Mick B

Hi, I am currently D+ and have been for some time and will be for even longer. Don't really want to use the internet that much as when I am away on holiday, that is what I am - away! Nice to check in every now and then. More important is the 5 free drinks as this saves on buying a package or paying high prices. The free bottle of wine on day 1 is nice too and so is the free photo and the bag of washing. Unless RCI does away with all the above, I see no reason to switch to another cruise line. Just had 15 days on the Jewel's TA and had some really nice drinks and had the bar tenders find me some nice new drinks too. Cannot fault the loyalty program. A few more cruises and I will be over the 340 points and will get a few more bits and bobs, but I am in no rush to get to P. I just book the cruises on the ships I want to be on going to the places I want to go. Anything and everything RCI gives me whilst on board is muchly welcomed! Mick.

Hi All, Just done the 15 night TA on the Jewel, Did not go to any of the speciality restaurants as I have done them all before and I am happy with what the MDR and WJ offer. I can tell you that the food in the WJ was just as good as before. The MDR food was good. There were a few nights when the menu for that them night was not appealing, but the New York Stripe Steak was offered on those nights and was just as good as always. The only complaint I could spot was that the baked beans in the WJ were not done in tomato sauce as before and were a bit bland. I can tell you that the chips/fries in the WJ were really great and better than before. We also went to the Solarium Bistro some nights for a little late night pizza and that too was just as nice as before. Maybe we were lucky with this cruise as I could not find much of a fault with anything we tried. Sadly, not back on a ship until May 2025 which will be the Indy - let's hope the food on her is as good as before too. BTW, I can tell you that my wife would have said something if there was any sort of issue with the food and she did not. Mick.

Hi, I personally don't bother with it, but that is because I get most of the perks as a D+ member and only travel these days with the wife and I give her my free internet. Done all the restaurants and don't bother with them anymore. Get to leave the ship normally pretty quickly most of the time too. However, it is up to you. If you are a new cruiser and/or want all the perks that come with the key and believe it will enhance your stay on board, then go for it if that's what you want. But, I would suggest doing your sums first as the money may be better spent elsewhere unless you're lucky enough to have loads of it! Mick.

I will be on the Jewel in 2 weeks. Does anyone know who the CD is? And if so, are they any good? I've got 15 nights on her and want a good time. Mick.

Hopefully 14 days until we get on board the Jewel in FLL for her TA back to the UK. Just got to suffer 9hrs 40mins of travel with AA first. Mick.

Hi, I have only cruised on 2 cruise lines and the vast majority are with RCI. Depending on the class of ship, there is something for all ages. BTW You do not need to book the latest biggest ships. Some of the (now) slightly smaller ships like the Indy or Navigator have enough things to do on board to keep all family members entertained. Also, you need to take into account how long you want to cruise for and which ports of call you wish to visit as these factors may also affect the amount of time you have on board to enjoy all the facilities a cruise ship can offer. I think all have a rock climbing wall, multiple swimming pools and gyms. A good selection of ships also have a flo rider, golf course and various slides. A few of the newer ships have the north star and bumper cars, zip lines and sky diving simulators. If you go on RCIs website you can select each class of ship and see exactly what they include. It may depend on what interests all your family members have, but I would imagine there will be both enough on board and also ashore. Don't forget too that RCI have more slides and pools on their private island in the Bahamas - Coco Cay, but some of these cost $$$. Ideal if you are not on a ship already equipped with them. I think you can get some nice cruises out of Cape Liberty that go to places like Bermuda for 5 nights or down to the Caribbean and back for 12 nights. Or you can go out of various ports in Florida if you don't mind it getting busy. Mick.

