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At least they were giving away prizes for trivia on your cruise (even if it was only highliters). On my cruise this past May there were no prizes for trivia. Everything was "just for fun" the hosts would say.

I would wear a full suit on the first formal night (outside of formal events, it's the only other time I would wear it), and perhaps maybe on the second night too. It's nice to look at the pictures taken on the ship and buying 1 or 2.

The ships normally carry the Caribbean version of ESPN & ESPN2. They usually run baseball games on those 2 channels during the season, but not every game and not every day. So it depends on which games those 2 channels are carrying during your cruise. Now I do believe they have the power to carry other sports networks besides the ESPN's (they were able to do this for a few pro football playoff games on a cruise we were on this past January) and you could try and ask if they can find the Yes Network to watch the Yankees if it's not on the ESPN's, but there's no guarantee they could get it.

How about this. If one doesn't like the new cups and has one from a previous cruise, perhaps they could bring that one onboard and use it. I know this works for it can be done at the theme parks here in Orlando. Hear me out please. Royal can offer an option when purchasing a drink package for getting a new cup, or bringing an older one. And if you choose to bring your own, the cost should be a little bit cheaper. Once onboard you can either go to guest services or another designated area and once your drink package is confirmed they could re-activate the rfid chip in your cup for the duration of the cruise. If there's an issue with the rfid not working, you would then get a new cup, but would have to surrender your old one. Obviously this can only be done on ships with the Freestyle machines.

For open beverages, it depends on what it is. If it's alcohol and it's obvious, no. Anything else should be ok. Certain foods, especially fruits you cannot bring back. You'll have to check to see what's ok and not. Unopened alcohol has to be checked in, and will be given to you on the last night. Anything else should be ok to take to your cabin.

In your cruise planner are there any accessible excursions available? Those would be your best bet. If available book them sooner rather than later for they sell out quickly. If not see if any of the 3rd party excursion company's offer them.

Don't know about the other terminals there, but the Royal Caribbean terminal at Port Canaveral has facial recognition at their customs area which makes it a whole lot easier when you get off the ship.

If you have traditional dining check out where your table is in the main dining room. It should show in your app if you don't have your sea pass yet. Or just ask in the dining room where your table is. It could be pulled up by your cabin number. If you're not happy with your table assignment, you can ask to have it changed. The sooner you ask, the easier it will be to get a different table.

If I'm in a promenade view stateroom I definitely like people watching from my window. Especially during the tee-shirt sales (I like to call them rummage sales). It's hilarious.

it could be better the second time around. You are not as obligated to go off the ship at the same ports as the first time. You could stay on the ship, or do something completely different in that same port. For us the second time around, depending on the port, if available we would do a day pass at an all inclusive resort, or if we did a land based tour of the port the first time, we would do a water based one the second time or vice-versa.

It's not a cruise without an Invicta Watch sale.

I checked just for laughs, but couldn't find it. I stopped at 82 offers on my card. I never even heard of most of these places. I think I saw that you could call the number on the back of your card to find out about offers. I may try that next time I'm ready to book a cruise.

You beat me to it

Normally if it rains, it won't be for long. But keep in mind you're also going during hurricane season. Late August is close to the peak of it.

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