mac_tlc

Didn't attend the comedy shows, but I wholeheartedly agree with Music Hall, Spotlight karaoke and other trivia locations. mac_tlc

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One click away from booking a Junior Suite, didnt actually book it but could have. mac_tlc

All appears well on the Royal TA site. Dates look available and bookable, at least the few I checked. mac_tlc

Ok, so how about this. A third party description of the change to RCCL NRD program as of 6/1/22 that removes the FCC option. it’s not very easy to get a written description of an official policy that no longer exists. Even Royals IT department has successfully removed the old policy from their websites. https://www.cruisehive.com/royal-caribbean-makes-a-policy-change-from-june-1st/73082 mac_tlc

I’m currently on the Amtrak auto train heading to VA, so my typing and searching skills may not be perfect. Here is Celebrity’s NRD policy, which is what Royals used to be before the latest change, apologize if the font is a bit big. It’s clear that a portion of the NRD is given as an FCC in the event of a cancellation before final payment. Non-Refundable Deposit - Policy Full Terms and Conditions Full Terms and Conditions A booking made under the non-refundable deposit cruise fare rate (an “NRD Booking”) requires the payment of a non-refundable deposit at the time of booking. The deposit is not refundable at any time after it has been paid. Payment of full deposit and full name are required for each guest at the time of booking. Deposit made toward Guarantees and Grand Suites and higher categories are non-refundable and subject to NRD Booking terms. If the guest cancels an NRD Booking prior to the final payment due date, the cancellation terms of the cruise ticket contract apply, and Royal Caribbean will issue a future cruise credit in the amount of the deposit paid minus a (*NRD Amount) per person service fee to the guest named on the cancelled NRD Booking (the “FCC”). The FCC is applicable only towards the purchase of a Celebrity cruise and expires 12-months after the issue date (the “Expiration Date”). Any amount remaining after the Expiration Date will be void and forfeited. The FCC is non-transferable, non-refundable, and not redeemable for any other form of compensation, credit, or cash. For NRD Bookings that require a deposit of (*NRD Amount) or less, no FCC or any other compensation or credit of any kind will be issued. Each time the guest changes the ship or sail date of an NRD Booking prior to the final payment due date, payments made towards the NRD Booking will be applied to the balance of the modified booking and a (*NRD Amount) per person service fee will be charged to the modified booking.

I agree with that 😂. But it is a change for the worse for the customer and has been, I think, conveniently timed to appear more like a pandemic-related change, or return to pre-Covid policy. I wish I could find attractive options past FP….. that removes a lot of uncertainty. mac_tlc

No it wasn’t. Only $100 was lost. If you want to see what Royal was like pre-Covid, look at Celebrity’s current policy. You never get the actual cash back from a non-refundable deposit. That doesn’t mean that the prior policy didn’t issue funds (FCC) that had to be reused within a certain timeframe. mac_tlc

I have done it. I cancelled a cruise. was issued an FCC for deposit-$100 per person. Later applied that FCC to a previously booked cruise. The cruise was cancelled before the final payment was due. Once CWC went into effect, they basically waived the $100 fee and the entire deposit was returned as an FCC. Unfortunately, I did this a number of times in 2020-2021. I have even cancelled cruises in late-2022 and early-2023 that were not eligible for CWC, and were treated the same as pre-CWC NRD’s. Lost $100 per person, remainder of deposit returned as FCC. mac_tlc

It has nothing to do with Covid leniency. Pre Covid , if you changed ship or sail date, you incurred a $100 fee and the remainder of your non-refundable deposit was returned as an FCC. That second part is what changed 6/1. CWC went further so you did not incur the $100 fee. This change has been mischaracterized as just going back to pre-Covid . It’s not that. mac_tlc

Not exactly. That's not how it worked for Royal from the time they were introduced to 5/31/2022. And non-refundable doesn't necessarily mean non-reuseable. And Southwest airlines considers their "Wanna Get Away" fares as non-refundable but issued reuseable $$ credits that now have no expiration date. mac_tlc

Not happy with this change either. It will probably impact my willingness to commit to some future options. Until Celebrity changes their policy, we will gravitate to them. mac_tlc

