Traveling Mike

Just remember what you can legally smoke in places like California you cannot have on a cruise ship. I have herd of people not thinking about what they have or had in their vape.

both me and my son has ADHD. It helps me to not pack until the night before I leave. This way all of my thoughts are on the packing task and I lay everything out on the bed and go over the entire list of everything I need and have. Then I take my backpack to the safe and get my money and passports out of the safe and put them in the backpack where they stay until the ship. Now I will double check my backpack for my wallet and passport 100 times between the house and the ship.

My luggage getting lost. I am a Big Guy that cannot purchase cloths at a normal store most of the time. If my luggage gets lost in flight I will have to do the cruise in the cloths in my backpack. Missing the ship.

I cruise solo and they let me purchase the dinner on the first or second night then take my free one later in the cruise. I have never asked about lunch because it is about 1/2 the price as dinner.

I know you will be refunded her port fees and taxes. I would not take the chance on the booked items. You have until a few days before the cruise to cancel her drink package, internet and excursions. As soon as you know there is not someone else going with you I could cancel the purchased items.

I do not like the Mexican ports that much. I have done a lot of them just because that is what leaves out of California. For the most expensive, I will do more Eastern Caribbean and Alaska.

No, I did have to exit and come back one time. The item was still in the cart then it let me check out. You can also call Royal on the phone.

I just got off the phone with Air2Sea and they gave me prices for transfers to and from the airport. If you also look on your web booking page for excursions the last day they often have the shuttles there with information and pricing. Note: depending on how much time you have, I have used this company in the past to have an excursion before going to London or the airport: Tours from Southampton Cruise Terminal to London - Tourist England

Walk her to all the activities she wants to do then you go hang out in a bar, pool deck, your balcony or go back to your cabin and watch tv or read a book. I cruised with my son for 20 years and we did our own things. There is so much to do on a ship that your wife can do what she thinks is fun and she will meets lots of new friends. You can do anything that looks interesting and then you meet together on dinners, shows and things both of you feel interest the both of you. The biggest thing is both of you to understand just because you are on a cruise ship does not mean you need to change the way you have done things for the last 50 years.

In the past when I had the UDP I would figure out the schedule I wanted ahead of time. Then as soon as I could get connected to the ship Wi-Fi I would book those dining times. It looks like you are paying but if you have the UDP you are not paying. The other thing is often you can get on the ship Wi-Fi while waiting at the port. I know I have done that in both Miami and Seattle.

I have a $450 OBC one one of my cruises and do not know why I am getting it. I called for a price drop and when my TA was done I got the price drop and the OBC. I did not ask why, just kept on

I do not blame cruise lines for not going to Key West after they voted in November 2020 to ban almost all cruise ships and limit the number of passengers that can get off the ships. The Governor overruled it but why go where you are not wanted.

I have seen a special Deluxe Beverage Package price for Diamond + and above. Currently my April cruise is $43.99 a day or $62 with Internet.

Just an update for anyone that is interested. Here are my prices for Celebrity Best of Japan in July 2025.

When I read the first post I thought it had to be a parent controlling their children. After reading other people that have seen it on different ships I realize the parent is RCL and they are treating us like little kids. I know some of the time they must do this because to many people behave like little kids.

I always pre-pay my gratuities because it is nice not having a big bill at the end of the cruise. It also keep the bill cleaner so I can see what I am spending.

I have been on 3 different ships with JR and all of them were open for lunch on embarkation day.

On many of my oversees cruises I use my left over foreign currency for extra tips. If I don't have any I use US Dollars. They are happy with anything.

This is from the RCL site: Theme nights are offered onboard Royal Caribbean Cruises of four nights or longer. Because these events vary by ship and itinerary, dates and times will not be available until you board the ship and this can be found in the Cruise Compass. Some common themes we may offer include Black and White Night, 50's/60's/70's/80's, Country Western, Masquerade Ball, Toga Parties. These are examples and are subject to change.

I have never did one of these but why not try. This is for the Back-2-Back cruise from Singapore to Tokyo to Seattle. I know there is lots of people doing the B2B. If you are only doing one, that is OK, join the conversation. Or if you are like me doing the B2B2B we are going to have fun. Anthem of the Seas Apr 13 — Apr 25, 2025: 12 night Singapore to Tokyo cruise Anthem of the Seas Apr 25 — May 9, 2025: 15 night Tokyo to Seattle cruise Anthem of the Seas May 9 — May 16, 2025: 7 night Alaska experience cruise

You will get good service without a tip. If you leave a tip with the same bar crew they will often go out of their way for you. My last cruise I was on the ship for 27 days and I gave the late night bar tender $40 at the start of the cruise. After that all I had to do is walk up to the bar and he would bring me my sodas that I picked up every night. Some nights that would save me from waiting in a long line.

two things to know: There are two main cruises, Inside passage and one way cruise to or from Anchorage area. Know what one you are booking because they are very different and the cost for flights and land transportation is different. All of the ports you will stop in Alaska are walkable. After the first time I do not book excursions. We walk the town and find things to explore and enjoy.

If things have not changed it is available right away. When we were coming out of Covid I had a lot of FCC. A couple of times I canceled the cruise and rebooked and the FCC was available to put on the rebooked cruise.

Years ago I got a haircut and shave on one of the cruise ships. I loved it but I always love when women give me attention. Just make sure when you book it you request a woman so they do not match a man with a man; it is just not the same. I like going to a barber ship but the experience is different. The other think you might consider is a pedicure for him. For one of my birthdays my cousin purchased me a pedicure. I though it was strange but it was delightful. I would love to have more of them but I cannot bring myself to spend the money on that.

For anyone interested all the cruise Facebook groups are done by cruisers. The cruisers on the ship will start a group and other people join. I have had one cruise that had two different Facebook Groups and both refused to close and consolidate them. I have also had crises where was not a group. Join a group and have fun.