Mick B

Hi, I think I have posted something along these lines before somewhere, but... On boarding day we go to the MTD desk and speak to the staff member about getting in earlier that 6.45. They always tell us its not possible but we can join a line around 6.15. However, I tell them nicely that we are not bothered about where the table is or who the waiter is. Suddenly with a click of the magic button a table appears. The trick is not to be demanding of those 2 things. If you are 2 people and want a table just for 2 then there may be one or there may not. If you are 2 people and don't mind sharing with 2 other people at a spare table for 4, then you may be in luck. It just depends what you want, how you ask and what they have available and if you can bend a little. Yes, some shows have 2 showings, and most of the time we don't mind waiting for the later show as there is normally something to do whilst we wait. However, sometimes there may be something else during the later show we really want to take part in or see, but also want to see that show that night too. Sometimes, even if the 5.15 traditional dinning is available, depending on the ports of call and the trips involved, getting back to the ship and getting washed and changed in time is too much of a rush and not what we want from our holiday, so MTD is the best option. Its just too bad that there is no 6pm slot you can book in order to enjoy a day out and the early evening show if there is something else later after it you want to do. It is supposed to be your holiday and supposed to be your time dining, but it looks like that is becoming a their time dining if you want to actually visit some places during the day and see some shows at night on particular days. You just have to hope that on the nights you want a early MTD that traditional dining guests have gone to a speciality restaurant for that night or are late back from a trip and don't have time to dress up ready for 5.15 so go to the WJ freeing up tables for MTD. Fingers crossed! Mick.

Hi, For many years we did 2 cruises per year and 1 or 2 short land based holidays in between. We tried to get away around Feb on a cruise and later October. The idea was to travel down to the Caribbean for either a 9 to 12 night cruise from Florida or New Jersey or do a back to back to make up a 14 night cruise to different ports staying on the same ship in the same cabin. Then in October going out of Europe such as Italy, Spain or Greece. Due to the high cost of travel from the UK and massive disruption within it with trains and ATC strikes etc, and the cost of overnight stays in hotels, we have decided to do just 1 big cruise a year instead. This year it the Jewel TA for 15 nights and next year its the Indy for 12 nights from Southampton. Sadly, looking at recent itinerary, it looks like it is now almost impossible to cruise out of Florida in 2026 for a B2B where you go to different ports on the same ship. Its just too far to travel for us for just 5 or 6 nights and having to get off one ship in say Miami and then travel up to FL to get on another ship for 6 nights just to go to other ports is just too much hassle. Its not just the price thats the problem here, its the fact that you just cannot get a decent long cruise (other than a TA) that makes all the evil of air travel worth it. We can't even get a decent B2B out of Europe without hassle too. I see in 2026 that things only go up to March and the only long cruise is out of San Juan which I don't even think we can fly to from the UK direct which means at least 17 hrs of planes and airports - never mind the price, the hassle involved just isn't going to make that happen. Just hoping that a decent ship will leave from Cape Liberty for Southampton. Getting to that port from NY is a ball-ache, but is doable and we have done it several times. That may be the only hope for us cruising in 2026. Another thing, not just the price, is that fact that so many ports/countries are now banning ships for various reasons or the ships are just too big to get into any of the ports. If I have to work hard and save up for many months for a cruise, then I need it to be worth it. If its not worth it, then it won't happen no matter what the price or what goodies we get. There are many places around the UK I have not been for over 40 years and many I have not been to at all. Cruising for us was a cheapish way to visit places that we did not want to stay in, but wanted to see for a few hours so we could say we had been there. If that option gets taken away, then the UK may be a easier, better, cheaper option. Just the weather (oh and constant strikes by various train operators) that may stop us! As for the newer ships, I have no wish to go on these mega ships that only sail for a few days to a select amount of ports that will probably be full to capacity causing nothing but queueing and waiting for everything that they offer. I will take the older ships that have most of the old things we have come to love and enjoy, just as long as the price matches the service that is being offered. Mick.

