Done

We have had different experiences. We applied 2 FCCs for a cruise and the unused balance was given to us in new FCC's within 2 weeks time. We applied one those FCCs and expected a new FCC with the remaining balance but that has not happened after 1 month. The FCC "rules" state any unused FCC's are returned at the end the cruise. If that is the case we will end up losing that FCC due to expiration date of the FCC. Is a call to customer service the only way to check on a FCC status?

We haven't cruised since Feb, 2020 and I have read mention of reservations made for seating at the Windjammer. I assume this to facilitate social distancing however it would be a nice change as finding an empty table proved to be difficult during the rush hour breakfast and lunch dining times. I see no way using Cruise Planner to make these reservations. Is that only able to be done once on board?

Don't do it! Too many things can go wrong. Just because the itinerary says you arrive at cruise completion port at a certain time it may be late or customs may not clear the ship in a timely manner and so on....

Our motivation for booking Jr suites was to get double C&A tier points and a full tub/shower. RCCL doesn't offer many other perks for Jr. Suites To our surprise Jr. Suites on Quantum class ships have a half bath (sink, commode) AND a full bath with a tub/shower. The agent at the Next Cruise desk said Quantum class was the only class with Jr Suite half baths. If you book a J4 Jr. Suite on Quantum class you get what used to be called a Jr. Spa Suite. It has the 1/2 bath and the full bath has a separate tub and shower stall. They are on the midships bump outs of the Quantum class ships. The downside is their very close proximity to the elevator/stairs which means increased foot traffic and associated noise.

Sales do happen but it seems to be more of a pop up sale when the need arises. It is nothing you can count on. On our last cruise on Symphony, (Feb 2020 ) there was such a long line at the dining room for My Time (7:30 pm) they offered anyone in line a table at Chops for 1/2 price for each person in the party. We took it and they ushered us up to Chops and seated us right away even though there were other parties waiting for a table.

We used to think moving up in the tiers was a big deal. We will reach Diamond plus on the first of the back to back cruises we have booked. I now view that attainment as a new freedom. I am in my late 60's I really doubt we will ever get the 500+ nights needed to reach Pinnacle (700 nights). The C&A bonus nights program will soon end. The large amount of nights needed to move up is my motivation to look at other cruise lines as a real option. It just doesn't matter anymore. It is my belief RCCL should restructure the tiers adding more levels of status to keep our feeling of loyalty alive. To answer your question. Go the the C&A page and look at the chart for the "perks" awarded for each level. It will help you decide.

Neither my wife or I are soda drinkers. We brought home the drinks cups when the drink packages were first introduced. We have 4 or 5 now and just leave them behind. At least 3 of them we brought home are still in the cellophane wrappers.

We are moving from Diamond to Diamond plus after the first of a B2B cruise. I sent an inquiry to RCCL about this and I received this response: We are happy to know that you are planning to be with us onboard the Ovation of the Seas! We also want to congratulate you on your upcoming upgrade to Diamond Plus status! You are correct in your understanding of the way your status upgrade will be applied. As your status will upgrade at the end of your first sailing, you will be able to enjoy your Diamond Plus benefits on your next sailing. We do want you to be aware that for members whose status is upgrading on a back to back sailing, we ask that they inform the Loyalty Ambassador onboard during the first sailing of their upcoming change in status. Please let the Loyalty Ambassador know of this change and they will be able to note this change so that we are sure you receive your Diamond Plus benefits on the second sailing.

I found a link on the RCCL home page to book a flight at the very bottom. There are 4 columns of links and on the far right under the column heading "PLAN A CRUISE" there is a link called "Book A Flight." It brings up a form asking for the booked cruise particulars. I played with it and could not find a way to book a flight a day before the cruise departure. We are also on a back to back cruise and it only offered us a round trip booking for the first cruise. We are certainly looking for out of the ordinary flight options. I think this is my last cruise I book myself and will utilize a travel agent going forward.

