Mearley09

On 1/24/2022 at 3:39 PM, ugagal07 said:

We sailed over Thanksgiving, so things could have shifted since then.  Here was our experience:
1. There is no Compass.  There are not scheduled activities, it's all set up in 3 hour blocks of time. No sharing of materials. They played soccer, but couldn't touch the ball or it had to go out to be sanitized. They colored, but only with their crayons. They did a water relay with pipettes, but only touched their pipette.

2. You need to go to Adventure Ocean when you board to register them. You can sign up for a limited number of 3 hour blocks for the first few days.  After that, they will open up to add more slots.  Slots are limited.  We could register for 2 and then add another on day 3.  We were never able to get that extra slot.

3. The times were 9-12, 2-5, 7-10.  No late drop offs.  People without reservations would be allowed to take unclaimed reservations 15 minutes after the slot opened. 

4. Be there early to drop off. They didn't start drop offs until the time frame opened.  We had to be there 20-25 minutes early so we could get through the drop off line before that 15 minutes hit and they took people without reservations.  All in all, it took a good 40-45 minutes to drop off.

5. They don't serve or allow any food, meaning no dinner service anymore.  My kids loved it too.

6. In the past, they had the family events like movies, science experiments, etc.  Those aren't happening right now. 

We couldn't get an evening block of time and dinner reservations, so our kids went to Wonderland with us. Overall, it was not Adventure Ocean of the past - not even close.  They 2 times they were there, they seemed to have fun, but weren't sad they didn't get to go back.  It wasn't like the pre-covid days. 

Thank you for explaining all this.  I hope it has changed because that sounds like a bummer.  My kids loved the Pajama night, the trash the club night, all the sports.  I understand they are being careful though. 

23 hours ago, sford75 said:

I just got off Freedom last weekend. I have this covered in my vlog on YouTube (Shannon Ford) and have a recap going up Wednesday. 

 

It has changed since the start of the New Year. No more reservations. First come first served. This was never an issue on our sailing, but could on others.

 

We are booked on Odyssey during Spring Break in March and concerned about the first come first served since we expect a lot of kids.

 

Thank you very much!  I will look for your vlog!

Hello all!

Heading out on our first cruise in almost two years this March. Kids (11,10, & 7) are super excited but I want to manage theirs and our expectations for them.  I have not been able to find much on what the program is like now except for a few articles when they first reopened.  I am just curious how different it is compared to before covid.  We used to send them for an hour or so while we got ready for Dinner and then an hour or so in the evenings.  We also usually have them eat one dinner with the club so we can have one dinner just us. 

Do you have to make reservations? Is there limited time they can spend there?  Do they take them for dinner still and if so, what are the safety protocols?

Even though they love the 1 dinner they get to eat there, I might just take them to grab something from promenade or buffet before we drop them off.

I would love to see a daily comapass for the club if anyone has them?

Thanks in advance guys!

We did it on the Oasis, as we enjoy it on land back home. I found it very underwhelming and would not go again. My shrimp was overcooked and I didn't think it was worth what we were charged.

Heading out on FOS in 2 weeks. Does anyone know if/where they do this on it?

I would love to hear from you about activities and events that you really enjoyed and also if you find any that were not worth your time.

Also if you find anything delicious that is a "Must try" or things that cruisers might not want to order.

Thank you and Enjoy!!

Looking forward to your review. Funny about how your email said worlds larges cruise ship. I was on Freedom when she was still the largest in 2008. I will be on her again in 3 more weeks doing the Eastern Itinerary. Safe travels and have a great cruise.

We will be right along with you! Cant wait!

OP- Enjoy your cruise, cant wait to read all about it!:D

Hello! I traveled with my 2, almost 3 year old last April after the refurb.

Splashaway bay is great but how great depends on the size and potty trained status of your kids.

There are two sections. They are attached and separated by a clear piece of fiberglass.

One side is smaller, about an inch of water in it, not a whole lot to do but there is a little geyser and a little slide. If you are young enough to be in there, I am sure it is a blast. I would bring some tub or pool toys to play here for some extra fun. Water is shallow enough for crawlers to crawl in. For non-potty trained only and you have to prove you have swim diapers on them. My little was potty trained so we were not permitted in here. They are strict about it too. There are two lifeguards in this section.

The other side is larger, has a neat tube slide, has more to do.. buckets dumping, more sprayers and geysers to play with. Water is same depth. This side is only for potty-trained. No swim diapers here. The catch - there is a height minimum for the slide. If you have a potty trained shorty like I did at the time, they cant use either slide. So he used all of our pool toys - rubber sharks, plastic trucks, duckies...etc to entertain himself.

There is a bench all the way around so I was able to sit right there and watch all three play. It was nice!

