USFFrank

 Usually there's at least 2 of them running back and forth all day while the ship is there.

1 hour ago, Jim Bonaventura said:

 

One thing I found peculiar is that we were never reminded to sanitize our hands when entering any dining venue. Not one time. There were employees there greeting you, but they never suggested our reminded people to use the hand sanitizer.

You'd think they would be super vigilant. Our other 3 post COVID shutdown cruises watched you like a hawk...

  To semi quote (with a few changes) a great song by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes "If you don't know it by now, you will never never never know it".

I would suggest either calling Royal directly, or use a travel agent. Either one should be able to pull up the larger capacity cabins and get you a price. 

It's basically an auction for a better room. As long as you bid higher than someone else you could get that better room at a good deal. Now weather you bid high enough or not, or if that better room is actually available is another thing.

Was on Explorer of the Seas this past May. Great ship. It was not amplified (will get it eventually), but that's not what I look for in a cruise. Food was good. Casino was rather well ventilated (I despise smoke). If you are planning on getting the Surf and Stream internet service be advised it's not that fast at all, and can be spotty at times.

As a former New Yorker I'am curious as to what Manhattan highlights you'll be seeing in the few hours alotted for this tour. One could be there for a month straight and still not see everything the city that never sleeps has to offer.

39 minutes ago, KristiZ said:

Well, curaçao comes from Curaçao, so there’s that! We went to the distillery and had a fun visit. 

 While not a drink, when I was in Curaçao last cruise I did buy the Alcolado Glacial that they sold at the distillery. That stuff truly is air conditioner in a bottle.

https://alcoladoglacial.com/historia-di-alcolado-glacial/

The last time I was in Falmouth was in 2016 and we did a resort for a day. Someone please correct me if things have changed since then, but the immediate port area was just shopping and eateries. If you chose to venture outside the guarded gates...........there was shopping there ala flea market style.............but you're on your own there. Might want to see what your cruise planner has to offer.

I do believe it's either one or the other. If you can't make it at 5:15 each day, I also believe (and seen it posted in previous threads) you could possibly show up about 15 minutes late, but it's nice to let them know beforehand somehow. And of course there's always Windjammer, not to mention the other free dining places on board. 

Nassau All Inclusive Resort Day Pass & Shore Excursions (resortforaday.com)

 Hopefully more excursions for your cruise will show up, keep checking your cruise planner. Although it sounds like allot of time, 8 hours in Port Canaveral is really not much time to go to and see the Orlando area attractions. That's mainly due to the travel time, and unpredictable traffic problems one may run into going to and from Orlando. If you do want to go there, I would suggest you do one of the Royal Caribbean based excursions. At least if there's a problem with your excursion getting back to the ship on time, they'll wait for you as opposed to trying to go there and back on your own.

 For Nassau, try resort for a day.

2 hours ago, Pinky said:

Thanks for the quick responses. The current price is $22.99/day - I think I’ll go for it. Thanks!

 Keep checking for cruise planner sales. If the price goes down lower than your current price, you can cancel and re-book the drink package for the lower price.

IMHO If you can get the refreshment package for less than $20.00 a day, get it. Between what else it offers besides mocktails it will be well worth it.

The one I happen to be sailing on at the time.

As of now in the US no. But other country's the ships visit may require boosters eventually.

You have to add them to your account. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe it must be done 2 weeks before sailing.

As a local to the Orlando area I would not try it on your own. You would have to either rent a car for a day, or rely on a taxi or uber. Either one will cost you a bunch. If you do choose to do that, the other factor is while they say you could get to Disney from Port Canaveral in about an hour, that's only during ideal traffic conditions. And traffic in Orlando (including the Beeline (SR 528) which is the toll road you will take to get there) is anything but ideal. It would be recommended to give yourself at least 2 hours to get back to the ship before all aboard. The ship won't wait for you if you are late. Now if Royal offers you a bus or shuttle over there as an excursion, while that would most likely cost you a bit as well, at least the ship would wait for you in the event you are delayed upon return.

14 hours ago, POTATOHEAD said:

Is there any way to see the slot odds on the ship?

I think it's safe to say the cruise ship slots are not as loose as the ones found in Las Vegas or Atlantic City.

>> What do they play when they are in Alaska? <<

Why cold weather tunes of course   

Walking in a winter wonderland

Let it snow

Frosty the snowman

Baby it's cold outside

Sleigh ride

Jingle bells

Others, as well as I will say, don't do anything before 12:00. If in your case 11:30 is the only other option, choose that. Better to be safe, rather than stressed out, then (worse case) sorry.

If you have the Royal Caribbean app you can use their texting service via their wifi while aboard. At last check it was $1.99 per day per device.

While this is all fine and dandy, lest we forget there are country's these ships visit that will still require the shots and negative test results for any guest who would like to go ashore. So I really wouldn't expect any changes anytime soon.

14 hours ago, Fuzzywuzzy said:

Yes, Jamaican vendors are quite brazen.

Uhhhhhhhh.....What's in those bags?

Royal Caribbean does not over exploit Halloween like the theme parks do. They'll have Halloween festivities on October 31.

 From what I see on the deck drag on cruise ship deck plans, your rooms are indeed above the library/card room. Perhaps you might hear something from the venue formally known as Pharaohs Palace, but I wouldn't think it would be too bad. The speakers for there are located by the stage for the most part.

Freedom of the Seas Deck-Drag (cruisedeckplans.com)