Hi, Not sure about leaving Royal or leaving cruising full stop. We are D+ and have got there by carefully selecting the itineraries and ships we wanted to do. We have loved them all, but are UK based so have to factor in additional costs such as flights, trains, taxis and hotels. With the current situation worldwide where prices are higher than normal, careful selection of lower costing cruises would mean that we would have to choose a older ship (which is probably not going to be to the same standard as newer ones, and visit the same ports over and over, as travelling to newer ports with newer ships is just getting out of our reach, not only in our pocket, but also travelling time, which we do not enjoy at the best of times, but endure in order to get to our cruise, which makes it all worth while. However, if the cruise is not going to be worth while, then there is no longer any point in doing all this travel. We have a TA on the Jewel for 15 nights this year and 12 nights next year on the Indy from Southampton to the Canaries and back just to avoid hotel and air fare costs. My wife is screaming at m to not book any cruises for 2026 as she wants to try a land based holiday. I have told her that firstly that nothing is out yet post April 2026 and we have to factor in all things we get as D+ members such as 5 free drinks per day which add up. I have suggested that if I can get a cheap enough TA from New York to Southampton on a decent ship with all the D+ perks then I would like to do it, but she is really wanting a land based holiday that year. I will have to wait and see what RCI offers, but if its too much, then that will be that. I don't suppose for one minute that Jason Liberty will be bothered by the loss of a passenger like me as I will probably be replaced with a new cruiser who spends $$$s more than I do and that is probably what the cruise line wants. Mick.

Hi, I am D+ and will be forever as at my age and with the current amount of time on board the ships each year, I worked it out roughly that I would not turn P until I am around 106. Given most members of my family do not get past their mid 70s I won't hold my breath. I am expecting RCI to introduce a new tier around the 340 mark (possibly called "Crown") and I should pass that mark soon, as I expect just about every perk under it to be removed within 5 years due to the way the new team in charge are operating. However, one thing I am not going to do, or fall for, is booking loads of cruises I don't want to do in JS and GS just to get to that mark as the extra cost of doing so far outweighs the cost of the perks involved. Nice try though RCI if that's your gameplan here. It is a real shame that RCI have gone down this route of excluding Diamond members from the recently named Crown Lounge depending on the number of D+ and Ps as it is impossible for anyone to plan a cruise in advance that would sail with low numbers given the fact that so many people (me included) took advantage of the double points, and double double points for a JS and higher a few years back. I could understand it if all Diamonds were barred full stop or just during the HH during every cruise, because then they would know where they stand, but this way just seems a bit wrong to me. After all, now there is no free drinks and you have to use your vouchers, what are RCI actually achieving here. I remember when you could get completely tanked up during the HH and it used to be jammed and they have to close off another area as an overflow. But on my last several cruises since Covid, the DL, sorry, Crown Lounge as not been very full at all during the HH on the ships I have been on, and on some occasions we have sat in for many hours with no-one coming in, other than to speak with the concierge. This is probably because you can use your vouchers at any bar and share the drinks, so some may do just that, use the vouchers to buy friends and family a drink instead of leaving them to go to the Crown Lounge. However, I still believe as a D, D+ and P C&A member, we should have the choice to go to the lounge at ALL times if we choose to want to. Mick.

Hi, If you want to do RCI then the Independence is probably your best bet. Wish I was doing that TA in 2025 but I am actually doing the 12 night Canaries cruise from Southampton that follows the TA. The Indy is a great ship and has more than enough to do without being over the top. She is big enough too to manage rough seas and smaller enough to be homely and easy to get around without having to walk miles. Hope this helps. Mick.

