WAAAYTOOO

I think the idea of L&S your cruise - especially if you got a good price and it's an itin that you like - is a great one.  Just one problem.  At the moment, you can only L&S through April 2022.  If they extend that date (and I feel sure that they will if this year's Alaska season is kanked) , then you won't have any problem but if it isn't, you won't be able to L&S your May cruise.

I think the idea of L&S your cruise - especially if you got a good price and it's an itin that you like - is a great one.  Just one problem.  At the moment, you can only L&S through April 2022.  If they extend that date (and I feel sure that they will if this year's Alaska season is kanked) , then you won't have any problem but if it isn't, you won't be able to L&S your May cruise.

They allowed you to L&S into June ?  

Thanks for all the helpful comments. I managed to get the concierge to book my dining! He said he will email me the welcome email on 18th instead of 7 days prior. 

My 2022 Med cruise (on Princess, not Royal) will be visiting a lot of ports over 14 days. I didn't want to hijack the thread on Western Med started by @PPPJJ-GCVAB, so I'm starting a separate one for the ports that the other thread didn't already mention. 
I'm planning on just signing up for ship excursions, based on the recommendations so far in that other thread. But it's hard to figure out what will be good ones / worthwhile ones. My two girls (who'll be 18 and 21 when we sail) and I are both foodies, and I love good wine and beer; my older daughter is a singer and loves music, while my younger one is an artist with really eclectic tastes; my wife and I enjoy seeing an area's culture but she also likes having some less-intense time to just wander around. So on one level, the Med is a great place for all of us to visit. But at the same time, picking excursions we'll all enjoy could be a little tricky (although both of my girls have said they're just thrilled to be going and will tag along on whatever we pick).
Rather than list all the excursion options and ask what you think would be best, I thought I'd just start out by asking the collective about what you've enjoyed on past visits to these ports, keeping in mind our high-level interests:
Athens We embark from here on a Saturday, and plan to fly in either Wednesday or Thursday so we have a day or two to explore Already figuring that we must visit the Parthenon, also looking at visiting the Acropolis Museum; but that's just the Acropolis, and I know there's a lot more to Athens than that Santorini (7 AM to 7 PM) Mainly figuring we want to visit Oia and Fira, especially after reading there are wineries in Fira where we could stop and have a late lunch / early dinner Is this a port where just getting an "on your own" type excursion that takes us to Oia directly via tender and lets us wander until all-aboard time works out OK? Other recommendations? Kotor, Montenegro (7 AM to 3 PM) I know absolutely nothing about Kotor or what there is to do here Sicily (Messina) (12 PM to 8 PM) Umm... my grandfather came from here, but apart from that I don't know anything about this area either Gibraltar (7 AM to 5 PM) I do remember reading a blog here a while back where Gibraltar was one of the stops; want to say they did it on their own and that you can climb a long set of stairs all the way to the top of the iconic "rock", but what else is good to do here? Is this another port stop that lends itself to just exploring on our own and not really doing a formal excursion, given we have about 8 hours from actual disembark to all-aboard? Marseille (8 AM to 6 PM) OK, all I personally want to do here is Get off the ship before breakfast and wander around until I find a nice cafe Order a plate of croissants, fruit, and French cheeses for breakfast, along with some coffee Wander some more until I find another cafe or other restaurant where I can order a good seafood lunch and a bottle of white wine Throughout, just sit, eat, people watch, and soak in the city. I doubt the wife would be on board with only doing that (although the girls might both be tempted), so what do you recommend? Is this a city where the ship is actually docked fairly close, or will we be taking yet another 45-minute transport in and out? Does it lend itself better to an "on your own" excursion? Genoa (7 AM to 9 PM) This is another city I know basically nothing about Thanks in advance!

Good luck. As of right now, all the suites seem to be sold out for that sailing, so it may be a little unlikely to get upgraded but considering it’s CNY, there is always a possibility of a last minute cancellation 

I think this is where the demarcation is made for those who "would never pay for a suite b/c I only sleep and shower there" and those who love the suite b/c they WANT to be able to enjoy their room.  I love deck 17.  It is so convenient and quiet and exclusive (sorry if this word offends some.  Not my intention).  I also enjoy being midships and being closer to the "action".  It all comes down to what you enjoy and what you want to do.  We eat, sleep, gamble, go to a few shows and hang out in our room.  We do NOT go to the pool, lounge around in the sun, play trivia, play putt-putt, use Adventure Ocean, go on the flowrider or water slides or hang out at the bar (much...).   we're kinda boring.  ...but we love our suites.  We spend a lot of time in there.  We like having parties there, if the occasion presents itself.

