Hutcherl

I just bought some RCL stock at $28 a share...Coronavirus is just a short-term blip creating a terrific price point for long-term investors to build a position.

Booked on Navigator sailing 4/6.  I'm assuming one of two things will happen that will prevent us from cruising:
1. Our kids school district picks up the new local trend of requiring any kids that leave the country to take a 14 day admin leave from school.
2. Royal Caribbean will follow in Viking and Princesses footsteps and shut down operations for a period of time.
Case 1 will probably lead to us using "Cruise with Confidence" to get a future credit.
Case 2 may lead to a complete refund of the trip, so we'll wait and see since we'd prefer that.
We'll hold out until one or the other happens, if not, we may still consider the "social distancing" strategy to slow the spread of the virus and cancel the cruise ourselves.  None of us are in high risk groups and we've got a good chance of staying safe with precautions.  But I think we'll also have to consider the possibility of inadvertently spreading the virus and the stigma of traveling when the guidance is social distancing for the good of the rest of the US and people in high risk categories.  We, like most, were really looking forward to the trip and that makes me lean towards "I'm going no matter what , we'll be fine" but I think we need to consider the big picture and what's best for everyone.  I also reserve the right to change my mind again based on how the next few weeks go.  Guess we'll see...

Still going but we are not going until the end of July. I hope it will all be settled by then. 

Sales happen throughout the year, and some of the best prices I've gotten (especially on excursions) I've snagged between advertised sales. It just pays to check often.  I literally check prices for various things (either to initially  purchase or to reprice) several times a week, and I've scored some amazing deals (again, many times not during "sales").

We sailed on Grandeur twice, April 2019 and September 2019. Going again in April 2020.
First, don't over pack.
If possible, arrive in the area the day before.
Get to the Port by 10:30
If you like to drink, buy the package now
There is so much good food included, we never considered the dining package
If you like to gamble, bring plenty of cash
If you smoke cigarettes they sell cartons cheap ( once you get out of port )
Check out the cruise compass every day
But the most important thing is ENJOY YOURSELF
 

Yep. Drop the family off and return car.  Walk to terminal.  Did this many times.  One time I had a shuttle driver stop and pick me up as soon as I started to walk back.  But the walk is quick and easy so no worries.  

Leaving on Oasis today and just wanted to say thank you to all for the great advice, suggestions and patience from all my questions.  
Thanks again and everyone have a great week.
 
Dan

I just got off a 7 day Harmony cruise. In the MDR, after I showed my Diamond status the first night, my waiters were very diligent and forgiving on cocktails. I'd ask for my "happy hour" drink (between 4:30 and 8pm) and they would provide it. They never counted it against the freebies on my card. Around ship at the various bars I got mixed results. I would again ask for a 'Happy Hour" drink and sometimes waiters would deduct from my 3 drinks sometimes not. Between the wife and I, I don't think we used all 6 drinks a single evening.
The down side .... by the end of happy hour we were snookered and ready for bed ?
 

$139 here too.  August 2020 Independence.  Can’t imagine many passes are being sold at this price.  It’ll come back down to earth.  Just have to closely monitor the cruise planner.

Of COURSE @twangster would have a balcony cabin on the correct side of the ship to catch this! Thanks for sharing! 

Waiting for transport to port.  Mariner here we come!!! Will try to do a blog after we return! 

The bottom line -with any  Royal “sale” is to ignore the discount bologna and look straight at the “bottom line”. It’s all voodoo mathematics and the only thing that really matters is what amount are you paying. Find a price that you are comfortable paying, purchase it,  and watch to see how it fluctuates from there.  If it goes down, cancel and rebook. Ignore the “fake” gimmicks 

No that's a good price for the bungalow!  Good to jump on that!

Thank You all for the advice.  Even though we couldn't get the same room looking forward to 14 glorious nights and our first B2B.

Just arrived! Waiting to sign-on the ship.
 

I fell in love with this "addiction" in 2016 after raising our son an paying off his student loans and a work accident that left me with a synthetic neck..  My wife is 48 and I'm 47.. Every extra dime that comes into our household goes to feed this cruising addiction we have.. While raising our son We couldn't afford to take a cruise.. and honestly I didn't have the desire.. 
This is the only vacation that you cannot do wrong.. Ill bust my ass 60-70 hours a week to pay for Jean and I to take a break and let us be ourselves..  We've seen Alaska, Cuba, and the western and eastern Caribbean itineraries. We're looking forward to the Southern Caribbean next year..
 
Ill bust my ass to make it work for us, I don't care if I have to work 70 hours a week to let my wife have one week of pleasure to be herself.. ?
 

This too. Any OT DH works we immediately transfer into a vacation savings account. His thought is he has to take time away from the family to earn that money, so it should be spent on something that we do together.

Nobody would do this job if it wasn't for the benefits, lol.

Ours dropped to $57 a couple days ago so I went ahead and got it. I'm hoping it drops again when we get closer. I could kick myself for not getting it early. It was $48 when we booked back in June. It doesn't seem like a coincidence that it jumped to $65 right after the whole $18/Person thing happened. We got $45/person on our June sailing so I was shocked to see $65!

Its booked...I wont complain at $49/day......
 
I am watching 2020 cruise prices, but more importantly the drink pricing is now the main concern  now as the price of the drink package will influence which cruises we book....sad it has to come to that...but we WONT be paying $2000 to drink for a week no matter what.....

@cookie10*,
I'm really curious what your reasoning is that makes as @WAAAYTOOOmentioned, not following the posted rules about loungers ok? Is it simply the first come, first served mentality? Rules don't apply to you and your family? 
Unfortunately, the rules have had to be implemented, because of people like you. 
During the course of a cruise, strangers become a "neighborhood"  for a short time and civility and courtesy should follow, just like at home, not left on the dock when you board.

You absolutely have to be joking, right? At least I hope this isn’t how you really feel!! 

You absolutely have to be joking, right? At least I hope this isn’t how you really feel!! 

You absolutely have to be joking, right? At least I hope this isn’t how you really feel!! 

You absolutely have to be joking, right? At least I hope this isn’t how you really feel!!