DunkelBierJay

Please forgive me if I am guessing your citizenship incorrectly, but by your name, I assume you are a citizen of India. I asked ChatGPT if an Indian citizen needs a visa on a cruise, and the response below came up, but I would not accept unless you can check it with the Honduran embassy or consulate and Royal Caribbean.

I completely agree with this... Unrelated but sort of similar -- two cruises ago, a couple had our room on the first of a B2B, and they were three doors down on their second sailing. They lost a piece of luggage, and we gladly looked for them and even invited them to look with us. Initially they refused, which was fine. We didn't find their luggage and told them thinking it would be the last we heard of it. Later they came back and were quite rude and a little accusatory, and I asked if they talked to the stateroom attendant. They weren't able to because the attendant on their previous cruise signed off and a new one was in place. So, my wife and I and the new stateroom attendant were caught in the middle of a tense situation where we were expected to pull a rabbit out of a hat. Eventually, a couple days later, the officer in charge of housekeeping located their luggage wherever they stage it for cabin transfers for B2B guests and got it to them. Saying this, I don't think it's appropriate for guests to negotiate these things on board, and always use a TA and give clear expectations of what you want beforehand. If it's available, great, if not, there isn't anything you can do about it.

I love Roatan and recommend going there if you haven't before, but do it on a Royal or third party excursion that picks you up inside or just outside the port area. There isn't anything to see walking around outside the gate, and is a little sketchy, so you need to be with someone who knows their way around. After being there a couple of times, excursions on my future visits would be limited to scuba diving, which is superior there. Costa Maya is one of my favorites, and I have never hung around the Mexican Disneyland style port area on my visits there. I have either done Maya Chan or gone into Mahahual where there are tons of options for beach time. Jaime's Blue Reef Resort is my favorite place to go. There are beach chairs and a really good restaurant/bar with very friendly staff (ask for Digby) and a rooftop pool. It is also connected to a scuba shop which I have been diving with. Ultimately, Mahahual is fun with lots of options and very easy to get to/from the port with a taxi. Long story short...if it were me? I would skip Roatan over the two. The kicker is figuring out how to get out of the maze-like Mexican Disneyland at Costa Maya if you haven't been there before. One note about Roatan is that the port area is fairly small and there's some nice places to eat/drink, so it's easy to go back and forth.

Brilliance 2X Navigator 2X Serenade 2X Mariner 1X Independence 1X Symphony 1X Allure 1X Freedom 1X Empress 1X Enchantment 1X

I didn't even receive a Royal Up notice email on my last two cruises.

*What's the weather usually like during these months from experienced cruise goers? It will be HOT...I was in Ensenada, Cabo and Mazatlan in September, and it was HOT. I was in Progresso/Merida in the Yucatan a couple weeks ago, and it was hotter there than in the summer in Tennessee where I live. *Advice on difference in "ultra-Roomy w/ bunk beds" versus a suite -- Family of 3 will be comfy in either, but if you can do connecting rooms so you have 2 bathrooms, that's a big bonus *How many families have you seen onboard during this month/cruise? There will be some because of Spring Break. If it's 7 nights you won't have tons of young adults *Are excursions through cruise safe? (do they get you back to ship on time?) Absolutely...if you do a food tour, beware, the operator will take you to places that overcharge...otherwise, it's perfectly safe -- all the stories of danger are overplayed IMO -- one note, if you do a food tour, our experience was really good in Ensenada...there was an included lunch, and I've never had fresher shrimp in my life *In your experience, during these months on this cruise, do they offer a 'formal night' option? There will be two "formal" nights on a 7 night cruise. I just wear a collared shirt and am pretty much over them. *Are the casino games legit or a gimmick? Nope, the casino is legit, like a tiny Vegas

Thank you! Great thoughts here, especially about the porters. I've been to NO about a dozen times (personal trips and conferences I "mostly" remember if you know what I mean -- I've stayed in the Quarter a few times) and am actually looking forward to driving down the Trace and staying in Meridian the night before. We will hit the road early and get to the port around 9:30 to drop off luggage (or use the shuttle), park, hit CdM and walk around a bit before boarding. Thank you...I may take advantage of the shuttle...I imagine those who are disembarking will be going the other direction, so we will judge how its going and decide then.

Did you drop your luggage at the port prior to parking? Did the employees help in any way? I booked that facility several weeks ago for a sailing a week from tomorrow. Also, how are they with check in times? We are driving down the day before on the Natchez Trace Parkway from the Nashville area, and will stay in Meridian, MS the night before. I want to get there pretty early so that we can go to Cafe du Monde, Jackson Square, and walk the French Quarter to smell the smells, IYKYK (my wife hasn't been there) and to say a prayer at the site where the attack happened. Just trying to time it in my mind before we get down there.

You must try Cuban cuisine while in Miami...I recommend South Beach area if you don't go to Versailles (mentioned above). My favorite is Puerto Sagua which is a block off Ocean Drive. It is old school and always really busy, which is a good sign. You won't go wrong with any of the Cuban restaurants in that area...do look for one and jump in. Have a cafecito and some empanadas for me. And if you want a show...just walk down Ocean Drive late at night...be warned. As far as live productions, etc, I would just do some googling near where you're staying.

