TwoCanSailAway

Just wanted to add the following.. Password change did resolve issues with accessing the cruise planner/website. Uninstalling/ reinstalling resolved the "Accept Terms & Conditions loop" on the App (android phone). Happy to have everything sorted before we fly to Miami this weekend.

Thanks, @SPS That helps put my mind at ease some! Also explains why the app keeps getting stuck in a loop on the "Accept Terms and Conditions" message. (Android)

Yesterday, I got hit with the message above when trying to log in to Royal's website. Our family has several accounts, all of which produce the same error message. I just attempted to log in again today but received the same error message. Is anyone else having this issue? Is Royal Caribbean having a Zero-day?

Who is excited for Perfect Day at CocoCay??

On a recent sailing from Boston, we learned the main pool on Serenade is heated. The crew also opened the Solarium for a few hours on the days when the pool deck was closed for snow/ice/wind. (Note only 50 kids were onboard). Vision is slightly older, so unsure if She has a heated main pool. We sail on Vision in 17 days and we will check the pool and let you know.

We are using Brightline from FLL to MCO after our December trip. Things we have noticed: After the opening of the MIA-MCO connection, train tickets have increased in price for 'peak' travel times. (We have seen MCO to FLL for a SMART Fare of $119). So, booking early isn't a bad idea to avoid ticket price increases. Also seems like Brightline participates in holiday sales, so it might be worth it to wait for the next holiday to see if there is a sale. Secondly, if the price drops (Black Friday Sale) you do not get a refund, just a credit with Brightline. It's not the worst thing if you are like us & fly/cruise out of FL port regularly. Brightline Station only connects to the MCO (Orlando) Airport. West Palm, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami are all separate stations, usually a few miles from the airport. This usually means you will still have to Uber/Lyft to your final destination after your train ride. This can increase the cost of using the Brightline train & it may be cheaper to just Uber/Lyft directly to your destination. This is the case for our April trip. Flying into FLL w/ ship departing out of the port of Miami.

Who's sailing on the Independence of the Seas on the 22nd of April?

We are taking a group of 1st-time cruisers on Indy in April 2024. For most of them, it will be their first time out of the USA. For this group, we are opting to pay a bit more for ship-sponsored shore excursions just to keep things easy. We understand that non-ship Shore Excursions are more cost-effective. I noticed the Cultural Delights (On Your Own) Shore Excursion & thought it might be a great way to 'explore' Nassau and allow everyone to sample local cuisine. Has anyone ever taken this trip before? Is the experience worth the cost? Does anyone know if transportation is included from the ship to The Villages? The language in the cruise planner doesn't confirm a bus/ shuttle. The "on your own" & "Make the short drive to The Villages" make me think transportation might not be included. --------------------------------------------------------- Cultural Delights (On Your Own) Shore Excursion Overview Embrace the spirit of the Bahamas at your own pace, and according to your unique tastes, as you enter the vibrant atmosphere of idiscover: The Village, which features art, craft, food, and beverage options, on this enriching and self-paced experience. Highlights Make the short drive to The Village, home to the original conch platter and bursting with history, music, and a colorful appreciation for Bahamian art and culture. Immerse yourself in the lively Bahamian culture as you join in the fun of Junkanoo, a vibrant street parade that embodies the exuberant island lifestyle through high-energy music and dance. Have a taste of conch fritters and a local Bahamian beer to start your experience. Enjoy free time to explore The Village at your leisure, soaking in the vibrant atmosphere, interacting with vendors, and savoring the best of Bahamian art, culture, and cuisine.

Do it! Just make sure to give yourself time for travel, possible delays & TSA. Wouldn't recommend booking an 11:00 AM flight from PBI, if cruising out of FLL or MIA. (You never know when there will be customs clearance delays for your ship) You can try the Brightline Train. Trains run about every hour. Now Running from MCO - MIA (with stops in West Palm, and Fort Lauderdale. Eventually to add a connection to Tampa.) MCO to MIA is about 3 hours & 30 minutes, MCO to FLL is about 3 Hours, MCO to PBI ~2hr 16 mins, FLL to PBI 45 mins, MIA to PBI 1hr 20 mins. https://www.gobrightline.com/ Notes: Brightline station is connected to the MCO (Orlando) Airport. All other stations are not connected to the airport & will require separate transportation (uber/lyft) to get from the station to the airport. The premium train tickets include a free Uber ride within a 5-mile radius of the train station, but the fare price difference isn't worth it in my opinion. Cheaper to buy a SMART train seat & pay for Uber separately. We are using the train in December from MIA > FLL & FLL > MCO. Train tickets booked in groups of 4 give a 25% fare discount.

@Ampurp85 Again, thank you for sharing your knowledge. I think we are going to try on our October Trip to earn a free cruise in the Casino! @drjohn4 Hello Dr. John, Thank you for the response. Before hearing about the Casino benefits, I had been debating the credit card vs. stock option. We have several trips planned with Friends & family over the next 12 months on both Royal & Celebrity. If we were to get the Royal credit card and use it to make everyone's payments, we could easily rack up some points. However, being deal-motivated cruisers, it would take us years to earn a free cruise if only using the card on Royal Purchases (2x points). The RCL Stock option is appealing because of the one-time purchase. No additional spending is required, just 100 stocks to earn OBC for every future sailing, rather than trying to earn enough points. Granted the RCL stock price is a bit steep at right now. ($100.07).

@Ampurp85 Thank you for the reply and insight. On our March Cruise on Grandeur, we met a couple that recommended the Casino rewards program to earn a 'free cruise'. There is a lot of mixed information about how much money needs to be cycled to reach 2,500 points (1 point per $5 cycled on slots = $12,500). From your experience, would you say that $12,500 is the average to get a 'free cruise'? Or are there other promotions (like 2x points) that reduce that amount? I think all my cruises combined (D+) might be around $12,500. Follow-up questions: Is it one ‘free cruise’ per year, per person, or household? If, both myself and my spouse independently reach 2,500 points can we get 2 ‘free cruises’? Do you know if, casino points are locked by line, Royal & Celebrity, exclusive? Or can you earn 2,500 points between the two lines?

68 days to go!! We are excited to join all of you on October 29th! Does anyone have any near-the-port restaurant recommendations for dinner the night before we set sail? @Jkf1897 By my count there are ~27 unsold Suites on the website. Fingers crossed RoyalUp will offer those soon! @ibeejd We've traveled on a Halloween Cruise in the past. Our group's massive traveling party (28 cabins) all dressed up in costumes. Beyond that, nothing comes to mind to set the trip apart such as special decor/events.

Hello Everyone, I have recently been looking into the various Credit Card / OBC / Stocks / Casino Rewards (other?) options offered by Royal / Celebrity. What is the most useful option or combination of programs to earn discounts/ credits / and the illusive 'Free Cruise'? May your ship lead you to warm sands, TwoCanSailAway