HiCSailor

I carried my steamer but never used it. Security did open my bag and inspect the steamer, before letting me onboard.

From their conversation, Royal allows those with plastic faces, but considers anything with a metal face an iron.

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^^^^ There it is, the post I was waiting for. Let the games begin.

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I'm with the others, I would wait.

That being said, knowing that you are interested in the photo packages, make sure you take full advantage of all the photo ops, from the one before you board to those at each port and around the ship to ensure that you have lots to choose from. The unlimited package can be almost like having a personal photographer for the week if you plan it right.

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This one?

 

http://www.funnyplace.org/stream/celebrity-cruises-back-to-work-8939/

Yes, that's the one! Thanks. [emoji3]

OP: Sorry to aid in taking this thread off topic. How is your planning coming along? Any nagging questions we might help with?

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Since you have a 14yo, you might like this old commercial:

Does anyone know of a commercial with an office worker, reminiscing about their cruise as they drag through their first day back at work? I remember it from years back (1980s?/90s?), but haven't had any luck finding it. Not sure what line it was by.

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My kids (14, 12) and I have enjoyed our three cruises with Royal Caribbean and I think you have chosen well for what you are looking for.

Royal has top-notch children's programs, with adventure ocean for your 10 year old and the "living room" teen center for your older kids to meet their peers.

In addition to the food mentioned above, onboard entertainment is included, as are a basic set of drinks: fruit-flavored drinks, regular coffee, tea, lemonade and juice at breakfast. There is no need to spend additional money onboard, but ample opportunity to do so if you choose.

I spend more time planning what to do in the ports than on the ship. There are sections here for most ports that can help frame your plans.

As you plan, feel free to ask away. Many folks here enjoy helping others and there is much in the archives to be searched as well. Given the shortness of your planning horizon though, just blurt out questions as they arise and we'll respond in kind.

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What you can know with some certainty is when the ship will arrive and depart places. You can also figure rough meal times (eg: 7-10 breakfast, 11-1 lunch, and dinner reservation times and places). A couple major events, like the muster drill prior to sailing and nightly shows can be blocked off. After that, planning for the specific onboard events will be challenging.

Get cruise Compass postings from the itinerary you will sail to get an idea, but bear in mind the activities change from sailing to sailing, based on a number of factors - consider it a guide, not gospel.

Another challenge is the very nature of how the day onboard is laid out. There are activities stacked on top of one another to appeal to a wide variety of guests; so each member of your party may be doing something different during each hour. For example, at 9am there may be trivia, a port lecture, a watch sale, a teen scavenger hunt, a food demonstration, a gym class, and a belly flop competition. While all that is happening there are numerous food and drink venues open, a fitness center, a spa, retail outlets, pools and hot tubs. In short, there are lots of moving parts to keep everyone entertained - and fed.

Similar to Disney, you can plan to trends and major happenings, but the details may just have to be a surprise of the moment.

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Thanks guys!

 

I normally don't bring more than a phone with me on vacation and im not sure what people put in the safe. We finally bought a tablet that we can bring with us places! :D

OP: Yes, it should fit.

As to what others put in the safe, I'll bite. I put passports, wallet, and cash in the safe. Things I don't need onboard, but don't want to lose.

First RCI cruise, booked online for a inside cabin with a double double upgrade to balcony stateroom. Assigned deck 8 on Radiance and I have VIP printed on my Luggage Tags.

 

I've searched high and low and cannot find what this 'VIP' means. Thoughts?

Is VIP the terminal code for Vancouver? Aside from that, the line may see you as a real VIP, hence the upgrades. Are you by chance, a gamer?

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and see. thats part of the challenge for me. It used to be that there was always a sweet spot. I simply cant book 2 years in advance.. I would have to cancel as my schedule fluctuates soo much. So I am just trying to make sense of all of the new stuff, where it certainly seems to be true that booking immediately after the sailings are released is the best deal.

I just booked three onboard and intend to sail the closest one and use the the other two when I see great deals pop up.

Couldn't you book and adjust as your schedule demanded or, like me, book several options onboard and only keep the booking that works? My total deposit for the three bookings was $450, which was matched in OBC.

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It's crazy! However, the best deal I've seen so far was last June. I think it was the 30% off sale?? I remember the RC rep telling me that would be their best sale of the year. Of course, she could have just been saying that, too.

I bought my first cruise in late May 2014. That sale was apparently legendary and the last of the good pricing on RCI. I wonder if it was a mistake that cost someone their job.

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Just back from that trio of ports. In Cozumel, we loved the America's Cup 12M Sailing Challenge and had an active and exciting race.

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I'm a but curious about the need for bottled water. I don't recall the tap water on the ships tasting bad at all. Are people bringing bottled water just for the convenience of it? And with a drink package, can't you get bottled water on board?

Societal influence? We love to buy bottled water. The ship's tap water is at least as purified as the bottled stuff. I bring a water bottle to fill onboard and save the hassle and expense.

Some drink packages include bottled water as an option.

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There are a few non-carbonated options in the freestyle machines and lemonade, flavored waters and tea is available in Windjammer and the MDR.

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Liberty, Port Everglades, March 2015. Trying again today, will post later.

Have a great cruise, Bob.

I'm just off Freedom and saw folks bringing bottles water, but the luggage porters had them carry it on. If it was in luggage, I don't think it would have been an issue.