Hi, First class of ship I ever went on was Freedom class - The Indy in fact back in 2008. Probably because this was my first experience, it also is my favourite and between the Indy and the the Liberty, these are the 2 ships I have sailed on the most. I also like the slight smaller Navigator and Explorer. All the above ships have a Royal Promenade and a Ice Rink plus a Viking Crown Lounge for great views. I also enjoy smaller ships like the Jewel and also the Rhapsody, but these do start to limit the amount of things outdoors to do. I have been on the Anthem 3 times, and although she has great things like Dodgems, North Star, I-fly and and Coastal Kitchen for when in a JS or above, she just doesn't have that special something the Indy has. Also there is no VCL or Ice Rink and its a long walk each night to the Theatre at the front, which other than the Musical Hall and old DL, is the only thing that side of the shopping area - yes I too get that Mall feeling when walking past the pub. Never done Oasis class - was booked on Symphony last October, but had to cancel as my wife's operation on her arm had been postponed from earlier that year due to strike action and the only date they could do it was the day we were going to board. Back on the Jewel this year for its TA to Europe and back on the Indy next year as it returns to the UK, so won't get a chance to try Oasis class until at least 2026. Mick.

Hi, Saw a circle of chairs once back in 2016 in the DL on the Indy out of Southampton on a 14 nighter around the med. Some old guy (not sure if he was D, D+ or Pin) was re-arranging just about all the chairs he could get his hands on into a circle leaving very few chairs left for anyone not joining his group. All this was done whilst the staff watched on. I did ask the staff why they don't stop this and I was told that basically they daren't. I know if I ran a bar then anyone doing this would be made to stop and I wouldn't care who they were or how much they were worth. On the Anthem back in 2019 out of NJ there was a woman who brought here knitting into the DL, (well I say her knitting, it looked like she had enough material to make new uniforms for the entire crew"!), She took up about 8 seats with this during the afternoon and would not remove it when folks started arriving for HH. She did remove it all when her friends turned up. Again watched by staff and again I was told they daren't say anything. Lastly, on some sailing we have been greeted with a couple that sit facing the door giving you the evil look up and down. My wife does not like this sort of thing, it's like being judged and doesn't like going to the HH as a result. I, on the other hand, will not be put off by any of the bad behaviour listed above. However, due to the voucher system, and on some ships, due to the location of the CL (which may be out of the way of where we are heading at that time), we may only go to HH once or twice per cruise now. We do, however, sometimes pop in after breakfast for a coffee and some cakes and again for a coffee during the day. I can sit and chat to just about anyone about anything. My wife, however, works in a call centre and deals with angry people every day, so when she's on her hols, she doesn't want to mingle with anyone all that much and doesn't like bad behaviour and will tell the people who behave badly just what she thinks of them - so its probably best she stays away.. Oh yes, I too have changed the beans and emptied the machines on many occasions when no staff are present and everyone is moaning that the machine is broke. The milk I think is kept locked away so can't do much about that. Also, sometimes the only beans available are decaf too. I have watched people put them into the wrong side of the machine in error on a few occasions too. Mick.

As I may have said before, elsewhere on here, one of the benefits of the lounge is a nice quiet and safe place, sometimes with a nice view of the ship if up near the top and sometimes with a nice outdoor area facing the back where when the weather is good, provides a nice private area where you can sit and have a few drinks. But, other than the food and drink, its a place to meet fellow passengers who have travelled roughly the same amount of voyagers has yourself and this gives you (especially if travelling by yourself, or are currently on your own whilst your family does other things) the chance to meet new people (without the noise of a disco etc) drowning out the conversation. I have learnt many tips from fellow passengers in the lounge both about the perks and about the upcoming ports that I may not have learned any other way and from time to time get the chance to re-meet old friends from older cruises. The lounge is a nice place and also there is the concierge there too at certain times who can assist you with many things that cuts your time queuing at guest services for. I for one would rather be in the lounge waiting for the concierge with nibbles and a drink than be stuck in some never ending line at guest services. So, there is plenty reasons for this lounge. I am D+, so I m ay be OK for now, but I do feel for the Diamonds at HH that may miss out and only find that out just before boarding, or finding out via some leaflet in their cabin on boarding day. I think there must be a better way to deal with the ever increasing amount of C&A members than to bar Diamonds during HH. Mick.

