Lovetocruise2002

Here's the next couple for me: Anthem of the Seas - March 9, 2018 Independence of the Seas - March 9, 2019 (This one gets us into Diamond finally!) Symphony of the Seas - July 27, 2019

I have checked the box over and over again and called them 3 times over the last year to ask them to add me to the mailing list and nothing.

You're awesome @rjac A man of few words...lol

You can either upload them when you do your online check in from home or they will do it at the pier.

LMAO!!!! When I left in June, my teaching partners were taking bets on how much shopping and travelling I was going to be doing! I teach to fund my shopping habit and my cruises LOL! ...and the kids are ok too

@WAAAYTOOO do you mean Indy? Or are you referring to Adventure? I'm thinking of booking Indy.

How is the suites breakfast different from eating the MDR for breakfast?

Royal Family Suite or soon to be known as 2BDR Grand Suite. I've never sailed Freedom class before but was aware that Royal Class suite perks don't apply that's why I was wondering what you get exactly. Is there a SL/CL? I know you don't get complimentary VOOM. Do you get dining anywhere that is similar to CK?

They have been using this system on Harmony and Anthem (and I'm guessing Quantum and Ovation too but I cannot say for certain). Supposedly it speeds things up at check in so they can get people on board faster. Saves the counter agent time from not having to go and get a sea pass card for each person checking in. Minute or two saved for each person equals to a whole lot of minutes saved overall. I hear that is the general thinking with that. One Seapass card is left outside your door and the rest are inside the room. You show your Set Sail pass to board and then by 1pm you should have your card. I thought it was a bit strange too at first. But everything went ok when we went in the summer. And for those who are paranoid (like myself) about someone stealing your Seapass card, it is very easy to log onto your account through your RCTV or Royal IQ app and check your charges to make sure all is good.

What type of suite perks do you get on Independence of the Seas? It would be for a sailing in 2019 after the refurb.

Use your Set Sail pass. It does not indicate on it that you have the drink package but there is a bar code on it so they can scan it.

I never even got the email.....

I have heard awesome things about Abe Hughes! Never have been fortunate enough to sail on a cruise with him as CD. We missed him by a month on Harmony ? Tim Connor is also great! We had him on Allure and I laughed so hard during the Quest and the Belly Flop contest that I was literally in tears.

Between the wonky IT and confused RC agents thank goodness we all have each other on this site lol!

Not likely...if I remember correctly the living wall is near the middle of CP but 9179 is near the elevators. The mystery continues...

If you look at images of CP and the rooms right above it it definitely does not look like a VB. it looks like a window. And if you search CC reviews of specific cabins they mention a window that looks out to CP. So unless they are getting rid of the windows and installing VB's instead (which I doubt) it might be wonky IT again.

Quick search on cruisedeckplan.com and RC deck plans shows that there is no cat.2S? There is a 1S which is a Central Park interior view? That would be the one with the window but no balcony. Perhaps this is RC IT strikes again?

I wonder if it is a room that runs along Central Park but does not have a balcony to CP? So it has a VB instead? Is it on Deck 9? Those cabins that run along deck 9 that face CP don't have balconies. They have a window instead. But the virtual part is confusing...

We booked a JS for now and will likely upgrade closer to sailing if the price is right.

Unfortunately, some of these newer and bigger ships you do need to book things ahead of time. Good luck and like I said, keep trying even if nothing shows up right now. You never know.

Like I said in that other post...I have noticed that Harmony just keeps going up, not down. My cruise on Harmony (2 people, JS) in August 2017 I got for $3865US. We later upgraded to a GS but that's another story. Same cruise, same cabin for this coming July 2018 on Harmony we booked for $4550US. I might cancel this one depending on how reviews go for the new MSC Seaside coming up. Anyway, this sailing in July 2018 I booked in March 2017. Right now, when I check online, a JS for July 2018 is going for $7043US! So, I generally try to book as soon as sailings open up for cruises that I know for sure I want to go on. I have been monitoring this for a while and prices just rise as the date goes on. Great rates don't happen until about 45-60 days prior to sailing. It is then that I usually upgrade if the price is right. The BOGO or other sales come and go but I still think the overall price rises. And that "New ship so more expensive, it will go down later" theory does not always hold true. At least not in this case for Harmony.

Thought I would start a new thread with this one. Anyone get trigger happy and book a new sailing today? I just booked Symphony for July 2019! So excited! I have been itching to book this one since Symphony itineraries first came out. But since I am not willing to go to Europe this summer and when it arrives in Florida I won't be able to get off work, I had to wait until now. The prices are most definitely not cheap! However, I pretty much knew I was going summer 2019 regardless. The good news is that I had to tell my inner control freak to get lost and book with a TA for this one. Some of you may know from my previous posts I don't like giving up control over my bookings but this one TA that I sometimes go with was able to get me the cabin I want (for now) for $1300 US less than what RC is showing online! Could not turn that down! Anyway, anyone else book anything today?

Lol! That and purse sales! It's a madhouse! You can always get the designer purses cheaper on land than on the ship.

I agree. I think new ship prices are only partly to blame. RC is just charging more period. We have a sailing booked on Harmony this coming July 2018 and it costs more than our sailing that we just took in August 2017! Same cabin. So prices are increasing not decreasing.

Leaving in a few weeks? Yikes. Hopefully there are still some spots left for you. For my sailing on Anthem in March, North Star bookings were gone over a month ago. They go fast. If you aren't able to get a spot try to make a reservation once you get on board. Also keep checking your cruise planner because they might always open more spots or people might cancel. Last but not least, I have read some reviews on other sites where people claim that on port days and embarkation day you don't need a reservation, you just get in line.