Moby Dick

Yep, my daughter and her husband utilize theirs a lot, too. I don't think it is American Express though. Whatever works though. I'm the kinda guy that has to have the "latest and greatest", the most up to date electronic gadgets, etc. I really wanted to get the Platinum card but I just don't travel enough by air to make it worth the $$$. I try to drive EVERYWHERE!

Well, that sucks! Thanks for the info though!

Just curious, how/why can the big box TAs give up to $2,000.00 of OBCs while others don't give any or maybe up to $100.00. I assume they all get the same commission from the Cruise Lines. I talked to Danny at Harr Travel once, a few years ago and all he said was that the big box TAs deal in quantity. That really doesn't fully satisfy my curiosity, however. Inquiring minds want to know!

My first Oasis Class cruise was on the Oasis, it was also my first Royal cruise. After being loyal to Brand X for many years and some major disappointments with them, we decided to move on and try something different. Up until then, the largest ship we have been on was, I believe, the Freedom or Dream of Brand X. Well, we walked on Oasis into the Promenade and just couldn't believe our eyes. I just couldn't believe how big it was, massive and the décor, lighting and ambiance was fantastic. It really didn't hit home, how big it was until we had to walk from our suite, Aqua Theater Suite, which is at the very very aft of the ship, to the theater, which is at the very forward of the ship. It seemed like I should have called for a Uber. Now, none of this is negative, just the opposite. I truly love Oasis Class ships. I was just looking at some of my videos of my whole family entering the Oasis and the looks of my daughter, her husband, and our Grandkids was absolutely amazing and a treat to watch how happy they were. Their eyes just got so big, their mouths dropped, their faces just glowed with joy and anticipated excitement. I just wish I was a better word smith to express how it made me feel. This is why I'm so loyal to Royal. Yes, there are issues. But, trivial compared to the joy we all experience while ON THE SHIPS.

Yes!!!! Good news and verification, again. But, I sure hope that in the "NEAR" future none of this will be required anymore. Ya right, dream on!

That should be obvious. If it doesn't cost extra to use a TA, the commission is built in somewhere, even if you don't us one. Fur sur!

That too. However, I'm leaning towards self booking (no TA) in the future. But, I haven't fully made up my mind on that, yet. I'm just not comfortable working with a middle man/woman anymore. I'm retired, I don't mind sitting on my recliner, on hold as I'm watching reruns of Murder She Wrote LOL. I just don't get a warm fuzzy when I get some answers from a TA. Far too often, they seem to be guessing or confused because of the many cruise lines, airlines, hotel chains, ............ they deal with. Not that the "phone answerers" at Royal are much better but they are exclusive and hopefully fully trained to the Royal brand. Just my opinion, of course. I'm sure that there are some very good TAs out there and at least one that has the software that checks for lower prices. But, again I think I'll go to the horses mouth. MAYBE!

Exactly, If you pay "FULL PRICE" for a cruise you ether have too much money, booking too late, or you're just not trying hard enough.

Actually, I find in general that Ramada has gone downhill, way downhill in the past couple of decades. And I totally agree with you with the Fairfield Inns & Suites. We've stayed there and a couple other in the area a few times and I grew up about a mile away from there. They are reasonably priced (well not too much stuff is reasonably priced anymore) but NOT cheap. But, for the cleanliness and security, I'd go for it. Almost every time someone asks the OPs question, I refer them to that area and group of hotels (see above).

I'm sure you are right. BUT, if it is important enough for me to seriously complain about something, I will send a written letter, certified. I have a great friend that I grew up with who is a retired police chief and mayor of a city. He once (many years ago) told me what he does. That's find out the name if the CEO, and Corp address, don't ask or be demanding of anything, be somewhat humble. Personalize the letter by addressing the envelope directly to him/her and in the salutation. I took his advice and it has always worked for me, both in Military life and as a civilian, except for Brand X Cruise Lines.

One thing I forgot to mention: Again, as I remember it, there was a great German Restaurant approximately across the street (on the other side of 84). I just looked for it on Google Earth and couldn't find it, so it may not exist anymore because of the expansion to 84. I love German beer and I used to stop in every now and then. I lived in the area when 84 was just a two lane road, no I-595 and the City of Weston was nothing but Everglades, no Alligator Alley (which meant, no toll, just 2 lane SR-84 to the west coast), no I-95 or I-75, the airport only had a small surface parking lot and one L shaped terminal with NO security. It's amazing to me, the changes. I still love Jaxson's Ice Cream Parlor in Dania (not Dania Beach when I lived there).

