DunkelBierJay

My wife and I agree with Todd. Not only did TA Michelle do a great job and give good service; likely she gave away some of her earnings to make thinks right.
 
We doubt that our TA, Costco; would be willing to do anything close to the same. Hummm....

For those who have ever vacillated over whether or not using a travel agent was in your best interest or not, let me assure you that a GOOD travel agent is priceless.
 
I have proven that to myself this week with the disaster that Royal Caribbean created with its cancellation of the Empress sailings in March and April.
 
As everyone now knows, Royal Caribbean cancelled 6 sailings on the Empress of the Seas, due to sail beginning in late March through mid-April.  Dan and I were booked on the April 11, right, smack dab in the middle of that cancellation cluster.  It was a psychological blow to us as well as a potential logistics nightmare.  All I can say is THANK GOODNESS I had Michelle Cunningham with MEI as my advocate.  I can say, without any doubt, I would have killed myself, Dan or someone on the other end of the phone line before I managed to get it all straightened out if I had had to do this by myself.  Imagine.  1800 passengers times 6 sailings.  Over 10,000 people are trying to either rebook or cancel their cruises.  No thanks.
 
Not only did Michelle manage to salvage our cruise but she saved our $1,000 OBC that Dan had earned on our Allure sailing (from Club Royale), which was in real danger of going bye-bye.  Our out-of-pocket costs, as a result of this monumental BLUNDER - that was 100% Royal Caribbean's doing - is only going to be ~$200...which will be some airline change fees that RCI is too damn cheap to reimburse us.  Thanks to Michelle's diligence and persistence, we were able to get $200 of the $400 reimbursed.  She got us rebooked on the sailing of our choice in the same room that we original had (Owner's Suite 8506) for the same price.  Actually, we got a $28.68 refund so she actually got us money BACK on the resked.
 
...and let me assure you, she did not do this without considerable interference from me !  We changed our minds, and changed them back again at least twice, not to mention the numerous emails that I sent, inquiring as to her progress over a 48 hour period.  She never complained (at least, not directly to me although she would have had every right to do so !) and came through like a trooper.
 
EVERYTHING has been rescheduled...the cruise, the hotel, the excursions, the airfare.  Everything.  We couldn't be happier, considering.  This is all the result of excellent service from Michelle and no thanks WHATEVER, to Royal Caribbean.
 
So Michelle....thank you for everything you had done for us over the past 72 hours.  You are a gem, a great friend, a consummate professional and a credit to your Agency.

I am certain this is what you are imagining life is like living on a cruise ship
 

I don't know if we would live full time on a ship, but even at age 39 my wife and I have entertained the notion of selling our house in Indiana and retiring to a cruise port town in order to have easy access to ships in our retirement.

It not that they prohibited cruises to nowhere, it is because of the Jones Act. Put into simple terms the Jones Act was put into place to protect American interest and business. It says that it you want to use a ship for business within the Untied States it must be built and registered within the United States. In the early 1900's Maine ship builders making Lobster boats had a issue with issue with Lobstermen  purchasing boats from Canada. This was one of the driving forces behind the Jones Act.
 
So since the ships of Royal and most other cruise lines are built and flagged outside the United States they cannot operate within the United States without leaving first. So a ship can leave Florida and make a port stop in the Bahamas and return and the Jones Act is followed. But the same ship leaves Florida sails out and does not go into another country then they have not followed the law. This is a very simple explanation the acts has many part so if interest just look it up.  
 
So changes and special exceptions have been done within the act. Like a foreign built ship can get flagged in the US and meet the Jones Act. But it needs to be done through a act of Congress granting that ship the ability to be Flagged in the United States. It is done more often than you would think. Many people with yachts have this done so they can charter and rent them.
 
The MV Maersk Alabama was re flagged to be a US Ship, the ship privates took several years ago and the US Navy Seals rescued the captain and killed the privates.  The negative side of re flagging to United States is the Ship must meet all US Safety Standards, must pass very hard Coast Guard Inspections, and must follow all US laws. So the ships crew must all be paid and will worked under the US laws. It greatly increases the cost to operate and only a few small coastal lines and the Cruise ships that stay in Hawaii  get US Flagged.
 
If interest in the Jones Act here is a good link:
 
http://www.maritimelawcenter.com/html/the_jones_act.html

It has to do with the type of Visas the crew members hold. It essentially doesn't allow them, as they're from other countries on foreign flagged ships, to return back a US port without stopping first in a non US port. They did this previously before the US government clarified the rules.

Hand sanitation and cleanliness in general is a product of our global society and will continue to be a huge issue.
 
As to the strict requirement to use the hand sanitizer, I don't like being forced to do it, but it ain't gonna kill me to take an 
extra measure to not only help insure my safety, but that of the thousands of others on board.  I'm pretty sure that many, 
if not most, of the passengers don't share my degree of personal hygiene.  As I've aged, I've become much more aware
of the daily risks of bacteria and other nasties in our world.
 
