Don

Thats great! Always rewarding to see the appreciation of recognition!

You guys are are really doing me in! Good thing we sail in 21 days! Planning speciality venues probably 4 or 6 nights? We are early diners so not sure what we will do on late 12 hour tour returns from Florence, Rome, & Naples - although we have MDR resevations, maybe quick bite in Windjammer. Yes, those ports are correct! It's not so much about what dessert you will choose, but where you will have it! TAKE THAT-- NOW WE'RE EVEN!

That will perk up the taste buds! On our voyage next month we were going to do Chops as 1st Speciality -- you just moved Portofino to top of list. Since our next voyage is within 30 days, I won't call you on our pact to not mention Portofino & Timamusa in same sentence! Great post.

One of our favorite trips was Bayonne RT 2 days out, 2 return, 3 nights in Bermuda --RCI Celebrity. Very leisurely, kickback trip!

Rekkie point that RC INTERNATIONAL is the point. Let's buy a ticket, fly to Hong Kong, enjoy Quantum, enjoy the World. It will be a uniquely different World experience than FLL & 7 days Western.

That is May 3, instead of May 13.

Radiance & Rhapsody both do an Island itinerary before or after repositioning to Vancouver for Alaska Summer runs. This year Apr12, May 13, Sep 5 & 12. We did Rhapsody last Spring, fantastic itinerary; 5 Islands, Pacific crossing, port in Victoria, terminate Vancouver. Highly recommend!

Agree, movernight lets you explore & experience the port!

This subject is up there with religion & politics; but one I think needs attention - primarily by RCI. Recognize the trend is rapidily becoming more & more casual & don't have a problem with that--if more & more casual is the standard. Every time RCI allows diners entrance to Chops or MDR in shorts & tank tops, or other similar attire on formal night they just redefined the dress standard. I use that more extreme example to demonstrate if diners will do that, the difference between the casual standard & what people will push it to doesn't stand a chance. If RCI defines the standard and then chooses to not set that expectation they should change the standard. Some will take the view point that it's my vacation so I'll wear whatever I choose so long as it doesn't offend others -- how would they know or do they care? I don't think it is too much to ask that dining attire match the RCI standard & definition, rather than a discussion about what you can get away with before they will invite you to enjoy you meal from room service. Yes, I was offended when I choose Chops for formal night for our anniversary & they seated a table of four next to us who looked like they had just come from the beach. Thats probably way more than enough time on that soap box.

She will love it, probably cool to hot rock cook her own. Yes lots of choices other than sushi, which I don't do. Don't recall entire menu but for sure chicken & steak for hot rock, they will probably let you try anything in reason, ie fish, shrimp, maybe even veggies? What ever she chooses will be great if she can cok her own! Waiter would probably help her as well. Take lots of photos -- what a show & tell opportunity.

MTD table service is the same as traditional dining. Only exception is if you change tables with different wait staff they may not be as familiar with your preferences.

We're planning 6 of 11 nights in specialty next month on Serenad, 2 in each -- at least!

Same experience on our Dec 2013 sailing. Enchantment staff & crew best we have encountered across RCI!

Port Canveral is easiest port in my opinion, thus NJ & any other place we have sailed from is slightly more difficult. I was going to suggest opposite of Matt, show up too early & you may have to wait for boarding to commence? Too early combined with some unforeseen clearance for boarding is the only way I can see it taking "hours" to board--only happened once in my experience -- Charleston; travel companions wanted too early, poor parking, & ship cleaning for noro -- maybe waited 1 hr? Sailed NJ 2 yr ago, don't recall it being any more difficult or time consuming than other ports. Relax and go with the flow, you're on vacation!

Hey, I like the go pro idea --you can get Mattnto post on the blog!

Go for the parasailing, & then let us know how it was! Attempted 4x but yet to make it. Great location to do it.

May 2014 Serenade OTS 11nt BCN BCN Italian Med. 3 Night pre in Barcelona at Hotel Condes de Barcelona. My time dining set to match some late tour returns at Florence, Rome, & Naples. Booked all excursions thru RCCL except Villefrance -- will spend the day on our on in Port City & Old Town Nice. Sailed Serenade several years ago, looking forward to seeing the refurbish upgrades.

Even betterTip! That's why you get the administrator big bucks! Thanks!

GREAT TIP!!!

Thanks, Just looked at my open book cert I got two months ago. Scale was $25-$200 -- 3-5 $25, 6-9 $100, 10-14 $150, & 15+ $200.

I must have missed something. I've seen the new table of credits for future; ie Inside cabin for 15+ day cruise is now $100 -- what is the current incentive for an open booking? I understood in past, open booking credit would be determined at time it was converted to actual booking, based on cruise length & cabin category? Is there now a table of open booking credits?

Help me out with the cruise booking math 101. Is the future cruise on-board booking incentive larger than an open-booking cert incentive? And if re-booked what / how would the incentive increase?

Agree, $175/$200 per person per night for inside cabin is exorbitant to say least. Same is true for Sister line Celebrity. 2014 Celebrity British Isle on Infinity are only $100nt, & we paid $$85 nt for our Italian Med cruise on Serenade this May. Have'nt looked in detail at USA fares, but have seen lots of $45--$50 discount deals.

Thanks Matt - sent this morning. Will be interesting to see if they honor furture cruise open booking certificate commitments.