gmerick

Wife and child are going to swap key cards anyway.  CK and Suite Lounge don't check the digital picture associated with the key card.  Don't worry about it.  

Done inside 6 times, did balcony twice.  Always sailed solo.  Originally booked balcony (studio balcony on Anthem), because was only 20% more than inside.  Of course this was for a COVID cancelled sailing, so I took the FCC.  Had a 2nd cruise COVID cancelled, so again took FCC.  Booked Anthem studio balcony for the year after cancellation with the FCC, this time I intentionally selected the Balcony as I intended on spending far more time in the cabin than I typically did;  I wanted to play the introvert.  Then I had a big price drop, and had a bunch of unused FCC.  So I booked another Anthem studio balcony for before Christmas.  

Now I'm booking the next year's vacations.  The Grand Cayman trip will be an inside for 6 days.  The Eastern Carib is currently that same Anthem Studio Balcony (again), but if the price doesn't drop like the last two I'm switching to an inside;  I'm not interested in playing introvert without the COVID excuse.  I'll save at least 35% on cabin fare, and take the double points for C&A.

Obvious solution.  I don't want to dine with a dog.  If a dog is present, I ask to be seated elsewhere.  If a dog is seated after I start a meal, I inform the waiter I'll be back later, and leave the table.  It's my choice not to dine with dogs.  I cannot ask staff to change other guest's conduct to suit my foibles.  Animal feces or urine on the deck, or odors from smoking problems are something I'll avoid if I can, and report appropriately if I can't.  Why should I lose my peace when simply going elsewhere is so easy.

Sorry, but the post is bogus.  There is no identifiable internet protocol for generic "WiFi calling".  The same process that is used to add sound to a YouTube video is also used for VOIP calls.  All voice traffic is tunneled over HTTPS protocol, and no deep packet inspection can decrypt the traffic in real time to specifically block VOIP without breaking all other traffic.  I have access to phone calls no matter where as long as there's a network.  My job requires me to be available, so I quite willingly pay for internet, and call into work periodically to ensure I have connectivity.

Another factor that cries "Bogus", RCI's bread and butter are the folks who can work on board while vacationing.  Those travelers absolutely depend on network connectivity of all types;  the high paying customers habitually use VPN access through the ship internet.  If that breaks, the passengers will change ships in a heartbeat.

I do not understand the facination some people have with seeing, touching, swimming with captive marine animals.  Those marine parks are even more disturbing than petting zoos.

I had an ideal "dolphin encounter" during my Feb 22 cruise.  On one of my SCUBA dives a pair of dolphins swam along side our group of divers for several minutes.  The video is something special.

Testing privately in Italy is one thing, and if taking a non-proctored home test indicates a positive Covid result, one wouldn't necessarily be legally obligated to report such to a hotel.  The problem comes in obtaining a positive result from a screening for international travel.  That would be reported to Italian authorities, and the patient would be required to quarantine in a government approved hotel or a private residence, and be subject to government health and quarantine monitoring.  

When I traveled outside the country, I brought with 4 "home" tests, and three "proctored" tests.  Before each airline leg, I would screen myself with a home test, so I knew I was still negative, then go online with a proctored test to obtain the needed certified test results needed by the airlines, and US immigration.  In one country, they required the test be conducted by an in-country lab, so I shelled out $65 for that test.  Incidentally, it was that in-country lab that identified two of our party as positive, resulting in the unexpected extended stay.

Just plan ahead, and have insurance.  If not, wait a while and things will change.

Having just returned from overseas ....

two of our party (of 19) tested positive the day prior to return to the US.  17 of us boarded United the next day and went home.  The other 2 had to stay in the hotel, in their rooms, eating room service for 5 days.  On the 5th day the lab that did our original test returned and tested those 2.  They tested negative, and returned home.  

Take-away -- get good trip insurance.  The insurance paid for the hotel stay, United rebooked their ticket with no change fee.  

Good insurance is expensive though.  Each of us paid more than two nights lodging for insurance on our 1 week trip.

Check Categorization Grid .

Does not yet include Wonder or ICON, but does have OY.

QN class all have 12 studio balconies (2F).

QN class except OY have many studio interior (2W).

AD (5 cabins) and MA (4 cabins) have studio interior (2W).

