Mick B

Hi, I can only suggest trying to locate the plans for the ship you are planning to sail on and take a good look at what is close by, both above, below and at the sides. If its just music and/or machinery noises then... Try to avoid being above or below venues that have late night music/entertainment. Try to avoid being below the pool/hot tub area due to mechanic noise. Try to avoid being below the MDR as they sometimes move tables around earlyish. Try to avoid being close the the theatre as they sometimes rehearse shows at funny hours. If its people then... Try to avoid being too close to the lifts/elevators as people sometimes make a lot of noise waiting for them/coming out of them when they have had a few drinks etc. Try to avoid being below the running track as some people like a 5am jog. Try to avoid cabins with doors into the adjacent cabins as these are designed for families to be close by, but they do let a good deal of noise in. Strange thing is that some of the above categories of cabin are the ones you may win on a Royal Up, and you may have been better (and quieter where you were!). If you are not quick then there may not be a lot left to choose from as you may find the best ones gone quick as lots of people, like me, make sure we get a cabin in the best possible location on a particular ship regardless of whether its an Interior, Balcony or Suite. I am sure we all want a pleasant cruise. I know many don't get one as I have heard the complaints as I walk past the long queue at Guest Services! My top tip if you do get a bad cabin and can't swap is to get up early, (easy if you are woken by the ship or people on it), enjoy each day to the full, stay up as late as you possibly can (go to the late show etc) and then hopefully when you do get to bed you will fall quickly asleep and then rinse and repeat the above for each day! Mick.

Hi, It's a bit of a mixed bag since the restart. Fortunately, I have not had any cold food or had to complain, but I do miss some of the old favourites. My wife and I choose My Time Dinning and request a table for 2. We try and get a table for around 1845-1900ish and know we won't make the first show, so don't bother trying as there is normally one at 10pm. We don't bother with speciality as we have done them all and find there is still plenty to choose from one the new menus. I can eat just about anything, my wife used to, but has had major ops so now has to be careful, but has not had any issues - she has had to have the NY Strip Steak twice in a row a few times, but that has not caused any issues. As for the waiters, we have not had any issues. One tip I have found is that if the staff are say Spanish, then speaking a little of their own language goes a long way to a pleasant cruise. The worst things during dinner used to be photographers constantly interupting the meal and in some cases staff from Chops grill trying to sell 1/2 price meals. There is a trade off here, and that is for the cruise fare to remain within reach of most of us, cutbacks to staff (whether in housekeeping or dinning) were an option for the cruise line, which now under control of the ex accountant, would result in liberties (excuse the pun) being taken. Of course, there could be another reason. May be they want you to book the speciality restaurants or buy a dinning package and anyone who has the money and isn't happy with the service in the MDR will probably go that route. Food is subjective, but I can tell you this, I have enjoyed all the food on all the ships (with the exception of one cruise on the Anthem in 2019 where one of the MDRs food resulted in a complaint), and although the food in the speciality restaurants is nice, we didn't think it was that much better than the MDR and wasn't worth the extra cash. Furthermore, as D+ we get a BOGOF offer on the first 2 days of a Chops Grill lunch, but my wife says for what it is it's a waste of money and would rather go to the Windjammer! Did the TA this year of the Jewel back in April for 15 nights and I can tell you that the food and service on that ship was up to the same standard as before the pandemic. May be it is a ship thing, depending on the chef and staff. I have 12 nights on the Indy next May from the UK and I will let you all know what I think of that. Not been back on the Indy since 2019 so we will see. Mick.

