DoomSlayer

I had my credit card skimmed at a restaurant in the port of Costa Maya. I don't like carrying large amounts of cash while traveling, so I am always afraid of my credit card getting compromised again. I have several credit cards I take now as backups in case it happens again.

I was wondering that too. Let us know if you learn anything. I guess I'll find out after our cruise later this month myself.

Gotcha, I can vouge for that too. For the water show for example, we just walk up to the front of the line and show our sea pass to get into the seating area and show it once again to get into the suite seating area. You still have to have a reservation for that time or else they will make you go to the standby line, but if you have a reservation and tell them you have the Key, they will scan your card and let you right in. I've done that whenever I have stayed in suites too.

I always skip the line to disembark when we get the key. On larger class ships, there is usually a sign right by the gangway and you just walk up, show them your sea pass card, and they put you at the front of the line to go through the gangway. On smaller ships, the staff just puts you in line close to the gangway exit. The only time the Key really did not work well for disembarkation was when we did an excursion before going to the airport. We had to wait in Studio B with the rest of the excursion gets.

So glad you were able to have a good friend to break into your house and grab your passport. Most of all, glad it all worked out and hopefully you buy your friend a good souvenir from the trip! Rum cake is always something I like to bring back for friends. I have always been paranoid of this happening to me, or even worse, losing my passport while heading to the ship. I always carry my birth certificate (as well as my passport) on international trips for reasons like this. I have never had to use it, but your story makes me feel better about taking it and that I am not over-paranoid. Thanks for sharing!

It is allowed as long as you use a little AI magic

Isn't the Stanley Cup a little big to be dragging around the ship to drink from?

Hideaway is a long sandy walk from the main pier area. There would be a mutiny on the island if they did not provide a tram there.

My wife went nuts with the Christmas themed ducks on Amazon. I have 3 of my kids and a family friend going on the trip, so there will be 6 of us total hiding ducks. I am a nerd, so I calculated that each person needs to hide 5 ducks per day on our trip, which I think will be doable.

Sounds like a similar policy for Jr. Suites. Thanks for asking the casino host and sharing!

22 - DoomSlayer (Harmony)

My cruise Advent Calendar has been started. 21 days to go!

Not sure where masters fits in the pecking order, but if there are too many high ranking Pinnacle and suite guests that exceed expected capacity, they will turn away lower ranking Pinnacle and other benefit members. How many Pinnacles were on your trip?

We are going on Harmony over Christmas and are bringing just under 200 ducks to hide for the kiddos.

That is what it looks like on the German site. But the American site is different. It shows the asterisk as "Stateroom with occupancy up to 4" and does not specify it as a pullman. I am guessing there is a probably a website translation issue causing the confusion. I am assuming it is a sofa bed with a trundle for guests 3 and 4, but I am not 100% sure myself.

Landgrab for their cut in the revenue of the growing cruise industry. If cruise lines can continue to raise prices and still achieve high-capacity numbers, then there is obviously headroom for more expenses. This time, it is a sovereign government raising the fees as opposed to the cruise line. It is their right to do so, and if becomes too much, it is our right to not visit their ports. Europe has ETA fees now, why would Mexico not want a piece of the action too?

My only problem with using gift cards is that I use my travel credit card as travel insurance, and they will not reimburse me for anything not paid for using the card. But this is ok as I usually get at least $100 in cash back for using the card to book the trip and don't have the added cost of travel insurance.

The cruise terminal in port Canaveral is not too chaotic. If I were in your shoes, I would definitely look into dropping off your dad (and perhaps a companion) and luggage by the main entrance and then go to park the cars. If it makes you feel better, there is not a generic discount for even local handicapped people (even with in-State permits or plates). The only exemption I know of for parking fees at Port Canaveral is for a car with disabled veteran plates or for cars specially equipped with ramps or other handicapped aides regardless of the State issuing their tags (which are the same requirements for the Florida toll exemption permit). Other than that, cars with simple handicapped permits or plates pay the same price as non-handicapped cars. At the end of the day, you are paying for extended storage privileges of your vehicle, and that price is consistent for all vehicles. I would imagine driving your 2 cars and paying for parking would still be cheaper than a rental that will fit your family and luggage in. Just think of all the money you are saving by not flying and having to deal with the headache of having to arrange transportation to and from Orlando. Have a wonderful trip with your family!

Avoid the Quest (but let her go if she wants to), but everything else should be fair game as you can hide in the crowd. Ask for a table for two in the dining area so you don't have to sit with strangers. Oh, and don't sit in the front row of the comedy club as that is often who the comedian interacts with (the back rows should be safe though).

Agree. I would push back on 39.99 too as not being a good value. But when I can get it for under $25 per day it becomes a better value. I got it for $22.99 per day for a 9 night cruise I have in March. Good value to me since it has tender ports, and we can use the privileges there. However, the current rate on our upcoming Christmas Cruise is $49.99 per person per day, which is pretty high compared to the value it brings. Luckily, I had been planning this trip for well over a year and was able to pick it up in the 2023 Black Friday sale for about $25. Part of the problem in these discussions is there is really no set price for the Key since it uses dynamic pricing. Some people may find a good deal on the Key and think it's a great value, other people may buy it when it is at its highest price and be upset because they don't see any value in it. You are right that this is a polarizing topic because everyone's experience is different with it, which will mean you will have lovers, and you will have haters.

It is less about early disembarkation, and more about a relaxed disembarkation. With the Key, we don't worry about the cattle calls on disembarkation day, we sleep in, and then we grab breakfast in the MDR at our leisure. When we are ready to get off the ship, we just skip the lines and head towards the main gangway. Luggage is always closest to the main exit and is usually easy to find. Having internet daily is a must have for me because of my businesses. Free Diamond + days would not cut it for me. I would not be able to cruise so often without it. Longer cruises would simply be out of the picture for me without it. Yes, I am able to disconnect from the day-to-day of my work, but I am still needed to review and sign approvals, contracts, and perform other tasks to keep the business moving. My employees don't like it when I don't approve their timecards before payday In March, we have a 9-day cruise with 2 ports that are tender ports. Having priority there will be nice since we are not planning on Royal excursions in these ports. But at the end of the day, the Key is very subjective and often a personal choice. My wife loves it and often is the reason I get it. Personally, I would just buy the internet package and call it a day. But I let my wife win as it is a debate and a battle not worth fighting with her on. Your feelings about it are 100% valid and if I was retired and not tied to business, I probably would be more in line with your thinking.

Times like that, I would hit the "up" button and ride it up and then back down.

Have a wonderful trip! Hideaway beach will be fun, and their heated pool will mean you have options regardless.

I was there just after new years this year and both the ocean and the main pool were cold. Weather was windy the day we were there, but the air temperature was nice. Hideaway beach has a nice heated pool though and is where I would spend my time there assuming everyone you are with is over 18.

It used to be the same as the chops lunch menu. But not anymore. Last time I had the chops lunch menu as part of the Key was just before they changed the dining menu in the MDR. Since then, they moved to a "Key" lunch menu.