Don

AND, Oh by the way my new lines drink package is $85 for a book of 18 drinks, can by one book or as many as you want. Internet cost also 20% less for 250 Min pkg

I've compared cost with others - sailing 4x this yr only one (next wk) with Royal & it was booked before I found a new go to cruise line. They exceeded my threshold for cost of loyality! We are sailing for about 50% less, new ships, best of class entertainment, just class act, overall falling between Royal & Celebrity. Last time I sailed Royal I noticed bottle wine prices were very high. Will be interesting to see our satisfaction after sailing 3x times with other cruise line. Looking at Brit Isles for 2016 & our new line is 1/2 $ of celebrity.Those are competition footsteps rumbling on the horizon!

Short answer, last off ship is probably 9:00 or 9:30ish. If you use RCI transfer to airport, they will match your disembarkation time with airport transport - party based on flight time. If you arrange own transport they will still use fight time to set disembark time - they will ask your flight time on the disembark questionnaire. Disembark groups will be in +/- 30 min increments from about 7:30 to 9:30. If you don't like the embark time they set for you go to customer service desk & plead you case for change - we have never been denied. Jumping early ahead of schedule is not option lest luggage would not be available. OR, you can do self assist walk off & be 1st group off after customs clearance. Hope this helps!

Serenade OTS next week, in Falmouth we are going to beta test their new St Ann Parrish tour -- it will take you deeper into the the local culture, should be avail to public soon. Two wonderful ladies undetered & persevering for success in a tough enviornment.

Falmouth -- jamaicaculinary.com, tweeter @jamaicafoodtour. Immerse with local culture & cuisine under watchful eye of great hosts - no hassle from anyone. They love children on tour - seebthere web site.. 3 1/2 hour walking tour all within 1/2 mi of Terminal. Terminal start & end. My friends Janet & Anne Click will treat you well.

Others

On at least one sea day rise early for the most awesome sunrise you will ever experience- take your camera & get to top deck for fully unobstruced view. The show starts 15-30 minutes before sunrise and lasts until about 30 minutes of sunrise. Partial cloudy days are best - the sun lights up the clouds like night launch hot air ballons. You will not regret it. The sunrises are like sunsets on steriods.

Sage advice - I too favor itinerary, cruise, & ship decision theory. Set those in place & then watch for bargin price out of Normal / Good / Bargin price knowledge. That means doing your own research & not relying on TA, even if you use TA to book.

Windjammer Buffet is open for evening meals every might. You will find dress code to be casual. Some people choose to dine there to avoid formal dress code in MDR - MDR dining is very special on formal nights and well worth the dreas code.

Last year on Serenade OTS, but did RCI tours in all the major ports. Try Google (port name to City Name) Rome returns www.Viator.com & shows cost from port to City Center $32. Am sure if you look around in Google you will find multiple services in all ports. Be careful with tour on your own. In both Rome & Florence our tour was very late getting back to port due to traffic delays / accidents-last ones back in both ports, ship waiting for us past embarkation time. If you are not on RCI tour they may not wait? Our ports were; Barcelona, Villefrance, Florence, Rome, Naples, Sicily, Malta, Palma de Mallorca. Glad to answer any questions. If your 1st trip be prepared to be wowed -- incredible experience.

$850 for an interior cabin on that itinetary seems exceptionally high?

Kids sail free is the ticket. MSC in addition to typically best rates in Caribbean on beautiful new ship has standing kids sail free across the fleet worldwide. Huge savings for families & huge marketing advantage. They also award loyalty pts for OB expenses - 1 pt for $200 spent thus you can more quickly move up loyalty categories. Royal pts for OB $ would be nice & keep them RCI competitive. They could also allow earning loyalty pts across the RCI Brand. You can use the loyalty level across Brand but pts earning restricted to RC, Celebrity, or Azumara -- combine into one Brand program. The price tag for Royal Caribbean Brand loyalty is getting huge & becoming unsustainable! Recently priced MSC Divina & Freedom OTS 7nt Balcony Eastern Caribe 2 adult 2 children - $1800 vs $4600. RC kids fare higher than MSC adult fare. $2400 is a lot of loyalty!

Believe RCI is out of step with lots of their pricing - Internet, wine, shore excursions, charging for kids, etc. Just ran numbers for 7nt Freedom Eastern Caribe, 2 adults, 2 children, balcony. $4600 compared to $1800 for competitor with comparable ship & itinerary, & amenities. They need to recognize that sound they hear is the competition foot steps. Quantrum rollout reviews aren't helping. The price of Loyal Royal is going up.

I agree Michelle. I won't be surprised to see the idea fade away. We love specialty dining but 2 or 3 a trip is it. Think they may ne headed for Delta premium pay for everything? MDR comp dining is what makes cruising unique from land based venues. They really need to be careful about messing with it!

4 future cruises booked: 1Mediterrian, 3 Caribbean, 2 inside cabin, 2 balcony cabin. Average per person per day $64 - includes booking incentives & on board credits.. We usually do not use agent, all 4 of these without agent. How & when -- pick destinations 2 years out, follow prices to know normal price, good price, & bargin price -- book at bargin price. Quick $ check daily rate per person inside cabin, not major holiday, excluding fees, taxes, gratuities: $100 = Anywhere / Anytime fare $75 = good fare $50 = bargin fare $25-$50 = what ar are you waiting for, Pack Your Bags! Expectation for OBC per cabin = $25-$150 So what does a super deal look like: 1. Enchantment OTS, 4nt Bahamas $99 per person with a $50 cabin OBC. 2. 7nt Eastern Caribbean, $299 per person, with free upgrade to balcony. 3. 7nt Mediterranean +air+2nt pre4☆hotel +transfers+free 7nt Caribbean cruise balcony cabin $1899 per person Who Is In Your Wallet?

Agree - used agent 1st time in 15 years last year. No better deal & less perks than I could get on own for cruise, cost me +/- $1000 on air to Mediterranean ( didn't book when I told them about great low fare) , & Had to tell them what NYC hotel ratemshould be when they where asking me to book higher price. Spent more time making sure they did their job than would have taken if I did my own booking. Fired them after the air disaster & took them off cruise booking. No value added -- too easy to do it yourself!

Sailed the unique Western Mediterranean itinerary May 12 BCN, Nice! Florence, Rome, Amalfi Coast, Sicily, Malta, Sardina, Mallroca, BCN. Fantastic ship, crew, and best itinetary in 20 years of crusing. If Spain, Italy, & Western Med Isles aren't on your bucket list, the list is not complete! Sailing Serenade again next Mar from New Orleans - embarkation city & ship drove decision!

Retreating to a bubble because of the hysteria is over reactive to say the least.

Do what the staff & crew tell you!! Relax & enjoy your trip!

ENJOY!

Do North shore LIJ suits come in Formal, Smart Casual, & Resort Casual? Cover protocol at muster drill.

For Falmouth check out Jamaica Culinary Tours www.jamaicaculinarytours.com

Use bonine as preventative but If you do get sick, GO TO THE DOCTOR on board. They can give you a shot - fix you up in 30 minutes or so. Cost is about $75 normal hours, $125 after hours. Your health insurance will probably cover some of it. Small price to pay so you vacation isn't ruined. My wife has done it on two occasions - incredible fast results -- priceless!

Go to dining room embarkation day & set up with staff. We have never failed to get table for two when we wanted it. Often, once you ask they will assume you want it every night & you will have to ask for larger table if you want.

Reason 13 to not use travel agents!