KnightsFan

Thanks for the quick replies. I think he is more concerned about on the road-it may sound silly but drug cartel incidents with tourists getting in the way, shootings that kind of thing.

Tampatramp-thank god we are on Adventure of the Seas!! I think Penny is there!

There isn't much cartel activity in the Yucatan, it'd be like worrying about criminal activity in Atlanta while visiting Miami. Or LA and visiting Orlando. And an increase of homicides can be 10 instead of 2.

The roads between the port and Chacchoben aren't too busy, the busiest area is right outside where locals sell pineapple.

We were on the Allure's Western Intinerary last week and could always find chairs in the Solarium even though it was a predominantly adult cruise, most passengers appeared to be 20-40 something DINKs and empty nesters. They weren't always in the spot that we wanted, but there were always some available.

Chair hogs were also not a problem.

Of course, this could be different if you're sailing during a busier time.

Quick update: We did this tour last week from the Allure and it was great. ROA lived up to the expectations, it was a nice ride from the port to their dock and the snorkeling was fantastic. The guides were all very personable and made sure we enjoyed ourselves.

The waves were a bit high, but it didn't impact our experience much. The only downside was that the fins were well worn, but they kept the mile long drift from being too taxing. They also provided lifejackets or pool noodles, the pool noodle was surprisingly effective at allowing me to get under the water a bit while not being too encumbering like a life jacket. Underwater we were able to see a lot of the reef and they took us past the drop-off, the highlight was a lionfish and nurse shark.

A dress shirt and tie without a jacket makes you look like an 18 year old out on his first job interview. Bring a jacket, it doesn't take up anymore room than a pair of shorts if folded properly.

Tequila in Cozumel ain't a bad deal if you do your research. It's not about getting the pricey stuff, it's about getting the stuff you can't find in the States.

These things happen, the time delay is because they need to make sure they're not leaving another guest without a vacation.

If your card wasn't charged, and the next charge isn't for a while, you have time.

In fact, what's most likely is that you would've gotten a 'free' cruise out of the deal.

I can't answer about the route from Fort Lauderdale to Everglades NP, but I can answer about the SunPass system.

For much of the Florida Turnpike they've done away with manned booths or even coin booths, now it's toll-by-plate. So if you don't have a transponder they send you a bill after the fact.

The way this works with rental cars is that they send it to the rental car company and then the rental car company bills you. But some rental cars do also have transponders in them, or transponders that you can rent.

And looking at Everglades NP, why drive all the way down to Homestead when you can enter at the Miami gate?

Thanks for doing this, I like to hear the perspective of corporate jumpers, helps me to know if I'm missing out on anything by sticking to RCI.

It must be wierd but the ingredients are;

1.5 oz VODKA

4 oz. Orange juice

1.5 oz Galileo

1 marichanoo cherry over ice

HB glass

Why would that be odd?

I meant that it's weird they didn't know of it, not that the drink itself is weird.

If you're coming in on a Sunday go to the Lake Eola Farmer's Market in downtown Orlando, there's a small playground near the lake and normal farmers' market stuff.

You'll see real Orlando and kill a few hours.

Why can't any one make a Harvey Wallbanger. Most bar tenders have never heard of it anymore. Nor has my spellcheck.

It's a wonderful classic drink.that has been around forever until I became legal.

That is a weird one. It's also surprising that they don't have books with recipes behind the bar to consult.

Sure...if they have it, they will mix it! You'll be surprised at how many drinks they know how to make!

I was on the NCL Sky and had to explain, in the champagne bar, how to make a French 75 … Ironically, the same bartender knew how to make a hell of a dry gin martini.

How do you pack your sport coat without messing it up if you don’t bring a garment bag where it’s packed away neatly on the hanger? We’ve always brought a garment bag that fit multiple jackets and dresses on past cruises, but trying to avoid that this time so it’s easier to carry off our luggage when we return.

Here are two good ways: The Roll Method and The Fold Method. I prefer the fold method, I'm bad at rolling for whatever reason.

For the general topic: Royal needs to update their dress code, in most of North America we've accepted that denim is no longer a working fabric. Dark colored jeans are considered snazzy for men and women, I've been to $100+ restaurants without a jacket in sight and ties are going the way of the cravat.

