DunkelBierJay

This is a great find, but it always helps to do some dummy bookings to determine. Every situation is different, however, and the comparison below may not fit them all.
 
Example: Arrive at MCO 12/10 and transfer to the Quality Inn Kennedy Space Center is $217 ( I assume taxes are added on at the end) -- I chose this hotel randomly...I have never stayed there or read the reviews:
 
4 People Orlando Airport MCO
Fly Snooze Cruise Hotel Package includes it all:
 Orlando Airport MCO to Hotel Transportation  Hotel Accommodations for 1 Night / 1 Room  Hotel to Port Canaveral Cruise Ship Transfer  Cruise Ship to Orlando Airport MCO Transportation  Breakfast Included: Hot Buffet  
a la carte:
 
MCO to Hotel in one way car rental in intermediate car with Hertz (closest to port) day before embarkation includes free shuttle provided by car rental company -- $80.07 
Quality Inn price on Kayak $82 -- Hotwire $70
Port to MCO on December 18 in intermediate car also $80.07 and including free shuttle from port to rental office
Total -- $230.14 
 
In this case, you would save money and the hassle booking things separately. I will consider this service as an option for cruises out of Port Canaveral.

It's only good for dining on nights 1 and 2, so unless you plan on eating twice on those two days there's no benefit of booking two.

I love the 3PM Nacho Bar frequently found in the Windjammer! 

This is a great find, but it always helps to do some dummy bookings to determine. Every situation is different, however, and the comparison below may not fit them all.
 
Example: Arrive at MCO 12/10 and transfer to the Quality Inn Kennedy Space Center is $217 ( I assume taxes are added on at the end) -- I chose this hotel randomly...I have never stayed there or read the reviews:
 
4 People Orlando Airport MCO
Fly Snooze Cruise Hotel Package includes it all:
 Orlando Airport MCO to Hotel Transportation  Hotel Accommodations for 1 Night / 1 Room  Hotel to Port Canaveral Cruise Ship Transfer  Cruise Ship to Orlando Airport MCO Transportation  Breakfast Included: Hot Buffet  
a la carte:
 
MCO to Hotel in one way car rental in intermediate car with Hertz (closest to port) day before embarkation includes free shuttle provided by car rental company -- $80.07 
Quality Inn price on Kayak $82 -- Hotwire $70
Port to MCO on December 18 in intermediate car also $80.07 and including free shuttle from port to rental office
Total -- $230.14 
 
In this case, you would save money and the hassle booking things separately. I will consider this service as an option for cruises out of Port Canaveral.

This is a great find, but it always helps to do some dummy bookings to determine. Every situation is different, however, and the comparison below may not fit them all.
 
Example: Arrive at MCO 12/10 and transfer to the Quality Inn Kennedy Space Center is $217 ( I assume taxes are added on at the end) -- I chose this hotel randomly...I have never stayed there or read the reviews:
 
4 People Orlando Airport MCO
Fly Snooze Cruise Hotel Package includes it all:
 Orlando Airport MCO to Hotel Transportation  Hotel Accommodations for 1 Night / 1 Room  Hotel to Port Canaveral Cruise Ship Transfer  Cruise Ship to Orlando Airport MCO Transportation  Breakfast Included: Hot Buffet  
a la carte:
 
MCO to Hotel in one way car rental in intermediate car with Hertz (closest to port) day before embarkation includes free shuttle provided by car rental company -- $80.07 
Quality Inn price on Kayak $82 -- Hotwire $70
Port to MCO on December 18 in intermediate car also $80.07 and including free shuttle from port to rental office
Total -- $230.14 
 
In this case, you would save money and the hassle booking things separately. I will consider this service as an option for cruises out of Port Canaveral.

According to the Port Canaveral Instagram page, Port Canaveral was officially re-opened at 12:30 Eastern Time today! What a relief for the residents and employees that have been affected. Not to mention a favorite cruise port for many.

According to the Port Canaveral Instagram page, Port Canaveral was officially re-opened at 12:30 Eastern Time today! What a relief for the residents and employees that have been affected. Not to mention a favorite cruise port for many.

According to the Port Canaveral Instagram page, Port Canaveral was officially re-opened at 12:30 Eastern Time today! What a relief for the residents and employees that have been affected. Not to mention a favorite cruise port for many.