Hi, It is always nice when you get back von board a ship and some of the staff are familiar to you, such as waiters and bar staff and entertainment staff too, all of which can move from ship to ship, so you never know when you book who will be on your ship. I know some people who booked cruises just because of the CD and then the CD was replaced for whatever reason and they were upset. I would never book for that reason, but each to their own. Anyway, I can name some great CDs in no order, but Clo O'Conner, well she must be up there as one of the best CDs, Eric Lopez is climbing up the ladder too. Bill Brunkhorst was always engaging, and who can forget Graham Seymour who has sadly retired I believe. Gordon Whatman had a great singing voice. There were so many CDs who really made the cruise even greater. Then Covid came and after the restart CDs seemed to keep their distance. Not sure if they were told to in order to avoid isolation, so I cannot comment on recent cruises as it may not be their fault. As stated, if you want to really meat your CD, then you can take part in activities which they may be hosting such as the belly flop, the Quest, Love and marriage, Battle of the sexes. And if you are a C&A member who is invited to a special event, then you may find them there at the door to chat to upon entry. Thats where I normally speak to them and some of them really have a good memory about our past cruises together. Mick.

Hi, One thing I know used to happen, and not sure if it still does, is RCI would invite C&A members to a special event where drinks would be given out. They would leave an invite card in your stateroom to be taken to this event. However, I know some people used to give these cards to their family/friends who sailed with them in order to gain entry. Then if they themselves wanted to enter, they would just show their sea pass cards to staff. Maybe everyone entering an event should be made to swipe their sea pass card into a reader at the entrance and witnessed by staff as they do so. Can't be that hard to set up and implement if RCI wanted to save money on giving perks to people who have not earned them. Ouch! Mick.

Oh, yes, don't forget that unlike the drinks package where the drinks are not sharable, the D, D+ and P drinks are. That means that if you are lucky enough to be travelling with a family member or friend(s) who get the 4, 5 or 6 free drinks per day but either don't drink or don't normally drink all of them each day, then they may choose to share some of their drinks with you. Just a glass of wine in the MDR or a cocktail by the pool each day may be all some need to be happy and if so, no need for a package then. Oh, and another way in the past to get a free drink was to join someone who was on their own in the Quiz and win it for them and then except the free drink they would offer you for making their day. Naughty if they have the drinks package, but perfectly Ok if they want to share one of their D, D+ or P drinks. Mick.

Hi, Yes I find that booking a one-way flight from the UK to the USA or visa-versa comes in at around £450pp. Making it nearly £1000 for the flights. It can actually be cheaper to book a return as they sometimes come in much cheaper, but this only works if we are flying to the USA and then sailing back as you cannot cancel the first flight without cancelling the second. However, we are screwed as we book the flights through our TA and have them add an hotel and turn the whole thing into a package so we have protection against cancelling, as we now live in the era of strikes, illness, war - yes I know we have always had those for a long time, but recently travel has become a casualty of recent events and I don't want to lose out. Anyway back to the Indy in May 2025. Ship: Independence of the Seas Destination: Discover the Caneries (from Southampton) Dates: May 12 - May 24 2025 # of Nights: 12 Cabin Type: Promenade View Interior Total Price (inc. taxes & port charges, inc. pre-paid gratuities): £2887.85 for 2 people Average Price Per Night (per Person - GBP): £120 Other Perks: 5 free (D+) drinks per person per day to the value of $14 = $1680 Free Photo each = $40.00 ish Free wash and fold = $34.00 ish The cheapest option (other than GTY) was Interior. However, it was only around an extra £100 each for the Promenade View room above guest services. This is a really great location for us as it should be quiet and is close to the aft lifts for going up to the decks and the Crown Lounge, plus only a few floors walking down to the MDR and Ice Rink if the lifts are busy. Only the Theatre is the front end and we would normally go there after dinner so would walk from the MDR through the Casino anyway. Oh, and there are 5 sea days including going round the Bay of Biscay twice, which is why I booked the room I did in that location - good luck with Royal trying to tempt me to Royal-Up to a location that might be at the front or back for hundreds of pounds more (lol)! Can't wait to see what 2026 offers - hopefully a TA from NY to Southampton via Bermuda and if the price with the flights and hotels comes near to what I paid for the Jewel's TA then I will jump at it - but I won't hold my breath! Mick.

