JimnKathy

Unless you're planning on using both devices simultaneously and you're the only person using the devices, get the 1 device option.

As every other experienced cruiser on this site will tell you, book the package you want to lock in the price. You can always cancel and rebook if the price falls.

The proctored eMed tests that RCL links to on their website is the way to go in my book. Easy peasy, quick and painless.

For anyone expecting amazing, high-grade liquor selections, cruise ships are not the place to to find them.

My better half and I agree. On our Wonder sailing this past March, we noticed a big drop-off in the meat quality. It could also be a result of cooking the meat at too high of a temperature too quickly instead of low and slow. What seemed to make it a little better was to ask for double gravy.

We're from Memphis, TN and have struggled with air travel our last two cruise vacations. After our next cruise sailing out of Boston in October, we're sticking to driving 11 hours for Galveston, TX cruises only until the airlines can clearly demonstrate they'll honor their commitments to air travelers. It's getting truly ridiculous at this point. I told my wife I'll just pump up with 5-hour energy shots coming and going and we'll be fine...definitely a LOT less stressful than dealing with connecting flight hassles.

Emed at-home proctored tests are fast, reliable and easy. I remember attempting to make an appointment last year at several pharmacies in the Memphis area prior to the first cruise post-pandemic only to run into glitches in the online reservation systems. The Emed testing process is a game-changer for our family.

It's the combination of great service, tasty food, fun cocktails, amazing shows and fun port visits all packaged together at a reasonable cost that makes RC so much fun every single time we sail.

In all seriousness, the OP might consider having a family member or close friend make a call to RC in their presence to see what options they have regarding the sailing. RC's been known to help out folks who suffer from aging issues to smooth things over out of sheer kindness...I mean, it's worth a shot.

I booked the Homewood Suites by Hilton Boston Seaport with free cancellation if I decide to change it to one of the Blog's better suggestions.

Hello cruising friends! Anyone have good hotel reservations for the Port of Boston area they wish to share? We would love a place near the Port that has cool local restaurants nearby. Thanks!

The Oasis class ships are amazing, but we give the nod to Wonder for having an air-conditioned Solarium deck.

This is exactly the type of random headache a good TA takes care of for you behind the scenes.

The entire travel industry is one big mess right now. After we sail on our October Maine/Nova Scotia cruise on Voyager that ports out of Boston, we're gonna do our best to avoid commercial air travel and stick to driving to our vacation destinations until the crew shortage issues are resolved. We'd rather drive 11 hours to Galveston for a cruise (we live in Memphis, TN) than risk the hassles of commercial air travel. While we immensely enjoyed our last two cruises on Symphony and Wonder, flying home post-cruise was a disaster for each trip. Our first trip we finally made it home 11 hours later than scheduled flying Southwest, and the 2nd trip coming home on Delta left us stranded in Atlanta...we barely booked one of the last rental cars available for the 6-hour car drive home to Memphis...what a joke.

Peach Cobbler of the Seas Fixin' To Get Ready of the Seas

We bring insulated water glasses with no-spill lids and get free ice water everywhere we go on the ship and at Coco Cay. It's environmentally friendly and keeps the water chilled for hours.

All of the Oasis class ships are amazing! So glad you had a fabulous time!

We did the unlimited dining package on our Symphony B2B last September...it was an absolutely delicious glutton festival! With that being said, you definitely want to run to the first specialty restaurant reservation desk on embarkation day to get the best dining times. Also, not all the specialty locations can book your reservation time at the Coco Beach Club, but Chops can handle that one for you. Going to the host stand gives you the fastest experience, as they can quickly move their PC mouse buttons from one restaurant to the next and help you efficiently juggle your dining times. The app is fine, but that in-person "assist" will give you much greater flexibility. Bottom line, make a beeline to Chops once you get onboard and you'll have all of your reservations set for the week in about 3 minutes tops. Good Luck and Happy Sailing to your family and you!

Yup. Good TAs are terrific at finding "misplaced" FCCs, too. I wouldn't book a cruise without using one.

I'd send the test kit to the parents to have her take it before she leaves to see you. If for some unfortunate reason she tests positive, you won't have an upset young lady already with you unable to enjoy the surprise. The test proctors don't know or care the reason folks take the test...they're just verifying that it's done correctly. Happy Sailing!

The missus and I did a B2B on Symphony this past September while enjoying the Unlimited Dining Package for those two weeks. Because ship capacity was only around 30%, we had the opportunity to enjoy lengthy conversations with multiple staff members in the specialty restaurants. Every single one of them said that the employment opportunities with Royal by far and away exceeded anything available to them in their home countries. One Pilipino server told me his alternative was to stay home and toil every day in a literal rice paddy to earn just enough to barely stay alive. For him, working on Symphony was a heaven-sent blessing.

I download favorite podcasts to my phone, but tv/movies on a cruise?...not so much. We're too busy having fun from dawn to dusk to find a few hours staring at a small screen.

No matter the country of origin, without factoring in the benefits of free room and board for the crewmembers, it's pretty tough to compare wages paid to cruise industry employees to those who work on dry land.

I highly recommend the chat feature, especially if not everyone in your group signs up for the Voom package.

...I want to thank you for getting the kinks out during Week 1! Sprinkler system malfunction on the Royal Promenade We are thankful that nobody was hurt.