leaveitallbehind

Sorry if I wasn't clear. I realize that and wasn't suggesting you thought they were the same venues I was only identifying what is located in the Viking Crown Lounge. The VKL is just the name of the venue that houses those separate lounges and bar on that ship.

On Independence, The Viking Crown Lounge is the name of the deck 14 lounge area, in which the Crown Lounge (ex. Diamond Club), Suite Lounge, and Olive or Twist bar are located. In our experience, that area has been named that since our first cruise on Sovereign 32 years ago, and was the same for all RCCL ships that have that venue. The Crown Lounge and Suite Lounge are located in different areas on different ships, however.

To clarify, for non-suite US based bookings, the deposit amount required for a non-refundable deposit fare and a refundable deposit fare are the same. There is no difference in the deposit amount required with each. What is different is the fare base, which is higher on refundable deposit bookings. With a refundable deposit booking you can change, modify, or cancel the booking as needed without penalty. With a NRD booking you can change the booking for a fee, but if you cancel it altogether you will lose your deposit. You can also convert a refundable deposit to NRD if desired prior to final payment without penalty. You cannot convert a NRD to refundable, however.

Just to add, typically when there are price reductions post final payment the disclaimer indicates that they are for new bookings only. This is to avoid any repricing confusion. Obviously with US bookings, favorable price changes can be captured prior to final payment and conversely, you are protected from price increases. (Refundable deposit bookings can do so anytime without penalty, NRD bookings can do so with a fee. You can also move a refundable deposit booking to a NRD booking at no penalty to capture any available savings just prior to final payment).

You mention you are from Norway. To further clarify what @jwlane indicates, at least for US bookings, you cannot combine sales and CC discounts on the same purchase. It is one or the other and in our experience that has always been the case. Perhaps non-US bookings are different.

Then I guess we missed each others points because I wasn't saying it wasn't a good backup plan if one wants to do so, I was just saying it isn't a requirement. But as you say, cheers.

You bringing friends of your kids along is a completely different story. Not only should you have a notarized letter of permission to travel with you but a consent to act on the child's behalf with any medical emergency. We have done that in the past as well and that was what was required of us. But that has nothing do to the the OP's question.

I understand child trafficking and parental abduction concerns, and while I also under understand your situation, it is rather unique. My point being that I am not aware of any cruise line requirement to have a notarized document from the second parent confirming consent for a child of a solo parent who posses the necessary ID and documentation for themselves and that child, to permit that child from traveling on a closed loop cruise with the solo parent. I'm certain that there will always be those reported cases where such a letter will be indicated as coming in handy, but it is not, again to my knowledge, required. Which was the OP's question.

I believe the OP indicated a 6:00 PM international flight with a targeted 3:00 PM airport check in time. Not much time for any comfortable NYC sightseeing plus the concern with luggage. A long time to wait at Newark, although much less stress and hassle than JFK. I would take Newark any day over JFK, especially from Cape Liberty.

Good point.

Everything changed with the shutdown. If you think about it most of the original Revolutionizing plans would have been completed 2 years or so ago but for that. As I mentioned before with the focus now on new "E" class ships and with the "S" ships being more of the mainstay, the "M" class ships may eventually fade away or just continue with special itineraries. They will certainly be maintained, but likely not further improved. Again, as always, JMO.

IMO, it sounds rather non-specific to me. "Making improvements" doesn't exactly sound like a commitment to the original Revolutionize plans. Guess time will tell

I have also never heard of any type of ad from RCCL pushing the purchase of a gift card. In particular interfering with a setsail pass. I don't think this is legit RCCL information. JMO.

Well JFK is at least an hour and a half away from the cruise terminal with any kind of traffic. I don't know how much sightseeing - in NYC or out - you would be able to comfortably do with a 3:00 PM target arrival time at JFK. I would be more concerned on getting to JFK without any issues. Newark would be far easier in that respect. Again, JMO.

I agree and it is very likely that they would be doing updates, refreshes, etc., with the current booking levels and revenue recovery. I'm just saying I don't know of a firm plan in place in particular with some of the older ships to Revolutionize them as originally planned in 2017.

That is different if they were traveling alone with you without their parents? If so, that would be required. But a child traveling with a parent of the same name should not be an issue.

If I ran into such an agent I would ask to see their supervisor or a representative from the ship. I'm not aware of any such requirement for a solo parent traveling with their child on a closed loop cruise.

Is everything else related to the pass and the app in tact? I am far from any sort of a tech person but wondering if your smartphone or something related to the app was hacked to result in that. Just saying as I've never heard of that before and it just sounds really weird. Again, I hope you get it worked out.

Wow. That's odd - never had that issue. Doesn't sound legit as RCCL related. Hope you get it resolved.

No. The one on the phone, along with the proper boarding documentation, is all you need. We haven't printed setsail passes in several years. If you want to print one out as a backup that's fine, but it's not necessary for boarding.

You are absolutely correct. New and recently launched ships are always priced higher with their fares and likely with the planner packages. And the new shorter mega ship itineraries with Perfect Day also seem to carry a premium.

Unless you are divorced or separated, or under some sort of custody agreement regarding your children, I don't think any documentation is needed to travel without your spouse, but with your children.

I think the pandemic influenced a lot of plans. First, with the Revolutionized schedules that were in place themselves, all of which post 2019 had to be canceled. Second, with the shutdown extending as long as it did with no incoming revenue and literally billions of $ lost, the budgets and financial plans were completely revamped and reprioritized, with the Revolutionized plans basically scrapped - at least at the time. With newbuilds now taking the priority and many of the already older ships now several years older, I'm not sure which of them that were planned to be Revolutionized now will be. Just have to wait and see, I guess. JMO.

We just transferred points the other day to our upcoming November cruise and the transaction was same day to the planner as OBC and we have already used the points for planner dining purchases.

Agree and two of them in the NYC area could pose a traffic challenge unless any sightseeing was started and ended early. I obviously was just guessing EWR for proximity to the port.