Jkaczano

For anyone hesitant to sign up, the free site allows you to look at videos without paying so you can see if it’s worth it to you

My kids follow Brian James on TikTok. He was the guitar player in Portside BBQ on our Oasis cruise in September. He posted 4 days ago that he was joining a new cruise ship in Greece in 9 days (approx Jan 31). Seems to line up with the Cyprus timing we’re seeing.

Cruisedeckplans.com has links to YouTube videos on many cabins. Even when a video is not available for a specific cabin, you can usually make a good guess based on those near it.

I was feeling better. Then they had go and post this on Facebook.

My kids are 13 and 15. They each set up accounts on their phone apps to see menus and activities and are able to see their points.

4 ships leaving Ft Lauderdale or Miami on either 3/19 or 3/20 (Odyssey, Allure, Oasis, and Symphony). At least there’s options. It’s just that I got a really good price on our A2 Aquatheater suite on Wonder and don’t want to lose it.

Hope for the best. Plan for the worst. I already sent @Sharla my request for a contingency plan if the March 18th sailing is cancelled. But I’m really hoping it isn’t.

2 things I would consider - you can ask Citi to increase the available credit on the card permanently or temporarily or you can make a mid month payment on the card. Both options would increase the available credit and no one will be embarrassed at the grocery store.

We were in a suite 28 = 7 x 2 x2 for me and kids. DH only got 14 even though I thought I set his up. I was listed as first name on reservation. That’s why I say it’s a crap shoot. Definitely doesn’t hurt to try though.

How about we agree that it’s a crap shoot / luck of the draw whether you get double points, but to say you MUST be gold is incorrect.

Thanks! That’s one of the reasons I’m not worried about it. I’m going to wait a couple cruises though before we visit the C&A desk to make sure his account is linked to mine. Doesn’t look like it really makes a difference until at least emerald or diamond and I’d like it to not be obvious if they pull up my account.

They’re not picking and choosing. Everyone who contacts them is told no. I accomplished it by setting up C&A numbers for the family and adding the numbers to the reservation before sailing. The system automatically doubled the points that the kids and I earned. I thought I added my husband’s new number correctly but somehow my husband’s points didn’t double. I assume I screwed up somehow. I know not to contact C&A because I know they won’t fix his and, worst case, they “correct” mine.

It works. Never sailed RC but applied online for C&A number and added to reservation for our Sept cruise. Emailed C&A and had them issue numbers for kids and also added them to reservation. Somehow missed adding number for DH. Got double points for me and kids. Knew enough not to call about DH’s points.

Yes, the percentage off is just a gimmick and it’s best to go by the bottom line number. But, to be fair, I did notice that some of my prices did come down last night while the % off banners didn’t update until this morning.

I’d jump on that in a heartbeat.

Just another data point: Ordered from Emed on Saturday, January 8th. Received them today. Never got any sort of shipping confirmation. Expiration 11/21/22. Packaging is slightly different from the ones purchased last year. Barcode to scan for testing is now on the outside of the shipping box and not on each test. May be an issue if you are not using all tests in 1 location.

In September they moved us straight through security and onto the boat so I’m not sure about inside seating. There were several tables and benches outside the terminal if the weather is nice (usually is in May).

Jill - can you pass me the link as well? Looking at one of the 2023 Holy Land cruises.

Europe is now up.

Europe now week of Jan 3 https://creative.rccl.com/Sales/Royal/Deployment/2023_2024/21076950_Deployment_Opening_Schedule_2023_2024.pdf

We cruised Oasis with our 13 and 15 year old boys in September. Check in time means the time you are supposed to arrive at the port. If you are in a suite, you generally can arrive 1 hour earlier. There are conflicting reports of others who arrived early and were let in. Others were made to wait. When you get to port, there will be porters who will take your luggage and deliver it to outside your stateroom door. It might be quite a bit later, so pack any valuables and anything you might need in a carry on. If your suitcases aren’t too big or bulky, you may want to carry them on with you. At the port, you will go through a line similar to TSA at an airport. Along the way, you will be asked to see your boarding pass, passport or license, Covid vaccine certificate and negative test. Possibly multiple times. At the end of the line, you will meet with a final person who will “check you in”. After that you walk through and up the boarding tunnel and onto the boat. Once on the boat, you will want to make any reservations through your cruise planner for specialty meals or shows. Ice show and aqua show are great. Cats, in my opinion, was missable. On the first night, there is a teen meet and greet - usually at 7. My kids didn’t go as we were at dinner and still managed to make friends and have fun. Note - they did not go together and probably pretended not to know each other). It would be awkward for you to go in with your teen. I did walk the 13 year old to the door first day in case I had to sign something, but it wasn’t needed. I also watched the teen flowrider as it was outside. There is an adult “compass” that you will usually have left in your room. Make sure to also get the teen version. Our room steward left it for us, but YMMV. Teens had a mix of planned activities (teen climb, teen flowrider, etc) as well as open time in Social 298 where they hung out and played pool. your OBC should be available when you check in. It can be used for drinks, snacks, etc by anyone in your stateroom with charging privileges. Usually the teens went to get sorrentos (free) but bottles of water, ice cream at Sugar Beach, and the arcade all cost money.

For older ships, do you bring your own hole punch? Or is there somewhere on the ship to get it punched?

The A1 for your sailing is $4983 per person plus port fees and taxes for a total of $10223 for 2. That’s assuming a resident discount.

Most of the things a genie does can be arranged even on the day of embarkation. So even if you find out at the last minute, it’s not a problem. Dining reservations could be a problem if you only find out on boarding day, but even 2 days out, there should be plenty of availability.

I think you’d be surprised how many on this forum are spending > $3k on their cruises. I had an A2 on Oasis in September, and have a GS Independence in February, another A2 on Wonder in March, a JS on Adventure in May, and an A1 on Allure this upcoming September. Quite frankly - you booked the A2 at $10,000 and they are still offering you the A2 at $10,000. While it would have been a nice surprise to pay only $1300 for a star class room, it’s completely unrealistic regardless of your betting history. Royal caught their mistake. Pay up or downgrade.