S.A.M.J.R.

I think the suggestion is you and DW keep your balcony cabin and get a SECOND, interior cabin across the hall for the 20 year olds. There are a LOT of benefits to that, with the only negative (that I can see) is cost. You'd need to price it out to see what the difference is.

It was more of a joke, but all the electronic reminders don't help if there's a power outage. 😉

Never say never... a power outage in your area? 🤪

Not familiar with British "consumer act". Does it allow you to NOT pay a vendor when the vendor requires it and you still get the product? I also wanted to ask... when you first book your cruise and get an email confirmation, does it not say "full payment due on 'x'"? There's your notification. I don't think quoting what happened during the pandemic is a good indication of what's "allowed". How about you do this... don't pay when your final payment is due. Say you never got the email. Go to board, and when they say your cruise was cancelled for lack of payment, tell them you're going to pay them 90 days after the cruise is over. When they say you can't do that, let them know you fall under the British consumer protection. Let us know how it works out for you.

If only wishing made it so. The problem is, it really doesn't matter what you want. You agreed to PIF 90 days ahead of time. Check your contract. Pretty sure it doesn't say anything about "we'll definitely email you." It really doesn't matter how Royal pays their vendors. That's up to the agreement between the two companies. The agreement between you and Royal says you'll pay 90 days ahead of time. FWIW, if you didn't know, your utilities at your house will cut you off for non-payment, whether you received an invoice from them or not.

I believe only certain ships use RFID cards, not all of them.

You're not allowed to share the drink packages. But yes, one needs to estimate how many drinks they would purchase each day (on average) to decide if a package is "worth it". Figure mocktails, waters, premium coffee, soda, etc coast $3-10 each.

Why? Hotels would have tracking on what key opens the door just like ships. Whats the difference?

There are reports on CC of ships SOMETIMES staying on departure time, and SOMETIMES going to local time. Port Schedules (put out by the port) will be local time. My advice, is simply ask the excursion folks. They're going to know what time you need to be back to the ship.

Well, there are cash accounts AND one presumably could use a CC with a low limit. Either way, if the bill is higher (whether for medical, excursions, drink/dining plans, etc), you won't be allowed off if you still owe money.

I'm the paranoid type, so I'd put it back in the bag if I wasn't in the room. I'm sure part of the contract is Royal isn't responsible for items not in the safe. There are probably hundreds of thousands of examples of folks leaving electronics out with no issue, but I would still put the computer out of sight.

They did for us. In 2014, DD cut her head in the pool on night 1. Sutures, followups, and no charge. In 2016(?), I sprained my knee playing volleyball. X-rays, crutches for a day, then a cane to get off the ship, no charge. OP, they wouldn't have let them off the ship without taking care of the bill. If it didn't get charged to the cabin, they're not billing for it.

Here's my solution... don't like what a company is providing you? Vote with your wallet.

I appreciate that, but a) it's an article, not a posted RCI policy and B) it just says "during the daily cleaning... beds made up in the evening for 3rd beds". Doesn't state there will be an extra service to put up or take down a bed.

Can you provide a link to that published statement? I'm not doubting you, but it might help someone to have (for peace of mind if nothing else). Stop using logic. Cruise ships are apparently some magical place where people expect things to never change.

I guess, when you look at it, that you can pay monthly, or even daily for it, it won't be that bad. Oh wait, you can't? Is it a good thing to have? Yes. Do I have one? Yes Is it NEEDED? No. And if you go back to the OP's later response, it's not even her(?) kids.

"Several" posts? How many? 10? 20? 50? Compared to the hundreds of thousands that DIDN'T have an issue?

Yup. And I was the first one to ask WHAT she's anxious about (which she hasn't answered). All the others only answered "get them passports".

What other OPTIONAL "small potatoes" should everyone purchase? Specialty restaurants? Coco Cay waterpark passes? The bottom line is passports are NOT required (US Citizens + closed loop cruise).

And an actual Real ID is cheaper, easier to get, quicker to get, and easier to store/travel with.

It's only insurance "for many years" IF you travel out of the country in those years. If you never leave the US, it's basically wasted money.

And if it's not? Yes, it's a gamble. But one where the odds favor NOT needing the passport. How many tens (hundreds?) of thousands of people cruise that DON'T have to fly back mid way? For the record, I have a passport and bring it when we cruise. But I won't tell someone they HAVE to have one when they don't.

Because THEY. ARE. NOT. NEEDED. Some people don't like spending money they don't need to. For the OP... what are you anxious about? That you won't be allowed to board? Assuming they are state issued, official birth certificates, you're fine. If you're anxious about something happening during the cruise and you'll need to fly back from another country, then you might be better with passports. BUT, keep in mind the lead time to get passports (you don't say when your cruise is).

But if you have the digital downloads, you can print at various stores in your area for MUCH cheaper than having them printed on the ship, no? Maybe that's just my "cheapness" showing.

I'm curious, why would you want a mix? Is it just to make sure you have something (in case you never get the link like what happened to PP)?