mikefromny

Fellow NYer here. Companies do offer CFAR, but usually only within the first 14 days of the initial deposit. Also, in the future, it is very important to buy the insurance within the first 14 days of the deposit because otherwise, most policies have an exclusion for pre-existing conditions. Also, I don't believe a non-CFAR would cover you if the cruise line changed the itinerary but did not cancel the cruise (for any reason). The cruise contract gives them this option and you will not get anything from them to give to the insurance company showing that the cruise was canceled. Also, RCL does not offer insurance to NY passengers.

NY allows cancel for any reason. I used it when our son broke up with his girlfriend 3 weeks before our last cruise.

Just make sure you have trip cancellation/delay insurance.

Just booked Meraviglia YC out of NY for early 2025. Being Loyal to Royal, we were hesitant but figured we'd give it a try. Reading this helps a lot. Thank you!

I consider myself a contemporary cruiser and I enjoy traditional seating. I like that Royal gives the option of both. I think options are what contemporary cruisers want.

On our cruise in June it was 7:30.

I know, not every night, but enough that I was happy. Honestly, I was very happy with the MDR in June.

I'm very sorry for your loss. Your insurance company is going to ask to see what RCI did not return. When we had to cancel a person off our cruise in June our TA got us a letter from RCI that spelled out precisely what the costs were, what was returned, and what they did not return. It helped speed up our payment and we had the insurance money in our account within 2 weeks. May your Father's memory always be a blessing to you and your family.

We had no problem with the once-a-day cleaning. On day one, our attendant asked if we wanted early or late, we chose early and I was amazed that he had the cabin done within 1 hour of us leaving the cabin (often 30 minutes). Mario was also around most of the day and was super friendly. I did find the trash cans too small, but I started crushing our water bottles, and that took care of most of the issue. I agree this was one thing that set cruising apart, but not something that I really miss. Just keep the escargot and French onion soup and I'll be happy!

I always use Allianz. I usually don't take the Cancel For Any Reason option but took it for my last family cruise in June. I had to file a claim because my oldest and his GF broke up 3 weeks before the cruise and he couldn't get a friend to fill on on short notice. I filed the claim with them online on 6/5. The money was in my bank account on 6/15. It helped that RCI gave me a letter that spelled out my costs, how much they returned (port fees and taxes), and how much they retained.

Served with YELLOWTAIL JALAPEÑO CARPACCIO* - Yellowtail carpaccio thinly sliced with sea salt, truffle oil, yuzu citrus and house ponzu with jalapeño on top (I don't know why they didn't just say sashimi). Sorry, ate it before I could take a picture. CRISPY SHRIMP & FUTOMAKI - Crispy spicy shrimp with spicy aïoli and avocado, topped with tenkasu bits and sushi sauce, along with futomaki, wakame salad and cream cheese that is flash fried and topped with aïoli sauces and ginger dressing with chili thread. Was served with a REALLY good saki cocktail (She's a Geisha) CHAMPAGNE LOBSTER & CREAMY LOBSTER TEMPURA - Champagne lobster (blanched cold lobster), avocado and daikon sprouts wrapped with soy paper and a creamy lobster tempura roll—salmon and hamachi asparagus, topped with lobster tempura in truffle oil and spicy aïoli. Served with MIO SPARKLING SAKE. TEPPAN BEEF FRIED RICE - Vegetable and egg fried rice with garlic-butter-soy filet mignon. The menu says it was served with KIKUSUI PERFECT SNOW SAKE, but I think it was served with the Tyku coconut saki (REALLY good). And, for dessert, MOCHI ICE CREAM - Assorted mochi of mango, strawberry and green tea with strawberry coulis All of the food was very good and the saki's were even better. They also would just leave the bottle on the table for you to pour as much as you'd like. We would definitely do it again.

I just finished your day-by-day. Thank you. I agree with you on the outstanding service of the crew and staff. If there was something they could do for you, it was done with a smile. I was on the ship tour and it looked like the staff in the laundry room was in better spirits than the passengers on the running track. I look forward to reading about your next cruise.

I must have been sitting just behind you. Too bad, if I knew I'd have said hello!

That carpaccio continues to be one of my favorites on RC

I can't speak to the sushi making, but if you've done it and are looking for something close but different we did the sushi-saki lunch on Oasis earlier this month and really enjoyed it.

Ship - Oasis of the Seas Deck - 9 Stateroom # - 9594 Stateroom Category – 2C- Ocean View with Large Balcony Starboard or Port Side - starboard Quiet Stateroom? (With comments on problems) – yes Was stateroom a connecting stateroom? - no Balcony View - Give comments on view, noting if location of any obstructions was an issue. – Unobstructed larger balcony. Had two upright chairs and one small, regular hight table Balcony Size? Normal or oversized for class? - normal Was wind a problem? - no If an aft cabin, was soot a problem? - n/a Any specific problems with this cabin? None Cabin has the bed closer to the entry door.

My TA had RCI send me a great cancellation letter that will hopefully ease the process. Clearly lays out the cancellation penalty and the amount of money withheld. I'm calling Allianz on Monday and will update.

Not yet. You'd think I'd start there considering I'm the broker on the policy, but I'm waiting for my TA and RCI to make the change and see what that looks like.

It's not always about the money. My wife can't drink any sodas with high fructose corn syrup, so we bring on the soda she can drink as a vacation splurge. And sometimes it is about the money. My daughter is saving as much as she can for grad school. If she saves $20 a bottle on wine and we carry on two bottles for her she'll probably go most of the trip without having to buy wine on the ship. For her, it makes a difference. People gotta do themselves.

Curious because I have a very similar situation. My family is going on a cruise next week. One of my sons just broke up with his girlfriend and we are dropping her from the reservation. My TA said that they won't reprice him and we'll get fees, taxes, and gratuities back. I have trip insurance with "cancel for any reason" but I'm wondering how I'll recoup the rest. How will this all show in the paperwork to file the claim. Any insight will be appreciated.

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/what-are-the-benefits-of-the-key-program

I have three cruises coming up from June to July next year. I haven't seen the Key on sale in months for any of the sailings. We had it in January because it wasn't too much more expensive than the internet and we enjoyed having it. That said, it's not worth it to me at full price.

Supposedly -

We're going on Oasis next summer from Barcelona to Civitavechhia and back next summer and currently have a starboard cabin. Around the Caribbean we don't really care about port vs starboard, but should I care for this one? Should we switch to a port cabin if possible? TIA!

It's a cruise - normal rules don't apply! Enjoy that campfire cookie after lunch!