BND

Someone posted the formula Royal used to calculate points when they made the change on here several times. Not sure the best way/term to search for it, but it is somewhere. Ah, found it using google: Conversion from old cruise credits to cruise points: If credits were 1-4, points = credits * 7 + 1 If credits were 5-7, points = credits * 7 + 3 If credits were > 7, points = credits * 7 + 13

On Jewel in Nov, they were pre punched (b2b). On EN in Apr and Jul and HOTS in Nov 21, they were not pre punched. We don't care because we don't use lanyards. Prior to restart, I don't remember any being pre punched.

We have not been to the Swizzle Inn but have gone past it on the public bus. We have eaten in St George at the White Horse Inn. The White Horse was recommended to us by friends who were Navy pilots and were stationed in Bermuda when the US Navy had personnel there. We've also eaten at a pub in Hamilton called The Hog Penny. Food was good but seating is a little cramped. Also, if you're looking to try a Rum Swizzle, most every place on the islands serves them. I said islands because Bermuda is actually made up of multiple islands connected by bridges.

No, just the regular old menu. The only ship that has had the new menu so far is Symphony. Expecting roll out to the fleet this year, but no one knows when it'll start. We were on the first two sailings after the return from Europe. Apple blossom was bad apple pie, maple syrup wasn't really maple syrup. Burgers were thin and hot dogs weren't really hot dogs (english sausage is all we could figure out) breakfast sausage wasn't what we've had on every other ship. Strip steak was fatty and gristly (chef agreed and said they cook what they are given and aren't happy with it) We thought it had to do with leftover supplies from Europe but it was both cruises. Just a lot of differences from our other cruises since restart. We met a chef from FL and he said the food distributors that RCI used to use in FL went out of business and they had to go with another one and it's not the quality it should be.

We just got off a 13 night b2b on Nov 19. Really like the ship a lot. Very clean, but the MDR food was just okay. Some of the items on the menu were different than on other ships. Let us know what you think.

That area has been screened off for a while. We were there in Nov 2021 two weeks in a row but never really heard what they are doing. We won't be back there until Nov 2024 as none of our other cruises have CC on their itineraries.

EN doesn't have the new menus yet.

I also have an allergy to shrimp (not severe and only gastrointestinal) and don't bother eating any seafood as I have never been tested and don't want to find out the hard way by trying anything else. Also, it could go to anaphylactic without notice. Besides, DH doesn't eat any fish or seafood. We just tend to go to Senor Frog's in Nassau. One, for the fact they serve tacos and two for the view of the port as well as being a good walk. Food is only a driver in ports as we prefer to eat lunch ashore when we can. In Bermuda, we go to Frog and Onion for lunch or dinner every trip. In PR, we always find a restaurant that serves real PR food as my DH is PR.

We just purchased annual insurance for the first time for this year.

Refundable? Covered by insurance? Details do matter.

I have a shrimp allergy so when we did Izumi on HOTS, I just made sure they knew so shrimp/seafood was cooked after mine. But, that said, Izumi was far from the best Tepanyaki we have ever had. We have a local place that is 1000% better lol. Izumi was just okay. Glad we didn't pay for it-comped after a horrible Sabor experience.

That is exactly almost word for word the discussion that DH and I just had lol. He's a retired US Naval Captain, so he has some experience.

They don't just randomly change booking numbers.

Those tables are at a premium for anything going on the Promenade. Selling them helps stop those that might fight over them and if people are willing to pay $700 for one, that's on them.

I get seasick if I don't medicate on a ship, but I can't tell which way the ship is going when I lay down. In fact, when I am seasick, laying down makes me feel a lot better regardless of which direction the bed is. What confuses the inner ear is the motion not matching up to what you are seeing. As in, seeing water and feeling movement but not able to process the perspective. It's why people can watch the horizon while moving and not get sick. I can ride a train backwards also with no issue or meds. One thing they tell people to do when they feel seasick is to lay down and sleep. Last time I was seasick in 30 foot seas, I went to bed and slept for 12 straight hours, which I never do otherwise.

I was responding to your general statement about price drops. You didn't say where you cruise out of and I just made a statement about your generalization.

Considering the ships out of Baltimore are older/smaller than most of those out of FL, the cost isn't really cheaper, not to mention, there are a lot less amenities on ships out of there. FL has a lot of cheap cruises for those that want short itineraries. Did you notice where I said, it's homeport related?

I did say they had increased some. This is hardly the first time RCI has increased prices, just like any business.

Price drops are very homeport related. Ports like PC and Ft. Lauderdale have multiple ship choices and different itinerary lengths. Cruising out of Baltimore, with one ship always sell out so price drops just don't happen. Usually within a month of departure, the only category left is insides on lower decks and then usually only a handful. To go on a ship out of Baltimore, if you don't book at least 6-9 months out, you will not be able to get any suite and balconies will be limited and not the best ones. We're booked on cruises through Nov 2024 and got the cabins we wanted. For example, on Wonder in Nov 2024, we got the middle hump JS on deck 12 which if we had waited a few months, it would have been unavailable as those go first. We booked the day the new itineraries came out.

What percentage is that? Your $5 increase could be his 34% one. As for the increase in cruise costs, it always goes up as you get closer unless they aren't selling. Price is set by demand and cost of expenses. With the cost of EVERYTHING going up, why is anyone surprised when prices are going up? We booked Wonder for fall 2024 as soon as the itineraries came out and they weren't much more than the same 7 day cruise on HOTS was last year but they have increased some. No one is required to cruise, so everyone has to make a choice. Complaining about it won't change anything. There is still obviously a huge demand and people are booking.

Where did I say I was "sanitizing" anything with the hot water? I said I don't use the glassware without washing it out. But, I did say use soap or shampoo, you know, like you would at home. And, rinsing with hot water is better than what a lot of hotels do. Also, just one of several articles I found about how hotel rooms are cleaned or not, including glassware. It might make you think twice. https://www.newsweek.com/hotel-worker-clean-room-never-touch-glasses-bedspreads-tiktok-1732000

You can also get one from your steward. I have several and always carry one on cruises.

It's only a show if you make a show of it. We just hand them the $1 when they give us the drink. No one else even notices.

We were on Jewel in Nov when it started. We literally signed two receipts and that was it. It never had legs.

The Key doesn't really get you anything on Vision class ships and definitely not in Baltimore. We book Chops on boarding day and it's a nice quiet meal.