hallux

@matj2000 even worse is that a quick Google search gives you the answer.  "Royal Caribbean carry-on drink policy" with the top result being the FAQ on RCI's website - https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/food-drink-onboard-policy

I guess it's easier to ask and have the answer provided..

6 hours ago, pacruise804 said:

What is a long drive?  Long to one person can be reasonable to another

I'm inclined to agree with this.  I love driving on road trips, so the 3-3.5 hour trip from home to the port when we cruised out of Bayonne was no problem for me, and I was hardly tired from it as the person you quoted thought people might be.

My next cruise departs from a port on the other side of the country so I'll be flying in the day before.

Here's the page with info on it - http://www.royalcaribbean.com/royaliq  $7.95 per device covers the whole cruise.

Seems it's only on Anthem, Ovation and Quantum.  However - there was discussion previously about things being revamped so the replacement may be on other ships already.

1 minute ago, BonnieSte said:

1) I haven't been on RCCL in a couple of years. Last year when I was on Carnival they had an app to download on your phone and you could text with someone in your party when you got      separated. Has RCCL come up with anything similar?

Some ships have this, at an extra cost.  You sign up once on board, need to have the Royal IQ app (this is what it was on Anthem last April, it may be changing) on each device, then when you open the app you can sign up for the messaging feature.  Each device has to pay the fee.

For what it's worth - we used Google Hangouts.  At the time there was a "hole" in the firewall that allowed that and (apparently) Apple's Messages apps to work without paying for internet.  Don't rely on that, the hole could be closed at any time.

Will they be required to remove them for the slide?  That might be the answer to the question.

Tip - Royal has several ships that can be abbreviated AOS, might help for other topics to identify by the actual name...

And apparently the picture needs to include your shoulders in the bottom of the frame.  I uploaded one last year and they had to re-take it during check-in because it needed shoulders in it for some reason.  At least that's what I recall as being the issue.  For what it's worth, all 3 of us that arrived at the port in my vehicle had the same issue or at least needed our pictures re-taken..

Except you start running into spring break for primary/grade school districts.  In my region they're usually one side or the other of Easter (April 21 this year so likely April 15-19 or 22-26) so cruises in that time frame could have families with kids on them.  I agree with others - an 8 day cruise isn't as attractive to folks on that kind of schedule so it might not be AS bad...

10 minutes ago, Sky111 said:

Because, I called NCL and they said they never heard of it and the State Department said DO NOT LEAVE IT ON SHIP, so I would like to see someone confirm or substantiate it, if this bothers you perhaps you can un-follow this thread. 
 Sheesh!!!

To be fair - you spoke to someone in a call center when you called NCL.  The best person to answer that kind of question is the security officer on the ship on which you sail.  The State Department is going to give you the answer to the worst-case scenario so that they are covered in case something does happen where you need your passport but they told you to leave it on the ship.

My opinion might not mean much, having only been to 2 foreign ports on cruises so far, I believe I took my passport when I got off the ship, but in neither port was I planning on going to the beach so I didn't have that consideration.  It's really a situation of gambling either way - if you take it with you there's always the risk of losing it in some way, if you leave it on the ship there's the possibility you return late to the port and your passport was NOT retrieved and handed to the port agent (I won't comment on this happening or not, or if there's a policy to do this or not, I simply don't know as I haven't seen it happening).

In the banner at the top of the page is a "research" section, then you can pick to research Alaska cruises and view ratings of ships sailing in Alaska.  Here's the link I ended up at, to help you out - https://www.cruisecritic.com/ports/area.cfm?area=1&section=ships

That's at least a start.

On 2/5/2019 at 1:44 PM, TanaQ said:

Or do I just buy the tix from the Space center and Uber it? Thank you!

Depending on when you're there (or if you pre-purchase the tickets) - not a great idea.  I was on Anthem last April, it was during a school break week and there was a SpaceX launch that day.  We spent 3 hours on the bus between the port and KSC.  Halfway there they found out that anyone that didn't already have tickets was being turned away (we did, through the excursion, of course).  They ended up requesting to detour us on roads only open to KSC vehicles, and getting approval for it.

Now, we may have run into unusual circumstances - 2 or 3 ships in port (there was a Disney ship there and maybe another RCI ship at another terminal), spring break week, SpaceX launch - but it was one of those situations that reinforces suggestions to just go through the cruise line since the tour went out of their way to get us there (and in time for the launch).  I was glad we had only done the transportation and entry, we hardly had time to do much while there.

6 hours ago, SRF said:

My TA just runs my credit card through to the cruise line for payment.

Mine did the same, on a Sunday even.  She sent me an email early in the morning, then called me at a reasonable hour to confirm the final payment and any changes I wanted to make so she could make the adjustments while on the phone with them.

I believe when you sign up for the app package you are assigned a "phone number" in the app so others can communicate with you through the app.  If you don't sign up for the $9.99 app communication package, that wouldn't be assigned so you couldn't communicate with others through the app.

I would absolutely carry some form of photo ID off the ship - either DL or passport.  I know for certain that in Nassau you need to show that with the Seapass card in order to get into the port area, they want to be sure the person presenting the card is the person that's supposed to be presenting it.