I'd much prefer the lines be pro-active in their battle against sickness and actually appreciate RCCL's diligence.

No, Freedom of the Seas boards on deck 4 (which is "the promenade deck" because it wraps around the ship, not to be confused with the Royal Promenade on deck 5). You'll have to go up one deck to get to the Royal Promenade.

I see it as a valuable reminder, and am grateful that there is this constant reminder to those who are less attentive to hygiene. It is reassuring to know that RC is doing what it can. If it seems obtrusive, I hope people acknowledge how many outbreaks are averted by such measures, even though it really can't be measured. 

This stems from guests not washing their hands, either out of ignorance or laziness.  Outbreaks of norovirus are directly tied to guests not taking precautions to prevent the spread of such easily communicable viruses.
 
This isn't about someone telling you how to vacation, as much as it is mitigating the spread of these nasty bugs.  It's a small price to pay to ensure a healthy cruise.

I agree that the drink prices are high; fortunately, I'm not much of a drinker, so this doesn't impact me much. For nondrinkers, though, there is still an impact. A grande specialty coffee was $6 on the Liberty. It says something when they're charging more than Starbucks, which I didn't think was possible.
 
While Princess is a good line that I have previously sailed, it doesn't have the same appeal for my son. In addition, when pricing Northern Europe over the last two years, Princess has been significantly higher for my family.
 
In the end, I think all lines have their own ways of squeezing out onboard revenue; they just do it a little differently.

I realize there are roughly 20,000,000 people who can drive to NYC to board a cruise.  Not having to fly is a big advantage.  However, if you had a choice, why would anyone book that cruise in the winter time?  The first day at sea would be cold.  Port Canaveral, Florida is not that warm this time of year. Sure you SHOULD get 3 to 4 days of nice weather in the Bahamas, but the last day back would be cold too.
 
From RCCL's view, they now see the time will come when the Captain has to make a tough decision.  Stay or go?  If he stays, all the passengers are mad.  If he goes, it could be ok, but it could be as bad as last week... or worse.
 
I think they should move that ship in the winter.

It's not Sunset's parking.  There are some condos and other things back in there to the south of Sunset, and its just kind of a big unpaved area where people park for everything.  Kind of chaotic at times, but you should have no issues finding a spot ;)
 
My last visit there was this past Sept.  All of the sand was gone leaving nothing but the rocks.  Still a great day at the Sunset and plane watching. 
 
Hopefully the sand will be built back up by June!

Leaving by 2 should give you plenty of time. That's about when we left Maho and we're back by 3 as we were ahead of the crowds. Remember that you'll need to be onboard by 4:30, so you'll also need time to return the car and get back to the ship.
 
You'll need to check the flight schedules for times. When we were there, the largest plane, the KLM 747 landed around 10:30 and took off somewhere between 1:30-2:30. The times are posted at the beach, but that won't help you much if you're going elsewhere, too.

Scott,
 
This is what I took from your post.  Essentially, you've given us a decision tree regarding the drink package.

Never in my 10 cruises have I been alerted to anything....price drops or upgrades.
 
I do it the old fashioned way of checking each day...lol.

I received an alert that my sailing on Freedom in three months had a price drop. I have two staterooms booked. There wasn't enough savings on my interior room, but huge savings on my balcony room...and...it added OBC! I already had a pretty good deal, but this is great!
 
The fact that Royal honors this makes me want to book even more...and I will, while I am on board.

Yeah! What she said. My wife thought it was ok and I hated it. I personally believe that the Royal Caribbean Singers and Dancers are a bit weak in their acting skills and they are the interactive performers for this one night a week event in Giovanni's Table. I was embarrassed for them. One of the waiters kept whispering clues into my ear but he was unaware that I was deaf in that ear so it just seem to me like some stranger was blowing in my ear while the "talent" was practicing their bad accents. I would be two steps ahead of your husband if my wife was to book this again. We did like the food and we went back for more on subsequent nights.  

I found the MDT to be a hoot.  My husband hated it.  It all depends on whether you enjoy that kind of interactive theater or not.  Just as a point of reference, my husband could NOT get out of Cats FAST ENOUGH on the Oasis last January.  There is NO WAY he was going back for the second half after intermission....so he's not what you would consider a "theater lover" to begin with.
 
I recall that there is a fixed menu.  I can't recall exactly what it was.  Passable - nothing to rave about.
 
Can't remember what we paid for the MDT or what they are charging these days (it's been a few years ago).  I personally would recommend it but if you are encountering resistance from anyone, I would probably pass. It's not worth having to listen to "...that's 2 hours of my life that I will never get back..." for the rest of the cruise - and beyond.
 
:)