monorailmedic

I don't have any sailings within 72 hours so I can't validate whether or not there is an indicator you'd see if you've checked in. If you were missing anything they'd have reached out though, and the rest can be completed at the port. Don't stress over this, just be sure to be your documents and be sure that if any passenger names differ between your reservation and your docs that you bring proof of name changes or other docs. Keep your prescription meds in your hand luggage, not that things are frequently lost but there is no sense risking it - just like when you fly keep the essentials (documents, medications, valuables) in your carry-ons. Most people are brining on some sort of prescriptiosn meds, so no worries there. Reach out if you have any other questions at all.

Should you run into this in the future, know that If the name on your passport does not match the name on your reservation you'll need to bring proof of your name change. Note that unless marriage licenses in your state also have the fields necessary for name changes, you'll need the actual name change documentation - not just your marriage license. You need to show that the two names are the same person.

As S FL resident those last minute deals can be nice, but I understand the business reasoning completely. What would be interesting to better understand is how this changes booking patterns for specific groups - such as first time cruisers. Someone who doesn't know any better may look at prices for sailings leaving in 2 weeks then just assume that RCI is more expensive than CCL or other lines, and in that specific scenario, they may be right. I see so many people on twitter saying, "I think I want to take my first cruise next month" and things like this - not everyone is as informed as us. That in mind I'm not sure if the challenge will be a great one, as ships are filling across the board, so other lines don't have the incentive to adjust prices that they once did. Further, others have, just as RCI has, started incentivizing cruisers in other ways. Instead of price drops offering beverage packages, onboard credit, etc. For most businesses there are ways to move inventory without impacting revenue as much as flat cost reductions.

This is another one of the many issues. Don't be fooled by "privacy codes" and other advertsied features. These radios, like many analog radios, use subaudible tones, but all that does is make sure that the squelch doesn't open on your other radios unless the same tone is sent. This prevents your radio from going to silent to noise if someone else keys up. There are a few problems here though. Someone with no code set (or a radio w/o the capability) still hears everything - so it doesn't help privacy If two people are on the same channel at the same time with different codes, and you're going to hear some comgination of both of them/terrible sounds/maybe whichever radio is closer to you (not necessarily the person you know. I mainly just point this out b/c I always worry about people thinking "yeah, but these radios are private - it says so on the box!" Edit to add more context and info, along with tips on what radios to use if you do opt to go this route: https://www.cruisehabit.com/using-two-way-radios-or-walkie-talkies-keep-touch-cruise-ships

I frequently book guarantees - in fact I have one booked right now for the Harmony Group Cruise! If you're not picky about the exact stateroom you get, then I see no reason not to. If you think "as long as I don't get a cabin that..." - don't finish that sentence, a guarantee isn't for you. Further, while sometimes guests get a pleasant surprise, don't book a guarantee counting on that. More often than not you're assigned a stateroom of the same type (inside/OV/verandah) which you booked.

RCI doesn't stock Laphroaig *but* I did find a bottle of Laphroaig 10 on Allure of the Seas last year (perhaps a special request or an officer). Ships with pubs now stock Ardbeg 10. I personally have social engineered some request and have Ardbeg or Laphroaig on every sailing, though with the new pub menu that is less of a concern. On Empress in May they brough on Ardbeg Uigeadail for me, which also fits the bill nicely.

Huh? Sorry, I have an alert I get anytime someone on a cruise website write the word "scotch".

Sort of - they do have a service where you can purchase bottles and mixers to your room, but options are limited, and as of March, this was not available on Harmony OTS https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2017/03/14/royal-caribbean-adds-two-new-bottled-alcohol-packages

I'd ask to speak with a manager once onboard. To be honest, I wouldn't hold much hope as they don't have a way of "bulk pricing" liquor, and may also not be allowed to fill containers which aren't theirs (healthcode related). It never hurts to ask though. They do, but you don't get the bottles until the last night of your cruise, it is not for onboard consumption.

This seems to be the case, along with reduced future cruise OBC. The reduced OBC is a bit of a bummer, the reduced deposit thing is a bit of a shell game, so meh.

That's the place.

[checks prohibited items list] You're good - but you must provide phot evidence of you playing with glow sticks in super weird places. I suggest an elvator party.

I highly recommend El Palomar. Is a short walk from Plaza Benito Juarez. I'd say the food is as good or better than Comidas Caseras Tonita (which is very good), but the views are infitiely better as it's right across from the water. Further they sell beer - and CCT does not. Oh, and they take credit cards. Watch, this will become @Matt's favorite place in about 55 days. We also enjoy The Pub Cozumel, which is a British expat pub, and they actually have very good Mexican food.

...and that's how I found myself explaining to Mexican authorities that I'd misunderstood the concept of a particular theme party. In answer to the original question, as far as I know there is not a glow party on RCI - but this seems like a neat (and low cost) idea which might reasonate well with some of their biggest customer profiles.