Ship: Jewel of the Seas Destination: Fort Lauderdale-Southampton TA Dates: Apr 5 - Apr 20, 2024 # of Nights: 15 Cabin Type: Interior Total Price (inc. taxes & port charges, inc. pre-paid gratuities): £1880 for 2 people Average Price Per Night (per Person - GBP): £62 Other Perks: $100 OBC (via Future Cruise) 5 free (D+) drinks per person per day to the value of $14 = $2100 Free Photo each = $40.00 ish Free wash and fold = $34.00 ish Had to purchase train fare from Nottingham to London, a nights stay in London, flights from the UK to Miami and private car travel from MIA to the hotel the night before the cruise, and then another private car ride to the ship. Then after the cruise, transport from Southampton back to Nottingham. When you also factor in restaurants during travelling too, the travelling part comes to almost the same price as the cruise. When you factor that into the holiday, the price per day jumps up to around £100 pppd. I factored this in when I booked the cruise as the D+ free drinks just about cover the travelling fees. If I didn't get the free drinks and had to buy a drinks package to get the same drinks then this cruise would not have happened as it would then have worked out cheaper to go round Europe instead. Whether you just take the cruise fare, or whether you want to factor in the travel costs too, both come to an amazing value for 15 nights o board the ship, or 17 nights in total with the hotels. BTW, I always pre-pay the grats as I come from the UK and like to include everything in the price upfront. Just for comparison, I have a 12 night cruise on the Indy booked for May 2025 from Southampton to the Canaries and back with taxes, port fees and pre-paid grats paid and that comes in at £2880 for the 2 of us. Thats £120 pppd for the cruise only as there are no flights involved and at the moment no hotels or transport booked yet, so you could had another £500 on to that price. Not bad in the scheme of things, but the Jewel is a longer cruise and even with all the extra travel costs added, is still cheaper. Hope that helps. Mick.

Hi, I know, I assume its sold out as I have printed my boarding pass and now luggage tags and other docs from royal. I have also been constantly bombarded with the Royal Up where they offer me the chance to move from the nice quiet cabin I purposely booked for this TA in case of bad weather and sea conditions during the cruise to another cabin which could be in the most worst place possible during a storm and pay a few hundred dollars more for it - I don't think so. I wonder if they expect people to cancel for whatever reason at the last moment to free up those Royal Up rooms? Mick.

Best make sure they enter Love and marriage then, unless they can think of something better to do with their time on board! Mick.

Hi, My idea for going on a TA is to have a nice long relaxing holiday. Its nice to have some sea days where you can just relax and take it easy without having to get up and get off and get back on and get ready for the evening. On previous TAs there have been many outdoor events to take part in depending on the class of ship and the equipment available such as golf, belly flop, bumper cars, rock climbing and so on. But, indoors there have been things like progressive quizzes, battle of the sex's. Also, normally plenty going on at various venues around the ship, so you can do as much as they offer, or just relax somewhere out of the way. Again, its going to depend on the ports of call and how many sea days are inbetween them, the class of ship and all its trimmings, and the weather - not just the sun, but also the sea. I think a good TA is a nice way to get to know the ship and your fellow passengers. Also, TAs are normally done by the seasoned cruiser and very few have families on board unless the kids are too young for school as most TA are during term time. I am on the Jewels' TA next month out of FLL for 15 nights to Southampton. After a stop on day 2 at Coco Cay I have 7 sea days before getting to the Canaries and then a week of travelling up the west coast of Europe into the UK. Mick.

