JohnK6404

Following this! We have the same perks (CP balcony) on Allure next month... my understanding is that we need to make the reservation once we are onboard. I think any reservation made through the CP would be chargeable. I had asked RC customer service a few months ago (called for another reason) and they stated we will have a voucher in our stateroom when we board on embarkation day... we have to make the reservation once onboard and that we should present the voucher at the restaurant when we go for the complimentary lunch. Curious to hear from others to see if that's completely accurate... sounds reasonable.

Yes, but I think it varies based on sail date, etc... the funny thing is that it was 30% off yesterday and came in at $45 USD... Tonight, it's 30% off and comes in at $46 USD for my 5/19/19 Allure cruise... funny math, maybe rounding? The underlying onboard pricing for my cruise has been $65 all along... that's where the normal online 20% off ($52), BOGO 50% ($49), and 30% off ($45-$46) pricing is coming from... I originally grabbed it at $49 and then canceled/reordered at $45. The current 30% off sale has restrictions... see Matt's blog post from today... https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2019/04/23/save-30-pre-cruise-purchases-royal-caribbeans-sale-you-sail-offer

The most recent sale we've seen is 30% off ($45 USD/person) which is the better sale since BOGO 50% is effectively just 25% off both packages ($49 USD/person)... I can't get into the Cruise Planner right now, but as of this morning it was showing the current 30% off sale. We're on Allure next month. Also, don't forget they tack on the 18% gratuity (aka "service charge") when you check out...

That must be the gold plated Key! ? We were very lucky to grab it at $19.99 for our upcoming Allure cruise next month. Wow! It recently jumped to $37.99 for my cruise too! It was $24.99 for the longest time...

I’m on it! ? I’m jealous of my good friend and his family ?... they just set sail on Harmony an hour ago for the same Western itinerary! Just sent me this... torture I tell ya! 4 weeks to go!

You're welcome! I think some people get nervous and take them just in case there is some kind of major emergency and they cannot get back to the ship to collect their passport (don't want to be stuck in a foreign country w/o their passport). I think most people "roll the dice" with that risk at most common destinations! It's just that RC doesn't need to see your passport for you to leave/return to the ship...

Welcome! Unless something has changed, you do not need to take your passport off of the ship... some people still do elect to take them. We went to Bermuda in 2013 and 2015 with RC and never took our passport off of the ship (left locked in cabin safe the whole cruise) at any time... you only need it when you first board the ship on Day 1 and when you have to clear customs when you leave the ship at the end of your cruise. I did take my driver's license since it was in my wallet as an additional form of ID. All you need is your sea pass to get on/off the ship at the destination ports. They scan your sea pass and verify your identity with the photo they have of you in the computer/security system.

We love it too! That's why Explorer (2013) and Liberty (2015) were the last 2 cruises for us... and why Anthem (and maybe Oasis next year while she's here) are enticing! We're about 60-90 minutes from Cape Liberty from where we are here on LI. We usually park at the port for the week... it used to run about $200-$225 for the full week. Still much, much cheaper than flying down even on SW from Islip/Macarthur. Maybe one day we'll get lucky and RC will give us an Oasis class ship full-time not just "on loan"! I would love to see Oasis cruise through the harbor and under the Verrazano!?

Another short list we’ll have to work on! 1. Liberty 2. Explorer 3. Majesty I’m sure Allure (next month) will take over the top spot! The order is also reverse sail date order. Looking for bigger, newer and more exciting these days as you can see! Looking at Harmony, Symphony and Anthem down the line... would also like to try the Amped smaller ships too! Favorite overall cruise to date was our honeymoon cruise on the Disney Wonder. Our very first cruise too! I have a feeling this Allure cruise will take over as favorite overall since we’re going with good friends!

You can verify online order cut-off times while you're viewing any item in the Cruise Planner (it's set to your sail date)... click on the item and then go to the bottom of the page and read the first couple of lines of the "fine print"... For us, with a sail date of May 19th, our online cut-off is 11:59 PM EDT on May 17th...

