DunkelBierJay

Update...we are to check-in 8 hours after the original time with sailing at 11 pm. We made the best of the day.

Looks like Serenade is making a run at coming in.  
Bridge cams look reasonable.
https://skywaybridge.com/video/cams.htm

American Social is a great option for football!   But sometimes can be slightly loud on weekends..  I miss Tampa so much.  

Thanks for these great comments! If anything, it's helping pass the the time. The Royal Comms team sent an update that they will post more info at 3 pm. I've been tweeting a bit with Jim Van Fleet, and reading between the lines on one if his comments is that there is a risk this could extend overnight. So, will leave luggage with the bellman at the current hotel with a thought to moving to the Westin...and @mpoole3, I walked by your old apt building (at least I think so) about an hour ago. Now, I need food and a sports bar to watch football.

Thanks for these great comments! If anything, it's helping pass the the time. The Royal Comms team sent an update that they will post more info at 3 pm. I've been tweeting a bit with Jim Van Fleet, and reading between the lines on one if his comments is that there is a risk this could extend overnight. So, will leave luggage with the bellman at the current hotel with a thought to moving to the Westin...and @mpoole3, I walked by your old apt building (at least I think so) about an hour ago. Now, I need food and a sports bar to watch football.

In-port time at 2:40PM? I know that late is rare, but Ouch! And they say, don't book a flight out after your cruise till after 12:00PM. You would be lucky if you made a 4:30PM flight out today from TPA.

Agree...I think the terminal will be chaos with people scrambling to get out of there. I am following #serenadeoftheseas on Instagram, and someone posted a pic where it is totally socked in...they updated their comments a few minutes ago, and nothing has changed. If we embark today, it will be late this evening. Right now, I don't see it happening because the forecast has fog all day off the coast...if we embark tomorrow, I am checking insurance to see if it will cover an extra room night and am hoping for some OBC as the itinerary changes.

I've been on a fog delayed cruise arriving back into Tampa.
On board they asked us to vacate our cabins so they could be cleaned and readied for the next guests.
Departing the ship there was some chaos as people get antsy and want off the ship so they stop listening to crew and become a mob.
The problem with Tampa is that's a small cruise terminal.  They really need people to stay on board until luggage numbers are called because there isn't room in the terminal to stand around if your bags aren't offloaded yet.  Mob mentality and get-me-off-the-ship kicks in and people debark before their luggage numbers are called.  They have to leave the terminal and come back later for luggage which becomes a cluster since CBP requires you to have all your luggage when going through the customs process.  
Expect groups of people standing around outside the terminal having not listened and now having to wait until they can go back to get their luggage.

A travel agent is always recommended. This site has a great one as a sponsor. MEI Travel has a link on the main page. You can pay how you like. Most people put down the deposit and have their travel agent make regular payments until the final payment date 90 days before sailing.
A lot of people recommend Quantum or Oasis Class as a first cruise...the variables are itinerary, port of departure, class of ship, cost, type of stateroom....etc.
My first cruise was on a Vision Class ship, so it is different strokes for different folks.
 
 

A travel agent is always recommended. This site has a great one as a sponsor. MEI Travel has a link on the main page. You can pay how you like. Most people put down the deposit and have their travel agent make regular payments until the final payment date 90 days before sailing.
A lot of people recommend Quantum or Oasis Class as a first cruise...the variables are itinerary, port of departure, class of ship, cost, type of stateroom....etc.
My first cruise was on a Vision Class ship, so it is different strokes for different folks.
 
 

Heidi's Bier Haus would be nice.

I have a major complaint!  I have recently learned that I have absolutely nothing to complain about so that is a legit complaint right?