Hi, Never purchased a drinks package, but been given one for free a few times in the past. I think those days are gone. When we first started sailing we did lots of 12 to 14 night cruises which were port heavy. Therefore on most days we were off the ship and liked to enjoy a drink at the port of call. At night we would just have a glass of wine with our dinner and possibly have a seconds drink later that evening. Sometimes bottles of wine were given away as prizes in the casino or for taking part in things like Love and marriage. There was the captain's night where you could get many glasses of sparling wine down you. Also, there was the art auction where you could get some free drinks too. Also, depending on what C&A tier you are, there were some nice private functions where buzz was aflow! Then when we turned Diamond we have not just a free bar from 5 until 8 each night, but also 3 free drinks at the same time. I used to nip down to the Casino bar during this time and get 2 glasses if red wine and take them back to our cabin and put them in the fridge. In fact, I would fill the fridge with all 6 free drinks during the HH and return to the DL and then take a drink to the MDR. Then if there was still time after dinner, go back to the DL and have more drinks and then take the last one to the show. That meant we still had 3 drinks each to last until whenever, and on some occasions the following morning if it was a sea day. I tried every trick possible to get as many drinks as possible for free and not buy a drinks package. And I wasn't being tight - I used the money saved to have an extra cruise each year. When we turned D+ we got a bottle of wine in our cabin each cruise, plus if it was one of our birthdays during the cruise, we got another. RCI did away with the HH after Covid, but now puts 6 vouchers on our sea pass. So, we now normally follow the following 5 free drinks per day... A Kraken-Colada or drink of the day around 1430. A glass of sparkling wine (Prosecco or Chandon) in the MDR around 1900. A glass of whiskey or a Tequila Sunrise in the Crown Lounge (if early from the MDR) or something similar in the Theatre at 2000. A rum punch sort of drink in a bar around 2200 or try something new! And finally either a Disaronno or a Side-Car/French Connection drink around midnight. As you can see from above, having the 5 free drinks per day goes more than far enough. I will be around 106 by the time I get to Pinnacle, so won't worry now about what my 6th drink may be. As you can see, I do not waste my vouchers on beer or soda. We have spent a lot of money over the years cruising with RCI, so if they want to give us some free drinks, then thank you! BTW, It is possible to work out that if we do a 14 night cruise and both use the 5 vouchers to the max, then we are getting around $2000 worth of free drinks. Therefore, whilst this happens, I cannot foresee a reason to purchase a drinks package. It may be worth anyone who has done a few cruises with RCI who has not joined the C&A program to do so as they will backdate your cruises and you may find you are not far from 80 points. You may find that if you like JS and above you will get double points and that may pay you if it then takes you over 80 as the next cruise after that you will be Diamond and get 4 free drinks a day. I would never suggest cruising to get the points as we have always cruised to go to the places we wanted to go to, but if you are close to the 80 point mark then doing a short cruise to get there or even a B2B where you won't get the free drinks on the first leg, but should on the second may be another option and may work out cheaper than buying a package too. At the end of the day, it's up to you what you want to do and how you go about doing it, but there are ways to enjoy drinks without splashing out on a package, unless you really want to just drink as much as you like. Mick.

Hi, The Indy was my first ship back in 2008. I have been back on her 3 times since including 1 after her refit. I have a 12 night cruise booked on her next year and I cannot wait. She is still my favourite ship, even after the changes. She has so much going on and was still in great shape back in 2019 when I last went on her. Would have gone on her again sooner if she had not been taken away from the UK. The show in the theatre is Grease. It can get very busy and sometimes they have more than one show. It has cantilevered hot tubs and an ice rink. Some new slides were added too. The only thing that sometimes lets a cruise down are the people on board. I have had some great cruises on this ship and also I had one cruise that was full of idiots - and yes, they were sadly british! Mick.

Hi, Of course, I know of families who have been discreet and returned to their stateroom with a drink, and then who's to know who drank it, unless you do something silly like go out onto a balcony in view of crew or cameras. I know rules are rules and they are there for a reason, but there is a difference between a stranger trying to get someone drunk and a family just trying to have a nice time. I would strongly advise against trying to give him/her alcohol whilst on board anywhere else as getting caught could mean being kicked off at the next port. BTW, depending on where your ship is sailing, some of the ports of call along the way may have bars that serve 18 year olds. Nassau has such bars, so if you are going somewhere like there, then he/she can legally purchase a drink, just make sure to bring ID. You could check ahead of bars at your ports of call to see if this is an option. Mick.

