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Yes the cruise planner is yours to book excursions and internet and drinks…etc…. The only things you cannot do when using a TA is call yourself to get a price break. If there is any of those you will have to ask your TA to call and get that done for you. Also your payments must go through the TA…you can’t make cruise fare payments yourself. But the cruise planner…book away!, I have just recently started using a TA and am amazed at the lower pricing I’ve gotten along with OBC! And the prices I have been offered are refundable! I have always wanted my own control of everything but giving up just a little of that and receiving such wonderful offers in return…awesome!

Wow looks like the pool water is having a bit of a splashing around moment! Hope the pool is heated! Has anyone even used it?

Happy Cruising into the New Year! Wishing you and your family a stressless cruise filled with sunny days…moonlit nights…and memorable moments to tuck away into your hearts! And when you return back to “regular” life next week…know how many friends you have routing for your Dad’s health to remain on the uptick! And to everyone following along on this live blog…Happy New Year wishes to all! 2024

On my gosh! Butter is one of 2 fats (cream in my coffee is the other one) I just cannot go without! Perhaps it was a growing up Irish sort of thing?… but please don’t take my butter!!!!

Ok now you are making my mouth water! Anything short rib will do for me…love…love…love them! Brings me back to my childhood because my Mom made the absolute best short ribs ever! Oh how I miss her and her cooking!

lol I was just about to google this! Thanks…

We’re on the first cruise once she returns to Bayonne…May 16-24.

First…I got a great price from Josh at MEI Travel. Sort of sealed the deal! I’ve wanted to get back to Italy since my one and only visit in 2006 (went with a girl friend…my husband stayed home) but my husband is not much of a flyer. Since he has been good with cruising the past few years, I thought why not get an awesome cruise in…end up in Rome…and when ready to return home only need to fly one way! This itinerary sounds amazing! We’ve never cruised on Odyssey (or any Quantum class) so it’ll be all new and exciting. My husband’s sister is coming along and hopefully she will find someone to cruise with her…and also our very good friends who have become our cruise companions! Yes, we plan on spending 3-4 days in Rome and then take the train to Venice and spend 2-3 days there and fly home from there. My nephew and hopefully our son and son-in-law (May 11 is their anniversary!) plan to meet us in Rome and do the land vacation part with us! They can’t take too much time out of work but they are interested in doing a crash 5-7 day tour with us! I think before this actually takes place we will have a few more family members joining us for the land part of this vacation! Josh is going to help with all my planning and I really trust him! I hope you join us!

Don’t mean to hijack this blog…but… So many ships leaving FLL right now! Waiting for Symphony’s turn . I love watching that one…especially now that I will be on her for the first time in May!

Hi Raye and Dan. I missed a good chunk of this blog while it was being written and finally caught up this morning. Happy to know you had a Merry Christmas and a sweet comeback in the casino! If you are not live blogging your NY cruise…Peter and I wish you a very Happy New Year! We hope to find ourselves on another one of your cruises someday…I know we are missing you in September by a week! Rich and Rhonda send their best wishes for a Happy New Year too! Loved reading this blog… Hoping we will meet again…someday!

My husband and I are booked on the Odyssey for the Spring 2025 TransAtlantic crossing from Bayonne to Rome. So I am most definitely interested in what this ship has to offer as far as daily activities…since we will have 6 at sea days before our first stop in Azores! We have friends coming with us so it’s not just the 2 of us… I look forward to ship details!

Safe travels today and hope the weather warms enough that your daughters can enjoy it…even if just for a brief amount of time. As for your Dad…I have him in my prayers along with your family. Our mortality is unique to each of us and, yes, cherishing each moment we have with each other is so important. All those moments become the heartwarming memories we hold close! I am so happy your Dad is doing well enough that you are able to embark on this 2024 welcoming! True…no one knows what is ahead so make each moment count! I wish you as much enjoyment as you can possibly find in next week! I'm following

Sounds like a great cruise…since I still have not been able to get my FIRST group cruise planned…this sounds like a pretty good one for me! I think I might check with my MEI TA and see what options I have .

The iceberg shots are amazing! Wonder how deep down they go?? Just makes me think about Titanic……crazy!!

Wishing this wonderful blog community time to enjoy family and friends! May you enjoy making new memories while treasuring the old ones deep within your hearts. And to anyone who has lost someone special this year…I wish you peace. Merry Christmas

I would suggest the family that has the 10:30 boarding time just arrive later and closer to the 1pm timeframe. I believe the 13 year old must be checked into the cabin she is assigned to but her family should be present to confirm they are also onboard and she has permission to stay in the other room. We had a similar situation when I booked my husband in the room with our 3 granddaughters. When checking in the rep wanted a permission paper since they have different last names. My daughter was checking in at the same time so it was resolved…but more confusing than I imagined!

If you continue having issues…just call the Royal customer service number. The representative will be happy to reserve this for you.

Residency discounts come and go. I was able to get a very nice RI resident discount last week on my May cruise out of Bayonne. It was not offered for my cruise on Utopia out of Port Canaveral. Many times the over 55 discount works…as does the EMT and/ or Veterans. If you have a Crown & Anchor number and are Emerald or above there is sometimes a discount for that…but sometimes just a plain old Flash Discount pops up which is even better! No matter what, as @Pattycruise mentioned…try doing a mock booking with nothing checked off and then also with anything that relates to your status. Prices change frequently so checking them as often as you think about it might help when looking for lower prices. Many times you will get an even better deal if you use a TA. I’ve used BJ’s for a few of my cruises and got very decent pricing. However, my new way of booking is to check the price on the Royal website and then send an email to my MEI TA (Josh). He is incredible!

Ok @Bazza I totally had to look up that word! And once I did it occurred to me that I actually know a few people who fit perfectly into that category! Unfortunately, I’m not one of them…lol

Wow! My cruises all are giving me the discount too! What a catch! Thanks @Leroyr55

Yes! I second that….

Hope the rest of your cruise goes smooth and eventless! Keeping my fingers crossed for you and everyone aboard! Merry Christmas !

Wow…that’s a crazy night! Yes…that could definitely be a “thanks but no thanks again” for a first timer! Never really thought about how the crew handle the rough seas but how sad those first couple of days went for them! That would mean a huge tip coming for my attendant if I was on that sailing! Glad it didn’t really affect you personally. I’m also a non-motion sick kind of person. However…my husband…different story! Had we been on this sailing…he would absolutely NEVER try another cruise again. Which would be horrible as we have 2 pretty decent ones booked, especially our TransAtlantic…which I am already placing my prayers to please provide as smooth of a cruise as possible crossing the Atlantic! Thanks for sharing!

That would be a great plan…unfortunately we have 14 days booked in September to do Utopia (4N) and the next day Carnival Mardi Gras (7N) as well as 2 days before and 1 day after. So…could never swing another loooong vacation so soon after! Now…if that was in 2025…perhaps it would be a different story! Thanks for mentioning!

Fares are so much higher than when I booked…not worth changing just for OBC.