Hi, We would normally try to book MTD for the 1845 slot. We would then on day 1 go down to the desk at MTD when it opens and ask if we can get an earlier slot. We are at first told no, but we then explain that we are happy to have the same table or any table if it helps and are not bothered where it is situated. Suddenly we get given a slot at 1830. Not much difference you say, but you can then turn up at 1815 to find either your table is ready or there is a good chance that another close by is free if you are not fussy. This is because the early diners sometimes decide at last minute to go to the WJ because they are late back from a trip and cannot get changed properly in time, or because they have booked chops grill that night or something. Point is, as long as you are not bothered about where the table is or or the servers are, then you should be able to get in earlier. I too prefer the early shows, but 1715 is too early to eat for us. We don't mind going to the late shows either, but sometimes they may clash with something else we want to see or do. So on certain nights when we know what the menu is going to be, if we get in early enough we can enjoy our MTD without rushing and make the 8pm show. Some of this comes down to forward planning, and some comes down to treating the staff the same way you would want them to treat you. I have witnessed too many times people arguing with the staff because the table is going to be a few minutes late or its not the table they had last night or the server. If you really want those things to be guaranteed then you would be better off going for traditional dining. I have 15 nights on the Jewel coming up this April with MTD at 1845. I will let you know afterwards if I had any issues getting in earlier. Mick.

I think it was on the Anthem back in Oct 2022 doing the TA that we got 1 free coffee voucher per day for some reason. IIRC the machine in the DL was working, so not sure why they did it, but it proves it can be done. Mick.

Hi, The thing I miss about not being allowed into the CL as a D+ member was use of the coffee machine. I know there is one in the DL (sorry Crown Lounge), but on many occasions the one in the DL was broken and awaiting parts whilst the one in the CL was working so could use that. There really wasn't any other benefit as the food and drinks were the same. I do feel sorry for the Diamonds being barred from the Crown Lounge during HH on certain sailings, but if you just want a nice coffee from the machine in there, then you could go and get one at any other time of the day other than during HH. Now, what would be really nice is if when the machine in there lounge is broken that RCI upload some free coffee vouchers onto your sea pass card for use elsewhere. I know you can use you vouchers for coffee anyway, but I for one wouldn't want to waste a $14 voucher that could get me the drink of the day, for example, on a coffee no matter how nice it is. I too believe that at some point in the next 5 years that all the top perks we currently enjoy will be removed for all C&A members below 340 points and a new tier (possibly called the Crown tier) will be introduced. I could be wrong and I hope I am wrong. However, if I am right then at some point this will be leaked out a few years in advance (on purpose) to make people start booking suites instead of insides or balconies to get double points to hit the deadline for their first cruise affected making RCI more money than they would have got in the process. Mick.

Hi, Yes, although we didn't cruise to get to D+ status, we are there now and this does make a massive difference to choosing a cruise. We live in the UK and another cruise line that sails from Southampton is P&O. Late last year P&O had a deal on where they were offering a 14 night cruise to the Canaries in October/November 2025 for around £800pp, yes that's right £1600 for the two of us. Two things came into play here, firstly we would have to buy our own drinks and secondly the weather at that time of the year would be cold with probably rough seas around the Bay of Biscay. So, on day 1 of RCI releasing their 2025 catalogue, we saw a 12 night Canaries cruise on the old Indy which came in at around £1000 more than P&O. This would probably put a lot of first time cruisers off the RCI cruise. But firstly, it is in May 2025 when the weather and seas are much much better, but wait for it... The 5 free D+ drinks per day at $14 each x 12 nights x the 2 of us comes in at $1680 worth of alcohol which WILL be consumed. Not sure what the pound verses the dollar currently is, but as long as we get those sort of perks we are not going to bother with another cruise line. I am sure Royal know this and for now will continue to offer those perks. Another reason why we are choosing to do a cruise only holiday in 2025 is due to the high cost of air travel in the UK plus the extra cost of overnight foreign hotel stays and dining out costs too. When you actually think about it, cruising is still great value when you think of all that you get for your money - providing you choose the right cruise at the right time on the right class of ship. Mick.

