Traveling Mike

They have changed the way UDP works while booking. I have done many of them over the last 7 years. Before this last year they would give you and unknown one for boarding day. I would go directly to a specialty restaurant as soon as I board and book everything. Now... I just booked on this month and before making my payment online they let me set all of my lunch and dinner reservations for all 14 days of my cruise.

The major thing for me is it is only a $100 deposit. The couple hundred OBC is nice to book a couple of excursions or dinners packages. One thing to watch is they will book it with what ever travel agent you used for that cruise unless you tell them not to. Then they will have you sign a paper stating you do not want to use the same travel agent. I always book that way and decide what travel agent to move it to once I get back home.

Just book for yourself. You will not pay more for booking solo and on some cruises it will be cheaper. An example in my April 2026 transpacific cruise is $3,723.33 for a solo cruiser and $5,129.66 for booking as 2 people. The same cabin on the same 24 day cruise. Royal Caribbean has started giving discounts for Solo cruisers on Transatlantic and Transpacific cruises. Also, on some ships you can get a Solo Cabin at a much cheaper price. The only drawback of the solo cabin is you do not get double C&A points but you save money. One Note: Celebrity is charging more for a Solo Cruiser than booking for two people. With the new Celebrity President they decided they are loosing money with solo cruisers and are charging extra on many cruises.

My son took his first RCL cruise when he was 8. Then when when he was 15 we schedule a second cruise on RCL. I just called C&A and they gave me his number to put it on my booking.

You can book now and add their C&A number later. Just call C&A and they will give you the numbers. If they cannot find them you will need your last cruise informaiton for them to find it. You can call the Royal Caribbean Crown & Anchor Society at (800) 526-9723 in the United States and Canada. If you are outside of the U.S. and Canada, you can call (541) 285-9723. Their hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 9 AM–9 PM ET, and Saturday through Sunday, 9 AM–6 PM ET

I know as a Diamond+ cruiser I have the purchase specialty restaurant and get one for a second guest. I have never used this but plan on using it on my B2B2B coming up in April. My question is how does this work for a Solo Cruiser? I assume I can use it a different night but do I get to choose the night? How do I set this up? _____________________________ Purchase a specialty restaurant dinner cover charge during the first or second night of your cruise and enjoy complimentary dining for the second guest. Valid for dinner reservations only on the first or second night.

Some of the time I worry about my memory. If I am not mistaken the free days are 24 hours and not days. If you use your cell service until you leave port you will have from one night to the next night.

I seen this posted a while back when looking for cruises. This is what mrlevin posted on CC Board: I have over 150 nights on each Mariner and Voyager. Cabins are smaller on Mariner and I would recommend getting shower only on Mariner; beyond that I much prefer the Mariner for its public spaces. Extra lounge (Stars) means that Mariner Lounge can be open and relaxing versus Voyager lounge which is closed off (as it acts as nightclub too). The stairs from Stars to Casino on Deck 7 can be useful too. There are outside "wings" next to Observation Lounge which makes Mariner a must for Alaska or other cold or hot weather trips where you want to take unobstructed photos. Coffee connection on Mariner (which was the original coffee connection) is much larger than Voyager (even though Voyager coffee connection has been improved over the years). There are a couple of improvements on Voyager that almost make it my favorite ship. Sight lines in balcony of theater better than Mariner. Automatic doors to pool deck should be copied on rest of Regent ships. There is a crew only stairwell that is really convenient to take from cabins on rear of deck 6 to Horizon Lounge; I have taken it many times. They have added Captain Dag's bench on Deck 12 that does allow you to take unobstructed forward photos in relative comfort. I would take either ship over either of the new ships (Splendor fixed a number of Explorer design flaws but they still don't have a Horizon Lounge)>

I have been on all three and would recommend Symphony 7 night to St Maarten, St Thomas and Nassau. The Symphony is a very nice ship and you will get the full experience of a large ship that is a city on the water. Don't worry about the amount of people it does not seem that crowded. Here are a few nots: Consider the Boardwalk Balcony if they have one near or at the back of the ship. Deck 9 or 10. You get the view of the boardwalk, ocean and Aqua Theatre. If it is in your price range consider the Unlimited Dining Package. You can eat dinner at a different very good restaurant every night and a nice lunch every day. My favorite lunches were Chops for high end, Jonny Rockets for a good burger, and Playmakers for great wings. Dinner my favorites were Chops, Wonderland and Jamie's. Because it is a big ship you have to get reservations for shows. They have a comedy club so get those reservations asap. The other shows are easier to get but book them early. Make sure you experience Central Park in the night time. It is a great experience with moonlight, trees and and shrubs and a string quartet playing in the background.