RD class each have 3 studio interior (2W).

HM eliminated all studios 2 years ago.

You may need to call in for any of the 2W studio interior cabins.  They very rarely show up early for booking on the web.  Come close to sailing, they're all booked.

Florida cruises are generally classed as "Short Caribbean" .  Release date is first part of March.

I've watched the procedure during my latest Anthem sailing. 

Signup beforehand;  for my sailing there were about 150 available time slots for testing, and 4 days prior less than half were filled.

Considerations:

The cost is high -- $150 at the pier vs $30 for a BinaxNow proctored test at home.

What are your options after a test failure at the port?  Can you still get home?

I've done diving with both RCI shore excursions, and privately arranged dive trips from a good number of Caribbean ports.  RCI shore excursions offer the benefit of sufficient time between docking and excursion departure, a tour leader to direct divers to the boat, and guaranteed return to the ship prior to sailing.  I've found the RCI excursions to be somewhat less personal, somewhat more crowded, the diver experience level somewhat lower, and the dive guide experience level somewhat higher.  

The RCI excursion operators tend to expect divers to need a bit more help, and are somewhat more hands-on in dive prep than I need. 

The independent operators can also provide that degree of interaction if requested / needed, but tend to cater to a more experienced crowd.  

RCI excursion dives tend to have somewhat less bottom time, and the divers tend to bunch up more simply due to diver experience level.

All operators have provided a very safe dive experience, and comprehensive dive briefings.

With independent operators, most dive boats have departed at 9:00AM, and obtaining transport to the dive shop has occasionally been trying, if not outright impossible.  

Two-tank morning dives are the rule with both RCI excursions and independent operators.

Independent operators occasionally can add a single tank afternoon experience when all-aboard is 5PM or later (YMMV, but please don't miss the boat).

Personal preference from your list: 1.  Roataan, 2. Coz, 3. Mahahual.  With your stated experience level, please try for RCI shore excursions if at all possible.  Otherwise, I've found Trip Advisor very helpful in finding the highest rated Local Dive Shops.  Expect to exchange correspondence with the LDS, regarding experience, dive equipment, transportation, schedule.  Register and pay online for the independent excursion to save time during the dive. 

For both types, anticipate 15% of the dive package cost as a tip.

I sail solo, and always opt for Any Time.  I look on meal times as another piece of the total entertainment package, and look forward to an hour and a half dining.  Waiters are very good about preferences though.  I've informed my waiter when I have another activity following meals, and I've always made it on time.  But those times are a definite exception  (but I'm happy the option exists).

I like dawdling my order, dipping bread in olive oil, two appetizers, sometimes two entrees.  There are other menus also,  I'll occasionally browse the Vegan, Kosher, or Halal menu.  Depending on the Chef, there are off-menu entrees, (31 Jan 2022 cruise had two off-menu curries every evening).  

Time for ATD?  30 minutes to 2 Hours - inform your waiter.

Sorry, but I would not participate.  The pigs are there only to separate you from your money.  There are now multiple pig islands all over the Caribbean.  The population is artificially maintained.  Gilts with their first litter are shipped to the island.  Older pigs (3+ years) are slaughtered at first sign of aggressiveness.  Piglets are slaughtered to maintain the optimal tourist attraction mix.  Plus what other's have said about sunburn, shade, food supply.  

That's just my own reasons for not participating. 

It's your money, and your vacation.  Whether you prefer cute pigs or tasty pigs do what you want.

On Royal Caribbean's web site, click "Destinations" at the top of the main screen:

On the Destinations screen, scroll to the bottom, and pick "Explore All Ports":

On the Port list, select a destination: 

Scroll to the bottom, to "Best Deals to ...", 

If I go by my most-consumed drink, 

1.  Tap Water

2.  Coffee

Post-COVID experience:  4 cruises booked all using Air2Sea.  2 cancelled by RCI, refund promptly processed.  December 2021 - Not my preferred departure airport, but booked on the web for day prior departure.  United airlines announced 3 flight changes between booking and sailing.  Yes I had to request seat assignments each time, but that's what happens when the equipment (aircraft type) changes.  

Jan 2022, same departure airport, 4 equipment changes, same old same old.  This time I grabbed a first class upgrade from United, for $100, and I get 2 free bags instead of paying $80 to check them.  

