LeeW

Last cruise called on first day and actually got through to Room Service!  In the past have had to list each item to exchange for Diet Coke, this time just told them entire minibar and that was enough.  They also brought the three 6 packs we had ordered pre-cruise at the same time, a whole cartful.

Note that buying soda pre-cruise is a pretty good deal, far better than paying the zero-alcohol package if you just drink soda and not the specialty coffees/teas.

First night probably won't open until 6:45.  However on Oasis-class have been in line at 6:30 and have had the greeters come down the line looking to see if anyone wants to eat NOW on another floor.  After the first night if you want the same table, they may tell you to show up earlier.  Depends on whether your table is actually assigned first seating.  If open, they may let you in.  Haven't had them tell me earlier than 6:30, though.

And they are restarting dividends! Dividend date 9/20/24, will pay 40 cents/share on 10/11/24.

Most adventure tours we have done with independents have you fill out a waiver, and a minor has to have an adult guardian on the tour with them.

I generally see dining as soon as I book the cruise, even 1 1/2 years out.  Shows around 45 days - just keep checking.

Yup.  Filter not working on either Royal or Celebrity.  In my case you can't even see the individual port dates, it just displays sea days.  And selecting one still shows the entire list for the cruise.

Might be either one.  Bring your own decorations.

Most folks seem to like the large cake, and this can be ordered for a specific day.  They can serve this at dinner if you want.  If you don't order a large cake the waiters will sing and give her a special dessert.  Just tell the waiter the night before or that day.

If she has the app she may get messages so use your phone number to check her in.

Goport.  If you get a good discount at rental car companies you can book one-way from the airport to/from the port area.  Picking up the car at the port can be a hassle, though.  

Typical price around $10/day, although sometimes on sale for $9/day, both plus 18% gratuity.  Look for sales especially around Black Friday.  You can get a cup either at the booth whey you get onboard or any bar.  Do NOT need to buy for more than one person.  The cup works at the Freestyle machines if the ship has them (locations usually buffet and Sorento's Pizza) for large variety of sodas/still.  Bars will fill them with gun soda, whatever they have.  The only time bartenders will use a can is if the gun isn't working, and usually then they use 1/2 liter bottles.  You don't have to use the cup - once the package is on your account you can get a glass at a bar or in the dining room.  Soda package can be purchased onboard at higher price.  A can of soda runs around $3.50 at any bar or in dining room.

Regular coffee is free.  Specialty coffees can be bought with the card, although some ships may charge 2 punches for large drinks.  Not sure if you can buy more than one before the cruise - just check your Cruise Planner.  Most things on the Planner are electronically linked to your room key rather than being an actual card.  People on this board discuss "punches," so maybe it is a card you receive in your room.  Note that coffee cards cannot be used at actual Starbucks kiosks on ships that have them - works only at Cafe Promenade and Windjammer locations.

You can officially bring 12 cans onboard when to board the ship.  Others have reported going through security separate and bringing more than 12.  Really depends on the security people at the port.  If you leave them in your suitcase you will likely have to go down to Security to get your suitcase.  Officially only when boarding the ship, not in ports.

If you buy something pre-cruise on the Cruise Planner, keep watching for sales.  You can always cancel and repurchase up to around 5 days before the cruise.

7 hours ago, miched said:

We will be on the same cruise.  We booked this tour.   It takes you to the Pacific 

 

Destination Highlight: Panama Canal Locks and Culebra Cut Cruise

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

 

Have taken this tour twice on partial transits in the past.  Well worth doing because it will go from Gatun Lake through the old locks to the Pacific side in a smaller boat, with a bus ride back to the ship.  Don't think Beyond will fit in the old locks and you will miss seeing the mules centering the ships and the original lock gates.  New locks use sliding gates, tugs to position ships, and are in a big flat area - not as impressive.

Sea day after Colon is because it is a LONG way to Aruba from there.  No guarantee when you leave Colon, either.  Depends on when all the tours get back.

Hampton also has a bunch of fast food restaurants around it, if you have kids (or fussy eaters) in your group.