Hi, This is another good thing. It was very difficult some nights to get your last drink in if it was close to midnight as it could just be a few seconds after when your card was swiped by the bar staff due to crowds and therefore you would be charged and have to go to guest services to have the charge removed which was a waste of your valuable cruising time. Now its 5am which means that you should have used your vouchers as there is normally no where open at that time that I can think of. Mick.

Some of my funniest moments were watching everyone try to race from the life boat drill when it was at around 4pm all the way up to the Diamond Lounge which was normally up on deck 14 or there abouts, all trying to get a lift and then trying to get a seat before the drinks came out. Then watching various people start to give the bartenders $5 to get their drinks first, then watching others do the same until the bartenders could no longer bring everyone who gave them $5 their drink as quickly as before as a result. It became quicker to nip out to the bar in the Viking Lounge which was normally empty but with a bartender and get your drink there and bring it back into the lounge. Now other than the nice view from the old Diamond Lounges and free drinks (you could not only cram down you before dinner, but also take to dinner, and return after dinner if you had time to have some more, and even take them to a show), one of the many other good things I found by entering the lounge during HH was to meet people who had travelled more than me and had already been to places we were now going to, and therefore through conversation with them, learn things about the upcoming ports and things to do there and also to avoid. Oh, yes, and the nibbles to keep you going for an hour or so before dinner too. I was Diamond when I learned a fair bit from D+ and Pins about things at ports that RCI did not always tell you about. It will be a shame for any Diamond members not to be allowed access to the lounge to mingle with more seasoned travellers who may be able to assist them with things to try and do in the ports of call that may result in spending less money than what RCI is charging or to avoid trying to do something that may result in missing the ship. The getting to know and learn from each other whilst on board can be invaluable and I learned so much and I have shared so much too with anyone that I meet who asks. Sadly for most, getting the free drinks at any bar at any time (which they can also share with family/friends without breaking any rules) will probably be seen as a better option than the limited selection for just a few hours. But remember even the old way was far better than what I believe most other cruise lines offered their loyal customers. Mick.

Sorry, my comment about the pool hogs was a poor attempt at humour. However, I do believe they published some literature somewhere stating that anything left unattended on chairs for more than 30 minutes would be removed and taken to the towel station for collection. So in effect, unless that is just bull on Royal's part, then I would actually image they would have someone available to carry out just such an action. Anyway, back to the Crown Lounge, I do feel a bit sorry for the Diamond members who may lose out on the HH perk depending on capacity. One of the reasons for limiting the available space in there is partly due to RCI limiting the amount of Pins in the CL and therefore moving them into the Crown Lounge. I think a better way to handle this on ALL ships on ALL sailings (since they know how many C&A members Diamond and above will be onboard) is to simply allow everyone in the Crown Lounge and also open up a overspill nearby like they do on ships like the Anthem where they open up part of the Music Hall next to it, or on ships where the Viking Lounge is adjacent. Its not like RCI are saving anything as everyone has to use their drinks vouchers to obtain a drink now. The whole point of benefits is to not only award repeat cruisers with loyalty, but to also make them feel special and part of something. It isn't nice if you are given it but then find out you can't have it during a particular cruise, but you could have had it if you had gone a week earlier or later when the numbers were lower etc. If you are like me, I didn't cruise to get to D+, my wife and I cruised because we liked what RCI did for us with food and shows etc and also to visit certain ports where we only wanted to visit for a few hours and not stay. Getting to Diamond and then D+ was a bonus, and a very nice one too. Sadly, at some point in time, unless RCI start changing the way points are kept/accrued, then more and more perks will probably be removed for Diamond and D+ folk. I get that and that's why I enjoy to the max what I can currently get. What I don't like is finding out once on board that certain things you were promised in advance are suddenly removed for the duration of that cruise only. Can anyone remember when they started limiting access to the CL for D+ members when too many Pins or Suite guests were sailing that cruise. Well in the end they axed D+ members' entry to the CL full stop - so if that's anything to go by then you know what may happen soon. Really hope it doesn't come to that. Mick.

