tjcruisers

Always get there at least a day early. Flown enough for business that I know you don't usually arrive on time. Kind of had something similar to @twangster example. Was on a Make a Wish trip to the house of mouse. It was a combination park/cruise. When setting it up they asked which one to do first, the agent suggested the park first as it would be more relaxing. Had the first flight out in the morning (6am) which should have gotten us to Orlando by 9:30 am. On the taxiway the plane was having issues, we went back to the terminal and waited on the plane for around a hour as they tried to address it. When they couldn't they disembarked us and waited while they flew another plane in from another airport to take us. Ended up getting in around 5:30 pm to Orlando. Kind of fortunate it was the parks first otherwise would have never made the cruise. In the end for me it's just not worth the risk

It's an enjoyable hobby. If your intent is to only ever go diving when your on a cruise that should be fine. If you plan on diving when your back home you will need to find yourself a dive partner, that would be a benefit of taking it in a local dive shop.

I was talking to somebody in one of the threads about it a month or so ago (just don't remember which one). I got mine locally years ago it's a combination of class/reading/test, in pool and then open water dives. They were saying it sounds like you should sign up before so you get the reading/tests done a head of time, then do the in pool and open water on the cruise. I'm not sure you'll get the same level of training that you would if you went to a local pool in your area Here it is

We always stop at least once, however it's somewhat lost it's luster for us post covid. Used to be lie $5 a person,last cruise it was $12 with very slow service. Not really sure it's $12 better than what you can get in the WJ

I'm also an early riser. Usually will go walk the track in the morning. Always see numerous people show up while I'm walking, drop stuff off an leave then never see them for hours. After a few days you see the same people every morning doing it. A few times after they've left I've slightly moved their belongings (i.e. if they leave a book, move it to a 45 degree angle touching the left side 3 straps down), something that wouldn't do if they show up and leave again, but something I'd recognize. In the times I've done it and randomly walking by the seat in all cases they never showed up until after lunch

Somebody posted recently in a thread (last week) what they had to do for their DWI to be allowed in, look for one titled felony (or something along those lines)

There were a few things. While on that trip we flew instead of driving (originally we were gonna drive), the hotel didn't have any parking available the days we were there. The hotels are somewhat isolated in clumps, if you don't like the hotel restaurant for example, you can't walk around to find another (like you can around Pearson) , you pretty much have to drive. There is a prison beside the ones in north section of hotels (not sure if that will bother you). The roadways around our hotel were somewhat massive of a spaghetti pattern, watching out the windows on the shuttle to the cruise terminal, definitely not something I'd want to try on my own, would definitely need to know the route well ahead of time. In hindsight if I really needed to stay at the airport again I'd pick hotels at the southeast corner (Embassy Suites/Residence inn) seems like a better layout and there is a mall around them

We like Jersey City, especially if you’re there a few day early (5 minute walk to the ferry into Manhattan). Last cruise we stayed at the Newark airport (flew in), won’t stay in that area ever again. Our first cruise we stayed in Clinton NJ, more reasonable price, about an hour drive into the cruise port but was pretty easy, minimal traffic

Stayed there on our 2nd cruise out of NJ,would definitely stay there again

I'd be stressed.Are you taking the RCL transfer or getting a taxi/Uber? Last time we went to IAH, we were on one of first buses that left at 8:30 ish and it was around 10:10 when we got to the airport.By the time we got to the the gate it was around 11:30. We did hit stop and go traffic on the I45. One additional thing with the RCL transfer, on the one we were on they just threw everybodies luggage randomly in bottom. Not sure how many drop off locations Hobby has, but at IAH we were fortunate to be the first dropped off. The driver had to take out 1/2 the luggage so everybody at that drop off could get theirs, it took us about 15 minutes, but there were still people waiting and the driver would have had to reload the bus.

If your going to drive, one question I'd ask is Parlez-vous Francais? If not I'd take Via or stick to the Trans Canada Highway and familiarize yourself with the traffic laws.When I lived up in Ottawa, in Hull (across the river) at the time there was no turning right on red, there was no actual sign saying you couldn't turn, you just had to know. https://www.quebec.ca/en/transports/circulation-securite-routiere/regles-conseils-vehicules/traffic-rules-intersections/turning-right-red-light

It might have 2 pullman beds above the other bed

yep, local laws would dictate at port. Last cruise Royal left some in the rooms at those port if I remember. I found it was somewhat wishy washy though. There was no mention for our Jamaica stop, but there was a sign in the terminal (but it wasn't enforce). In one port (Columbia or Panama) it was worded in the daily compass along the lines of masks might not be mandatory, but local authorities could stop and challenge you at any time (Kind of took that as it's best to have one in your pocket)

