gmerick

If you can avoid the life guard on the tower, get snorkel gear and swim out where the airplane is, then head north and sneak up on that rocky bit of reef east of where the ships dock.  Make sure you're wearing reef shoes in your fins; the reef will tear up bare feet.  If there's any waves, don't get tossed.

The scuba excursions go on the north side of that rocky bit of reef.

Don't get caught, or you get kicked off the island.

Sounds like you need travelers advice from the early 20th century:

Place all the contraband in it's own suitcase, and apply a 100 year old label to the outside:

Baby shampoo, dishwashing liquid, expensive Mask Defog drops.  All do an OK job of making the fine droplets of water on the inside of a mask coalesce.  The real trick is to stop that fogging at the root cause.  Don't exhale out the nose into the mask.  That warm air from your nose hitting the cooler glass will always fog up.  I know the instructor says exhale through your nose to clear the water from your mask -- but do it sparingly.  

When water starts interfering with seeing the fish, tilt your head toward the surface just enough to get the water to settle under your nose where your mask meets your upper lip.  Use your hand to hold the top of the mask against your forehead, push it about half an inch toward your face.  Be careful not to push at an angle that allows the bottom of the mask to come away from your upper lip, this will just let more water in.  Then exhale a small amount of air into the mask, just enough to push the accumulated water out the bottom of the mask.  When you now release the pressure against the top of the mask, a slight vacuum will be left in the mask to hold the mask against your face, and aid in sealing it against further water incursion.

Remember to not breathe out your nose.  bubbles coming from around the mask are a sure indicator that the mask will again immediately fog up. 

If there is significant fogging, before starting the mask clearing, rotate your head slowly to cause the water puddle inside the mask to rinse off the glass.

If your hearts are set on having separate cabins, do nothing with the first cabin, and simply book a second cabin.  You don't even need to change names of the guests for the second cabin.  With your disappointment with the big box agent, for the second cabin just book directly with RCCL.  Once you have that second booking, it will be easier for you to book dining, drinks excursions, directly through the planner.  Those purchases can be made for both reservations.  The only caveat would be if you are purchasing the DBP for all 4, you will want to do that for the 4-person cabin, not the 2.

Cruised 12 days in December, 11 in February.  Also took a 8 day Belize vacation.  

I'm not asking anyone else to make it safe for me to travel.  I'll take care of myself, thank-you very much.  If you and I are on the same boat, you do as you wish.  I may avoid some folks, but I won't tell anyone else what to do.

I wear a mask appropriate to my perceived risk to myself, p100 on airplanes, n95 in crowded areas, none in low risk areas.  If forced to mask, I wear n95.  Never a surgical mask, never a cloth face decoration.

I've vaxed and boosted, both Pfizer and Moderna, and flu, Hep, shingles, typhoid, yellow fever, (too bad a vax for the common cold or arthritis hasn't come arround, or I'd get them).

I carry hand sanitizer, and wash hands frequently.  

I used both on my post-Covid cruises.  The Cruise Compass is a nice souvenir.  I'm a person who is already used to getting news, work schedules, airline tickets, ... on my tablet and cell phone.  It is so much more convenient to look for events on the app.  I only really "read" the Cruise Compass after dinner while relaxing before the evening's entertainment.  After that (short 15 minute) time, I put it in the drawer with all the other paper clutter.  That clutter ended up in the cruise paperwork packet in my suitcase on the last evening.  It's still in the packet stacked with my other cruise items.  I imagine it will be there yet when it's someone else's responsibility to clean out my house and dispose of my "treasures".

No, I don't regret the passing of the Compass.  Let them dedicate the resources to improving the information presentation in the App.

Last two cruises (Dec 21, Feb 22).  I shuddered at what was allowed for food service protocol in all of the staff served buffets, so I mostly stayed away.  I did frequent Sorentino's, 270 cafe, and Solarium cafe when they were not crowded.  Breakfast was either MDR or room service (hey, it was free!).  Lunch on sea days was MDR or show up late for buffet.  In port I was usually under water at lunch time, and the sushi offerings were a bit too fresh for my taste.

Even before COVID, I was uncomfortable with Windjammer, so nothing really changed.

Two cruises using e-Muster.  The system is ineffective.  I did not download the App prior to sailing.  I did not view the video.  I reported to the e-Muster site between dropping my bags in the restaurant and dining at the Key lunch.  I was asked if I had used the App for muster, and I equivocated.  

At the time, the cabin passages were still locked, so I still did not have my SeaPass card.  Otherwise I may have suggested the SeaPass be initially set to expire 90 minutes prior to sailing, and only fully activated at the eMuster check-in. 