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Hi all, I would just like to this. I think the new way of doing the muster drill (thanks to the pandemic changing things) is a much better way. Firstly, you can watch the video presentation either on your device before you board or once on board, or if you do not have a device or do not want to use it, then you can watch it in your stateroom (which is normally open around 1pm-2pm) giving you time to watch it before the normal 4pm deadline. The big issue I had with gathering at your muster station was that some people (mainly those who had cruised before) were not interested in what was being said by the staff and talked so loud over them that anyone that was interested and concerned could not hear very well, if at all, making the whole process pointless. So watching somewhere quiet on your device or in your stateroom - provided you have time is a very good idea. Secondly, I am have mentioned this before elsewhere, but I will mention it again. To me, the most important thing is not just knowing where your muster station is, but how to get to it from your stateroom. Obviously, during the day you may probably be at lunch, at a show or out on deck somewhere, but at night you will probably be in your bed. In fact you may be there from 11pm until 7am meaning you will be in your stateroom 33% of each day, so there is a reasonable chance something may occur doing that time. It may also be very dark and you may be not be at your best. So my advice, and its just advice and I am not telling anyone what to do, but I would do the following... Try to get on board asap and go to the Windjammer for some lunch until the rooms are ready. If I have not done the video then either watch it on my device either during lunch (via free internet) or wait until the cabin is open and then go and do it there or watch the video on the TV. Now from there, make my way to my muster station using the best route available, now I know during an emergency other routes may be opened up, but at least I would have some idea straight away of how to get to where I am supposed to be. I am led to believe that in a real emergency, if I cannot get to my muster station or if there is an issue with my life boat, then there is usually enough spare space to fit into another. I would normally be on board 1130-1200, have had lunch, done my muster drill and be sat on top deck by 1430 having my first drink of the day. Then from around 1500-1600 have the please of listening to the announcements over the speakers telling people to go to their muster station or else... Surely this way is much better than having to stop what you are doing at 1530 and lose an hour waiting in line for a speech you can hardly hear anyway. Mick.

Hi, unless its changed, there is the bus number 90. I caught this bus to the port in May 2023. I flew down to Bologna (as I had been to Venice many many times, so didn't want to have a longish journey to the day of the cruise as there could be strikes or weather issues) and stayed overnight in a hotel near the train station. Then on cruise day, I caught a train from Bologna to Ravenna which took about an hour as it was a slowish train, but had plenty space for cases. Then coming straight out of the train station at Ravenna, I went to the bus office and purchased 2 3 euro tickets for the number 90 bus which had a stop just round the corner about 50 yards and I did ask if I needed to pay more for the 2 cases, but they said I would be alright. The bus took about 30 minutes to get to the town where the ship was docked. You cannot see the ship beforehand, but the bus does a kind of loop around the town near the ship and there are at least 3 stops you can get off at, one opposite the slip road that leads to the ship which is about 500 yards away. There is a small luggage rack on the bus, so they do expect travellers with cases as I believe there are some hotels in the area just north of the town. The walk (with cases) to the ship takes about 10 minutes and there is no shelter from the elements. You start on a road but there is a path at the side later on. It's not the best port location to get to, but its also not the worst. We got an 1130 check-in and were there at 1130. There 90 bus did have some bigger gaps in its times later in the day. I would imagine if you were early enough, then you would be able to get a taxi too. There aren't many, but if you are there before it gets busy and if there are 4 of you with loads of luggage then this may become a better option. You will have to google the latest bus times, but IIRC on the cruise day, RCI offered shuttles from Bologna train station to the ship. You will have to do the maths and see what they cost against the cost of a train to Ravenna and the local bus or taxi fares. Hope this helps. BTW. Sometimes, the Italians have strikes that affect certain trains, so it may be worth checking nearer the time to make sure your train is running. I believe you can get a refund if the train is cancelled and then just jump on a RCI shuttle as they said last year that the price is put on your account on board. Mick.

