TinyDancer

Check-in should open up at Midnight Eastern time. A couple of other things though.
1. If you do want to get an early arrival time as soon as check-in opens, you only need to select an available check-in time. You can return later to complete the rest of check-in. (When you are more awake and/or caffeinated!)
2. The earliest check-in times may become available at a later date. For example, on the day of check-in for our last cruise, the earliest time available was 12:00-12:30pm. A week later, 11:00-11:30am became available.
The good news is that you can always edit your check-in time to get an earlier time (or later, if need be), so feel free to keep checking back.
(BTW, I kept checking back and I'm still trying to figure out how some other people got 10:00 and 10:30 check-in times!)
 

I just checked the app for my April 10th cruise on Allure of the Seas and it doesn't have that wording in the JR description.

🦞
Last fall when I booked my Feb 26 ('22) cruise,  I selected a 5:30 MTD slot.  
MTD should be easily understood, but it's not always.
What I've discovered, is show up for your your reserved time, and you eat.
Show up another time, and you still eat.🥩

According the RC website JR & JR Express are including in the dining package:
 

I’m sailing on Freedom in April and was sad to see this in the RC app. Is this really true? Everyone on here seems to say that Johnny    Rockets is included in the unlimited dining pkg. Is that only true on certain ships?

 

Once they hit 13 they are charged adult prices for the cruise fare and for cruise planner purchases.

Lessons Learned (continued)
 
6.  Be up front with your MDR servers -- if you're only there for the (CRAB CAKES!!) appetizers and have somewhere you need to be in 25 minutes (like a Casino Lesson), tell them, reassure them that you won't starve, enjoy your appetizers -- and go.  
7.  Have fun participating (not competing!) in the different activities onboard -- laugh!  smile! go for the improbable shot!
8. Don't trust Budget's Downtown Miami location to have the car you reserved -- there were SIX irate reservation holders there when we arrived; ended up  Ubering to the Airport Rental Center to pick up a vehicle.
9.  The Best Western North Bay Island is a distance away from the Cruise Port, but has pretty good transportation and dining options. Check out Sana's Cafe for friendly service and good coffee and breakfast options.
10.  I like solo cruising!  

OK, the long-promised Lessons Learned...
 
1. My COVID-19 testing plans worked out well.  It felt reassuring to know I had back-up and back-up to the back-ups which I didnt end up using.  I did receive an At-Home (proctored) test that I ended up not needing to use as I was able to make an appointment at one of (Northern) Miami's testing sites. A friend gave me a ride, but I could have reached it pretty easily using public transportation.  It was walk-up and not crowded at all - and very forgiving of my lateness due to traffic.  Received my test results in less than 3 hours.  Printed them out at the local Library branch.efits i
2.  The Key was really worth it for me as a Solo, not-yet-Diamond, Internet connectivity-seeking cruiser at the price I paid for it ($15.99/day).  The benefits included (early arrival, Chops lunch, carryon bag delivery to cabin, 25% discount on Specialty Dining, Departure breakfast and Disembarkation time choice) were all value-added to the price I would have paid anyway for Voom Surf and Stream.  Would I get it again?  Possibly, depending on the price and my cruising status.
3.  Interior Promenade cabins are pretty nice! I liked having the window -- but was also thankful for both the sheer and the blackout curtains.
4. my goal of using the elevator a maximum of two times per day worked really well; having a cabin on Deck 7 helped a lot.
5. Definitely make sure that if you loaded $ on your Miami transit card more than 30 days prior that it hasn't gone dormant!
 
#6-10 to follow

Way post facto, I know — I’ll get into my excuses in a separate post (some foreshadowing here — its title will include words like “Oasis Medical Center” and “cobblestones” and “right wrist”).
Debarkation Day — AKA Desolation Day — went super smoothly from ship to shore and was made really pleasant by The Key.  
Since I didn’t have a flight to catch, I was in no hurry to exit Freedom. M “The Key” tagged large suitcase had been picked up the night before, so I headed down to my special section of the MDR, enjoyed my breakfast (the Chops Grill Crabcake Eggs Benedict was superb, especially the crab cakes!), and headed off the Freedom about 8:15 (with The Key, you get to choose when you disembark).  Grabbed my suitcase from The Key area, and headed through the “Look into the Camera” Customs with no issues.  Although it’s probably my overthinking, the signs for which direction to head if you had a US Passport were confusing, as the sign pointing to the left was for US Birth Certificates and the one to the right was for “All Other Passports,” or words to that effect.
I went outside to track down my new-found friend and sister-in-arms and her son to see if we could Uber together downtown.  More details on THAT experience to follow in my “Lessons Learned” post, to follow.
Now, some D-Day pix:
 

