Seamingo

Your original plan to put the kids first is the best decision, and I would expect the kids’ grandparents would say the same. There is plenty of shade under the thrill park cabanas and from there, you can all enjoy the kids playing and it’s easy for the kids to stop back to rest and tell their stories (and you!) while they are fresh and excited. Stick with the thrill park cabana. 

22 hours ago, Polition67 said:

Looking for some advice, with the deployment schedules being so far apart I’m trying to work out how I would book a side by side 7 night on say star then a 3 or 4 night on say utopia ( all under the assumption Florida is port) does royal do specific sailing days like sat to sat on 7 nights? 

Miami and Ft Lauderdale are close together. You might be able to get ships on the same day. An online search shows they are 30 minutes apart so perhaps use that hotel money towards a driver or taxi?

8 hours ago, gaabbee said:

If you win a bid to a larger room can you call up and add people to your trip? I heard that they may cancel your upgrade if you make any changes. 

Only the original people in your cabin can be moved to the bid cabin. Can’t add anyone from a different cabin or new booking.

On 3/28/2022 at 1:12 PM, hallasm said:

The last entry restrictions in Denmark, which were created as a result of the corona pandemic, are now over.
Requirements for persons who have not been vaccinated with a recognized vaccine or previously infected and who enter from outside the EU and Schengen no longer need to be tested.

This is great news! Thank you so much for posting and for keeping us updated these many months. 

6 hours ago, binro01 said:

I always advise if cabin location is important to you, never book a guarantee cabin and never participate in RoyalUp. It's the same thing.

Interesting way to look at it. I’d never thought of it that way, but you are absolutely right.

We are B2B on Brilliance end of October. Didn’t think twice about making final payments. We are ready to cruise and if the Brilliance is sailing, we’ll be onboard.

I might be on B and C so I think those are great choices!  But I haven’t been to any of the ports so can’t advise you.  
 

While I love the Brilliance, one of my cancelled RCI cruises was advertised as Venice but it wasn’t actually in Venice. It was a port over an hour away. If you want walkability and convenience, be sure to double check that port location. 

1 minute ago, Jimbo said:

how about a trip to the beach, what does that cost?..and why would they need a hotel to go to a water park for the day in Florida. Cococay on the cruise was only one day.

The ship has more entertainment than 1 day. Yes, I said Coco Cay because that is a driving factor when I book family cruises. I know how disappointed my family would be to have a cruise pulled from them at the last minute. Ships provide a togetherness for family and lowered stress for parents that a one day drive and parking then back again doesn’t provide.

13 minutes ago, Jimbo said:

Since you live in Florida, I'm sure you know there are plenty of options to keep the kids happy with all the water parks in your area. I'm sure the kids would fine with a water park like this one.

 

https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/theme-parks/volcano-bay?__source=ps..psta..dr..je..ctpk..pdt..len..adv..ipna..exna..pnbr..pous..cuo..pgl..trna..onof..VB2021&gclid=Cj0KCQjwiqWHBhD2ARIsAPCDzakjqSXBGF-O7WPZCOQW4TqDTI8pxvc1KrEk6d38PYxzNpHMhyBOGKUaAsOWEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

And what would that cost for tickets, hotel, convenience and food for 4 nights? The ship is more than a 1-day waterpark for kids. 

My point is simply that there is more to the OP’s decision than money. 

Money is a consideration, but so is 3 kids disappointed because they were leaving on a cruise to Coco Cay in 2 days. It’s summer vacation and kids need a break from this crazy world too. Kids have been through a lot and need some fun. Cancelling this cruise would be one more loss of normalcy for them.

If you book the guarantee now, you’ll have a price you like. Now remember prices go up and prices go down. If a lower price on your preferred cabin category comes along, switch to that. But it could also sell out by then. In the past they would allow available upgrades (as long we spend more money) even after final payment. I once booked a guarantee and assigned cabin was fine. Then a better guarantee price came along so I rebooked the new guarantee price. Lost first cabin and got new cabin which was also fine. Just because you are guarantee doesn’t mean you can’t still be flexible.
 

Now really think about you. You say you are low maintenance but you wouldn’t be happy unless you get what you want. I get it. Me, too. Maybe book the assigned cabin you want now then watch for lower prices to adjust the rate. That’s my usual plan. Less stress that way.

Good post. I’ve been wondering about this also.

A small flashlight for getting around the cabin at night.

Thanks for your great review and photos, FlowBroTy. We will be on the Mariner in March and appreciate the info on all the activities. Very helpful!

I tried this a few years ago. My husband’s work schedule changed so he could join me after final payment was made for me as a solo. RCI wanted about $500 to add him to the cabin. I was shocked thinking that I already had paid double as a solo but RCI was repricing at current rate plus his port fees which were about $100. The result: It was a 5 night cruise and he didn’t go.

