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Couldn't resist, and in all good humor: You are not the boss of my tummy....................

By any chance did you take an Uber back to the airport after the cruise? Could you give me general directions to the Uber pick up area, please? I want to see my sis off to the airport before I get the ship's transportation for a b2b out of Ft Lauderdale. Thanks!

When my husband passed in 2021, both Princess and RCCL were incredible about refunding all our money paid for upcoming cruises. Like within 48 hours. My sincerest condolences to the OP: it's very, very tough to deal with an immediate family member passing. Insurance policies refer to the "traveler", but that is synonymous with "insured". In the case of a family member's death who is not on the travel policy, the benefit that would be paid out is under trip interruption in the OP's case to the covered traveler on the policy.

According to an online article from about 10 minutes ago: "Hurricane Idalia is causing some shifts in cargo operations at Port Canaveral, but thus far is not impacting the cruise ship schedule there."

I checked out the menus again for my upcoming cruises. Out of 7 nights, I can put together 4 dinners, and one will be all appetizers. So, for short cruises I don't mind paying extra for the UDP, and last year my sis and I got a $20 / day / pp, including tip, on a 10-night Vision. Our 4 night on the Freedom is costing $49 / day / pp, but my sis will be happy. Now, a "day" could include both lunch and dinner, so that lowers the cost per meal even more. Plus, my wonderful TA's obc gifts help, too. (Hi, there Wonderful TA!!) 👋 If they get the MDR menus upgraded a little, then I'll skip the UDP. Until then, I'll keep looking at the UDP.

My sister and I spent 10 nights on the Vision last March 2022, and had the UDP. I had been on several cruises since the MDR menu changes in mid-Jan, and was NOT happy with them. I'm actually easy to please and will just about everything, but my sis is fussy. So, I insisted we get the UDP. I also ate breakfast every day in Chops as a Pinnacle perk (she doesn't eat breakfast), so we ate quite a bit in Chops: lunch, several dinners, and me for breakfast. As I've said in other threads here on CC: I love me my Chops. It's got great food! The staff are wonderful, too, and I hope they are still there when I'm on the Vision again next year. Giovanni's was my sister's favorite. Their food was excellent, too.

It really depends on the ship, but the standards: Chops, Giovanni's, Izumi, Hooked all are included. Izumi and Hooked are an "allowance" for your meal. On the Navi it was pick one from column A, two from Column B, and a dessert last year in Izumi. Hooked was a $$ allowance. On my next cruise on the Freedom, I understand Vintages is included with the "allowance" toward food. UDP is good for any specialty restaurant lunch open on sea days. It's best to pre-plan your reservations and do them all at once on Day 1. In the Cruise Planner for your cruise, you can see which restaurant(s) are open on Day 1 and sea days for lunch. Day 1 I always reserve and pay in advance for lunch, then have them credit it back to my account when they see I have the UDP. Sea Days you can reserve on Day 1 on the ship with your UDP. Our plan on the Freedom next month: Day 1 reserved lunch at Giovanni’s: get credit back, and make ressies for other dinners/lunch Day 1 - reserved Giovanni's for dinner at 5:30pm. BOOK: Day 2 - Chops for dinner Day 3 - Izumi for dinner Day 4 - Chops for lunch Day 4 - Giovanni's for dinner Day 5 - Izumi or Chops for dinner? Snacks or lunch substitute: Vintages tapas, Check hours. Use drink e-coupons for wine

My mother grew up on a small chicken farm in Hayward, CA during the Depression. No one had money for doctors, and she and her brother were exposed to just about every ugly thing you could get: ringworm, hookworm, impetigo, getting sprayed by skunks, my Mom eating rat poison as a crawling infant. My grandmother was born in 1883 on a farm in the Salinas Valley, Ca. She knew every home remedy there was. Kerosene was used to kill any kind of worm external infection. I think she had some concoction for intestinal worms, too. She force fed my mother a quart of mayonnaise to get her to barf up the rat poison, and also coat her esophagus and stomach. She washed my uncle with kerosene when he was sprayed by a skunk, and shaved his head for a kerosene "shampoo". They were lucky to survive the cures!!