I am sure someone else with more knowledge will answer but here is some information I have seen that will help you. There is a special needs form you can fill out for the special refrigerator and anything else you will need. Guest Special Needs | Royal Caribbean Cruises If the form does not work call (866) 592-7225 It is always better to carry things on and not sent through luggage if possible. I always carry on my meds.

If I am reading your question correctly I think you do not understand the Pre-Paid Gratuities. Those do not include any amount for alcohol purchases. The pre-paid gratuities are for the room server and people that wait on you during the cruise like food staff. If you go to a bar and purchase a drink the amount you pay will automatically include a 18% gratuity on the price of the drink. That is the amount everyone is saying you could not get removed because it is part of the computer system price.

People have been hiding ducks long enough that the security knows what you are doing. The staff watches people hid ducks almost every cruise. I cannot imagine security thinking it was anything other than a duck. If you like hiding ducks... hide them and have fun.

If they have not changed they did it in the dining room. Last April they did the same thing in Hawaii. We were in the port two days. They cleared everyone the first day.

I have cruised with my son for the last 20 years and he is now 28. I found out early on that both of us get to order off any menu. We often would mix and match his order to get what he wanted. My cruise in November I ordered fruit bowl and the hot fudge Sunday off the kids menu and everyone at my table asked where that came from. No one knew you could order off the kids menu. Both of you enjoy the food.

I am on the same cruises as you. This is my first B2B in Tokyo but I did a cruise into Tokyo in 2019. they were very efficient in customs and we cleared customs on the first day. On the second day it was just getting off the ship. I am assuming you can make arrangements with the ship as early as you want. I am sure there is someone that can let us know if the ship allows us to exit with the rest of the passengers.

Here is a very good Facebook Group that I am part of that has this type of information. Join and share your photos and information. (6) Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship Cabins | Groups | Facebook

Yes, they do. There are things you can do on a cruise that will get you band for life from the cruise line. I have seen a couple of instances where security was stationed outside of a cabin and the next day the cabin was empty and you did not see them again. I think you have to be on Santa's really really bad list to be on the cruise lines bad list.

The Pool... I am on vacation and do not need to deal with the crowd and stress of the pool. I will do the hot tub in the adult area but that is it.

I am like @Matt and have gotten the double points for a no-show. The one time they did not give it to me and I just called C&A and they applied the extra points. It never hurts to ask, all they can do is say no.

They don't make the one I purchased a few years ago but this is similar. I like it because it does almost every combination you would need including having multiple usb and usbc. EPICKA Universal Travel Adapter One International Wall Charger AC Plug Adaptor with 5.6A Smart Power and 3.0A USB Type-C for USA EU UK AUS (TA-105, Grey) - Amazon.com

The one I purchased a couple weeks ago I was able to use it for RCL Cruise Payment, Celebrity Cruise Payment and put the remaining amount on my On Board Account. I did all three with my TA.

@ropeadope13 is correct but I have had some slightly different. If I am not mistaken it is ship time and the ship can be on different time zone than the port time. It should be close but if it is not open at midnight check an hour later, or earlier.

I find all the responses interesting. I will never go on a Carnival 3 or 4 day cruise out of Long Beach again but I recommend them to lots of people I talk to. Those cruises have their place and the people I recommend on to are young adults that want to party and stay up all night. Now I like booking the RCL 4 and 5 day cruises out of Los Angeles because they are more family oriented and new cruisers. It is a nice short / Inexpensive getaway and you spend most of your time in port. I am getting ready to book a 25 day cruise for 2026 and I expect it to an older crowd with few children. They are all great cruises and I enjoy all of them. What a lot of people do not understand is you have to look at the cruise line, location and time of year.

the cruises for 2026 are filling up. Once a cruise ship is full it will not show up on your search. I am already booking 2027.

You are talking about going on the Serenade of the Seas. It is an older smaller ship for RCL. It holds 2400 cruisers and that the size of lots of other cruise lines. I like to cruise on smaller ships lots of the time because it is more personal. I also like the large ships that hold 6,000 because they are a small city and have everything. I would not wait; take her and her daughter and and have fun on the ship. Then you can make plans to go on the big ship and see what you like better. I have lots of cruises behind me and I like to mix my cruises up between small, medium and large ships. Extra things on Serenade Rock Climbing Wall Miniature Golf Kids Pool with Slide Regular Pool with 2 hot tubs