Starry Eyes

Oh, you think the Royal app did it automatically? Isn’t it more likely your wife checked all your names? Your wife who you said turned off the volume and turning the phone upside down would, after all, be apt to also just check off all your names. And you knew you were supposed to watch it, so it is still your responsibility. I’m willing to do whichever muster drill, but none is apt to be effective when passengers don’t take it seriously and/or are disruptive.

I learned about swapping gty cabins here on CC at least a decade ago. The info might have been posted before that. You have created controversy on multiple threads and seemly in hopes the option will disappear to the detriment your fellow CC members. Most of us are trying to make cruises nicer for our fellow cruisers. I really do not see the point. Royal considers the cabins in a category interchangeable. If at any point Royal wanted to change a gty cabin assignment, they have the right to do so. I intentionally choose a silly screen name and realized it will cause others to call me Starry or some variation. I’m fine with it or I’d simply change my screen name or sign my posts with my real name or a nickname. Your screen name is even longer than mine. Surely you are not surprised when people shorten it, too.

I’m still upright, Freddie.

It would seem safer yet it is so hard to keep track of your Gnome. Gnomes scurry off to Central Park, do a bit of gardening then hid amongst the plants.

The parking at the terminals at Port Canaveral is convenient and you do pay for that convenience. There are off site lots that would save you some money, but then you take a shuttle between the lot and terminal, so it is a bit less convenient.

Unless you can loan the OP a Time Machine, that pricing no longer matters to the OP. The OP is asking people’s opinions on what will happen between now and sailing. That is difficult to guess. Cabin availability seems pretty limited which works against you. It was on was week’s GGG sale. You might check future sales; it make re-appear. If it does, the cabins are likely to be gty which likely require double booking. Hypothetically a second guest might book but later cancel or no show.

It has been discussed on this boards for at least a decade, and it continues. That suggests Royal is inclined to act. A cranky old guy screaming “get off my lawn” whenever the kids are happy seems unlikely to motivate a company to act…. since it is not even his lawn and he personally doesn’t benefit if the kids can’t play.

That’s not necessarily true; you are assuming what people paid. Take my example mentioned in my call yo the CSR above. My husband and I decided to slip in an additional cruise on Jewel rather later when availablity was limited, but we wanted to go. We understood others who booked early had gotten better prices and gotten to select their cabins. We did not resent that. We initially took an OV cabin, then a decent price was posted for a suite gty….not a great price, probably higher than the early birds paid for JS’s, but decent, so we upgraded. Two JS’s were left. One unobstructed and one partially obstructed. We were assigned the unobstructed one. I called and asked to switch to the obstructed one at the rear corner, far from the elevator…the one it would be harder for Royal to sell to many people (I knew it had a bigger balcony and DH would like the shady alcove). We paid more than many and probably less than some. We’d have stayed put without complaint if they declined to let me switch or if all JS’s were assigned. As it happened switched to a cabin others had rejected but we happened to like. Royal changes their pricing all the time. Some people lock in lower prices, some people higher ones for similar cabins. Some people catch a price drop; it is gone when another person calls. Sometimes RCI prices the gty the same or higher than picking your cabin at the same moment. Over time it certainly can be much higher or it may be lower.

Thanks for posting this. When your executive friend said “least desirable” cabins I wonder if he meant lower category or poorly selling category on that sailing. Over the years within a given specific category I have not noticed that the computer has assigned the least desirable cabins (many noisy locations when quiet ones were available, for example). The computer seems to treat all cabins in a category equally (which is logical, else why are they lumped together). I may ask to switch sometimes, but those are generally mere personal preferences. The cabin a leave may be snatched up by another cruiser with different priorities.

Wait…you and your wife deliberately chose not to view or listen to the video (perhaps you had your reasons, but still your choice). People with that same I’m-not-watching-or-listening attitude toward the muster can also ignore the educational info at a live muster….except at a live muster they are often talking and distracting others, so people around them do not benefit from the presentation either. Not saying you’d do it, but we have seen lots of those people You made it to the theater entrance. What happens from there would depot the actual emergency. If at that point, the captain just wanted passengers gathered you would have been directed the the proper location in the theater (not difficult). If there were an abandon ship situation, they may direct you into a differently at the theater entrance.

3570 is my lucky number

I assure you, if the CSR looks, they know what the caller booked. I know because some CSR’s comment on it even if I do not mention it (I see you booked a suite gty and a junior suite was assigned today. Was there a specific cabin number you were interested in?). Personally if I call to ask to swap cabins I simply ask if I may switch from my current cabin to XXXX (or if that is unavailable XXZZ or ZZZZ). I generally do not discuss my reason for switching, my original booking method, or my shoe size as they are not particularly relevant. I make a polite request; they can say say yes or no; I say thanks for their time; done.

