Me, hubby and our kiddo are taking advantage of Labor Day week. We snagged this opening day online and then transferred to our TA. Booked our first balcony ! It will be AFT with what looks like will be a cool view of the Boardwalk and Aqua Theater (comparing to exact room location on Wonder..so we will see!). It rang in ~$1500 all in which wasn't cheap but not awful for 4 nights on a brand new ship during holiday week, right? And yes, I paid a little extra for balcony experience to surprise my boys..but it was "only" about $100 more than an interior so thought this was my best opportunity to give it a try! 

Deluxe Beverage Packages for sure! Black Friday deal was not great, especially at a $120 pp sticker price ...I'm hoping between New Years and 4th of July it will come down and get some of that back. Waiting on dining options to appear to see if I want to do a surprise meal one day for us. We don't usually pay for dining, so we'll see...If Giovanni's Italian is on there then I probably will, the boys are pizza addicts connoisseurs 

Wonder....ful way to spend your 20th!! We are celebrating 14 years when we go on Wonder in May! I'm also looking forward to the itinerary, new places for us. Hope you have a great cruise! Would love to hear your feedback and maybe see you post some pics here!

I’m noticing on the dates on the website none of them are during the summer or spring break when the kids are out. Is it possible more dates would be released? Or maybe I’m missing it somehow. I mean…I’m not opposed to a mommy/daddy week away lol.

Happy Cruise Day! Hope it's a wonderful trip and hope the days drag on long and sunny!

21 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

@CruzOnBye Nov is a sort of shoulder season month, so those prices are still high. I can only imagine what the July-September prices will be, not to mention the inaugural. 

Very true! ugh. We didn't book Icon yet (mainly because we are so close to Port Canaveral and we don't like to drive to Miami lol #gasprices), but I kinda have my heart set on Star with hubby and kiddo, especially seeing it is looking to be out of Port Canaveral. We booked first day released, 4N on Utopia Labor Day week 2024 for $1500 in balcony (our first ever) I feel like it was a steal lol. I don't think I'll get that lucky on Star but hey...I'll "wish on it"..? 

My husband and I always cruised whenever/whatever time of year, but we were dum...I mean, loving parents, and took our kiddo on his first cruise in March and now kiddo is hooked and part of the next 3 we have booked . I think on a ship like Star it would be good to bring him...that Nov date meant I would have had to pull him out of school a full week and we are already pulling him out for long weekends here and there for other cruises so we need to watch that a bit. Unfortunately it means we will probably pay $$$x4 for summer prices.  We shall see!! 

I was bummed nothing but the drink packages were available to purchase for my Sept 2024 Utopia. I guess because my planner doesn't show restaurants or excursions yet so why would it. Hopefully I can get a 4th of July sale or something for that cruise planner once everything loads into it.

4 hours ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

Here is the other screen shot I saved on my phone from last night. 

Anybody notice the random one date for Star…possible test on Royal’s end? 

We really struggled with the app on Independence in March. We used it to communicate with my in laws and it rarely worked. The messages wouldn’t go through and like mentioned above you don’t receive notifications when or if it does go through. We were able to use walkie talkies but they don’t work if in cabin, only on decks or cococay, for the ones we had. 

I got the Black Friday email just now. But it says "Early Access- on Internet". I went to my planner, and same note. I wonder if maybe more deals will roll out later on then on  drinks/dining...wishful thinking probably lol.

My Utopia Sept 2024 DBP was originally $108 when I booked the cruise. And I’ve seen it for 25% off but that’s the most. It’s $120 now with bogo50%…  

4 minutes ago, TessFromFlorida said:

Should I grab this steal?

 

I personally would, I wish mine was 30% off it’s rare to see that anymore I feel.

I think the best deal on there for my Dec cruise was 50% off thrill water park. But kiddo is too short still for a lot of the slides and he would be upset if we had passes and he couldn’t ride the big slides still lol. He enjoys the free water park there so we’re good  

Internet was decent, did 2 devices for 30% off. Ordered it for next 3 cruises. 

Not overly excited over the deluxe beverage packages, BOGO50%. Was hoping for 30% lol. I already had next two booked at bogo50…maybe I’ll get lucky during a spur of the moment sale.

Allure of the Seas sailing December 8th, 2023! 

We're doing same itinerary but starting the 8th! I'll be watching for updated cruise compasses now that the short cruises on her started...I like to know what's going on. I go with the flow...but I like to know what's happening still, and in advance   Hope you have an awesome trip! Love that you booked it last minute, countdown has begun!

How exciting!! I can't wait to hear about the St. Thomas excursion, we have this same itinerary next year so really interested to hear all about it...I might snag a Black Friday deal on the excursion.. 

1 hour ago, AlphabetMafia said:

This made me laugh. My wife made me take her picture 2 weeks ago for our Nov 16th check in cause she had gotten her hair done and wanted to look fancy 

She gets it! 

