Ret MP

The fact that it's back makes my wife and me happy campers. Thanks for the responses, everyone.

Then go to bed 5 minutes after that magical wake-up time and sleep for the next ~24 hours. LOL

Best way to keep the kiddos out. Far too many parents would take their kids there if earlier, some still do anyway.

Is it still a thing? I love that show or whatever the hell it is. I laugh and laugh almost the entire time I attend it. I hope it is still going on and not tamed down at all.

It's a Cherry Picker for humans! Edited in: I should have said, "It's a Cherry Picker for Cruisers". I think all Cherry Pickers are for humans. LOL

I know that and I figured that that was a given! I didn't mention any brand or any subordinate brands. However, Royal has venues that X doesn't have and vice versa, I just happen to appreciate many of the venues that Royal has and the perks that make them even more attractive. I'm sure that if I had started with X, I'd probably be just as loyal to them for many of the same reasons. I was, for many years, loyal to Rustbucket Cruise lines until they weren't loyal to me but, when I was loyal to Rustbucket I never cruised on any of their subordinate brands, either.

I always try to stay loyal to one brand. Not for what most would think. I like to take advantage of the rewards/points/perks that being loyal offers. This is my way of operating and doesn't have to be anybody else's way to look at it, just mine. We all have our own desires, ways of doing things, expectations, justifications, and reasons. Loyal to BP - 15 cents a gallon off, just as one example. Spread loyalty around and it takes longer to get to the desired goal. YMMV

Got ours yesterday. Yeah!

LOL, that's amazing. That really looks like me but I'm much better looking!

My youngest daughter's, grandson's, and my favorite Canadian thing is Ketchup Chips (although now available in the U.S.) and we all love Peameal Bacon (not available in the U.S., yet). .

I don't stay in Miami when I cruise from Miami for many reasons. But, I would imagine that most, if not all, hotels that don't actually provide a shuttle have numbers to 3rd party shuttle services that will come to the hotel and take you to the port. I'd call many hotels in the port area and see what they offer for parking and shuttle. We usually stay in Ft. Lauderdale, Dania Beach, or Davie and drive to the port and park next to the terminal.

There is "officially" a corkage fee of $15.00. The real question is do they enforce or collect it? From what I've read in this social media site and others is that it isn't enforced or collected. But, that doesn't mean that there isn't one and it is a good thing to be forewarned that there is one as RCCL can enforce it at any time as they see fit.

Whoop Whoop! BTW: I did not request "EXPEDITED" service.

I love kids and dogs, I don't blame them for anything. It's parents that I sometimes want to slap, put in timeout, and sent to their room/cage.

Sorry this took so long, I had a hard time finding the email to/from them. But, it was Seattle Shuttle. Seattleshuttle.net ^^That's the service that left us high and dry. The one that was great, I don't have any idea who it was.

I'd like them to stop the Nickel and Dime crap and reductions in service. Seems that the once-included things are vanishing and there is an upcharge for far too many things. Just a couple of examples: Room Service used to be free/no extra charge Twice-a-day cabin service Yes, there used to be trays in the WJ And many many more things. I haven't left RCCL, but I think they are approaching the point where I won't be able to afford to cruise anymore, at least as often, and in the category I prefer. Cruising seems to be moving away from the luxury vacation (regardless of category) it once was and getting closer and closer to the Sardine Can they want to make the ships, all in the interest of larger and larger margins. I'm a capitalist, for sure, and I don't begrudge them a profit, but I do have MY limits and my limits are reaching the point of that "straw that broke the camel's back", unfortunately.

TODAY:

Nice, eh!

I, for one, have been struggling with the choice of a cruise or an AI, for years. I haven't pulled the trigger and gone to an AI, yet. For me, it's all about flying! I hate to fly for several reasons! I have always driven to my cruise ports (except one) and like it that way. To go to an AI, I'd HAVE to fly. So, to fly or not to fly, that is the question, for me. And it's an easy answer. My opinion/reasons have nothing to do with economics or entertainment, as you can tell. The only way I'd do an AI is if my whole family or any majority portion thereof decided they wanted to do a get-together at an AI. I'd do anything for the family, even fly. My family includes my Army buddy and his veteran wife whom we usually cruise with. We all have different reasons and opinions about doing an AI or not, the above is mine, it doesn't have to be anyone else's.

As I understand it, each individual, after they qualify for the C&A, gets their own C&A membership/society number. With that, they establish their own RCCL online account with login and password and go into the C&A section of the RCCL site. There they can see their points. That's what I did for my wife and we see all of her stuff in there. This was all done years ago and things may have changed, I don't know. But, I do know that we see here C&A stuff to include points, now. To be transparent, we have cruised the exact same cruises and categories, so it's not like we would have separate point values.

I will echo the opinion to stay near the airport. However, and I'm sorry to say that I don't remember the name of the shuttle service, the shuttle service that we contacted, booked, and confirmed as late as the night before the cruise, never showed up. I called when the shuttle was supposed to be there and they said the driver called in sick and they were working on getting a replacement driver. Needless to say, I was pissed. The Concierge at the hotel (Crown Plaza (Okay hotel, nothing special)) called a Limo Company, and a big and beautiful black Suburban showed up about 5 minutes later, the driver was in a traditional "Chauffer" uniform, opened doors for the ladies, loaded the baggage, drove to the port directly (no other stops), offered bottled water, and we got to the pier at or before the time that we guessed we would be there with the original shuttle service. It only cost us about $20.00 more than the Shuttle would have and a much better experience.

Okay, last word, I am actually on vacation right now and just stopped in for a minute to see what is happening. I don't have the desire to put up with any pettiness. So, when something is a "MERE SUGGESTION" it means that the person has the option to follow the suggestion or do his/her own thing. THEN it is up to the authoritative entity that suggests to determine if the alternative action is appropriate or not, not mine or yours. See ya in a week!

Seems like that's all you are doing!

I don't care what you do, period!