Yes, and “sale” pricing in the cruise planner may vary over time. If you think the package is a decent value for your personal enjoyment, go ahead and buy it. That way you lock in that price lest it only go up. If you see a lower price in the future, you can get a refund at the old price and buy at the new lower price. If the unlimited package is more than you wanted, you could go ala carte. You might buy coffee card on board for premium coffees (I think it is the same price on board as in cruise planner so no reason to pre purchase). You are allowed to carry 12 cans/bottles of nonalcoholic beverages (up to 17 oz) onto the ship. Commercial mocktails would qualify if you wanted to bring your own to supplement your on board purchases.

What is the Refreshment Package? The Refreshment Package allows guests to enjoy unlimited non-alcoholic beverages throughout their cruise. Package includes: Fountain soda and refills at any venue Coca-Cola® Freestyle beverages* Coca-Cola® souvenir cup Non-alcoholic cocktails (mocktails) Johnny Rockets milkshakes Bottled still and sparkling water Premium coffees and teas Fresh-squeezed juices

I suggest you do early dining even though it might be a bit earlier than you would like. You can request a medium table now. Two to three weeks before the cruise email your request for a table just for your party to rcldining@rccl.com. MTD on Harmony will not open until the early traditional diners start to file out of their meal (under the new, not improved IMHO MTD system early dining uses a dining room then MTD gets that dining room)…so MTD probably starts about 6:30-6:45…and that timing may conflict with many of the show times your boys would utilize. I switched to early because of the new system and often saw long lines for MTD as I exited. If you cannot bear to drag them away from the pool some days, there are other venues, such as windjammer if you miss your early dining. Be careful, some youngsters like that better😉.

Simply email your request 2-3 weeks prior to the cruise to rcldining@rccl.com That way your set of tables will be incorporated into the dining arrangement. Early on the first day of the cruise, wander into the dining room and find your table numbers. If as expected the tables are fine, enjoy your day. If not, ask for assistance.

You may want to price it both ways. Sometimes it is less expensive to book a double than a solo, especially if you comfortable booking a guarantee cabin. The guarantee cabin rates are often lower yet not offered to solos.

While people reading these boards may immediately know what “the key” is, a newbie cruiser would not. A newbie might be more likely to click on “VIP pass” header.

I’ve been assigned connecting cabins from gty booking; sometimes all cabins in the category are connecting. On some ships one of the connecting cabins allows triple or quad occupancy while the other allows double occupancy. People will book the connecting cabin to get the occupancy they need if that’s what is available. Some select a connecting cabin in a better location over a non connecting cabin in a lesser location. Sometimes pricing patterns make a connecting category less expensive than other cabins (though often it is the other way). I’m glad you got adjacent cabins assignment per the hack. You have to wait until both assignments are official to move both cabins. On my last cruise, better locations were available while I could see my future location via hack, but by the time my cabin was officially assigned the cruise was sold out, so I could not move. No matter, someone canceled and I won a RoyalUp

Some ships do not start the emuster until noon though passengers boards earlier, so they might need to make an allowance for those early hours or open emuster when passengers board. Carnival says if a person may purchase two drinks before completing their drill; the system will deny a third drink until the emuster is completed. Fewer drunks at muster drill would be a positive.

I do not know your life jacket story. I simply remember watching many carelessly trailing belts back in the day thinking someone could be tripped and injured.

As I recall water at the WJ entry sinks has been warm when I have used them. Have you had a different experience?

And the terms of the exemption if you receive one (for example if they say you will be charged for wifi if you use it for purposes other than just the defibrillator and the Royal Caribbean app)

Unfortunately the invoices do not show the type of gty booked. I booked a balcony gty on Odyssey; my invoice says gty and 0% obstructed with a footnote about obstruction being updated after cabin is assigned (on Odyssey we could easily get an obstructed balcony). Mine does not say category XB. All gty cabins seem to say 0% until assigned, then it can be updated for actual cabin information. Here is the note on my invoice: “If your stateroom is GTY (Guarantee) or WLT (Waitlist), once your room is assigned or confirmed, you’ll receive an updated invoice advising of your location. If your stateroom has an obstructed view, you’ll receive details once your room is assigned” If you really do not recall what you booked, you might call and ask your category.

Good. Although the reservations are linked, the dining room would not necessarily assume you want one big table. Your group wants one table, but some other group might have a good reason to seat Uncle Jerry and Aunt Mable at different tables, while everyone else moves and mingles different nights😉