Wow! Royal actually enforcing one of their rules. Let's hope they do the same with the chair hogs round the poolside. Mick.

I can remember years ago on numerous cruises where Pinnacle members came into the old Diamond Lounge around 230pm to set up a sort of knitting factory which was really a way of reserving seats for their friends who would arrive just before 5pm for the HH. Many people would arrive to find no seating and the Pins would not move their stuff for them nor would the staff intervene. So, on these selected cruises where Diamonds are not allowed in the new Crown Lounge between 5pm and 8pm, are the staff going to check sea pass cards and ask Diamond members who have turned up earlier to get a seat to leave? Are they going to leave or kick off? And when they do go, will any D+ or Pins actually be there in their masses, since you can have a drink at any bar using your vouchers and the Crown Lounge acts as one of those venues, so other than the nice nibbles and a chat with the staff, what is the need to now be there at that time? I always knew something was going to have to change, given the ever increasing amount of Diamond and above members. It would now seem that you cannot really predict if you will get full access to the Crown Lounge when booking a cruise as you cannot know who else with a higher tier is also going to book the same cruise. It probably won't be too long before D+ start to lose a few perks too based on the numbers onboard. How long before the reserved seating in the shows goes? But, at least as D, D+ and P we all still get the free drinks vouchers which helps keep the extra costs down at this point in time when many of us are feeling the pinch. All I can say is enjoy your cruise, and if there are some perks to be had during it, then enjoy them too. Mick.

Hi, Where possible, I like to pick my own room. If I book early enough then the price difference fromn a GTY is not too bad. There are things to consider here. Depending on the class of ship and the cruise itinerary, it may pay you to spend a little extra for the comforts that your own cabin will bring. First look at the plans of the ship you are going to be on and look at the worst possible locations for a cabin, such as right at the front where it may be noisy from rough seas, and don't forget the motion. Same at the back. Also both far forward and far back locations may result in a fairly long walk to the elevators, so if you are not too good on your feet, that could present a issue. Then look at the cabins that are close to/elevators/under/above the dining room, pub, theatre, running track or next to busy crew cut-throughs that may result in noise at late/early hours.. If you are really not bothered about any of the above then booking a cheaper GTY may be a good option, but if you really want to have a good vacation, then a few hundred dollars more could make your cruise more enjoyable. Of course, booking a older ship far in advance at a time of the year away from school holidays should also make the cruise cheaper and more enjoyable. After all, it doesn't matter what cabin you book if the folks next door are a family from hell! I have a Interior on the Jewel this April which I booked, not only because it was cheap, but because I am doing a 15 night TA and the weather/sea may turn rough. Also I have made sure it is low down and near the aft stairwell/lifts and away from noisy areas and well worth paying a couple of hundred pounds more than risking being put in a cabin in the wrong place and having 15 nights of hell if there are no available rooms to switch to once on board. Same again in 2025. I have a Promenade view Interior booked on the Indy for 12 nights in May from the UK to the Canneries, again it was fairly cheap, but not as cheap as the Jewel, but we will be going round the Bay of Biscay twice and that can be rough. Again I have booked a room close to the aft lifts as this give quick access to most areas of the ship. I agree that the pricing for picking some of the cabins is a bit high, but if you are like me, then if the holiday is going to be a fairly long one that may result in bad weather/rough sea, then making sure you have a decent located cabin can be the difference between a pleasant holiday and a nightmare. I am sure Royal know this too. Like I said, if you are taking a short holiday and going in calmer weather then a GTY may be the way to go to get a cheaper holiday if the prices for picking your own room are a bit out of reach. Enjoy! Mick.