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I was just checking out the anthem of the seas and I'm just wondering if all the cool activities are included or an extra charge? The sky diving, bumper cars, surfing and big pod thingy look awesome but I'm assuming they aren't included in the base fare.

In addition, all the entertainment (theater shows, music, comedy, dancing, trivia, silly contests) are free.

The things that cost extra are, generally speaking, specialty restaurants, upgraded drinks (beyond tap water, lemonade, fruit-flavored water, tea, and regular coffee), gambling (including bingo), shore excursions, shopping (well, purchasing anyway, including ship-taken photographs), and medical matters (I bring a variety of OTC remedies).

You can have a wonderful time without spending onboard, or you can spend more than your cruise fare. It's at your discretion.

I find the more planning I do, the less money I spend and Cruise Critic has helped empower me to make wise choices.

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My set sail pass does not say if it's terminal 1 or terminal 10.

 

I am sure the rental car shuttle will take us where we need to go, but I am just curious.

 

Thanks. :)

We left from Terminal 1 and I believe we have returned to the same spot.

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There's usually a 70s party at some point too.

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Where are the lockers located? We plan to go to Columbus. Also, do we use cash for float mats and shopping, or the ship card? Thanks!

There are lockers at the zipline check in station, where you get outfitted. You use your seapass card for everything except the craftsmen in the market, who accept cash, and for any extra tips.

I am going to Labadee, Jamaica, Caymen, and Cosumel. What do you think the best place is for just lounging on the beach, enjoying the water and horizon, and a little swimming? Trying to see which places we will actually do an activity. Thank you all for the replies!

 

The only other think I might do is snorkel, the turtle thing, or an underwater sub or something, and maybe the Mayan Ruins. No zip lines or anything like that. But I don't want anything more than a few hours. Even though this is my first cruise, I think I will enjoy the ship more than the shore excursions.

I have the same itinerary on Freedom August 2, and will be using Labadee as my beach day. When do you sail?

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I would go for it. Minimize the size and weight of carry ons and enjoy Reading Market, the historic district and maybe even a museum. Being only 20 minutes away, with taxi, train, car rental and bus options seems to mitigate most of the worries about making the connection. Seems like you could manage around four hours of Philly time.

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Casey is on vacation now, and will be returning to Freedom on August 16 for 4 months. Jamie Fentiman is covering Casey's break from June 7 till Aug 16

Hmmm... Well, well is Jamie's style?

I prefer the funny/silly and omnipresent to the behind-the-curtain wizards. Explorer has set a very high bar for CDs in my mind, I'm afraid.

I haven't cruised NCL yet, but I think Breakaway can't fail to entertain and impress someone in your shoes.

Aside from the Aqua park, and sports deck, there are numerous activities and venues that will offer myriad things to do, from Broadway revues to dance clubs to gourmet dining.

For an aspiring merchant mariner, getting to see how such a ship works should be ample entertainment as well and I'd recommend letting the crew know that you are headed to SUNY Maritime and seeing if you can meet with one of the junior Deck or Engineering Officers.

I wish I'd had the opportunity to speak with industry professionals before I started at Fort Schuyler so many years ago. While Breakaway isn't US-Flagged, it will operate much the same as an American merchant.

I'm not sure if MCL offers a behind the scenes tour, but that's another option too. Try to get a sense of how the ship operates and learn some of the terminology and you will be light years ahead of some of your classmates. Bonus if you can find out what a "cable" measures and how a "Leslie" valve works - to give you a couple of things to pursue in conversation. ;)

If all else fails, I can guarantee you that Breakaway will be more fun than your next cruise. (Insert evil grin). Enjoy the TSES!

Best of luck, both on the cruise and at SUNY Maritime College at Ft Schuyler. Drop me a note if you have questions about the Fort. I'd love to hear your impressions of the cruise as well - pondering NCL with my teens.

Now, given the data, my answer would be the 12 day: longer cruise, newer/bigger ship, and lower fare - a trifecta of cruising triumph, really.

To help the conversation along:

10/05/2016: Depart from*Barcelona, Spain (5pm)*on Brilliance Of The Seas. (Balcony $1963). Ports: Villefranche (Nice), France (10a-7p)*|*Livorno (Florence), Italy*(7a-7p) |Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy*(7a-7p) | Sea Day*| Dubrovnik, Croatia (8a-6p)*|Venice, Italy (3p-overnight - 6:30p)*|*Ravenna, Italy*(7a-5p) |*Kotor, Montenegro*(12:30p-8:30p) |*2 Sea Days*| |Barcelona, Spain*(Arrive 6a).

Bottom line: 12 nights, 8 ports, 3 sea days, ~ $1963. Radiance Class. Round trip Barcelona.

Versus

10/17/2016: Depart from*Venice, Italy*(5p) on*Rhapsody Of The Seas (Balcony $2145). Ports:*Koper, Slovenia*(7a-4p) |*Dubrovnik, Croatia*(1p-8p) |Kotor, Montenegro (7a-6p) | Sea Day*| Valletta, Malta*(9a-6p) | Sea Day*| Palma De Mallorca, Spain*(7a-5p) |*Barcelona, Spain*(7a-6p) | Sea Day |*Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy*(Arrive 5a).

Bottom line: 10 nights, 8 ports, 2 sea days, ~ $2145. Vision Class. One way Venice > Rome.