Hi, Yes, I have observed all sorts of people on board breaking all sorts of rules. I am not a people watcher, but sometimes what people do on board is just not unmissable. Anyway, about the handwashing stations. These became very popular after the restart to help stop the spread of Covid. But, before then, staff would stand at the entrance to the main restaurants with hand sanitizer. Their purpose was for your hygene and to help stop things like nora virus. I always wash my hands at either the sinks or via the hand sanitizer when entering an eating area on the ship in an attempt to avoid catching any virus or getting a bad stomach as you really don't want to be bad on board a ship and you really don't want a bill for the hospital visit. I would strongly advise anyone who enters an eating area to use any facilities on hand to limit your chance of getting a bug whether it is mandatory or not. Its just good personal hygene. Remember, even if you wash your hands when leaving your stateroom, you still may have to take lifts or stairs which means touching things like hand rails that although may have been recently cleaned, will still have been touched by possibly hundreds of other passengers who could have got up to god knows what. It may be worth using the sanitizer again when leaving places like the WJ since some people touch all sorts of things, even the food they pick and then put back - maybe there should be someone enforcing a "do not touch the food with your bare hands" policy too? BTW, I have a theory that 1% of any population are idiots, so on a cruise ship with 4000 guests I expect find at least 40 of them breaking the rules of some sort - I just laugh at them as I don't want to get upset during my holiday as they are not worth it. Mick.

Hi, If you use a voucher then I believe you can get 40% off a bottle of wine up to $100.00. However, if you and your partner are both Diamond then you can get 8 glasses of wine for free which would be more than a bottle load.. I suppose it depends if you have your eye on a specific brand of wine that's not available by the glass, then getting it for 40% less is a good way to go, and a good perk. Don't forget, though, you can share your diamond drinks with family and friends who are not diamond or above, so if you intend to buy a bottle of wine to share with 6 or 8 of you at your table during a meal, then using your vouchers for 6 or 8 glasses of wine (or any drink to the value of $14) as some of your party, if sharing, may not like wine. You can also use them for fresh orange or speciality coffee for anyone in your party who does not like, or cannot have alcohol, if that's your intention. It would be nice though, if you could save up a load of vouchers daily and then several days into your cruise get a free bottle of Dom Perignon, but we can dream. But... In the past, on a few occasions I have won some cheap bottle of wine in a quiz on board and had them opened in the MDR (for free by getting the DL concierge to make sure the MDR staff knew not to charge corkage), only for the said staff to spill the contents of the bottle everywhere upon opening them and then come back with a replacement bottle which was Moet & Chandon or similar. I can't seem to remember if I violently shook the bottle on the way to dinner or not. Sadly, not seen too many ways of getting a free bottle of wine at a quiz these days, but you do still get one if you partake in the Love & Marriage game show, even if you don't win! Those were the days! Mick.

Hi, If you have a few days to kill before the cruise from Ravenna and are flying into Venice, then enjoy Venice for a day or two and then take a train to Bologna (which takes just over an hour). Business Class on the fast trains is mega cheap. Then either stay overnight in Bologna (and go Ravenna on cruise day) or change trains for a local slower train to Ravenna (again around an hour) and stay overnight in a hotel there. Then on cruise day, if you can't sort a taxi (as they cannot really cope with cruise ship passenger volumes), take the No.90 bus from outside the train station to the bus stop right outside the port which takes around 30 minutes and costs a few euros. It is not the best way or the most cosy, but we did it for our cruise last year. BTW RCI did offer transfers from Bologna Airport and Bologna Train Station to the ship on cruise day, so it may be worth finding out if you can get transfers from there if you can't from Venice, that way it may be worth staying in Bologna the night before. There are plenty hotels near the train station too and some nice restaurants within walking distance. Mick.

