bryresangel

On 4/4/2022 at 12:00 AM, Fish Lawyer said:

Hope it's not rude to flip this request back to you‚ but I'd be interested in how your trip went (and if you have any images of your compass).  My family and I will be on the Jewel next week (I think with an itinerary the same as yours).

We were on the same cruise as OP. We have only been on 2 RC ships. Having said that, the Jewel is my favorite. It's beautiful, and the Solarium was my favorite place to go. It's very peaceful. 

We like trivia, and there were lots of options to play. Also, the size 9f the ship was perfect. We ended up using the stairs almost exclusively because it wasn't too long of a walk to anything. 

Below are pics of the Solarium.

Missed it by THAT much. Just got off the Jewel yesterday and it was still crew serving.

1 hour ago, jay1021 said:

boat

 

bōt

noun

1. A relatively small, usually open craft of a size that might be carried aboard a ship.
2. An inland vessel of any size.
3. A ship or submarine.

ship

 

shĭp

noun

1. A vessel of considerable size for deep-water navigation.
2. A sailing vessel having three or more square-rigged masts.
3. An aircraft or spacecraft.

So.... a boat can be a ship, but a ship cannot be a boat (based on the definitions)?

10 hours ago, Bill S said:

Baby shampoo (NOT shampoo and wash, just plain shampoo).  Best thing ever for fogging face mask.

How do you use this to prevent fogging? I have an issue with my mask fogging a bunch. Usually I just spit in it (it's mine so I can do that).

2 hours ago, jticarruthers said:

I dont bother to bring the fins and havent felt the need to have them.

I agree, we didn't use our fins either. I just kept my water shoes on (stepped on a sea urchin about 20 years ago and am super paranoid now). We did not have an excursion. My advice is to go early so there isn't as much sand stirred up. When we went we saw so many sleeping stingrays...it was amazing! And fish, but the rays were my fave.

The fact that things are being added gives me hope for our December cruise. Because right now it is pretty bare looking. Thank you for that!

Does it matter who is in what room as long as the correct CC is assigned to the person? Is there something that gets charged by room number? Asking because we are doing something similar but different (2 rooms for me, hubby, daughter, and father in law and want it to be hubby, daughter, and me in 1 room and father in law in the other). I want to make sure we don't inadvertently charge something to him since my hubby is in that room with him right now.

1 hour ago, Sharla said:

And that's how they get ya!

I agree, so they should totally accept my very low Royal Up bid in order to hook me. Otherwise, I will never know what I'm missing. I really think they are missing an opportunity to get me out of my standard accommodations! 

15 minutes ago, HeWhoWaits said:

When I see that statement my thought is that we're (nearly) all on a fixed income. My income is fixed by my employer in the form of the salary they pay me. I *might* be able to find a different employer who will pay me a higher fixed income, but I *might* also lose that income.

At least seniors on Social Security have a guaranteed minimum income (unlike those still working) and they get an annual increase that usually mirrors inflation from the previous year. Pay raises in the working world rarely keep up with the increases received by those on a "fixed income."

(Okay - off my semantics-based soapbox).

To hop back on the semantics soapbox:

I see "fixed" as unable to be changed based on your circumstances. The income cannot be increased or decreased due to promotion, performance, etc. Hence "fixed". 

I eagerly await the next person to claim the soapbox.

Good evening!

We are EXACTLY 21 days out from our cruise. I know people have had a lot of success with the .pdf form and emailing it in, but I would prefer to try to use the online system first, because I am a sucker for punishment it would seem. Will it cause issues if I submit the request both via the e-form and emailing the .pdf? My current plan is to submit the e-form, wait a week, then submit the .pdf. I welcome any suggestions or comments as to how solid of a plan this is.

19 minutes ago, wordell1 said:

Bottom line is to bid what you are comfortable with - worst case scenario is that you get the original room you booked and get to go on a great vacation!

I'm the same way. I bid SUPER low on my next cruise because I have a great room (balcony at the back of the ship). If I get it...great! If I don't...still great! Our cruise AFTER this one we don't have great rooms so I plan to bid much more aggressively. 

We reserve the Chops +1 package on our next cruise. We've already have our chops reservation, but how do we reserve our other specialty restaurant? Thanks for your help!

We just were on the Independence in November and it was normal Grease. Not sure if it changed after we sailed, but it was fine for us.

Greetings!

It does not seem like RCC is offering many excursions on our cruise in December. I am looking for the BEST non-Royal excursions for Costa Maya and Cozumel. We were hoping to book something to see ruins, so bonus for anyone that has a recommended ruins excursion at either of those locations.

Also, what is recommended for Belize City? I saw they have ruins tours, but I think there may be better excursions for Belize. Thanks for the help!

I am having the same issue for our cruise in December. There is only one excursion showing for Cozumel, and nothing for Costa Maya. I know I am pretty far out, but it makes me nervous because there are specific things I want to do at each port, and I much prefer booking through the cruise line.

1 hour ago, bluer101 said:

We have matching bright orange luggage.

So do we. We could literally see our luggage being loaded all over the place, it really sticks out. We will have to make sure we know if we are a cruise together to avoid confusion! 

With being able to bid on day 1, does it even make sense to bid on Royal Up in advance then? I'm confused what the best strategy would be to get upgraded. Do you bid in advance then increase/rebid on embarkation day? Any thoughts on what would make the most sense to get the best chance of an upgrade?

5 minutes ago, rjac said:

So, is the Stowaway gone for good or is he just on an extended furlough? 

He's around. He just plays in the hallway between the elevators now. He was my husband's FAVORITE performer, and I very cheerfully would belt out an off-key tune if I heard him while in the halls.

Our next cruise is going to Haiti, St. Martin, and Antigua. I have ready about how best to pay with U.S. dollars, but when shopping, are the prices in U.S. or local currency if you are in the tourist areas and/or on excursions? Are there any places I should worry that U.S. currency will NOT be accepted?

23 hours ago, Cruiser4Life said:

We are a military family and with the base up there, it is a beautiful, quiet, friendly and patriotic beach area, only an hour from Orlando. 

Patrick is one of my absolute favorite bases I have had the good fortune to visit. Wish I could have been stationed there!

4 hours ago, wordell1 said:

I was very surprised to see my bid to jump from a Junior Suite to an Owners Suite was accepted today - 32 days out!  It was on Liberty of the Seas March 13th.  

Wow that is early. Do you think the powers that be (or algorithms that be) will start to aware Royal Up earlier on ALL cruises instead of waiting until almost the last minute?

Another vote for no smoking in the casino. I hate even walking through there.

On 1/14/2022 at 4:20 PM, Swar said:

I think they removed all specialty restaurants. They are now McDonald's, BK, and Subway. Yummy

Sign me up for the Subway cruise! 

Are you sure you are checking the right credit card? I use a few cards and one time THOUGHT my excursion credit was taking a long time to come back. Turns out it was on the other card. But that could definitely just be a me problem

Royal changed the type of test you can get from them recently haven't they? I am assuming the old type is still valid though right?