ARandomTraveler

That's what I meant - the 31st. I'm starting my trip on the 26th and had that date in my head. I'm on that sailing too 😀

It's pricey - but the Marina Bay Sands is a conveniently located choice. There's a train station next door (I think it's actually attached to the hotel by an underground walkway). It's next to the gardens by the bay. We'll be staying here 3 nights pre-cruise. It's really pricey though ($800/night), so if that's a concern there's probably other hotels similarly located that aren't as expensive.

It sounds like you're on the same cruise as me (Spectrum of the Seas leaving Singapore July 26th?). We're staying in Shinjuku and plan to take a taxi to Yokohama station and take the train to Shinjuku station. I know that doesn't help you get to Ginza, but just thought I'd throw that option out there for anyone else who reads your post and might be trying to get to Tokyo.

There are a lot of reports of people being unable to book the hibachi if you get onboard after 11am. I'd read that before my last cruise, so I paid out of pocket to book the hibachi, even though I had the dining package, and was glad I did because I boarded at 11am, and the hibachi was completely booked the whole week. I'm sure there are sailings where that isn't the case, but it seems to happen a lot.

It'll probably be fully booked and unavailable anyway so it doesn't matter where you go, you're unlikely to be able to book it.

I wouldn't change anything. A lot of breakups don't stick the first time around, and they might get back together before sail date. If not, the girlfriend can just be a "no show" and you can have the 13 year old sleep in the brother's room, with no re-pricing risk. This option leaves open the opportunity for the 22 year old and his girlfriend to work things out and still go on the trip together if that's how it goes, without the pressure that everything gets cancelled 2 days after a breakup (let things process, it takes time and feelings can fluctuate in that 3 months, best to allow them space to do this).

I think for the most part, if the beach has services on it (resorts, beach bars etc) the sand area gets cleaned up in the morning, the problem is with the stuff that's still floating in the water. You can't clean that up until it's out of the water, and it makes the water a place you don't want to get into. The beaches I was at last week weren't developed so there was no cleanup, but from what I've heard from others that went to beaches elsewhere (in Florida and Mexico), those beaches got cleaned up every morning.

I was in Puerto Rico (actually Vieques) last week and it was terrible!!! By the end of the week it was taking over every single beach, you had to walk through 10ft of it just to get in the water, and it was piled high on shore. It didn't smell, but it completely ruined the water. When I flew over the ocean to get home, you could see huge brown swaths of it floating everywhere.

Same, and I avoided booking it for 9 years. Finally tried symphony a few months ago and it's my new favorite.

True - the round trip airfare for my summer cruise to Singapore cost me almost twice as much as the actual cruise (cruise in a balcony room cost me $4600, airfare cost me just over $8,000).

I would have booked a quick 3 day beforehand in order to get the free drinks on the 9 day.

I booked a 12-day summer cruise (august) 10 months in advance. I've checked every day for price drops and the price has only gone up (by a lot!). That's the first time in 7 years that I haven't caught a price drop. I decided I needed a beach a little sooner and started looking for a last-minute april or may cruise and have been surprised that most of what I looked at was priced almost just as high as my 12 day cruise. April and May used to be inexpensive months to cruise. I took a land vacation to a beach last week instead for half the price.

I'm not sure about that part yet. My cruise only has one Vietnam stop, and the rest don't require a visa.

The only one I've figured out so far is for Vietnam. https://evisa.xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn/trang-chu-ttdt

Is this sailing out of Puerto Rico? If so, I think the reason it's so cheap is because there are no sea days, so everyone is pretty much off the ship every day. With that in mind, $59.99 is still too high.

I sailed symphony thanksgiving week of 2022 and $72.99/day was the cheapest it ever got. I highly doubt it'll be any cheaper a year later.

I think it has more to do with them being longer cruises, or cruises on non-Caribbean routes. Mine is a very popular cruise that was mostly sold out 10 months in advance, but it's an Asian sailing which doesn't tend to have as many drinkers.

$72.99/day (US dollars) seems to be the most common "low" price, but you'll see some lower prices on some sailings. My 12-day Spectrum cruise has had a couple sales where the price is $54.99/day....but that's still a lot of money when you multiply it by 12.

If you don't cancel her and she's just a "no show," would they let the girls stay in the room, or would they not allow them to check in until the person the casino comp belongs to shows up? Beverage package will be refunded if she's a no show I'm pretty sure.

I wonder if the OP ever called Royal and what the outcome was 🤔

They're not gonna be able to really enjoy either of those things with small children. That type of relaxation is a luxury of the childless (or those with older children).

I have this card too, and I'm pretty sure it's the only one on the market that has this comprehensive travel insurance policy. Others have some abbreviated form of it, but not as robust as the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

It's for an Asian sailing, that's why. Spectrum 12-day from Singapore to Japan. I don't think the Asian market drinks as much so the price is lower.

Bummer. Last time they did one of these sales most people saw larger than normal price drops. Mine is $54.99/day (but it's usually only $58.99/day which is still a lot lower than most sailings).

Is the gym as small as it looks in your photo?