D4

This is what I have done the few times we've had to switch cabins: A couple days before the first cruise ends, I go to my next cabin to introduce myself to the 2nd cabin steward and let him know which cabin we're moving into for the next cruise. However, many times our changeover day has been the day the cabin stewards are shuffled to different locations, so I can't actually meet my 2nd cabin steward early. I prefer to move our luggage myself whether or not I've met the 2nd cabin steward. I put a neon note on every piece of luggage saying we are B2B and list our new cabin number and sailing date. The cabin stewards are so busy on turnaround days, I don't want to risk our stuff going astray. B2Bs are easiest when you don't change cabins.

When we got off the Oasis in Miami in April 2022, we only waited about 5 minutes in the taxi line until we got a taxi. However, when we got off the Oasis in Miami in January 2023, the taxi line stretched all the way to where we exited the ship. There must have been hundreds of people in the taxi line! So we ended up getting an Uber and it was surge pricing, but oh well.

It depends. If both people have trip insurance and one person can't go because of a covered reason, then that person needs to cancel with Royal and both parties need to file an insurance claim. The person still going will very likely have the single supplement reimbursed by their trip insurance.

On Royal, the private photo session pictures cannot be included with a regular photo package.

I would definitely get a verified test. You don't have to expose other people, because many pharmacies allow people to swab themselves in the drive through while a pharmacy tech watches and then they test that swab. I would not go by other people's experiences. If Royal insists that you need a verified test and you didn't get one, you'll be screwed. Why take a chance on that?

I'm also celiac. Unfortunately, I've only experienced a gluten-free section in the Windjammer buffet on the smaller ships. The biggest Royal ships have specific gluten-free items but they are next to regular food. I always bring a lot of my favorite prepackaged snacks with me on cruises (and in my carryon for flight days.)

Keep checking the cruise planner for sales. We cruised to Labadee last month and had frequently seen those 2 zip lines on sale.

There is no one best policy for everyone. Be sure to review and compare the coverages, coverage limits, exclusions, etc when comparing policies.

I forgot to mention that the photographer will ask for the cabin numbers for everyone in your pictures. That allows everyone to view all the pictures they appear in at their convenience. Just tell your friends that you'll purchase the pictures as part of your package.

We've cruised to Alaska 3 times - on Princess, NCL, and Carnival. They were all great cruises. My favorite itinerary is a one way northbound cruise. The scenery just keeps getting more beautiful every day. For Alaska and Mediterranean cruises, the itinerary is much more important to us than the ship or cruise line. Be aware that excursions in Alaska cost a lot more than excursions in the Caribbean.

Yes. Someone from your cabin needs to be in every picture. You give them your cabin number after they take the pictures. I had lots of pictures taken with new friends we made on the cruise. It was great because I could send them the digital pictures and it didn't cost them anything. Tip: Every once in a while I realized I was missing certain pictures. There is a spot to click labeled something like "Missing a picture?" It has an awesome search feature and works very well at helping you locate pictures that for some reason didn't align to your account. Once you find them, you mark them and the photo dept gets notified. They review those notifications and add them to your account.

We like to go on B2Bs so we always send out one bag. We only send out socks, underwear, and my husband's tshirts and shorts. I don't send out my shirts because I don't want them fully dried. Roll everything tightly so you can fit more in the bag. Also, if you have some tape, you can really fill the bag and tape the top closed.

I had the 100 picture package on Oasis last month. You choose either all 8x10 prints OR digital files to be downloaded. You cannot mix and match prints and digital files. I chose digital files. I can print them any size at Walgreens, make photo books, etc. The resolution is great. Oasis has kiosks in the photo area that are available 24x7. You view your photos on the monitors anytime and flag your favorites and hide ones you don't like. When you confirm that you want a picture, it gets subtracted from your 100. You can download them to your phone, but that's not convenient for all 100. They email you a link to download all of them The photo kiosks are crazy busy the last day and night, so it's good to review your pictures during the cruise and not wait until the last day.

