October17

I’m also looking at this one, actually mailed my TA today to see about cabin choices. I’m undecided between far back on Boardwalk or ocean balcony...

Wow, I’m so sorry to hear about the hassle you are having. Glad you managed to find out some information, but I would change TA... the best of luck, I hope you get it sorted as well as possible 

Hi, I rented a car from Alamo, pick up at Miami airport and drop off at Port Everglades. The drop off address is 1700 Eller Dr. I have tried looking at maps and satellite pictures, but can’t figure out distances etc.

So my question is: willl I be able to drop off the family and luggage by the port, drive to drop off my rental car, and get back to the port area and my family without too much hassle? Security checkpoints and walking/driving/shuttle etc

Thank you for your reply, this is exactly how I was hoping it would work 🙂

Hi there, I would like to hear if you have experience with the photo packages? RCI state one package includes all people in the cabin. So, we are two families with three cabins, one cabin for the “kids” (14, 15 and 19) and one each per parents. 

So if I get the “all photos” option for the kids, will that also include the photos of the kid with parents?

how is this tracked - do the kids need to scan their SeaPass with the photographer, or will we have to browse and “tag” a zillion pictures?

I’ve posted in the Labadee part of the forum, but this section is more active... so, here goes: I have booked the RCI excursion “Sport Fishing” for the teenage boys and fathers in our group. But, I have not been able to find ANY information about it... did anyone here try it, or even see the boats etc? it is over 1000$ for the five of them. So I would dearly love to know something more about it. Reviews seem non existent...

9 hours ago, HOSKI said:

That seems pretty pricey.  I did a quick search and found some trip advisor reviews and most were not positive.

Thank you for your comment 🙂 If it were cheaper it wouldn’t be that bad, but over 1000$ for something vague that might be a disappointment... it is strange that I can’t seem to find any reviews.

On 12/24/2018 at 12:12 AM, Jimbo said:

Going to a show without having to reserve it months ahead of time not really knowing what your schedule for dining looks like and having to plan so far ahead is a pain....Heck you may not even feel like going on the night you reserve...........This way if you feel like going to a show you can show up 10 minutes before it starts and will get a good seat...........Just walk in and be seated and not have to show up 45 minutes before the show in hopes of getting a half decent seat.

 

This makes a vacation  feel more like a vacation since everything isn't preplanned and having a schedule to keep up with. Thats a real pain!

This is exactly why I bought The Key for all of us (7 ppl, 3 cabins) for our upcoming cruise in April. The change to “no reservation required” decided it for me. 

3 minutes ago, Andy C said:

Oh yes. If you want a similar experience for much less try the Paradis. 

Thanks, I will... although I fear you are leading me down a dangerous path... 😂

Yep, I read that just the material for the bottle is hundreds. So it beats an excellent XO any day?

Tell me about the Louis XIII? I love cognac, but have never splurged on this one

I booked directly with Royal, and was able to link them via website a few weeks ago. The option wasn’t there before, but now it was. On the page when you log in, and see the countdown to next cruise, there was an option to link, the button is a bit vaguely named, but goes to the link option. 

Any signs of The Key access at shows etc?! 🙂

I got a tip to look for YT-videos, but they were of another tour, apparently Labadee is a name for a tour company/Amazon location.

So, has anyone tried this? I've booked 5 people at over 200 each, and starting to think maybe cancel, and do seadoos or something instead. 

I just bought this for our group of 7, after some internal debate. I cancelled our 4+3 devices surf&stream instead. This way everyone gets their own internet connection codes, no hassle making sure people only connect one device at a time for the 3+4 devices. And embarkation lunch will save us from the Windjammer hassle first day. But what decided it for me, is that my cruise (April 14th 2019) shows 'no reservations needed' beforehand or onboard for shows. So we don't have to decide on shows beforehand and make reservations, we can just go where we feel like it at the time - that is what vacation is for 🙂 Less scheduling - there's enough to keep track of with massages and excursions, so paying for having less to schedule and keep track of is worth it for me, especially since I'm the "coordinator" for our two families (three cabins, everyone wants massages, ship tours, specialty dining etc), I'm already having enough to keep track of with the different Cruise Planners and bookings.

Royal offered this on our Mediterranean cruise last year, it was called “stay a while” I think. We still had to be out of the cabin at 8, but then spent time by the pool enjoying our day. Bars etc were closed, and most staff had NO idea about the “stay longer” plan. Aldo did not get out armbands to the cabin, had to go to the service desk to get it sorted.

we stayed until around 2pm, having lunch in Windjammer. People were boarding while we were still enjoying our last day.

I’ve only been on one cruise so far, with my teenage son and a friend of his & mother. And the full families are going on a Caribbean cruise in April. While it was (and will be) fun and interesting - all the compromises with excursions, agreeing on schedules etc is a bit of a damper. 

So, I travel a lot for work (maybe 50-60 nights a year) so I’m used to being out by myself. And I also do a few extended weekends etc on my own for stuff that doesn’t interest husband/kid. I love shopping in London for instance, which would bore the family to death... Hubby does his trips with his friends for stuff I don’t enjoy, and I do my trips for my interests. And family trips for stuff we all enjoy. We are a family,  or a chain-gang 😉

I’m already planning to go solo for my next cruise, unless hubby gets bitten by the cruise bug and really wants to go 🙂 I

I have booked the RCI excursion “Sport Fishing” for the teenage boys and fathers in our group. But, I have not been able to find ANY information about it... did anyone here try it, or even see the boats etc?

Thank you for your posts! I will be sailing April 14th, so it is so much fun to read these while waiting 

Thank you, and good to know there is transport back from the airport, might be easiest 🙂 especially with luggage drop off there 

Has anyone here done this “excursion”? Would it be possible to get the luggage and stay in Miami afterwards? I’m thinking it might be an easy way to spend some time while waiting for the hotel check-in time, the tour includes luggage storage st their depot and airport transfer.

Thank you all for your replies - I will sleep until 7:50, leave cabin and get breakfast right after 8 🙂 

1 hour ago, orville99 said:

Unfortunately, the dedicated gluten free islands have disappeared (at least on Oasis class ships). Hope they are still there when we get on Brilliance in two weeks.

Oh no, not good news. But I guess cross contamination is a problem with the buffet areas. Happy to hear pancakes are available though

Hi, I’m not a morning person... I know I have to be out of the stateroom by 8am. So: if I get assigned an early time for leaving the ship, can I sleep as long as possible and then grab breakfast and leave later than my assigned time?

1 hour ago, donaldsc said:

 

I looked at the reviews for the bag on Amazon.  There were 87 reviews for the bag but only 68 of them were from verified purchasers.  That means that 20% of the reviews were by trolls paid for by the company that sold the bag.  Also, 14% of the verified purchaser reviews were 1 or 2 star reviews.  Not sure if I would buy the product based on these facts.

 

The idea may be good but not the product.

 

DON

Well, I have the bag, and really like it, which is why I posted about it. I have also posted a review, although mine does not show up as verified purchase either, since I bought it direct from the manufacturer and the one for my brother from Amazon uk. 

I actually bought a spare 10” square of the fabric directly from the maker as well, to test with my scissors & knife. I was able to poke a small hole in the bag with a very sharp knife, but not able to enlarge the hole. Tried ripping with pliers etc. and the wire that is inside the black fabric “strap” which you attach  it to a secure object, feels thick enough. Sure, not “bomb proof” but secure enough, no one is going to snatch it or quickly get into the bag.