I know some folks like to know RUB offers- mine just came in today. As mentioned above, I'm pretty content with my freebie Boardwalk View room so I don't plan on bidding. Otherwise, I may have attempted to roll the dice on one or two of the below.

34 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

Not sure if anyone cares, and didn't know where else to post, but don't think I'll be blogging from Allure.

Got kinda hectic being a last minute cruise and then having our itinerary switched yesterday so I had to make new plans (going to Cozumel instead of Labadee and CocoCay was moved) and have to try to change dining reservations onboard now that the sea days and port days are reversed.

Not a relaxing start but once I get everything settled, maybe I'll change my mind.

Just praying they truly deep cleaned the ship.

If you change your mind, I'll be following in preparation for my Dec cruise.  

@Ampurp85 Loved reading this! Thank you for the insights. We sail in December on a 3 nighter. I watched Matt's video on Allure Full Tour and saw ELF/Wipe Out Cafe served breakfast, but when I look on the app it shows only 11:30am-5:30pm daily. Wasn't sure if they just don't advertise it on the app. Did you happen to notice a small buffet in there any of the days, or did they do away with it? We love Windjammer but not oppose to trying to trying something new. TIA.

1 hour ago, OCSC Mike said:

Maybe it's because I always use pictures saved on my phone rather than selfies/new pics but somehow we have never ever had to have ours re-taken.

I've read sooo many people say they always have to re-take theirs at the port. I don't know what's so special about what I do, lol. (Also not remotely a big deal just odd).

Interesting! I'll give that a shot this go around..use a picture saved on my phone. Thanks for the tip. And you're right, it's not a big deal since the pic process at the port takes seconds, but still...if I have the option to skip an in-person photo shoot, why not?

Just now, Pattycruise said:

Click on naturalization papers and skip the passports.  Once the app works you can edit the document to the passport.  If you forgetthe gate agent will scan the passport for you.

Last night was the first time the passport scan worked for me! It's never worked and always had me input the digits so I usually skip that piece as well. However it was easy peasy since it scanned quickly. We always take our headshots too, a couple days after check-in, but every.single.time. the gate agents rescan us. I'm like helloo.....that was a fabulous kitchen picture of myself  Instead they make me take off my baseball cap and it's #cruisehairdontcare

37 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Checked in online early this morning for our 12-8-24 Freedom sailing (~3:00 AM so not as soon as it opened for check-in) and the earliest was 11:30.  Not sure if earlier times had been available but I really doubt it.  Also, another bad experience with the app.  As always seems to happen lately, the app would not work AT ALL.  I ended up having to go online and do the full check-in with passports, etc.  How much do I hate the app......

I keep seeing more and more posts like yours, issues with check in and the app. That's what kept me from sleeping last night for my checkin. I didn't have an alarm set, I just tossed and turned until midnight lol. I don't normally stress too much over it, I've waited days and still gotten 10:30-11am slot but I don't know if it's the fact that the ships lately have been packed/fully booked or if it's a combo of that and just tech issues. I did mine last night on the app, but I had it open on the web browser also in case the app crashed. I took screen shots once they were in my apple wallet too because someone above said their time changed on its own and that scared me.

Happy you still got before noon, but if you're like me, I want to be onboard asap! Cheers to a 45 day countdown to our cruises! 

Check-in update: 

Fell asleep at 10pm. Woke up at 11:15pm. Fell back asleep. Woke up at 12:01am and jumped up to do the check-in! I was like a kid waiting for Santa! Check-in didn't open until 12:10am...longest 9 minutes of my life  but we scored 10:30am port arrival! 

Room: We originally booked this cruise when we were on Odyssey last December, for a really good deal. We booked it through Next Cruise and transferred to my TA at MEI Travel, as an Interior GTY. We generally have booked 99% of our cruises as Interior GTYs and never expect anything other than a blacked out Interior room, which we are always content with. Anyway, after check-in last night, the room was not assigned, however Deck 7 was, along with an assigned muster drill station. I remembered reading on here about the barcode trick...so I gave a shot. Based off the deck # and last 4 digits of the BC, it seems we got bumped up to a Boardwalk View Interior! I think that is super cool. I read online, it is one that fits 3+ people (lol I had to be sure) and this specific room had a lot of great comments and videos online (yes I never went back to asleep last night, I was too excited!!) 

Just thought I'd share because I haven't heard of these "bumps" happening much anymore with GTYs, but it seems it is still possible! Royal Up hasn't sent any emails yet but the ship seems pretty sold out. I wouldn't RU anyway after this "bonus".

I am keeping this nugget of info to myself and making it a surprise to the boys  

I had my 45 day check-in at midnight for Allure in Dec. Scored a 10:30am check-in window! Then I got way too excited to go back to sleep, I was already thinking of my packing list.