Shmoo here

I had to option to opt out of the video responses on my survey.

Same here. I do remember the earlier survey, mostly because I've never gotten any of the surveys that people post about getting. Now I've had 2.

Too many variables to answer that. Cost? Length of cruise? Ports? Time of year? What types of activities do you enjoy?

The speculation at this point is everyone is starting from 2023/24 in calculating. So, even if it's been 17 years, and you book a cruise within the next 5 years, you will retain your status. At least, so far, that's how it's working. Of course, DCL can change the rules at any time.

Correct. Key West is in the USA. Not a foreign country.

Exactly this - one way cruises to/from Puerto Rico to a stateside port are allowed.

Winner, winner, chicken dinner! Longer cruise, more ports.

DCL does have trivia games. Most of which center on Disney stuff. But some others like oldie songs, movies. I can only speak to longer cruises, but it seemed to be pretty much every day.

That's my understanding, also. It was dual (as in 2) pianos. Not dueling (as in challenging each other to see who does it best).

Well, I only click on the threads I'm interested in, not all of the ones with unread posts.

Apparently, not always. Sometimes the personalities clashed making for not a good show.

I just click on the "go to first unread post" on any given thread.

You will receive a coupon sheet and envelopes in your room. The sheet has the person/job/amount of gratuity in separate tear apart sections. You put the coupon in the matching envelope and hand them out. Or not. The actual handing of envelopes give you a way to say thanks/goodbye in person, but if you don't give them the envelopes the proper people will still receive the indicated gratuities.

Don't know how often it happens, but it happens. Our only experience was accompanied by the ship's horn alert at 3 am one night. Announcement was "get dressed and wait in room for further info". I'll just add we were out at sea on a South Pacific cruise. We waited about 1/2 hour before being told we could return to bed. Also told us it was a fire incident in the engine room.

I have no idea. Maybe the shoreside personnel were feeling nasty that day. Generally I'd think, since the donuts were commercially sold, they'd be OK. That said, they weren't "sealed" So who knows?

Well, we hope it failed. Hopefully the powers that be have made that decision.

🤸‍♀️ Yay!!!!

Only answer I can give is that I know that when we stopped in San Francisco on a west coast cruise to Alaska, someone was not allowed to bring onboard the dozen fresh donuts (in their pretty pink box) they had purchased. They were told they could eat them or throw them away.

Because, after 20+ days cruising, I just wanted a McDonalds burger.

For the most part, I'm in favor of the single piano format. We did 2 cruises that had the dual piano format - one the 2 players worked well together, the other they both seemed to be trying to be the only player and didn't mesh well together. I think, if you want a cohesive act, they should put 2 players together that have worked with each other for some time.

Don't like it, AT ALL. I was unable to be online for the last week. When I click on what appears to be a new thread, I'm taken to the most recent post on this new format. l'd like to read it from the beginning.....

Have the request placed on your reservation. Be aware, there no actual 2 person tables. If you get one, it will be a 4 top with only 2 places set. Also, it's just a request, and DCL cannot guarantee all (or any) such requests will be honored.

No hard liquor packages, but there are wine packages. And a couple of beer specials. Gratuities: (automatically added to your onboard account) $14.50 per guest per day total. The $14.50 breaks out to Room Host ($4.75), Dining Room Server ($4.75), Assistant Server ($3.75) and Head Server ($1.25).

This thread talking about Africa cruise rumors is recent:

The bottled water they have onboard is Dasani in aluminum bottles. And has a cost. I'm fairly certain that sparkling water also has a charge, but I don't know the brand.