WAAAYTOOO

Yes....you can do both. Congratulations on making D+. That's a very big milestone ! Now...hold your breath and swim hard. It's a long way to Pinn !!!

...but the Bahamas also has Royal over a barrel b/c of PDCC. PDCC is Royal's golden calf right now and The Bahamas knows it. No way Royal stops going to PDCC

Speaking of the price of over-the-water cabanas...Yesterday I noticed that the OTW cabanas at Labadee on our 6-6 and 8-15 Indy sailings were $799 ! Now that is still waaaytoo much and I would never pay it but it is certainly much less (less than half price) than it has been recently. No joy for OTW cabanas at PDCC.

@pete24, you will have no problem showing up at the terminal early at PoE. The only possible reason for them to adhere to arrival times would be if there is a Coast Guard inspection or some kind of abnormal complication to boarding day. That is rare. Go for it !

I've never gotten an offer that included a European cruise....but we don't get the big offers (instant or monthlies). Alaska ? Yes. But never Europe.

From which port are you leaving ? The answer to your question is almost certainly, "yes" but there are some ports where the arrival time is more strictly enforced.

I should add....that I am following my own advice on this one. I don't have a JS booked but b/c we are very junior level Pinnacles, we are basically in the same boat as the Sea class folks when we sail non-suite (which is more and more common for us these days). I have purchased 3 night packages for our upcoming Wonder and Oasis cruises with hopes of enjoying the CK the other nights and we also have our BOGO meals to use. If we aren't able to get into the CK then there will be much thrashing and gnashing of teeth (kidding) but we will not starve !

Believe it or not, I have never sailed on an Oasis or Quantum class ship in a JS ! ...so I have no experience with this situation at all. I have certainly heard of many people who have and for the most part, dinner in the CK is mixed on O class ships and nearly 100% available (from feedback) on the Q class ships. My advice is this: book a 3 night dining package and plan on eating "out" for 3 nights of your 6 or 8 night cruise. Then, plan on being able to get into the CK the rest of the evenings. I think your chances on OY are really quite good if you get to the CK maitre'd early and make your query as soon as you board. I do certainly understand your concern and it is a gamble for sure....but I think the odds are [ever] in your favor !

I was able to make my boarding day lunch reservations but there wasn’t anything relating to main dining for my sailing. Will check daily as I always do.

We eat early at home so eat as early as we can on the ship. We [are one of the few who] love My Time Dining and that starts a little later than traditional early seating so we get a bit of a later start than we usually like….but it all works out. The really true reason we like eating earlier on the ship is because we spend most of our evenings in the casino and there is nothing more irritating to me than to have to get up and leave a table b/c it’s time to go eat. I want that task OUT of the way before I settle in for a night of wagering fun !

No dress code. I guess they would frown on swimwear but I've seen plenty of shorts in Chops - even at night. They are pretty lenient on embarkation day as they realize people don't have their luggage yet and even if they did, they would have nowhere to change since the rooms aren't ready until at least 1:00.

Yes.

I'm sure that's supposed to be a beak....but he sure looks like he's sticking out his tongue at you !

I love this little guy ! What a cutie.

Probably a mud slide. That sounds so good right now. We just finished dinner...

I do too. I don't know why they quit operating the fountain on some of the ships. I always liked the look of the fountains going when the Rising Tide was "up". I also happen to still enjoy the RTB. I still think it's cool and I like being on it...except on Oasis and Allure where the chairs are SOOOOO uncomfortable.

It will depend on the ship and the specific sailing. Prices differ widely. The longer the cruise, the more a UDP will cost. There is no cap. Have you considered whether a UDP for a 21 night cruise would be something that you really want to do ? Eating at the same restaurants with static menus is going to get old. With the longer sailings Royal used to offer a 5 night package. Not sure if they would ever offer more than 5 nights if your cruise were even longer. Remember, the UDP work for lunch on sea days as well as dinners every night of the cruise. My recommendation would be to buy a shorter dining package and augment it with MDR and other complimentary options. At least with the MDR you will have a changing menu and not be stuck with the same menus for 3 weeks.

Is it just sea days for you guys now ? On your way back ?

We'll be on Allure (2-12) with you !!

I have had 1 offer over the past 13 months !

Cool !! Good problem to have.

Getting full value from a UDP (for us, anyway) really depends on how many times you are able to utilize the pkg for lunch. On a 3 night cruise It is unlikely that there will be any sea days (which is the only time specialty restaurants will be open for lunch) so I would only expect to be able to use you dining pkg for dinners. Depending upon the price, it may or may not be a good value for dinner only. If you think that you and your daughter would be using the pkg more than once per night (we cannot eat that much do the answer to that question for us is definitely “no”) then maybe it would be worth it….but Allure does not have Playmakers so I can’t image where else you would dine in addition to your standard specialty restaurants.

No kitchenettes on any Royal Caribbean ships.

I’m hearing weather concerns from far and wide. Radiance had to spend the night in COZ due to winds and now issues at PDCC. Doesn’t sound like a week to be sailing ! Stay safe ! Surely they will refund your Beach Club money…

Back in the old days, they would just make the switch for you without much ado, but those days are long gone (sorry, I know that's of no help to you now). If your TA is not experienced with casino bookings I would be loathe to ask them to do this kind of switcho-chango for you. Not only is it likely to be a very stressful maneuver, as @Ampurp85 mentioned, you would basically be snatching money right out of the TA's hand for their trouble. My advice would be to keep the booking you have and use the cert for another cruise. I know that's not always possible due to work schedules and travel expenses, but that would be the most prudent thing to do. If that is not an option, I guess there's really no option other than to thrust your TA into that difficult position.