nimbex1970

almost 20 cruises in on other lines, now booked with VV, so no. Not first time cruisers. Kinda experts that want what VV is offering.

I don't see this at all. When you look at the reviews here, VV scores tremendously high, except for the family question, which is skewed, as this isn't a family line. I have watched endless youtube videos of regular folks sailing with VV who give honest reviews. I really question that you have sailed with them, and wonder what's up with your reply.

As others suggested, download the app, it took 15 minutes. Similar to other cruise lines booking dinner times are about 30 to 45 days out. Excursions seem to come slowly in no particular order. Many onboard activities can't be booked ahead of time.. although I am still researching this if it isn't until boarding, then the app gets more interactive. I have found Youtube to be a great source of information as well as the board here.

Urine can have MRSA, pseudomonas and other bacterial/fungal components. I'm in the NO hot tub/no pool group.

you are hysterical, I so want to cruise with you and your group!

If you log on to the royal caribbean app then click dining then main dining room you can see the menu for each day. We are 30 days out from sailing.

I have been to St. Marteen 6 or 7 times, so my comfort level is different than going first time. We take a taxi there, It does get busy and backed up a bit (say 15 minutes), and of course, it's busy by the port. Give yourself and hour to get back. There are taxis lined up, and some large vans to take you back to the port. There is a restaurant right there that could be used as backup for calling a taxi on some odd chance there are none there (which would be very rare). You can also make a deal with a cab driver for the day to take you there and say another beach or site seeing. We did this once and paid $250 from memory for the four of us. We wanted to see several beaches and have our toes on the sand for pictures. That way, you are with the same driver, they wait for you and it takes some of the worries out. The driver stopped at a place for lunch, we bought his lunch and he was great company. To each their own with this. There are cheaper options on viator and trip advisor, where you can see reviews of island tours. They know to get you back to the ship on time, this is their livelihood.

I have not done this, but I am on a mom's at sea board. They are buying small transportable car seats. Then they are small and light enough to use on excursions. This has been similar to their recommendation, although there are a large variety out there. Others state for young ones, they use the car seat on the plane, in the transfer to port canaveral, then they simply put it in the closet on the ship. https://www.amazon.com/Safety-Seat-Simple-Portable-Belt/dp/B0BZSXD19P/ref=sr_1_13_sspa?crid=3H037KMJ4M5TS&keywords=collapsible%2Bcar%2Bseat%2Bfor%2Btravel&qid=1680885714&sprefix=collapsible%2Bcar%2Bseat%2Caps%2C343&sr=8-13-spons&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExQUxHMkU2SFBCUzg0JmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNDc1NDgzM0pERUIzSE9LOUpOSyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMDM4OTMwM05aVjQ3WjREV0dGRCZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX210ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU&th=1

our first one, we first had to change cabins (it was a last minute add on for the second leg), we put our bags out the night before. It was an old habit and didn't research not to do It. Didn't know they would move our luggage to the new room, Also thought we had to do exit customs, lol. added about an hour to the process. I learned from that one.

Expect a "no" from royal, but hey, you may get some cruise credit. As others have stated, call the credit company that you used to book the cruise. It's an expensive way to learn the value of saving that insurance money. Been there too. When this happened to us, the credit card company was very helpful, although it took several months for some percent of refunds.

We received ours on the last night of the first leg. We put our three bottles in checked luggage and had no issue receiving them on the first day of our second leg. This however is unusual, as only a bottle of wine is technically allowed. So I would not plan on getting it back through for the second leg and having it held again until you exit your second week. I hope this helps you plan.

Also, it's fun to participate, but don't feel the need to participate if you don't want to buy clothes. Its a fun time for all, even those not wearing attire.

To my knowledge, the port authority has control over the dogs, not any one ship. They check for drugs as well as food items that may have insects that could cause damage. We usually see them AFTER the cruise though. It IS odd to see them before.