According to the Port Canaveral Instagram page, Port Canaveral was officially re-opened at 12:30 Eastern Time today! What a relief for the residents and employees that have been affected. Not to mention a favorite cruise port for many.

You are correct. I booked two years in advance. My prices are always lower then any sales. I also, get the cabin I want in the location I want. Planning saves money most of the time. I have 9 cruises booked with RCCL and 1 with Celebrity.

That may be a Periscope thing and there wait they're compressing the video. I was using cellular (LTE) in Europe (Baltics) on the Serenade and as I watch the replays I see that some were not of the highest quality.

That's funny. I was going to say I highly recommending binge listening to all of your old relevant podcasts and even some non-relevant ones :)

I don't think they can just move ships around like that. I presume they have contractual arrangements with the port authorities and they can't just call up and say 'never mind, we're coming on Sunday instead'...

it does! I just called to check if the new promotion would save us a bit of money, but so far none have been better than the kids sail free we got since we have 3 kids in our  room... Well!! to my surprise I saved an extra 415$ (Canadian) on our cruise! bringing our total down to 3700$ (2800$ US) for a 9 day cruise in a family panoramic room for 5 people!!
 
Beyond happy right now!

As with all things RCI, there is no way to predict how long any particular promo will be offered.
 
If you really want to take advantage of one of them, I would get it now.  You can always cancel and rebuy something different if you find a better deal down the road.
 
BTW, scuttlebutt is that they will be offering a new beverage package beginning Sept. 6.  At least, it is being advertised that way in the UK.  Whether they push it out to the entire fleet is yet to be determined, but that is what they are advertising.  Better...worse ?  Who knows.  It does appear to be simplified, if nothing else...

I recommend looking closely at the various accommodations on Key Biscayne. It is 30 minutes from the cruise port with all kinds of amenities and fantastic hotels and beaches.

This is the quintessential point that this forum and Matt's blog promotes. 
 
In the few cruises I have been on, one of the most rewarding experiences is interacting with the crew, especially the bar tenders when they aren't slammed with drink orders.
 
There is no reason to try to buck the system...doing so causes you to miss out on the full experience. Frankly, I feel sorry for those who put so much energy into cheating.

This is the quintessential point that this forum and Matt's blog promotes. 
 
In the few cruises I have been on, one of the most rewarding experiences is interacting with the crew, especially the bar tenders when they aren't slammed with drink orders.
 
There is no reason to try to buck the system...doing so causes you to miss out on the full experience. Frankly, I feel sorry for those who put so much energy into cheating.

This is the quintessential point that this forum and Matt's blog promotes. 
 
In the few cruises I have been on, one of the most rewarding experiences is interacting with the crew, especially the bar tenders when they aren't slammed with drink orders.
 
There is no reason to try to buck the system...doing so causes you to miss out on the full experience. Frankly, I feel sorry for those who put so much energy into cheating.

Trying to smuggle booze on seems like more trouble than it's worth... So you can do what, sneak down to the room for shots or with a mixer? Drink alone in the room?
 
Most drinks ARE NOT $12... Either buy a drink package or pay for it. Just the stress of that process seems irritating.

Looking though my RC C&A email during lunch today and low & behold it was about the social media group that was on Empress a few weeks. In the group photo was the dashing Michael Poole and the beautiful Hillary.  I swear I saw a Stella in his hand along with his spiffy RCLBlog t-shirt!!  #16MinutesOfFame   ;)

It isn't. I lost the cc I booked with on the way to my last cruise, and moved it to another one with no issue upon check in. There wasn't even a delay.

Being the father of a 5 year old, I can tell you that Penguins of Madagascar was on the better end of awful movies.  I generally enjoy the Madagascar-brand films. 
 
Monsters vs Aliens, Ice Age 3 (or beyond) and some of the more obscure DreamWorks films have been known to make me question my existence.

ah vision....my 1irst true love...there are more ships in the sea I suppose...onward and upward, but such fond memories :rolleyes:

I don't know of anything exactly like this, but I'm willing to bet if you go to a bellhop at a hotel you can leave your bags there.  A healthy tip would probably work fine, or just say you're checking in to that hotel later, but it's under your brother's name.  Not found?  Must be under his fiance's name - you haven't met her yet and man, this is so awkward that you can't remember her name...
 
Just throwing that out there :-)