The morning went just as planned. All the bags were out about 6:50, then we headed to Coastal Kitchen. It was not crowded but got more crowded about 7:30ish. Raj met us in the Suite lounge at 8 and we headed down. The facial recognition at PC is great, if all goes well you dont even need to show your passport. In the car at 8:23, a requisite stop at Dunkin' (we New Englanders do miss it after a week), then onto Orlando. Pulled into the driveway at 9:59. Third load of laundry is in and the kids are at Disney Springs!! The eight of us start heading north tomorrow. My son and his wife fly out in the morning. My daughter, her husband and the grandkids start the drive back tomorrow. Wife and I are taking the autotrain north on Tuesday afternoon and will be home Wednesday. Once I load all the pictures to Flikr, I'll post a link for those interested. Also have more info on the internet speed as I tested it at a number of times. mac_tlc

Thank you, Nancy. I enjoy taking others along! Hope you have a wonderful cruise ! mac_tlc

So we have made our last slight turn to the west and are now in a direct line to Port Canaveral. Today was a lazy day with some time spent in our hot tub. Boy, will we miss that next cruise! One more show tonight as the wife and I are going to the Liars Club. This stateroom is pretty indescribable. It is huge so everyone can be together but also has enough privacy for everyone with the four bedrooms. It’s only available on the Harmony and Symphony and the prices are zooming upward, to double what we paid or even more depending on time of year. I don’t know if we will ever be able to do it again but I will try for summer 2024 as soon as the schedule opens. One can only hope! Star class does not have to put the luggage out the night before, rather they are put out in the morning. We will have breakfast at Coastal Kitchen around 7 and be met at 8 by Raj and then we will head off, with a weeks full of memories of an incredible cruise in a fabulous room on a wonderful ship with the whole family ! It can’t be better than that!! mac_tlc

Captains Corner this morning, we all love fun facts😜.

And the remnants of our next to last night:

Here is the sight of our last day😞.

Well, we decided to stay onboard today. Spent some time at the kids water area and in the pool, with plenty of space for all. I don’t anticipate that being the case tomorrow, our last day and a sea day. Half the group is heading to Izumi sushi and the other half to Izumi Hibachi for dinner tonight. We have skipped the headliner shows this week, I wish they would bring back Columbus, the Musical but in talking with our genie it seems to be radio silence on that issue. For those interested, the Escape Room is still lot functioning. Since restart, it has been broken and they seem to be unable to find maintenance folks to fix it since they are never docked anywhere long enough —- they would have to come onboard. Symphony’s did not experience the same issues and is up and running. We are due a Crystal block on this voyage—- time to follow up on that. mac_tlc

Today we in Labadee. The group is undecided as to whether we will get off or not. It’s quite “warm” and we are finding it difficult to just not do this: Although this is pretty : for now, we are headed to the H2O zone with the grandkids…… mac_tlc

I heard this as well — we are on Harmony now. mac_tlc

Thanks! I had to move around a bit to get the right view 😂. mac_tlc

We got off for a couple hours to wander around the port area. And of course, when in Rome: It’s a very nice area with plenty of stores. Picked up a couple of Piranha Joe T- shirts. My wife needs a wheelchair when we leave the ship and it was easy here. Flat and an easy push. mac_tlc

Absolutely would go again. For the four of us they brought out five appetizers, 5 entrees and four desserts. Much of the food itself is “real”, such as Branzino, Halibut, chicken, short ribs, but presented on a different and very flavorful way. It was nice to go somewhere with a little whimsy in the presentation and construction, not just another NY strip, placed on mashed potatoes with carrots and asparagus on the side. I have read reviews where people didn’t like it —— we loved it and would definitely go again. The smoke ring cocktail is amazing😜. mac_tlc

Today we are in Falmouth Jamaica. Plan is to wander around the port area and have a meat pie and a red stripe ! Three of the group have a 12:30 spa appointment—- prices tend to be a little better on port days. Last night we had dinner at Wonderland, our first time there. All four of us that went loved every minute. Great presentation and explanation of each dish. Even the cocktails had a story. As You may have noticed throughout this thread, I don’t do a lot of food pictures, but here I will make an exception. Here are some pictures, but remember, things may not be as they seem !