Nickymjw1

On NCL you could order a bottle and you could bring you own soda or juice on board. We normally put a 6 pack of coke and a 6 pack of water in our small suitcase with our shoes etc. i don't like soda and don't want the calories of drinking juice for a week (i prefer eating my calories :-)). Then I use Crystal light in my water. I guess now I just have to send hubby to the bar :-). We are traveling with a 4 yr old granddaughter of whom we have custody so she needs a good afternoon nap so a drink on the balcony while she is napping is nice. I don't drink when she is up and with us. Can you bring water and soda on RCI now that they do drink packages? I don't drink enough to do the alcohol one and don't know if I want to spend $140/7 days for water and coffee.. I'm sure there is free coffee right?

Thanks for all the feedback! I feel like a novice cruiser going on a new line for us!

can you get a bar setup with RCI for your cabin? If so, how do

I go about it?

Thanks

Thanks for all the great info.

Question about anytime dining. Can you just show up and get seated or is there a very long wait. The reservation for specific time confused me. Is there a specific dining room for anytime dining?

We are late eaters as we like to let out granddaughter take an early evening nap before dinner & night entertainment.

2nd question abou beaches in Labadee. We will go to the furthest beach that was mentioned earlier. Are there shaded areas or umbrellas?

Thanks

That really helps. We are really starting to lean towards The Freedom. I am a little weary of large ships due to back issues i prefer not to have to feel like I am walking back and forth in a mall size ship, but it is starting to sound really good :)

we sailed Norwegian for many years and loved the food. We have been sailing Carnival lately due to departure port, dates, etc.

We are considering going to the Freedom.

How would you compare the food on RCC vs. Carnival?

Do they have food options available at all times besides burgers?

We did a 4 day RCC cruise on one of the older ships a lot of years ago and it seemed that I always hungry at the wrong time, and the only option was the burger joint.

Thanks,.. hate to say it but food is important to me on a cruise :-)

There's a website that list spring break by week listing how many spring breakers and what schools/states.

I don't know the website anymore but I am sure if you do a google search you will find it.

We are cruising with a 4 yr old that really loved the large splash pad on the Fascination (one of the older, smaller ships). From the pictures I have seen it seems the Splash pad for the little ones is really small on the Sunshine and I don't see a lot of seating.

Could you shed some light on this?

We have never sailed Royal Carribean but they seem to have a great kids splash zone on the Freedom.

I like the Sunshine's itinerary to Aruba and Curacao though.

thanks

Her section is on the right of the hostess station. She said she is going homein October for a 2 month break. Don't know beginning or end. Nctribe, our pool only looked like that embarkation day. After that they all were sitting side by side with there feet in the water with a drink in their hand. And others in the water with a drink.

I wish I could go on the back to back with you! Back to work today was crazy. A weeks worth of work waiting on me

Quick review while on the way home. Dining room was excellent. I was pleasantly surprised since last time I wasnt impressed. We had anytime dining, never had to wait. Wiwik (waitress in celebration was wonderful. She was great with our toddler too. Pool Deck too crowded and too loud with Dj music. Pool standing room only unless you go early or late. Loungers available on upper decks. Serenity was nice. Waterpark great for kids and adults no loud music. Guess that song was the most fun. They did it 3 different nights w. different songs. By the bar near casino. Deck party was fun. It was veeeery hot on deck during party. If u are a late luncher, pay attention to buffet closing time because they will pack up on the dot at 2:30, even removed platters right in front of people! The mgr made them put it back to let people fix there plate. Freeport port area has been built up a lot since April. Snack bars, Sparky's , etc. ok were home. More later

when we went cave tubing 2 yrs ago we had a private excursion that was great and we cose them because they left from a closer area with shorter walk. That was great plus they helped carry my tube at times, but the worst part was the feet/armpit hooking up because they put me as head person and my husband behind me and a whole bunch ofother people. He was fussing at me because i couldn't keep his foot from slipping but dang, i probably had 500lbs of people behind me. Also it was difficult in the cave to look straight with the helmet slippi g etc. We free floated afterwards which was great. The buffet lunch was awesome. I did get jealous when I saw the people with the headrest tubes! And i didn't know they hooked together! Definately worth extra money! Next time in Belize we will use them.

We really like the raddison in Pt. Canaveral. Gives that vacation atmosphere with pool bar and live entertainment. They have a great shuttle service to the port. Multiple vans, very well organized. Btw for drivers you can leave your car for the week. Also great greek restaurant right next door & mcdonalds across the street for cheap breakfast if you dont want to eat in the hotel

Wasn't there a hair dryer in the vanity drawer? About time to get to port to park. By 11am is a good time, right at start , before lines get long

Btw, soda should be in carry on. I think u can take a 12 pack of 20 oz bottles. I take Crystal light singles to mix with cruise ship water.

Those stick on heating pads work really well! Regarding $$, i take cash for tips on the ship for room service and i always give extra to room Steward at the beginning of the trip and end. As far. As in port, i'd say give yourself a budget per port. If u r buying souvenirs for others, calculate a per person $ amount. Bahamas u can find shot glasses around $4, t-shirts 3 for $20 deals on lower quality, beach bags 10, etc. honestly I am like the previous poster, I don't waste money on that junk anymore. Kids never wore the shirts, other trinkets end up in a drawer or box or goodwill. I prefer buying authentic stuff and that is hard to find in Bahamas. Calculate about $100- $150 for taxi,food & drinks per port for a couple.+ excursion money. It's really a personal thing but hopefully that gives u an idea.

