S.A.M.J.R.

Based on reading here, there is no pool in the solarium, just hottub(s?)

When I read the thread earlier, I though "eh, ok, not for me, but if someone wants to do that, go for it". Now that I think about it though, that's taking up relatively valuable real estate. Where there used to be free loungers, now you have to shell out, and you're probably not getting as many people into the same space. I'm not upset, but something I'll be thinking about when we're on Harmony in July.

That makes sense from a building standpoint. "Most (90%?) of the people will either be starting from the bottom or trying to get to the bottom." On a cruise ship, lets say when a show is ending, you have people starting on deck 5, with some wanting to go down, and some wanting to go up. With dinner, you have three decks to supply/pickup from and people could be starting from below or above. But, it sounds like other cruise lines (and I guess Icon?) are using it, so it must not be awful, but is it "better"?

So a kid hitting all the floors in the lobby panel would tie up at least two elevators (one going each direction)? Don't get me wrong, I'm intrigued. I'd like to see how well it works at a "crowded" time... before/after a show, before/after dinner, etc.

OK Sorry, that doesn't make sense. Person 1 (you) is on deck 7 and wants to go to deck 11. Person 2 is on deck 5 and wants to go to deck 11. They would tie up two elevators with a single person each? Why would it assign the same elevator? I thought it was an "express". So if I'm on deck 5 and want to go to 11, someone else in the lobby (deck 5) wants to go to deck 12, they get two different elevators, right? If they get assigned the same elevator, then it's not an "express" to get to deck 12 (because it needs to stop at 11). That's just two people in the same lobby going to two different floors.

So, you're on deck 7 and want to go to deck 11. You get to the elevator lobby and select '11'. You're assigned Elevator E. When that elevator gets there, the doors open, you step on and you're taken to deck 11. Do I have that right? So, what about the person on deck 5 that wants to go to deck 11 and hit their button at the same time? Do they get assigned Elevator E also (because the AI knows you're both going the same place)? In which case, it's not a point to point for them, they have to stop on 7. Or do they get assigned Elevator A, so now you have two elevators, possibly with only one person each both going to the same location? I'm not sure how it stop kids from hitting elevator buttons. Why couldn't they hit all the buttons in the lobby and tie up ALL of the elevators?

Is "she" your friend? Did she get that paper from the bank (actually call and have something emailed or printed in a branch) or online? I think she needs to talk to a human at the bank (if she hasn't already) and say "the vendor says it was declined".

I have no financial backing and didn't stay at a Holiday Inn last night, but I would start with the bank. "The vendor (Royal) says this payment was declined. Do you have anything showing it went through?"

I'm pretty sure you can make reservations for each night before you sail online in the cruise planner or in the app.

What time were you off the ship?

Very simple IMO. Let's say the lifeboat holds space for 100 passengers. That either gives you 50 cabins with 2 people in them or 25 cabins with four in them. So they outfit the ship with 25 cabins that can hold four people. But, not every one of those cabins will be filled. So let's say 20 people take 10 of the cabins, 5 people take 5 cabins, 15 people take 5 cabins and 20 people take 5 cabins. So, 25 cabins, but only 60 people. Leaves a lot of extra space on the life boat. So the rooms are all taken, but lifeboat space isn't. This allows flexibility if someone wants to add a person after booking. I'm sure Royal has math that shows how many berths will be empty. They want to get as many people on board as they can. Eh, it makes sense in my head. 😛

I'm not sure what you're questioning. EVERY item for sale is priced as high as the seller thinks will get the most profit. If things don't sell, the price goes down. Economics 101.

You do know this is how every business operates right?

I can beat that...

On our first cruise in 2013 (Oasis), DW & I paid $250 for an OTW cabana on Labadee. That was the same price we paid in 2014 (Freedom). Now they go for what? Close to $1k (if not over)? But I agree with @cruiseguy1016, if people will pay, why SHOULDN'T RCI charge that much?

Depends on the price difference between the refreshment package and the deluxe package. The refreshment package gets all you of the "extras". The only thing the deluxe gets you additional is alcohol. The price difference could be $60+. That would be four $14 drinks (including tip).

Same site also has it as: Allure 12593 Oasis 10617 Oasis 12235 Allure 12179 And a bunch of others. Looks like the CP balconies are either 2J or 1J...

I thought they used a captain's hat (like Skipper wore in Gilligan's Island). It would be appropriate on a cruise, but I don't know if kids would get the meaning. I do remember in college, I had saved some "Do Not Disturb" signs from hotels I had travelled to and my roommate and I would use those when we... ahem... didn't want to be disturbed. 😉 😄

I don't understand this argument. Because you've paid extra to get access to something, that something should be free? Royal (any company) will charge what it wants to charge. If enough people purchase, they'll at least keep the pricing, if not raise it. If not enough people purchase, they'll lower the price, or do away with the offering. What is so different about these milkshakes? If you don't want to spend that much money on the milkshake, don't. If you do, do. It's the same as: * Itinerary * Ship * Cabin Class * Specialty Restaurant * Excursions * Drinks (and drink packages) And I'm sure a bunch of stuff I'm forgetting.

Read carefully... *WE* couldn't latch the doors. The cabin attendant had to unlock the door (which they wouldn't do with two separate parties). I'm sure the attendant would latch it back if we asked, but is that something you really want to do? 😉

This is incorrect. RCL allows kids to be directly across the hall from the parents. When we travelled as 5 (kids were 16, 10, & 7 I believe), on Freedom, we did connecting balconies. I agree with the two rooms. We've done 5 in hotel rooms for a couple of nights for weekend trips, and while doable, it's a pain. Cruise cabins are generally going to be smaller than hotel rooms. One thing I remember from the connecting rooms, we couldn't latch/lock the connecting door. So "private time" had to be selected carefully to avoid the chance of kids barging in.

Thank you!

I don't, but it shouldn't be too hard to build one of your own.

Android phones can't send/receive text messages (using the Message App) over Wifi. However, you CAN use WhatsApp for text, voice, and video calls on wifi. To test, while at home, go into airplane mode, connect to your home wifi and see if you can send messages. ETA: Have all phones on wifi to test. Just having the iPhone on wifi won't help. ETA 2: At least I've had problems with my Android sending/receiving messages when on Wifi only.

Cruising on RCI Harmony in July. Disembark on a Saturday. NOT early risers, anticipate/hope to get off the ship between 9-10. What's a realistic flight to target out of HOU or IAH? Guessing 12:30-1p from HOU (or later) and 2p or later for IAH? Planning on private car service, but don't know who yet (won't book until air is done). TIA