My humble opinion is that Alaska is all about the ports and Glacier Bay is a must-see. I would include this port in my choice. Perhaps you tube videos could help you choose from the remaining 2 ships?

food is subjective, videos with poor quality of food, or a rude waiter might be objective. Folks naturally complain about change, so I can see that RCCL might opt for videos to attempt to validate the changes in the dining room. THis seems too new to know what effects video feedback will have. If folks want to complain, here is another venue to do so.

I must be the rare person, who has no issue spending 20k on a family cruise, but not in a suite all stuffed together! Taking the family on the WOS this May, 4 rooms. It's a splurge and we all can only arrange a week per year together, I live in Alaska and they are in Florida. We still cruise, but for the two of us, a balcony, even inside is fine, we are NEVER in the cabin but to sleep, so not worth it for us. I need my space and peace, not stuffing family in the same space!

I bought a bunch of day dresses that could be washed in the sink and hung dry. We send my husbands pants and shirts out for the press after we do this, it's safer. I only use laundry for socks, jammies and unspecial shirts... Just expect hot water, no fabric softener and hot dry. If you wouldn't do this at home, don't do it on the ship

I am in the process of renewal and a name change and there are several issues. Online seems to have stopped as it's overloaded with requests; some states like my NY are using covid as an issue (not sure if everyone is still home-based with limited office hours), and some states have limited drop-in and renewal offices which are not in a reasonable driving time.. shortage of workers? Increase of travelers? It all seems to be hitting a system that hasn't ramped up to folks willing to travel. So plan ahead and plan for 6 months of total processing to be safe. Yes, there are many here with smooth access that has no issues, but for others, it does take quite some time.

I was so worried about this too. While I'm not an early riser, there are plenty of chairs AND umbrellas. Now we were not front row, but there were ample choices throughout the island... we walked around first. If you are picky about your spot, then it's worth getting up early and staking out your spot.

I'm in the middle here, the OP is taking liberty with the "clean your plate" comment, but also states that he would simply like to use the MDR for the experience, (not have to go to the buffet), and have both platters at once. It is a very reasonable request. Simply asking one's server to quickly provide the second platter seems to be a reasonable answer. Why folks gotta be snarky, well here we are anyway.

ick factor for me. I agree with the OP, but I have never gotten into a pool or hot tub aside from my own since growing up. To each their own. Now tell me the poolside showers are contaminated and I am going to barf, I use these to cool off. Fingers crossed, lol

THank you for your response, we don't have that, there are only 1200 that live here. UPS, is a part time guy that takes his van to the airport, picks up boxes and delivers them when he feels like it. Seriously. You are the best! I would have to start the process over and give my brothers address, pay another 20 bucks, but this could work!!!! right now I received an email from Albany that required me to get a notarized letter that this is MY PO address, the upload it, then send it. It will take three weeks for them to receive it from the bush in Alaska, again. I can't make this up. But I think you have the best idea and I appreciate it!!!! Going to start over with my brothers address in NY. I probably should have shared that we are travel nurses working in Dillingham Alaska, in the bush, kinda middle of nowhere and it's hard for folks to understand, there are two food stores, the clothing "store" is in the hardware store and Amazon takes three weeks to deliver. We also have no stop lights. Somehow, I brought everything but my birth cert. here, which is likely in storage. I could kick myself.

oh my gosh, just to continue on this.. trying to get a birth certificate out of NY for Albany, they will not send it to a PO box.. I live in the Alaska bush.. we ALL have PO boxes, the house numbers and addresses don't show up on google maps, because they don't exist, they are all made up. So they wouldn't take my house number either, now say no PO address is allowed. So on the Albany phone line, you can't talk to a person, it's the endless loop of hell, in which they claim covid is at fault. Can'' make this up. Now back to our regularly scheduled program of passport issues. Had to vent the passport process!

Yes, this was a new booking that ends 03/31. I'm sure there will be added specials as we go, might be more in loot, but it was 300 for bar tab, 50 for obc

I just got 350 , 300 in beverages, 50 for loot, for signing up on their sail special, this cruise keeps getting cheaper! I am so pleased I am trying this line. Plus I found a 10% pay-it-all-at-once and a 10% Florida discount rate, I am a happy cruiser.