Traveling Mike

Both of my Trans-Pacific cruises in April

On 3/8/2025 at 7:07 PM, FlaringSunset said:

It's great to hear about price adjustments, I have done it a few times already though for some reason the last time I did it for one statement room they could not see the price I saw online in their website so I could not get that adjusted (any advice as I see that the price of one of our staterooms might be like $200 lower now).

When I transfer over do I still get access to my RCL account and be able to purchase the discounted packages like internet (right now it is 30% off) or will that have to be done by Costco?

What is RoyalUp?

1. Only the booking goes to the travel agent.  All of the Airline and Shuttle are with RCL Air2Sea if you want to use them.  All the on board purchases are on the app or RCL website.  Costco would take care of your cabin and payments.  If you have issues with any of the other stuff they will call RCL and try to fix it for you.
2. Royal-Up is a program where you can place a bid for a cabin upgrade.  An example is if you have a Ocean View cabin you can place a bid to upgrade to a Balcony or higher cabin.  You would place the amount that you are willing to pay.  The more you bid the more likely you are to win the bid.  Part of the contract Costco has with Royal Caribbean is their customers will not take part of the Royal-Up program.  Every time I have been able to see the Royal Up it is more than I would be willing to pay for the upgrade.  The other issue with Royal Up  is you get the cabin they assign to you.  You do not get to pick it.

9 hours ago, TessFromFlorida said:

I have never been asked to provide a letter, the birth certificate w your name is fine. They don't know your business. A lot of women vacation w their kids while their husband is working or whatever. You will be OK

I have been asked multiple times for the letter.  It might be because I am the dad but I have had to supply divorce papers showing  i have full legal custody.

5 hours ago, Biaggio said:

Long walk to the elevators 

Long walk to the elevators = Extra Dessert

In my opinion that is one of the best cabins on the ship.  I have done those end rooms 3 different times.  You get a view of board walk,  you get a view of the ocean, and you get to watch the Aqua show from your balcony.  Here is a video of the same cabin on the 10 floor on the Symphony of the Seas.  If you skip to the 6:30 mark you will see balcony views.  

I have used AIG Travel Guard over the years.  I have collected lots of times and never had an issue.  Travel Insurance | Get a Quote and Buy | Travel Guard

In the last couple of years I have switched to Allianz because they seem to have better coverage.  I have not collected from them but they are big enough where i do not worry about them covering issues. Buy & Compare Cruise Insurance | Allianz Global Assistance

I always have printed copies incase something happens to my phone.  I have been behind people that are having phone issues and holding everyone up.

You can cancel the Soda and Coffee packages.  If you got a really good deal on the Soda you can always call RCL and tell them you purchased it under the wrong name in your group.  All they can say is no, then you cancel it.

I have not been on the Jewel but Chops Grill should be open on Boarding day for lunch.  It will be busy but you should be able to eat there on your UDP.

1 hour ago, Texhanna said:

I am a legal guardian but has anyone gone on a ‘closed looped’ cruise and have been denied boarding as a single parent because they didn’t have a letter even though they had all other docs? 

My son is 28 now but I have cruised with him sense he was 8 years old.  I have had issues with the people trying to check us in because I did not have the letter of consent.  I had full legal and physical for my son but because I was the father they did not believe there was not a mom involved.  When I had issues, I would just ask for their supervisor and show them the court papers and they approved my boarding.  I would recommend you taking a copy of your divorce or separation papers giving you legal custody.  As soon as they question it just ask for a supervisor.  Even after you get the 11 year old passport take the custody papers;  it just makes things easier.

I know MSC is competing with Carnival on their cruiser boxing matches but I would just go to the cruise line with the lowest prices and best cruiser fights... 

On 3/3/2025 at 1:54 PM, RCIfan1912 said:

Well we finally paid off our first back to back in May.

If you end up liking it you can start looking for cruises like I am taking in April.  There are hundreds of us doing B2B2B starting in Singapore and ending up in Alaska.  35 days on the Anthem of the Seas; relaxing and enjoying life. 

On 3/3/2025 at 4:13 PM, Eyeonhevn said:

I'm home now - and received an email from C&A stating that they can not add such a request to my profile and I would need to add it manually to every cruise booking in the future and they were sorry they couldn't help me. 

Makes me scratch my head.... 

With the experience you have I wonder if I misunderstood and they just added it to my cruises that I already have booked.  I will find out in 4 more weeks and I can check with the room steward to what and where it is mentioned.  Then I will know if I have to request it when I book my cruises.

