Atlantix2000

It may depend on whether you paid for the refreshment package or received it as a perk.  If you paid for it, it's just cancel and repurchase as JLMoran says above.  If it's a perk, I don't think you can upgrade it.  Certain classes of cabin come with the soda package (Neighborhood balconies, maybe?) and I'm pretty sure I've seen people say those can't be upgraded.  You have to pay full price for any other beverage package.  I would think the same would apply if you receive the refreshment package as a perk but I don't have any direct evidence.

Welcome OrlandoDad,

1) Yes, you can change your first night's reservation (and make all the others) once you are on board.  It's generally recommended to do this right after boarding for the most available options.

2) Depends if you have Traditional Dining (Early or Late Seating) or My Time Dining.  With Traditional there is a table and servers waiting for you (possibly with other guests at the table also) at your reserved time.  With Traditional, you also cannot show up at a different time.  If you are doing the Unlimited Dining Package, Traditional probably doesn't make sense since you're generally planning to eat most or all of your meals in the specialty restaurants.  With My Time Dining, you can reserve dining times whenever you like (subject to availability) or just show up like you're going to a land restaurant and wait for a table.  This is probably more compatible with the Dining Package.

3& 5) As above, if you make your reservations when you board, you can reasonably expect to get into the restaurants you want at the times you want.  As the cruise continues, the people who don't plan ahead will discover that specialty dining exists and reservations will get progressively harder to find/change.  For this reason, during the early days you will find restaurant staff offering deals to encourage people to try specialty dining and fill the restaurants.  They won't have to do that by the end of the week.

4) I agree that you shouldn't really need all cards.  I'm not sure how this information combines with the Dining Package, but children below a certain age only cost $10 at the specialty restaurants and they don't need reservations.  So you make a reservation for 2 and show up with your 2 kids and pay for them then.  If you reserve for all 4 you pay the full adult price and they have to refund the difference.  Maybe there is a kid's version of the Dining Package but that's how it works if you don't have a package.

Trading must be British for operating or running, huh?  Silly Brits.

By the way, it will still say "from $39.00" even after the last cheap appointment slot has been booked.

46 minutes ago, Yo2slick said:

If you have the DBP, do you still get charged the 18% for all drinks?

When you purchase the DBP, they'll add the 18% to the cost of the package to cover the gratuities.  So if you see the DBP advertised as $50/day, once you add it to your cart, it will really cost you $59/day.  But then you won't have to pay any tips as you get each drink.

Anything on the ship will be charged to your account using your sea pass.  You can settle that bill with credit cards or cash.  They will automatically add an 18% gratuity to any drinks purchased (and also to the drink package if you purchase that).

Pre-paid gratuities cover your stateroom attendant, waiters, and all the behind the scenes employees.  If you don't pre-pay those, they will be charged to your sea pass daily.

36 minutes ago, DDaley said:

I have a related MTD dining question for embarkation day; I reserved a 5:45 MTD but on every Cruise Compass I have seen, the San Juan muster is at 5:45p for a departure at 8:30p. Would they let me schedule dinner if it were during muster? 

Would Royal's website let you schedule during muster?  Probably yes but I wouldn't worry about it.  The dining room will definitely be closed during muster and I highly doubt it is open before muster.  Just plan to head to the dining room after muster and they will take care of you.  You could also stop by the dining room when you board and update your reservation based on their recommendation.

8 minutes ago, Ray said:

When there in Nov you could only use a registered taxi from the airport. 

Uber was not allowed to take hires from the airport. 

The usual solution to that problem is walk across the street from the airport!

11 hours ago, MrsFL said:

I am heading out on Navigator at the end of this month and was wondering the same.  Does anyone know if Navigator's  4-night has a formal or dress to impress?  I don't want to take our formal attire if it's not needed.  Thanks!

You will not be turned away from the dining room for coming in casual clothes on any ship on any length sailing.  Truly formal nights only exist on luxury cruise lines these days.  While it's a hot bottom topic on cruise forums, on the ships the only thing that will keep you out of the dining room is swimwear.

That's why earlier in the thread twangster highlighted the "Prices shown reflect your discount" right under the price.  As with all things Royal, just look at the price ignoring all text/ads/promos/sales/whatever.  If you like that price, buy.  And remember you can also cancel and repurchase if you ever see it lower.

You only have to bring the provided cup if you want to use the Coke Freestyle machines.  This is because the RFID chip in the bottom of the cup activates those machines.  Any bar or restaurant (including MDR) will give you a soda although the options may be limited depending on where you are.  Your SeaPass card will be printed (or have a sticker) indicating what drink package you have so you just show it to your waiter or bartender.  I've seen conflicting reports on the ability to get canned vs fountain soda from bars/restaurants with the drink package.

