WAAAYTOOO

Let me add my praise of Michelle to that of Mark. Talk about patience ! LOL I'm sure she shudders when she sees an email from me but she has never failed to do whatever waste-of-her-time function I've asked of her. My latest whim was to have her book a Christmas 2019 cruise on MSC Seaside in a Yacht Club Suite. Since I cannot afford a Star Class Christmas cruise, I am going to check out the YC to see if it is otherwise comparable. I know it won't be the same...but I'm going to check it out, just to see. BTW, it was about 1/4 the price of a Star Class Christmas cruise on ANY of the Oasis class ships - even with a [significantly downgraded with the new "rules"] casino discount. I love the Christmas+NY cruises but Grandeur isn't doing one in 2019 (we're on one this Christmas) and if I'm going to have to fly away anyway, I may as well try the MSC YC.

Happy Birthday Twangbot. Since we don't know your real B-day, we will all just celebrate today !

I don't think there are any casinos in Bermuda either. None that I have seen, anyway. I rarely go into any casinos at the ports. They always look sketchy to me. The exceptions are Curacao, and Aruba, which have some LOVELY casinos and I believe it's Antigua where we once won quite a bit playing blackjack (not even my game !) in a casino that is right near the docks. For the most part, however, they are usually small, dark and spookish looking. I usually steer clear.

I travel with a LOT of expensive jewelry. I have only been asked once about a piece I was wearing (and never about anything in my bags, where most of it is at the time we go through Customs). I simply told them that it was an old ring (which it was) and they sent me on through without any further questions. As Twangster mentioned, I would be able to eventually come up with receipts for the expensive stuff as it is all insured, but I would have to do that once I got home. I don't carry receipts with me when I travel. Honestly, I wouldn't bother with all of that if I were your mother. I truly don't think it's necessary. I haven't even had them ask me if I've purchased anything since they've quit taking the customs forms. They just shoo you through quickly. Maybe I just have "one of those faces".

There are at least 3 such cookbooks for RC...at least, as of a couple of years ago. We also got a complimentary cookbook...I believe it was when we did the All Access Tour....and ours is #3. I was SOOOO disappointed when I realized it does not contain the recipe for the cream of mushroom soup. It's the one recipe I would LOVE to have. So there could be more than 3 but there are at least 3, as we have that one.

US based agencies ? Not sure to whom this refers.

Yikes, Mark. I hope everyone is ok. I have a colleague who lives in Ellicott City but they are "on high ground" so they are all well.

Not young but I know that one ! CHL

I wonder how much support (servers, etc) you get for this price or if this is solely for the cost of the ship and navigation crew.

I don't think the a la carte soda price is reasonable at ALL (over $4 by the time they add the tip) but if you are not going to drink enough sodas to make it worth the price of the package then $5 each would be your only other alternative. What is the soda package cost per day these days ? I don't even know. Maybe $8.50 pp/pd ? It sounds as if you are going to drink more than 1 per day then it would be worth having the package. Keep in mind though...the $5 each is for a canned drink. If you get the soda package, it only entitles you to fountain drinks. Since I am a Coke snob, I despise fountain sodas and only want canned so the package is never an option for me. If I am not sailing Star Class, I always just bite the bullet and pay $5 for a canned coke. UGH !

This is no longer the case. A few years back (maybe as many as 10 ?) Royal kicked the concessioners to the curb and now Royal owns and operates the casinos themselves.

...and then goes SOOOOOO fast once you board !

UGH. Who's surprised ? Not me. I just hope they don't try and hit you up for any change fees when you go to get the upgrade discount applied. So sad that this program has been so poorly managed.

I'm guessing son-in-law ?

Yes, you book Nachi directly. Go to cozumelnachicocom.com to see the details and check availability. Their email address is [email protected]. The last time we did Nachi was in Feb. 2016 and we paid $11 per person deposit with a balance of $44 each due on arrival. The total cost for 2 of us was $110, with $22 paid up front and $88 due on arrival. We paid the balance in cash but I believe they accepted credit cards at the resort for the balance. Not going to swear to that, though. To be honest, when we went in Feb. 2016 it was coolish. We all got into the large hot tub (which really wasn't very hot at all) but nobody was in the pool. The water was just too cold. I'm not very hardy so I find it too cool to swim almost anywhere, even in the Caribbean, in the middle of winter. Is it warmer than at home ? Hell yes, but still too cold for me ! I like Nachi and will continue to go there, even when I know that it's too cold for ME to swim.

I've had mixed results re: Labadee cabana attendants. Once we made the fatal mistake of tipping up front. Off he went and never came back. Not once. All of the other times, however, we have usually had good service. I've never had Matt's experience of them hanging around outside the hut but they usually come back a few times throughout the afternoon.

My philosophy has always been....if they want to look they'd better be prepared for what they [may not want to] see.

You reap what you sow.

Welcome Susan and Judy

Park Cafe is a great place for lunch on embarkation day and I’m not trying to change your mind about doing that, but if you have the UDP aren’t you entitled to have lunch on embark day at a specialty restaurant ? You might as well maximize your plan, right ?

Oh BEWARE, for there shall be wearing of sackcloth and ashes, rending of garments, and gnashing of teeth when it finally happens ! I wouldn't even be surprised if the moon turns to blood and frogs rain from the skies !

SOOOO nice ! Way to go. Enjoy every moment !! Have a safe trip.

Great analysis. I agree with everything you said and I suspect the above is coming very soon. They have already experimented with requiring the servers to "swipe" cards during the happy hour; my guess is this was a test to see how much it slowed everything down and how much bitching resulted. I foresee a time coming where those in the lounges will be restricted to the same 3 drinks that they permit outside of the clubs.

Congratulations ! Welcome to the blog. So glad to have another casino rat with us !! I was on the Allure in April. Love that ship !

YIPPEE !! So glad you had a good cruise. How was the casino ?