smokeybandit

I had an 11:20am flight in March and was at the gate at like 9:30am

We always rent a car when flying into Orlando. That way we can do a few things the night before/day of. Then dropping it off at enterprise and taking their shuttle is easy. Now as for if you should drop off your crew and return the car yourself vs. all six of you dropping off the car, 50/50 on that one. Though there is an indoor waiting area for the shuttles, so for a couple in their 80s, that may be better than having them fend for themselves for a bit at the port.

Not worth it unless you're booking a bunch of cruises per year.

Complaining publicly but anonymously is fun.

I'd go as early or as late in the season as possible

But you're also paying more for those perks on Oasis than you are a Mariner.

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/what-are-the-benefits-of-the-suites-program

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/will-holds-be-placed-on-my-credit-card

I can't take naps unless I'm awake for like 30 hours straight. And no matter what time I go to bed I still wake up at the same time.

This post sure lived up to its billing based on that subject line.

Too bad it's so late at night

Actually kind of late to book early 2025 cruises if you're looking for a good rate

I'm just going off what I've seen reported elsewhere https://ewnews.com/cruise-passenger-tax-increases-pushed-back-to-january-2024

Didn't seem that big of a deal. $23-$25 per head depending if you go to a private island, up from $18. Then $7 in other taxes.

Yes, that was one of them

I've got an 8 nighter on Adventure next year in a GS for 3 people that's cheaper than that.

I don't see any real advantage to MTD. But that's me. Others love it.

$3700 for 2 on an Adventure 7 nighter

But the headline says Amsterdam outright banned cruise ships. And people these days don't often get past headlines (not referring to the OP)

The cruise I'm on in one week just went from "sold out" to having 20+ interior rooms available

They did not ban cruise ships. They just want to move the cruise terminal out of downtown. That's a very misleading article.

Definitely the TA.

I'll defer to you for that knowledge. Though for my cruise next week, about 2 dozen balcony rooms appeared out of thin air about 30-45 days out (could be 60). So that must be RC simply holding back their own cabin allotment until late.

You don't book shows on that class of ship, just show up.

Right, not cancelations, but the big TAs returning blocks as well as RC holding some back for last minute purchases.