Hi, The 12 night cruise we are on is the first cruise after her TA. In fact I believe this is the only 12 night cruise during her stay in the UK in 2025. I was tempted to book the 15 night TA, but I have just done a very similar cruise this year on the Jewel and did not want to do the shorter 4 or 5 night cruises as they are too short or go back to the same ports and did not want to risk a B2B where I had to swap cabins, so the Canaries cruise was the only choice as we also wanted to avoid flying and staying in hotels before and after due to the increasing high price of travel to and from the ship which in some cases can equal the same cost as the cruise itself and I would rather use that money to have another cruise instead. We will have a few sea days both ends of this cruise and it may get rough and when it does I normally find the promenade deck the best place to be as it is fairly central and during sea days all the shops are open. Another nice thing about the Indy, for those who are Diamond and above is the fact that the Crown Lounge is up on deck 14 and not only has spectacular views, but also has a outside area at the back which is great during the day to sneak in some food and drink and have a private party! Also, the Indy has the Ice rink which not only provides great Ice shows, but also at certain times, weather permitting, you can have a go yourself. I have a couple of times and if I do next cruise then you know who I am as I will be the one who has skidded off and over the rails! Also, the best place is the schooner bar. Great for quizzes. I will be there for the 60s and 70s quiz as they are the only ones I am any good at. Here is a top tip for anyone wanting a drink in there when it is packed. Don't que at the bar, don't call a waiter - instead, if it is open, go to the bar in the Casino as its only 50 feet away and if you are clever in your approach, the barstaff may think you are a playing the slots and give you an extra bit in your glass! Also, a odd one this, but, On the Anthem and the Jewel my best bar is Vintages. However, this is not so for us on the Indy, instead, our best bar is the Champagne bar which is small but really great! Lastly, IIRC, the solarium pool has the walk down steps and not the ladder type entrance, which is another reason why we love this ship as my wife is not too good on her feet. BTW I have now been able to book My Time Dinner on the app. The first available slot is 1930 and I have been able to book this time for every night. Used to be 1845 and you could turn up around 1815-1830 and get a table most nights if you weren't demanding. It will be interesting to see how this plays out as on my most recent cruise on the Jewel's TA this year there were some very unhappy people who had not booked and were turned away at 1845. In the past we have been to the MTD desk upon boarding and asked for a table for 2 anywhere but with the same waiters so we can tip them at the end of the cruise. They have told us that 1845 is the time, but we can arrive earlier and if an empty table is available due to guests not showing then we may be in luck. Does anyone know what the current situation with MTD is on the Indy? Mick.

I have 12 nights booked on the Indy next May from Southampton. managed to get a promenade interior on 6th floor for good price - booked it day 1. Not been on the Indy since 2019 as she has not been in our neck of the woods (the Anthem has been here instead). She was the first ship I went on back in 2008 when she was the newest and biggest ship in the world. I have been back on her in 2013 and 2016 too (both times from Southampton to the Canaries) and the only thing I noticed different in 2019 after her 2018 refit was a sportsbar, the renamed theatre and the golf course moving from one end of the ship to the other. Sadly, it looks like she may only be in our neck of the woods for 2025 as looking on the internet at caribbean ports in 2026 she seems to be there a lot. Word as it the her older sister ship the Liberty may take over for 2026. I haven't been on her since 2014 so can't say what state she is in. However, the Indy was my first ship, and in fact she is still the ship I have spent most days/nights on. Looking forward to watching Grease again and she also has a skating rink (something Quantum class ships sadly do not). The only downside to the Indy can be the weather. She does not have much cover up top if the weather turns bad and just about all her 2025 itinerary goes with into the north sea or the bay of biscay which can be both rough and wet. On the plus side, she does have a really nice royal promenade with plenty bars! Hope you and your family enjoy your holiday and the ship - she is amazing! Mick.

Hi, Sorry, I did not say Indy was a small ship, I said she was now one of the smaller ships in the fleet. I believe just a couple of years ago she was still in the top 10 biggest ships (competing with her 2 Freedom class sister ships due to refits and extra tonnage), but now not only is she not in the top 10 biggest, she is not even in the top 30, nor is she even in RCIs top 10 due to all the newer and bigger ships. Soon, when the Vision Class have gone and newer bigger ships come into play, Indy will be more near the bottom of the list than the top. Size, doesn't really matter here though, luckily, it's about what the ship has to offer and where it can go. Indy still fits into most ports and has a good life still ahead, hopefully. She isn't much bigger than the Voyager Class and I think other than length, its just the cantilevered whirlpools that are the main visual difference. BTW Indy was my first ship I sailed on, I have sailed on many times, in fact, she is the ship I have been on the most and look forward to her returning to the UK next year. I am booked on her first cruise (after her TA) which is 12 nights to the Canaries. Other than a 9 night Northen Spain cruise, I believe she is only doing 4 or 5 night North Sea cruises. Shame RCI isn't doing longer cruises as this ship has so much to offer and more time onboard is needed to enjoy it. Mick.

