Tolkmit

Agreed, only way this is really screwing someone is if the refund takes more than a couple days. Sucks getting your hopes up, but it's not getting screwed when you are getting exactly what you expected outside of the 5 minutes between emails.

No, laptops aren't considered power boards because they are considered computers. They work much, much differently internally. (Yes, I realize I said anything that turns one plug into multiple plugs is a power board. That's because there is no point in explaining things in a more technical way, they point is to put things into easy to understand terms for the average person; and the average person doesn't look at a computer and think "That's a device for splitting power" they think "That's a computer." Despite it being able to split power.)

USB is just a type of plug, when you are talking about power boards. It doesn't matter what type of plug it is. American standard (A or B) European standards (C, l, or G) or USB plugs... they are all just plugs; one plug into multiple plugs equals power board. Again, the chances of them confiscating something you take on board are quite small, even smaller if it's just a USB thing; but technically it is against the rules. You aren't going to get in trouble, they might just take it at security, or your steward might take it if he see's it plugged in while you are away.

I work in a related field. I can assure you, a cord is not required for something to be considered a power board. Anything that turns one plug into multiple plugs is a power board. The fact the rules have never been enforced for you isn't surprising, it's fairly common for them not to enforce their own rules.

The one thing that you are allowed to bring, is a one to one europlug adapter. All, or at least most, cabins have both a US plug and a European plug. An adapter to turn that European plug into a single US plug is not against any of their written rules. And that gets you an extra plug. Again, this is all what their stated rules are. It's uncommon for them to enforce their rules. But It's worth knowing what they are going in, so if you decide to spend money on a "cruise safe" adapter you know it might get confiscated.

No, Royal says no extension cords or "power boards." Anything that changes one outlet into more than one outlet is a power board, and against the official rules.

There is no such thing as an extension cord/power strip that is approved for Royal Caribbean. There are two reasons cruise lines don't allow extension cords/power strips. First, because if it has a surge protector, that is a fire hazard due to the way electricity works on a cruise ship. Second, because if it is too low of a gauge of wire and you try to pull too much power over it, that will cause heat and once again, that is a fire hazard. Some cruise lines specify extension cords/power strips are not allowed as long as they don't have surge protection, as that is the primary concern. So when you see something advertised as cruise approved, what is really being said is that the product doesn't have a surge protector, thus meeting the requirements of lines than specify no surge protector. You are meant to think it is allowed on all cruise lines, but that is not what it is actually saying. It means it is approved for the cruise lines that allow those sorts of extension cords/power strips. Royal isn't one of them. However, Royal's official rules are not strictly enforced. Security VERY seldomly will confiscate electrical stuff when the bags come on board. So ultimately, it's all based on your room steward. If they got and follow their exact training, any extension cord/power strip, even those advertised as "Cruise Approved," will be confiscated. Others may not know or care. Others may be swayed by something saying/showing as "Cruise Approved." It's impossible to know what yours will do until you are on board, though most seem to do nothing. This is why you get such a wide variety of feedback and responses. People buy stuff that says "Cruise approved" and have stewards not take it away, so they believe it's allowed, when in fact it isn't, the rules just aren't often enforced. While others will say theirs was confiscated, because they ran into someone who does enforce the official rules.

I'm not sure where you heard they don't force you to quarantine onboard for any other illness, but that's completely wrong. Cruise lines have always forced passengers to quarantine if they believe you have certain communicable diseases, like norovirus. What is changing is the CDC requiring you to quarantine after you get off the ship. Cruise lines covered the cost of that CDC required quarantine. Now that the CDC is no longer requiring that, it's unlikely the cruise lines will continue paying for it.

Yeah, I mean the current written policy specifically says this might change; so yeah, you are right some people will think it won't change, but I kind of doubt Royal is going to be overly worried about them. I'm not even sure Royal would be changing the current policy, as it only says Royal would cover "required" quarantine. With the CDC no longer having requirements, just recommendations, Royal's current policy doesn't actually say they'll cover anything anymore, at least in the US.

Actually, Royal's policy has always had a "subject to change" disclaimer. Their obligation to pay for expenses for people who catch it on board ends whenever they choose to say it ends.

It's no more misleading than is common in pretty much all advertising. The picture is of an ocean-view with large balcony. There is just variance in those rooms, and that was the largest individual room in that category across the fleet, not representative of the average room in that category. But that's common. Order food online for delivery, and the picture isn't what an average order of the item looks like, it's a picture of the item looking as good as they could possibly make it.

This. The price they show you reflects the discount already. You actually have to add 18% to whatever price they show you to know the actual cost, as gratuities are mandatory and added at checkout.

Good to post, in case other people are making the same mistake in their cruise prep. However, this isn't the cruise line's fault in my opinion. No where does Royal Caribbean list on their website that an Enhanced Driver's License is enough. It consistently states, you need either a passport, or a birth certificate and a photo ID. The only time that "Enhanced Driver's License" comes up is at check in, and Royal has to use those words there, as that is the official name given to certain documents by the government. Not Royal's fault if people get confused by the names the government uses.