WAAAYTOOO

Sometimes even tipping doesn't help. We are very generous tippers and sometimes it's just not good enough ! I have 2 examples: 1. In Bayonne a few years back, we dropped off our bags with the porters (they are longshoremen at Bayonne) with a generous tip. The luggage tags have METAL attach straps so it's virtually impossible for them to "come off". Our bags mysteriously somehow "lost" their tags and we (along with many others) had to go to a big room on the ship and find our bags. They were all there but it was a true PITA. Later found out that the union was in a tiff with management about a new contract. Unacceptable. 2. In Galveston our biggest bag disappeared off the face of the earth. No idea what happened to it. It has never been found. This is a REALLY, REALLY good idea. You really have no choice but to leave your bags with the ports on embarkation. The big bags won't go through the scanners so you cannot just carry them on yourself. However, on disembarkation, we no longer leave our bags outside our door for the porters. 100% of the time, we carry all of our bags off ourselves UNLESS we are using Luggage Valet, which is a WONDERFUL program.

ya scaaared 'em

This is GREAT news ! Well done !

For whatever reason, they always only offer this event on the first night. We did it MANY years ago....can't remember which ship. I enjoyed it. Dan did not. I seem to recall a special menu from [at the time] Portofino's. I think it was worth it to do it once. I don't think we would do it again. Dress code was casual.

Your wife has excellent taste ! I also love, love, the cream of mushroom soup. I can already (almost) taste it. Will be boarding Anthem in 2 days !

YIKES ! I think that's an awful big jump in price. I guess the program has been a success !!

Actually, I HAVE found that the more I cruise the less often I get the land waves. I also mostly feel it (rare, anymore) when I lay down and close my eyes.

VERY careful planning ! ??

Congratulations !!

...I think you mean "faint of wallet"... ?

It seems that this program has been well received. I'm not surprised to see it spreading. Good luck if you DO bid !

We never take our passports off the ship.

We'll be on LIB late April-May.

Twangbot, I am with you on this one. I wish that they would charge me just a little bit more and include a few things but....in this very competitive market it's all about getting to the lowest possible fare. Too bad, really.

Of course you do.... ?

Sometimes it helps to call. I was on a cruise a while back and it was well within the 60 day window. I called to ask "what's up" and within 15 minutes the entertainment reservations came online. Sometimes I think they just forget ! Maybe it was just a coincidence....

Great review. Sounds like you had a great time and that the Key was a real benefit to you on this one. Thanks for coming back and giving us all the details !!!

This is true. Only the O and Q class ships offer prior reservations to production shows. You should be able to reserve special “activities “ such as cupcake decorating or sushi making classes but the shows are first come first served on Freedom and below ship classes.

I had the same thing happen last week for a cruise that had been paid off for months. I asked Michelle to look into it for me and Royal had boggled the gratuities. It is a Star Class Cruise and the grats are included in the price so she had to work with them to get it squared away. It took a couple of days which sort of surprised me. Seems like that should be something easy to fix. Whatever. My advice is to get it fixed. You don’t want to give Royal any excuse to cancel your cruise due to nonpayment....especially if you got a good deal on the fare.

We've been om this one, too. Excellent choice. Very personalized.

Technically, swimwear is never appropriate in the MDR. Thing is, men's (in particular) swimwear is often interchangeable with men's shorts so in some cases it really doesn't matter.

The Ultimate Dining Package went on sale on Black Friday and every once in a while an isolated price reduction comes up but that’s the only time I’ve seen any dining plan on sale.

He's a bot. What do you expect ?

Whatever you do, do NOT book a "3 hour tour". Those can get you into REAL trouble. ?

My recommendation (especially for Star Class !) is get on as early as you can. There are lots of things to enjoy and the first day is hectic at best. Get it all goin' as fast as you can ! More helpful about issues such as this will be your Genie. Once your Genie contacts you, he/she will give you some very specific information on when and where to board. The Genie will be there (or have a surrogate there) to help you, personally. They want you on as soon as possible as well b/c they want to get you and all of their guests settled.