leaveitallbehind

That may in fact be the case in the Miami cruise terminal, but as you clearly realize, none of that has anything to do with the cruse line. Their disembarkation times and procedures for the most part, and with some itinerary exceptions, are typically uniform throughout the fleet regardless of cruise terminal. Unfortunately, how you are treated once off the ship is not within their direct control. Again, I endorse commenting to the cruise line about negative terminal experiences as they clearly have a direct voice to the terminal. Just what gets done about it is another story.

Typically you are asked to be out of your stateroom between 7:30 and 8:00 AM and normally off the ship by 10:00 AM latest. You can extend your stateroom stay until 9:00 AM in some instances with an additional fee charged on board. They typically start boarding for the next sailing at 11:00 AM with all prior sailing passengers disembarked prior to that. I'm not sure if there are any extended privileges for Retreat guests.

Other than with the planner pre cruise dining packages sales, the only restaurant that IMO would be likely to do this my be Tuscan, as they frequently offer specials during the week on board. When this is done it is typically for a discount on the specialty restaurant fee. I don't know that as a rule this is always done, however.

The timeframes suggested are accurate and any variance would typically be related to variances with the early and fixed dining times, with which the showtimes are coordinated.

Seems like they have revamped most menus and have trimmed much of the offerings in recent years, not just the children's portion. Not sure how that relates to the fares paid for children.

You don't mention which cruise line but IMO the places visited, the accommodations along the way, and the assistance of a dedicated tour guide with the excursion makes the cruise line sponsored tours well worth considering. They are pretty immersive and can be varied in length to fit different expectations and budgets. They also dovetail with the cruise portion and will include direct transfers with ease of transition. Far less individual planning and coordination.

As others have said, airport to cruise port, depending on terminal, is about 3 miles / 10 minutes. Most local hotels also offer ride share transportation. But Uber / Lyft is easy and inexpensive and readily available. Cabs from the port back to FLL are also a reasonable option.

I don't disagree with the thoughts of contacting RCCL with this issue. However the OP needs to understand, as I believe they do from their comments, that none of this is controlled by RCCL as all employees and activities in and outside the terminal are 3rd party associated. All RCCL can do is pass on the concerns to those parties. And unfortunately IMO Miami is the least effective terminal in managing and directing activities once outside of the terminal.

I only knew because I was on that sailing. As you are likely aware from other posts my brain also gets rather rusty from time to time - LOL.

That would typically be done with a refurbishment, not a standard maintenance drydock. I believe the last refurb was in 2012 and I'm not aware of any plans to do another. And as @PhillyFan33579 suggests she is an old ship, and I don't think they are investing a lot with their older ships. In fact she is RCCL's oldest ship, but 28 this year, not 32 years, as her maiden voyage was December 14, 1996. (I was on that sailing - LOL).

To be clear I said it was based on availability within the assigned sub-category, which is the only factor I am aware of. But given available staterooms, they will switch you. Of course if there are none available, they can't move you. We have done it a number of times with RCCL. Typically it was not because the location was bad, but often just to be closer to an elevator bank, or to be closer to others we are traveling with, etc. We have also done it most recently last week with an upcoming Celebrity cruise, in that case to be more central to the main elevator banks. I realize that is a different cruise line but their GTY policies are the same as RCCL.

As @taglovestocruise indicates once a GTY is issued, if you don't care for the location, you can switch to any available stateroom in the same sub-category as issued. All you you have to do is contact whomever you booked through and they can confirm alternate location availability and make the switch at no charge We have done this a number of times. There is also no reason to avoid mentioning it was a GTY - the cruise line knows that already as it is part of the booking record. They have no issue moving you as long as there is availability and will willingly do it. And as mentioned they will confirm alternate locations for you before confirming the move, and will then reissue an updated booking confirmation indicating the new stateroom. It's done all the time.

I think it is no more than a company policy issue. There is lengthy and detailed policy information included with every cruise ticked we purchase which is a contract that, in part, outlines a code of conduct. If someone violates that, the cruise line has the right to deny them future cruises. Its as simple as that. And I would think that information can be and is openly shared within the family of cruise lines that may be owned an operated by that corporation. It's not uncommon. Whether or not that can (or is) shared amongst the industry is a different matter, but it would not surprise me if it was.

Not sure how it would work with Mediterranean ports, but Bermuda, as example, has government guidelines regarding hours of operation and a fee based permit per ship in order for cruise lines to operate their casinos while in port. If allowed in Mediterranean ports it may likely vary by country.

I agree that refundable OBC shouldn't, and I have never experienced that. But I have heard on these threads that it can. That's why I said that it may go back to them. And honestly that is my source of information, so take it for what its worth.

Agree, as have we. And that is the case with most refundable OBC. I was only saying that with some TA issued refundable OBC I have heard that the credit may go back to them first and that points-based credit card issued OBC is issued back to your card. Perhaps that is not the case with all cards.

My understanding is it is only with a few carriers and perhaps you have just not used those particular ones. I don't think there necessarily is a basis in logic, and I don't have the specifics on which carriers, etc., but as I understand it some in their arrangement with FBC have that as part of their T's & C's relative to the fares offered.

Typically that is correct, but some international flight carriers require payment with the booking. All other FBC T's & C's would remain the same as I understand it.

I have not called that recently so can't say from personal experience but I have heard that no longer is an option. If so, maybe they just haven't updated the C&A benefits page.

Refundable OBC is purchased by a third party (yourself, if you want cash on your account to offset purchases made to your on board account) most commonly as gifts from friends or family members, and also by travel agents as part of a booking perk. It is treated the same as non-refundable OBC in that is is used to offset on board purchases. It cannot be cashed out for port of call spending, and any residual amount can only be credited back to you at the end of the cruise.

Refundable OBC is third party added (from you, family, friends, TA's) and not from the cruise lines. Cruise line (and other issued through them) is non-refundable. As @jelayne suggests, TA OBC usually is refundable. But it may be refunded back to them first and then up to them to issue any of it back to you. Credit card issued OBC is refundable back to your credit card. If you should have both types issued, the cruise lines will place any on board (or pre-cruise planner) purchases against the non-refundable OBC first to delete that amount first, and then against the refundable OBC.

From others we know it seems as though, while yacht club offers their best experience, for the majority of those outside YC in standard staterooms, the experience is nothing special. Also from what I understand there are many daily multi language announcements to interrupt the day. In fairness we have never sailed with MSC but from much that I've heard, I don't think we plan to anytime soon. Not drawing a comparison, but I also never have sailed with Carnival, and also never plan to. I don't think from all I've heard about both that either would be our cup of tea. JMO.

Would that not include specialty dining options as well?

I think that is a fair question and I believe that the complimentary specialty dining will include the gratuity. I say that as any other time you purchase a specialty restaurant, a separate gratuity is added for that restaurant regardless of those paid as standard for the MDR, etc. One is not replaced by the other. They are also typically a separate wait staff. And to be clear for the thread I am not stating a pro or con position here, just my understanding of how it works.

Understood, but there also are TA sponsored perks that would be separate from those you reference and would be considered as third party, such as refundable OBC, etc. Correct?