This link has the info (email, phone number and online form) https://www.royalcaribbean.com/resources/guest-special-needs

Never had a bag lost, one time it was in the hallway 10 rooms down

Haven't really noticed it that much from our pre covid cruises (then again we're in a different currency so that could come into play). I do notice the suite prices are up bit

More than likely they’ll have a shuttle bus set up Our first cruise was out of 18, but we had to park in the parking garage at 19. They had shuttles set up pre and post cruise

Keep telling my wife this is something I'd definitely be interested in

In terms of redirecting the ship I've only had it happen once. In terms of an ambulance coming up and taking a patient/fanily off while we're already in a port I've seen quite a bit (just have to look over the side of the boat at the time)

I've had this happened twice to me so far. One problem Royal should address is their scanning tools don't allow them to manually enter passenger/room info if the card doesn't scan. They should at least have one member there was tablet to manually enter info if needed. First time was on the Allure (pre covid), my sea pass card only had 1/2 the bar code printed so they couldn't scan. Had to go down to get it a new card and told this was discovered during the muster scanning, they said ok we'll put in in you did the muster (which they never did). Had to go a down to customer service again after it showed up on the TV I needed to attended the next day session. Last cruise (post covid), they were scanning the set sail pass. Neither the paper copy or the copy on my phone worked. They had clipboard where they were recording names/room number of those where scanner wouldn't scan (we were on at 11:30 and it was already a page long). It kept showing up in the app I wasn't scanned, so when we got our rooms cards I went back down to the muster located and scanned again (this time it worked)

On our last cruise I really disliked the pizza. Usually it's the goto snack on the way back to the room after the shows. This cruise got it two separate nights and both nights were pretty bad

For Bahmas this might settle your mind https://www.bahamas.gov.bs/wps/portal/public/Visiting/Visa Requirements/!ut/p/b1/vZPZjqJAFEC_pT-gm2Krgkc2ESlAduGFlMqiNoKyCH59a2aSmXQyMy_TXfepkpM6OTcpKqU2VHom46Ek_aE5k_fnPYUZqzuWq3CCJUBOBAYd2IaqrVk9gFRMbZbJXVY646ZpXjaFg5N4Vkc2TVe2vCYoCliAOrAJcnuVXFkms0i-tUtO87xW5Hh_Z7ktGKesr_xkXlXE9GNgDrs5C0lxis-XAYU-qRd6fx_m4XWNgopl4qpZzgOusRSoi0iovBIac56ZPj1hNuqGGpyKtIrF9wbeJrgF-JpgMmZl8d7GMn5EJY8o8IcjgX83pz8QoFuS9EB0LPEPxOExay5o12d-An9RJA8A_XpBgKunxHRMLJrs0mKogNoALvOPc2vcT3fviFxggckMjgagNUD3RzW0txqwbYf2sXWj7-HUayXwAe3Yp24KxGC9j7xQliTE7dnys9BhgqdQoaEZ8sBn0FcLPxey3yzUuC9fqcmwDyFmsS0oNHDRNwvh_y9cUelhW7_ddvUbeBMRBAIAosADmuFZREXHBIrq8-cbdlHlkZ4f83sUHm7lSkpCp1ZAtWra9extVuMsNm4pH5O6QMlSnzpBFaZX2fXD8NKGKbzmOlFTIg9ysZQ3jdmXt1AYy017jqOr3neqxUhqr_Ijfm0t9ULusn_gJ3Xr0WFG6r2yixZ-j_Dsxl52SqJUHfEhqwo695FpFKlVFaPUdXubTABeWaMsg66IlQrGs80V9h5mLprQhUR5JqmH9TU9vVD2sqlzqq1HDD2B_m3YUnp5-QAvdiS9/dl4/d5/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/ https://www.bahamas.gov.bs/wps/wcm/connect/bf838397-2677-410e-9987-87fa188e4966/Visa+Requirements+for+Visitors+Travelling+to+The+Bahamas1.pdf?MOD=AJPERES 2nd link you need a passport, no visa The other 2 being US territories you should be good Probably wouldn't hurt to print it out as well if you can

Welcome aboard. Be prepared for a lot of advice . When Matt wakes up he'll probably link some videos

Been to Jamaica many times. If you stay in the port shopping area or tourist areas you’d have no worries. The issues with Jamaica is usually around Kingston on the south side. One note is I found the drivers are a little crazy

I'm scratching my head what type of argument somebody could have during checkin to end a 20 year friendship. Usually people are quite happy at time as their getting the ship