flyingandcruising

I have cruised several times with my kids who are currently 2&5. I reduce the tips (for my children) and give the difference to the youth staff, you know the ones that are actually providing my children more of a service. With that being said, I pick up our room, make the bed, put the bunk away, pack the crib away everyday, etc. With 4 of us in the cabin, it needs to be clean and tidy and I do 99% of it before the attendant arrives. Flame away. Ps. I also used to work on cruise ships and have worked in the service industry for 15 plus years and don't feel one bit sorry about it. Flame away...

Maui couldn't agree more! I clean up after my kids. It truly isn't a ton of extra work in my cabin.

 

Notentirelynormal: tips are NOT a given. If I receive poor service you bet I'm reducing the tips. Do I expect poor service? No. Do I tip for good service? Yes of course I do. But to suggest that it is harder to clean a toilet because an extra person used it? Give me a break!

 

All I'm saying is that provided you understand how the tips are split up, if you don't feel that service was provided, then it is perfectly acceptable to reduce them. If you feel the service was good, then of course the hard working crew should receive it.

 

For the record, I have at times reduced my tips, paid the "customary" amount, and at times have increased or tipped extra in cash. All depends on the experience.

 

 

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I agree, You both said what I was trying to say. This is also the reason that I disagree they should charge full amount for a 1.5 year old. And no snarky responses of 'well if you dont want to pay, then dont go' I obviously still chose to pay and will enjoy our time.

You should always tip based on what you feel is right for the services you received. We will be taking our 20 month old on his 2nd cruise next month and will most likely give more to some services and less to others. He has a peanut allergy so even though he will not eat much, I hope they go a little extra mile to accommodate him and therefore will give a bigger tip to the wait staff, but for other services may give less based on that he wont watch the shows, or use any of the activities. We will use our own sheets for him, and towels, etc in the room as well.

Hi everyone!

We will be going on the Carnival Breeze in 2 weeks with my 9 month old. We have asked for a crib to be provided. Does anyone know what kind of crib they bring? Is it something they leave in the room the entire week? Or stow it away during the day?

 

Thank you!

They are the size of a regular pack n play, not the size of a standard crib. They will leave it all week, but it does kind of fold up if you want it tucked away somewhere. It's metal in material. If you bring pack n play size sheets, that will work perfectly.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Sailing on harmony and Thinking of getting the refreshment package as we don't drink alcohol. What are some of your favourite refreshment package drinks?

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Did you find out that sorrentos was safe for peanut allergy?

Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do during the Labadee port? the MDR is not open for lunch that day. My son has a peanut allergy.

Are there any definite safes for the windjammer (all meals). For example the milk and cereal i would assume are safe, since they are sealed. We're staying away from all desserts regardless.

I will fore sure be talking to the matre d when we board anyway though.

Thank you

I've already checked in on line for both me and DH. We are able to print our set sail passes. But I do not see any luggage tags attached. Will they send those images to my email at a latter date? We are sailing on April 2,2017. Is it too soon? I usually sail Carnival and they send the luggage tags with the on line check in. Thanks in advance for your help.

I believe the luggage tags are available within 49 days of the cruise. It's different than CCL

Here are compasses from Jan 14th.

www.royalcaribbean blog.com/cruise-compasses/harmony-of-the-seas/sat-2017-01-14-0000

No space between royalcaribbean and blog

Thank you both for the replies. :D

Hello Fellow cruisers,.

Just wondering if anyone knows the bed location of 11613, or any surrounding cabins and I can figure out the location from that.

Thank you to all that reply.

All great advise above. We brought our 6 mos old last year.

Bring some things from his/her room that they would be familiar with. such as sheets from home for the crib (Pack n play size) for the smell, bring noise machine, etc. Try to make the surroundings similar to home.

bring extra pacifiers, loveys, etc.

There is other good advice on the thread, but also: don't stress. Our daughter was a difficult sleeper up until age 6-1/2. She has always gotten to sleep and slept like a champ on a ship (unless way overtired.) I think the excitement, activity, the (slightly) extended days, the sea air, and the motion of the ship all help to get her to sleep more easily.

 

Note that sometimes the balcony doors are outrageously loud in a quiet cabin, so hopefully that won't be the case for you and you'll be able to enjoy the balcony. We also could not hear the monitor given the wind and water noise on the balcony, so we would up leaving the door ajar to solve both problems.

Thank you, good to note about the monitor noise. Not stressed at all. This is actually his second cruise, but the first since he's been sleeping through the night.

I have seen some people that bring magnetic hooks to put on the ceiling and hang a thicker shower curtain around the crib/pack n play. I am going to try this on our cruise on Sunday. We also got a balcony so we can sit out there while he naps and goes to bed. He is 15 months and we also had a hard time with getting him to sleep when he was younger, still have some rough nights but I think it's just from teething (almost done, canines coming in now then just the last set of molars to go!). We are also brining an audio monitor so I can hear him while on the balcony. I'm hoping he will be able to fall asleep if I leave on one of the small lamps by the bed so we can see while getting ready for bed after he is asleep. The cabin will have good black out curtains over the balcony door/window.

 

 

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That's a awesome idea about the shower and hooks. Thanks.