Hi, It has been over 10 years since I took my kids on a ship and also over 10 years since I took my eldest granddaughter on one. The kids went on the Liberty and the grandkid on the Spendour. Now, both cruises were port intensive and only had 1 sea day so the kids were up and off the ship making the most of all the ports and then came back on board for dinner, a show and then bed. On the sea days they were happy to lounge around the pool area and jump in a hot tub from time to time. And this is the thing... What do your kids want from a cruise holiday and how do they behave when put in a situation where they may have to share things with others or join long queues. It would seem from some of the cruises I have seen advertised that the newest (and therefore biggest) ship that offer more things for kids to do are only going on short breaks to certain ports where they can fit. This means if they want to enjoy the best of the ship when it is quiet then they will have to stay on board during a port day. Imaging travelling from the UK by plane for 10 hours to Miami and then going on a 4 day cruise to Jamaica and not getting off the ship at that port. Now, on the other hand, some of the smaller ships that are based in places like Europe offer less things to do on board, but go to more ports for longer periods, meaning the kids would have less time on board and more time off the ship to enjoy the places the ship is taking them to. Looking at some of the prices too, if your kids are old enough to be able to walk a fair distance then a longer European holiday on a slightly older ship - and there are a few that offer some good things on board for kids such as Voyager Class and Freedom Class, which can also get into many ports that Oasis Class cannot. Now, when it comes to just me and the wife on our own, which is more or less all the time now, then we are simply not too bothered about what the ship has to offer, as we are going for the ports. A few things we do like on board and sometimes miss on some of the older ships is a royal promenade, large schooner bar for quiz, Ice shows, pools with steps down and not ladder, oh, and a Crown Lounge with a view and not hidden in the depths of the ship. I would imagine that RCI will not be building any smaller ships and now that they have changed the loyalty program, I suppose anyone who is high up with C&A may choose to sail on one of the smaller ships that RCIs partners have instead of a bigger RCI one. My next cruise is back on the Indy next May from the UK. Now that is now one of the smaller ships in the fleet but was the biggest ship in the world when I first went on her back in 2008. Soon the ships will bigger than St Kitts! Mick.

Hi, I too was on the Jewel's TA back in April and had MTD booked for 1845 each night. On the first night we arrived at 1830 and was told basically to go away and come back at 1845. We stayed where we were and within minutes there were over 100 other people joining the queue and some of those from the conversations I could hear (as it got loud and heated) did not even have a time booked, which meant that if we had done what we were told and went away at 1830 and came back at 1845 then there would have been over 100 people in front of us in the queue and we would never had gotten in at the time we wanted - which is what My Time Dinning is, our time, not theirs. Throughout the 15 nights we kept the same waiters which we like to do as we only tip at the end (and not nightly) if everything has gone smoothly. We did change tabled a few times, but that didn't bother us. During the wait at 1845 I heard a lot of people shouting and telling the staff that they will go to the Windjammer instead. The staff did not seem too bothered about that. To be fair, a lot of the people I heard arguing had turned up at 1845 but had not arranged a time, so staff were busy trying to sort them a time (which they were not going to like as it was going to be an hour or so), but then whilst dealing with them, the other passengers who had a time, were now stuck in a queue delaying them until after their time. It all got a bit heated and a bit silly too. This is not what going on a holiday is all about. I want to chill and relax and enjoy every moment. As it turns out, some nights the 1730 eaters would go to somewhere like Chops etc freeing up their table for anyone who wants it. Sometimes the free table will be for 2 or 4 or more passengers. Now depending on how many of you there are in your group, and depending on your demands (not wanting to be by the window when there is no table available by the window), then the staff should be able to sort you quickly. It may also be possible that Royal wants rid of MTD altogether, but they want to be careful here. The reason we go for this service is because sometimes when we are on a port intensive cruise, we may not get back from a trip until 4pm. Then we have to wash/shower and get changed for dinner and to be on time at the MDR (to not keep the other guests at the table waiting) then it would be a complete rush or we would be late. Does Royal want us to not want to book their trips? Also we may want to go to a show. Yes I know there are normally 2 showings, but sometimes there may be something else on during one of them that we want to do. So again, we would choose MTD for that reason. Again, does Royal want all passengers to turn up at the theatre at the same time? The simple solution is to revert back to how it was and admit that the new way of doing things whether just a test or not, does not really work and just annoys a lot of hard working people who have worked hard all year and saved up a lot of money for their holiday/vacation. Mick.