Hi, I think I posted on another thread about my suspicion (and its just that), that a new tier will come in at 340 points and possibly called "Crown" and in by doing so, anyone not at that level will either be barred from the Crown Lounge during HH or barred full stop. Yes, I know some people are not bothered as long as they get their drinks vouchers elsewhere (which in some cases may be in a better venue), but it was always nice to meet new people and share some of our stories and ideas about what we were going to do at the next port etc. When I first became Diamond 10 years ago, I went to the DL during HH and met lots of people who had many years of travel and cruising experience and learnt more from them about the ships and the ports of call than from anywhere else. Now, when I meet some new D members who are in need of some advice, I am able to help them where I can, and in the comfort of the old DL during HH was always a good place to have a conversation as I have bad hearing, so loud music venues make listening very difficult. I have only been cruising since 2008 so I am not really aware of what went on before that, but I have seen a few things removed on my cruises since. The bridge tour for D+ has gone and become part of a paying scheme since Covid. Yes, I have done it and probably once you've been on one bridge, they are probably all the same, but RCI could have made the scheme so you get just 1 tour when turning D+ instead. Little, by little, things get removed or incorporated into something else. I remember back in 2019 as I was turning D+ during a cruise, I asked the Concierge in the DL on the Anthem if I could be grandfathered in to the CL on Deck 12 as I was on a 12 night cruise and turned D+ on the first day, but was told No. He did say he could escort me up there during the day to take a look around, but asked me why I wanted to go in it when I had access to the DL. I told him for the view. Never bothered going in the end. I booked a room on deck 12 for my next trip on the Anthem in 2021 just to be near the CL but was then told on boarding day that D+ would not have access during that cruise due to the number of Ps and Suites guests. The last time I was on the Anthem in 2022, D+ were not allowed full stop. So, how long will it be before D and D+ are not allowed in the Crown Lounge at all? Mick.

Hi, It is a real shame that RCI are banning D members from the Crown Lounge during HH during certain sailing where D+ and P numbers are high. As well as the drinks (which we can all get at almost any other bar during this time), there is the nice nibbles just to keep you going until dinner. Also, there is access to the Coffee Machine and a nice view if the lounge is up next to the Viking Crown Lounge. Now, on some ships the Crown Lounge is placed where the view is obstructed or non-existent. Also, the Coffee machine is broken for days on end, or the whole cruise, or swapped with the one from the Suites Lounge if that brakes, which D+ members no longer have access to unless in a GS. Yes, you can get access to the Coffee machine outside of HH and also speak to the Concierge too, and with the drinks vouchers not just usable at most other bars, but sharable with family and friends without penalty, you would have though the number of people wanting to use the lounge during HH would be lower now, also considering that some of them can be far away from the MDR which is where most people would probably be heading not long after. I really cannot see a valid reason for banning the D members during this time as I am sure overspills can be set up nearby as before. Its just another small kick in the teeth for loyal members, and yes, some may not be all that bothered about it, but others might and it cannot be nice not knowing before hand, if you will or won't be allowed in. I will be on the Jewels' TA in 4 weeks and will let you know how they handle access to the lounge, if we even bother as I enjoy it, but the wife does not. Mick.

Hi, I think I have posted something along these lines before somewhere, but... On boarding day we go to the MTD desk and speak to the staff member about getting in earlier that 6.45. They always tell us its not possible but we can join a line around 6.15. However, I tell them nicely that we are not bothered about where the table is or who the waiter is. Suddenly with a click of the magic button a table appears. The trick is not to be demanding of those 2 things. If you are 2 people and want a table just for 2 then there may be one or there may not. If you are 2 people and don't mind sharing with 2 other people at a spare table for 4, then you may be in luck. It just depends what you want, how you ask and what they have available and if you can bend a little. Yes, some shows have 2 showings, and most of the time we don't mind waiting for the later show as there is normally something to do whilst we wait. However, sometimes there may be something else during the later show we really want to take part in or see, but also want to see that show that night too. Sometimes, even if the 5.15 traditional dinning is available, depending on the ports of call and the trips involved, getting back to the ship and getting washed and changed in time is too much of a rush and not what we want from our holiday, so MTD is the best option. Its just too bad that there is no 6pm slot you can book in order to enjoy a day out and the early evening show if there is something else later after it you want to do. It is supposed to be your holiday and supposed to be your time dining, but it looks like that is becoming a their time dining if you want to actually visit some places during the day and see some shows at night on particular days. You just have to hope that on the nights you want a early MTD that traditional dining guests have gone to a speciality restaurant for that night or are late back from a trip and don't have time to dress up ready for 5.15 so go to the WJ freeing up tables for MTD. Fingers crossed! Mick.

