rockmom

Here's the map. If it were me (grandma of 5), I'd probably do Breezy Bay. Closer to the pool, the snacks and lunch are right there and not too far to get to the small water park for little kids that is 'free' because it's not inside the main water park which has a charge. Not sure what to tell you on if they'll count the toddler, my guess is that they will.

It's a perfect size then! So much fun stuff to do, but not massive like an Oasis Class. It's very easy to find your way around on this class of ship--and they did a fantastic job on the 'amp'/refurbishment.

I'd risk it if is a big savings. There are a few balcony cabins that are obstructed a bit--those are the ones that are aft facing the wake, so there's superstructure and to see the water, you have to look out, not down. There aren't very many on deck 10, where you could end up under the pool which can be loud, but deck 10 is predominantly grand, owners and Jr suites both forward and midship. However, there are balconies at in the rear section of Deck 10, which would put you under the windjammer, which can get noisy too if you're a light sleeper (think of them rolling around carts, chairs, etc. as they set up for an early breakfast. Lastly, some balcony cabins can be connecting and not everyone likes have that door inside their room. I've never had any issues with that on any ship, with regard to noise, but some people have. So, if the savings is worth not knowing where you'll be, and you can live with whatever would be your 'worst case scenario' for a location, then go for it.

Agree! I was surprised to see in the Cruise Compass for my sailing last month, a big note that said: "Pump the Jams, Not the Volume. We know you're excited to blast your vacation playlist, however personal speaker devices are not permitted in public areas. Also, please be mindful of the volume in your stateroom." So clearly, there have been enough complaints that they are trying to address the speaker situation.

You should be totally fine. As soon as you connect to the ship's wifi, you'll see all the times for things in the app and the option to reserve the shows that require reservations. I'd grab the Aqua show first--and early in the sailing as they can get moved if there's wind/rough seas. That gives you time to book a spot later in case you need to. Ice show is a smaller venue, so grab that too, then Grease. Oh, and the comedy shows are in a very small venue, so you should grab that too if you want to catch that as well. You can do all this via the app, but when you board, you can ask what area is set up as 'the 'box office' where you can go and they will help you book all of these. If you're in a full suite, the concierge will send you an email a few days prior and ask what you'd like reserved. So that takes care of it if you're in a suite.

Check in opens 45 days prior to your sail date. You want to log in and do you check in either on the app or website so you can snag the earliest check in time slot (usually somewhere between 10:30 and 11 am). You can do this for yourself and anyone else in your room or with a linked reservation. That way you all get the same boarding time. You can choose the boarding time and then come back later and enter things like your credit card. You can also always go back and edit most info. But grabbing the boarding time you want is the main focus for many of us.

Check in actually opens 45 days before sailing, it's the cruise docs that appear 30 days out.

But I definitely feel for you, what a nightmare. 😞

Did you purchase 'cancel for any reason' insurance? Otherwise, you are likely out of luck.

Two things--first, you can't make reservations until you're onboard when you have the UDP. Second, on many ships, there are special dinners at an upcharge from the normal, single purchase price, for nights like NYE. Guessing that would be a no-go for the UDP.

Chill Island, lower left that are pink. Breezy Bay at Chill Island, along top, just left of center, purple.

You can also check in without putting in your passport number. Just choose a different thing like birth certificate, so you can grab the time you want. Then come back after you get your passport and edit your form of ID. Done it several times when I didn't have passport info for family members or friends who were part of the reservation I was checking everyone in for. That way we all had the same boarding time.

On our sailing earlier this month, it was at 7 pm and 9:15 on day 4 (we had a 5 night sailing). I think the times were the same for the 3 night ones I did earlier this year. I-skate I think was at 8 and 10-ish. But I do think it varies by sailing and depends on the length of the cruise.

I have been on three times this year, the most recent being 3 weeks ago. I haven't heard of any of those shows on Navigator. There's the ice show (I-Skate) the production show in the theater (Showgirls Past, Present and Future) and then normally a comedian and maybe one other headliner. Of course there are various things like jazz, latin, guitar, piano performers in the smaller bars.

That was one of my Royal Up wins, we sailed in June (so hot!, lol) Have a great cruise!

Both times I've had a Royal Up accepted, it took a day or two for the luggage tags to update. So check tomorrow and the next day. Worst case is you can get new ones at the port, not a big deal.

no clue, but it's been that way as long as I remember for things like Bungalows, Cabanas and Beach Beds at both Labadee and Coco Cay.

Bueller here,....hahaha! Only ONE person books it. Then you can cram in as many others as you'd like. They are meant for two people, but the lounge thing is big. We pulled a couple of other loungers to each side of the Casita they gave us. We did get to the casita check in early, and then went to our assigned casita right away so that we could set it up that way. With regard to the booze and water, there will be a 'table' that is also a cooler that will have 4 bottles of water in it. And it comes with 2 cocktails, they don't care who drinks them.

Welcome to Cruise Critic. First of all, no reservations are needed for Windjammer. So don't worry about that. Don't use the app for pre-cruise planning and reservations. It's mainly for use on the ship or helpful to see what shows (as you get closer) for daily activities. But until you are actually onboard and connected to the ship's wifi (free connect for just using the app) it won't really be fully accurate or functional. So, to book things before the cruise, like a wifi package, you need to log into your Royal Caribbean account via a web browser, then go to 'plan my cruise' and you'll see things you can book, like wifi, drink packages, specialty dining, excursions. For a May cruise, there probably isn't much yet, I have a cruise in May also and there's only a couple of things in there. Keep an eye out for what is usually some good sales for those things in the Cruise Planner at Thanksgiving/Black Friday/Cyber Monday. But even then, they might not have everything loaded for a May sailing, although I hope the do. Hope this helps!

Curious how this affects those in suites and having the concierge email you the schedule ahead of time and asking what you'd like reserved.

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/food-drink-onboard-policy#:~:text=Guests may also bring non,bottles or cartons per stateroom.

it either has that or a small sofa bed. But that's a great location, not too far up to the pool/buffet, not too far down to the promenade. I've been on Navigator 3 times this year, and was on deck 9 earlier this month, although I was pretty far up on the forward side. Have a great cruise and congrats on the upgrade! 🙂

Here's the the key to the symbols from Royal's page. If there's a triangle or an asterisk, it means it holds more than just two people.

As Merion Mom pointed out, the Key doesn't get you 'shows when you want'. Once you get onboard and make show reservations, those that have the Key have a reserved area to sit--but you MUST get there early because they open those seats up to anyone about 10 minutes before show time. Also, the reserved area is usually on the mezzanine for the main theater. The Key seats are just behind those in full suites. Yes, the UDP might be on sale at a good price, Black Friday can be hit or miss, and right now Royal is trying to recoup as much as they can from the shutdown. The base prices for everything have really increased quite a bit, which means the sale prices are now pretty much what base prices were pre-Covid. We have done the early dining, and yes 5:15 is a bit early. But we liked it because we could then get to the early shows and not feel guilty about an after-show snack.

More likely entering in all the price increases so that when Black Friday comes, the 'big sale' prices will still be more than today's current 'sale' prices.