Floski

Day 1 - find a bar that is convenient and has the selections you like best, and go ahead and give a nice cash tip.
They'll look out for you the entire cruise.  
 
 
I know - it's always about the drinks with me.  ?

The blue-bloods living in downtown Charleston are dancing a jig inside about this.
 
They hate the cruise ships docking at their terminal.

I mean to be fair, I said "around" ... one month off. Give me some credit. ?

i say slap em with a huge fine but keep them coming to the US ports.   Any absence of Carnival in the US market place, while highly unlikely, will probably cost us more money simply from Royal taking advantage of the extra business gained from it all. 

Marriott has FANTASTIC military rates. We would go every memorial and Labor Day weekend when we were stationed at Fort Hood to the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country. Never less than 380-500/night for the cheapest garden view room, we never paid more than 129.00/night including holidays and they often upgraded us to pool views.   We are also booked at a Marriott chain hotel for our night before the cruise out of Port Canaveral in August.  They always have super rates.    
Do we expect companies to give discounts no, but if they advertise them- then yah. It’s nice to see if we can save some money.   The problem with Royal is no one everrrrr seems to qualify.   
We love Royal and it’s certainly not a make it or break it for us, but at this point it’s just- remove it already and if you want to say you support the troops for PR purposes or whatever, give veterans or military a welcome drink- helll I would be really happy with one of those writing pens with the floating boats in it. 

It's all PR smoke and mirrors.
 
Never got the military discount, either.  I mean, if you're going to have it as an option, then use it; otherwise, don't even have it 
in the registration process.  It really is a bit of a slap in the face.
 
Oh, and Flossy, I'm pretty sure "diddlysquat" is universal!  ;-)

I'm trying to do a preliminary info gather for when I will be there in 2020. Which tour company did you use? 

@Floski Pleased no one went "what the"  when I said diddly squat! ?

@Floski Yes, it surely is smoke and mirrors but they should be asked to either explain their offer or remove it.  

I respect their response.   Coming to the aid of fellow mariners is a time honored tradition, even if those mariners are not floating in lifeboats in the middle of the ocean, or if someone wants to split hairs and argue that a dancer on a cruise ship isn't a classic example of a mariner.  
Two thousand displaced crew with nothing but the clothes on their backs.  IMO their response deserves a round of applause. 

Here is some experienced cruiser advice for anyone with a cruise on Oasis departing in the next oh.... 3 or 4 months.
Sit down and make a written contingency list of substitute places, people, events, opportunities, or even cruises. Make it a written list and the longer the better. And under each one write how you would get to the Grand Canyon, visit Aunt Edna, kick back at a caribbean resort,  spend some quality time in Montreal, etc. etc. Explore each of those possibilities what a room might cost per night, daily allowance for meals, airfare, car rental. Get yourself some ball park numbers for each of those proposals. Figure out some sort of ranking system as to the ones you like the best, the amount of hassle, and perhaps most importantly the potential cost; taking into account Royal might not immediately pony up the money you have already paid for your trip.
Be prepared! Be Proactive! Do some of that legwork now. Waiting till you get a email from Royal saying your trip has been canceled and they are working closely with an insurance company to issue a full refund---ahhh, important time will have been lost to plug something else in. About 5,500 other passengers receiving the same email will be saying the same words "Well, just put me on another boat." Sorry Charlie, 5,500 people are not just going to get on another RCL ship next week.
 
Please don't get mad and frustrated at Royal over this. This is a part of cruising we passengers all risk. At sometime in your cruising career your are going to encounter a hurricane, miss an important flight, have all your checked bags lost, a war being fought, all kinds of potential disappointing events that are going to step on your cruise buzz. We are all rolling the dice. Let this be a good lesson on how to make lemonade out of a bunch of lemons.
 
 
 

Any sign with the word "CLEARANCE" is the bane of my existence...

Any sign with the word "CLEARANCE" is the bane of my existence...

Any sign with the word "CLEARANCE" is the bane of my existence...

Any sign with the word "CLEARANCE" is the bane of my existence...

Bravo, Sabrina - splendid blog!
 

We booked through Expedia Cruise Center after reading a lot of information on this blog and Matt's videos on Youtube about using a travel agent rather than booking with the cruise line directly.
Our agent at Expedia has been great and got us a great deal.  We were able to use the cruise planner once she sent back the conformation from RCCL. 
We have booked some excursions, Ultimate Dining Package, and Deluxe Drink Package on the cruise planner.  So you have access the same as if you booked directly with the cruise line.
Also, when you inquire with Expedia they will direct your inquiry to someone near you not a call center somewhere overseas.  That was my experience here in Canada and I was directed to a Local Expedia Cruise Center and have had many conversations and emails with my local agent.
 

Make sure you check around. I know that there is a travel agent sponsor of this blog but there are lots of offers out there - and if you book through a wholesaler, just make sure you trust their customer service team. (For example, what if you notice a price drop? Will Expedia help you with repricing your cruise? I’ve never used them, so I’m not dogging them, I just don’t know).
 
I recently booked what I would consider a last minute deal through Costco and am getting a big cash card from them after I sail - to me that’s better than OBC as I will be poor when I get back and need groceries ?
 
To directly answer your question, I took the Royal confirmation number provided to me by Costco and linked it to my pre-existing Royal account profile. It was easy peasy and I’ve been able to view anything I need to take care of in cruise planner. But I do know if I needed to change cabins or make modifications to my reservation I’d be at the mercy of costco’s phone agents. 

I gotta go with Waaaytooooo as well.
 
Look, it ain't artisanal, I get it.  But when the time comes, and we all know what time I'm talking about, Sorrento's is as good an option 
as there is on the boat!  If I'm looking a little cock-eyed and listing a bit when I walk, I don't want lobster or prime rib - just gimme some za, even Sorrento's.

Bravo, Sabrina - splendid blog!
 

Back home now. 1 load in the washing machine, 2 waiting. Araceli isn’t here. But the Home Genie has made a reappearance. Sad news. 
Thanks again for following everyone ?

Bravo, Sabrina - splendid blog!
 

Bravo, Sabrina - splendid blog!
 

This afternoon we had the Bridge tour. Again, Star Class had their own session and Araceli accompanied us the whole time. Pics will be later on this as it is on Hubby’s camera.
We asked Araceli to stop by just before the tour to give her this:


I am hoping that she liked it.
Trying to find every excuse possible right now to not pack. Dinner is later at Jamie’s again. That’s all for now. 

Meanwhile slumming it on Mariner in an inside.