WAAAYTOOO

My stunned face is not b/c you write a check using the wrong date, but that you write a check at all !! I can't tell you the last time I wrote a check....it's probably been 3 years !!

For the past year or more (I think this basically started when they changed the "Ultimate Dining Plan to the "Unlimited Dining Plan"), there has always been at least 1 specialty restaurant open on embarkation day here in the US. I have never been turned away from using my UDP on embarkation day. It is easier when you are in a suite, as the Suites Concierge can make your reservation for you, but even when not in a suite I have been able to get in. If you are sailing from the US, I think you can assume that you will be able to eat in a specialty restaurant on embarkation day if you have the UDP.

I don't fly Delta much but I can tell you that if it were American, the answer is "yes". I am able to access my AA reservation that I made through A2S for my August Symphony cruise. I have been able to change my seats and ask to be put on the standby list for First Class upgrade. I have no way of knowing for sure, but I would assume that Delta's policy is similar.

I don't think there is any way to predict that, at this point. I will say...of all of the non-O/Q class ships, I think NAV and MAR are probably the 2 biggest candidates since they've been amped but that's just an opinion that means nothing.

It wouldn't surprise me at all if Chops is closed on embarkation day. Chops is closed on embarkation day on Oasis. I think they just couldn't handle the crowd of both the Key people (who dine in the MDR) and a restaurant full of UDP people. They just don't have the staff. We had to eat at Giovanni's when we were on Oasis in December.

Actually, I think Royal has eliminated just about all of the Connoisseur Lounges on the Voyager and Freedom Class ships. There are just a couple left. It was a shame as I thought it was a respectful place for cigar smokers to go and enjoy a good glass of Cognac. Now, they have nowhere to go. Even the Casino won't allow cigar smokers.

I've never even noticed an age limit in the SL. I can't imagine them refusing any suite guest access to the suites' facilities. I'll guess that this is something that is not enforced. Doesn't make any sense.

How is your sick puppy ?

Very sound reasoning. I almost always purchase excursions through the CP for that very reason....and with things so fluid at the moment, it’s reassuring to know that you will get your money back with no hassle if the cruise is cancelled.

If the excursion is purchased through Royal in the Cruise Planner, it would be refunded just like any other Cruise Planner purchase. Obviously, if you book directly with the vendor, you would have to confirm the vendor’s cancellation policy.

Gotcha

Geez... half a habanero sounds like a LOT for 1 drink !

Even if a room category is sold out, you can still take advantage of a price drop, if there is one. Even though you cannot check it yourself, your Travel Agent (if you used one) or a Royal (if you booked direct) should be able to reprice for you.

Mine are all showing up in the app but when I try and click on them I get the message “We’re working on the fun”. The only cruises that I am actually able to “open” are my August Symphony and September Liberty.

Correction. It is appearing on my iPad app for Liberty but is STILL not showing this link on the app on my phone.

Interesting. I checked again and now that link is appearing on my Sept. Liberty sailing, too. It wasn't there 30 minutes ago.

Even though we chose 125% FCC for our cancelled Cruise Planner purchases for our cancelled May Majesty cruise, they ended up refunding (presumably...we haven't gotten a dime, yet) them instead. I'm not terribly upset about this as it was only for 2 refreshment pkgs and the value is minimal. ....but we had asked for the 125% and did not get it. Michelle said that this had been happening very frequently lately.

That's what my cruises after September say, too. My August Symphony has the "safety" link and my September Liberty cruise does not have the link but does allow you to open it.

I was really just kidding. I'm sure it's perfectly safe <fingers crossed behind back>. Wow, that Windstar does look pretty awesome.

YIPPEE !!! It's on my 1 August Symphony booking. @FionaMG, I sure hope your hunch is right !!!!!

Hmmmm.....let's see. A pool deck at water level that is open on 3 sides. What could possibly go wrong ?? ...and of course, I realize that the Navy has ships with waterline hatches....it's just a little unsettling to see so much open access to the open sea. I could definitely learn to live like this though....so sweet.

If you used OBC to purchase something from the Cruise Planner and the price drops for that item, you cancel and the $$ becomes immediately back as eligible OBC for re-purchase. If you have OBC remaining on your onboard account, you can go to the casino and get a cash “draw”, but you will be assessed a 5% “convenience” fee if you do not have casino status. In the past, you used to be able to get cash from the casino (without a fee) but they do not permit that anymore. You also used to be able to go to Guest Services and “cash out” remaining refundable OBC but I don’t know if that is still allowed or not.

We did B2B SC on Anthem in 2019. I love S.C. and I think S.C. on the Q class ships is particularly advantageous. There are so many activities for which, being S.C. is particularly helpful. You can do IFly, North Star, bumper cars and another activity, as often as you like. We took particular advantage of the North Star. I’m not sure how it will work for Alaska since there are “paid” North Star sessions in Alaska. @twangster might have some insights. I strongly advise you NOT to book the corner Grand Loft suites. They are significantly smaller than the center GLS. Please don’t be fooled by the 3 “balconies“ of the corner GLS. They are small and not worth the space trade-off, IMO. The center GLS - particularly on deck 8 - are incredible. The corners...not so much. The upstairs area of the corner GLS are very cramped and we could not even fit our hang-up clothes into the tiny closet. The downstairs bathroom is split - the toilet on one side and the shower on the other. Just all around, not up to S.C. standards. If the corners were significantly less money than the centers, then I might be able to see it, but they are not.

No. Sorry if my post was confusing. It’s always cheaper to pre purchase.

Yes. This is a very dangerous trend. Be afraid. Be very afraid