leaveitallbehind

I wasn't suggesting that the PA would be holding the pier open for RCCL "just in case". Clearly RCCL will schedule arrival and departure times based on their itinerary and pay only for the time they are actually in port. I am saying that the pier may just be available during the period you indicate due to no other ships scheduled to be in port requiring that pier at the time. RCCL clearly books the pier arrival and departure time they need and that pier may be available beyond that as no other ships happen to be planning to be there then. Not every pier has ships scheduled 24 / 7 - there are open times. It's not a debate. If that is not the case and they ultimately plan to overnight there, you will clearly hear from RCCL to confirm it. If so, that would be nice so that you can have an extended stay. Brilliance has an itinerary that allows for that, but that is clearly indicated on their itinerary currently. So maybe Radiance will change their current times and will do so as well. Time will tell.

Different ship, different itinerary. But I can see why the OP is asking the question since the Port of SF apparently has the dock space cleared for overnight. But, again, IMO it only is certain if RCCL says it is.

Maybe it will still happen. But I would only plan on that if RCCL indicates it, unless you don't mind missing the ship - LOL.

That is what they issued on board twice at Sushi on 5 and I didn't question it.

Very similar and have sailed on Summit several times, but given the choice, I like Radiance class ships better. If for no other reason Radiance, in particular, has more alternative dining choices with their specialty restaurants Izumi, Chops, and Giovanni's. Also offer Park Cafe and Dog House as complimentary options. You also can go to the helipad on the front of Radiance and IMO have more glass views from more decks of the ocean. Don't get me wrong, I like both, but that's JMO given the choice. Of course RCCL caters to families with children more......

RCCL allows smoking outdoors typically on one side of the ship on the pool and promenade decks, as well as in the casino. The outdoor locations may vary by ship. However they typically limit smoking to a section of the casino and some ships also offer a small non-smoking casino as well. (Radiance does not have a separate small non smoking casino). As to a comparison, Radiance class ships are essentially the same age and size, in both gross tonnage and length, and passenger capacity as Millennium class ships, although designed somewhat differently. We have not sailed on Radiance but have a number of years ago on Jewel and Serenade, essentially her twin sister ships, and they have been one of our favorite ship classes.

We just got off Eclipse and can give you our direct experience with both ways of booking. We are also Elite+. Prior to sailing we booked a 3-night dining package. In doing so we contacted Captains Club and they compared our Elite+ discount to the sale price being offered and provided the best option of the two for our booking. In our case it turned out that our CC discount was the better of the two and that was what we had them apply. But it is, as mentioned, an either / or choice with planner bookings. On board we dined two additional nights at Sushi on 5, which of course is a la carte, and in our experience not a good choice for a package credit based on our history with a la carte purchases. When the bill was presented, the restaurant discounted it on both occasions by our CC 20% discount, which made that the far better option for an on board purchase v prior to sailing. Out of curiosity we also checked as an option for a second on board purchase night at Murano and the pricing was indeed based on the on board price, but our CC 20% discount would be applied to that if we had wanted to dine there a second night. So prior to sailing v on board can depend on the sale price being offered on the planner versus your tier level discount. But on board the pricing typically is not sale based, but your full discount will be applied to any booking made. You just have to do the math ahead of time to compare. As further example, we have a November cruise upcoming. The current planner dining package pricing is not very attractive and our CC discount for individual purchases on board surprisingly is more attractive. (It would also be similar with individual planner versus package pricing). It just depends on the sailing.

If I am interpreting you original post correctly you indicated the Port of SF information as ETA and ETD which indicates to me "estimated" times of arrival and departure. That may mean nothing more than the docking availability window for the ship at the port and not the actual times, indicating the dock space is available without conflict between those times. Not that it is the actual ship arrival and departure times. Those times are determined by the cruise line. And I am not trying to be contradictory or argumentative. Just that I would rely on those times as published by the cruise line on your booking confirmation as correct. In my experience (which has occurred on a few occasions) the cruise line notifies the passengers of itinerary and port time changes as they are implemented. If and when it would change, IMO you will receive notice directly from the cruise line and / or from your TA, if one was used, when the change is made. At least that has been our experience.

Typically when you are docked overnight, unless you are tendering or there are local port time restrictions, you only have to be back on board at the usual 30 minutes prior to departure. You do not tender in SF, and I doubt SF has any port time restrictions, so I don't think there will be any issues with coming or going from the ship as you wish.