Looks to me as though the Concierge Family Inside cabins on the Joy are in the same location in the ship as the Studio cabins on Bliss..

38 minutes ago, ldubs said:

Using iMessages to an Android will not work if you are only on wifi

For your edification - The Messages protocol (which is what is used iPhone to iPhone) is an Apple-proprietary protocol.  When messaging an Android device it falls back to regular texting, which requires a cellular connection.

Can always refer to the RCI website...

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/food-drink-onboard-policy

Milk and distilled water brought on for infant, medical, or dietary use are permitted.

11 hours ago, Ourusualbeach said:

The security people at the ports aren’t checking to see what nationality you are the6 are just looking at the photo and your ship card.

I think this is the key piece of info.  The port people are simply checking to be sure that the person presenting the SeaPass card is the person that is SUPPOSED to present that card.  All they care about is making sure those that are entering the port area are supposed to be there.

Of course - carrying your passport covers you for undesirable contingencies like being late back to the ship (and missing it) or having a medical emergency while ashore.

During my previous cruises on Royal Caribbean, yes.  As long as you have your ship ID with you, you can come and go as you please.  Most/all ports will also require that you have photo ID to enter the port area to get to the ship so be sure to have that with you as well.

@twicindi your pictures have me wanting to visit those places.  I've been to the Teotihuacan Pyramids/ruins outside Mexico City.  I was seriously considering my next trip to include one of these ports but went with a Pacific Coastal instead.  Now I want to do a Mexico trip!

5 hours ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Staying at LAX (hotels have shuttles) would require only one transfer- the next morning to the port. Staying in Long Beach would mean LAX transfer to hotel and taxi/Uber to port the next day. 

And this is the option I'm taking for my trip in April.  My hotel is practically walking-distance from the Southwest terminal (I'm flying in on Southwest) at LAX.  The cruise line will have transfers you can book from the airport to the port, just need to take the hotel's free shuttle back to the airport to grab it (usually $35 I believe).

5 hours ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Note that Los Angeles is huge with attractions spread out over great distances

Should add that those great distances are accompanied by insane traffic.  I was considering a Dodger's game the night before my cruise but at 2 hours each way from LAX to the stadium it just isn't worth it.

27 minutes ago, Dagnis said:

Is wifi realy costing an arm and a leg to use?

You're not required to get it.  I'm in my late 30's and haven't gotten WiFi on either of my 2 previous cruises and don't plan to get it on my cruise in April.  If you HAVE to be online for work, does it matter what the cost is if the company is paying for it?

Enjoy the quiet time with your new bride!

32 minutes ago, Dagnis said:

When stopping at port, is it cheaper to use local guide or use PO organised ones? (We travelled around the europe just two of us, we get along with things alright i guess)

I don't know about PO, but generally if you book a tour privately there is a risk that if the tour is late returning to the pier you will miss the ship and will be responsible for finding your own way home or to the next port, possibly without your documents.

Check with the cruise line on their policies regarding alcohol, the policies in Europe may be different than here in the US.  On US embarkations I think most cruise lines only allow one 750ml bottle of wine per stateroom.  That is also ONLY at initial embarkation, you're not allowed to bring any on at ports of call.

13 minutes ago, cincicruisers said:

I downloaded the ap but I don't see how to set up texting??

You probably need to do it once on board the ship.  Keep in mind - that $10 only covers texting within the ship to others that have the app and have paid for the feature, you'll need an internet plan for WiFi texting to people on-shore or need to pay for the cell-at-sea service.

I say the ellipticals should give special "extra credit" on particularly rough days.  Had one on RCCL's Explorer several years ago, was on the elliptical and found it took extra energy to stay on the machine.

4 hours ago, crookedhalo said:

I have a friend who is gluten intolerant, and they would walk with her and when she wanted something they would get it from a tray under the open server (one in the warmer beneath) to avoid cross contamination.

I seem to recall there also be a gluten-free section all the way aft in the WJ, near the doors to the open deck.  I don't need it but I was on a trip with someone who did and all the food they ate there came from that section and they never had an issue.

We also found the MDR folks VERY attentive to this need.  We "reserved" the same table with the same head waiter/staff for the entire trip.  Each night they would bring the next night's menu so those that needed special diet considerations could select what they wanted so it could be prepared as needed for them.  There were 9 of us, that crew got a VERY generous additional cash tip as there were no side-effects of having contaminated food the entire trip.

18 hours ago, BigSis603 said:

Thank you everyone for all the excellent information given.  It will help us make our final plans and has us rethinking whether we even want to drive.

There's an alternative.  If you've never been to the Northern part of NY, there's a bus company that does cruise shuttles for $90 per person round-trip from Albany.  Many hotels in the Albany area allow you to park for free during your stay and the bus company allows free parking at their facility.

Cooperstown (baseball hall of fame) is an easy day trip.  Saratoga Battlefield is a nice tour, Lake George (though not for swimming in May), Fort Ticonderoga, the Adirondacks in general.  There's plenty to find to do during a couple day visit and it's MUCH more relaxed than the hustle and bustle of NYC.