Ampurp85

@dodgestang I sometimes look at my bags in the closet and think..."you could have been a vacation"... But I still love you. I am excited to go on Allure and see what designer purse labels they will have.

In 2 out of my next 4 RC cruises I have stops at Coco Cay. I plan to get off both times and enjoy Snack Shack and a Coco Loco..or 2. Depending on my drink package, this will cost me nothing. I don't understand why people would say it is a ripoff. Its a resort that offers you access to beautiful water activities, sun, fun and food. You can chose not to pay for anything and have just as much fun. Like everything in life there are levels. Paying $1400 for a cabana is a level. It no different than when some people stay in a hostel or others a boutique hotel. No different than choosing to stay in an interior or a suite. No different than eating in the MDR or Chops every night. I think the reason everything is getting more expensive is multi-fold. There are people who pay for it. I'm not going to lie I will spend money on first class tickets in a heartbeat because I crave that comfort. It is the same with people who want a private cabana. Another reason is all the influencer's and culture, people always want to seem better off than others; those floating cabanas are good for the 'gram. The final reason is strictly financial. Unemployment is low(ish) and people seem to have more income...rather they spend more for things. I cannot fathom spending any money for water parks because that isn't my jam. At the same time I have spent that cabana price on Chloe purse, so I am not judging.

What class ship is the Ovation? I was looking at the Pacific Northwest itinerary but my flights would have cost more than double the price of a balcony.

Thanks @Matt and @melmar02 I just told my brother about scoring the deal and he is excited to do his research on the ship. By then he will be 2 RC cruises deep so he will be able to truly live his best life. He told me he will probably be at work during his downtown checking out YouTube videos and Blogs. I plan to keep the whole thing as a surprise to my mother and tell her at Christmas. That's the plan at least, hopefully excitement doesn't overwhelm me.

Hmm, I have never heard of breadfruit. I looked it up and it is suppose to taste similar to a potato...who would have thunk it??? Anyhow, awesome and clear pictures. So was Greg your driver the actual owner of the company?

Started from the bottom and now we're here... I am super excited to announce my first oasis class ship. DRUM ROLL....Allure of the Seas 2021, October 31st-November 7th, GS 2- Bedroom. Apparently this year Allure will getting more beautiful so I will be sailing after the amp ?. I was shocked that a GS 1 bedroom was the same price as a 2 bedroom. There was no way I was passing up the chance for an extra bathroom. I had the option of deck 9 or deck 12. Although room #12638 comes with an outside Jacuzzi on the balcony, I couldn't imagine it would be used. So I am doing room #9644, which looks like its in a decent enough area. I am also super excited because I will be in Sky class and also platinum in C&A. This is actually part of my mother's bucket-list vacation. She only had three dream vacations; a trip to a foreign country, a trip to universal studios and a cruise to anywhere. We took her and my grandmother to Italy in 2017. In October of this year we are doing her first cruise. My brother said since she is getting old and possible senile..j/k she is in her "young*" 50s....we would make her Universal Studio dreams come true next year. He also said since we have to fly to Orlando, we should look for a cruise to make it worthwhile. FYI, I have brought my brother to the Royal side, he thinks all vacations should be cruises or cruise adjacent. It is going to be a long 636 day wait but I am glad to have something to look forward to. I might even try my hand at blogging...rubs hands and cackles like an evil person. *Objects appear much younger from a distance

I actively take all big vacations in October, its a great month because like 90% of children are in school. I am a solo traveler, mostly, so this a huge deal. However, I know that October is a weird month for all around. The weather is weird and there is no guarantee that anything will go as plan. Accepting that it might be all sea days is important. I wouldn't pick an itinerary of bucket-list places because of the extra factor that it is hurricane season. However, I have notice that some itineraries are half as much in October as they might be in June or July. Work the trade off.

Thanks for all the advice so far. I have an OV room on the Enchantment and that is already booked. The Jr.Suite is booked for the Mariner. I was going to book another cruise for May of this year with the downgrade savings. I thought since the Jr. Suite on Mariner doesn't get much perks beside extra space, it would be a waste for a solo traveler and I could save that experience for maybe an oasis class ship. If I downgrade I could finance a whole other 4/5 night cruise including flights and hotel.

Since you all have so much knowledge I would like to pick your brain. I currently have 3 cruises by RCC scheduled. Its family vacation year, my brother and I do every other year with our grandmother and mother, so we are doing Liberty over Halloween. I have the most vacation time because I get a full month and do compressed workweeks. So I decided to do a 4 day on Enchantment, Oct 16th-20th since I have to fly to Galveston any way. I booked a Jr. suite on Mariner Jan 25th 2021 because I thought I was not getting time off for my birthday this year. The Jr. suite was $1800, my brother thinks I should downgrade to an OV or interior and use that money to book another cruise for May 2020. I haven't paid this cruise off because its almost a year away, is there a fee to move down? Has anyone done this? I feel like 2 cruises would be better than one and there would be less time between the cruises. Thanks in advance for any advise.

