Ret MP

I'd be willing to bet, again, that a 3rd party contracted forecasting company (something like Weatherbug or many others) can provide much more resources to the cruise industry than a person in Corp., HQ with a laptop <(that is obviously an understatement) can provide and provide it cheaper than the in-house guy plus his/her benefits and retirement. It is my opinion that a cruise company's in-house weather forecaster is whitewash/a false sense of security anyway. I've never got on a cruise ship and said to myself, "Boy O Boy, I'm glad Jim Van Fleet is in his office, back in Miami, checking the weather and keeping us safe". JMHO

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bedbugs/symptoms-causes/syc-20370001

Is a corporate/in-house weatherman really necessary? Can the position be outsourced to a 3rd party at huge savings? I bet "Weatherbug", et al, can provide everything RCCL et al, needs to safely operate in international waters, weatherwise.

As a kid growing up in South Florida and a "Free Range" kid, on the weekends, lunch was what we found in the fields (unwashed tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage, whatever) and Coconuts that we spent a long time cracking open by crashing them on rocks. Drinks were often the Coconut milk, or water out of a hose, a hose from a home that nobody was home or a hose from a well. I've never been hospitalized for ILLNESS/SICKNESS. We won't discuss Ortho, though.

One more thing to consider. Sometimes your checked luggage doesn't show up for hours after your cabin is available. So, even if they do subject your carry-on to additional screening (and how long does that take?), you'd have them in the cabin when you first enter and you can then start setting up the room the way you want it. Or, you can wait for them to show up. JMHO

That's not been my experience. Not that that wasn't yours. I've had a dozen hooks in one of my carry-ons and a Drone with 5 batteries in another. The Hooks and batteries were not an issue in the terminal or at TSA, they never even looked at them. The only one issue was the Drone in the terminal at Seattle. One not-so-smart checker told me that Drones weren't allowed on the ship. Wrong, but that is a whole other story. I've got great aerial photography of the Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls.

Yep, the squeaky wheels get the grease, or the "snowflakes" get to ruin most things good, helpful, and/or humorous, et al. I've always had fun with the Washy Washy folks. They are more than willing to keep it on the "light side". I don't remember what cruise we took but the Washy Washy person played a guitar, it was entertaining and fun. I sure hope they haven't done away with it, it was fun for our usual party, and my wife always gave him/her a big hug, if they seemed approachable, which hasn't been a problem, yet. However, I'd bet that the crew didn't like that assignment much.

Sounds very reasonable to me. Good luck and have a great cruise.

Mailed mine out on ~May 2. Both my wife's and my application, photos, and one check for both applications were in the same Manila Envelope. The passport office in Philidelphia received the envelope on May 4th, the check was posted in my bank account on May 9th. My current status on the Department of State's site is: Application Status: In Process "The U.S. Department of State has received your application for your passport book on 05/09/2023. We're now reviewing your application and supporting documents. You requested routine service when you applied. Routine service can take 10-13 weeks. Our processing times begin the day we receive your application at a passport agency or center, not the day you mail your application or apply at a local acceptance facility". And so the "Hurry-up and Wait" game is in gear.

But some folks in here, and I honestly don't know for sure if it's factual or not, say that on turn-around days, the stewards get help. So, if so, the time in the cabin increases. I know that on most (I say most because I can't remember every cruise I've been on and the specifics) the cabin steward has an assistant. Also, for general consumption: On our Alaska cruise on the Ovation in May, last year, the hallway handrails seemed a little wet and sticky, often, but at least every day, and smelled like a disinfectant of some kind. It was gross to touch.

..........in your tummy tummy

Don't get me wrong, I'm not doubting the OP's experience and I'm not casting any doubts about the intent of the post. HOWEVER, I wonder if people, not necessarily the OP, go into their other social media venues and post every time they find something like a hair in their pea-soup, or spaghetti, or a gnat in their queso and chips while on the outdoor patio of their favorite Mexican Restaurant? Or is it just the RCCL C.C. site that this appears on? Do I want to find other people's hair in my shower? Hell NO! But, I'd get it fixed on the ship, period.

I did think, while I was typing that, I vaguely remember a thread that discussed it. So, I answered it in that way just in case someone else took it seriously.

As stated, you and your Genie will communicate when you meet at the Baggage Drop-Off area/the Star-Banner (#6 in the picture shown above). Chances are the Genie will be too busy to babysit/watch anybody's kids and that's not their job. I have heard of a Genie taking a kid or two to a slide or something like that, but I'd bet it wasn't on embarkation day, they have a lot going on that day. AND yes, there is a separate suite and Pinnacle lounge and check-in area in the terminal. There are no bars in the terminal to go and get a drink at. The suite and Pinnacle lounge in the terminal have water and maybe sodas, and some bakery items. The Genie will take you and your entire suite party to the suite(s) when the ship is ready to board, if your suite(s) are not ready he/she will take you to the Coastal Kitchen where there is a bar. If you communicate to your Genie, pre-cruise, that you want X brand(s) of beer and/or just about any other non-alcohol drinks in your suite, it will be there if the brand(s) are available.

By the way, when I go to that terminal, I will do a video of the Suite/Pinnacle drop-off area and post it on Youtube, unless someone beats me to it. We just made our parking reservation yesterday for the covered premium lot. If you want to park in that lot, I'd get it done as space will probably go quickly. https://www.portofgalveston.com/91/Cruise-Parking--General-Information

Can't help you with that one. I can only say that on my last Star Cruise, on the Ovation, our Genie had 3 suites. Not sure if it is actually done by suites or the # of people within all suites and they try to even it out as best as they can.

Hope this helps!

Yes

Labadee, no question. Why? Crowds. That's it, for me, no other reason. I'm not a people person other than I like to people-watch. It doesn't have to be really crowded to people-watch. Having said that, I'd just as soon be on a sea day rather than an exclusive location/beach.

I can't say for sure about RCCL but when I used to cruise on Rustbucket Cruise Lines, the servers in the specialty restaurants worked in the Buffet also. I always found it weird when I saw them in the Buffet cleaning tables or passing cake over the class divide. So, the WJ, if handled the same as RBCL's buffet crew, does make a portion of its total income from gratuities, just not from the WJ, full-time. Also, and this isn't gratuity related, I have talked to a crew member that I've seen working at a different venue that said there is a voluntary list of functions/jobs that crew can volunteer to work at to earn extra $$ when not working at their usual job. In this case, the guy said that he worked behind the stage during shows moving props around. He didn't say how much money he made doing that. But, his other position wasn't a tip-producing job.

Yes, it's always a weak stance to take if done individually, no doubt. It takes a mass movement and something to spark that mass movement. I know of a beer company that is experiencing it right now. I do not shop in a particular department store 🎯. It makes me feel good and I sleep at night because I do. Does that mean I'M making a difference, not necessarily? But, who knows? BTW: I'm still loyal to Royal!

Either that or let our feet/wallets be the influencers/regulators.

100% right-on!!!!