Tatka

Seriously? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Caribbean And all cruise lines call itineraries with Barbados & St Lucia Southern Caribbean itun.

It really depends... For example our balconies on Anthem were way cheaper than what was offered on Vision class (more balconies - cheaper price) For us if Royal adds more Southern Caribbean cruises we won't have a need to sail from Baltimore. Our drive to NJ is way better too.

Well... we are there several times a year on other ships. Quantum, Oasis, Voyager classes. We won't drive to Baltimore for this. Only 12 dayers to South Car. However if we won't change our minds we will be on 8 days Thanksgiving cruise on Vision to Charleston, Miami, Bimini.

I would love it, although we like to experience small ship once out of 5 a year cruises.

I agree about Bermuda, but everything else is very similar to NJ. We just returned yesterday from 12 dayer to Southern Caribbean which we do from there once per year. (USVI, St Maarten, Barbados, St Lucia, St Kitts) There are way more cruises to Southern Caribbean from Baltimore than from NJ.

I started working remotely from RCI ships in 2016. I am in IT so it is development + video conference. Now internet is even better.

Itineraries are actually pretty good and match ones in New Jersey. Bahamas(with variations), Bermuda, NE/Canada, Southern Caribbean.

I am fine with most places in Mediterranean or Northern Europe if there is enough time of course.

In the end it is all the same. Rules are known. Cruiselines cannot make exceptions because they sell excursions based on this "risk". (Well I should not use quotes). This is aside from amounts they need to pay to stay in port longer.

If we book something it is often independent tours, but we do some analysis of area we explore before we do this. Area, timing etc.

They still have a time. Probably they are watching cleanup and deciding. I hope for Bayonne if cleanup isn’t finished

I think 1 credit (7 points) was for cruises up to 12 nights and then it was 2 points. Still it’s crazy to equate 3 nighters and 10 nighters to 7 points. We lost 7 points (a cruise) on this conversion. Oh well, we moved on.

I missed “don’t really like cruising”. They don’t cruise to have fun, but to be allowed into one of lounges for some snacks for several hours. If this is not happening they wasted lifetime of cruising

You do realize that to reach P cruising in regular accommodations you need to spend many more nights cruising (o horror!) ? Twice as many. And in a process they spend money aside from cruisefare. Also real suites which cost way more than regular accommodations have many more perks from the beginning than D. Is every level a lifetime? Hardly. Maybe between D+ and P. But … this conversation tells me some people really like cruising.

It’s just so many people are reaching statuses they will need to dedicate half of the ship soon. Technically we are putting our money and time because we want nice vacation aren’t we? Does anyone really go on cruise with RCI specifically to reach higher levels?

Many cars are parked in Baltimore.. including ours. Otherwise I’d have hoped for Bayonne.

I appreciate your sense of humor, but again, airport is for several hours. Still it is a torture. Not sure why if it does not affect you (read away from the public) "public" should dictate how it is should be done.

I agree about areas being away from public, but disagree about bolded text. It is completely different processes and I do not think other people should make a decision for people.

I used to smoke a lot, but could never do this in enclosed places. For the same reason I hated casinos. So no, not everyone likes to be in “gas chambers”. I remember there were some places away from crowds … although I noticed that some people go out of their way to “inhale and complain”.

Not every day, but on some days. We are not really interested in them so we are OK if they are not made at all. If we had kiddo and wanted them daily we would probably tip them to do it more often.

We learned hard lesson when I suddenly had bad heartburn. Not only prices, but not everything is available.

Oh, those too. 🙂

We use syrups, but I think pills are available

Agree about meds, especially after being through 3 Covids (5 among us), 1 illness similar to Flu or RSV and 1 Noro on board in the last 3 years. So Robitussin DM cough and congestion, NyQuil/DayQuil, Imodium... and some other stuff. Not fun!!!

Powerbank to charge devices away from stateroom Backpack to comfortably carry things to pool and beach.