Hi, For many years we did 2 cruises per year and 1 or 2 short land based holidays in between. We tried to get away around Feb on a cruise and later October. The idea was to travel down to the Caribbean for either a 9 to 12 night cruise from Florida or New Jersey or do a back to back to make up a 14 night cruise to different ports staying on the same ship in the same cabin. Then in October going out of Europe such as Italy, Spain or Greece. Due to the high cost of travel from the UK and massive disruption within it with trains and ATC strikes etc, and the cost of overnight stays in hotels, we have decided to do just 1 big cruise a year instead. This year it the Jewel TA for 15 nights and next year its the Indy for 12 nights from Southampton. Sadly, looking at recent itinerary, it looks like it is now almost impossible to cruise out of Florida in 2026 for a B2B where you go to different ports on the same ship. Its just too far to travel for us for just 5 or 6 nights and having to get off one ship in say Miami and then travel up to FL to get on another ship for 6 nights just to go to other ports is just too much hassle. Its not just the price thats the problem here, its the fact that you just cannot get a decent long cruise (other than a TA) that makes all the evil of air travel worth it. We can't even get a decent B2B out of Europe without hassle too. I see in 2026 that things only go up to March and the only long cruise is out of San Juan which I don't even think we can fly to from the UK direct which means at least 17 hrs of planes and airports - never mind the price, the hassle involved just isn't going to make that happen. Just hoping that a decent ship will leave from Cape Liberty for Southampton. Getting to that port from NY is a ball-ache, but is doable and we have done it several times. That may be the only hope for us cruising in 2026. Another thing, not just the price, is that fact that so many ports/countries are now banning ships for various reasons or the ships are just too big to get into any of the ports. If I have to work hard and save up for many months for a cruise, then I need it to be worth it. If its not worth it, then it won't happen no matter what the price or what goodies we get. There are many places around the UK I have not been for over 40 years and many I have not been to at all. Cruising for us was a cheapish way to visit places that we did not want to stay in, but wanted to see for a few hours so we could say we had been there. If that option gets taken away, then the UK may be a easier, better, cheaper option. Just the weather (oh and constant strikes by various train operators) that may stop us! As for the newer ships, I have no wish to go on these mega ships that only sail for a few days to a select amount of ports that will probably be full to capacity causing nothing but queueing and waiting for everything that they offer. I will take the older ships that have most of the old things we have come to love and enjoy, just as long as the price matches the service that is being offered. Mick.

Hi, Not sure about leaving Royal or leaving cruising full stop. We are D+ and have got there by carefully selecting the itineraries and ships we wanted to do. We have loved them all, but are UK based so have to factor in additional costs such as flights, trains, taxis and hotels. With the current situation worldwide where prices are higher than normal, careful selection of lower costing cruises would mean that we would have to choose a older ship (which is probably not going to be to the same standard as newer ones, and visit the same ports over and over, as travelling to newer ports with newer ships is just getting out of our reach, not only in our pocket, but also travelling time, which we do not enjoy at the best of times, but endure in order to get to our cruise, which makes it all worth while. However, if the cruise is not going to be worth while, then there is no longer any point in doing all this travel. We have a TA on the Jewel for 15 nights this year and 12 nights next year on the Indy from Southampton to the Canaries and back just to avoid hotel and air fare costs. My wife is screaming at m to not book any cruises for 2026 as she wants to try a land based holiday. I have told her that firstly that nothing is out yet post April 2026 and we have to factor in all things we get as D+ members such as 5 free drinks per day which add up. I have suggested that if I can get a cheap enough TA from New York to Southampton on a decent ship with all the D+ perks then I would like to do it, but she is really wanting a land based holiday that year. I will have to wait and see what RCI offers, but if its too much, then that will be that. I don't suppose for one minute that Jason Liberty will be bothered by the loss of a passenger like me as I will probably be replaced with a new cruiser who spends $$$s more than I do and that is probably what the cruise line wants. Mick.