Shmoo here

1) Yes, they still give lanyards for returning cruisers. 2) By Captain's Reception, what do you mean? The Castaway Club reception is only on cruises of 8 nights and longer. If you mean one nice where there have the "Captain's Gala" menu and meet the officers in the atrium - probably not. Since the 4 night cruises would have the 3 signature menus and the pirate menu.

I guess it's different than the other ships, because on them you can't book online at the salon, only once onboard after 1:00 on boarding day. I do know that there is a waiting list once onboard, if everything fills up. At least on the other ships. If you can book salon appointments online, it's not a bad idea to check it once or twice (a day) to see if anything opens up before your cruise.

While it's a ticketed event, I don't believe there's a charge for it. From the DCL website: This is a ticketed event; all Guests are required to have a valid ticket reservation to attend. Additional Character appearances that do not require a ticket are available throughout your cruise. To reserve tickets before your cruise begins, visit My Cruise Activities within your advance booking window. When reserving tickets, if a specific time is unavailable, try selecting another time and/or day. In addition to booking online, a limited number of tickets may be available on the first day of your cruise. Please check with Guest Services once on board the ship to determine if there is availability. Guests may attend every ticketed Character event—including Character Breakfasts—once per cruise. Disney Character appearances may vary each sailing. You can find additional info about it here: https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/onboard-activities/character-greetings/

They could grandfather those people who've already achieved specific levels, even if they don't meet the criteria for the new requirements.

"Better" in what way? Often a Travel Agent may give perks for using them to book. Sometimes not. If you have a problem with the reservation, and you've used a TA, you can't deal directly with the cruise line to solve the problem. You have to work through the TA. Many people prefer to deal directly with the cruise line for bookings. Many other people prefer using a TA. Depends on your comfort level.

But wouldn't an official name change mean that his birth name is no longer his "real" name?

Except, if, indeed, there was an official name change, he wouldn't be traveling under his "real" name.

It's just like getting a passport, I believe the current suggested time for return is around 7-10 weeks.

I agree. I wish they'd done some sort of combination of number of cruises and number of nights thing, like Princess has. And it's a big jump from 10 cruises to 25.

Cast member discounts typically show up much closer to actual cruise. Around 90 days out. If the discount is a better price (taking into account any cancellation penalties) you have to cancel current reservation and make a new one with the CM price. You would also lose any activity/excursion reservations connected to the original reservation. Military discounts are on specific cruises, not all cruises. You can find the dates of those cruises on the DCL website on the "Plan a cruise" tab, "Special Offers" link. I don't know for sure how those work, if you can just apply the discounted rate to an existing reservation or if you have to cancel and rebook. Any discounts must be added to the reservation. I don't think any automatically happen. And, I believe, you can only get one, no stacking discounts.

We've had it happen. Usually on longer voyages. But, sometimes, if they need to clear an obstruction, it can happen anytime. It happens because someone flushed something they shouldn't have.

We can't be specific about travel agencies/agents here. Some online sites are good. Others aren't. Sorry I can't be more helpful than that.

Well, they're "free" if the name change is within the first year that the passport was issued.

👍

Should read "San Juan to Seward"

I don't understand it, either. B2B (2B2B) cruises on the same ship are viewed as one cruise, regardless of whether you booked them all separately. San Juan/Ft Lauderdale/Los Angeles/Vancouver/Seward is the same as a San Juan to Hawaii cruise, and has a distant foreign port (covered under the Lauderdale to LA portion) that counts. Even if you eliminate the San Juan/Ft Lauderdale port (due to the exemption part) the cruise would still be Ft Lauderdale to Seward with the distant foreign port covered. Only thought I had - are you staying onboard the same ship the whole time? I'd be questioning the cruise line as to WHY I'd have to change it, if it were me.

I believe that's why you need actual permission from the cruise line prior to cruise. They need to be sure all the "ducks are in a row", official procedures are covered, re immigration official what whatever else...

Generally, yes. BUT it's necessary to the the OK from the cruise lines prior to cruise to do this. I've read that most downlining wasn't being OKd during the pandemic.

According to the DCL website, character breakfasts are only on cruise of 7 nights and longer that have at least 2 sea days.

1. I have a waterproof camera I use onshore. The strap stays on my wrist, even in the water. I don't use my phone when cruising, so it stays onboard (in the safe). 2. My beach bag just has beach towel, sunscreen, sunglasses. I don't bring valuables to the beach. The other thing - when on shore, MOST ports only require ship's ID and a photo ID (confirming you are the person whose name is on the ship's ID) to enter port area/reboard ship. Generally driver's license and ship's ID is a plastic card (much like a credit card). Those items I can put in my swimsuit while onshore , as they both can get wet.

I believe it's required in the UK.

Historically, new itineraries have been released approximately 18 months out from a "season". Recently, however, DCL seems to be lagging on this schedule. Possibly due to cruising trying to "return to normal".

^^^This^^^

That is - you may bring onboard 6 beers (12 oz each) OR 2 bottles of wine/champagne (max 750 liters each) when you get on the the ship "and at each port of call." (the quote from DCL website. ) Anything more than that will be stored until the end of the cruise.

I'd suggest heading over to the Celebrity board for answers: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/16-celebrity-cruises/