4CruisingSake

Thanks so much! May I ask why did you get a cab on the return?

Soooo many people cruising on Allure every week. Really hoping somebody out there can help out??

I should have mentioned this is for Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale.

Not having a lot of luck finding much info/reviews on them....which is surprising since their price seems to be the lowest about $39 for 7 days.

Their website says they park at Embassy Suites but doesn't give much more info. Does anyone have any experience with them??

Your sea pass card is your room key right? I have only been on 1 cruise with RCL so not sure if the same for all ships. I got mine hole punched in the Kids Club when I took my kids & they gave me an extra lanyard to clip it too. Wore it same as the kids. Worked perfect.

The last part of my post was an off the cuff suggestion made because she did ask about just bringing the passport cards. It is an option when sailing in the western hemisphere and with a cruise line that doesn't require it.

That was what I had thought & my reason for buying them. Just didn't realize I would still need passports if need to fly back in emergency. In any case...the kids now have photo ID, so still best for them in port! Thanks so much!

We are taking a closed loop Caribbean cruise. Maybe that would be a good idea though to take the passport cards with us in port & leave the passports in the safe. I definitely don't want to have to have anything overnighted in an emergency when I can just take them with me. Thanks for the additional tips!

Ok, great! Thanks for all the responses! One more thing I can mark off my preparation list!

-Too many shoes.

-Too many nice outfits. Read all those threads about dress code & thought I should wear something a little nicer around the ship. Nope, outside of the dining room, most people are very casual & still in swimsuits & shorts, etc. And since we ended up going to the Windjammer most meals, completely unnecessary.

-Laptop & tablets. Kids never touched once (although they use a lot for 10+ hr drive to port. So maybe still safer to bring than leave in the car). Neither did I. Used my phone.

-Electric toothbrushes. We used them obviously, but took up so much space. May just buy cheap, disposable ones for next cruise.

-Extension cord - not allowed. Was confiscated.

-Too many curling irons/flat irons/ blowdryer. I just let my hair air dry plus there was blowdryer in cabin.Only curled once for formal night.

-Socks. Only need 1 pair for ice skating, which we never got a chance to do.

-Sand toys. The kids enjoyed them but so big & bulky to carry in port. Nobody wanted to be stuck carrying them, so only used once.

For snacks on port, we packed cereal boxes, etc from the WindJammer. Worked great.

Things I WISHED I had:

-Thin hangers- not enough in the closet (RCL)

-Waterproof case for my phone (trying to take pics at beach w fear of dropping phone in water)

-Alarm clock (used alarm on my phone but was muted one morning & missed it. I like the idea of using wakeup call. Should have thought of that)

-Over door hook -kept looking for place to hang something. Not much floorspace)

-More sunscreen. We don't use much at home. Didn't realize how fast we'd (adult+3kids) go through a big bottle & very expensive to buy on ship/in ports.

First time cruising with our new passports. Is that all we need?

On our first cruise we all used birth certificates & my drivers license & old marriage certificate to show my name change from my birth certificate.

If I am understanding correctly, with the passports, I won't need any of that? We also have the new passport ID cards...can we just use those instead of bringing actual passports? I am a single parent traveling solo with my children. I do also have the notary letter even though I never needed it last time.

Thanks for any feedback.

Total bill. Btw you are talking about $2.40 discount for your child.

True....but I have 3 kids! ;)

If I am booking dinner rsvp for myself and children, would the 30% off be for my dinners as well as 30% off of the children's $8 rate?

Why are power strips banned?

Power strips are okay. Extension cords will be confiscated.

Pools open at 9am/ Slides open at 10am. DIGS open at 9am.

Can't comment on the tournament. I was under the impression they were advance tickets.

I meant tickets for the DIG, not the tournament. I heard tickets could sell out if high occupancy. I assumed the tournament would increase occupancy. But, maybe selling out is only an issue for the waterpark & not the Digs.

The Pirate's Museum might be too much for that schedule. We have done both.

 

Doesn't Atlantis have an e-mail for finding times?

Alas, they don't seem to respond to email & website chat doesn't have a human behind it.

No worries, I think I've gotten all my questions answered. Thank you so much everyone for your input!

I am researching into visiting the Atlantis Aquarium w my 3 kids. Our ship is in port 7am - 2pm. From what I've been able to read the pools open at 9am, but the park does not open until 10 or 11am (?)...but what about the Aquarium itself? I have been unable to find the hours for that from searching or the Atlantis website. :confused:

I am also very determined to visit the Cloisters, so for those with experience, does this seem doable with our short port time? Would we also have time to visit the Pirate museum? And what would be the best schedule? I'm thinking take a cab straight to the Cloisters & then walk over to the Aquarium, and if time permits then visit the Pirate Museum?

I'm assuming there is no fee for the Cloisters, correct?

We are visiting on Nov 24 and there is a basketball tournament later in the week. Do you think we would have much trouble getting tickets....or is selling out only an issue for the waterpark? Thank you for any help!

how old are your children?

11, 6, 7

Yep, exactly! I'm sure you will love it & your kids will have a blast! I took my kids on our first in May & it was the best! The Kids Club is a game changer! Time with kids + time to relax alone + one on one time with each kid!

Be sure to look up pics of these places especially Ft Fincastle on Trip Advisor. I had it on my list of places to visit along with Queens Staircase & Water Tower, but after seeing the pics was very unimpressed. Just best to know before you go & form your own opinion. I've unfortunately crossed so many places off my list now. :(

One place I am still looking forward to seeing that looks beautiful but I never see anyone mention here on CC is the Cloisters & Versailles.

I have read about a place called Dino's conch salad that is supposed to have best on the island. Is a sweeter, tropical variation from the original. Hoping to try it when I go in November.

Does anyone have any links to a 2014 Kids compass? I have only been able to find Western route from 2013. Would it be pretty much the same? Trying to see if I need to adjust show & dinner reservations to avoid conflicts with Kids/family events we may want to do. Thanks!

Thank you! I have been looking for this info. Been trying to do exact same (also on an Allure cruise in Nov). Since mine is for myself + 3 children, it is a HUGE difference & extremely frustrating (especially being that I am a software developer)! :banghead: 1 rsvp is going to cost me $120 instead of $54!:eek::(

We also did the turtle farm and really enjoyed it. The guide was great about talking about the island and pointing things out to us on the bus ride over. After the turtle farm we walked across the street to swim with dolphins. Also enjoyed this experience, but if you are sailing to Cozumel on this cruise, the Dolphin Encounter experience looked much nicer at Chaakanab.

Park Deli sandwiches & chips to go!! GREAT TIP! So much better than my taking cereal boxes and fruit (I know, I know...but I didn't know then) for port days on last cruise!

Also, the new deck plans! WOW! No Cupcake cupboard, no donut shop, no secret balconies! :eek:

Did this in March 2015. Great fun. Just make sure you have good water shoes. Also suggest you wear a t shirt and take a dry one to change into. You have to wear a life vest. It is quite a walk to get to the cave. Lunch was tasty. Very ethnic for the area.

Thanks for the tips! This will be a first for us!

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