twangster

The surveys go to the ship and are reviewed by management on the ship. The positive and negative feedback becomes more difficult for them to address as time goes on. Crew turn over all the time. A cruise that was two or three cruises ago becomes difficult to remember when they do this day week after week with new faces every cruise. I don't respond. I hate surveys. Every phone call, every ticket for any vendor in life seems to want a survey, just 5 minutes for this 15 minute survey. I don't do surveys. Period.

I got a balcony comp in September on Utopia for the lowest level free casino cruise cert. Just cost me port fees and taxes. However September is generally considered an off peak month in the prime of hurricane season so maybe it's a slow month for short Florida mega bookings.

I make do with a very small swiss army knife. It travels in my checked suitcase which I often will carry on board when I'm permitted to. Victorinox Classic SD type. I've taken it on countless cruises. I don't typically take it off the ship at ports of call so I can't help from that perspective.

New to cruise is the hottest segment of mass market cruising right now. Royal is placing Utopia to maximize revenue.

A travel agent can provide better details if they look at your cabin # in the TA portal. Absent of having a travel agent call Royal and inquire with them.

They cut MammaMIA! on my recent sailing. As I walked up to the theater they were there informing guests it wouldn't be offered. Blue Planet was the only show on that occasion. I believe they are listening to the cast and stage crew on Allure and using that to form the options for Utopia.

Amsterdam Passenger Terminal getting shore power added right now.

Oasis class doing short Florida is a challenge for a Broadway production show where the theater needs to be shared with many other activities. On longer cruises they make it work. Allure has struggled on short FL trying to get MammaMIA! and Blue Planet both squeezed into a short sailing. It's proven way too much on turning the theater between shows and on the cast. It also means there is one night for such a show and that means it's hard to accommodate 6,500 guests. Guests complain when they can't make it all work due to so much going on. Oasis class was originally designed for seven nights and each production show had two nights with two showings so a total of four times for each show. That just isn't possible on a three night cruise.

CT3 is the newish Carnival terminal. I'm surprised Royal is using it even as a port of call. It's not really walkable to the restaurants near CT1. It's 1.3 miles to Grills for example. In the heat of a Florida summer day it wouldn't be a comfortable walk even if you are into long walks.

As Julie Young, one the Empress HD used to say, she was the smallest ship with the biggest heart.

FWIW Vancouver has had shore power available since 2009 however it isn't mandatory. They claim they were the 3rd port globally to make it available. https://www.portvancouver.com/environmental-protection-at-the-port-of-vancouver/climate-action-at-the-port-of-vancouver/shore-power/

Radiance has it. Saw it used in LA in 2023 after a canal transit.

Solo fares are what took me to the Origin over Flora.

I was booked on this sailing but had to cancel due to personal events. I’m looking forward to following. Enjoy!

As an older vessel she is required to visit a shipyard every 2.5 years. Perhaps she is performing her required maintenance? Just a thought.