I'm not sure pegging Celebrity as targeting an older crowd is completely accurate at least in contrast to Holland America.  
Royal targets family and multigenerational cruisers.  Celebrity targets a more upscale audience who isn't looking for zip lines and ice skating rinks.  There will be some children but not nearly as many as Royal.  Cruisers without children, cruisers who want a slightly more refined experience without spending true luxury rates.  There are plenty of 30's type working professional cruisers who just want something a little more upscale over the family oriented experience.  
Small things like not having to check out towels in your name because there is less chance guests will take them home.  Less likely a guy in a muscle shirt will crash the MDR at dinner sort of thing.
There may be a slightly older crowd but more so because that is the demographic more likely looking to spend a little bit more for an elevated upscale experience.  However it isn't a silver hair cruise experience.  

Hi guys, I’m new here and have a cruise to nowhere (departing from Singapore) lined up over the Chinese New Year period (11-15 Feb).  I have also received the RoyalUp email and made a bid from junior suite to the Star suites.  No news thus far, I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

Just an update. I’ve received a RoyalUp offer from my March cruise. 
 
Fingers crossed I get it

Yes, all of the cruise lines use "Creative" marketing techniques...you just have to learn to traverse them successfully.
Bottom line....just ignore anything having to do with "% off".  They conveniently leave out the baseline price, so you have no idea what the "percentage off" is based on.  The best advice is to learn what $$ you are comfortable paying and gear your purchases to maximize that price.  Prices vary wildly between ships, sailings, itineraries, times of the year and booking density.

I will never tip the cabana attendant in advance again.  We were on Labadee in a cabana a few years ago.  We thought it would be easier to tip the attendant up front in case we got busy and forgot later or decided to leave and couldn't find him.  We gave him $20 at the beginning of the day and never saw him again.  Won't make that mistake again !

I have never ever received an FCC directly.  Like @Dad2Cue, I have no idea what it says or looks like.  All of mine have always gone directly to my TA with nothing coming to me.    It’s not a problem for me though.  She always handles placing them on a new booking anyway.  I really have no idea how many I have or how much they are worth.  I have a general idea of what I have floating around.  Thank goodness I have @michelleto track it all for me.

I think the idea of L&S your cruise - especially if you got a good price and it's an itin that you like - is a great one.  Just one problem.  At the moment, you can only L&S through April 2022.  If they extend that date (and I feel sure that they will if this year's Alaska season is kanked) , then you won't have any problem but if it isn't, you won't be able to L&S your May cruise.

I have never ever received an FCC directly.  Like @Dad2Cue, I have no idea what it says or looks like.  All of mine have always gone directly to my TA with nothing coming to me.    It’s not a problem for me though.  She always handles placing them on a new booking anyway.  I really have no idea how many I have or how much they are worth.  I have a general idea of what I have floating around.  Thank goodness I have @michelleto track it all for me.

I am truly in awe of those of you who juggle multiple FCCs.  I am certain you all attended Hogwarts.  You are all wizards.
?
I only have one FCC and the only way I think I have resolved it is by calling the "Post Cruise Dept" (as was suggested).  I have a great TA at MEI, but it needed me to make the call.  It was resolved quickly (with no back up copy or documentation).  Just an FCC number tied to my name.
Fingers crossed ... I will use as quickly as I can.
Curt from Canada

One of us on here will be happy to help! Myself, Michelle, Kelley, others are around too. Feel free to reach out to one of us directly.
 

Beautiful photos !  It is, indeed, a beautiful place.

Beautiful photos !  It is, indeed, a beautiful place.

Banff and the greater area is beautiful and all...











But there are no cruise ships anywhere close to Calgary...

That's exactly what happened to us, except we didn't notice we'd been charged the $100 fee until after we'd booked. All of our bookings since have been with MEI, and we've been so happy.  We also book with Michelle.  They know far more about Royal Caribbean (and probably the other lines) than that other agent did (I knew more than that other agent did, which didn't help when I actually needed something).  You won't regret it!

Yep.  Time for a switch.
Yes, MEI is a full service travel agency...all types of land and cruise travel.
[email protected]
703-881-2727

Congratulations on your upgrade.  It's so nice to have some really fun news in an otherwise gloomy cruise outlook.  Delighted to hear that RoyalUp is still around and that it is being utilized !
As @twangstersaid, normally you would get your welcome email about 5 days before sailing.  Who knows what the new protocols will be.  BUT if you are notified by your Concierge ahead of time....yes, they can make all of your dining reservations before boarding - unless, of course, they have changed those protocols !  

We have added extra time to San Juan departure cruises twice now.  We did a beach day, visited the forts and old San Juan on another day, rain forest for a day and then rented  jeep and drove around the entire island which took a day. We didn't make it to Vieques for the bio bays nor did we take the ferry to the outer islands both of which were recommended by friends in San Juan.