BennyandBo

13 minutes ago, Bowen said:

What are you talking about? Are you implying I’m saying they acted differently because of their sexual preference? That’s a you thing, not a me thing.

No. I'm implying they did act differently because of sexual preference. But you clearly had issue and couldn't handle it.

5 hours ago, Matt said:

The only size restriction for carry-on luggage is it must be able to go through the security scanner machine in the terminal.

That's basically what I'm asking. What's max size that fits?

And on that note. There is no need to say more. Please shut this thread. 

2 hours ago, Bowen said:

One of our first cruises had a similar group booked, but we didn't know it at the time. It was not family friendly at all. I've never seen adults act in the same way in twenty years of cruising. I'm not a prude by any means and I was way past uncomfortable.

And your reply to this question has now made me feel uncomfortable. 

You never saw adults act that way on any other cruise because none of those were gay cruises. 

No good will come from giving this question answers with personal views.

I will not stand for any group being talked about here in negative terms. 

I could have sworn I read here they chartered the entire ship. 

This question (by a first time poster) is impossible to answer. Also, it screams let's cause trouble and divisiveness.

I believe you alone can and should make this decision. No good will come from the rest of us chiming in with personal opinions.

I beg everyone to please don't take the candy.

Sorry, I know been discussed before. 

Will a 24inch roller fit through xray as carry on luggage? What's the max size?

48 minutes ago, KellsBells71 said:

I think Crown Bay. 

What ship? (Oasis class?). OK, so that would be $15 per person each way to Megan's Bay. So $30 round trip per person. The rates are fixed by the local taxi commission. The charts on website will help with cost to skyride. Which would basically be a ride to the other port.

Royals Megan's Bay excursion use to include transportation, admission, and beach chairs w/umbrella. Possibly a good value with taxi rates having just increased in Oct/Nov. Now the description no longer says chairs and umbrella included. So I myself am unsure whether to do excursion or go it alone. St Thomas taxi website seems easy enough to understand. Again, just remember per person, each way. 

11 hours ago, KellsBells71 said:

Does anyone know the current price of a taxi from the pier or from Skyride to Megan’s Bay?  Trying to figure out what’s more cost effective; doing our own things or taking the RC excursion?  Being Canadian our prices are a lot more. 

St Thomas taxi service website is up and clear about rates etc. A taxi from port (depending on which port/ship) will run $15 to $18 per person each way from port to Megan's Bay. Rates recently went up. That's each way in $USD. What ship and port were you looking at? 

With kids I would just take the 545 time. No waiting in lines. MTD has been called basically a **** show lately. After a long full day kids don't want to wait too long. And really the difference between 545 guarantee seating and the 630 you are hoping for is not worth the hassle.

5 hours ago, mk-ultra said:

 

I keep reading about record number bookings, so I'm guessing "backlash" and "complaints" will mean squat. It costs what costs folks. Deal with it. LOL.

28 minutes ago, gi333 said:

So to my understanding I am allowed to bring 2 bottles of wine onboard. I can consume it at dinner but may be charged a corkage fee of 15$ but I heard that it's rarely charged. They will keep the bottle for you if you didn't finish it for next time. 

I can also purchase wine bottle on board and I believe that is cheaper than by the glass. Like around 30$ possible?  My wife and I don't finish a bottle. 

So now that the wine is taking care of. Is the refreshments package still worth it? I'm counting 2 days that we are going to be on port call so cannot use the package.

 

With All of this I'm thinking that maybe it's more of a debate between refreshments package and nothing. I think that deluxe is really not worth it. 

 

And also i believe that I can sometimes give my kids a soda also right?

You can give your kids a soda from their package, not yours.

7 hours ago, teddy said:

We spent last week on Anthem. 
 

The specialty burgers were in the regular burgers/hot dogs/fries section.  
 

They were individually packaged and on a separate pan. 

So they had plain one's as well?

Everything and I mean everything has gone up in price. It's not realistic to expect cruises wouldn't or shouldn't. I would however happily pay more then except cuts to quality. What being Diamond has to do with the price of tea in China is lost on me. Inflation and price hikes can and should effect all. And as for feeling "priced out", well how do you think people who have had 30% and 40% rent increases feel? It's tough all over my Diamond friend. LOL.

7 hours ago, Dislike RC said:

I had the same understanding of the process and now have the same issue. Not a single show for WOS in late Feb.  I just spent an hour on the phone with RC customer service and they basically said too bad so sad.  So, I spent $5,000 for a cruise that no longer has downgraded food quality and options in every venue except the ones I pay extra for, no more twice a day cabin service and now not a single bit of entertainment. None of these changes was in place when we booked the cruise and basically RC is saying just suck it up. So, I only need to adhere to my end of the contract as a consumer, but not RC. We will be going back to Disney for the next cruise.

I'm not one of those people who thinks Royal Caribbean can do no wrong, so I totally get where you are coming from.

