Rackham

I remember reading somewhere that Royal has concluded ships much larger than Icon don't make much business sense. Probably due to a combination of operation and passenger booking requirements on larger than Icon ships. I'm looking forward to the inevitable articles from non-cruiser reporters comparing Carnival's latest and largest to Royal's newest and smallest (of recent builds). Then the article comments from non-cruisers commanding Royal for going small while Carnival's gone huge. Should be fun with a stiff drink.

I hadn't heard the width comment before, but that got me curious. Assuming Neopanamax sizing, so Royal can use the canal to reposition, this would mean a width up to 51.25 meters (168.14 feet). Current RCCL ship class widths from Wikipedia... Vision ..... 32m (106 ft) Radiance ..... 32.2 m (105.6 ft) Voyager ..... 48.01 m (157.50 ft) Freedom ..... 38.6 m (126 ft 8 in) waterline; 56.0 m (183 ft 8 in) bridge wings Quantum ..... 41.2 m (135 ft 2) waterline; 48.9 m (160 ft 5 in) maximum Quantum Ultra ..... 41.39 m (135 ft 10 in) waterline; 49.39 m (162 ft 0 in) maximum Icon ..... 48.47 m (159.0 ft) Oasis ..... 47 m (154 ft 2 in) waterline; 64.9 m (213 ft) maximum A series of quick searches yields the following max heights out of water for passing under select bridges... Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Tampa Bay ..... 180 ft Francis Scott Key Bridge, Baltimore ..... 185 ft Lions Gate Bridge, Vancouver ..... 188 ft at high tide Bridge of the Americas, Panama ..... 190 ft Radiance class's air draft (height above the waterline) is apparently 172.3 ft. So Discovery class could be as wide as Icon with the air draft of Radiance. Interesting. Edit: I did a very quick edit of Brilliance next to Wonder from CoCo Cay to illustrate what a Radiance class ship would look like with extra girth. Brilliance's width has been scaled to match Wonder's at the waterline.

I have aboard Allure. It was fun, though only a select few got to taste tequila and they only served one Margarita (some reviews have stated unlimited during the class). I've seen people making fun of the class for the name and price ("Who needs a class to make guacamole?"). It's more of a group event Mexican lunch where you're getting to make your own guacamole with the kitchen walking you through the process with everything prepped for you and a bit of information on tequila. From what I recall, they brought out all of the listed appetizers for our table to share and everyone got to order their own entree. Plus your own guacamole, chips, and salsa.

They might be ordering up to 8, which could also mean zero, but that doesn't mean they're taking delivery of eight by 2029. If Royal was aggressive with smaller ship replacement, I could maybe see two Discovery class vessels a year. Three is highly unlikely due to available build slots and financing.

I ended up ordering my Platinum pin on eBay. It was about $13 shipped.

They're being jerks from Miami again. Hinting and teasing at what Discovery class could be, but not saying it. However, would Royal put a brand new ship class on an around the world itinerary, from the start? It might drum up interest in their smaller ships (not to mention the b-roll footage and marketability generated from the stunt)? Or would they do something more conservative and place Discovery No.1 from Vancouver for an inaugural season in Alaska, or similar, which could have a greater variety of people sailing aboard and still have the opportunities for marketing and stunning b-roll?

It's in the section with Schooner Bar recipes.

Best advice I can give is if the answers are all over the place, and the commenters are posting about recent experiences, then there's policy in place that's being either individually interpreted, misunderstood, or poorly communicated. The hack might work for you or it might not. It's up to you to decide if you want to gamble vacation dollars on getting into Atlantis cheaper than purchasing individual day passes. The official policy is same day one night bookings do not receive water park admission which might be leading to the confusion by staff and guests. "Same day one-night bookings will not have access to Atlantis resort facilities and amenities. Advanced booking is required." Where Atlantis is coming from with the no admissions before 3pm on check-in day is from the hotel policy of check-in starting at 3 pm. https://www.choicehotels.com/bahamas/nassau/comfort-suites-hotels/bs003

I'm suspecting MAS is already considering another ship and is in talks with Tampa about space. Can't think of any of the major lines looking to beef up their Tampa presence with other ports in the region not having the same sailing restrictions.

The CBS article: https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/1-3-billion-light-rail-coming-to-fort-lauderdale-hollywood-international-airport/ 4.3B sounds like the entire proposed transportation project costs including the elevated rail extension and airport people mover.

Nope. You don't need printed Set Sail passes so long as you've got the app. Many of us using the app will screenshot our passes, before embarkation, so if there's an issue with the Internet during the process, we can use the screenshots to board.