As I see the itinerary, you are docked in San Francisco from 12:30 PM to 8:00 PM on Oct.1, with 8:00 PM as your departure time. I would trust the cruise line itinerary and any updates published by them as being the correct information.

It generally is for age at sailing where certain age based activities come into play, such as on board drinking age, children's program levels, etc. I assume you are referring to on line travel agencies, whose booking processes may vary from cruise lines. But when that data is entered with the cruise lines it would become DOB, as typically the cruise lines when booking directly provide for DOB as the data entry. I was referring to booking directly through the cruise lines and live TA's I've worked with in the past.

We just got off Eclipse and the only deposit option shown on the form for the Future Cruise was non refundable, with a 6 month booking window. Book Now provided for a refundable option. I would call Celebrity to confirm your options.

Every cruise we've ever booked has been DOB only - no other option. It's part of your profile questions when entering a booking. The cruise lines then determine your age at sailing.

Have not seen any of that in recent years. Reduced deposit and some amount of OBC is about it.

One major difference is with primary target demographics for their cruising style. Here is a generalization: Princess: Families and adults HAL: Older adults Celebrity: Adults 40+ RCCL: Families with children Carnival: Young adults and families with children

Not an issue - just acknowledging it. I appreciate when incorrect statements or information is corrected on my behalf. So much changes in this industry frequently its hard to keep up. And I don't like responding with incorrect information.

Your minor correction has already been noted. I'm not suggesting anything factual, but simply saying that since Zenith already has the package included, vouchers for six drinks such as their tier counterpart Pinnacle would not be necessary IMO. The question could just as well be asked as why would they change that to lessen the benefit to Zenith? But as the entire conversation is hypothetical, there is no clear right or wrong answer either way. Others have suggested the migration, in particular of Pinnacles, to Celebrity. Are there facts or data to support this or is it just supposition? Curious.

Was not aware of that. Thanks.

Your interpretation of how RCCL's tier level drink benefits works, and how it changed, needs a little clarity. RCCL used to have unlimited drinks each night including embarkation day in the Diamond Club during their cocktail hours which lasted for 3-1/2 hours. This benefit was available to Diamond tiers and higher. (Celebrity does not offer this on embarkation day or Captains night and it is for 2 hours only on the days it is offered). The change to this was a few years pre-pandemic and was the result of high crowd levels in the DC. The change was help thin the herd in the DC which then allowed for Diamond to have 4 vouchers, Diamond + to have 5 vouchers, and Pinnacle to have 6 vouchers loaded on their SeaPass card daily for use anywhere on the ship at anytime - including in the DC during cocktail hours. (Early on the drink count during the cocktail hours in the DC was not necessarily enforced as it is now). If Celebrity were to follow this, the amount of vouchers likely would be aligned by tier at Elite with 4, Elite+ with 5 (as you indicate). Zenith already has the drink package included, so this would be moot with them. We feel this has worked out well. The vouchers also are combinable between spouses allowing for (in our case) 10 drinks per couple per day where I can use mine for her and visa versa. Unused vouchers at the end of the day can be used for unopened canned or bottled beverages (beer, truly, water, soda) which can be taken to your stateroom for another time. The vouchers can also be used individually for discounts on bottles of wine purchased.

I tend to agree. It is a novelty restaurant whose food presentation is very unique and pretty good IMO. But for me, it's a one trick pony - you do it once and it's entertaining, but then that's enough. Similarly on Celebrity with Qsine / La Petite Chef. But they vary the menu mid-week there so the presentation isn't the same. But after one or two visits the novelty wears off. That's also how I see Wonderland.

Very unusual. That typically is one of their key positions with lots of takers.

Yes. Likely a long, slow, circuitous and non-direct route to cover the 60 miles back to Port Everglades. But it will be full day at sea covering probably two (or three) times the actual distance back. As to "padding" the length as mentioned by the OP, typically 3 and 4 day itineraries with the same ship alternate each back to back to provide a single 7 day cycle each week. Slow as the last day at sea may be, it does provide for a full 4 day itinerary for that cruise.

Typically with RCCL "N" designates and Ocean View stateroom category, and the number before designates the sub-category, typically based on deck and location, with "1" being the highest and usually most expensive stateroom in that category. So 4N would be a lower subcategory of an Ocean View stateroom.

Well, yours would be #1.

This is not worth discussing. I care because I respect their work and would not want to deny them their gratuities. End of my discussion.