I've always believed that balance is the key.  There are two extremes in this kind of scenario - indifference and hysteria.
This is just my opinion and theory, it is continuing to spread because of indifference, infected people still going around thinking it's nothing to worry about.  On the other hand there is the hysteria and paranoia causing all the fear, panic, and extinction scenarios.

RE: Acadia National Park. I took this picture with my phone there (Cadillac Mountain) last August. That's Adventure in the pond. Your option.

Portland is easily navigated on foot.  Uber and Lyft have a good presence in the area as well if you're interested in going a but further.

 

$50 is very generous.  Whoever said that the daily grats don’t get the room attendants doesn’t know what he** they’re talking about.  They most certainly do.  Ignore that forum. Someone is just trying to make themselves look like big spenders.  That kind are usually making up for some personal shortcoming.

Hi all, I just got notified 3 days before my sailing on Mariner that my upgrade bid has been accepted! 
I booked an interior stateroom for me and my fiancée and placed a bid for 135 a person. 
That bid was accepted and now we are in a balcony room!!  
That was also a “weak” bid on their bid meter! 
 

On a more serious note, even the cats take this virus seriously!
 

Here is a picture of the market! Another do not miss.

Forgot to note that in St. James we walked all day in the city!  It was fantastic.  Played the Canada lottery and won $.  Ask about the "Market" place it was fantastic place to wonder.  We bought local foods there and were able to bring it back to the ship.  The potato chips with ketchup were the best ever.  Always try the local food specials everything was great!  The market has lots of craft and things to buy...if you want something don't pass it up.  I found a wool cape and thought at the time it was too expensive at $135 (America) but now - I keep thinking about it and yes it was made by a local crafter.  Crazy to pass it up.  

Lots of advice.  I find the smaller ships “cozier” and little more relaxing.   Plenty of good views.   Especially at dawn and night with crowds pretty low.   My favorite areas to chill were above the Windjammer. There are chairs and tables for a nice late night drink an get busy in afternoons     And believe it or not there is a small area by the Viking lounge/gym    I will try to find a picture.  Although I unfortunately may be in them. The picture below is by gym.  Small area in back of ship

We rented a car in St John's and Halifax. St. John's was fantastic! We took a beautiful drive out to St. Andrew's, had a lovely lunch and got to walk on the sea floor (we saw about a 25 foot tide difference in the couple hours we spent there.
FWIW, we didn't like Peggy's Cove. We were among the first off the ship, got our car and headed straight there. We still were unable to park and saw several busses that had beaten us there.  it was so crowded we couldn't even enjoy driving through the little village.  Next time, I think we'll wander around Halifax itself - there seemed to be plenty to do there

They were offered Ankle only......so easily hidden but those who know...know where to look

There a whole other strategy here.  Some people who cruise with friends take this to a whole new level. 
Put the wife solo in a JS and book the husband as a 3rd guest in a cabin with friends.  Wife get triple points, husband stays in that JS with her.  Husband pays 3rd guest rate, wife pays 340 reduced single supplement.  Wife climbs the ladder quickly, husband gets her status changes as she levels up.  
This can be cheaper than a solo inside cabin for husband.

Ugh, sailing on Liberty on the 16th, and just got a call from the school about my kid who has a fever.....this will be me for the next week. 

Train ride from Union Station to Newark Penn Station is 2.5 hours on the Acela and then short uber to airport (or port ? ).  Business class $220, first class $380 *prices vary based on actual train
Train ride from Union Station to EWR (at the airport) on Amtrak Regional Rail (more stops) is 3 hours.  Coach class $130, business class $180 *Prices vary based on actual train
The train IMO takes the same as a flight factoring in security lines at airport, time to arrive ahead of departure, etc....plus parking at the train station is cheaper in many cases and you don't have to deal with baggage issues (weight, checking, liquids)
According to my son....the pan roasted Shrimp on a bed of wild rice was the very good.  ?
 

