Marylin

Thanks, I have been wondering about the timing between interview & ceremony as well.

I have been tracking my application, and since April it has been saying "scheduling appointment, please watch for a letter". 😔! But I have hope & tattered nerves.

I am also holding off on airline bookings, and those get more expensive the closer we get. I guess I should have started this earlier, but didn't know that a cruise to Australia was on the cards.😀

It has always made me smile - my PERMANENT resident card expires!

Thanks everyone for your advise (I love CC)

I checked the stamp in my passport and it is an I-551 valid to 12/31/2017 so everything I have read here and online says that I am allowed to come back to the USA. I have also sent an email to RC asking for confirmation that I can board!

Fingers are still crossed that I will get my Citizenship in time to get a US Passport - that would make me breathe a whole lot easier.

I will let you know what happens.

I am anxiously waiting for my interview for US Citizenship having started the process at the beginning of April. My green card expired in June, and the helpful people at USCIS advised me not to renew the green card while I was in the process of US Citizenship as it would cost about $600 to get a new green card that would be redundant as soon as the citizenship was approved. They also said that it should not take more than a couple of months to process the Citizenship. (I took a look at the processing times on the website and it stated that they are currently working on applications submitted in August 2016 :rolleyes: - not a confidence boost!)

When I explained that I had a cruise booked for October, they stamped my British passport authorizing employment until 12/31/2017 and said that would be sufficient to get me back into the US if the Citizenship process was not completed in time.

So my question is: will Royal Caribbean allow me to board with just the employment authorization in my passport? Should I call Royal Caribbean and confirm?

Of course, there is the possibility that my Citizenship will be granted in time and I will have a shiny new US Passport and have no worries, but we are within the 3 month departure time frame and I am getting anxious!

"Just breathe" :eek::eek:

Choices, choices, choices.

and...........patience!

You could move to 6334 or 6336.[/quote

 

I was told Deck 6 has full steel balconies, so I wanted to stay on 7 with the half glass.

Nah. Keep 7380. :) Compared to the "big girls", Explorer's not that big. Not worth the risk of having noisy neighbors, IMO.

 

 

Thanks, I will keep watching! Appreciate all the advice.

7330 or ?????

7380 - right at the back, trying to move more to the center.

NO NO NO

had a connecting promenade once on Explorer .

 

Thanks!

Thanks Bob - that is what I was thinking and so I was hesitating.

Sorry - another question: Are the connecting staterooms fairly sound proof? I have an option to get one (in a better position on the ship) but would not like to spend 22 days listening to a baby cry or a person snore :)

I am looking at cabin 7330. Any advice?

Looking forward to reading your review. Thanks

Thanks for the responses. I think at the price of a can of soda it will be worth while purchasing the package.

We are going on the 22 days Seattle to Sydney sailing and as I only drink water and 1 or 2 soda's a day I was trying to clarification on :

1. What is the cost of an individual soda? I really don't think it would be as much as the daily soda package rate, but then again it could be!

2. Can I take my own water bottle on board and just refill with water for free, or do you have to purchase water?

Thanks for any insights!

We are doing the 22 days transpacific cruise in October, and I am a little nervous about "rocking & rolling" across the ocean and getting sea sick.

New balcony cabins have opened up - we are currently booked in cabin 7380 which is right at the back of the ship.

Cabins on the "hump" are now available as well as some closer to the elevators.

I think I remember reading something about the "hump" cabins, but I cannot find it now - Can anyone advise if these are "better" than the other cabins?

Many thanks!

We are booked for a Trans-Pacific in October. Previously I have only ever cruised the Caribbean, so am a little apprehensive of an "ocean" cruise. Reading over several reviews, people often state "rocking & rolling today"...... but I can't find any video of how much "rocking & rolling" that is :( Most people tend to post video that doesn't show the movement.... can anyone point me to video of Pacific cruises where the ship was "rocking & rolling" (and I don't need the "Top 10 worst cruise ship videos" - I know (hope) it will never get that bad!!)

Many thanks in advance

Thanks for taking us on the cruise with you .

I have come to realize, as a new member, that there are some very, very serious Cruise Critic members! I have had a good chuckle at their posts in response to you opening statement! Enjoy your cruise!

United should have purchased tickets for their employees on another airline that was flying to Louisville :-)

I am sure glad that I am not the one doing all the planning & positioning! Sounds like a nightmare!!

Thank you for your quick response! *Sigh. It was the perfect itinerary! Now the search is on for one on the other cruise lines you mentioned.

I have a dilemma! I have paid a deposit for an October 2017 cruise with Royal Caribbean (Seattle to Sydney) that is a dream, BUT then I noticed the NCL cruise on 03/27/2017 from Dubai to Venice.

Sadly, we can't make next week's cruise but I would trade the Trans Pacific to the Dubai / Venice cruise in a heartbeat.

So my question is - when will NCL bring out their 2018 cruises? I have until 06/14 before I lose my deposit on the Royal Caribbean cruise and would love to see the NCL cruise come up before then so that I can make the switch.

Any ideas if a) NCL will do the same cruise in 2018 and b) when will it show on their schedules?

Thanks!

Many thanks! I have been able to change to Deck 7. Happy again!

I have read that balcony's on Deck 6 have metal and not glass. Is this still true after the recent remodel? We are booked for the October 6th sailing from Seattle to Sydney Australia and I don't want a metal one! Thank!