9/22 sailing only $174 for interior with military rate. Past guest $239. I wish my 9/27 sailing would drop like that! It's still $314. I still have hope for a price drop since there a still quite a few cabins left in my category...

if I recall right the parking hangars are elevated a few feet. Someone correct me if I am wrong. I have to check my pictures...

$50 price drop on one 1 cabin (military rate) and $10 on other (past guest).

Price viewer doesn't show Military rate so if you can qualify check the regular book a cruise way.

Nctribe i didnt have a problem on the Dream an even the imagination (or wathever the Jax ship is) but Fantasy felt rock hard. Maybe i was extra sensative that week. I'm a side sleeper and i need cushioning for my hips. Maybe they haven't upgraded all rhe matresses on the Fantasy in a long time. But u should be fine if u need a hard bed :-). Btw, haven't heard back from Carnival about my special request besides the auto reply that they received my email

Official bed tester! Sign me up!

 

I have a friend that brings a topper for her bed but it is memory foam and very bulky. They sell those mattress toppers at walmart (i got one for my son) and they are quite comfy. You could probably put one in your checked luggage. They fold small enough for a rolling carry on.

Is anyone else not able to see the Shem creek inn pictures?

also, All (I guess that's what we starting to call you lol) I was planning on checking out Walmart before spending a lot of money on Amazon for the self inflatable thing. My concern with that one was that it's build to retain keep you warm by retaining your body heat. (i guess when they sleep in a tent you need that) since I am hot natured I might be burning up if I use it on the ship! DH always complains about me freezing him to death...lol

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001QWIUTY/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?ie=UTF8&smid=A7QEO1E135RVN

Looks great! Now i kind of wish i wouldn't have jumped the gun with priceline :-(. Now all we need is for you to go test the beds for us! Lol. I have major back issues so a good bed is something I always worry about. I am actually considering buying a self inflatable matress topper i saw on Amazon. It is for campers and folds up to a 1 liter bottle of coke size. Last April when we sailed the Fantasy the beds were very hard for me. DH was fine. Room stewart said they didn't have an eggcrate for the bed so i ended up putting the extra duvet under the top sheet. It helped a little but not enough . So i email special needs dept at Carnival to get a matress topper. I haven't heard back yet. Does anyone have a travel matress topper or something they used?

It's too late for me to change since I used priceline so no rush. I think they let you leave your car too if others are interested. I love the area!

What's your thoughts on the Shem Creek inn? That was my other choice but it was $89 per room + taxes, so probaby close to $220 or so for 2 rooms.

That was going to be my other choice if I was unable to get a good deal in North Charleston for 3 1/2 or 4 star. I figured if we would stay there then I would spend more money on lunch and dinner for 4 as well if we walk over to one of the shem creek restaurants. Might be an option for next visit to Charleston though. We are only 2 1/2 hrs away and I love Charleston.

By the way, I noticed that you are from the Augusta area. I have to say that the Burn Center in Augusta is one of the finest. My DBF was life flighted there after our home caught on fire January of 2011. They do amazing work there.

I hope I didn't come across wrong with my reply. Definately didn't mean to! I've stayed in West Ashley before for a week with my sister some suites down on 17. It was a good location. I like to go to the outlet mall pre-cruise so I like staying close. Always go to Stride right get granddaughter shoes. She has wide feet and this is one of the few places we can find her shoes. You are right, wouldn't walk around. Once my DH stopped at a gas station I think it was on Ashley Fosfate rd or something and I did not feel safe. I sure locked the doors while I was waiting in the car and kept my eyes out.

I think it is awesome that you use your personal time to check out hotels for CC members.

The Burn Center is amazing. I hope tyou DBF is ok now. And so sorry to hear about your house fire. I have a friend that has a rare desease where she has to get surgery and skin grafts often and they are great. She suffers so much but knowing the docs care so much and fight with the insurance for her is awesome.

This is also where Amy Copeland was treated. The Georgia girl with the flesh eating desease.

Sonwhat area do you live at? At one point we were thinking of relocating to Charleston but you can definately can get more house for the money here. We just moved to Graniteville, closer to my job in Aiken.

we drove. Drove to outlet mall, drove back to hotel, no issues. We don't stay out late since we have a toddler.

I don't think any of the Charleston (or most cities) Areas should be walked

unless you are in downtown Historic Charleston.

Most 3 1/2 or 4 star hotels have shuttles if you didn't bring your car. Since I needed 2 rooms I just can't see myself spend $$250 - a $400 to stay downtown or in Mount Pleasant.

i booked the Sheraton in N. Charleston for $65 through priceline. Choose n. Charleston/colliseum area, bid on 3 1/2 star and u will more than likely get the Sheraton.

We stayed there for our April cruise and it was very nice. I was concerned due to some bad reviews in the past end ended up stressing over nothing. Very nice indoor/outdoor pool, Right by outlet mall. Outlet also has a Walmart for last minute shopping and the best Golden Corral buffet I've ever been to! I contacted the hotel last time and they gave us connecting rooms which worked out great.

About 10 minutes from downtown.

Last time we asked if we could leave our car and they said that was fine but we ended up driving to the port. I don't like having to wait on shuttles, etc.