You must go to Peggy's Cove!!  It was a must see we did through and excursion.  If you can do it first thing upon arrival that would be better.  That will allow you more time upon your return to visit the shops next to the port.  Our excursion was the last one of the day and we did not get a lot of time at Peggy's Cove to walk to the carved wall.  Take a camera and enjoy.  The other thing to look at is the rock formations which are off to the left as you look at the lighthouse.  

FOOD AND DRINK
bar tenders didn't know many virgin cocktails / mocktails. My kids had a printed list that included not just the name but the ingredients/flavours and that was very useful for them to try new drinks service in the main dining room (MDR) was lacking but I think that was just our waiter and assistant. Food in the MDR was also subpar. On lobster night for example, DH got 2 tails and one was over cooked but edible. I got 2 tails and one was so overcooked it was inedible. DD had 1 tail and it was inedible. It was replaced and the second was only marginally better. I saw other tables with the same problems. IMO RCCL also needs to mix it up in the MDR more. Why not include salad entrés with great, fresh ingredients like roasted beets and cheese (like goat) and nuts/seeds etc? Why not include some ethnic dishes that have some spice in them or at least flavour? Why does the cheese plate for dessert include the same cheeses every night and very boring ones like cheddar? service was excellent and many bar tenders/servers knew our names and what our 'usual' order was by day 3. ACTIVITIES
the band that played off and on all day and the piano bar were great fun and took requests. cruise director staff were high energy and great Games were hit and miss. The 'majority rules' had mostly the same questions the second time it was played. The Quest and 70s night were great fun for those who participated. Belly flop was also great. EMBARKATION/DISEMBARKATION
embarkation was slow and lines were long. This was a surprise for Baltimore as reviews always said people were on the ship 20 minutes after arriving. We spent closer to 2 hours getting through the lines to disembark we self-carried and it was easy although we were told we couldn't use the elevators so had to take our suitcases down the stairs. No big deal for us but for others, it could be difficult/impossible to do. EXCURSIONS
the transport to/from WDW at Port Canaveral was excellent. We were in port from 6 - 6 and this excursion was first off the ship, border control was fast and efficient and we were on our way. Drop off/pick up was easy too. we purchased a day bed at south beach at Coco Cay and as south beach had a delayed opening, it was moved to a temporary spot on chill island. Turned out ok but would've liked RCCL to communicate this (they never did). Also meant location wasn't at all exclusive/private/quiet but right in the middle of the regular crowds. KIDS
kids were allowed in the solarium pool at pre-scheduled hours when it was cold outside and the main pool was too cold to use they easily let kids change age groups in kids club (adventure ocean). They combined the two older age groups to be 6 - 11 together and I know of 2 12-year-olds who went in and a 5-year old too. That said, my kids enjoyed it and I had trouble keeping them out of it. They got lots of prizes too. most family-friendly games/activities were during the early seating for dinner bar tenders didn't know many virgin cocktails / mocktails. My kids had a printed list that included not just the name but the ingredients/flavours and that was very useful for them to try new drinks with their drink package SERVICE / OTHER
We didn't get towel animals but others did. it seemed to depend who your cabin steward was. [that "8)" turns into an emoji no matter what I do lol[ photographers were great. They learned quickly that we had pre-bought the package and went out of their way to offer us pictures I found it odd that we never had to sign receipts when getting drinks. We had the drink packages but on other RCCL ships we always had to sign still even if hte bill was $0. This allowed us to add tips but now we had to have cash for tipping. That also lets us see that the drink is 'free'. In this case, we were billed for 2 drinks and have no idea how that happened. One we noticed that night before when I went to guest services for something else and noticed it on her screen and she took it off. The other we didn't notice until we got home so now we're stuck paying for it. we had been on larger ships before but the small ship ended up fine. I was worried about many sea days (3) and lack of stuff to do but we were never bored and the small ship was more intimate in a good way. It was actually nice to see the same people over and over and get to know them.