Biggest benefit:  I'm protected if (when) RCI cancels a sailing.

Yes, I'm happy with Air2Sea.

Once this COVID mess settles down, I'm going back to Orbitz, though.  I like the bigger choice of airlines (I prefer Delta), and departure airports.  

Me?  

When the price is confusing, or the research is difficult, or when reassurance is needed on whether a deal is the best one possible, GET A TRAVEL AGENT.  I like independence, doing my own comparisons, evaluating what options are worth paying for.  I don't second guess myself, I don't dwell on regrets.  I book directly for my cruise, and independently book shore experiences.  When I'm vacationing, I fully enjoy the present, and never thing of what might have been.  For some reason, 3 months after I get home, I'm always thinking "What a wonderful vacation".  At that point I'm once again wasting time on wondering where can I go next.  

10 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Are you flying into Ewr sunday or monday?  As much as I would hate to do you are probably better off if in flying in monday morning to board Anthem.  Everything should be cleared by then.

Can't get from here to there leaving Monday.  Taking a flight to Chicago on Sunday and hoping for the best.  Worst case, I sleep in a terminal somewhere and get rebooked to EWR on Monday.

At least your rowboat leaves from a sunny shore.  Let's worry about what could be a real problem:  Anthem departs Monday afternoon from Newark.  If NYC is supposed to get a foot of snow over the weekend where does that leave things?   Will the boat come in?  Will the planes land?  Can a taxi get from the airport to the pier?  This could be a real mess.

I thought I was getting out of the winter -- I live in North Dakota where it's 20 below, and we don't even mention that weather term for wimps called "wind chill".  When it's brisk and breezy here, even polar bears or penguns are looking for shelter.

Only problem I've found so far with Cruise Plum is I'm quite set on an October 2022 trip on Serenade that stops at Grand Cayman, but the numbers don't match up.  CP has the solo inside cabin at base fare of 480, but RCI says it's almost 800.  Something is messed up on RCI I think.

As far as I can tell, the web site I use is not associated with any travel agent or cruise line.  Hope I'm not in trouble for posting it, but it is extremely useful.  Cruise Plum.

List of "Bad" chemicals (from SaveTheReef.org )

Oxybenzone
Octinoxate
Octocrylene
Homosalate
4-methylbenzylidene camphor
PABA
Parabens
Triclosan
Any nanoparticles or “nano-sized” zinc or titanium (if it doesn’t explicitly say “micro-sized” or “non-nano” and it can rub in, it’s probably nano-sized)
Any form of microplastic, such as “exfoliating beads”

Expectations still met, but cruise offering diminished.

On my 11 night Anthem sailing 12 Dec 2021

4* Priority access into the terminal (within booked arrival time) on Day 1.  -- Entered terminal at 11:00 because I had Key.  Otherwise 2:30PM.

1* Carry-on bag drop off and delivery to stateroom. Drop-off your carry-on bags in the Main Dining Room until 1:30pm.  -- Used this, Carry on bag arrived before checked bags.

3* Exclusive welcome lunch in the Main Dining Room featuring the Chops Grille Lunch menu.  -- Good lunch, Preferred this to Windjammer - no crowd at all.

5*/0* Private time at onboard activities including Rock Climbing, FlowRider and more.  -- Rock wall did not open much at all.  2 Flowrider times 11:30-12:30 day 4 (the day we arrive at 4PM in San Juan) 11:30-12:30 Day 11 (sea day).  I used both flowrider times, and enjoyed it enough that I signed up for a 1 hour stand-up surfing class.

0* Priority departure at tender ports of call from ship-to-shore. -- There were no tendered ports.

0* Early access at shows in the Main Theater, AquaTheater, Studio B and Two70.  -- Shows were not at all crowded.

3* VOOM ® Surf & Stream 1 Device high speed internet. -- Used this extensively.  I would have bought the lower tier (no stream) package anyway.

5* On debarkation day, enjoy an exclusive à la carte breakfast and choice departure.  -- Enjoyed this.  Ate a leisurely breakfast, wandered off at 9:30, and my booked shuttle to the airport was ready with no waiting.

Yes, I will buy it again (did buy it for 31 Jan Anthem) if the cost of The Key is less than $7 per day over the cost of the lower tier internet (no stream).