Well here's another one: I miscarried before I had my first son. 6 weeks off from work, and the first time my co-workers saw me again was at a party in one of their homes. We walked in, everyone went all sad, somber, and solicitous, with me reassuring them I was just fine. REAL party downer. One of the guys asked my husband, "And, how are you managing, Rick?". My one-liner pro immediately said, "Oh, I do a LOT of recreational reading in the bathroom." The whole group of 30-40 people got hysterical, and..............the party was back on. (Last one; promise)

For my sis and I next month on the Freedom, it's included. I think it's a cover charge type of thing, like PlayMakers: they give you a certain credit toward food.

Don't think so, but it's primarily a medical policy. They have others, and that's why I suggested looking at you credit card benefits. Chase Sapphire's travel bennies are pretty good.

Thank you! He was an incredibly dry humor, funny guy. He used to wear a tee shirt to the Windjammer breakfast buffet that said, "I'm up; I'm dressed; what more do you want?!!"

To clarify, I'm not cancelling the reservation for lunch the first day, I'm just showing that it's been paid for twice due to the UDP covering the charge, also. But, I will follow up with the Food and Bev Manager if they try to charge me a cancellation fee. Thanks for the info. If the UDP would include the choice for lunch on Day 1, there would be no need to go through the refund process at all. I keep expecting them to catch on to this, but I don't think it's happening enough to catch enough attention.

Therefore, the word I chose in my suggestion was "some". The problem is when one is quoted directly and then told something that's already implied in the original statement, it comes across as communicating primarily to correct the original poster. If one is trying to add information, then a more general reference is adequate. (Not just an insurance geek, but an English degree geek, too.)

I think they include Suites, Pinnacles, and Key passengers together once the early escort groups are off. It's basically a priority line.

Sounds fine to me. As I said a little while ago on another thread: Cover the torso and the feet. Golf shorts are nice, and sandals are fine, too.

When I purchase the UDP, I prebook all the lunches in advance. Day 1 online in the Cruise Planner, and get a credit to my account when I show up. This way I'm guaranteed a table at my chosen time. I book all sea days when I first to to the restaurant on Day 1. On port days I eat a late breakfast, and then show up to the a la carte restaurants when they first open. Next month my sis and I have the UDP, and we are going to go to Vintages for tapas and wine as a late lunch, using my Pinnacle drink coupons, too. She really likes cruising with me. As Merion Mom told me once: I tell them what to book and they do it. My sis follows me like a puppy on cruise ships, as I am the Great Provider of free wine and cool places to go on the ship.