Hi, I will be at CocoCay in April. It is our first time back there since 2014 so it has changed dramatically. I can tell you this much, I ain't paying anything extra to swim in a pool full of people when there is a free one on the ship that may be empty. I will, however, be going for a dip in the sea no matter how cold it is as its the only chance on my 15 night TA to do so as the sea is too rough in Miami and too cold when we get back to Europe. Top tip, if you have a drinks package or are Diamond and above, then a glass of Jack Daniels before going in the sea should work. It always works for me when the ship has a cold pool that no-one wants to go in. A quick whiskey and in you go. I discovered this trick from reading about how the baker on the Titanic stayed alive for nearly 2 hours in the freezing Atlantic. Mick.

Hi, Did this port last year. My best advice is to fly into Venice and spend at least 2 full days there to enjoy everything the city has to offer. You can stay in an expensive hotel on the island or find a much cheaper hotel on the mainland in Mestre which is about 6 miles away and is served by both trains and local buses/trams. I would then suggest taking the train from Venice/Mestre to Bologna (which is just over an hour) where you could either spend another night in a hotel to enjoy that wonderful city or change trains at Bologna and take a local train to Ravenna and spend a pre-night stay there instead. The port is some 10 miles from Ravenna and taxis are available but can be hard to find on boarding days. However for a couple of euros we took the bus from outside Ravenna train station to the port town which took about 30 minutes. Timetables are on the internet. The thing to remember is if you are travelling a long way for a shortish cruise then you can extend your holiday with plenty hotel stays either end and northern Italy is absolutely stunning, so if you have the time and the money, then you could take a nice steady trip from city to city across Italy heading towards the ship. Remember there can be strikes on the railways so making sure you are in reach of the port is paramount. BTW Taxis from Bologna are around 130 Euros just in case there is a local train strike and RCI sometimes put on shuttle buses from Bologna train station to the ship on boarding day too, so may be worth checking with them what transport they offer too. Lastly, it is a real shame we can no longer sail out of the port of Venice. I have been fortunate many times to have sailed out of it and it really was a wonderful experience. I have also been fortunate (living in the UK) to have been able to stay in Venice many many times, and I can tell you that you do need at least 2 full days there to enjoy everything the city has to offer. It can get very busy and also can be flooded at times and has many bridges with steps so you do not want to be rushing around or carry cases with you. Hope this helps. Mick.

Hi, The zip line is worth doing. You must book it in advance to be guaranteed a ride as it will sell out, so you may not get a go if you leave it until you are on board or at the port, unless you are lucky. There is a smaller test zip you have to do first, then they take you to the big one. Not cheap, but worth the money to do just once. Also, there a roller coaster, Its the Dragons Breath IIRC, I did this back in 2011 and you controlled your speed with a break and there were warning lights to alert you to the person in front as you could go slow or as fast as you want, but you had to sign a waiver in case you smashed into the person in front. There is are some nice nice beach and beautiful waters around this private part of Haiti. Not sure if you can go out of the fenced area and not sure if the country is safe for you to do so, but with the nice beaches and the food, in the limited time you are there, there is plenty to do. Enjoy! Mick.

Hi, As these newer larger ships can't fit into many ports and therefore have become more of a destination themselves with all the latest gadgets, it would be nice if RCI could build some more ships in the Voyager or Freedom class range that can fit into more ports and still have a good range of gadgets on board for those who want them. A nice Royal Prom and Ice Rink for the Ice shows would be nice. My first cruise was on the Indy back in 2008 and I cannot wait to get back on her next year when she returns to the UK. Although the Anthem was a nice ship, she did not have that feel that the Indy has to me. Ships like the Navigator and Explorer are also amongst my favs too, Mick.

