PolicromaSol

Darn, already picked one without Coco.🤣 But that's fine, it's already very convenient for a drive and with my kid's spring break.

My suspicion is: To warn people that even somewhere you'd expect to have your belongings entirely safe, there may still be dishonest people.

In my case it prompted me during the original order. I can find no options in the website to change this, so I'm not sure if it can be changed that way. If it's like any other cruise, I know you can arrange at guest services once things start, though. Also, all their CS numbers are here: Contact Us | Royal Caribbean Cruises

I'm scheduled for March. I wonder how the parking will be there.🤔

I think it's also worth noting that in many businesses that have any kind of customer accounts have a note system for employees to leave information for each other on. They can warn other employees of ongoing issues, or even give heads up as to habits that may throw an employee off. If they know in advance that there's a tip, they may have such a note system. Admittedly I am guessing here.

I remember locally, there was a big fuss with a particular tea room that split the tips among their employees. Some Karen sued them over it, even though she had no dog in the fight and the employees were happy with the tip system at this particular establishment. The end result? Tipping is no longer allowed there, no matter how well your server or chef does. Is that good or bad? The employees liked the system as it previously was. And yes, now they have a higher "base" pay. But they can no longer "dial it up" for a little extra. Now they no longer have that "lucky day" where some rich guy will leave a several hundred dollar tip. The reality is that some people work those types of jobs specifically *because* they like the tipping system. I tend to be on the "middle" when it comes to tipping. Parts of it make sense, parts of it annoy the hell out of me. I foreheadsmack at places like Flix Brewhouse that charge 18% gratuity automatically, claim it's all well and good, but still leave a "tip" line on the receipt. Do I leave more or not? It's almost like it's shaming you to leave more. (I try to get my money's worth out of their customer service in response though! More cookies for the kiddo, please! LOL)

Yeah, I don't get it to be honest. I mean, I'm happy a port closer to me started opening up bookings first, but you'd think Florida would have a lot of customers itching for a cruise.

Apologies, I was mostly joking. Apparently there's a "fine" for being caught smoking in your room. The way things are going these days, wouldn't surprise me if the ships were all "Well, then. Thank you for the money!"

Oh, I'm sure they did something about it. They quietly charged them all $250! Cruises gotta make back all that lost money from the past few years!

Nobody is claiming gnostic info here. Most people just recognize the way the wind is blowing now. Even the CDC has finally bent the knee, and the Bermuda email people are passing around is pretty telling. Cruise ships have long been dragged through the mud by the media for 24-hour stomach bug outbreaks, when such things could just as easily happen in any resort if merely one idiot neglects to wash his hands after throwing up. Somehow the resort gets a free pass while the cruise company gets public humiliation. This is why they've been (I will argue) overly cautious. But the resorts and tourist destinations are open (went to Vegas with the family last spring and ran into no restrictions whatsoever), inflation is about to beat us over the head, and cruises lose out on money from people passing them over for competition that no longer cares and will gladly accept money with a smile. At this point, the cruises are just missing out on money that should be theirs. Personally speaking, I went ahead and booked one of the Adventure out of Galveston. It's not until next spring, and I figure the remaining test requirements will most likely go away by then. (And if not, well, we can cross that red-tape bridge easily enough.) But even 3/4 of a year away, it was slim pickings. When people open their wallets, businesses tend to listen. (And for anyone who wants a laugh, yes, I did catch a stomach bug in Vegas!)

Well, I'm basing my "seasickness is not an issue" on the first cruise my family ever went on. The water was choppy enough to be throwing us around while we were walking around the ship before and after dinner, regardless of where we went in the ship. (It was our first time doing this, so we were eager to explore.) High, low, forward, mid, aft...didn't matter. That thing was rocking like crazy. I couldn't walk a straight line all night, and I'm a teetotaller. I'm shocked nobody's dinner got dropped, but I imagine the staff is used to it. Nobody got seasick, but that sure as heck taught me what "sea legs" are. The rest of the trip was completely smooth. On the plus side, rocked me to sleep very comfortably that night. Best night of sleep I'd had in a while.

Haven't tried this on boats, but I have done it on trains and whatnot. I think it's just down to availability.

I remember doing this years ago, and someone mentioned/suggested people who pay their gratuities all at once to get things like two dollar bills or particularly collectible coins for tips, just so that you have something to give. Makes me feel better that they know, though. Tip creep is scary.

So if seasickness isn't a worry, have at it? Am I understanding that right?

Looking at a cruise with these rooms at the very front of the ship available. It's tempting, mainly because I have a kid and a good view from portholes can be fun. It seems from other (much older) threads that people are discussing (and enjoying) these exact rooms, but in the name of caution, is there a reason they don't sell very quickly compared to others? Seasickness is not an issue in our family. The last time we were on a choppy boat, it tossed us around a bit, but otherwise rocked us to some very good sleep.