Longford

The location where Serenade docket was a depressing sight, and as you leave the port gates there's a gauntlet of hustlers seeking to sell you one sort of service or another. I speak Spanish and they just wouldn't take no for an answer and were almost physically confrontational. I walked about on my own for several hours once getting away from the port entrance. There wasn't much to see if an excursion isn't involved.

In November 2022 the cruise I was on, RCCL Serenade, stopped at both of these ports. I didn't take any excursions during the cruise. Roatan was the port I least liked, Belize City was interesting in a quiet way ... I walked around solo, visited the interesting history museum, etc. Wandering solo in both port areas I didn't feel insecure.

I was a first-time solo cruiser, November 2022. What added to my enjoyment is that I boarded without preconceived notions. I read these forums and the RCL Blog (excellent advice there, too) and had some understanding what I might encounter. I went with the "flow", didn't get stressed-out over anything ... and disembarked with the sense that I'll cruise again one day.

My primary care physician urged me not to go on my 11/5/2022 cruise out of Tampa. She said ALL of her patients that had recently returned from cruises were Covid positive. I went on the cruise, took what I thought were careful precautions (masks, distancing, etc.) ... and returned Covid free.

Here: Clorox Healthcare® Bleach Germicidal Disinfectants | CloroxPro

However, cruise ship housekeeping workers don't work 24--hour shifts - nor do equivalent hotel staff. Thousands of ships' passengers holding, touching handrails, door knobs, other surfaces ... cannot and will not be effectively sanitized consistently.

I brought a flat pack of the generic form of / substitute for the Clorox-type disinfecting wipes on my 11/5/2022 cruise on Serenade.

We can bring our own hand sanitizer - gel or wipes, which is what I did on my November 2022 cruise.

Many people describe what you are talking about as ... trolling.

RCL specifically says 2 bottles per room … brought on in carry on bag.

I cruised solo on Serenade 11/5/2022 and brought 2 bottles of wine with me. That's what the ship regulations specified.

Yes. Airfare and possible day before lodging costs should be factored into the overall trip cost. Western Carribean seems the better itinerary ... but a similar trip departing from Tampa gives an additional port to visit. For me, Cozumel was a wasted stop and I enjoyed Costa Maya as the last stop of my 7-day Western out of Tampa. The OP is going to spend a lot of money on the cruise, transportation to/from, potential lodging costs, excursions, etc. I understand the concern to plan the trip working best for the family. Want to adopt me for the trip?

I cruised in November and brought my test kits onboard with me ... just in case.

Recently, I cruised for the first time. I bought the Key. Glad I did. Would I buy it again? Depends on the itinerary, trip duration and if I was traveling solo or coupled.

Seems to me, there's a part of the story we're not reading. Not saying the OP has intentionally omitted something, but as we read it ... it doesn't make sense. 🤔

Ok. Since the OP has not provided a context for the discussion ... I will. I've taken the time to search the Celebrity forum for buffet postings and find this: Maybe someone who cruises, also, on Celebrity has some comparisons to make. As for me: whether or not the couple who started the discussion and posted the interesting video can speak for that cruise line experience ... across the breath of the fleet ... is questionable ... but, I disliked the attitude of the woman who did virtually all of the complaining. I find the whining about a room service charge late-nite a bit silly, entitlement-like. But maybe they paid a lot of money for their room ... more than I paid for mine. I would not have been satisfied if RCI's WJ offered so little at Dinner ... but learning from the narrator that Breakfast and Lunch offerings were extensive ... leads me to believe so few passengers patronize the buffets for Dinner the cruise line has responded by offering less at that hour. There were other Dinner dining options, if they were so displeased with the buffet. In the video they shot very few people were seen in the buffet dining area. Look at the video and complaints, and decide for yourselves.

I was on Serenade for its 11/5/2022 sailing. First cruise, ever. I took all my meals in WJ. Wide selection of food, good tasting, great staff, outdoor seating if I wanted it. However, I have nothing to compare it to. We read a lot of speculation in various discussions, not always factual. We don't know what the OP is referring to, so how do we comment ... about a different cruise line's food offerings? Thank you.

Rather than ask readers to search what you are referring to, it's customary to provide a link to those discussions. You've asked for our comments, please provide the context by posting a way to read the information ... without having us do the legwork. Thank you.

Can you be more specific, about what the other cruise line is doing or proposing. It's not easy to comment if we don't have the same information you do. Thank you.

12 night repositioning cruisr $399 Interior.

The use of lanyards to hold the cards is simple, and smart.

The water package I bought for my 11/5/2022 cruise on Serenade were all bottles, not cans.

I saw the same advice when I cruised 11/5/2022, and bought a bottle. However, I never used it.

I don't see it as a rip-off. Rather, I see it as a lesson learned ... by you and your husband. Ask, research ... before buying services. But I'm supposing the point of your posting is to suggest the same to others ... look before you leap. Thank you.

Referring to tipping in the USA, generally: Most people probably tip airport curbside check-in luggage porters. We almost all probably tip hotel bellmen and room service personnel, and some tip the housekeeper who cleans our room. Bartenders, waitresses and waiters are tipped. Taxi or Uber drivers, too. Why to we tip these and others? Because although they are paid to do the job, we feel as if we're obligated / expected to do so ... even if the service received isn't above and beyond what they're paid to do, extra or extraordinary.