Congrats on becoming Diamond members. As well as the free drinks, free internet, free photo, there is access to the crown lounge, not only for the free coffee and nibbles, but also for access to the concierge who may be able to help you with many questions saving you valuable time queuing at guest services. But the best thing (other than the free drinks) was meeting other cruisers in the crown lounge who had great experience of sailing and knew lots about some of the ports we were going to (as they had already been many times before) and were able to tell us about places to go to on certain islands (that RCI did not advertise) and also places to avoid too. Also, depending on the class of ship and the location of the crown lounge, so me have a nice outside area too where you can basically have your own private outdoor lounge during the day. Mick.

Yes, I have to agree having the 5 free drinks (and of most brands instead of just limited as before) at almost any bar at any time is a great perk. Not sure if it was designed to cut the bottleneck of top tier cruisers trying to get a seat in the old DL at 5pm or whether it actually saves RCI money as it was possible before to get quiet a few more drinks in during the happy hour and many a person used to slip the server a $5 bill to get good service. Now, I know removing the priority check-in for Diamond and D+ probably doesn't save money and I know the time it now takes to get on board has been speeded up somewhat. However, firstly, it was nice to have your own dedicated line upon arrival (and remember the OP asked about making the cruise special) and there was nothing better than the feeling you got from the staff on arrival. Secondly, although the boarding time is quicker, the rules do not seem to be enforced regarding your arrival time, so at some ports there can be hundreds waiting at 11am who should not be boarding until after 12noon, so having our old dedicated line back would allow us to avoid any hassle. Barcelona was one such port where this happened a few times. One of the other best things they have done since covid (and I really hope they keep) is the new muster drill. Now you can do this when boarding or around 1pm meaning you can get on early and have some lunch, do the drill and then the day is yours with no interuptions. I can remember when you would have to stop what you were doing and go to the muster station at 4pm (or whenever) and then there was a mad rush to get to the DL for a seat. The bridge tour seems to have now evolved into a pay for service. I know once you've been on a bridge you may think you have seen them all, but it was always nice to get to see the bridges on different ships and it would be nice if they re-introduced this for at least new qualified members as a one-off. As for the seating in the shows, to me it depends on the show. If its a good tribute band then the first 4 rows is where I like to be for great sound. However, if its a comedy act wanting audience participation, then those D+ seats upstairs are just the ticket. I do find on some of the ships that the reserved seating can be far from the stage, so not good for some things. On some ships they allowed you to arrive early and choose your seats (as long as they weren't marked Star/Key whatever). I must say ln the whole, the current cruise conditions for Diamond and above is absolutely great. Even though some other cruise lines offer a similar cruise at a lower price, once you factor in all your C&A perks then RCI seems a winner. My comments before about RCI removing some of them is not based on any source, but based on what they might do in the future to save money as they are a business and profit comes first. I can assure you all too, that I hope I am wrong with my feelings that some of the things we get will be taken away, but for now let's hope they all stay, and may we all enjoy our cruising. Mick.

Hi, Best thing I can suggest is to check the deck plans for the ship you want to travel on to see if you can see what sort of obstructions the ship may have, or google the ship or try you tube video's etc. Some obstructions can simply be a overhang which may stop the sun shining on you (but that can happen if the ship is sailing or docked with the sun on the over side anyway). There may be a thin supporting beam which may block a small part of your view or there's the life boats that may block your downward view (but you can what the sea from the deck!). It all depends on what you want from your balcony. Do you just want to go outside and enjoy a drink in the sea air and lovely view? You can do that on deck! Or do you want to lie there all day to get a tan in private and quiet. For the right price I would guess most probably won't be bothered about an obstruction. I for one would be more concerned about how far from the lifts the cabin is if you are not good on your feet or if its going to right at the front/back during bad weather/stormy seas etc. If you can find the worst possible balcony view on the net, then there's a chance that it may be your cabin. Mick.