About 45 days prior to sailing I'll be able to check in and I should do that attempting to get the earliest slot possible. -- Yes, obsessive people like me open the app at 12:00:01 in the timezone of the embarkation port and check in. Pretty much guarantees an early slot. On Embarkation day we're going to be driving into Port of Miami.  I expect that I can park there and the walk from car to terminal is not far.  Is that right?  Are we talking 100 yards, half mile?  The garage is right next to the terminal and parking and walking is short and easy. Then going to the terminal will I see porters outside?  When I do, I give them my luggage (and tips of course) and they send it on toward the cruise. Is there generally a line for porters? If there is any kind of a wait, it will be short...no problem here. In videos I've seen some really long lines outside the terminal.  Any idea what I'm seeing there? Not sure about the context...this has not been my experience. Then, after porter, I enter the terminal and get in line for security.  There my carry on's will be x-rayed and someone will review our paperwork. Most likely, someone will screen you for vax documentation, test, set sail pass and maybe passport before entering the building. Have hard copies at the ready...this will make it go quickly. After that, we go to a holding area until we are called to board the ship. After entering the building, you go up the escalator and then to security...it goes smoothly and quickly. Then we board and I should connect to wifi and book shows right away. Most likely, with the new check in procedure, etc, you wont wait in the terminal long, if at all. You should be able to connect to the ship's wifi right upon boarding. Complete the muster drill in the app and then go to the muster station. Some ships have crew at muster stations at noon. If you boarded before then, go to a bar and try a drink as you watch the video on your phone. Expect my room to be available in the 1:30 range -- Yep Expect to see my luggage late afternoon. -- Yep Boarding a ship for a cruise is nothing like the nightmare of dealing with the airport...it is a well organized, almost fun process now that is full of anticipation as the lump in your throat grows while walking on the boarding bridge staring at the monstrous ship you are about to call home for a few days.

after hemming and hawing, I booked GoPort shuttle and it worked out well getting back to the airport on debarkation day. It may be slightly more difficult if you fly in the day before, but their website is easy to use.

Ar Labadee and CocoCay you can order certain drinks in a Souvenir Cup for an additional fee.  The Coco Loco for example.  The cup for this purpose is like the temporary cups with bendy straw being used on some ship as the drink package cup while supply chain issues are causing the regular drink package cup to be unavailable.   In the past there were other souvenir cups versions on CocoCay that were different than the temporary drink package cups with the bendy straw. 

I think you're missing my point. I'm not talking purely people that come and only make one post.
I'm talking people that make their first post, and people jump down their throat with snark because it's their first post assuming that they are a complainer.
There is no excuse for being a jerk to someone else on this site. 
If someone comes here and their first post is "the cruise sucked", it sounds to me like they need advice on how they could have easily avoided most of the problems they ran into with info. 
So what I'm saying is there is not ever a free pass for treating someone new to the site badly. If they swear off cruising, hate Royal Caribbean, and think they should get a million dollars in restitution, then that's their misinformed opinion. Obviously none of us agree. But we can respond with a "Sorry you didn't like your cruise, but next time you should try read about a drink package so you aren't hit with a giant bill later for all those drinks".
Hope that makes sense.

That's not a thing. Meaning, that's something some folks may perceive because they are on here a lot. But if someone is new, give them the benefit of the doubt and welcome them in and offer advice, not snark.

Whoa people.  There are a number of reasons why a D+ member wouldn't know the current policy.  
Stop attacking people who ask simple questions.  If you feel a question is below your ability to remain civil it's time to move on.  
 

We had envelopes waiting on our bed last night on Mariner.
They're just an option for people that prefer to give out cash tips.
You shouldn't read anything into it as an impetus to tip beyond the automatic gratuities. It's just a vestige of the old days of cruising.

I detect no difference in the time to be served with or without the drink package. You still get the CVS sized thermal printed receipt process either way. I can't wait till these go away.

I've never heard of anyone grieving the missing of Nassau as a port stop....it might be worth seeing again when they finish the construction...otherwise...a big meh to that place.

I like just about any sliced beef sandwich with horseradish, the hotter the better.  Don't like that Mayo type crap like you get at Arby's. et al.

I like it loaded with horseradish

I like it loaded with horseradish

I thought that the pre-paid gratuities not only includes those crew that you see and interact with but it also includes those back-of-house people you don't see every day. 
I will always prepay and then add extra to those who went above and beyond in cash. 
I also thought that the gratuities cost is the same price regardless of if you pay before or after. 
🤷‍♀️ Either way I would never not tip. RC crew is the best.