Re SCUBA I don't care for Cozumel so much because the main places on the west side are drift dives with a strong current...not my cup of tea, although I usually dive there when I go. I haven't been to the north or south side...only the reef areas fairly close to the port. You usually board the dive boat very close to the ship and go south about a mile or so, and then you drift northward in a very strong current...maybe I'm paranoid, but with as crowded as the boats I've been on, I don't know how the divemasters keep track of you to be honest. There is a dive shop about a ten minute walk south from the port area at Marina Cozumel. There are two dive shops...Scuba Life and Scuba Tony. I have been thinking of booking something with them next time...their websites lead you to believe you have to pre-book, so I don't know about showing up in the hope they are going out that day. There are also several dive shops between the port and San Miguel, and you can shore dive from them pretty easily. I have not been diving in Belize, but if I go again (I took my wife on a Mayan ruins excursion that was ok), I may book something with a local dive shop to do the Blue Hole, because there's never a guarantee where you'll go if you book with Royal. If you're experienced, just do a search for a dive shop in Belize City, and they will probably arrange to pick you up at the port near where the taxis line up. I wouldn't walk around outside the port area...it's a sh*t hole town. I did a dive excursion through Royal on Roatan, and the overall experience was ok. The diving was fantastic. It was with Anthony's Key Resort who sent a mini mus to the port. There's a short description of what we did in the last bullet point in the signature section of this reply. The time we were there, we enjoyed some jelly fish stings, but it wasn't too bad. I really liked the divemasters who were with us. They also bring a photographer, so there are options to buy pics after if you don't have an UW camera. The only thing I wasn't wild about was feeling rushed getting there and then leaving afterwards, and the boat was fairly crowded (not as crowded as my experiences on Cozumel). I've found that dive excursions with Royal sell out...that's why I like to book with a local shop on my own. One thing about the drive to the resort is that you get a nice look at the island from the mini bus as you are traveling. One thing about the shops in the ports where I have been is that all the shops have all the equipment you need. I just pack a mask and nothing else.

Roatan is a complete delight, and I haven't been there enough. Try an excursion or just wander around the port. It is very small and very secure. There isn't much outside the port area, so you would need transportation. There are lots of options there. I had some great street food in Coxen Hole...mango strips with sea salt. Yum.

This is a fascinating thread...it leads me to believe Royal should change the terminology from Gratuities to Service Fee to be cleaner in their practices. Make the Service Fee a line item on the contract and be done with the wild swings that people object to. When I read this excerpt from the ChatGPT response, I had a moment of rage. Just like their marketing, I get weary of the games Royal plays to show these huge profits when services are being taken away. One I'd like to see come back is turn down service...in that case, I assume Royal would require more crew and fewer staterooms per attendant.

While disembarking for a port stop in Ensenada last month, we saw them selling bottled water just before the security line. We realized we forgot to bring water. The crew member REALLY wanted to give them to us on our diamond voucher, and we said no thanks....it made me wonder if they have to record diamond vouchers for bottled water...anyway, it didn't make sense to use the voucher for a $2 bottle of water.

Just back from this sailing and it was exceptional. The cruise director, Chris Gruby from Manchester, UK was one of the best...he is cut from the same cloth as Marc Walker...really really engaging and energetic. He joined Royal in 2019 and rapidly moved up. Ensenada was nice, we booked a Royal tequila and food tour and spent too much money Cabo San Lucas -- nice deluxe boat tour booked through Royal followed by a walk to Cabo Wabo for lunch...hawkers are really aggressive here...next time, I may book a sailing boat tour instead...while the excursion we booked was ok, I wouldn't do it again. The food was a bag of chips and the drinks were small cups of beer and weak cocktails Mazatlan -- exited the port and walked along the blue line to the Center of the town and ate breakfast in a dive at the Mercado, went to the Cathedral and took a Pulmonia back to the port. We took a last minute van tour that ended up at Las Flores Beach which is a place we may book a day pass at next time we are there. Navgator -- second time on board, first time since the Royal Amplification...I liked the amped pool deck, but did not like the new placement of the gym...it is laid out awkwardly and I only used it once. I get why they did it because of the new cabin placements, but I hope they don't do it to the other Voyager Class ships. Getting to the sports court area was confusing for many who were on board for the first time. Sea Days were naps and eating as usual The new ice show is really good -- utilitarian compared to what it was before. the drone section in the beginning was as impressive as the one I saw on Symphony. Los Angeles port -- we flew into Long Beach (highly recommend over LAX) and stayed one night at a nearby Holiday Inn. Next time, I would either stay on the Queen Mary or just get a hotel in San Pedro and consider walking to the port. It looked very doable. the terminal is awkward because disembarking and arriving passengers cross paths in the early boarding hours. It is a very tired terminal and desperately needs updating. Despite that, we were on board within 20 minutes of arriving. We ateat El Loco Fresh to avoid the Windjammer crowds that were already there. Disembarking went very well, and we took a cab back to Long Beach airport for a rental car pickup. We chose that because the ride share area by terminal 92 looked really crowded, and we could get right in a cab. The reason is that the San Pedro bridge had a chemical spill when a semi overturned, and the ride shares were messed up. The cab fare didn't look much different than the ride share cost. You can see some pics @highseasnomad and @jay_spiegel_ on Instagram

