Joseph2017China

People forget sometimes that the rules.....don't make sense. That simple. For example, Spain lifted vaccine mandates to enter the country, if you are from EU countries, but from the USA, you need a vaccine and/or a booster within 270 days. No mask anyplace but on a bus. So go to a crowded bar, shopping, sporting event, no mask required, but get on a bus, you better mask up. Just don't try to understand, because you can't. Just follow and have fun.

Well, sometimes the solution is easy. Book for the night, go to the hotel at 9 or so, in the morning off the ship. On rare chances they let you check in early. In other chances, they will hold your luggage until check in time. Later on, check in, etc and assuming you have a late flight, you can check out whenever you want....you paid for the night, got luggage storage already, and if it is a location you want....or a pool, you should have access to it also until room is ready. I have dropped bags off many times in the morning.

At least you now know that money is only good in the country that made it......

For your defense, I sat on a park bench, outside the ship, with small merchants. One merchant was selling cold drinks. I bought a can of Beer for approximately, $1.80usd. Now I did not use a trusty $2.00 bill, but rather paid, for id local money. I watched someone else buy one for Euro's. The price they paid was about $4.00usd based on the time conversion rate. But two others paid with $5.00 bills. They each bought a can for $5 and said it was cheaper than on the ship. The menu board said 5.00 with no sign in front of it. So in your defense, you got robbed each time you spent money......and others laughed at it. The merchant really laughed because all day long, he sold drinks for 150% profit. People are just shocked that you actually think that other countries should take your cash

You know, being shocked that no one wanted USD outside of the USA? You know, the money is like monopoly money, it has no value, can't be used. To accept it, the shop, must first, figure out the conversion, and add 10% to it for fees, and than some more for processing it. Your credit card is charged in Euro's and the bank (note I said bank) converts it. Some cards will not charge for this, but others will give you at least a 3% fee to exchange it. But again, the merchant is not doing it, your bank is. $2 bills, is the worst thing you can try to use, especially on an international trip. The $2 has no purpose but to be "cute" and the adult, does not want cute, they want cash, and they don't want currency that most people don't even know it's real outside the USA, and who were born after 1976. As far as tipping on the ship. Crew leave the ship and shop locally so Euro's are good for them. However, the ship is USD so on the ship USD is good for them. Bottom line is, this. The ship has a banking system for crew, and whatever you give them, they will be happy, except for the annoying $2 bill. I have watched many people get ripped off because they wanted to use USD outside the country, and I always find it humorous how many times it happens.......I have loads of stories. Don't be that person and use currency of the country.

Most people that get the UDP package would never step foot in the main dining room....that is the purpose of it. So changing to MTD is logical, because they don't want empty tables for a person that 99.9% of the time would not show up for it. It should be an automatic thing to change you, which it seems happened.

I once left a $20 bill laying on a table.......Someone was $20 richer. No, if the bag had no name, and no ID in it, than it is lost cash

The idea of the ID is to match a face with the name, and since a 16 year old is still not an adult, and they must travel with the adult that also vouches for them, the school ID is valid as a government ID. However, you should always check with RCCL to verify. This is not an argument if it will work or not, or "opinions" on it, but rather why you need a picture, and why they don't specifically say what is acceptable. It never says a state ID card, it is just assumed it by random people who have no first hand knowledge. School ID's were fine for my kids, but unless you call, you won't know for sure

Why can't the question be answered? Why does the poster not call RCCL and ask this question? Why do people think a school issued ID is not government? Is not a school run by a Government?

I could care less on how it is split, and/or who gets it since I paid it, and that is it. I absolutely never tip extra for anyone and for any reason. I also only tip the "customary amounts" which on a ship, is not 18%, and it is prepaid, so I tipped it already.

Well, it is free to complete. It is easy to complete. It is a government requirement. Anyone that wants to try to analyze words, and find some gray area should do so, but when denied entry, your argument will not work. I don't even know if it was needed, but it is attached to your passport info, I filled it out, flying in, and the day before cruise, I filled it again for the cruise, and it took, just a few minutes to complete. So just do it, and no need to discuss

As a back-up, your hotel should be able to print it.

Well, you were away for 10 years. Since than, the cruise line entered the digital age. Everything from door locks changing to online apps, and cruise compasses to digital reservations, and all your coupons loaded on seapass card. Even the soda packages changed to free style machines being available. 10 years is a long time.

but another point to consider when asking, is who will actually answer you that tried both of them, and can give you an honest answer based on experience, and not speculation.

Personnally, like another said, I see no real value in it, and for a full time Wheelchair, I see even less value. You can get the wifi cheaper than the key and the only other item is boarding day lunch, but you can also get free lunch in the buffet so not really worth it

I touch things on a daily basis, and never wipe it down......

The big question? Why does it matter if they change the questions? It is the check in, you would just answer what the ask, and than get on ship. They are never answered correctly anyway

You mean the "Key"? That is a program. The key card is your seapass card and everyone gets one. Being disabled is irrelevant to getting the "Key". Plus you need to be more specific, because using a wheelchair, can either be "full time" or "part time". But either case, the lunch, and wifi package it comes with is allowed for everyone to use, despite disability.

So, if I understand it right, book a cruise, pay the money for it, so you can get benefits for free on next one? How does this save any money?

I would answer this question but I never had any leftover vouchers past 12:00 noon

I tip $22.80 per drink because they deserve it

All food is international.....what you would like is to see specific themed eating locations like Mexican, Seafood, or African?

Like everything else, the rule is spelled out, and than others will question it, break it, and when the rule is followed, the person will than come back and complain about it.

Many countries require you to submit your info to their health departments. What the cruise line collects is for the cruise line, not the various governments.

Well, every time I go someplace, I am in close contact with people having COVID. During the peak, I think it would be daily. Being in close contact is a lot more common than people want to believe, and panic over it.