drjohn4

Since it's not well publicized, I ask at guest services after boarding if Catholic mass is available and also check the social board. Zero for 2 so far.

Maybe its a new "IT service fee"?

Or if the work trip doesn't happen... take both cruises!

Buying RCL stock doesn't give you a guaranteed free cruise, but if you had bought 200 shares in March of 2022 ($64 per share). You would have a gain of about $7000 you could spend on a cruise if you sold those shares, and could have a nice onboard credit as a shareholder on every cruise you took. Of course if you bought those shares at the end of 2019 ($135 per share) you would still be looking at a $7000 loss if you sold (but still getting the OBC).

In 7147 on Allure, bed is against the side wall near the bathroom, couch on side wall toward back.

When we went on Allure in July, 11 AM was the earliest check in available. From what I understand, boarding is the same at all ports. If you show up after all the guests from the prior sailing are off and boarding has started... you go through security and check in and then get on the ship. If you arrive early, before boarding has started - you go through security and check in then to the waiting area. When boarding starts they call boarding groups - suites, Pinnacle, the Key, various other crown and anchor levels, then people board as they arrive. They try to start boarding as soon as they can get everyone from the prior sailing off, this varies from week to week.

We sailed out of Galveston on a Sunday and dropped our bags off at the terminal, then had the driver drop us of at Sacred Heart Catholic Church which is about 1 mile from the terminal for the 11 AM mass. The church is beautiful and we walked back to the port to board after mass. It worked out great.

I was on Allure about 3 weeks ago with the ship at full capacity and had a fantastic experience. No A/C problems for us. Had a balcony and an inside cabin and both were in great shape. Central Park looked absolutely beautiful. Nice to be in a quieter place with so much greenery. This was my first time on an Oasis class ship, so I can’t compare it to what it was, but it’s still quite beautiful and impressive. Windjammer was busy at times, but we were never unable to find a table for up to 8 of us. The staff were cleaning tables immediately when someone would leave when it was busy. We had great service and quality of food in the main dining room. On par with a year ago on Odyssey before the menu change. I only went to trivia once. Harry Potter trivia on the last sea day and it was standing room only. In summary, don’t feel like you are doomed to a poor vacation. Everything won’t be perfect, but odds are you’ll have a great time and enjoy your vacation!

We stayed at a hotel near IAH since our flight got in close to midnight the day before sailing. Seemed safer than Roatan or Costa Maya. It’s not like we went walking around the neighborhood, just sleeping, breakfast at the hotel and off to the ship. Used Houston VIP shuttle to go to Galveston next day. Worked out quite well.

Was supposed to sail Monarch of the Seas for our honeymoon, but the fire in the shipyard delayed delivery. Sailed Song of Norway out of San Juan instead. Fantastic ship and great trip!

Anyone know what the sleeper sofa is like in the Voyager class 2 bd suites?

You shouldn't feel like you missed out on anything. If the minimum bid doubled there is virtually zero chance your bids would have been accepted.

Can you log out of a device to control what gets kicked off? For example log off my iPhone before connecting the iPad to keep wife from being booted.

Actually much easier than that. Any Sunday departure will work. Just go to the Saturday evening mass the day prior to boarding and a Sunday afternoon or evening mass when you return.

A faithful Catholic should try to find a way to attend mass when possible. We have gone to mass in ports of call before. It is one of the neat things about travel to experience mass in different cultures. (The music at a mass we went to in Nassau was particularly memorable.) The Catechism of the Catholic Church recognizes that there are times when attending mass is not possible and recommends "If because of lack of a sacred minister or for other grave cause participation in the celebration of the Eucharist is impossible, it is specially recommended that the faithful take part in the Liturgy of the Word if it is celebrated in the parish church or in another sacred place according to the prescriptions of the diocesan bishop, or engage in prayer for an appropriate amount of time personally or in a family or, as occasion offers, in groups of families." (CCC 2183) As to deciding if a Catholic should avoid making vacation plans that would preclude the possibility of attending mass, some might recommend discussing your specific circumstances with your pastor and seeking dispensation from the obligation to attend mass on a particular Sunday if needed.