leaveitallbehind

Big difference between people taking family pictures on their cell phones and vloggers wandering around all over the ship filming people who may not wish to end up on a YouTube video. Legal or not, that is an invasion of my privacy and I would certainly not want to find myself on some internet video as a result. IMO the best and most valid use of these videos are those shot on port days when the ship is mainly empty with the intent of showing different ship venues. Typically these vloggers try to avoid people in their filming out of respect for their privacy and their goal to focus on venues. The other problem is there is no way to know which is a quality video v the inferior product as it is being produced on board. One's opinion of that can only be determined after it appears on the internet. I'm all for restricting this practice.

I would need an extra suitcase just for all the stuff you suggest to bring. Then clothes, shoes, wife, etc......

Sure you got everything? LOL

Won't hijack the thread but look at the free agency signings so far! (I believe we have talked before).

I'd be more concerned if @doghog uses it on Kathy - or visa versa (more likely)! LOL. Seriously, It is a universal fix it tool that a lot of people take with them

I am in the "no lanyards" camp as well. Never used one, never will. Just no use for my card hanging around my neck. I have pockets and that's where my card goes - along with my wife's when we are together. And when we are not she always finds a place to keep it.....

I'm confused - are you in favor of the vloggers and upset with MSC, or support their actions with telling them to stop filming? You list a number of reasons that honestly I would agree with regarding not wanting to be filmed at all, not wanting to film people next to you while dining, and banning areas and times on the ship that filming can be allowed. You basically paint a clear picture of all of the valid reasons why they were asked to stop filming. And as mentioned, I agree. IMO vloggers who film openly in crowds of passengers and without regard to their fellow passengers are doing so for their own agenda and should not be allowed to interfere with the times and activities of other passengers.

More cash, less clothes.

RCCL and Celebrity dropped the official "formal nights" years ago. On every cruise we are on there are always those who dress formally, including tuxes and gowns. In our experience, however, most people dress nicely, but more casually. But dress as you feel and be comfortable regardless how others are dressed. Personal choice.

There are inside staterooms with a sofa bed, a double sofa bed, or an upper berth (pullman). When booking directly or through a travel agent, you need to specify which to be sure you are placed in the desired arrangement. If you are looking at the deck plans there are open and filled square icons defining the sofa arrangements, and filled diamond icons defining the upper berths. I would think by the description, that those with the double sofa bed would offer the best chance at being comfortable.

It is available through the app or on line with a booking number.

Yes, and it is included in the Premium Beverage package. With an upcharge in the Classic Beverage package, and a la carte otherwise.

....and any newer RCCL megaship! (Quantum, Icon classes)

Two factors: first, Christmas sailings are among the priciest all year, and last years fares were last years fares; second, cruise bookings are very strong and fares are following. There may be sales moving forward, but I would not expect fares in general to be at the level they were last year or years prior. As others have said, if there is a certain time and itinerary you are interested in, book it now and watch for fare decreases moving forward. If you are uncertain of committing to that itinerary, I would suggest booking at a refundable deposit fare (yes, that will be the higher fares) to allow you the flexibility of canceling without penalty to your deposit. Or at the very least add cancel for any reason insurance with a non-refundable deposit booking if the difference in fares and deposit amount support the premium to protect your deposit.

I don't know of any particular reason why that location would be of concern as there are staterooms above, below, and on either side across the hallway. I also don't know what the blank areas around the stateroom are but that doesn't necessarily mean that the area would generate noise. Perhaps someone else can confirm. But if it were me and the budget was compatible, I would elect to take the OV Y GTY as I would rather have a window v interior, even with a possible partial obstruction. But certainly none of the staterooms on deck 3 would be obstructed.

I was actually just editing my response to direct it to you, not the OP, regarding whether or not you were inquiring about RCCL or MSC. We have been cruising out of the ports I indicated for 32 years. We, too, have had better experiences (Symphony in 2019 as example) with the POM. But there was a similar situation with another RCCL cruise and then this most recent Oasis NYE that was as I described. And disembarking delays not withstanding, the traffic into the loop was terrible and the sidewalk crowds and taxi lines were very deep. Maybe just an off day, but not one I wish to repeat anytime soon.

While the new terminal is under construction, I believe MSC Divina currently uses terminal C, which is in the older section of the pier. The traffic flow has, in our experience, always been easier in that section and IMO would provide a different experience than that indicated in my response regarding RCCL's terminal at the end of the pier. And as the OP is asking regarding RCCL, your experience may not translate to theirs.

It's not a hassle, just not as expedient at the terminal. Have all your ID and boarding docs with you and they will send you to the appropriate check in line where you will do so manually with the agent. It just will take a few minutes longer. That's how it used to be done before the app and online check in process.

As others have said call FBC. CC is not the one to do this.

Miami terminal A is now our least favorite departure port for disembarking after a cruise. Embarking is easy and fast with no issues. However, based on our recent Oasis NYE cruise, the lines getting off the ship were very slow and disembarkation took upwards of 30 minutes once in the queue. And the traffic getting out of the pier is was horrendous. The lines to the taxi were from the departure doors all the way down the sidewalk to the cab stand with several hundred people stuck in line. There were not enough cabs to begin with and those that were trying to service those people were stuck in the loop trying to get back into the terminal. We chose Uber (as we typically do) and they faced the same congestion getting to us. We waited and watched their progress on our phone as they struggled to get to us for nearly 45 minutes less than a half mile away. This was not our first slow experience there, but our experience with this years NYE cruise on Oasis will have us avoiding the POM as much as possible for all future cruises. Worst in 50+ cruises. Never any similar issues in Port Everglades, Cape Liberty, Baltimore, Port Canaveral, or San Juan. While it is true your experience may be different, I would not count on any early flights after a cruise disembarking at the POM. Fortunately our flight was an afternoon flight. Just our recent experience.

Bids can be awarded up until day of sailing. There also is no guarantee that your bid(s) will be selected as the awards go to the highest bidder. If they are still pending that may just mean that they have simply not yet selected a bid for those staterooms. Sold out has nothing to do with it - assuming it is truly sold out.

Good suggestion but to answer your question, new schedules typically are released seasonally approximately 18 - 24 months prior to sailing season. So 2026 summer sailings should be out by this summer.

Have been to CocoCay on Oasis with Freedom there as well and IMO it gets very crowded. It may be designed to handle that, but it IMO is at its capacity when doing so. All of the beaches, pool area, food venues, etc., were full. Was not as enjoyable as it could have been. As mentioned, if you are first there you have a jump on things but either way, get off the ship early to get wherever you are going.

While I agree with what both @cruisegirl1976 and @mjkacmom say as these comments are accurate, the OP indicates (as quoted above) that the reason they may need CFAR insurance starts in May. I may be incorrect, but that indicates to me that maybe is when addressing the medical concerns commence, not the time the cruise commences? Perhaps the OP can clarify. To their question, Travel Insured and Alianz both offer CFAR policies, but with stipulations on date of purchased relative to cruise date of initial deposit. @TeeRick also provides a good suggestion.

My initial response on this thread was focusing on location and I wasn't considering size. No offense intended to those who book interiors, but I am interior adverse so I always gravitate towards balconies. (In the past when we booked family staterooms, they were the window categories). But all that being said, the size of the spacious interior does come into play when you consider the comments by @Ourusualbeach regarding having more than 2 in the stateroom.