Search for the town.  The search will list the airport and something like "19 other locations".  Pick that and then the one you want.  For example, Budget has an office just across from the north port entrance.  Last I used Avis it was in the Hilton Marina (tiny office and very busy).  Some locations have shuttles, some don't.  I think the Avis one is called Port Everglades cruise port and actually goes to the Hilton.

You should also be aware that major rental agencies can't charge dropoff charges in Florida, so one way rentals cost the same as local.

Uxmal is closer, and far fewer tourists.  Bus company that runs the pier shuttle does this, although getting there early is useless - in our case tour leaves once a day at 9:30.  Guide was one of the archaeologists working the site.  We only had 6 people on the tour plus the guide and driver.

Water and ice even without the purchased cup.

On Regal some choice has been available several nights.  For example, butter chicken was on the dinner menu on 11 August.  Appeared in the always available (Princess Favorites new name) section of the menu.

A RIB goes faster and can cover more area - depends on where the bergs are.  You will get sprayed.  All boats will have a safe distance they can approach an iceberg, probably the same distance for any small boat.  Icebergs can turn over without notice so you don't want to get too close.

RIB doesn't have a bathroom, and you wouldn't be able to use one in an exposure suit.

Note that you missed boarding by a year based on your thread title.....🙂

Ketchikan floatplane flights to Neets Bay will see bears, but very expensive.  Likewise the bear encounter by boat (long boat ride around the island).

There is a Kroschel Wildlife excursion in Skagway more likely than the Bear and Eagle Quest tour there.  Eagle Preserve float (ferry to Haines from Skagway, so some cruises don't have this) is great but may or may not see bears on the river.

We like Alaska Shore Tours for whale watching in Juneau, but yours are good.  Haven't seen bears but lots of whales last month.

Glacier Bay is different every time we go.  Have seen massive icefall on Marjorie Glacier on several trips on Coral and Island.  

The real advantage of Coral and Island Princess is the enclosed adult pool area.  You can sit on comfortable loungers in shorts and stick your head out for photos.  Make sure you check out some wool blankets for the cruise and try to sit away from a door.

Ship tours with Princess were great a few years ago, but we had a couple of 85 year old twins that only went to the gift shops and guide had to go get them at each stop.  Around 40 on buses and ship had 17 buses on the two circle tours. We were late getting back in Rjekavik, but we were the first bus and had the Captain's wife with us.  Last bus was an hour late.

Trying Iceland Everywhere for next cruise.

For hotels with port shuttles you usually have to sign up either at the front desk or the concierge.  Florida prices for a shared shuttle are between $6 and $10, no idea for your area.  As often as not you sit in the shuttle for quite a while before it leaves, so taking a cab or Uber is a lot easier.

The Cruise Planner should have a link to Air2Sea for air reservations:

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/flights/bookFlights

International flights are often cheaper with this, and you don't have to pay before final payment.  You can cancel these up to the point they actually buy the ticket (usually around 45 days before the cruise).  Lots of threads on cruise line air, so you might want to read them before doing this.  

If you have more than one person in a cabin only use one person to check out towels and it is best to do them all at once.  Same person checks them all back in.  The only time they have tried to charge us for towels after a cruise was when DW checked out some towels and I checked them all back in.  While you can get the charge reversed, it takes a while on the phone.  Has nothing to do with Icon, can be a problem on any Royal ship.

Harbor beach is pretty closed off from the ocean and tends to be murky.  Clear under the bridge, but you aren't allowed to swim out that far.

Some folks will tell their TA or booking agent to purchase insurance when they book the cruise.  This works if there is a possibility of a change in medical status between then and final payment.  In general, as orville99 says, the insurance isn't actually purchased until final since the only expense up to that point is the deposit.  You can certainly ask your agent to remove insurance up to final.

Probably easier to get a cab to the pier from the train/bus station than it is from a hotel.  Even with a reservation, our cab from Leonardo Royal Grand was 40 minutes late.  Could have walked to the terminal (46) in that amount of time.