Last year I booked Wonder for this May and Icon for next. This after 15 years of just Disney. So the idea of feeling like I have downgraded quality and concerns about it are very much there. (Last time I did Royal, Voyager was the star ship)

I totally understand the feeling like what I paid for and signed on for seems to have been cut down since I gave them so much money. 

The complaints about food quality going downhill, menu changes for cost cutting disguised as time saving (Do me a favor), service like twice a day housekeeping going away (YES, I Know...hasn't happened yet, but it's coming. Folks have talked to staff about it), and booking entertainment in advance (You can't, You can, Only on Oasis class, 60 days out, 45 days, 30 days. Make up your mind already) 

There is a feeling that it's becoming "less then" for some who booked a year ago before all the changes started. Like it just doesn't feel like what was sold and or expected. And you know what, those feelings are valid. If that's how you feel, that's how you feel. I do.

However, I'm going into both this year and next with a mission to make it work. I'm going to get everything I can out of both trips. The advice about more entertainment to book once on board seems to hold true. So get right on it when the time comes. I guess I'm saying try to make the most out of things and don't let the feeling of being short changed become a self fulfilling prophecy. 

But don't let anyone make you feel like your opinions, thoughts, concerns, frustrations, etc aren't valid, just because they don't share them. I'm the odd one out here most days. LOL. At the same time don't fall into your own self fulfilling prophecy. Hope that helps.

The later you go the more people have touched the food and has had there breath on it. Earlier is fresher in my mind in multiple ways. LOL.

If there is no regulation on labeling something reef safe, then it really is a try your best situation. I spent an entire day researching this months ago and frankly still haven't settled on a product to buy. I have 18 sites bookmarked. I do feel at this point I have done my due diligence. But none seems 100% perfect. My concern with asking will anyone check is with regard to all this effort and still possibly breaking a law with God knows what penalty in a foreign country. Best intentions, yet maybe some saw the worst. 

Noel Coward: Why do the wrong people travel. From the musical: Sail Away.

I got it last October for lunch this May for $12.99

Goodhousekeeping, Men's Health, New York Times. 

14 minutes ago, jbrinkm said:

Like I said, I don't do it to meet a requirement, I really care about the reef. Just putting the info out there for others who might also want to look into it. You can look at savethereef.org. I don't know what is meant by "various top publications."

Major magazine and newspapers. Do I really need to spell them out?

I just Googled and looked at 3 different articles from various top publications on the subject. Everyone had a top 10 pick and Sunbum came out number 1 in each article. How much more can we be expected to do? LOL.

22 minutes ago, new2cruzing said:

We all understand that tips are the primary part of the crew's salary and unfortunately, the cruise lines are the ones who created this situation. Perhaps they should change the gratuity label to a "resort fee" as ALL land-based hotels charge, that would prevent the removal of the fee. The point being, gratuities should be considered a part of your normal cruise fare, just like port charges and taxes.

Any tipping above and beyond should be within one's own means, no one is able to understand or judge another person's financial situation, but the crew shouldn't be the ones penalized either way. 

No we all don't understand that. Especially first time cruisers. Which apparently make up 50 % of all new bookings. And there are many who don't care. Many who feel paying to make up the difference in crew salary is not there problem.

And your point is "gratuities should be considered a part of your normal cruise fare". It's not. It's listed as gratuity. It's available to be removed as a gratuity. That's not a "point". That's a fact.

Everyone should handle it the way they want. Not the way you think it should be. 

25 minutes ago, DJsMrs said:

Sun Bum tends to meet all the sunscreen requirements of the Hawaii Act 104 (Reef Safe) ...  and it smells amazing.

Here's a link to some of their sunscreens - and I love they're in a bunch of different delivery methods.   Kids love the sprays, I'm all about a face stick/balm...  everyone is happy and hopefully avoiding skin cancer

 

Granted this not the only company that has reef--compliant sunscreens, I just like having all my options organised in one  place.  lol

https://www.sunbum.com/collections/hawaii-act-104-reef-compliant-sun-care

Looks like this covers all the bases. How is it on sensitive faces? 

Has anyone ever had anyone come up to them and check what they are using?

You can go crazy researching the ingredients vs what various beach websites say.

43 minutes ago, ScottD said:

Because a furniture delivery SHOULD be tipped! Anyone doing physical labor should be tipped. If you don't want to tip a mechanic or oil change guy, ok I guess, but someone moves furniture in or out of your office or house should be tipped

Says you. LOL.

That's what kills me. "You should" do this, "You should" tip that one.

I have one. You should ...not tell other people what to do or who to tip. LOL.

Also, I just love how everyone has rules on who gets tips, who doesn't. And who should and shouldn't.

And everyone cares about service workers, but not retail workers. The double standards are endless. I've done it all and one works as hard as the other. But only some get tips. "They work so hard". Many many work so hard. Do and tip who YOU think you should. You do you. I'll do me. Best way to live life.