RedIguana

Speed (latency) should go up on Rainy days, not down.

The countries that do not have a high percentage of their population vaxed yet, and may not have the medical infrastructure to handle covid cases, nor have the herd immunity most of the US has built up. It is not just the ship passengers at play here, it is all exposed to them.

For Acrophobiacs those deck 7 balconies are wonderful. That 5-6 feet of of boat deck deck cover that extends past your balcony prevents that heebie jeebie feeling:). I haven't done the aft ones on radiance class, but there are a few by the hump with pretty extended balconies. Cabins are not as big as the ones on deck 9 though.

Daughter transited Canada on her way to France 10 days ago. It was not required for international passengers just transiting Canada at that time. Travellers who are transiting through Canada to another country (and aren't leaving the secure area at the airport) don't need to submit their information through ArriveCAN. from the current ArrivCan website.

The passport card is the penultimate document. The passport book would be the ultimate. And in a lot of states it requires less documentation for the passport book/card than it does for a real or enhanced DL.

The DHS pretty much leave all residency requirements up to the state. Florida Real ID requirements specifically allows copies or printout. There is no reason for a difference in Real ID vs non for residency documentation.

The DHS only cares about proof of identity, and whether you are a citizen or lawful resident. Passports do not have an address on them (place of birth, but not even current state). The state you are applying for a DL in does care about your address, as most states require residency for a DL. Receiving postmarked mail does not prove you live somewhere, just that someone you know lets you receive mail there, or you have access to pull mail from that box. Having a utility bill at an address does not prove you live there, just that you pay that bill for that residence. There is no reason not to accept a printed copy of a utility bill as proof of residence, as chances are if you are paying the bill you live there (yes, you can be paying for a friend or family member, or own it and rent it out). The thing to remember about residency is that it also determines if and where you are qualified to vote. So for passports you can use school, government, employee ID's, yearbook photos, SS card etc, which prove identity, as they don't care where you actually live. Someone who rents out a room, lives with a family member, or shares an apartment is much less likely to receive mail (PO box maybe), own a car, or have a utility bill in their name, making it more difficult to prove residency, and hence forth more difficult to register to vote or obtain a state ID. I'll leave it to the reader to draw any conclusions they want between states that have strict or unreasonable document requirements to prove residency vs the ease of voting......

Take anything the app says with a few heaping teaspoons full of salt until you are actually on the ship....then the accuracy improves.

When your screwdriver strips the head, then breaks, use the hammer.

Close...parts of Ecuador and Peru are west of Pittsburg. But it really is amazing how far east South America is compared to most of North America. Maybe it should be Northwest America and Southeast America.

Earlier this year check-in (at least on some ships) was at the 30 day mark. Granted, final payment dates were also shortened to 30 days. Your sailing may still be at the 30 day mark, or the RC Rep may be giving out the old info. And I hope I am not confusing my cruise lines with this statement:)

Cruising out of Amsterdam August 31, was planning on buying a few bottles while there to bring onboard (just pack the wine wings). Any chance the store you found is close to the port? We are staying at the Movenpick pre-cruise.

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/booked/cruise-room-upgrade Not sure if this site will bypass your big box TA, but worth a shot to check.

I am by no means knowledgeable of all the states individual requirements. Rejecting the "proof of address" is apparently quite common in a few states, and to the best of my knowledge what is acceptable as "proof of address" is determined by the states, not the Act, so I will leave the reader to determine their states reasons for accepting/rejecting these documents. The states are free to issue DL's that are not REAL ID compliant if they so choose, but they will not be considered valid ID by the Feds. Some states have made it very easy to switch over, and some have fought the conversion. I am lucky to be in a state that switched 12 years ago (FL), one can only empathize with those who have it more difficult.

It is mandatory in the sense that if you want the Federal Government or any of its agencies to accept your DL as valid identification, that state must comply with the Real ID Act (exemptions and extensions were built into the act and via continuing legislation). To the best of my knowledge, all 50 states and all but 1 territory are now compliant, so it is pretty much a moot point once the drivers license renewal times cycle through. I am going to end up spending the extra money to get a passport card along with the book when mine needs to be renewed next year, just so I have a card that isn't as large as the book. The card is also valid for closed loop US cruises, so no worries about having easily acceptable ID for that time when I have to renew my passport in 11 years:)

You do not need to be a citizen of the US to qualify for a Real ID (the one with the star), just a lawful resident. Just a little research goes a long way......

Live in Florida and drive to the ports, so luggage not a concern. When cruising with daughter, I bring the suits since she likes to dress up. When cruising with the wife just dress pants and long sleeve shirt (sometime tie on Dress-your-best-nights). Dress pants and long sleeve shirts on non-dress-your -best-nights. The 3 I have been on since the restart it seems to have been warmer on the ships than in the past. These have all been Caribbean/Bahama/Eastern/Westerns. Will drag a suit with me for Norway later this year expecting it to be a little more dressy (and cold). You will be in the majority with slacks and a long sleeve shirt.

It is so weird seeing Alligator alley as more than a narrow 2 lane road.....

I think they always dock with the pointy end at the front, unless the front falls off.

You need a Navica account, but do not need the app. I've used E-med for 3 cruises since restart and have always saved and printed the e-mail results (still accessible on phone or tablet) for myself and traveling companion, never once used the Navica app.

20 minutes for me (I also fold and put dirty close in suitcase or empty closet shelf as we go) 60 minutes if traveling with wife 2 hours if traveling with daughter I still have some sanity left so have not tried cruising with both