WOW! I always used to look forward to Lobster night before the changes and in the past my waiters would be more than happy to bring me a second and a third, which I would except as 1 lobster on its own is not a sufficient meal. My wife, however, is not fused about the Lobster so always ordered something else anyway, Now, since the new rules, I have simply not bothered with the Lobster. This is my choice. Now, back to the issue in hand. Firstly, is 1 Lobster included in everyone's cruise fare? I mean whether you want one or not, are there actually enough on board during a cruise for every passenger to have one? Secondly, If you don't like it, but want to give it to your family members/guests at your table, then are you then entitled to another alternative meal? I can see to a point where Royal is coming from, but if they are going to implement rules, then they need to make sure ALL staff are aware and ALL staff inform ALL guests of these rules. It cannot be fair or right than a waiter at one set of tables is telling people they cannot share a Lobster, if at another set of tables the waiter turns a blind eye and/or even encourages having more. I have not had any issues, but then again I only have My Time Dinning in the MDR and keep the same waiter(s) throughout, so by the time the Lobster night comes around, they have gotten to know us. Not sure from the post above whether the waiter who laid down the rules was their normal waiter or not. It would be interesting to know if anyone else has had this problem and if the waiters were their normal ones. I too get told every cruise by our waiters that we will get a survey after the cruise and they ask us to give them a good score. Then when we get the survey it basically asks if any staff have asked us to give them a good score. Talk about spying on your staff and wanting us to do it for them! As said above, if the waiter wants a tip (or a good score) then I cannot see why he would want to upset the passengers in this way, especially when you look around and see what food is left on plates being taken away afterwards. BTW If Royal really wants to save money on food, then the best way would be to bring back the staff serving the food in the Windjammer like they did just after the restart and stop some people from pilling on sky high portions of food on their plates that will probably just get wasted. Mick.

Hi, Not sure where you are coming from or what day of the week your cruise starts, but if its a saturday then I would suggest driving down friday night (if you cannot get down earlier if working etc) and stay in an hotel near the docks that has parking included and go out and enjoy the nightlife. We always stay the night before just in case there is an accident on the M3 etc as this can cause all sorts of issues with traffic. The drive from an hotel near Southampton central train station for instance will take only minutes if you follow the road round to gate 10 and then park up in one of the car parks near the cruise terminal (someone has already posted the code to get a good price). We would normally aim to board between 1130 and 1200. Enjoy the Anthem, she is lovely ship, and if he is still in Vintages, say hello to Indy and see what wonderful cocktails he can make you! Mick.

Hi, I am currently D+ and have been for some time and will be for even longer. Don't really want to use the internet that much as when I am away on holiday, that is what I am - away! Nice to check in every now and then. More important is the 5 free drinks as this saves on buying a package or paying high prices. The free bottle of wine on day 1 is nice too and so is the free photo and the bag of washing. Unless RCI does away with all the above, I see no reason to switch to another cruise line. Just had 15 days on the Jewel's TA and had some really nice drinks and had the bar tenders find me some nice new drinks too. Cannot fault the loyalty program. A few more cruises and I will be over the 340 points and will get a few more bits and bobs, but I am in no rush to get to P. I just book the cruises on the ships I want to be on going to the places I want to go. Anything and everything RCI gives me whilst on board is muchly welcomed! Mick.

Hi All, Just done the 15 night TA on the Jewel, Did not go to any of the speciality restaurants as I have done them all before and I am happy with what the MDR and WJ offer. I can tell you that the food in the WJ was just as good as before. The MDR food was good. There were a few nights when the menu for that them night was not appealing, but the New York Stripe Steak was offered on those nights and was just as good as always. The only complaint I could spot was that the baked beans in the WJ were not done in tomato sauce as before and were a bit bland. I can tell you that the chips/fries in the WJ were really great and better than before. We also went to the Solarium Bistro some nights for a little late night pizza and that too was just as nice as before. Maybe we were lucky with this cruise as I could not find much of a fault with anything we tried. Sadly, not back on a ship until May 2025 which will be the Indy - let's hope the food on her is as good as before too. BTW, I can tell you that my wife would have said something if there was any sort of issue with the food and she did not. Mick.