I am seeking information from the the seasoned Alaskan cruisers. I have watched recent videos from cruise passengers on Ovation OTS showing very rough seas and RCCL hanging airline style sickness bags in pouches on the stairway railings. One of the video titles indicated storms and subsequent rough seas were more prevalent in October. Is this a reasonable statement? My wife is susceptible to motion sickness and while she never experienced any discomfort on any of our previous dozen or so cruises I do not think we have sailed through the type of rolling seas depicted in the videos. We are sailing to Alaska in August, 2022 and I am curious if we are more or less likely to encounter the same type of weather? Thanks

On previous cruises a show was presented during the early seating dining session and late seating passengers would attend the first show and eat after the show. We always choose My Time dining as 5:15 or 5:30 is too early and 8:00 or 8:30 is too late for us.

The CDC document released justifying their extension of the Conditional Sail Order reported many cases of COVID-19 infection of both crew and passengers on cruises with > 96% vaccination rates of passengers and 100% vaccination rate for the crews. The CDC did not name the cruise lines by name but what is apparent is the cruise lines were obligated to reported the infection data to the CDC but did release the same information to the general public. I understand the business reasons to keep the infection data close to the vest. It also reveals cruising is not as risk free as it seems. I would like the cruise lines to be more forthcoming with infection rate information so we all can decide for ourselves what the risks are and we are willing to take. https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/cruise/pdf/CDC-CSO-Extension-10-25-21-p.pdf

I go through the cruise booking exercise about once a week until final payment date. We have back to back cruises booked in 2022 and the price dropped on both cruises. We realized a combined $3600 savings from the original bookings. I called RCCL and the cost of the cruises were adjusted and the balance we owed reduced. Of interest we were given a NRD on cruise 1 and a NRD on cruise 2 when I called last week, but not on the original booking. We never pay off the balance of a cruise until a few days before it's payment due date. If we had paid the balance off, the price drop would have given to us in the form of onboard credit. In that case we would have to make on board purchases we would normally not make to use it up. I have read on the RCCL FAQ OBC's not used are lost.

What is YVE?

Thanks for sharing your experiences. It really helps!

Neither my wife or I remember ever remember getting one and we would have received 2 by now. Hmmmmm

Carnival Cruises extended their health protocols based off the current CDC sail guidelines so one could deduce Carnival believes it will be extended.

We booked our first back to back cruises, same ship, same cabin for both. We will go through the online checkin process for both cruises but may I assume the port checkin time assigned for the 2nd cruise is moot and we can deal with the actual in-port embarkation process while on the first cruise via the service desk? I do know we will be administered a COVID test by RCCL near the end of our first cruise to meet the testing requirements for the 2nd cruise. TIA

Thanks for all the responses and advice. We really like Anthem so it looks like any cruises from Port Liberty will be via airlines other than SWA. I have found several alternative carriers that fly from MDW to EWR or we'll fly from ORD.

I just received a new FCC for the balance not applied using the initial FCC. The email they send stating unused FCC funds are held until the cruise has been taken is obviously out of date. This good news for us. We will be able to apply 100% of the FCC funds we have to our 3 booked cruises in 2022.

We live in Illinois and Midway (MDW) is the closest airport at about an hours drive from our home. The other factor is we have accumulated many SWA rewards points so we fly using points just paying the taxes out of pocket. Ohare (ORD) is about 1 3/4 hours drive in normal traffic and if I-294 is congested the trip is closer to 2 hours in duration. Other airlines fly from Midway so Newark could still be an option, just more cash out of pocket.

Does anyone know if RCCL adjusts the number of crew members needed for each sailing based on number of booked passengers?

Southwest Airline (my best option) no longer services the Newark airport (EWR) and I am curious what is the best way to get from LaGuardia to Port Liberty? I would imagine a cab would be very expensive. TIA

I believe Coco Cay is still part of the Bahamas and I have read RCCL leases the island and doesn't really "own" it. RCCL would need to get approval from the Bahamian government to open a casino.

My wife and I always stopped at a bar/coffee bar while on the way back to our cabin, asked for and received 2 bottles of water for us. They looked at our SeaPass cards to ensure we purchased a beverage package but never "rang them up". We accumulated plenty of water bottles mid way through the cruise without them being applied to our daily free drink allotment. I am not sure if we broke the rules or not.