I did this on my first Royal cruise Jan 14th 2019 on Mariner. It was out of Miami. Our flight landed about 20min early so I was pumped to get to the port and check in. The plane to ship transfer rep met us at baggage claim at 10:30. A supposed 15min wait, they say the shuttle is every 30min, turned into noon. I remember the time because my companion keep asking me "why aren't we leaving its....?" We boarded the coach bus at 12:40 and then went to another terminal to get more people, this took another 20 mins. As you can imagine boarding this late was very busy so I will never do another transfer, I probably would do A2S for a good enough deal.

Like @Matt said most people do not cruise that often. I doubt RCC is going to totally change or revamp the system because it works. They want the lounges full, it probably cost less than one D/D+ person cruise fare to cover all the alcohol the D(s) drink for the entire cruise. The most important thing is your are there and will be back. Mainly because you put too much into this loyalty program to quit. RCC has a good product, I want to hit Diamond and since I am a solo cruiser I could probably do it in less than 3 years. But that is not my overall goal. Enjoying my vacation is.

It is my understanding that when there is a sale it is already factored in. Meaning since all rooms are based on 2 person occupancy the average cost is that price.

Just to add it was really the transfer that made things bad.

I used Royal's A2S program and to be honest it was a hassle and far too expensive. I could have flown Southwest for cheaper. I flew United in first class because it was actually cheaper than adding bags. My companion couldn't leave the day before so we flew in the same day. With a 4:30pm sail time I had plan to get there early because my flight landed at 10am. Had I took a Lyft I would have been checking in at around 11am. Instead we had to wait for more passengers to come, so that he bus was full. We left the airport at 1pm, full on traffic meant we got there at close to 2pm. We were in our room at 5 min to 3 and starving because everything was closed to prepare for drills and departure.

I guess I can sort of see both sides to this. Everyone should always complain when they feel mistreated because that feeling is subjective. All complaints that are constructive, i.e not "RCC sucks because a lady in a wheelchair boarded before me," could lead to some sort of rectification. However, the bonus of being loyal is just that. A bonus. I would assume people cruise because they love it. Because it is the best use of your time and money. It makes it seem like those who are upset are just spending money to reach a level to get something...the exact thing Key holders are doing. I am new to C&A so my perception is a little different but it doesn't seem like having the Key takes away D/D+ perks. I mean would you be so upset if they introduced a level called Onyx after Emerald and the only perk was to board before everyone else? Onyx would be below D/D+, they don't get lounge access or drinks...just on the ship faster. Also how is the Key any different from Sky or Star Class? It all people paying more to get more.

As a part time waitress proper etiquette would be to wait. I mean even if you know the menu like the back of your hand...wait how did i get this burn?....sorry as I was saying. The person serving you might not notice. I personally think it is rude. This is not a place were you place an order and then find seats.

This is their heaven, to be chosen for the Gods stomachs. Whether it is human or feline, its still better than the dumpster. They know they all cannot be turned into sweet, sweet delicious liquids called wine.

I like raisins in cereal and granola only, maybe a nice bagel. The raisins I like know their place.

Wow, these grapes out here trying to live their best life to reach raisin-hood and all y'all hatin. I know raisins are an acquired taste but y'all got these raisin crying themselves to sleep and committing suicide with all this bullying. No wonder it was only like 3 in that apple pie.

October 25th 2020-Liberty of the Seas Jan 24th 2021- Mariner of the Seas Waiting to book an Navigator and Independence of the Seas to correspond with a Universal Studios vacation, need to get all the details together?

If you are trying to budget I would say obviously book with a TA because the OBC you get, could cover something like a drink, dining, or internet package. Then write down the cost of everything you might do. My rule is 1.55, so I basically times my planned budget by that number so I have enough for when anything arises....and I am also not mad at any statements when I get home. If you can pay for as many things in advance as possible like aforementioned packages, excursions and gratuities. I plan for everything including any Lyft rides, snacks and hotel stays. By doing this early on I avoid coming off a vacation stressed about money.

@SpeedNoodles True At least you are close to a cruise. I don't have one until April?. It not on RC but Carnival for my brothers 37th birthday.

@SpeedNoodles Thank you for your service. I do accounts receivable...and I also waitress a few times a month because I am trying to retire early and enjoy my retirement. I also deal with drunks and all the potheads because its legal in Chicago. Imagine having to take the same order 20 mins straight because this guy is detracted by your purple hair. I don't want to physically talk to anyone for days at a time.

@SpeedNoodles See that's my issue, I spend a lot of time either on the phone or IRL with randos. Most are nice randos but I spend my "fake" life making small talk.

@SC2020 Well since you are driving instead of flying maybe you could factor that time into the cost of the ship. I always assign time a money value as it is the only truly finite thing. I can make more money, buy more garbage but I cannot add time. If the Allure cost a bit more but maximizes what you want to do with your time on vacation. I say go for it. I chose the 4 day Mariner because each year we get an extra workweek off where we just work the Sat of an entire week. That means I can leave a Friday after work and come home the Friday before work without using any vacation time.