rjweber3

Freedom is the largest class of ship where you can still access the helipad - great views on any sail away or sail in. It's not a secret by any stretch but definitely take advantage.

The most successful counterfeiting operation in US history was $1 bills. It was much easier to pass off 20 singles than a single 20 because nobody checks small bills.

I like those if they are less than 3k, that's where I draw the line.

Think of how much Royal could command for those deluxe shipping container cabanas........🤪

I think you'll have to go to a true luxury line, like Silversea, to get away from the upcharges. Of course, you'll pay much more for one of those!
I've sailed Royal, Celebrity, Carnival, NCL and Princess.  All of them had upselling. The more "premium" brands of Celebrity and Princess had less, but still annoying.

Why do people drop in just to complain and tell us how they will not cruise RCL.  I would not mind if they were here for help or sharing wisdom but the popcorn, really?  When I was on the ship, I went over to get some popcorn and seen there was a charge and made a decision that I did not want popcorn enough to pay for it.  As far as the bill,  
You can see your bill on the TV in your cabin. You can see your bill on the RCL app. You can stop by customer service anytime and get a copy of your bill. I watch my bill every day and make sure I am not charged for something I should not.  if there is an issue, I call the ships customer service and they fix it.

I wonder where the H2 comes from. I would guess from electrolysis of H2O. That is a pretty energy intensive process. So, what is the savings in total CO2 production unless using nuclear power to make the electricity for the electrolysis plant?

Thanks. I will check them out. We don't want a layover, that's the whole point. We are looking to fly direct to BCN. I don't want to hijack the thread but basically, it's hard to avoid AC because no airline will fly direct from DTW-BCN. And the non-stop on AC is way cheaper than any flights with connections from DTW.
BTW, have you looked at Air Transat? They are actually cheaper than AC but I am always too worried to fly lower cost airlines like that. Good friends of mine are in Europe right now and they went with Air Transat. I will ask them their experience when they return in a few weeks.

I highly doubt they would cancel the cruise, as RC needs to reposition the ship for the Australian cruise season, and Hawaii is just a stop on the way there.  Worst case, they skip the Lahaina port stop completely (two MORE sea days) and end in Hololulu.  Best case, they replace Lahaina with something else such as Kona and/or Hilo.  I imagine RC is looking over the options now, and trying to figure out what to do for a replacement port stop.

A. Back to oars and sails?
B. Gotta be cheaper than the 'from now on' surcharge Duke Energy Florida is charging customers for decommissioning the Crystal River Nuclear Plant that THEIR predecessor company rendered inoperative and too expensive to repair.

Cruisers Beware!!!
We were told we had the choice to leave our mentally disabled son and cruise for 5 days! Our son just graduated High school so we booked a cruise we love to cruise and the kids always have so much fun. Since our son turned 18 two months before the cruise we scheduled him an appointment at the Tx DPS in February 2023, the next available appointment was for 7/20 which was great since our cruise was set for 8/7. The day of his appointment we waited for an hour and DPS had to reschedule do to scheduling issues. I called Royal before we left the parking lot on 7/20, I was advised on a recorded call that our account would be noted and he can bring his birth certificate, social, and Expired Id and we was assured that we would be fine. After driving for and hundreds and miles, he was denied. The port workers laughed in my face stating that they are contractors and they have the final say no matter what Royal says. We were told to leave our son who is mentally impaired alone, with no accommodations or don’t go. After calling Royal while still at the port, they confirmed my previous call weeks prior and that I was giving false information, but no refunds would be issues for my husband, daughter or myself. But since they messed up they’ll refund my son. What a joke! So we’re out thousands because of there mistake and they could careless. They didn’t even offer a rain check! I requested they listen to the call I made before our trip and they confirmed everything I said was factual but they do not care!

Based on what's in the bottom of my suitcase after any cruise, I bring back sand from everywhere.

Just back from an Alaska cruise on Brilliance. Flew out of Newark to Vancouver on United the day before. Flight was almost an hour delayed. Stayed at the Fairmont Waterfront which is across the street from Canada Place (port). It is NOT CHEAP. Flew back to Newark on Air Canada. The United plane did not have the seat back entertainment screens and the cabin smelled of urine. The Air Canada flight did have the screens and it was a Godsend while travelling with 4 kids. Got back almost a half hour early. AC tops United on this vacation.

Oh please do NOT be “that guy” with a walkie talkie! I cannot think of many things that would be more annoying than being next to someone on one of those things. But if you want and crave dirty looks the whole time….go for it

Have you ever <squaaaaaaak> been <squeeek> annoyed at somebody <eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee> talking on a <beeeeeeeee> speaker phone while you're <pop pop pop> trying to enjoy a peaceful <shrieeeeeeeeek> moment?  Add in a <wheeewheeeewheee> stupid sound effects machine and <sizzzzzzzzzle> you've got a walkie talkie.
Seriously, if you want to be the least popular person on your cruise, bring a walkie talkie!

I'm open to it but I can see the same groups that protest and picket cruise ports now licking their chops to protest nuclear cruise ships coming into port.

Several nuclear scientist folks I've followed for years all state that the type of uranium used in modern reactors isn't the fissionable material needed to make weapons...the terrorist angle doesn't seem to be an issue.

Funny, I just took this survey but did not get served these questions since I didn’t say I went to Sorrento’s on the last ship I sailed (because there wasn’t one). I was interested in the section about them possibly adding Cuban, Thai, Chinese or Indian restaurants though! 😋

I know right? They already took the Anti-Pasti away. Scaled the WJ way back. Gutted the MDR menu. Rolled back cleaning service. Doubled or tripled nearly every fee on Coco Cay. That mostly all happened the first month after Fain stepped down. I could have understood this stuff more when the restart first happened and they were actually just barely getting by. But it seemed like Fain was trying to protect the product. Now, it seems nothing is off limits and they are testing the waters to see how much they can get away with. It's a slippery slope.

It kind of just comes down to "don't be that guy".  

Honestly, the potential of getting in the crews way just going down the hall when they are trying to clean and do so much before 2pm just seems a little rude and selfish. I say play by the rules and wait for the announcement that the cabins are ready. And this comes from someone with a major fear of luggage getting lost when not in my hands.

I'm going to chime in here and wonder why anyone would want to drag their large suitcase on board, especially if you arrive prior to rooms being opened up?  If you have to wait in a public area, the suitcases are really going to get in the way of everyone.  I just wouldn't want to be stuck with them for 2-3 hours prior to being able to get in my room.  It's baffling.

I was caught up in this. The intention was to arrive at Dulles VA on Sunday evening, that didnt happen. Rather after exhausting all other options, I was stranded in Atlanta overnight, and returned to Fort Myers the following morning.

Amsterdam/Netherlands at large are trying to get away from the tourist/party culture that made Amsterdam what we think of today.  They ran a big campaign about six months ago to discourage stag party/hen party/bacherlor(ette) parties and cruise ships are the next target.  There's an ebb and flow to all things, Amsterdam is just finding that they were too successful in attracting tourists and are trying to discourage it now.
As discussed, ships will still go the the Netherlands, most likely via Rotterdam.  Not as nice, but its no different than the lines moving to Ravenna when Venice banned cruise ships a few years ago.  

We stayed at the Embassy Suites on 17th street last week. It was fine for a pre-cruise hotel.