My kids also loved the mini golf. We did not try the nursery so I cant comment there. Happy to answer any questions you have! We traveled with 6, 4, and 2 year olds - didn't use any chidwatch/care/clubs.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2588475

Thank youuu!

I am having trouble posting them.

If you send me your email, I will send them to you.

Mind sending me the menus? Megearley09@gmail.com

I was on the eight-day sailing last month but don't have any menus or Compasses.

 

As for must-dos:

 

The ice show for sure

If you don't try the Flowrider, at least go watch

Participate in the games

People watch in the Promenade

Haha, people watching is one of our favs! Thanks!

They just started the 8 nighter that starts with 2 days at sea, St. Kitts, St. Maarten, PR, and Haiti in that order.

I am on this itinerary 4/14. I am wondering if anyone has cruise compasses or order of menus? Trying to play which nights to go to the dining room and which nights to make other reservations for.

Anyone have and Must-Do's or Must Try's?

Thank you in advance!!

I did that itinerary recently. Had a great time. For more detailed info, Google Matt Hochberg. He was on that cruise too and wrote a blog about it.

 

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

He had them on his site. Thank you so much. That really is a great site!

Thank you for the information! Is the 5 day itinerary relatively close to the 4 night? Like, do they just not use the last menu? We were trying to pick a night for Chops based on menu's. Basically wondering if there is a 70's party or anything like that?

I cannot find much information on this cruise with a quick search. I am looking for cruisers reviews and/or cruise compasses from a 4 night sailing on Indy. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Second night.

 

This is the only place to find those type of answers, the cruise line does not publish that info.

(y) Thanks!!

Hello Cruise Critic Family!

A quick search didn't turn up my answer - We have never take a 4 night cruise before. We are going on Indy March first for a 4 nighter. The husband has something up his sleeve and is bugging me to find out which night is formal night definitively. I am assuming it is the second night - wouldn't be the first or last and the third we are in Cozumel until 6. However I need to be "Definitive". Can anyone help? Also, if you can help, where do you find these answers so I don't have to bug y'all in the future. ;)

Check this review:

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2425744

You are an endless resource! Thank you so much!!:D:D:D

Hi Cruisers: On Freedom back to back in Dec. and will be joining you on 2-25. This is lineup. Bob

 

 

Sun....Mojo

 

Mon ..Saffron

 

Tue....pimento

 

Wed ..Basil

 

Thur...Jasmine

 

Fri...Pomodoro

Would you happen to know the order for an 8 night freedom cruise on 4/14?

We actually wound up doing it on our own because it didnt fit our time. We did go to Pirate Republic which was awesome. I also recommend the bearded clam. It is an outdoor bar that is in an ally. (Sounds shady but it was awesome). It is down one of the alley ways off of the main street that Pirate Republic is on. Then if you keep going straight on the main street, you run into senor frogs which is always an experience, followed buy a restaurant just two buildings up, Dali Tappas - for some of the best conch fritters I have ever had. It was awesome!

We did start this day off with a walk down to Junkanoo Beach where we found a hut where 6 beers and 8 shots were $9. It was an awesome day!

Like you, we always cruise just Mom & Dad but in April we took our three kids, 6, 5, and 2. It was a challenge!

Best advice I can offer is just go with the flow and don't have TOO many expectations. We brought the blow up pool but never used it and it took up space we didn't have. I would bring a few things that they can play with in the pool/splash area - we had a few plastic boats and a few cars as well as a few little squeeze squirters. Also, I cannot recommend enough the use of tablets. Our oldest have kindle fires for kids and our youngest has a leap pad. They used it every night after at the table after they were done with their dinner. I kept it in a bag until they finished their meals. We had family time the first 20 mins or so while they ate entrees and then after that, my husband and I were able to enjoy each other without fighting.

Also, I would bring a small container or Tide. We found we had a few spills and accidents that needed to be cleaned right away and I was glad I could wash and hang their shirts so they weren't ruined.

As for sleeping and privacy, we were all on top of each other and no one had trouble falling asleep. Everyone is so tired that they all just crashed. In the AM, if they woke up and we werent ready to get up, they relaxed with their tablets for a few minutes.

Happy to answer any questions you may have because I had a ton for my first time!

That's a link right into the booking part. I have found that the secure ("https") parts of the website work fine for me, so I can use Firefox on those. On the non-secure ("http") parts of the website, I have to use Internet Explorer.

Great, I will remember that for next time!

Let me know if this link works: https://secure.royalcaribbean.com/cruises

That did work, thank you! What did you do?

Phone lines are open and working

Yes, just called, thanks so much!

Using FIrefox, have cleared cookies, and I still cant get to the booking site.