leaveitallbehind

As mentioned, no way to predict. It is Captains discretion. As suggested by @njhorseman, I know from a few of our cruises there (on different lines - not NCL) as the ship is in port for three days they use that time for crew training and frequently will perform lifeboat drills. As the itinerary tends to be the same week to week, the Captain may choose port side one week for starboard drills, then choose starboard side the next for port side drills. Hard to know if that would be the case and, unless you know the docking side for the prior week to your itinerary, hard to predict which side would be the docking side if that were to be the case. Either side offers a nice view of the island.

Wasn't picking on you, just thought with the comments made by by chengkp75: No ship or cruise line that I'm aware of uses powdered eggs. It just isn't economical. They use "pasteurised egg product", which is eggs that have been taken from the shells, mixed in huge vats with a chemical that stabilizes the eggs ...and your response to him: I have no cue what they use, it sometimes looks like a huge vat of butter if it's not chopped up or stirred up.to prevent separation, and then pasteurized. ...that perhaps you weren't sure of his information, to which my response was intended. Nothing more. Got it? 😉

As posted previously, go to the RCCL website for correct information regarding cruising protocols here: https://www.royalcaribbean.com/the-healthy-sail-center?icid=hlthys_wrnssn_hlt_nbrdxp_pghdr_3467

With his vast maritime experience, which includes cruise ships, I would trust whatever @chengkp75says as being accurate.

Only whatever is typically required post cruise to close out the cruise as the points (as you are aware) are tallied as part of that process.

RCCL must have had an off day as well as the typical hold time these days is 1 hour plus making the OP's response time quite good!

All RCCL ships require all passengers 12 and older to be vaccinated and proof of such is required to board regardless of departure port. A negative covid test is also required. And covid insurance is not required. I believe you are misinformed. From their website: https://www.royalcaribbean.com/the-healthy-sail-center?icid=hlthys_wrnssn_hlt_nbrdxp_pghdr_3467

Must have a pretty strong following current or tailwind as she tops out at 25 knots! LOL.

Pre pandemic we actually did a 10:20 flight with no issues and no self luggage. Taxi / Uber is fine. Typically we would do 11:00 or later. Now, still with some of the uncertainty, I would definitely suggest post 11:00, so12:15 should be fine.

11:00 is the earliest. But the lines make no difference as they are set by boarding time and each time moves through completely before the next group commences. You can only join in the line that forms for your boarding time. And the process is pretty quick. With our April Anthem cruise we arrived at the terminal at 12:10, dropped our luggage off and parked the car and were in line at 12:30 for our boarding time and on the ship in our stateroom at 1:10. Also no need to check in at midnight. As posted on other threads, it isn't like checking in with Southwest Airlines were you are racing to get a boarding queue. There are plenty of times and each slot holds hundreds of people. Many people for numerous reasons select a later time to begin with. It takes a while for all of the earliest slots to fill up. On our last 4 cruises (2 from Bayonne) since the restart we have checked in as early as the first day it opened (which is 45 days prior to sailing) and as late as a week prior to sailing, with our typical check in within the first few days. The latest time we ever had was 2:00, and that was the time we checked in the week prior. Every other time we have been between 11:30 and 12:30. So don't race to do it. The staterooms aren't open until 1:00 anyway.

I never quite said that - LOL. We typically take a couple of beach towels from our C&A tier gifts and save any clean clothes for the last suitcase. We then put one of the towels over the dirty and put the clean on top. Usually have a few unworn things but that - or our carry on - works for us in packing them. (And truth be told on our last couple of cruises I was the more guilty party with that). 🙂 But this system works for us - your results may vary.

There are two "sales" that take place. The first is the revolving door of fare discounts that replace each other about every two months or so that typically net out to be about the same each time. The second is with promo's on the planner that will discount drink and dining packages, etc. The first is easy to predict and the least to get excited about as when one ends the next begins, and the net resulting fares, as mentioned, typically are about the same with each. The second can have varying results and tend to be initiated separately and are more ship and sailing date specific. These planner promos seem to be to what @gordyladis referring. Unfortunately these promos are harder to predict, but will have a continuous cycle as with the fare "sales". Just have to stay tuned and watch your planner.

Not sure where we first got the idea (although I'm certain my wife will confirm that it was her idea - and I of course will agree. LOL) but we have been doing this for years. Takes only a few minutes each day and saves a lot of time on the last night.

Sorry for the individual involved to hear of this. As with the first situation, hoping all is well with the individual involved with the second emergency. That is all that matters.

No preference. Whenever it is scheduled is whenever we will be there. Just like any other port of call. Regarding packing, we place each day's worn clothing in our suitcase(s) every day so that by the end of the cruise, we are 90% packed. Packing for us on the last day is only a matter of toiletries and last minute items. Never interferes with any last day activities.

