Starry Eyes

Understandable. So Tampa was enforcing boarding times on 10/20?

While your TA can ask what the planned early dining time is for your cruise 7 months from now, the answer, however sincerely intended, is subject to change (see onecruiser’s post for examples). For those who prefer to dine in the earlier side, the new MTD system leaves many with a decision. Many of these people feel (option A) early traditional dining starts a bit earlier than they would like to dine (whether 5, 5:15 or 5:30 on the various ships) but (option B) MTD on those ships does not start until about 6:45 and one may have to wait in line (potentially a long line) for a table, even if you have a reservation…and that might seem a bit late/unpleasant to some. Pick option A or B, whichever your gang thinks works better for you. If you have little kids who are used to eating early and if you hope to catch the shows (which tend to be timed well for traditional dining), I’d suggest early traditional, but you do you. (Those who naturally like to dine later do not have so much if an issue, though they might it might not experience lines if they select MTD)

The only ship on the Port Canaveral schedule for 10/29/2022 is Carnival Freedom. Was that your sailing? If so, Carnival’s policies might not be relevant to the OP’s Royal Caribbean sailing. https://www.portcanaveral.com/getattachment/Cruise/Cruise-Lines-Schedules/CPA-Website-Schedule_Aug22-Dec22.pdf.aspx?lang=en-US

I did not say it is OK, I am reporting what I observed. When a poster asks a question, I will tell the truth as I observed it. When we book last minute, only later arrival times are available when we check in. DH and I then both repeatedly re check the app and, so far, manage to snag early check in times when they randomly pop up. We do that because we follow the rules, not because we believe we will have to stand in a cattle gate at PC for hours if we show up before our assigned arrival time.

Yes, so boldly that I could sometimes.see much later boarding times on passes of people in front of me in line (people were told to have those documents in their hands while waiting). None of them were turned away. They were in line before me and entered the building before me. It did not really matter. Once the doors opened the line moved nicely and we waited in the terminal board as called.

It is nice that your recent cruise on Grandeur had that MTD setup, as so few ship still do. Sadly ships regularly change to the new (not improved) MTD system, therefore I would not recommend checking old archived posting on blogs. If there are no MTD reservation slots before 6:45 fore a June cruise, it is a decent bet that Explorer will be on the new MTD system. If the OP’s party of seven wants to dine earlier for the kids, they should consider switching to early traditional dining.

Yes, early dining has been opening before MTD on most ships for a while now. I do not know the opening time for Explorer next June. If it helps, here’s the reason. They seat early traditional dining on all three decks of the dining room (3,4 and 5), quickly filling all the seats; I think they find it an efficient way to use the seating early in the evening. As the early traditional diners on deck 3 finish their meals and vacate tables, those tables are quickly cleaned and used for MTD guests…starting about 6:45 and continuing on deck three the rest of the evening. Deck 4 and 5 are used for late traditional.

And of course it will be easier to get your desired restaurants and times if board earlier and make reservations as soon as you board. The later you wait to make reservations, the fewer options available. I have read an occasional poster on Cruise Critic with dining packages who say they make a (or more than one) reservation in advance on the cruise planner. Once on board they request that reservation be changed to their UDP; that pre-cruise charge becomes on OBC. It seems a bit too much trouble to me so I have not tried it, but you do you. If there is a night or two that is especially important, maybe you will want to consider that ploy. Or maybe, like most of us, you won’t bother.

OP, you may feel better with an earlier boarding time. If you keep checking back on the app, you may catch an earlier arrival time. They sometimes open up. We have booked last minute cruises and that’s how we catch earlier boarding times.

Same here. I have not seen the “cattle gates” with times for many months at port Canaveral . Those gates with times did not seem to even work well when passenger counts were low, as people did not get in correct line. Perhaps still seeing the cattle gates, you hd not noticed the lack of time signs. I have not seen anybody tuned away due to a later arrival time.

Yes, and to add a bit more info: *If rather than numbers you see “gty” after the dash, you do not yet have an assignment. You can check back; a clue to do so is seeing a muster station (but no cabin assignment) in the Royal app. *Non-apple users can use a barcode reader on their seapass with similar results.

Some families select an inside cabin across the hall from their balcony cabin. You might find an inside cabins for 4 across from a balcony for 4.

I agree. People do warn about cabins above public spaces, though they are often thinking about bars/music/dance venues and such that are apt the send noise/vibration through their ceiling. I’d be happy above a dining room or retail space.