Thanks, will do! I will of course be one of many following your adventures very closely! I think as a group we'll have Allure covered for the month of May! 33 days to go (32 until we land at FLL)!

... and we're on the sailing after you!

Congrats! ?

Thank you! I didn't check today... just cancelled and re-purchased online... so did the couple we're traveling with... I'm not ashamed of taking another $16.52 off my bill! ? Cross your fingers it drops a little more!

We're on Allure on 5/19... fingers crossed no impact or repaired!

It's just not available yet... we were able to book our Nellie's Beach (over the water) cabana in Labadee, almost 10 months out... we're on Allure next month. Just keep checking... we booked it right away when it first appeared to play it safe (had heard on the forum that they sometimes sell out quickly). It went on sale later this past JAN (10% off) and we cancelled and re-booked immediately! We decided to splurge since we're going with another couple. I would be happy with any cabana or structure that provides some shade... can't wait!

I agree 100%! We loved Disney (our first cruise - honeymoon back in 2004 on the Wonder) which set the bar very high, but we have never been disappointed with RC. Not worth the premium and limited ships/itineraries offered by Disney IMO too (and we love Disney/Disney World)... we'll try them again one day for sure, but not until we've sailed on a few more RC ships! Slight tangent... it's crazy to think that an Oasis class ship (225-228K tons) is larger than the Wonder or Magic (83K tons) plus the Dream or Fantasy (130K tons) added together in total displacement!

For our upcoming May 2019 cruise on Allure, the entertainment/show reservations opened up 96 days out from our departure date... The general consensus seems to be that there is no set schedule/pattern across the fleet, even on the same ship... no rhyme or reason, to when options become available in the Cruise Planner! Keep checking and have a great time!

Our dining options (both specialty and My Time) opened up in the Cruise Planner for us 14 months prior to our upcoming Allure, May 2019 sailing (big surprise)! We were able to book excursions, including our cabana in Labadee, 9 1/2+ months out... entertainment/show reservations opened up 96 days out from our departure date... The general consensus seems to be that there is no set schedule/pattern across the fleet, even on the same ship... no rhyme or reason, to when options become available in the Cruise Planner! Keep checking !

I keep it quick and simple and use the Snipping Tool that comes with Windows when I'm on my desktop/laptop...

Oh, sorry for the confusion! I was looking at the OP @Publix1310's itinerary!

I would still try to find a cruise compass with your itinerary and/or find someone that has done your itinerary before to be sure... maybe RC customer service will know... Your Harmony itinerary is a little different than the typical/more common Oasis class, Western Caribbean itinerary (Labadee, Jamaica and Cozumel), since it includes Perfect Day/Coco Cay and other ports. We're going to have to consider that itinerary on Harmony down the road!

Here's the general formal night schedule taken directly from RC website:

Yes, it's one of the formal nights in the MDR, usually the last. On 7-night cruises, you have 2 formal nights... the first usually includes Prime Rib and the second includes Lobster tails. I always get 2 or 3! You would probably like the series "Mega Food" available on Netflix. Season 1 - Episode 6 is about Oasis of the Seas and the planning that goes into prepping food for a week long cruise. I love the segment on Lobster night!

Buy online pre-cruise through the Cruise Planner for the absolute cheapest rate. From what I understand, the only way you can get a better deal for alcohol onboard is if they decide to offer drink cards during your cruise (no guarantees). You really don’t get any C&A drink perks until you really get up in standing... my wife and I have a looong way to go for those perks! Also, you’ll realize that BOGO 50% off is effectively 25% off the package for 2... not that great a deal. Look for at least the 30% off Cruise Planner sales for a better deal. For our upcoming May cruise on Allure, BOGO 50% came in at $49... 30% off sale comes in at $46... the underlying full price is around $65... I’m also guessing that the underlying package price changes occasionally if they really are trying to drum up more sales.