Depending on how large your group is it may be related to that? Individual check ins may have more flexibility. Just guessing. And the check in email is typically sent 45 days prior to sailing - that is when check in has opened since the restart.

I realize it is after the fact, but there is no need to check in at midnight at the moment check in first opens 45 days from boarding. It's not like checking in with Southwest Airlines where you are racing to get into a boarding queue. With RCCL, there are thousands of people checking in over that 45 day period with many time slots that handle hundreds of people at a time available. Early boarding times (anywhere from 11:00 - 12:30) are available for several days before they book up. Many people prefer, or have scheduling reasons that require, later check in times and select later times intentionally. On our last three, and current June cruise, we have checked in anywhere from the first day (during the day, not at midnight) to a week prior to boarding and the latest time we were able to book was 2:00 - which was the 1 week prior check in. Typically our times have been between 11:00 - 12:30 as indicated. Relax. You will not be able to get into your stateroom before 1:00 anyway, and with the staggered boarding times the check in process moves pretty smoothly. An hour or so either way will not make any difference to your overall cruise experience. And BTW to confirm, on our four referenced cruises since October, 11:00 has been the earliest check in available.

I agree. I kind of glossed over that as IMO it would be highly unlikely that they would be doing that. As you are probably aware most cruise ships have a rather extensive garbage handling system on board where recycling is separated, and materials compressed and bailed for removal at port, and that which can be, incinerated. Not aware of any dumping of garbage at sea. Processed food waste maybe? Pretty stiff environmental fines if caught otherwise.

What they may do as that is an interport is have one gangway specified for departing guests and another specified for the new boarding guests. Just a guess.

Well that certainly makes the wait less! I just thought you had recently reached Emerald - but all you have to do is take the next cruise! 😉

If they were in fact dumping garbage into the ocean, I highly doubt that would have any connection to your sewage odor concerns. Sewage odor issues are typically the result of foreign objects being flushed into the system resulting in clogs and other related issues. It is not uncommon and typically resolved by maintenance in relatively short order. Some odors can also be caused by in stateroom showier drain issues that can also be addressed by maintenance. There are others on these boards far more qualified than I do discuss this in detail, but I believe my response is, at least in general terms, accurate. But agree as well with @sparks1093 in wondering what it is you are hoping to be the result of your complaint letter now regarding something that would have been addressed on board? Regardless, I hope you find the satisfaction you seek.

Our 3 recent experiences (with a 4th upcoming) at both CVS (who no longer does the rapid antigen test in our area) and Walgreens (who do the rapid NAAT test) have been very favorable. Walgreens, as this is now our "go to" based on the testing offered, has been very professional and quick to respond. In both company's cases we set our scheduled appointment on line and, along with name, address, and prior vaccinations received, our DOB was also required. ID was checked at drive through check in. We never had a an invalid test situation, so I can't confirm their response to that, but our test results were emailed within an hour. At least in our experience, the situation as reported by the OP seems non-standard.

There are many hotels within a 20 minute radius of the cruise port and FLL airport. All of the major chains have locations with most of their brands for you to consider. Most offer transportation to and from the airport and cruise port, and many offer complimentary breakfast. Pricing is based on market and season and will vary based on that. Uber is also a viable option for transportation if preferred. Your question is a bit general and broad to provide any more specific answers and I would suggest just to google "hotels near FLL" and start there. There will be a resulting map that will show the hotels in the area. You can then click on the ones you are interested in and go to each local website for booking information, or use the associated booking sites that will also appear with each hotel. That is what we typically do. We stay at several of the national brands based on price and availability and they have all been good. What you may prefer would be up to you, however, and maybe the reviews posted with their websites would help. The cruise lines may also have booking connections that can assist with hotels as well. If you booked through a TA they would be able to assist. You may also want to post this question on the CC Florida Departures board at this link for more specific responses: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/386-florida-departures/

Which would still not typically be realized by the OP until five cruises from now. So, @sophdolph, rather than focus on what you don't yet have, enjoy what you do have with Emerald. Congrats on reaching this tier!

The balcony divider is a solid, not transparent, so you will not be able to see through it. But you certainly can look left around it to see behind the ship. And standing at the railing you would have a full 180 degree view forward and aft on the side of the ship. That would be the case with any side located balcony as all of the dividers between each stateroom balcony are solid. The only balconies that offer a full aft view are the aft facing staterooms on the back of the ship. And as attractive and desirable as they are, their views are limited as forward views along the side of the ship don't exist. It's a matter of personal preference but any side location balcony would be fine for a Panama (or any other) cruise. It just depends on your preference with views.