Starry Eyes

A really great assignment is in the eyes of the beholder. For example, on a recent thread a poster specifically did not want a cabin on deck 6 Oasis class (too low in his opinion); deck 6 is my favorite deck on Oasis class😀. Given the same cabin assignment, I’d have said I got a great assignment and he’d have said he got a bad assignment. That said, I always expect the worst (for me) cabin in that class; I consider anything better than that worst cabin a free bonus. That way I sail happy. There is no point looking at the very best cabins; those are not likely to be available at this point (new ship, old ship, off peak or not…ships are sailing full)

As you probably know, the cruiselines do not have to tell gty bookings their cabin assignment until boarding day. If they wish to keep the flexibility, the cruiseline is allowed to quietly make (and re-make, if necessary) their plans for the gty booking assignments in their company computer without telling the passenger until boarding. Of course, we often do know our assignments sooner. When the muster station and deck are on the set sail pass, you should expect to find an unofficial cabin assignment hidden in the set sail barcode if you use the “bar code trick.” At this stage, the system seems to have pre-selected and held a cabin for that gty booking, though the company has not yet made the assignment official. People routinely report eventually being assigned those cabins; I have been. Why is the company waiting? I would guess perhaps they are retaining some flexibility in case a very unusual situation arises and some guests just have to be re-arranged, but that’s just my guess.

Disappointment is different from whining. Adults should manage disappointment without whining.

I hate it when people who elect to book a cruise near the peak of hurricane season whine when their trip is altered by a hurricane.

Stick with your initial instinct; don’t be that person.

I understand your concern. There is Lee, of course. The nhc is also watching invest 98; some of the spaghetti models suggest it might head in Bermuda’s direction. So much weather to watch…

We really enjoyed the CL on Allure a few years ago. DH now has some knee issues, so it might not be as easy for him now. On newer ships, I’d be disappointed to have a tub upstairs instead of the rain shower.

If you plan to continue cruising regularly, you are apt to see both St Thomas and San Juan on future cruises as they both make frequent appearances. For my first few cruises I spent a disproportionate amount of time think about specific Caribbean port stops. An itinerary change or a missed port could be disappointing. Then I realized we were addicted to cruising and without special planning we would soon know all usual Caribbean ports (and plenty of less common ones, too) So if you foresee many cruises in your future, pick either one for any reason. Both ports have their charms. You might even be swayed by other considerations (more convenient week, flights, hotels, price, cabin availability, whatever).

Hard to guess your odds, especially since you did not tell us how high you bid. Though you say there are a “ton” of GS’s available, because so many people are eligible to bid there are apt to be many tons (to use your terminology😉) of bids for upgrades, including bids from people already in higher categories than yours.

If you arrive at T5 before terminal doors open, there are two rope lines outside. Tell the workers you are a suite guest and you will be directed to the line closer to the door. From our recent experience if you do not speak up, they are apt to send you to the main line.

I understand that watching these long track storms can be nerve wracking. Still watching the track and hoping for the best pretty much is all you can do now. I think it is a bit early to speculate about itinerary changes for the 9/15 sailing.

CruiseCritic rules will not prevent you from googling the screen name.

No doubt they will be monitoring the speed, size and trajectory of the storm. If conditions are decent, your cruise keeps your day in CoCo Cay. If conditions are suboptimal on Monday, the Captain can cancel or shorten the day in a CoCo Cay as appropriate.

My margarita at 5pm on Mariner was so watery. I doubt Jimmy would have been impressed. Let’s hope it’s the thought that counts. RIP.

Chat on board says Mariner will use the above itinerary, conditions permitting. They will evaluate the position of the storms, etc while we are in CoCoCay on 9/3, making a decision whether Bermuda is a go. Rumor has it there is a back up plan, though I do not know the details.

I had a couple nice upgrades in the old days, too. Reminiscing is fun, yet pre-RoyalUp experiences are likely not enlightened about the OP’s current booking with RoyalUp in effect.

Note: The bar code trick described above is employed within 45 days of your cruise(after you have checked in and have a set sail pass with a barcode). So don’t look through your cruise stuff for a barcode until then😀 RoyalUp is a program that allows people to bid for cabin upgrades in the weeks before the cruise. Not everyone is able to participate (for example, people who book with big box agency that C*****o cannot bid due to C’s policy). As Royal can get money for upgrades with RoyalUp, there seems less chance a suite gty will get a free upgrade above JS.

Almost all suite gty bookings are assigned Junior Suites, especially since the advent of RoyalUp. When I book a suite gty, I am mentally prepared to be happy with the worst JS on the ship. Anything in a better location than that is nice; I do not fantasize about other categories of suites. Of course, when I say the “worst” one on the ship, I mean the worst one in the eyes of the person sailing; different people like/dislike different cabins. I look at a deck plan to be sure I can accept any of the cabins for the price I am paying.

People’s land vacations get spoiled by hurricanes, too. Several years ago we were vacationing in Florida when a Hurricane developed. Our planned accommodation closed after the storm as did others; power outages were widespread. We went online and felt fortunate that Royal Caribbean ship embarking the next day was still open for booking. We booked an inside gty and took a cabin somebody else had to cancel due to the storm.

Captain said we might get some wind and rain from outer bands/ influence of Idalia in CoCoCay tomorrow, mostly in the morning. Trivial, I’m sure, compared to those who were/are really in the path of the storm. I will post if I hear rumors of itinerary changes.

The Captain’s noon announcement discussed the impact of Idalia on weather in CoCoCay tomorrow. I have not heard any discussion further than that. Storm course, speed, and strength are difficult to predict multiple days out. I think it is currently too soon to know if our itinerary will change. I want to sail even if our itinerary changes. You?

I’m on board Mariner now and will stay on for the next cruise. Personally, I am not particularly concerned about Port Canaveral on Friday; the port should be fine. I will be watching Idalia’s predicted path next weekend and early next week. It is just too soon to know where the storm will be or how powerful she will be, but it is possible Idalia will be in the ship’s path from PC to Bermuda or over Bermuda. I think there is a chance our itinerary could change (of course that would not be unusual during the peak of hurricane season).

There are a few tables for two by the rail on Jewel…not a whole line of them like oasis.

Remember you can only win once, so make sure you only bid on categories you sincerely want to win. For many people that means every category, but others may feel differently. For example, if you really, really, really want a full suite, think carefully about whether you want to bid on the JS. You want to be happy if you win, rather than disappointed that you no longer have a shot at the cabin you truly wanted. Then bid the highest those cabin upgrades are worth to you.