RobInMN

Welcome! Answers: No No (but at one point I believe South Hampton was mentioned, but even then unclear if just an inaugural season or it's initial designated home port) Yes (but not me, so I can't answer #4, but looks like it might be). Here is the Icon discussion thread: and if you are interested in the next Oasis class ship (Utopia), that discussion is here:

That's so awesome! We just did the 12 night Arctic Circle B2B with the 12 night Iceland & Ireland from Jun 20 to July 14. Norway was absolutely stunning! Anyway, I would also be available for specific questions. My favorite space on the ship was the Schooner lounge. One of the nicest on ships I've been on. Big trivia fan.

Why? not exactly sure, but basically every class of ship up until the the Quantum class had a "helipad" on the bow. I put that in quotes because if you search the forum, you'll find more than one conversation about whether or not a helicopter could actually land. I think the accepted answer is 'no', and so, at most, it is the designated helicopter evac location if anyone needed to be emergency evacuated from the ship. A number of people have said that they have witnessed just that. That said, it still doesn't answer the question as to why they have it. No body else does it? And you don't actually need a designated space like that to do a helicopter evac (just watch Deadliest Catch). Looks kind of cool though, and it does make for a great space for people to watch the scenery with a greater than 270 degree view in places like Alaska and Norway (fjords, glaciers, etc.). On Quantum class ships, I think the bow space on all of them is designed a crew-only outdoor area, which is a really nice feature for them.

Technically true. On newer ships, and many refurbished ones, there's no venue called the Viking Crown Lounge, they have other names & uses (like Costal Kitchen or part being the Diamond Lounge). However the physical "crown" space/shape is still there. And I think that's the point. It's such an iconic part of what makes a Royal Caribbean ship a Royal Caribbean ship. Regardless of how otherwise impressive any new ship is, if it doesn't have it, it will be somewhat sad.

Assuming you both live at the same address, he will also be considered Dimond. That said, unless you get another point somewhere before December, neither of you will be Diamond until after your December cruise. Benefits: https://www.royalcaribbean.com/content/dam/royal/resources/pdf/crown-and-anchor-society-benefit-grid.pdf Depending on how much you drink, becoming Diamond can mean that you no longer need the drink package, or at the very least can drop it to the non-alcoholic refreshment package as you get 4 drinks up to $13 every day. That can be a significant savings on a 7 night cruise.

Along with (or more specific to?) what @beardedladies said, I've seen posted on this site that muster stations can also have a lot to do with that. They don't re-allocate cabins to muster stations based on occupancy. All rooms are permanently assigned to a specific muster station and if that muster station has reached it's allotted quota by the number of "extra" people already booked in other cabins, then it will block all other cabins in the same muster station block from adding additional people. If you are looking for a cabin that there are lots of all over the ship, you may be locked out of booking 3 in some areas, but not others. But when you are looking at Star suites, there are so few and they are consolidated in specific areas, so while you may be able to book 3 or even 4 in other areas of the ship in other cabin classes, that specific Star class has no more muster station space to allow for a 3rd person. Also note, that I am pretty sure I've read that when calculating the muster station counts, that all rooms designated to it are counted at double occupancy whether occupied by 2, 1, or not booked, then any extra people added on top of that. The only exception would be the few single rooms on some ships, those would be allocated 1 space, booked or not. What this means is that if there is a solo traveler booked in a double occupancy room in a muster station group, that does not mean that there is an extra space for another room in the same block to have another extra person. Their room is still allocated 2 spaces at the muster station.

What @Tatka said. But a strategy that has been talked about for unused vouchers, is that at the end of the night stop by a bar and ask for as many unopened water/pop/beer that you have vouchers left for. Put them in your fridge and drink them another day.

I believe that is incorrect. Following these forums, it has been stated many times previously that if you Royal Up to a suite, you get every suite benefit that suite offers other than double points (if upgrading from a non-suite). You only get your points from what you initially booked. That means that if Royal Up to Star Class suites, that does include the DBP.

When we turned Platinum and Emerald, they were in our room on Embarkation day on the next cruise. On our Feb cruise, we turned Diamond, but no pin. Just went to the LA and he gave us our pins. Turned Diamond Plus on the second leg of a 24 night total B2B (in a JS). We'll see if the D+ pin is in our cabin on Embarkation, but if not, we'll just find the LA. Thanks @Brandis & @Tlbecker1, I was curious also.

