points on your cruise(s) and every year your account gets restarted back to -0- and you get to start all over again !! Of course, no one has sailed this casino year yet (the casino year goes from 1 April - 31 March of the following year) but Club Royale extended everyone's current level for another year anyway. If you reach Prime level, you receive 1 complimentary cruise for 2 (inside cabin).