The best sale finding strategy is to have a shopaholic like my wife. She spends about the first hour or two of every day going through Royal's site, Amazon, Best Buy, JCP, et al. I don't think we ever paid the original booking price for a cruise yet, because of her. So, I don't mind making my mind up, spontaneously, and purchasing a cruise, sale or not (it's really just the deposit anyway). I know she will eventually find at least one lower price for that cruise, usually several times. Both my daughters and their husbands work hard and don't really have time for that kind of shopping so my wife does it for them.

Good for you! As stated earlier, we only had her because we went through 2 other Genies that got "injured". We only had her for about 2 days and we really didn't have much chance to really put her to work for us. Everything had already been scheduled for us by the previous Genies. She did meet us whatever restaurant we went into to ask if there was anything she could do for us. She also followed through reserving our seats in the Theater, exactly where we wanted them, not middle front row, we don't like becoming part of the show. It was her first cruise as a Genie, under the circumstances, I think she did great. Have you cruised in Star Class before? Let us know what you thought about her. So far, we haven't had a Genie that can hold a candle next to Marla. Marla is the Gold Standard, at least for us.

State Road 84/Marina Mile used (it may still be, I just don't know anymore) to be a fairly swanky in that immediate area (albeit a lot of Boat/Yacht commerce (repairs). My wife's Lawyer has his office there. I've never stayed in that particular hotel. I don't think it was there when I used to live in the area. If you are driving, it's a straight shot east into Port Everglades.

You stole my thunder. I was going to say, us old timers, at least me, don't fall for the fare sales, we know its like the weather, wait 5 minutes, it will change. If you miss a good, so called sale today, it will be back tomorrow. It's the newbs that fall for the, "Hurry up and buy now", "Sales ends in 6 hours" sales. But, I must say, it works for them.

At the interchange of Griffin Rd., and I-95 there is several popular hotels, Hilton, Marriot, a couple others, they are the "Airport Hotels. There is also a Bass Pro with a good, I've heard, we don't do much seafood, restaurant. Also, just a mile or so west on Griffin Road is Tropical Acres Steak House. This place puts Chops' Steaks to shame. Anyway, they all have transportation to the port available, not complementary the last time I checked. Disclaimer: I grew up within a mile of there. It didn't look anything like it does now. https://www.tropicalacres.com/menus/ Also, just down the street is the Rustic Inn. If you like Crab, Frog Legs, Alligator, and a bunch of other critters, this is the place: https://www.rusticinn.com/

If two ships are there at the same time, I hope your ship is there first and you can get off quickly. That booth can get real busy in a hurry and the line can be loooooong.

The Canadian Government uses those super sensitive swabs and processing cards that can tell what variant you have, if you have rabies, ring worm, an over bite, the gender of your unborn baby (doesn't matter if you are the male or female), hemorrhoids, and several dozen other abnormalities/illnesses. And it can all be done in 3.5 minutes while you are in the shower at the hotel. Not to worry, they've you covered. I'm a naturalized U.S. Citizen from Montreal, Canada originally. I know their capabilities and I read it on the internet.

Except the several hundred $$$ annual fee you pay for the card. I honestly hope you use the many other benefits you get with that fee and not just the PreCheck.

My observation is that there is virtually always some type of cruise fare sale going on. I believe that there are 3 or 4 different iterations of sales that they rotate through. However, no matter what they call them, in the end, they give about the same deal/savings. YMMV

We were on the May 13th on Ovation. The sausage was okay but seriously over boiled/cooked, the buns came right out of the frig and a serious lack of condiments, no relish, mayo, just catsup and yellow mustard . Hopefully its gotten better.

Ubetchya!

You can print the results!

If you live in the U.S. go to https://special.usps.com/testkits and get your FREE COVID test kits for each member of your family, again for "FREE", then get an account at https://onpoint-testing.com/product/certified-teleservice-covid-testing/ pay $14.99 for each appointment and your done, except for the actual testing and getting the results. Easy Peasy!

Funny but painfully true!