Marc

cruisett.com, cruisetimetables.com, and cruisecal.com can provide this information. I mention all three since the user interfaces are different, so you may prefer one over another. Some have pay-for features and some may not necessarily list all the ships in ports. I generally prefer cruisett.com, but was disappointed last year when I noticed that a number of ships didn't seem to be in their database and weren't showing up in the ports when my cruise was going to be there.

Nope, no other liquor is permitted.

The only alcohol that may be brought aboard is two 750ml bottles of wine per cabin. Any other alcohol will be confiscated and held until the end of the cruise. Water and sodas are technically not allowed, but are often permitted by the port staff.

I don't believe that there is a restriction on bringing AC adapters. According to this page, the only prohibited electrical item are extension cords. References to "transformers" would likely be talking about much larger devices than the little "bricks" we use to charge/power our electronic devices.

The alternative to traditional dining is called "My Time Dining". It's not a pick-your-traditional time as was described to you, but instead that you may dine at whatever time you wish (anytime during their open hours for My Time Dining). My Time Dining is separate from traditional dining. You would not be able to join your friends who have traditional dining as they will be assigned to a different part of the dining room from where the My Time Dining people eat. To eat with them, they'd need to switch to My Time Dining or you'd need to get into the 8:30 PM traditional dining. If you do move to traditional dining, you'd need to get your reservations linked so that you'd be eating with them as traditional dining has assigned seating. For My Time Dining, you may reserve a time, either the same time for the whole week or different times for each day, or you may simply show up and wait a few minutes for a table to be available. (We've never waited more than 15 minutes. Since we eat early with My Time Dining, it's generally been less than 5 minutes.) All of this only applies to the main dining room. Cafés are open-seating only, and specialty restaurants have their own reservations that you'd need to make with them directly.

You can have your gratuities included with your final payment, if you wish. (It's required to do so if you have My Time Dining.) Simply contact your travel agent (or Royal Caribbean, if you don't have one) and ask that they be paid in advance.

This is an important tidbit. Onboard credit can only be spent onboard. You cannot use it to pre-purchase things through the online Cruise Planner (such as specialty dining, excursions, drink packages, etc.) before the cruise; the Cruise Planner purchases must be paid with a credit card.

No, the cabins aren't available for guests until generally around 1:00 or 2:00 PM. You can disembark and then return later. I know that everyone has to be checked in by 90 minutes before sail away, so I'd try to ensure that you're back onboard by that time.

It's customary to tip for room service, perhaps a couple dollars, maybe a bit more if it's a large order.

Samba Grill Izumi Chops Grille Portofino (so sad to see it disappearing) Johnny Rockets or Windjammer (I can't decide which between these two) The main dining room doesn't show up on my top 5 list because I'm not a fan of the updated menus. Service is great, but the food choices disappoint me.

No, you don't need to carry your cup around. You can always get fountain soda from any bar or restaurant onboard simply by showing your SeaPass card that will have a sticker/embossed logo showing that you have the package. Explorer of the Seas does have the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines. To use them, you do have to use the provided cup, though, as there is a chip in them that activates the Freestyle machines.

Congratulations!

I see what you're saying. When I look at your upcoming cruise, I also see that 3rd and 4th passengers are taxes only. I don't know why their web site would continue to show that offer if it's now over. I can understand your frustration. It sounds like you should talk with Royal Caribbean's Resolutions department and you might have some better luck. I found this phone number online - (800) 205-9812 - that appears to be for the Resolutions department. Maybe you should give it a try. Good luck! I hope you get the balcony cabin!

I'm not sure which prices you're comparing, but the way it works it that you compare what you already paid in the current category to what you would pay now for the upgraded category. A common mistake is to compare the current prices between the two categories, but that's not the way it works.

It looks like you're talking about a cruise coming up in the next couple months. I think you're beyond your final payment date. If so, then you can't get a price adjustment. That's only available to people before their final payment date.

Yes, this sale is quite good. I was concerned when I saw the rates bump up a couple of days ago, obviously in preparation for the sale, but with the 50%-off the second guest, it works out better than the rates were last week. I just booked two more cruises with this sale, one for my friend and me to celebrate his birthday in 2016, and one for all of us in 2015.

I love Portofino's Tartufo al Cioccolato. I'm sorry to see Portofino going away in the fleet.

From what I've read, it's the Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA) that restricts passenger vessels like cruises. The Jones Act restricts cargo vessels.

It's a little early, but we've started planning our fourth annual spring break cruise on March 13, 2016, sailing on Freedom of the Seas.

More happy news! The prices dropped for this sailing. I called up Royal Caribbean and got them to adjust the pricing for our booking to the new, lower price!

No, we didn't have noise from the crew area. Unfortunately, we did have noise from the connecting cabin's neighbors. They fought a lot, and we got to hear pretty much all of that.

I like the Promenade cabins on the Freedom class ships, but I didn't like the one we had on Allure of the Seas. First, it bugged me that the only connecting Promenade cabins connected to regular inside cabins; you couldn't get two connecting Promenade cabins. Second, I didn't like that the cabins were so close to the ceiling, and the way the lighting is in the Royal Promenade, it's prominently visible when looking out the window as seen in this photo (plus you can see a platform slightly obstructing the lower right-hand view): Granted, if you look downward, you don't see the lighting: It was otherwise a perfectly comfortable room and still good for people watching on the Royal Promenade. I just wish they had more of them on the Oasis class ships so you could have a better choice of where you wanted to be along the Royal Promenade.

No double points, just free ice cream and access to the lounge... and the cow motif, of course. Moo!

It's cabin 6305. This is one of those secrets that most people don't know about. If one normally books an inside cabin on a Freedom class ship, it's definitely worth considering, especially with its perks! I'm sure it's going to be a great cruise! Thanks!

Next year will be our third year in a row sailing on Independence of the Seas for spring break. It also marks a milestone birthday for my friend with whom I've been cruising. Last year, we had the Ben & Jerry's "Sweet" which was fun. For those who don't know, it's a unique Promenade cabin (6305) that's above the Ben & Jerry's shop on the Royal Promenade. It's only on the Freedom class ships. Because of the cows that overlook the shop on the Royal Promenade, you have an obstructed view from the cabin's window that overlooks the Royal Promenade (you get to look at cow butts!). In exchange, you get a room that's decorated in a cow theme, free Ben & Jerry's ice cream for the cruise, plus access to the "Cow-cierge" Lounge. I'm glad that we managed to get it again next year. It's a lot of fun, and Concierge Lounge access is pretty cool, too. You can see a YouTube video tour of the cabin that I made last year here: Ben & Jerry's "Sweet" - Independence of the Seas (March 2013).