When you're cruising will you specify a specific recipe for more obscure beverages? For instance, a classic daiquiri (2 oz. rum, 1 oz. lime juice, 1/2 oz. syrup; shaken) or a Mary Pickford (1 oz. rum, 2 oz. pineapple juice, dash grenadine).

We have been travelling internationally 4-6 months a year for the past 5 years. DW bungs her prescriptions in one bottle....an unmarked container.

 

We have been through customs, security countless times on six continents. The pills are always in her carry on. Not once have we ever been questioned about the contents. Not once has anyone even lifted the container out of her bag.

 

Think about this...the original RX bottle is meaningless. Whose to say what is really in that container? A written prescription or physicians letter....someone with basic computer skills and a decent printer could dummy one up in 15 minutes.

Just because you haven't had a problem doesn't mean other people won't have a problem.

And that's why you also carry a copy of the prescription order itself, the whole point is to give the investigating agency somebody to verify your prescription with.

Patience; passport; air freshener, so much rich food and meat it's necessary; Bluetooth speaker, for light music on the balcony or in the cabin; headphones; cheap champagne, nothing like mimosas on the balcony on a sea day; nice wine, nothing like a nice bottle of wine before dinner; mini-library, in a week long cruise I'll go through two or three books easy; water bottle, those cups are way too small.

Thank you for the reply. We actually don’t arrive in port until 1:00 and won’t start the tour until 2:00. The more I contemplate, I think we will save this excursion until she’s a little older.

 

 

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Oh wow, that definitely changes it. Probably interfere with nap time. For the kiddo and adults!

For anyone worried about contact from Native Tours, I booked a couple weekends ago and they were prompt in responding with all the information necessary.

I have booked the ruins only tour with Native Choice but am starting to second guess this decision. My daughter will have just turned four (4 days before excursion) and I’m afraid the tour and ride to the ruins will be too much for someone her age. Has anyone done this tour with a child this young? If so, would you recommend? If not, based on your experience do you think you would?

 

 

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Only you know your daughter, can she handle an hour long bus ride followed by walking around ruins? Some four year olds will be fine, others won't be.

Maybe keep her up late so she sleeps on the bus ride there. Let her walk by herself and run around when there's a break during the tour before the ride back.

Thanks. Lots of good features. A little fast but I was looking for public places and found most.

If you open up the YouTube video's settings menu you can slow down the video to .5 or .25 speed. You can also increase the speed by 1.25, 1.5 and 2.

If these are just decorative it's possible that the original was made/ordered before she was finished, and the latter was updated after the early-2017 drydock and suite additions.

You can also see the etchings arw substantially different.

We had to book each night individually, we're hoping that we can get the same waiter at least a few nights so we don't have to explain my wife's dairy allergy every night.

These are great! Too often these video reviews are too jerky or don't give a good perspective on the space, you did a fine job.

Why risk the hassle of being detained and arrested in a foreign country when you can avoid it by taking medication in the original container with a copy of your prescription?

Candied ginger is pretty cheap and packable. If you run out you can also get ginger beer from a couple of bars onboard. Ginger ale is also a good standby, but it depends on the brand if it actually has ginger in it.

Another option is to go to a bar and ask for a plain soda, ginger ale or tonic with five or six dashes of bitters in it. That's a pretty traditional upset stomach treatment because of the herbs and flavoring in the bitters.

I'm sure you know this, so forgive me, but I worked in tourism for too long not to realize people forget this: Let your toddlers set the pace of everything, vacation meltdowns tend to be from the parents pushing the kids to hard.

Formal nights are on days 2 and 5. With my time dining you can actually set your dinner time up ahead of time through the cruise planner on RCI's website, or see if you can switch to traditional dining.

I can't help with excursions, but I would suggest not doing one in Nassau. It's a pretty mediocre port and seems to exist just to send cruise passengers to Atlantis. Instead use it to let your kids explore the ship when it's less than busy.

If your mom is game for it, you should talk to her about being on baby sitting duty one day and night so you and your wife can have a day alone without worrying about the kids. And then on another day, if she wants it, she can have a day to herself. And then on another day your wife gets a day to herself.