I can't imagine, assuming reservations before sailing with the UDP becomes possible, that Royal would make available 100% of the inventory for every resturant at every time slot. Though I could see them approaching 100% of inventory as sailings get closer based on expected onboard bookings. So maybe only 20% of inventory for prime time dinner dining at IZUMI hibachi is avaliable for UDP booking before sailing, but there might be 30% available for off hour UDP reservations. And, of course, the percentage could change based on the evening. For example, keeping with hibachi, maybe 30% of prime time spots are offered on the second formal night where the lure of MDR lobster slightly reduces demand. Allowing pre-reservations is in Royal's best interest as it allows them to more easily predict staffing and food ordering requirements before a specific sailing. Hibachi was probably not the best example since it sells out, but this applies across specialty dining.

I wouldn't be shocked if it was AI. Here's a rant I had GPT-4 create for me based on parameters I provided. Absolutely appalled after our recent 5-night Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day cruise aboard the Voyager of the Seas. What a disaster from start to finish! First, our stateroom—talk about false advertising. The room was claustrophobically small and nowhere near as pristine as your brochures would have us believe. Dust bunnies made themselves at home in every corner, and the bedsheets had seen better days. As if that wasn't enough, our luggage arrived at a ridiculous 7 PM on day one, severely cramping our evening plans.And the food! Oh, the food was a tragedy in itself. Both the buffet and the dining room served dishes that were bland and unappetizing, as if they'd been sitting out for hours. How can you justify the costs of this cruise when simple popcorn is exorbitantly priced? I noticed the drinks seemed particularly watered down too. It’s very clear you are cutting corners wherever possible, which is not what we signed up for.Our itinerary issues just add to my grievances. We were supposed to visit Labadee, Haiti, but received a last-minute cancellation while already sailing. No explanations given, just a day at sea with an overcrowded pool deck instead. Speaking of which, finding a lounge chair after noon was like participating in an Olympic sport. Completely unacceptable for what should be a relaxing vacation.Now, about the onboard entertainment—my husband seemed more entertained than usual, which I guess speaks to your choice of performers for "Showgirls." However, I found it quite distasteful and not what I was expecting from family-friendly entertainment. Plus, the special celebration decorations I ordered through the cruise planner never showed up! We were left with no acknowledgment of our special occasion, making the whole experience feel even more impersonal.Lastly, our departure from CocoCay was inexplicably delayed by an extra hour beyond the scheduled all-aboard time, with no communication as to why. This lack of transparency is a recurring theme that really makes me question your organization’s competence and care for your guests.In light of these issues, I expect not only a sincere apology but also appropriate financial compensation. While I understand that the terms agreed upon during booking may not cover compensation for the cancellation of a port, the overall subpar service and failure to deliver what was promised surely warrant some form of recompense. If these issues are not addressed satisfactorily, I will not hesitate to share my experience with a wider audience and reconsider booking with your company in the future.

Yeah, but the Titanic got a closer view of the ice than OP's cruise.

We're doing this? We're doing this. Title: "Cruise Line to Hell" (To the tune of "Highway to Hell" by AC/DC) Verse 1: No more Skagway, hello Strait Point, Where's the fun? This ain't the joint. Paid in full, but just dismay, Royal Caribbean, you'll pay someday! I wanted glaciers, but got a mall, Quantum of the Seas, you drop the ball. No grand ice sights, just a brief peek, Promised close-ups, but it's all weak. Chorus: I'm on a cruise line to hell! Cruise line to hell! Royal Caribbean, what the sell? I'm on a cruise line to hell! Verse 2: Buffet lines, wait your turn, Eating tilapia, watch my stomach churn. Hard cookies, tasteless cake, This gourmet trip is super fake. Shows with feathers, sparkly mess, Weird contests, what a stress. Paid extra for a cupcake bake, Paying for bingo, give me a break! Chorus: I'm on a cruise line to hell! Cruise line to hell! Quantum of the Seas, ringing the bell, I'm on a cruise line to hell! Bridge: Rooms so tight, can't even sneeze, Found a sock, "More towels, please!" Asked four times for a tissue box, This luxury cruise really rocks... Not! Verse 3: Activities? Oh, what a joke, Origami with no paper, they must be broke. Piano bar with a pay-to-play, "Five bucks a song," what did he say? Customer service, don't hold your breath, No answers given, it's all a mess. Post my review, let the truth swell, Warn all the others about this hell. Chorus: I'm on a cruise line to hell! Cruise line to hell! Never again, oh, can't you tell? I'm on a cruise line to hell! Cruise line to hell! Royal's nightmare, a ringing bell, On this cruise line... straight to hell! Outro: So heed my tale, you wanderlust crew, Choose your cruise line wisely, or you're screwed too!