We rather enjoyed Empress. What was it you didn't like? You have the option. You could apply for the visa on your own (seems there are better ways to save $25) or sign that you're not getting one as you intend to stay onboard. You make this declaration at the port on embarkation day. They'll charge what the market will bear. Some of the sailings have been quite reasonable. On our May sailing we paid a bit more than some other RCI sailings, but it came in at about $115/night (including taxes and such) for an inside. Again, more than some other sailings, but not outrageous. Demand will inflate price every time. That in mind, as more ships go and those who have been wanting to go get to there, the supply will increase and the deman slow down - at some point we can expect to see lower prices, though not sure how much lower.

Probably right, though I'd also bet that the segment of the population which cruises is not divided up the same in terms of smokers/non-smokers compared to the general population. About 16% of the US smokes (per CDC) and non-smokers are disproporitonately college-educated and earn higher wages, so we can speculate that fewer than 16% of cruisers smoke. There is no real point to the above - I just started checking some stats on this b/c I'm a dork.

Didn't mean to start a survey :-) It does point out though, you'll find people on both sides of the issue, so like any other decision any business makes, it's about how many they win vs how many they lose - no decision is universally popular (not even price drops). I suspect a business like a cruise line would want to test more granualarly first (non-smoking casinos, smaller smoking areas, etc) *or* do significant customer surveying (and maybe they have) on the issue before trying this on an entire ship. Either way it's a gamble.

Seems speculative for sure. That in mind none of us have the market research or data to know how it would affect business. How many wouldn't book if an entire ship went no-smoking vs how many would book specifically because of it? Remember, if any line were to do this they could restrict it to a specific ship positioned where it would be seen favorably by the masses. Carnival unsucessfully did this with the Paradise, but that was a long time ago. See the non-smoking sign on the prow in the pic? Also, bonus awesomeness to anyone (except @Matt) who can tell me where this pic can be found. The location has been discussed.

Yup. I only recently became Platinum (haven't checked in as anything but new or gold) and aside from my Emp sailing I don't think it ever took more than 30 mins curb to ship, and half of that was waiting for check in to begin as I arrive early

Checking in sooner than later will allow you first crack at arrival times - but to be honest it really doesn't matter with the way RCI does things. Perhaps there is a benefit I'm not thinking of.

As others have mentioned you don't have to - the process is just meant to speed up check-in, not a big deal. If you have a phone with a camera just take a quick pic against a white (or light) wall. Either way it shouldn't be an issue. This is only done for check-in on Quantum Class ships as well as Harmony of the Seas.

With any offering I always consider "is this detracting from the experiences of others". While I admit I've not researched this (I didn't even know it was an option), short of occupying pool time (frankly a non-issue on Oasis class at least), I don't see any downside. If there is demand and it makes people happy, they'll keep it - if not, they'll drop it. Don't get me wrong, to me, swimming lessons should start early (I'm probably bias, as while not a parent, I had an Olympian as a swimming instructor and then coach from less than a year old until I was around 12), but again, if something doesn't unecessarily detract from the enjoyment of others, then I'm all for it. I have little interest in the rock walls on RCI ships (I love rock climbing, which is part of why I actually find them a poor replacement for what I enjoy) but they don't in any isgnificant way hurt my experience. Sure, without them there might be other stuff I would use more - and if frogs had wings... I know I do have a simple option, sail a line without rock walls (and I do, I've got 3 other lines booked right now). As a side thought, while I agree that swimming as a skill doesn't happen in just a lesson or two, proving someone the ability to safely and comfrotably wade, get to the edge if they fall in, etc - that can often be taught very quickly. [End of poorly organized thoughts and back to work]

It depnds if you've passed final payment date yet (and what country you're in). If you're in the US or Canada and you've not passed final payment date, then this shouldn't be a problem. If you're in the US or Canada and you're past final payment date then you aren't likely to get the difference, but if a higher category stateroom is now available for what you paid you may be able to upgrade without cost. Whether we like it or not, prices go up and down with different promotions. This isn't unique to RCI - it's pretty standard across the cruise industry. Much like airline tickets your recourse varies, but it's important you're happy with the price you paid when you booked.

The administration hasn't actually changed any policy. The admin made some recommendations which will guide the Treasury Dpt in coming up with additional restrictions, but they haven't put anything forth yet, and it's unknown how long it will take to enact once they do. Either way however, the recommendations made will not preclude cruise ships, though they *may* affect what type of touring you do when you arrive. For most cruisers, I would suspect you'll see very little in the way of changes. I've got a series of articles which have tips and info around the restrictions, documentation requirements, ways to save money changing currency when you visit Cuba, and more. In this series there is also a link to a live blog over on this site which I kept on our Empress sailing to Cuba this past May. That live blog will show you a bit of Empress, what we did in Cuba, and on the rest of our great trip with some friends from these very message boards. Reach out if you have any questions at all! www.CruiseHabit.com/Cruising-Cuba

Glad you enjoyed. We were on Indy last Thanksgiving and really enjoyed, even planned to go again a few months later but ended up changing it. Google Photos is fantastic, free, and very simple to use. Install it on your device and you can have it backup all your photos as well so you never lose a thing. From there you can easily share, create albums, and even search for people/objects/etc which it recognizes automatically.