S.A.M.J.R.

I've heard (and it makes sense), they'll do a single group when the numbers are small.

Yes. Suites still get 2x service.

According to Royal's website, 12yo CAN go to the teen room... https://www.royalcaribbean.com/blog/what-teens-can-expect-onboard/

We went to an AI years ago. They gave everyone a physical card at check in. Want a towel? Turn in your card, get a towel. Exchange as often as you want. Want your card back? Turn in a towel. When you checked out, hand the cards back in. Assuming you have the same number of cards that were originally handed to you, no charge. Logical, right? Somehow I ended up with four EXTRA cards when we checked out. I still have no idea how I did it. I understand why Royal does it. I don't think the scanning of seapass cards works well though, from a technical standpoint. It should. I just don't think it does.

Isn't it possible the 9 night cruise might actually be more expensive (in total) than the 13 night? The ship and the itinerary, to say nothing about the cabin, affect the cost, doesn't it?

What does your TA say?

On our last cruise on Mariner, our excursion in San Juan was going to return later than our MDR dining time... on lobster night! The night before I talked to our waiter and then the maitre-d. They made a couple "to go" plates, and when we returned from the excursion, I called them to say we were back and went down and picked up the plates. Ended up eating on our balcony.

Guessing 12yo (their parents) can choose which one they want to be a member of. AO makes sense for some, especially if they have a younger sibling with them, but the teen club makes sense also.

From what I remember the teen club was split into two groups, 13-15 and 16-17. I would think it would be better for a 12yo to be among 15yo than among 6yo. ETA: From the Royal website: https://www.royalcaribbean.com/blog/what-teens-can-expect-onboard/ [quote] How does the onboard programming for teens differ from other kids? We divide teens into two age groups: 12-14 and 15-17. What we have for teens is actually very similar to the adult activities — they come and go at their own will. They can check the schedule and see what they want to do, whether it’s a sport, a craft or a scavenger hunt, and they can opt in or out.[/quote] So the 12yo WOULD go to the teen club.

I tried to break up the quote, but it wouldn't let me. Anyway, I would think the folks on floor 10 would have a problem losing 25% of their elevators (assuming four lobbies) if a panel is broken. IMO, the odds of enough buttons in a single elevator being broken to make the elevator unusable are very slim. As far as the 2nd paragraph, let's say there are two people on floor 1, two on floor 3, and three on floor 7, all going to floor 17... according to you, the it would pick up four people, but leave the three on floor 7 for another elevator? And do I understand correctly, if you have more than one in your party, each person would need to select their desired floor? So person 1 says "Floor 7", wait to see they're assigned to elevator F, person 2 says "Floor 7", wait to see they're assigned to elevator F, person 3 says "Floor 7", wait, etc.

Here's the CC board for the private islands... https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/308-private-islands/ Here's an small list of what's available for added cost (excurions): * Jet Ski * Zip Line * Kayaking * Roller Coaster * Slide * Water Park (inflateables) * Floating mats * Cabanas

But presumably you have added cost in the control system. Do the people who fix the control system need to be paid more than the folks who fixed a "normal" elevator system?

Yes, some of us are curious and want to know (at least understand) how things work. And some of us have been "burned" in the past by people who "supposedly know" not thinking about "situation 'x'". And at least some of the descriptions in the thread have been contradictory "you get on the elevator and it's a direct trip to your floor" is different than "it will stop at other floors before you". Giving out wrong information only leads to more confusion. Words matter. I agree. But there's been a lot of talk about usage of this system in office buildings and hotels. But, as was brought up during the room cleaning cutbacks, "you can't compare the two, they're too different". Will I ever go on Icon? Don't know. Would the type of elevator control system determine whether I decide to sail on a ship? Nope. I know it's used now. I'd still like to see how well it works after a show.

Based on reading here, there is no pool in the solarium, just hottub(s?)

When I read the thread earlier, I though "eh, ok, not for me, but if someone wants to do that, go for it". Now that I think about it though, that's taking up relatively valuable real estate. Where there used to be free loungers, now you have to shell out, and you're probably not getting as many people into the same space. I'm not upset, but something I'll be thinking about when we're on Harmony in July.

That makes sense from a building standpoint. "Most (90%?) of the people will either be starting from the bottom or trying to get to the bottom." On a cruise ship, lets say when a show is ending, you have people starting on deck 5, with some wanting to go down, and some wanting to go up. With dinner, you have three decks to supply/pickup from and people could be starting from below or above. But, it sounds like other cruise lines (and I guess Icon?) are using it, so it must not be awful, but is it "better"?

So a kid hitting all the floors in the lobby panel would tie up at least two elevators (one going each direction)? Don't get me wrong, I'm intrigued. I'd like to see how well it works at a "crowded" time... before/after a show, before/after dinner, etc.

OK Sorry, that doesn't make sense. Person 1 (you) is on deck 7 and wants to go to deck 11. Person 2 is on deck 5 and wants to go to deck 11. They would tie up two elevators with a single person each? Why would it assign the same elevator? I thought it was an "express". So if I'm on deck 5 and want to go to 11, someone else in the lobby (deck 5) wants to go to deck 12, they get two different elevators, right? If they get assigned the same elevator, then it's not an "express" to get to deck 12 (because it needs to stop at 11). That's just two people in the same lobby going to two different floors.

So, you're on deck 7 and want to go to deck 11. You get to the elevator lobby and select '11'. You're assigned Elevator E. When that elevator gets there, the doors open, you step on and you're taken to deck 11. Do I have that right? So, what about the person on deck 5 that wants to go to deck 11 and hit their button at the same time? Do they get assigned Elevator E also (because the AI knows you're both going the same place)? In which case, it's not a point to point for them, they have to stop on 7. Or do they get assigned Elevator A, so now you have two elevators, possibly with only one person each both going to the same location? I'm not sure how it stop kids from hitting elevator buttons. Why couldn't they hit all the buttons in the lobby and tie up ALL of the elevators?

Is "she" your friend? Did she get that paper from the bank (actually call and have something emailed or printed in a branch) or online? I think she needs to talk to a human at the bank (if she hasn't already) and say "the vendor says it was declined".

I have no financial backing and didn't stay at a Holiday Inn last night, but I would start with the bank. "The vendor (Royal) says this payment was declined. Do you have anything showing it went through?"

I'm pretty sure you can make reservations for each night before you sail online in the cruise planner or in the app.

What time were you off the ship?

Very simple IMO. Let's say the lifeboat holds space for 100 passengers. That either gives you 50 cabins with 2 people in them or 25 cabins with four in them. So they outfit the ship with 25 cabins that can hold four people. But, not every one of those cabins will be filled. So let's say 20 people take 10 of the cabins, 5 people take 5 cabins, 15 people take 5 cabins and 20 people take 5 cabins. So, 25 cabins, but only 60 people. Leaves a lot of extra space on the life boat. So the rooms are all taken, but lifeboat space isn't. This allows flexibility if someone wants to add a person after booking. I'm sure Royal has math that shows how many berths will be empty. They want to get as many people on board as they can. Eh, it makes sense in my head. 😛

I'm not sure what you're questioning. EVERY item for sale is priced as high as the seller thinks will get the most profit. If things don't sell, the price goes down. Economics 101.