Which ship? Recent passengers might give you more specific info or pics. Many ships have tables for two at the rail, though on our recent Mariner cruise there did not seem to be tables for two by the rail that had a view to the lower dining room. There were some tables for two by secondary railing that lacked a view to the lower dining room. There another trade off you might wish to consider before making you request. While typically you do not have another table close to you, on some ships you may find there is a lot of foot traffic past your table at the railing (passengers and waitstaff). Some people dislike all that activity and foot traffic near their table. Others do not mind or perhaps enjoy a bit of people watching.

Upon arrival our connecting door was locked (keyed). The steward needed to contact his supervisor to unlock it. I think the supervisor confirms both parties consent. Our bookings were linked and we were chatting as the door was unlocked. (That’s my recollection from our first connecting cabin; it was on Explorer. We have had a few since. I don’t recall the opening of those doors…just the first one.)

What ship has two doors between connecting cabins? Our connecting cabins on ships only have had a single door. After all, cabin walls are thin to maximize valuable space; if there were two doors with a space between, both doors and door frames would protrude into the (already small) respective cabins, using valuable space (and depending upon layout creating a place to stub toes).

People all tend to post and remember the troublesome events but fewer are apt comment on all the quiet, unremarkable nights. On an upcoming cruise, I selected a connecting JS in an excellent location (hump) over a nonconnecting JS in a less desirable location, though I’ll swap to a nonconnecting JS in a great location if one comes available. One more thought: As you are concerned about connecting door noise, perhaps pack plenty of strong magnetic hooks so a comforter or mattress pad could be hung directly in front of the door to muffle any noise, if needed. I have not tried it, but it seem like it might help. And the magnets are handy for other things.

I just want to reassure you that we have been assigned connecting cabins multiple times and generally we have had no issues (a bit loud once on a different cruise line). We have never had a neighbor in a connecting cabin ask us to quiet down or give us the side-eye. We have had loud neighbors in non-connecting cabins; I do think it would have been worse if there had been a connecting door. If you cannot change cabins, do not be too negative; you may not have any issue firm the connecting cabin. If you do change to a nonconnecting cabin, you cannot assume you will not have a noise issue from a bad neighbor (or a crying baby or rowdy toddler). Always pack earplugs and be glad if you do not use them.

For breakfast sandwich fans on Oasis class, I’d suggest a look at Park Cafe options. Typically there are 2 or 3 options plus breakfast burritos and bagels. You may find breakfast sandwiches at other venues as well.

I called and and asked the origination date on my certificates.…Feb 2015. Does someone have the OBC chart for that certificate?

You have difficulty believing there are people who spend $4000 on average for a one week cruise in a balcony cabin, including all associated costs? It is very easy to do, especially if you cruise and fly at peak times. Why are you limiting the hypothetical man to two cruises a year? His 100 cruises might be spread over about 25 years at about 4 per year (often spring break, a couple weeks in summer, and Christmas). He said it cost him $400000, so there is no particular reason for you to assert his parents or wife paid. You only want to count cruise fare, and perhaps you indeed spend little more. If so fine for you, but that is not true for others. The person in the D lounge was probably including the full cost of the trip; it is reasonable way to look at the cost of cruising.

Some people seem to doubt the guy who calculated $400,000 to make Pinnacle. I’m not there to ask him questions, but I’ll assume he is including all travel expenses. Let’s also assume to reach Pinnacle his family did 100 7 night cruise in balcony cabins and he calculated the average cost of those cruises was $4000 per cruise. If his family cruised at peak times (school holiday and summer break), cruise fares are high; he did not get bargain rates while kid was in school/college. If rates weren’t too bad, they booked two cabins instead. He would include port, taxes, gratuities, and extra tips. His family also spent money on drinks, specialty dining, shore excursions, spa and photos on every cruise. They have a parking fee from their local airport, and airline tickets, pre-cruise hotel, transfer to ship and post cruise transfer to airport. Some food and drink while traveling and during precruise hotel stay. It is not hard to spend $4000 per trip if one adds in all the expenses.

I certainly have not tracked my expenses. We cruise for the cruise experience not in an attempt to make Pinnacle. Some people are only including the cruise fare in their calculation. Others would get a much higher number by include all travel related expenses. Some people’s expenses are much higher. They may indulge more, they may live further away, they may travel at more expensive times of year. There is no set cost to make Pinnacle.

Thanks for looking at your profile. I could not see it in mine either. I planned to use it on a longer cruise, though never seemed to remember…

I have an old Next Cruise in my profile, but I do not remember the issue date. How would I find the issue date?