Cabin locks do not appear to be centrally managed, but, like hotel door locks, reset by an initial code placed on the arriving guest's SeaPass.  The SeaPass however does have a RFID chip, and the long-range RFID scanners that track passenger traffic for marketing and revenue departments can be used to broadcast a voice reminder as passengers transit the RFID enabled spaces.  Likewise the pop-up kiosks so prevelant on boarding day can also be equiped with the long-range RFID scanners, and the crew hawking beverages, dining, massages, and whatnot can also give a friendly reminder to do the eMuster thing.

Twice your price point, but folks I was diving with had a great experience with:  

If you like how your cell phone does pictures, this can't be beat.

Wife and child are going to swap key cards anyway.  CK and Suite Lounge don't check the digital picture associated with the key card.  Don't worry about it.  

Done inside 6 times, did balcony twice.  Always sailed solo.  Originally booked balcony (studio balcony on Anthem), because was only 20% more than inside.  Of course this was for a COVID cancelled sailing, so I took the FCC.  Had a 2nd cruise COVID cancelled, so again took FCC.  Booked Anthem studio balcony for the year after cancellation with the FCC, this time I intentionally selected the Balcony as I intended on spending far more time in the cabin than I typically did;  I wanted to play the introvert.  Then I had a big price drop, and had a bunch of unused FCC.  So I booked another Anthem studio balcony for before Christmas.  

Now I'm booking the next year's vacations.  The Grand Cayman trip will be an inside for 6 days.  The Eastern Carib is currently that same Anthem Studio Balcony (again), but if the price doesn't drop like the last two I'm switching to an inside;  I'm not interested in playing introvert without the COVID excuse.  I'll save at least 35% on cabin fare, and take the double points for C&A.

Obvious solution.  I don't want to dine with a dog.  If a dog is present, I ask to be seated elsewhere.  If a dog is seated after I start a meal, I inform the waiter I'll be back later, and leave the table.  It's my choice not to dine with dogs.  I cannot ask staff to change other guest's conduct to suit my foibles.  Animal feces or urine on the deck, or odors from smoking problems are something I'll avoid if I can, and report appropriately if I can't.  Why should I lose my peace when simply going elsewhere is so easy.

Sorry, but the post is bogus.  There is no identifiable internet protocol for generic "WiFi calling".  The same process that is used to add sound to a YouTube video is also used for VOIP calls.  All voice traffic is tunneled over HTTPS protocol, and no deep packet inspection can decrypt the traffic in real time to specifically block VOIP without breaking all other traffic.  I have access to phone calls no matter where as long as there's a network.  My job requires me to be available, so I quite willingly pay for internet, and call into work periodically to ensure I have connectivity.

Another factor that cries "Bogus", RCI's bread and butter are the folks who can work on board while vacationing.  Those travelers absolutely depend on network connectivity of all types;  the high paying customers habitually use VPN access through the ship internet.  If that breaks, the passengers will change ships in a heartbeat.

I do not understand the facination some people have with seeing, touching, swimming with captive marine animals.  Those marine parks are even more disturbing than petting zoos.

I had an ideal "dolphin encounter" during my Feb 22 cruise.  On one of my SCUBA dives a pair of dolphins swam along side our group of divers for several minutes.  The video is something special.

Testing privately in Italy is one thing, and if taking a non-proctored home test indicates a positive Covid result, one wouldn't necessarily be legally obligated to report such to a hotel.  The problem comes in obtaining a positive result from a screening for international travel.  That would be reported to Italian authorities, and the patient would be required to quarantine in a government approved hotel or a private residence, and be subject to government health and quarantine monitoring.  

When I traveled outside the country, I brought with 4 "home" tests, and three "proctored" tests.  Before each airline leg, I would screen myself with a home test, so I knew I was still negative, then go online with a proctored test to obtain the needed certified test results needed by the airlines, and US immigration.  In one country, they required the test be conducted by an in-country lab, so I shelled out $65 for that test.  Incidentally, it was that in-country lab that identified two of our party as positive, resulting in the unexpected extended stay.

Just plan ahead, and have insurance.  If not, wait a while and things will change.

Having just returned from overseas ....

two of our party (of 19) tested positive the day prior to return to the US.  17 of us boarded United the next day and went home.  The other 2 had to stay in the hotel, in their rooms, eating room service for 5 days.  On the 5th day the lab that did our original test returned and tested those 2.  They tested negative, and returned home.  

Take-away -- get good trip insurance.  The insurance paid for the hotel stay, United rebooked their ticket with no change fee.  

Good insurance is expensive though.  Each of us paid more than two nights lodging for insurance on our 1 week trip.

Check Categorization Grid .

Does not yet include Wonder or ICON, but does have OY.

