DunkelBierJay

FYI...I called the C&A number (866-562-7625) to check on the Vision Panama Canal sailings next year. The rep could see it but could not book it for me yet, so she recommended calling first thing in the morning. I will be at it starting at 6 am eastern... The first sailing is on November 13, 2018 from Miami to LA. The second sailing is on November 29, 2018 from LA to New Orleans. This may interfere with the Symphony GC, so I have some thinking to do.

I booked it separately. I don't think RC offered the combo at the time. I may be wrong.

After being on Navigator and Enchantment, I know you'll love Mariner! Enchantment has a special place in my heart, but that itinerary on a Voyager class is fantastic. Best of both worlds!

Yes! Last June, we did an Eastern itinerary on Freedom from Port Canaveral and did Universal afterward. We disembarked, rented a car from the nearby Hertz and drove directly to Cabana Bay Beach Resort at Universal because a Hertz desk is in the lobby there. We were in one of the parks by 11 am that day. It worked out extremely well. It also helped tremendously with my post cruise depression. We stayed at Universal four nights and bought 3-day park-to-park passes. I recommend the park-to-park so you can ride Hogwart's Express. There was a decent discount bundling it that way when I bought the tix in advance.

Do you know the consequence if the final payment date is missed, even by a few hours when 95% of the cruise is paid for?

I can relate. Once all of my planning is done, I keep wanting to do it, so I go to the cruise planner 20 times a week when I should only check it once or twice for sales.

I find the research to be cathartic...it also helps with imagining being there, and then seeing if the reality matches.

The Abba tribute at the end of the headliner's show on Navigator was awesome...I would kinda want to see Mama Mia after that...but sit toward the back, with sunglasses, a hat and something that I wouldn't wear on any other day...maybe a fake beard or something.

Do non-US sites always quote in US dollars? Could it be in AU $s? Sorry if this is a stupid question...

Firefox works well for me. Chrome is hopeless. I don't bother with IE.

I'm glad someone asked about this...mine was a tracking tool...

Since fmanke found the new drink package/MDR attire/gratutity topic in terms of popularity, I must add to the equation with the lanyard from the recent group cruise onto which I pinned a flag of every port I visited since I began sailing RC...I'm debating adding pins from some short European sailings years ago...but my wife insists that I don't because she doesn't want full certification of my geekdom. Mexico will be added in 49 days...

I like 'em if for any other reason than it is easier to find my SeaPass card if I let the cabin get cluttered.

MEI Travel does a great job! I have used them twice based on recommendation and the fact they support the blog...they really are good! Use the form entitled 'Get a Free quote" to the right on the main page. http://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/ I work with Brock, but I have heard good things about everyone there.

I saw Chops on the Cruise Planner for lunch on Empress today and am definitely booking it. I will report on it in addition to others in this thread. I think that $19 pp price is fantastic, especially since the filet shows up on the menu.

just this one?

I will never forget the St. Tropez area because one morning I grabbed a coffee at Cafe Promenade and went to deck 12. I saw the stairs and climbed them. I caught my flip flop on the top step, and I did an endo, but I didn't spill any coffee! There's a security camera on a pole there, and I wondered if anyone saw it. It was embarrassing nonetheless. Its easy to miss, but it is above the Panoramic OV rooms, and I haven't seen it on any deck plans including RC's site...it's Deck 13 forward, so the deck number may be the reason why I tripped...

Enchantment of the Seas -- this is a small ship that feels like a big ship in many respects. The pool deck is HUGE for a ship that size, and the Oasis bar is my favorite among all bars I have tried on a cruise ship because who can beat looking out to sea when ordering your lava flow? I enjoy the center of it all aspect of the Centrum on that class ship. Just thoughts.... First Choice: Liberty of the Seas -- who doesn't love a waterslide? The cost is low Second Choice: Harmony of the Seas -- who doesn't love a waterslide? And, everything else... Radiance Class in January or September is my best guess Majesty of the Seas during Spring Break I was dying to get on a ship again, and I saw Freedom of the Seas docked at Port Canaveral as we disembarked from our first cruise. That sold me on the next ship I wanted to sail. The next was the Navigator Group Cruise when my geekdom metastasized. I will now get on a ship any time, any place...as long as it is RC until I hit Diamond, then I will try Celebrity and maybe Princess one day. NCL would be a distant third...but I want the free drinks in the diamond lounge. Yes... Family: Freedom fit all the criteria I was looking for because it is a huge ship, and my oldest daughter was paralyzed by fear of sea sickness. The larger the ship, the easier it was to quell her nerves. It didn't work, because she psyched herself (she used bonine and a wrist band) out and now doesn't want to cruise, but her brother and sister are converts. I think it was because she was in an upper berth...I will continue to work on our oldest. She will come around eventually. Couples: There isn't a ship in the RC fleet I will not try

Personally, I am very new to cruising, and am extremely happy with our selection of Enchantment of the Seas on a 4 night Bahamas itinerary a few years ago. The overall cost was low, the ship is wonderful, and I went in knowing that I was on a steep learning curve as to how to approach it. Many will say longer itineraries on much larger ships are better. For us, this did not apply. Approaching it the way we did gave us a thirst for more, and our focus now is not to break the bank booking as much as we can. I guess, if you are asking on behalf of a first timer, find out what the expectation is... Ours was sitting by the pool and enjoying a couple ports...but I knew I would enjoy cruising, so I positioned it so my wife would get hooked too...and, she did...even though she still wants to book a land vacation every now and then.

I think it sounds delicious...but I would want to add a couple poached eggs....or just top it with eggs benedict....

1. Absolutely...if your reservation ID isn't showing up, click on the link on the lower left of My Cruises on the RC site entitled "Don't see your reservation." From there, you can enter your information to get to your cruise planner for that sailing. Click on the reservation ID, and it will take you to the Countdown to Cruise. There is a link in one of the tabs entitled "Cruise Planner." from there, you can get to shore excursions, dining packages, Internet, beverage packages, etc. 2. There's a section called "Cruise documentation" on the Countdown to Cruise page. If your documents are available, you should be able to see if they are issued. I can't remember if it is after online check-in or not, but I think it is. You should be able to check-in 90 days before your cruise I think.

I recommend asking for a supervisor right off the bat so you don't have to explain it more than once.

I have a selfie stick. I have used a selfie stick. I have used a selfie stick on RC ships. *only when no one is there to see me using a selfie stick* Selfie sticks are annoying. I can be annoying too.

Yes

My advice is to have patience. One thing I constantly observe is the number of people who don't observe elevator etiquette. I attribute this to people who don't live or work in buildings with elevators -- it can really get to you if you let it -- I work on the 11th floor of a building, and the differences in behavior are amazing. I usually check to see if elevators are below me when I want to go up or above me when I want to go down. If that isn't the case, I check the other side, use the stairs or go forward if I am aft. This works well on Freedom and Voyager class ships, because the Promenade or pool deck is usually the destination. I can't speak to Oasis or Quantum class ships.