I used a local agent for many years but her service weakened. So like you, I gingerly took the step into the online world. I asked around and now use an online agency recommend by many friends. 

Important to me is access including after hours and on weekends. If my agent isn’t available, his manager or another agent can help me make a change. Obviously I prefer to work with my one agent, but if a better cabin comes available or there’s a price drop on Saturday morning, I don’t want to wait till Monday only to find out it’s gone.

In March we stayed at Red Rood Inn Plus airport Miami. We not only received free parking and a free shuttle to port, but flying back after a transatlantic received free pickup at airport and return to RRI to get our car. Very pleased with staff and accommodations. Free breakfast. No restaurant on site for dinner but the regularly parked food truck in the parking lot had huge, delicious burgers. We would do it again.

We have found best dancing is on ships with a centrum in Radiance and Vision classes. Sedate/older music starting pre-dinner around 5:00 then contemporary and 60’s/70’s starts around 8:00 or 9:00. Usually Viking Crown has a dance floor with piped music or DJ late night. Other bars and poolside have music although not necessarily danceable. Sometimes ballroom music will be piped into the nightclub lounge. Of course, every ship and cruise varies (we thought the the Jewel centrum was too small for dancing). I haven’t been on Adventure, but we cruise on Serenade often (same Radiance class as Jewel) and she does southern Caribbean.

On 9/18/2019 at 8:05 AM, uncwmark said:

 

Thats the strange thing... the one bid which remains in a “pending” status is locked and won’t let me adjust the bid amount?  

That happened to me. Two categories rejected and my remaining bid choice was “stuck” in pending for about 3 weeks with no cabins in that category available. When one opened up, I got the acceptance email and cabin assignment. Happy! Worth the wait! 

We had a starboard ocean balcony Miami to Rome this past spring. Left March 29. We had 2 days of nice weather on the balcony. After that I layered what little warm clothing I had including the robe. I get cold easily and didn't enjoy it. So it depends on when in spring you’re going and where the route is. The inside balcony is the safe choice.

In Juneau we did the canoe paddle and glacier walk where we entered an ice cave in Mendenhall glacier. Strenuous but absolutely fantastic.

We did this last summer. Absolutely loved it. Exhlilerating. Stunningly beautiful. Just great. The tour company provides all gear including boots, poles, crampons, rain coat and rain pants. We booked through the cruiseline and did the canoe paddle and glacier trek to ice caves. I researched and the price was the same booking directly with the tour company. They cannot guarantee visiting an ice cave as safety conditions can change. Absolutely do this. We once did the helo to a glacier which was fun. This was much more strenuous but so worth it. We went mid August. I was worried about age. There were some young girls 10-12ish who had trouble with the 45 minutes paddling each way. The oldest was mid-70’s. Max of 14 per canoe, I think, and 2 guides who were terrific.

You may find more information on the Alaska forum.

We were in Fort-du-France in Martinique in January. They take only euros. Very displeased with port. Needed euros to pee. Seriously. No toilet paper and cashier handed out the toilet paper and wouldn’t take US. The perfume shop clerk and guard just stared at me when I tried to enter. Eventually I found a button to push on the wall. (All instructions were in French.) At the restaurant/pizzeria, we ordered beers and said we would like to order pizza. Brought beers and menus but never came back for our pizza order. Guess that is more info than you wanted, but just my way of saying don’t expect anyone to take US$ there.

Since you are 2 months away, you have already paid in full. That changes the rules a bit. I once booked solo and a week before sailing, my husband’s work schedule changed. We tried to add him. Even though I had paid 200%, RC now considered it a rebooking and wanted an additional $500. My TA spent almost an hour and talked to several people even trying to use our Diamond Plus status to no avail. I was cruising with family so we decided not to pay more for what we had already fully paid, and he didn’t go. Cruises sometimes have a low price period after final payment then get expensive as the ship is filled right before sailing. I say call RC now and see if there is an extra charge. Take that into account, and if reasonable or free, then add the person now.

@ Seamingo and @nednrom, I did more reading and I think it was on TripAdvisor (forum) that I got more details of what takes place for Labor Day. I have made arrangements to have a private guide both days and was told the areas where we will go will be ok. I need to follow up because there are other things we want to do and I don't know if museums will be open.

If nothing else, I will be there before both of you so I can ask about the holidays in July and October. I'm fluent in Spanish, so I will not have any trouble with the details.

That would be great. Thank you so much. It would be nice to know if museums and shops are open. Also Fusterlandia. I have searched online but can’t seem to find information except schools, offices and businesses are closed.