If the 4 drinks per day means that you can avoid purchasing the DBP, it wouldn't take much to make it worth it right there. Especially for 2 people.

Yes. If you attempt to put it in your checked luggage, it will be delayed or end up in the naughty room. Beverages you bring on board must be carried on. https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/food-drink-onboard-policy

Tiles will not. They won't even show a direction, just a proximity.

I am not a regular cigar smoker (like maybe 1 every 5 years or more), but when I think of DR, I think cigars. As such, a cigar factory tour would be at the top of my list.

I've only used them the 1 trip so far. So that's just using the bluetooth range (claims 400ft). But if I understand correctly, I can use the "Notify when found" to find if it's in range of other Tile users if it's not near me. Hope I won't have to use that. Tile's user network is no where near as large as Apple's.

I've always wondered why it's even there in the first place. It sort of implies that they will treat your luggage differently depending on CA status. Do they get P & D+ to the rooms faster than gold? DO they stack them on the top of the luggage cart instead of the bottom?🤣

I have an Android and purchased Tile Pro's for our luggage. On the flight over, I was able to detect our luggage as being in range from my airplane seat, so I knew they were on board. On the flight back, I was not, but at some point, after using the restroom mid flight, I did see that I did finally get a ping from them, yea! In the baggage claim, they were only good for knowing that they were coming very, very soon (like already on the belt).

Right. Just linking to the documentation about the World Cruise specifically since it was previously mentioned. You are correct that this applies only to the World Cruise and does not necessarily apply to the OP's situation. However, there is one valid point, and that is that even on the World Cruise, it is limited to those ports/countries where it is allowed. That would be globally applicable statement.

I updated my original post while @John&LaLa and @Ourusualbeach were both responding. I was not fast enough. 🙂

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/on-the-ultimate-world-cruise-can-a-guest-debark-and-rejoin-at-a-different-port and https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/if-need-to-stay-longer-in-port-will-i-be-able-to-return-to-my-ultimate-world-cruise Plus, I would assume that the safari would be multi-night and not not debark and re-embark at the same port https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/will-you-offer-an-african-safari-shore-excursion-for-the-ultimate-world-cruise

The problem with that is that on Radiance class ships, almost every suite is on deck 10. And with that, every suite on deck 10 is either under WJ, another restaurant or the pool deck. Under the spa appears to be all regular balconies. The exception is that there is 1 2BR Grand Suite on 7, 8, & 9 (as well as 10). Honestly, in 24 days (again, same room, but on Jewel), we never had any issue sleeping.

Embarkation. I think we had 4 total. 1 we actually brought with us from the states, the other 3 were purchased in Amsterdam. Took them aboard in Amsterdam. Not all were empty either. Used the cans to refill them. Took them off & back on in every port.

Congrats!!

copy-n-paste from a different thread: Just completed a B2B on Jewel in Amsterdam (first B2B). The process for that port/ship was even easier than I've seen described on this forum. No getting off the ship, no meeting in a lounge waiting for a customs officer. No passport check (all though, they did say to have it with us). Our letter said to be at the theater by 8:45 (no time window), so I was mentally prepared for either case. I was very surprised when all they did was hand us new SeaPass cards and a transfer card (in case we wanted to get off the ship). We then went to a security officer about 5 feet away who scanned us out of the first cruise with our old card and onto the second cruise with our new card. They handed us our cards back, and then we were told we can leave and hang out in any public area. Just to please not go in the cabin halls until the general announcement. And then the lunch anytime between 11:30 & 12:30 (but you could always do WJ if you wanted). I think they said there was about 160 of us.

We just spent 24 days in 1092 on Jewel. Yes, there was noise from Windjammer at times, but it honestly did not bother us at all and it never kept us from sleeping. The bigger annoyance was actually the large overhang from the seating bump out when we were trying to take pictures of the beautiful fjords! 🤣 On Jewel, it was under this: On Radiance, this location is listed as Izumi?

I think this depends on the ship. Some ships (like when we were on Odyssey in Feb), will just refer you to Royal Up. They even have business cards printed with the info and won't discuss it with you. I haven't kept track of wat's been reported on what ships, but my guess is that the newer the ship, the better the chances that it's Royal Up only. That you'll have a better chance at having GS controlled upgrades on older ships. Again, just a guess. But congrats!!