Lovetocruise2002

Actually going to correct myself here thinking of it some more. L&S is valid until September 30, 2020. You said that your sailing is in November, and assuming that the next round of cancellations is announced mid-September (they seem to be going month to month), you should still have time to move it after the fact. Again, someone correct me if I am not correct on this. L&S is not something I have paid much attention to since none of my sailings are moveable. But definitely people on my roll calls were moving things after the fact.

Yes, I believe that you have a certain amount of time to lift and shift after the cruise is cancelled. I recall each one of my cancelled sailings up until this point, people on roll calls were still shifting after the cancellation announcement. Someone correct me if I am wrong. If your lift and shift is successful and granted, you should not have to pay the price difference. The whole point of lift and shift is that it locks in your lower price.

When we stayed at Embassy Suites in Elizabeth, NJ (it's right next to the Courtyard) we ate at iHOP lol. Probably not the recommendation you were looking for though. I was not a fan of that area, lack of good dining options was one of the reasons. We prefer Manhattan and just make the trip to Bayonne the following day. I was also entertaining the idea (although now it's been cancelled) of staying in Jersey City instead for better pre-cruise dining and entertainment options.

Yes, I've done two on Anthem out of Bayonne. One was an 8 night in March, and the other was a 9 night in July. My thoughts are in these two blogs: https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php?/topic/5780-anthem-of-the-seas-march-9-17-2018/ https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards/index.php?/topic/13683-cruising-with-greatness-–-anthem-group-cruise-–-july-4-13-2019/

You should most definitely call. Website does not always show full availability.

Yes, this is what happened for our Odyssey sailing as well. If you opt in for the 125% FCC option, it will be whatever you have paid so far plus 25% extra of that.

I remember reading your blog and you have two kids right? When we travel with our two girls (now 12 and 14), but even when they first started cruising at 4 and 6, our first rule was no one is allowed to pack more than they can carry or wheel or their own. We always do self-disembark and the kids are allowed one backpack on their back and one small 21 inch luggage that wheels. Whatever they need to back must fit into that. If it doesn't fit, it doesn't come. It's worked so far and hubby is not like my poor dad who used to carry all the luggage for his 3 girls way back when lol.

Here's some that @Matt took from Freedom. It going to be very similar... https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2020/01/11/photo-tour-of-2-bedroom-grand-suite-royal-caribbeans-freedom-of-the-seas

IMO, the biggest benefits to Junior Suites is the bigger space (which I love) and the double C&A points. That's about it.

The GS is similar layout to the GS on Oasis and Allure. Harmony and Symphony Grand suites have a wall in the middle of the room that the older ships do not have. The other main difference that I don’t like about the GS on older ships is that the balcony is a lot more narrow compared to oasis class grand suites. There are a few anomaly GS on older ships that have a somewhat different layout. Take a look at the deck plans for those but they are few and far between. Yes, there is a suite lounge on Mariner. As far as dining goes, I have noticed that for embarkation day, they usually have seating in Chops for suite guests but it is seating only. You get your food from the WJ and head there for a more quiet experience. So either that or you could book something... Because there is no CK, we usually book at least a 3 night dining package on non-Oasis/Quantum class. You also have the option of complimentary room service from either the room service menu or the MDR menu. That could be an option too if you want to dine in your room or balcony.

I never book through their website, cannot comment any more. Sorry, the whole thing most definitely is frustrating.

What if you re-book your new cruise (the one that you are trying to use your FCC on) with a travel agent? Have them deal with Royal. @Matt only posts facts on the blog so this should be able to be done. This is one of the reasons I use a TA. I can do everything, but like you said, I don’t particularly want to be tied to the phone and my free time is more valuable than that.

I wonder if it is one of those things where you need an agent to do it for you. I remember when they first cancelled sailings back in March/April and they allowed extended holds until May 31st before a deposit needed to be made, an agent had to do that for you.

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2020/06/08/you-can-now-use-future-cruise-credit-pay-royal-caribbean-cruise-deposit

Yes. Once, while in a JS we did get complimentary drinks from the suite lounge and no, no one checked status. This was on Oasis class. I have only done a JS once on Oasis class, after the dive in Sky, we did not look back lol. A good friend of mine who recently stayed in a JS on Oasis class also was able to get complimentary drinks from the suite lounge while dining in CK. I really believe for this one, it might be one of those gray areas where it might vary by ship and staff that you come across.

YOLO! Just take the dive into Sky and go for the loft! 😉

Not even close. The OP was asking about whether you could take drinks from the suite lounge when dining in CK. If you scroll back, you posted something totally unrelated to what @jagnew was asking.

Yes. ^^^This. We used FCC from our cancelled March Oasis sailing and used it to pay for our August Oasis sailing (also cancelled). We topped it off out of pocket. Our FCC came back rolled into one.

I don't know why, but I am laughing so hard at this comment! Love it! Maybe one day I will be Type A- lol!

Again, you do you, and what applies to you is not one size fits all. We take cruises with my parents as well, who are both in their 70s. They are more active than we are.

Just missing you by two weeks! The 8 night itinerary was what sold me.

My daughter and I both are prone to motion. We don't feel much up there. I find Oasis class to be quite steady.

When next August? @WAAAYTOOO and I are both on the 08/21/21 sailing...Deck 17 of course 😉

That's the whole point for the Deck 17 suite snobs! lol kidding I've done a GS on Deck 12 before so I know exactly what you mean. However, depending on the type of cruiser you are, isolation might not be a bad thing. All I can say is that the wide hallways of Deck 17 are hard to beat, and I have not once (on Deck 17) heard kids running down the hall or been a victim of "ding dong ditch" as my own kids call it. 😆 Cannot say the same for suites on the lower decks.