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I would like to think so, but last month on Explorer of the Seas the 2 sports channels they had were the Caribbean feeds of ESPN2 & ESPNU, not the regular Caribbean feed of just ESPN (which would have shown the hockey playoffs at that time, I saw ad's for it on ESPN2) for some reason. If they're not showing those games, you may have to ask someone about it, and you may have to go a little higher than the bartenders and servers for they may not know why.

Some of the more popular excursions could indeed sell out 7 months in advance. There could even be a partial charter on your cruise that bought up a few of the excursions too. Keep checking, or try one of the third party excursion company's out there.

While this would be great the questions that come to mind are, once this is approved what would be involved in implementing it on each ship. Can they just put in a different receiver for starlink and use the ships current internet/Wi-Fi distribution system, or does everything have to be replaced on each ship. Once those questions are answered the next one would be how long would it take to have it done. And then, whose first to get it.

I have gotten Royal Caribbean gift certificates (the ones purchased thru Royal Caribbean) as birthday and Christmas gifts. I use them to pay down my cruises before final payment via my travel agent. I have had no problems redeeming them that way. Now there were Royal Caribbean gift certificates that could be bought thru AARP at a 10% discount a few years ago. I bought quite a bit of them and saved a bit of money. However in order to redeem these gift certificates you have to go thru a crazy ritual which I let my travel agent handle. They have a local office I can visit so I was present when it was done. The first 2 cruises I used them on worked out OK, but this last one I went on had issues which eventually got resolved, but that process was a real pain.

If you plan on having dinner in the main dining room find out which table you are assigned to and find it. You'll find your table and deck numbers on your seapass card and they can also be found on the app. If you don't like the table you are assigned to for whatever reason you can request to have it changed. Most of the time they will be able to change it for you. The earlier you request a table change the easier it can be to have it done.

As others have noted, it's a matter of preference. I used to do a later check in to avoid long lines in the cruise terminal, and basically just walked in. But I now try and get an earlier check in time, maybe not the earliest but perhaps an hour to an hour in a half later. The reason being is we choose the first seating in the main dining room and request a table for 2. I already have that confirmed with my travel agent when I initially book a cruise, but I've learned that while Royal says I have a table for 2 in the computer, come sail away time I may not be at one, or the table for 2 is practically on top of an adjacent table. So first thing I do once I get aboard is find out which table I'm assigned to, then go into the dining room and seek it out. If it's not what I asked for, I politely request to have it changed. The earlier you request a table change, the easier it is for them to accommodate you.

Just find an empty, clean table.

I could never do good with binoculars. Could never line them up properly or focus one the same as the other. So may I suggest monoculars. The one I have works great. One of the best gifts I have ever gotten. AmazonSmile : Roxant Falcon Monocular Telescope - 10x42 High Definition BAK4 Prism Focusing Scope - Includes Monocular, Phone Adapter, Mini Tripod, Case & Lens Cap | Monoculars for Adults : Electronics

I don't recall this on my cruises this past November or January, but on my cruise on Explorer of the Seas last week when we went to our muster station we were given a wristband to wear after checking in and we're told we could remove it once we set sail. I would think that was done so the crew members could see who went and got checked in. After a certain time any crew member who sees someone without a wristband would tell them they have to watch the muster video (if they haven't already) and then report to their muster station.

Can't speak for every ship, but I was on Explorer of the Seas last week and had traditional dining, first seating. The wait staff was defiantly shorthanded, but handled it like the professionals they were and I noted it in the post cruise survey. Due to the short staff issue we were in the MDR longer than in previous cruises. Now as we were leaving each evening the lines for MTD were backed up to the elevators.

Only Radiance and Vision class ships can pass under the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. That bridge will never be raised up, so Royal Caribbean will need to keep some of those classes of ships around or build another ship small enough to pass under that bridge if they wish to continue to sail out of the Port of Tampa. And Tampa's not the only one with this issue. Four ports that probably wont get bigger cruise ships in the future | Royal Caribbean Blog

It all depends on what you're looking for. You have to research the resorts. Look into everything they offer, food, drinks, recreation, pools, etc, etc. Are the pools better at the resort than onboard. Is there great snorkeling right off the beach. Are the kayaks free to use. What kind of food and drinks are offered with a day pass. Is it quiet by the pools and/or beach area, or is it a non-stop party. Would you like to try something different than just staying on the ship.

