sparks1093

I believe that it is if it is in your checked luggage and not your carryon.

When we took our step granddaughter we had the letter, but no one ever asked to see it. It is a recommendation by many, but I don't believe it is a requirement. Human trafficking is a serious problem, but I don't see closed loop cruises as being a viable means of doing that.

So with a casino booking it's a...gamble?😁

I started noticing a decline in the quality of every day products right at the start of the pandemic and it has only gotten worse. Staffing shortages and supply chain issues abound in every industry right now. I see empty shelves at my grocery store and businesses struggling to get product to sell. This obviously affects cruising and until I start seeing an improvement overall in retail I'm going to chalk any changes in cruising up to similar issues. The cruise lines were hard hit by the pandemic, as was the rest of the hospitality industry. So in addition to the supply chain issues and the staffing issues they have to recoup some of the financial losses they endured. It will be a long road back.

I suspect that tips are very frowned on in that job because there is a fine line between a tip and a bribe.

It is something to consider, but I wouldn't say that a return trip is always going to require a passport since the DHS regulations that give us the closed loop exemption also allow the waiver of the passport requirement for emergencies or for humanitarian reasons. For most people the risk of having to return home mid cruise is very low.

On a closed loop cruise (returning to the departure port) a birth certificate is all that's needed under the registrations, but some cruise lines require passports for minors traveling without a parent and some require passports of all passengers regardless.

The DHS regulations that give us the closed loop exemption also contain a provision allowing for a waiver of the passport requirement for emergencies and humanitarian reasons. In every situation that I'm aware of from Cruise Critic the cruise line coordinated with CBP and the passengers in question were granted waivers allowing them to board flights direct to the US where they were cleared in secondary inspection.

Just make sure that you look at your invoice before you debark, none of the $0 charges shows on you final invoice (or at least it didn't for us).

Hence (probably, anyway) the passport requirement for cruise ship passengers.

I think few do because of the passport requirement.

This is an excellent point but there is little communication of this between the ship and the terminal, so one would still need to ask for assistance in the terminal. It is also possible to rent a wheel chair or scooter for the cruise from a third party (google "wheelchair cruise rental" or something similar).

If you are on a closed loop cruise where a government ID and birth certificate will get you onboard (and it sounds like you are) then there is no 6 month requirement and you didn't need to renew your passport. Royal's guidelines are poorly written in that regard.

All true but it was jarring seeing it in response to this particular question, that's all. I do recall seeing a few inquiries about whether or not Friends of Bill was available posted on CC.

My guess would be no. Fortunately there are no limitations to how many tea bags one may bring onboard.

I've never been able to tolerate the taste of plain liquor, probably because I don't care enough to spend the money on the good stuff.

On our last cruise the folks we were talking to in the terminal turned out to the have the suite right next to ours. It was neat seeing them throughout the trip and comparing notes. On one cruise we met some nice people at our diner table and we are still in contact with them today. They were on their honeymoon and now they have two boys so I'm not sure when they will be sailing again. We met one couple through social media prior to the cruise and DW really hit it off with the wife. They will be on our April cruise.

I think regardless of the responses taking a physical payment card along would be prudent. The Caribbean covers a lot of ground so you might get better responses if you actually mention the islands you'll be visiting.

When we have Cheers I very rarely drink anything mixed with just plain soda. Too many other choices to be that limiting.

Their selection of tea is somewhat limited and real tea aficionados may not find those few choices to their liking. I am okay with Lipton, it's what I grew up with, and while I don't care too much for tea I can tell the difference between Lipton and Earl Grey (as a limited example, and Earl Grey may have been one of the choices, I didn't memorize them).

There are a good number of online brokers that will allow you to buy with no fees. I googled "online brokers for beginners" and it gave me decent results.

The rules for Canadians visiting the US are different than for other countries. A Canadian may stay in the US for a designated amount of time each year without a visa or without a green card. I am not sure exactly what the rules are, just that they are different. OP, as has been said you will need your passport so I hope there is enough time before you sail to get another one.

We're celebrating with a suite a couple weeks after you and looking forward to sailing down the river.

They have sparkling cider available through the online gift shop to purchase for the cabin. I didn't see any others that were alcohol free. You could always bring a bottle with you in your carryon.

Yes, but it seemed like a left field thing, sort of suggesting that anyone who eschews alcohol does so only because they are recovering and not because they don't care for it or aren't really into it.