Hi, I personally don't bother with it, but that is because I get most of the perks as a D+ member and only travel these days with the wife and I give her my free internet. Done all the restaurants and don't bother with them anymore. Get to leave the ship normally pretty quickly most of the time too. However, it is up to you. If you are a new cruiser and/or want all the perks that come with the key and believe it will enhance your stay on board, then go for it if that's what you want. But, I would suggest doing your sums first as the money may be better spent elsewhere unless you're lucky enough to have loads of it! Mick.

I will be on the Jewel in 2 weeks. Does anyone know who the CD is? And if so, are they any good? I've got 15 nights on her and want a good time. Mick.

Hopefully 14 days until we get on board the Jewel in FLL for her TA back to the UK. Just got to suffer 9hrs 40mins of travel with AA first. Mick.

Hi, I have only cruised on 2 cruise lines and the vast majority are with RCI. Depending on the class of ship, there is something for all ages. BTW You do not need to book the latest biggest ships. Some of the (now) slightly smaller ships like the Indy or Navigator have enough things to do on board to keep all family members entertained. Also, you need to take into account how long you want to cruise for and which ports of call you wish to visit as these factors may also affect the amount of time you have on board to enjoy all the facilities a cruise ship can offer. I think all have a rock climbing wall, multiple swimming pools and gyms. A good selection of ships also have a flo rider, golf course and various slides. A few of the newer ships have the north star and bumper cars, zip lines and sky diving simulators. If you go on RCIs website you can select each class of ship and see exactly what they include. It may depend on what interests all your family members have, but I would imagine there will be both enough on board and also ashore. Don't forget too that RCI have more slides and pools on their private island in the Bahamas - Coco Cay, but some of these cost $$$. Ideal if you are not on a ship already equipped with them. I think you can get some nice cruises out of Cape Liberty that go to places like Bermuda for 5 nights or down to the Caribbean and back for 12 nights. Or you can go out of various ports in Florida if you don't mind it getting busy. Mick.

Hi, It is always nice when you get back von board a ship and some of the staff are familiar to you, such as waiters and bar staff and entertainment staff too, all of which can move from ship to ship, so you never know when you book who will be on your ship. I know some people who booked cruises just because of the CD and then the CD was replaced for whatever reason and they were upset. I would never book for that reason, but each to their own. Anyway, I can name some great CDs in no order, but Clo O'Conner, well she must be up there as one of the best CDs, Eric Lopez is climbing up the ladder too. Bill Brunkhorst was always engaging, and who can forget Graham Seymour who has sadly retired I believe. Gordon Whatman had a great singing voice. There were so many CDs who really made the cruise even greater. Then Covid came and after the restart CDs seemed to keep their distance. Not sure if they were told to in order to avoid isolation, so I cannot comment on recent cruises as it may not be their fault. As stated, if you want to really meat your CD, then you can take part in activities which they may be hosting such as the belly flop, the Quest, Love and marriage, Battle of the sexes. And if you are a C&A member who is invited to a special event, then you may find them there at the door to chat to upon entry. Thats where I normally speak to them and some of them really have a good memory about our past cruises together. Mick.

Hi, One thing I know used to happen, and not sure if it still does, is RCI would invite C&A members to a special event where drinks would be given out. They would leave an invite card in your stateroom to be taken to this event. However, I know some people used to give these cards to their family/friends who sailed with them in order to gain entry. Then if they themselves wanted to enter, they would just show their sea pass cards to staff. Maybe everyone entering an event should be made to swipe their sea pass card into a reader at the entrance and witnessed by staff as they do so. Can't be that hard to set up and implement if RCI wanted to save money on giving perks to people who have not earned them. Ouch! Mick.

Oh, yes, don't forget that unlike the drinks package where the drinks are not sharable, the D, D+ and P drinks are. That means that if you are lucky enough to be travelling with a family member or friend(s) who get the 4, 5 or 6 free drinks per day but either don't drink or don't normally drink all of them each day, then they may choose to share some of their drinks with you. Just a glass of wine in the MDR or a cocktail by the pool each day may be all some need to be happy and if so, no need for a package then. Oh, and another way in the past to get a free drink was to join someone who was on their own in the Quiz and win it for them and then except the free drink they would offer you for making their day. Naughty if they have the drinks package, but perfectly Ok if they want to share one of their D, D+ or P drinks. Mick.