Officially shorts are too casual for the dining room / specialty restaurants.  Unofficially, nobody cares.  You'll see people in all manner of dress at all times.  Wet swimwear is about the only thing that will actually get you stopped at the entrances to anyplace that serves food.

It's a well known quirk of the Cruise Planner that it shows "At your leisure" even after making reservations.  In your purchase history it should show what you actually reserved (and I think there's another way to view it too).  But as long as you see it in your purchase history, you are good.  And yes, you do have to make a separate reservation for every night that you want one.  Remember, you can treat My Time Dining like a land restaurant and just show up and wait for a table.  (And like a restaurant, how long of a wait will depend on how many other people show up around the same time.)  If you do reserve the same time every night, it is highly likely you will be given the same table and wait staff each night.  Some people really like that.

There's still plenty of island that hasn't been developed.  I'm quite confident we can still walk a bit further down the beach and be completely alone.  Last time I was there I went on an hour walk without meeting anyone else (and just saw a few at a distance).  If you stay in the most crowded areas, yes, it will probably feel crowded, but that's your choice.

Plates for sure.  I've heard using a second plate as a cover can be useful.  Once in the room, you'll want to transfer to something of yours for storage or leave a note for your cabin attendant.  Otherwise, they might clean it all up on you!

7 hours ago, VinceC said:

If the Drydock in the Caribbean get fixed it should take no more than a week to get back in service. 

True, but at the expense of canceling an entire cruise.  Lots of unhappy people no matter how you look at it!

If possible, I would actually have a letter from the father stating permission to take the child out of the country with you, not just available on speed dial.  Unless you have court papers to show he has no parental rights/partial custody.  It's possible you won't need anything but the birth certificate but if you get someone asking questions, you want every possible answer with you especially if you're checking in close to departure time!

19 minutes ago, teacherdl said:

I'm sure this is a dumb question, but since so many people have mentioned it, what does "double points" mean?

Points in the Crown and Anchor Society (Royal's loyalty program).  You get 1 point per night sailed.  You get an extra point per night if you are in a suite.  You also get an extra point per night if you sail solo in a cabin (but you also generally end up paying the same cost as two people)

Junior Suites qualify for the extra points but you don't get most of the real perks of being in a suite.  So many people see them as a more affordable way to move up the loyalty ranks.

No Status: 0-2 Points

Gold: 3+ Points gets you some coupons to use on board but not much else

Platinum: 30+ Points

Emerald: 55+ Points

Diamond: 80+ Points

Diamond Plus: ???+ Points

Pinnacle Club: ???+ Points

I'm sure someone will be along with the link to all the benefits at the various levels and to remind me of the points required for the top levels.

Guessing since you used pounds instead of dollars that you made an international call to the US?  I've heard there's a toll free UK number for those that need it.  I think someone has posted it in here before.  Search or Google!

My wife and sister-in-law did a trip to Europe before we met.  They said buying tickets in advance (typically online) to popular tourist attractions like the Vatican, Coliseum, Eiffel Tower, etc. was super important.  They said there were really two lines everywhere: one to buy tickets and one to get in and both could be an hour or more.  So getting advance tickets helped but didn't completely eliminate lines.  I don't think they did private excursions.  Based on the comments above, they sound even better than advance tickets!

Cover of darkness?  Did you forget it's on the other side of the Atlantic?  The post was from 8 hours ago when it was 11PM - midnight here in the US but 6-7AM in Spain!

Most cruisers fall into one of two categories: those who NEVER get off the ship without their passport and those who leave it in their cabin's safe the entire cruise.  There have been countless debates and they generally all boil down to what happens if you miss the ship because you need a passport to fly internationally so being stranded on an island without a passport would be a big problem.  Theoretically, the ship's crew will enter your cabin and retrieve any passports in the safe and leave them with the port authority before the ship departs without you.  The always bring your passport crowd doesn't want to rely on that.

17 hours ago, Blondie511 said:

Thanks so much for your quick reply!  I could not find any details ANYWHERE on the internet....all it takes is this forum here!  This is THE BEST!  

Royal doesn't officially publish menus or entertainment schedules so they can't be accused of false advertising or bait and switch if they end up changing/removing something you were counting on when you booked your cruise.  This forum is great for providing members' current experiences as long as you remember that things may be slightly different in the future.

Since so many features of Coco Cay are new, I would guess their initial menus will last for awhile unless guests provide strong negative feedback about a particular item.

General rule is if it generates heat, it's not allowed except for hair products or there would be mutiny!

You seem to be avoiding acknowledging the other examples of this type of advertising...cars from X$, flights from $Y, etc.  Those "sales" don't update to the lowest price currently available either.