The issue is some country's won't accept a passport that expires within 6 months. Not sure what Canada's policy on passports is.

Had a great time at the RIU back in December, 2018. You would have to take a cab there, but it's within walking distance of Atlantis. However I'm not sure nowadays if you can walk thru Atlantis if you are not a guest staying there yet. RIU Palace - Nassau | Resort for a Day

Also FWIW I believe some of the longer Canada / New England cruises were supposed to be on Empress of the Seas. Perhaps they are also still trying to figure out which ship to put in her place.

That's the only one I need.

Don't you mean Empress of the Seas?

Oh joy, once again "experts" are telling us what they think will happen, just like some of the posters on these message boards. Matts magic 8-ball is more accurate. Anyone feel like holding their breath?

I will initially book a cruise myself, then I'll turn it over to AAA. And for what it's worth, I pay for AAA every year and their travel services are included. And as with other travel agents you can get some perks by having them handle your reservation. As for your comments and some of the comments from other posters, I do agree. While yes AAA's travel agents are more generalized, they kinda' have to be and it's understandable. But I have found some individual agents can be more cruise oriented then others. But even with that I've had to explain certain things to them that they may not necessarily have known. I know it seems like I'm the one doing the work, especially when it comes to looking for price reductions every day (kind of used to it), but I'll just call and/or email them if and when I find a lower rate and they'll take it from there. And yes as others have noted they are your advocate if and when something goes wrong. I've had them settle issues with past and future cruises when it comes to rooms, pricing, FCC and other issues. I would not have been able to solve some of them by myself. I don't have that magic number they call? Something else that I'm able to do that I know some others can't is (perhaps it's just personal but) if I have to do something big with a cruise like final payment, or re-scheduling or even FCC & cruise planner credit I can visit an office and do it in person. It's something I've always preferred to do when it comes to business. I'll make an appointment, go in and see what I need to be done then and there, and get the paperwork. A simple price reduction I can do over the phone or email, something more involved, if I can be there to see it done, I will.

One could almost compare the Havana situation with the original Coco Cay and maybe to a lesser extent Grand Cayman, however it would have nothing to do with ship size. Instead if the ships used tenders to get guests to certain ports they wouldn't be able to if the weather was bad and guests were stuck with an additional day at sea or maybe they visited another port instead. Due to bad weather our ship was not able to dock in Aruba on my 2018 cruise on Navigator of the Seas. The captain even put out a video on the in room TV's to explain why which was very nice. FWIW they did decide to go to Nassau instead in order to give us another port to visit.

I get it I guess, nothing personal, only business. But for Royals sake I sure hope Cuba doesn't come into play anytime soon. Those were the only 2 ships that could fit into that pier.

Would cruising during the early weeks of December count? If so yes, I've been on 4 of those (woulda, coulda, shoulda been 5 this year). The decorations are up and there's some Holiday programs being done.

Agreed, the defense did what it could given the circumstances, now the offense enters the game to finish it out and bring us to victory.

If it's the first time on any ship, it's always a magnet & tee shirt for me. I wish the pens, keychains and hi-liters that they giveaway to the music trivia winners were ship specific.

Why do people on these boards presume that just about every cruise article that comes out is nothing but doom and gloom for the industry. Here's a positive spin. I read the article and it makes complete sense what Carnival is doing. It's only 3 ships that were going to be out for refurb anyway. And besides their entire fleet (not to mention RCG's fleet) was not all going to start up immediately after the cdc gives the green light anyway. Allure of the Seas and Explorer of the Seas got their technical drydock maintenance done this year and their respective amplifications will get done eventually. From what I can see Liberty of the Seas and Adventure of the Seas were next in line to be amplified in 2021. We all know that's not going to happen, but I'm sure the technical drydock maintenance will be done on those ships when it has to be.