QN class all have 12 studio balconies (2F).

QN class except OY have many studio interior (2W).

AD (5 cabins) and MA (4 cabins) have studio interior (2W).

RD class each have 3 studio interior (2W).

HM eliminated all studios 2 years ago.

You may need to call in for any of the 2W studio interior cabins.  They very rarely show up early for booking on the web.  Come close to sailing, they're all booked.

Florida cruises are generally classed as "Short Caribbean" .  Release date is first part of March.

I've watched the procedure during my latest Anthem sailing. 

Signup beforehand;  for my sailing there were about 150 available time slots for testing, and 4 days prior less than half were filled.

Considerations:

The cost is high -- $150 at the pier vs $30 for a BinaxNow proctored test at home.

What are your options after a test failure at the port?  Can you still get home?

I've done diving with both RCI shore excursions, and privately arranged dive trips from a good number of Caribbean ports.  RCI shore excursions offer the benefit of sufficient time between docking and excursion departure, a tour leader to direct divers to the boat, and guaranteed return to the ship prior to sailing.  I've found the RCI excursions to be somewhat less personal, somewhat more crowded, the diver experience level somewhat lower, and the dive guide experience level somewhat higher.  

The RCI excursion operators tend to expect divers to need a bit more help, and are somewhat more hands-on in dive prep than I need. 

The independent operators can also provide that degree of interaction if requested / needed, but tend to cater to a more experienced crowd.  

RCI excursion dives tend to have somewhat less bottom time, and the divers tend to bunch up more simply due to diver experience level.

All operators have provided a very safe dive experience, and comprehensive dive briefings.

With independent operators, most dive boats have departed at 9:00AM, and obtaining transport to the dive shop has occasionally been trying, if not outright impossible.  

Two-tank morning dives are the rule with both RCI excursions and independent operators.

Independent operators occasionally can add a single tank afternoon experience when all-aboard is 5PM or later (YMMV, but please don't miss the boat).

Personal preference from your list: 1.  Roataan, 2. Coz, 3. Mahahual.  With your stated experience level, please try for RCI shore excursions if at all possible.  Otherwise, I've found Trip Advisor very helpful in finding the highest rated Local Dive Shops.  Expect to exchange correspondence with the LDS, regarding experience, dive equipment, transportation, schedule.  Register and pay online for the independent excursion to save time during the dive. 

For both types, anticipate 15% of the dive package cost as a tip.

I sail solo, and always opt for Any Time.  I look on meal times as another piece of the total entertainment package, and look forward to an hour and a half dining.  Waiters are very good about preferences though.  I've informed my waiter when I have another activity following meals, and I've always made it on time.  But those times are a definite exception  (but I'm happy the option exists).

I like dawdling my order, dipping bread in olive oil, two appetizers, sometimes two entrees.  There are other menus also,  I'll occasionally browse the Vegan, Kosher, or Halal menu.  Depending on the Chef, there are off-menu entrees, (31 Jan 2022 cruise had two off-menu curries every evening).  

Time for ATD?  30 minutes to 2 Hours - inform your waiter.

Sorry, but I would not participate.  The pigs are there only to separate you from your money.  There are now multiple pig islands all over the Caribbean.  The population is artificially maintained.  Gilts with their first litter are shipped to the island.  Older pigs (3+ years) are slaughtered at first sign of aggressiveness.  Piglets are slaughtered to maintain the optimal tourist attraction mix.  Plus what other's have said about sunburn, shade, food supply.  

That's just my own reasons for not participating. 

It's your money, and your vacation.  Whether you prefer cute pigs or tasty pigs do what you want.

On Royal Caribbean's web site, click "Destinations" at the top of the main screen:

On the Destinations screen, scroll to the bottom, and pick "Explore All Ports":

On the Port list, select a destination: 

Scroll to the bottom, to "Best Deals to ...", 

If I go by my most-consumed drink, 

1.  Tap Water

2.  Coffee

Post-COVID experience:  4 cruises booked all using Air2Sea.  2 cancelled by RCI, refund promptly processed.  December 2021 - Not my preferred departure airport, but booked on the web for day prior departure.  United airlines announced 3 flight changes between booking and sailing.  Yes I had to request seat assignments each time, but that's what happens when the equipment (aircraft type) changes.  

Jan 2022, same departure airport, 4 equipment changes, same old same old.  This time I grabbed a first class upgrade from United, for $100, and I get 2 free bags instead of paying $80 to check them.  

Biggest benefit:  I'm protected if (when) RCI cancels a sailing.

Yes, I'm happy with Air2Sea.

Once this COVID mess settles down, I'm going back to Orbitz, though.  I like the bigger choice of airlines (I prefer Delta), and departure airports.