4 hours ago, Vincent said:

You sir are a Saint, Thank You! Costco is $4,625 cheaper for the exact same 2BRAT. And I haven't even tried MEI or Harr.

With Costco Travel, can I get a price adjustment if RC web shows decrease for same category or room?

Costco Travel can give the price adjustment.  What you do not get is they will not watch your cruise and let you know there is a price drop.  You have to watch it and call them to have them apply the price adjustment.  Costco Travel does also not have people that can help you decide on what cruise to pick or book.  If you are a person that does your own research it will work for you because they can book and help you with what you want.  I also like the people are paid by the hour so they do not care how much time they spend helping you out.

I have to share this with everyone: 

I have cruised out of there and into there a few times.  Every time I book with International Friends.  See all of their packages at Shore Excursions and Cruise Transfers | International Friends .  I always stay in London and explore the area.  I Like cruising into Southampton because  International Friends have excursions that will pick you up at the cruise ship and take you to places like Stone Hinge or/and the Roman Baths and then drop you off at your hotel.

27 minutes ago, warrenz1963 said:

service is not really reliable enough for streaming music.

The internet package is Starlink.  Starlink is the new low level satellite system by Elon Musk.  I work on the ships so I get the internet package every cruise.  The price of the package will range from $13 a day to $22 a day depending on the cruise and when you purchase it.  If you test the speed it seems to be OK but it is the amount of packages the low level satellites can handle.  I have used it in most parts of the world and have not had an issue.  The more people on the ship using it the more it will be effected.  Streaming music is nothing.  I stream movies most of the nights.  In the early morning I am remoting into my office and working,  doing online video conference and streaming work.  I do not think you will have issue with music.

Twice I have been in the Boardwalk Balcony at the very end by the Aqua Theater. It was a great cabin where you can see the Ocean,  the shows in the Aqua Theater, the rock climbing wall, and all the people on the boardwalk. 

Now with that said,  It is noisy.  You will hear everything going on the Boardwalk.  One night that included a dad with 5 kids playing on the boardwalk at 2 am.  

1 hour ago, Pooch said:

 So do we sail out of A and return to G??

Yes,  I have done that in Miami before.

1. I search on the RCL website.
2. I search on Costco Travel website.
3. I search on American Airlines website.
4. I search on Expedia website.
5. The last thing I do is search as a Solo Cruiser and as a Couple.  Some of the time I find GTY rooms for 2 people that I cannot get as solo.  I call my TA and have them get me the GTY price as solo.  Lately RCL has discounts for solo people on the trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific cruises.

Most of the time I get the same price signed in and not signed in other than the discount I get from C&A.

I am going to be honest with you;  Yes I think you might have issues.  I love Trans-Atlantic and Trans-Pacific cruises and take them all the time.  Because they are when school is going on and they are longer trips they tend to be older people taking the cruises.  You are the same age as my son and I do not notice many people your age on the Trans-Atlantic cruises.  There are more on the Trans-Pacific cruises but nothing like you get on the Caribbean cruises.  

Now with that said,  a July/August cruise will most likely have lots of people that want to take a TA cruise and cannot because of kids in school or they are teachers.  I would recommend that you try it just because you are a teacher.  That tells me you are not bashful and you will find things to do and people to meet.  The Harmony is a great ship and you will not run out of things to do and see.

1. I love Disney and think they are one of the best but they priced me out of the market.
2. I used to cruise Princes a lot but they felt like a ship for old people.
3. I used to cruise NCL because they catered to Solo cruisers and have the free at sea package.  They charge a lot of gratuity on their free at sea and stopped working with Solo cruisers.  My November cruise is the last one I am taking with NCL.
4. I like cruising with Celebrity but with the last Celebrity President change they stopped wanting solo cruisers.  They are charging more than double for cruisers.  Now i only cruise with Celebrity when my son is cruising with me and they have a good price.

Now that you know you can bring something to help the smell, I have the important question.  Does your husband think it is funny to stink you out of the room?  

3 hours ago, Pooch said:

Except the 3/20 sailing on Explorer isn’t going to Nassau as listed above??

That is government for you.  That site is from the Miami Dade county. Is is their list of daily dock schedule.  If you run it for the entire month of March it shows Employer of the Seas in "G dock" every week except for the 20th it is in "A".  I glanced and it looks like RCL first choice is "G" and "A" is the second choice.  The big sips get priority.

there is not going to be a problem because when she gets an alcohol drink on her card she is going to pay for the drink.  They will know she only has the refreshment package and charge her for the drink.