I've found that the Marriott Waterfront is way overpriced compared to the Embassy Suites which is very close. A note about the Embassy Suites is that the free trolley stops right in front of the lobby, and you can get to the port in minutes with little headache. I personally prefer Marriott properties in most cases, but not this one.

Here's how I think about it... Regular price on board for my upcoming sailing is $25.99 My upcoming sailing has it at $17.99 as of this writing...it's either that or $18.99 depending on the promo they're running. Here's the math as I consider it for my sailing (without any taxes or fees added) 2 diamond members = 2 days of free internet (maybe a sea day each) 5 remaining nights X $25.99 = $129.95 pre-purchase full cruise -- 7 nights X $17.99 = $125.93 (I may be wrong -- I haven't checked it -- but, since it is actually 8 days with debarkation day included, I wonder if they get you for 8 nights -- does anyone know for sure?) If you want internet the entire cruise, it's more expensive than just pre-purchasing the package. If you go 4 nights, it ends up being less than the full package. Breaking it up like that would require hoops, and I don't think it's worth it in my case.

I think app bugginess is directly proportional to how much one hates to use tech. I had to come to a point where I just accepted dealing with usernames and passwords and got another app for tracking them, slowed down a bit and just let things come. I still hate having to use the Forgot Password option, but not like I did. It wasn't worth the headache and anxiety, so I just go with it. It's a lot better now...and all I need is my passport and printed luggage tags...less to carry and keep track of. I used to print paper backups, but now my only backup occurs when I transfer the sea pass to my Apple Wallet. I don't know if there is an equivalent with Android.

You'll be humming Abba songs for a month after sailing on her...that's why I love Allure.

I know this is an old thread, but I would like to contribute to it. I work at a university and oversee the purchases for the second highest volume food service operation in my state with a little over $15 million dollars in food spend a year. I deal with food recalls when they occur. Typically, I receive food recall notices 1-2 times per year due to food contaminated by e coli or salmonella (the two most common causes in my experience). Tainted food is usually fresh produce and sometimes a packaged good. The process of removing such products from the supply chain takes about a week because of what is needed to identify the source, track the product and inform those within the supply chain who may have the product. Frequently, because of the efficiency of the flow of supply, the food has been served and nothing happens or gets reported. Also, one must consider that symptoms can occur a week or more after exposure. This is unfortunate and a little scary, and we all do our best to keep such product from reaching the table. For the most part, practices within the supply and temperature chain are very safe considering the volume of food in the economy. Another possible exposure is cross contamination. It is unlikely that it comes from the crew, but it is possible. I have been on several back of the house tours on cruise ships and the sanitation practices I've seen are better than the industry standard for high volume food service. I can say with confidence that great care is taken and best practices are in play. I think cross contamination is most likely through passenger contact. If it's e coli, salmonella or norovirus, the best hedge against getting sick, by far is hand washing with soap and very warm water. Sanitizer solution is ok, but not ideal. It is the operator's best hedge against poor hygiene by the public. I find that many who have been the victim of sickness on land or on a cruise, the first default is that they had food poisoning. The blame for such outbreaks always seems to go to the operator and rarely to the practice of guests who are sick and want to assign blame. When there are outbreaks of a certain percentage to the total population of the ship, it gets reported and investigated. The real cause is frequently different than the assumption. All this is to encourage people to give grace to the medical and food service staff on board ships and consider that the first assumption of the cause may not be correct. Imagine 40 passengers descending on the medical center on board any ship at one time. I can see how people can be distressed and impatient and be inclined to make judgments on what they see.

There are some airports outside the US that have pre-clearance. It's worth checking to see if it's available from your origin airport. I went through it flying from Ireland to ORD and it was like a domestic flight and there were no connection or bag transfer issues. https://www.cbp.gov/travel/preclearance

You can find me at Cafe du Monde in the morning on embarkation day.

Looking forward to hanging in San Pedro before the cruise. heh heh

Without looking at the cost of goods in the UK vs elsewhere, it's a difficult question to answer. If it is only looked at from an exchange rate perspective, I can see how that thought can come about. If the revenue managers on board are held to a standard other than percentage of cost to revenues, I think maybe is the assumption. I doubt that's the case, though. I think the number "25" has a marketing appeal. I also think there could have been a simple error in the editing of the item on the website.

Your daughter might like the water slides aft as well...one deck up from the pool deck and walk aft through Johnny Rockets. Since the Key lunch is in the MDR, I recommend wearing swimsuits under clothes and not getting in a hurry to do everything.