What he ^^^^ said! An annual policy covers you ANYWHERE you go over 100 miles (usually) from home, domestic and international. It's a bargain. My GeoBlue Trekker annual policy cost me $188 for 2023. I have 3 trips to see family in Ann Arbor and 13 cruises in 2023. BENEFIT OVERVIEW MATRIX Policy Maximums Insurer pays Per Covered Person $500,000 if the Covered Person is under age 70; and $100,000 if the Covered Person is age 70 through age 95 Trip Period Maximum Medical Benefits $500,000 if the Covered Person is under age 70; and $100,000 if the Covered Person is age 70 through age 95 Deductible Deductible is waived if services are provided by a GeoBlue contracted provider $200 per Covered Person per Period of Insurance First Level Payment The Insurer will pay 100% of the Reasonable Charges up to a maximum benefit as shown above per Period of Insurance Emergency Medical Transportation Deductible is not applicable. Maximum Benefit per Trip Period for all Evacuations up to $250,000 Emergency Family Travel Arrangements Deductible is not applicable. Maximum Benefit per Trip Period up to $2,500 for the cost of one economy round-trip air fare ticket to, and the hotel accommodations in, the place of the Hospital Confinement for one (1) person Repatriation of Mortal Remains Deductible is not applicable. Maximum Benefit up to $15,000 Medical Benefit Limitations Insurer pays after the deductible, if applicable, subject to First Level Payment Percentage listed above Professional Services a. Surgery, anesthesia, in-hospital doctor visits, diagnostic X-ray and lab b. Office Visits: including X-rays and lab work billed by the attending physician. The Insurer will pay 100% of the Reasonable Charges up to the Period of Insurance Medical Benefit Inpatient Hospital Services a. Surgery, X-rays, In-hospital doctor visits b. In-patient medical emergency The Insurer will pay 100% of the Reasonable Charges up to the Period of Insurance Maximum Medical Benefit Ambulatory Surgical Center The Insurer will pay 100% of the Reasonable Charges up to the Period of Insurance Maximum Medical Benefit Ambulance Service (non-Medical Evacuation) 100% up to $1,000 Maximum per Trip Period Benefits for claims resulting from downhill (alpine) skiing and scuba diving at a depth of 20 meters or less. Reasonable Charges limited to the Trip Period Maximum or $25,000, whichever is less. Limitations apply – see benefit description for specifics Outside the U.S. Outpatient prescription drugs 100% of Reasonable Charges up to a maximum benefit of $2,500 per Trip Period Dental Care required due to an Injury 100% of Reasonable Charges with a maximum benefit of $200 per Trip Period Dental Care for Relief of Pain 100% of Reasonable Charges with a maximum benefit of $100 per Trip Period Physical and/or Occupational Therapy/Medicine, Including spinal manipulations and other specified therapies including acupuncture Maximum payment of $50 per visit and maximum of 6 visits per Trip Period Also, your credit card usually covers trip interruption, some cancellation, and lost/stolen luggage. (And, yes, I AM an insurance geek. I worked for Blue Cross for 16 years. I read insurance policies for fun. I know: weird.)

I wonder if the Liberty will let me use my BOGO for my sis and I on day 3, which is my birthday? Is that called "pulling the birthday card" trick? (Sorry, couldn't control the pun.........)

Love me my Chops breakfast! I make up some of my own menu items: I order a mixed fruit bowl or plate. The cooks will either add berries to the sliced melon plate, or give you the mixed fruit from the fruit and yogurt cup. I also order a "chef's choice omelette". They decide. A salmon omelette is also delicious.

Ask about the complimentary drinks. Since they have a full bar in there, you may just have to go up and ask. Cover your torso and your feet, and you're good to go there. No bathing suits, even with a cover up.

My (now deceased) husband used to call that "having dinner with 12 other strangers", or the "cheek to jowl" tables.

Try a Lemon Drop Martini, or a Chocolate Martini. If you're lucky, they may have chocolate vodka. But, made with Bailey's is good, too. (I have a running joke with my female family members: after drinking 3, you automatically start calling them "chicklet martoonis") 🥴

I haven't found this to be true. I have purchased the UDP twice since the menu changes on 1/14/23. Both times the total was around $220 - $250 per person. That is far away from what the more expensive and inclusive cruise lines will charge per person. One UDP was an extra $25 per day, and the upcoming one next month is $60 per day. Both include gratuities. I consider this money well spent for a quieter, less crowded place to eat, and excellent food. I had a terrible experience earlier this year: they had crowded the MDR with so many tables and chairs, that when I got up to leave, the dining room was completely full, and with the chairs pushed out from the table with people occupying them, I literally couldn't find a way out! It was like navigating a maze, since I was seated in the middle of the room. I had to scout a route, walk it, then scout further, etc.

Like, never, most likely. Especially, now that the cabin is serviced once a day. I think most passengers don't want 12-18 hour old leftovers sitting around in their room, especially if it's an ocean view or inside cabin. I haven't a clue about what the answer to this one is................