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Well, I guess I'll keep a copy of my Senior Advantage and GeoBlue travel insurance coverage certificates on my phone if I have to prove that I am over-insured to go bird watching!!

Actually, back in the way back days, the MDR had a toga night. They gave us extra bedsheets, and we had to make our own toga. I still can't believe my husband actually did that...........................

Coastal Kitchen gratuities are only included if you are booked as a Star Class Suite passenger on ships that have Coastal kitchen. The amenities list specifically states that all other Suite classes no gratuities are included. https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/what-are-the-benefits-of-royal-suite-class

Which end of the passenger drop-off area at Terminal A/Freedom of the Seas is the Suite/Pinnacle entrance? I want to keep my sister from having to walk very far when we arrive. Thanks!

I just IM'd with a friend who will be on the Jewel tomorrow. She said their FB page has a whole lot of whiners wanting a refund for missing Halifax. To each his own, but I'd go to the MET Museum of Art over Halifax any day. HA!! RCCL should give them the refund, BUT deduct the additional port fees for Manhattan vs Halifax!! Guess what port is #1 on the World's Most Expensive Ports?

I don't believe at all that it needs to be awkward, as 15-ish years ago I would ask nicely, very nicely, with no expectations. I got "no problem", "let's see how many are in the lounge already when you come", to "we have too many eligible for the lounge on this sailing, so no". Any of those answers were fine with me. Now, however, the ships are very crowded and I don't ask anymore. I'm Pinnacle going with my Gold Member sister on the Freedom, and I just share my drink coupons with her wherever we decide to have our evening drinks. (Well, she also gets my amenity bottle of white wine, too.)

I have a question about the entrances. I remember a long drive in the middle between the two buildings of Terminal A, with luggage drop-off points. But, I get Port Everglades and Port of Miami mixed up about where the Suite and Pinnacle entrance is. Is it at the beginning of that drive through, or at the end? We are leaving on the 18th, and it's going to be very hot, so I want to avoid a lot of walking. Plus, I have found that most Uber drivers have a hard time navigating in cruise ports generally. So, knowing ahead of time where we want to be dropped off is important. Thanks!

I've been sailing in and out of Jamaica since the 1970's. It's always been a little dicey. I've never had a problem, but I always stayed with ship excursions. They have vetted the tour operators, and you don't have to worry about getting reviews from possible "shills" for the tour operator. In my mind, if they aren't associated with RCCL, then I'm not sure of their reliability. However, I do love Tripadvisor reviews, because you can use their search function. I always go for the most recent reviews, up to about 6 months. I search the entire body of reviews for my specifics, like "shore excursion" or "drop off point" would work in this case. My main point is if people are STILL not feeling good about Jamaica ports after 50 years, then err on the side of caution. I would advise against picking up a tour off the dock, unless you like to play craps in casinos......😁

All I can think of after reading this is I'm glad I carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer on my tote bag. I can't stop these people, but thank you for the reminder that I need to sanitize my hands after I return to my table in the Windjammer. That is, if I even go to the Windjammer at all. The OP's description is what I experienced on the Vision right after the menu changes and cutbacks started in mid-January this year.

That is one winding road to get to Ocho:

My thoughts exactly: I've never had an issue with switching on board and getting a refund (of some kind).

I said "IF" it's becoming a trend, "THEREFORE" (implied) yada, yada, yada...............

Not trying to argue, however it's the looooong lines of people I'm referring to here. I don't remove tips, but I avoid Customer Service on embarkation day and the last day on all cruises.

If it's causing a significant increase in the traffic at the CS counter, then I think it's putting a strain on the staff and the passengers both with long lines. I usually go very early in the morning when there's no line, and avoid the first day and last day of cruises.

Makes sense. I feel bad for the Customer Svc staff on board these ships, if removing them is getting to be a trend.

I think this is coming. Passengers might also be deleting tips because the price of cruises are going up so much. To me, the price of the cruise already includes the tips when I make my decision about booking. I always add the tips automatically (in my head). Some times I pay all the tips, sometimes an obc pays them, sometimes it's a mix.

Yes, it's always looked crowded and hard to get to IMO. I love the suite and pinnacle round sun deck on the Allure and Oasis. It's got it's own bar, which is very nice. No crowds up there.

It's always a big deal to me to have priority boarding. I appreciate it!! I was dismayed when they eliminated priority boarding for D and D+, because it's one of C&A perks that is very meaningful. But, at least they are letting the C&A upper level members board first according to their level.

Well, if I decided to not go to any other restaurant because I suddenly became wildly happy with the MDR menus and the Windjammer, I would have paid over $200 for that Day 1 lunch. So, there are lots of ways to look at this situation. If they gave me a way to NOT skew their bookings, I would GLADLY, HAPPILY follow that booking path.

I have never been shown the rule about this by RCCL. I've never been refused my booking on Day 1. And, I've had the overcharge (and yes, it's an overcharge to me for the second booking because their system doesn't recognize UDP purchasers in the booking system) refunded promptly.

THANK YOU! I continue to be puzzled about why the passenger is penalized because RCCL cannot allow Day 1 lunch reservations for UDP purchases. I've always thought the concept of customers is to accommodate their needs in order to generate more business and revenue. A temporary duplicate hold on a table at noon on Day 1 (when there are few passengers on board, and Chops is pretty much empty) should not be considered a penalty to the buyer. Plus, if enough passengers have to do this, then RCCL needs to adjust their booking policies.

I'm failing to see why? I'm still there to eat my lunch and fulfill my reservation, I've just paid for it twice. It's not like I'm a no-show.

Couldn't resist, and in all good humor: You are not the boss of my tummy....................

By any chance did you take an Uber back to the airport after the cruise? Could you give me general directions to the Uber pick up area, please? I want to see my sis off to the airport before I get the ship's transportation for a b2b out of Ft Lauderdale. Thanks!

When my husband passed in 2021, both Princess and RCCL were incredible about refunding all our money paid for upcoming cruises. Like within 48 hours. My sincerest condolences to the OP: it's very, very tough to deal with an immediate family member passing. Insurance policies refer to the "traveler", but that is synonymous with "insured". In the case of a family member's death who is not on the travel policy, the benefit that would be paid out is under trip interruption in the OP's case to the covered traveler on the policy.