Pre and Post Cruise Hotels - We stayed at the Stanford Hillview pre-cruise and BP International post-cruise. Both are close to the cruise terminal and cost ~$100/night. Of the two, BP International is the choice. It's modern, clean and has great views.

Visas - a major point of contention. I had been emailing RCCL for weeks asking if a visa was necessary for Sanya, China. The replies I received either avoided the question or pointed to information on their website. Well, the information is incorrect. Save yourself $260 (for a couple). No visa is needed for Americans in Sanya. RCCL provided Vietnamese visas for $30pp.

Embarkation - Total Chaos - Check-in at the Marco Polo Hotel was a model of disorganization. We were sent to three different locations for check in, all incorrect. We were sent outside the building twice and sent in the wrong direction. Be prepared for long lines, more long lines and confusion. Read more