leaveitallbehind

On a different note I believe RCCL Voyager and Freedom class ships have a large jetted hot tub in the spa.

11:30 should work. I would just allow as much time as available by getting off the ship ASAP. Rather be sitting at the gate with too much time waiting than rushing through the terminal to catch the flight. (Have had both experiences - LOL) Enjoy your cruise!

9 miles, 20 minutes. But that can vary depending on traffic. As MIA is large and usually very busy you need to allow extra time for baggage check in, security through the terminal, and transit to the gate. The other factor would be the POM can be busy and what type of transportation to MIA you are using - Uber / Lyft, ship transfer, other public van / bus. Common transportation will take longer than private as they need to fill the vehicle before leaving. You don't say how early a flight but I would not suggest anything before 10:30 AM or so (I thing that would be pushing it) and later is better in our experience there. I realize I'm adding more than you asked for but just want to be sure you have it.

I agree as each dining selection is managed by stateroom number, and said "in theory" you could go to MTD non-res line. But I have no experience indicating you can do that. I also indicated that notifying the servers in advance should be done. We are on the same page.

Dining times are coordinated by stateroom number and if you have selected one of the fixed times your stateroom number is registered with that time. My understanding is you cannot also reserve a separate time under MTD as your stateroom would not show on that registry. In theory I guess if you notified your servers ahead of time that you will not be there on a given day you could go to the MTD no reservations line, but you would wait there for an available table after you arrive, so your time would not be reserved. In that same manner if you reserve time in a specialty restaurant you should notify your servers of those days as well so they know not to expect you at your planned seating.

You can try this website. RCCL has offered their bedding products on line for sale for a number of years. Not exactly inexpensive, but it is available. https://www.royalcaribbeanbeddingcollection.com/ Or as others have said just continue to book more cruises....LOL

Yep - working on my end now too. It was not, however, when I posted before. (And was down for "maintenance" late last night as well).

Apparently the Celebrity website is down for maintenance - not sure if that would be a connection.

Good point and I forgot about that! Thanks for posting that. Certainly that would have to be confirmed.

The only time saved with luggage valet is the time you would spend retrieving it from the ship in the morning and luggage check in at the airport. The primary factor is convenience. However with a 10:30 AM flight, not having to do either shortens and simplifies the process in getting to the airport and checking yourself in through security. We have made 10:00 AM flights in the past and if you are exiting the ship by 7:30 you will be at the airport certainly by 8:00 which should allow enough time to make your 10:30AM flight. My suggestion would be use Uber or a cab to the airport and let the luggage valet service handle your luggage.

As an alternative to the kiosk after we board we just go to any of the specialties and the Maître d there makes all of our reservations for the week at all of the restaurants. Very simple 10 minute process.

The service in our experience works well and when you put your luggage out the last night of the cruise you don't see it again until you arrive at your final destination airport. They handle the luggage and take care of all the correct luggage tags for you. Glad to see this back!

Our most recent RCCL sailings were Oasis twice and Allure twice and we were in our staterooms at or about 1:00+/- on all four. But you are really splitting hairs if the earliest was 1:15 and the latest you were in was 1:35 - LOL. And I agree not to big of a difference. Luck of the draw I guess. Enjoy your cruises!

...along with a current valid gov't issued picture ID (Drivers license, etc.). Just confirming you need both, not just a BC.

Late for all our recent RCCL cruises since the restart. 1:00 has been the norm.

Are they ones that would be outside the premium beverage package? Also, didn't realize that cocktails were included. That still seems high IMO - even with included cocktails.

Don't have a clue, but the food's the same. Blu is blue on Summit as well.

Yep. Lots of changes even amongst the mass market lines they've joined. The ever evolving cruise industry....Gone are the good ole' days.

Agree with above as in our experience our staterooms have been ready to occupy by 1:00. Rarely later.

There have been certain bar venues on board where that has happened as well. Not lost slips, but apparent "lost track" of vouchered beverages. Just saying.... We also always tip the bartenders with vouchered drinks. Our drinks may be free but they are still serving them....JMO.

Have not yet sailed Icon and have not experienced it, but as we primarily eat in the specialty restaurants, we have experienced virtually every specialty restaurant offered with RCCL and at $200 pp that is 3 - 4X the typical fees we've ever paid and 2X that of Chef's Table. IMO it better be something extraordinarily special! But that is JMO and certainly to each his own. Enjoy!

Drinks are only charged on CocoCay if you don't have the C & A vouchers or do not have a drink package. With either or both they are not charged.

With the exception to date of Icon, over the years we have done exactly what you are planning to do and have been on at least one ship in each ship class in the RCCL fleet (and Celebrity, minus Edge class) and many several times. To date that is 17 different RCCL ships. At one time they used to sell coffee mugs in the gift shop identifying each ship, of which we have 16 (plus 2 Celebrity) but have not seen them in recent years and are missing Anthem as a result. We also have kept our SeaPass cards from each cruise, but over the past 32 years and 50+ cruises some are missing. @Essiesmom's suggestion of the clear plastic business card holders is a good one and I will likely now add a project to my list to catalogue the many cards that are primarily sitting in rubber band wrapped packs in a drawer! Enjoy your years ahead of cruising!

I actually agree. We have been to both many times and in (very) earlier years St. Thomas held more charm and interest than now (although for various reasons there are fond memories of being there). But as crowded, in particular with cruise ships, as St. Maarten has become, the overnight there was somewhat special for having not experienced that on a ship before. And the opportunity to relax without concern for a short departure time was nice. Plus, IMO, there is more overall interest in things to see and do there. Also, in part because of the unplanned spontaneity of the resulting overnight, it was enjoyable just for that.

Well everybody - including ship Captains - is different, and her personality and interactions with the passengers does set her somewhat apart from many others. She is quite well liked and popular among the passengers as a result. But at her core, as with all others, she is first a ship Captain and no more special in that regard.