tonyfsu21

Local here. Ask away. Are you looking for a full service resort Marriott? If so, I suggest Harbor Beach Marriot especially if your expending points.

Southern Caribbean is always a winner! Aruba & Eagle Beach is perfection. We try to make it to the ABC islands twice a year.

Sailing Freedom end of July with a similar situation and will let you know. For now, check out @Matt live blog recently posted while onboard Freedom as he gets into some details that might interest you.

Anyone know where Sugar Beach is on FOTS? My kids will be on the hunt for it and I can’t locate this venue on the deck plans. The RC site says it was part of the amplification but I question that. T.I.A

I am fairly certain I was shorted at least $500 but it’s been so long I can’t find the emails to prove it.

Never bet the ranch on ANYTHING involving driving in Miami. It’s only 25 miles but it can be a very very long 25 miles. IMHO with the uncertainty of COVID-19 travel related to debarkation of the ship I would think a noon or later departure out of FLL is a safe bet. I was stuck in Miami for 2 hours this am waiting on Biden’s motorcade to pass by so you just never know!

I think this has to factor in for sure. IMHO, I would have to imagine most people bidding to go from something less desirable like an interior stateroom to a balcony would take up the majority of Royal Up bids. On the higher end where you already have a desirable room like a JS I can’t imagine it being as competitive to upgrade. In my experience this has been the case. I can’t however comment on the amount and whether I would have won bidding low because I normally bid on the higher end since it makes sense financially for the upgrade.

Also- important to note, it’s much easier (and fun) to get the best suites at the lowest prices by spending ALOT of money in the casino.

I really don’t think it’s that competitive. First off, RC is technically a family friendly budget cruise line in the same category as NCL, CCL and a few others. Most people are not looking to spend more then they have to on an already expensive vacation. I can see the lower tier staterooms from inside to balcony being highly competitive but once your at GS level and higher I just don’t see percentage wise being too competitive. I personally bid maximum on the highest level suite upgrade I’m offered and I win most times (so far). There clearly are not that many people who would part with $5-6k extra to upgrade suites. That’s been my experience.

And how desirable the cruise is (ship, holiday, level you are bidding on). I would assume it’s easier to win the higher levels like loft suites exc since presumably less people want to spend that money (also the reason I’m only saving hundreds not thousands). It’s most likely more competitive on the inside room to balcony upgrades.

I bid more like 70-80%. In the end I didn’t save a ton (hundreds not thousands).

I think it’s totally dependent on so many variables. Majority of the time my card Is charged about 1 week before the sail date but I’ve had one occasion where the upgrade was finalized at the port counter.

Correct. And they resend your cruise docs with the updated stateroom number.

Just curious, how much luck does this group have with Royal up? Personally since the program started I have managed to be the winning bidder for upgrades (mostly from within Royal Suite Class) about 90% of the time. Let’s see how our cruise at the end of July pans out but if I win an upgrade then I’m either lucky or I bid too high! Either way, I really enjoy having the option to upgrade.

Fort Lauderdale + Caribbean = Endless Summer. Bring warm weather clothing in December.

Guys Burger Joint on CCL is an absolute winner! The 8 day Southern Caribbean sailings on the newer ships to Aruba are perfection.

Carnival has better food. The newer ships with 7+ day sailing durations attract the same crowd as RC. The Carnival casino program is more organized then RCs players club. RC has a far superior suite program and the loft suite option just puts them in a separate league. Personally I wouldn’t hesitate to sail on a newer carnival ship and the experience is as good or in some cases better then any RC option. As others have said, the older ships on shorter sailings are filled with the drunk/party crowd and you cannot use this as a basis for comparison.

I would personally take Jamie’s over the MDR or Windjammer any day of the week. At least it’s a civilized dining experience where you can enjoy a meal w/o the chaos of the MDR or the buffet. The price is reasonable compared to dining on land so even 1/2 rate Italian food from Jamie’s is worth the extra cost IMHO.

Nope. It’s still a gang.

This morning off Fort Lauderdale beach:

I would think regardless that a hotel operates fully functional 365 days per year (exception being COVID restrictions).

In season down here it doesn’t matter how far you go from FFL or the port, it’s going to be pricy. With that being said, Dania Pointe offers pretty much everything needed for pre-cruise (dining exc) and is slightly cheaper then 17th street options.

I am local to downtown Fort Lauderdale and your requests are going to be met most any place on 17th street. The only issue you certainly will have is price because you will have a difficult time finding anything at all at that price point in Fort Lauderdale.

This sounds like a logistical nightmare. Hopefully they figure out how to expedite it.

We are sailing Freedom out of Miami in early July and had a couple question for anyone who can help: 1. I have 2 young children that are obviously not vaccinated. How will RC deal with kids regarding boarding? Wife & I are vaccinated and I’m guessing now w/ proof there’s no testing required? But will the kids have to be tested? 2. Our passports expired before COVID. Please refresh my memory, for US citizens on closed loop sailing only a current drivers license and/or birth certificate is required, correct? Thanks in advance.