Hi, Yes I find that booking a one-way flight from the UK to the USA or visa-versa comes in at around £450pp. Making it nearly £1000 for the flights. It can actually be cheaper to book a return as they sometimes come in much cheaper, but this only works if we are flying to the USA and then sailing back as you cannot cancel the first flight without cancelling the second. However, we are screwed as we book the flights through our TA and have them add an hotel and turn the whole thing into a package so we have protection against cancelling, as we now live in the era of strikes, illness, war - yes I know we have always had those for a long time, but recently travel has become a casualty of recent events and I don't want to lose out. Anyway back to the Indy in May 2025. Ship: Independence of the Seas Destination: Discover the Caneries (from Southampton) Dates: May 12 - May 24 2025 # of Nights: 12 Cabin Type: Promenade View Interior Total Price (inc. taxes & port charges, inc. pre-paid gratuities): £2887.85 for 2 people Average Price Per Night (per Person - GBP): £120 Other Perks: 5 free (D+) drinks per person per day to the value of $14 = $1680 Free Photo each = $40.00 ish Free wash and fold = $34.00 ish The cheapest option (other than GTY) was Interior. However, it was only around an extra £100 each for the Promenade View room above guest services. This is a really great location for us as it should be quiet and is close to the aft lifts for going up to the decks and the Crown Lounge, plus only a few floors walking down to the MDR and Ice Rink if the lifts are busy. Only the Theatre is the front end and we would normally go there after dinner so would walk from the MDR through the Casino anyway. Oh, and there are 5 sea days including going round the Bay of Biscay twice, which is why I booked the room I did in that location - good luck with Royal trying to tempt me to Royal-Up to a location that might be at the front or back for hundreds of pounds more (lol)! Can't wait to see what 2026 offers - hopefully a TA from NY to Southampton via Bermuda and if the price with the flights and hotels comes near to what I paid for the Jewel's TA then I will jump at it - but I won't hold my breath! Mick.

Ship: Jewel of the Seas Destination: Fort Lauderdale-Southampton TA Dates: Apr 5 - Apr 20, 2024 # of Nights: 15 Cabin Type: Interior Total Price (inc. taxes & port charges, inc. pre-paid gratuities): £1880 for 2 people Average Price Per Night (per Person - GBP): £62 Other Perks: $100 OBC (via Future Cruise) 5 free (D+) drinks per person per day to the value of $14 = $2100 Free Photo each = $40.00 ish Free wash and fold = $34.00 ish Had to purchase train fare from Nottingham to London, a nights stay in London, flights from the UK to Miami and private car travel from MIA to the hotel the night before the cruise, and then another private car ride to the ship. Then after the cruise, transport from Southampton back to Nottingham. When you also factor in restaurants during travelling too, the travelling part comes to almost the same price as the cruise. When you factor that into the holiday, the price per day jumps up to around £100 pppd. I factored this in when I booked the cruise as the D+ free drinks just about cover the travelling fees. If I didn't get the free drinks and had to buy a drinks package to get the same drinks then this cruise would not have happened as it would then have worked out cheaper to go round Europe instead. Whether you just take the cruise fare, or whether you want to factor in the travel costs too, both come to an amazing value for 15 nights o board the ship, or 17 nights in total with the hotels. BTW, I always pre-pay the grats as I come from the UK and like to include everything in the price upfront. Just for comparison, I have a 12 night cruise on the Indy booked for May 2025 from Southampton to the Canaries and back with taxes, port fees and pre-paid grats paid and that comes in at £2880 for the 2 of us. Thats £120 pppd for the cruise only as there are no flights involved and at the moment no hotels or transport booked yet, so you could had another £500 on to that price. Not bad in the scheme of things, but the Jewel is a longer cruise and even with all the extra travel costs added, is still cheaper. Hope that helps. Mick.

Hi, I know, I assume its sold out as I have printed my boarding pass and now luggage tags and other docs from royal. I have also been constantly bombarded with the Royal Up where they offer me the chance to move from the nice quiet cabin I purposely booked for this TA in case of bad weather and sea conditions during the cruise to another cabin which could be in the most worst place possible during a storm and pay a few hundred dollars more for it - I don't think so. I wonder if they expect people to cancel for whatever reason at the last moment to free up those Royal Up rooms? Mick.

Best make sure they enter Love and marriage then, unless they can think of something better to do with their time on board! Mick.