@ONECRUISER Interesting. We’ve always been told to use this paper bag for the Wash and Fold special.

We use it for clothes that we don’t mind being washed and dried completely such as socks, underwear, DH’s tshirts and shorts. I do not send out any of my shirts which I like to partially dry and then hang. Suggestions to get the most in your bag: fold your dirty clothes and then tightly roll them. Bring some good tape do you can pack it very full and then securely close the bag. It is a large paper bag. I’m on the Oasis right now so I took a picture of the bag with the daily Compass on top so you can see how big it is. The sides of the bags allow for a couple inches of expansion. I sent a full bag the morning of day 7 and got it back before dinner on day 8. That is the standard turnaround we have always experienced.

I’m on the Oasis right now. I just put pieces of paper that are 11.5 inches tall on our door with magnets. 7 pieces of paper fit on the door which is slightly over 6.5 feet tall

@Tree_skier @dada2199cc @klfrodo @smokeybandit Update to let you know about our experience: We watched our NFL game today. (There were 5 NFL games at 2:00.) We took seats at the tall table overlooking the Owner’s suite at 1:30. At 1:45 I went to grab my gluten free food. (Even if Playmakers serves gluten free food, I’m not going to order it there because it’s too loud. I want to be able to communication clearly about my food allergy.) I termed with my food just before kickoff. No server ever came down to our row while we were there (30 minutes before kickoff through the end of the game.) My husband went to the main bar a couple times to attempt to order food, but they were swamped and he didn’t want to wait. I clean up after myself so I brought my dirty dishes back to WJ after the game. it was a fun experience to watch the game with other fans.

I’m at dinner now. I’ll ask a head waiter on our way out.

I’m on the Oasis right now (1/8/2023) We were on Oasis for 2 weeks in March/April and the current menus are different. I am gluten free and am disappointed that the menus on this sailing no longer include the dietary indicators. I used to place my gluten free order the night before with a head waiter. Now I order with everyone else at the table. My waiter says to let him know what I’d like and then he will find out if it can be gluten free. That’s not efficient and it is dangerous especially with language issues. This adds a lot more risk for people with allergies and unfairly puts a lot more pressure on the waiters. Fortunately, I remember most things I ate in March. But I also tell him safe alternates if my choices can’t be gluten free. Otherwise he’d have to come back to tell me and have me pick something else.

I’m so sorry that happened. Keep in mind that some people bash their trip insurance company for denying their claim. I think this is often due to not having the waiver for pre-existing medical conditions or not meeting all the requirements of the waiver. I wish you the best.

@Tree_skier @dada2199cc @klfrodo @smokeybandit I appreciate everyone’s quick responses! I really appreciate people not bashing us for wanting to go to a bar and not order alcohol.

We don’t drink alcohol and have never been to a sports bar. We have the Directv NFL Sunday Ticket and watch at home. Our thinking was that we’d have DH order food for himself several times during the game and give a good tip every quarter.

DH and I are going to watch a NFL game at Playmakers. Neither of us drink alcohol. I also have to eat gluten-free and plan to bring food from Windjammer for me. My husband will order food from Playmakers for himself during the game. Does anybody have advice on how much we should spend and/or tip at Playmakers while we watch the game? I know the staff depends on tips, so we don’t want to be jerks. Thank you!

It would also be much more of a hassle if you’re flying because of all the stuff you’ll need to bring. Also consider what you like doing on cruises. If you love to constantly be busy on a cruise, then you might want to wait.

@cruisin from floridaThanks for all the details. There is no excuse for them to not have a process to follow for Covid cases. And it doesn’t make sense that they didn’t test you. I hope everyone in your family is feeling better now. Does Guest Services still give out masks upon request? I brought a huge quantity of masks when we sailed on Oasis for 2 weeks earlier this year and discovered onboard that nice individually packaged masks were free. If they still give them out, I won’t bring near as many this time. We still have 2 flights each way and fly in 2 days early.