DunkelBierJay

I'm "more-or-less" in the business, and what you will find is that distributors offer discounts to operators based on the amount of tonnage of a brand and have limited space on their trucks for multiple brands on their deliveries. It's always a balancing act. That's why I think RC might be better served putting micro-breweries on their ships for those hopheads who like that kind of thing. 
 
Me? I like many traditional European beers and almost any Mexican beer, so customers like me add to Royal's dilemma of satisfying the most amount of people possible while they maximize profits.
 
If only people would wise up and quit drinking Bud and Miller Light!

To anyone who has done one or both, which one do you recommend for an excursion on the May 15 Empress sailing to Costa Maya and Cozumel?

Yes, or at least a majority of the day.

I would say 7-8 hours.  While you have a long bus ride in Costa Maya, for Tulum you have a long bus ride and a 45 minute ferry ride over to the peninsula.  I did it once and was glad I did, but it was an all day excursion.

This approach makes tons of sense in our case...I may do something like it!

33 drinks goes quick....at least on my cruises it does...
 
I always get the drink package....and usually break  even for the cruise on the first day.....everything else after that is "free".....haha

My avi is not an indicator of current consumption patterns...

At this point, it seems like just letting RC handle the Visa stuff would make it the least amount of headache / risk. 
 
I did book the 5/20 Empress sailing - sounds like a lot of others had the same idea! 

Not all disabilities or challenges are visible to those of us around those who are affected.  Some service animals can recognize ailments before their onset and help alert others (seizures, for example), some persons with significant PTSD use service animals to help them navigate crowds, etc.  While I'm sure some people in the world abuse these policies I certainly can't begin to understand the challenges of other persons I don't know.  
 
To that point, on episode 175 (link below, highly recommended - though I'm bias :-) ), I mention my spouse requiring a wheel chair during disembarkation, though you can also find her on our group cruises walking around with the rest of us.  It's easy for others around to assume she was just being lazy, but if you don't know - well, you don't know.
 
http://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/podcast/episode-175-disembarkation-day

Havana for a day isn't really that exciting. I have been to Cuba many times, and only visited Havana once and don't care if I am ever there again.
 
I get the fact that its been forbidden as a rule for most Americans, so the intrigue is there.
 
But I wouldn't spend extra or pay more for any cruise that stops there over any other place in the Caribbean.
 
If you could spend an overnight perhaps or if it docked at a few different places around Cuba allowing you to see their amazing beaches then perhaps.

Havana would definitely be one port I would take my Passport to disembark.....and know the address of the US Embassy!  These cruise offerings will have to be put on my back burner for a couple of years.   Let's see how things play out with this destination.  

Most W-Ts would have a port for an earbud...I would appreciate not hearing the static, tones, and conversations of others....

I'm sure many were watching Rich's scopes that morning as was I. Ken Jarvis posted a pic of the ship by the tent after disembarkation, and the whole situation looked like a cluster waiting to happen.
 
I also took a look at the webcam, and there were a total of seven ships in port (Fathom Adonia, Celebrity Summit, Carnival Glory, Carnival Splendour, Carnival Vista, NCL Getaway and Navigator). This had to cause massive bottlenecks coming and going, and seems to have been unusual compared to past observances. Since Nav is getting settled into the North American itineraries after her TA, I too would be shocked if this is the norm.

Agree...since Carnival is redeploying Adonia to P&O and liquidating Fathom, future Cuba sailings look to be in doubt for all involved for the foreseeable future.

We went with Leo to Marigot first and did a little shopping, a lot of eating and some walking around...beaches around there aren't really available. We went to Maho after and left just as the big planes were landing more frequently. We hit Divi Resort for some beach time near Philipsburg. We didn't spend any time in Philipsburg.
 
Next time, we will hit Orient Beach, then Philipsburg. Maho is great, but hanging onto the fence with teenagers is fun, but once was enough for me.

I recently arrived at the terminal and handed luggage to porters at 10:15 and was on the ship at 10:45

On a future cruise, the BOGO 2 night is listed at $30...it requires specialty dining the first night, so the MDR has to be sacrificed. The 4 night package is $90. 
 
What is to stop someone from booking two BOGO 2 night packages and not showing for the first night on one of the packages. Does the website prevent that?

Fist of all .... as I mentioned in a later post .... my apologies to you for my rather cold remark...... I was just in one of those moods .....
 
Secondly, I am extremely happy that things worked out for you ..... In the end, that's exactly how it's supposed to be .....
 
Have a fantastic cruise,
 
Mark

You can get it off your chest here....but I have a feeling that there isn't a single person here that has any power to help you.   YOU need to contact RCCL directly.   THEY have the power to rectify your displeasure...if you are willing to cooperate with them.  Learned a long time ago...the person yelling the loudest is most likely in the wrong.  Good Luck with your endeavors.  

I should probably stay out of this but I don't think "grammar shaming" somebody who is angry is anything except treating someone the way they said they've been treated already. If a mistake was made (and don't for a minute suggest that sometimes a large corporation and it's employees don't make mistakes--or are rude) why not just say so.
I like reading this blog because it was so nice to see everyone's positive outlook on cruising. All of you love to tout how much money you saved, and the value of the dollar, and saving up your pennies to go on cruises. It's nice to read--so when someone is upset they've lost a deposit I"m pretty sure all of you would be pissed off if you were out $500 in 24hrs for a clerical error on your part. Anger can get the best of us, as clearly at has gotten the best of you at this person with their vitriolic language. Direct them and help, don't criticize them for their opinion....it's always our behavior in bad times that is a great reflection of who we are, and admitting when we are wrong and moving on....

That's what I was thinking. Admittedly my wife does all the booking so I'm not that knowledable in this area, but we have cancelled befor and got our deposit back.
 
Taylorrka,
People here are very helpful, give some more details and you will get some good advise.

Call me CrAzzZy here but why don't you do the following?:
 
1. Call RC and get your deposit refunded.
2. Call back RC and book the cruise you meant to book......

I saw your previous and first post. From your own admission, your blaming Royal fire a mistake you made and are now upset because they are adhering to their own policies. How is this Royal's fault and how does it warrant suggesting that others not book with them?
 
My suggestion would be you call back and ask you talk to a supervisor. If that doesn't work, write a letter to the CEO. That will be much more productive and is much more likely to solve your issues.