At home, our 19 month old sleeps in his own room, with black out blinds, and a noise machine. We will take his noise machine with us but putting him to sleep in the same room as us may be a challenge (he was a very difficult sleeper for the first 8 months of his life, we eventually had to call in a sleep consultant). he will NOT sleep in his stroller, so that's out of the question for naps unfortunately.

Just wondering what your strategies are for napping/sleeping your toddler in the cabin with you. We obviously would need to stay in the cabin with him during naps because even with a monitor I'm sure we cant go any further than the balcony.

Thanks for all the replys.

Hi there, We are travelling on Harmony of the Seas Western Caribbean in March. We have travelled with RC before, but never on a ship this size, and first time with our toddler. Also the first time with a Central Park balcony (we've always had ocean view balconies). I am feeling overwhelmed by all the things to do and planning that needs to be done in advance. Also trying to picture how we will arrange cabin with the play pen. (And where I'll be while he naps!) Any information or insight would be really appreciated. Thanks!!

We are in the exact same 'Boat' in March, also in a central park cabin. Traveling with our ,then 21 Month old son. We did cruise with him last year on carnival when he was 6 months. We figure things will be pretty much the same this time around except that he's now sleeping through the night and down to 1 nap per day.

To help you out somewhat. There is nothing to be worried about or be overwhelmed with. The pack n' play (which is what RCL provides) should easily fit in front of the couch, and it fold up easily as well when your son isnt sleeping. While he naps, just take the monitor onto the balcony with you, close the door, and have some coffee/snacks while people watching overlooking central park. Also maybe you and your significant other can take turns in the cabin.

It will be fore sure different with a baby in the room, but you will all get used to it. Just go, have a great time and any time you have free just take advantage of it. Also there is a toddler room on the ship with toys and things to play with. It is open during the day and you can take him and play with him.

Let me know if you have any other questions that I may have missed.

Is there any chance that you can please post the compasses? Thank you.

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Donut dinner was day 3 in the WJ last week on the Allure.

I wonder if they will have this for our harmony cruise.

That's a new one to me; I've traveled on many different airlines and never heard any pre-boarding announcement for people with allergies.

 

 

 

What's next? Pre-boarding for blondes? :0

They board with the handicap. The reason that they have pre-boarding for allergies is to give a chance to wipe down the seats with disinfectant wipes.

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Can't believe I didn't think of this before, but anyone know if I need to carry on my epipen and inhalor in a special way for a flight. American out of MSP if that makes a difference. Does it need to be in the baggie with the "liquids". It does have the scrip from the pharm on it, so that's traceable. Leaving home tomorrow.

Happy Cruising

TIA

No need to worry about epi-pen or any other meds. Be aware though, American Airlines will not grant people with allergies to pre-board (unlike other airlines). http://thegate.boardingarea.com/is-the-food-allergy-policy-of-american-airlines-considered-discriminatory/

If you did not call and talk to someone at the actual location, it might be worth doing so. Even if the pickup is set for FLL, you may be able to alter the arrangement by talking to a local. If that is, the port shuttle still goes to Crowne Plaza HLE.

 

I have often pickuped at Hertz FLL and dropped off at Crowne Plaza HLE, and vice versa. Although not recently.

 

(Many years ago Hertz and other FLL rental companies ran a shuttle bus service between the car rental terminal and the cruise port. At some point several years ago, Hertz dropped out of the program and ran its own cruise shuttle out of the Crowne Plaza HLE location.)

I agree, try calling the actual location when you get to the airport, they may come grab you. Thats what they told me (after I took a taxi). I rented there in may of last year. taxi was about $10 including tip. They also told me to keep the taxi receipt next time and they may discount the rental price.

Easy to rent to/from Hertz for a Ft Lauderdale cruise. We have done it many,many times. Shuttle is free and frequent.

Don't use the airport Hertz to rent-they do not have shuttles. The Office for pickup or drop off is:

HERTZ Ft. Lauderdale/Port Everglades: Crowne Plaza HLE

455 SE 24th St St Rd 48 Crown Plaza ft Lauderdale 33316 Florida Phone : 954-761-1163

I second this location being great. We haven't used them to/from cruise, but they do have a shuttle to port everglades and will also take you to the airport if you ask. They do not have permission to use their shuttle to the airport, but will take you in private car if not busy.

Would like to rent a car after our cruise because our flight is not until 5pm. Thrifty has a good price and the Miami Rd. location seems fairly close to the Port......a short taxi/uber ride.

 

Our plans are to head up to Delray Beach for the craft fair on April 9th, have lunch and head back to FLL. Has anyone rented from Thrifty at that location? My other choice was Budget at the Quay shops but their reviews have been so-so.

 

Should I add on the option for tolls? Not sure if we will hit tolls between the Port>Delray>FLL? Seems they add on hefty surcharge if you don't add it on.

 

Thanks!

As long as you stay out of the express lanes on I95, you should not need to use tolls. Just take I95 north to delray.

We are a three-generation family group of 12 spread over 5 cabins for an upcoming cruise on the Allure. One cabin is booked for my sister and for one of my granddaughters, although the latter may end up sleeping with her parents.

 

For the online check-in, I believe that my granddaughter's parents can add her to their account for financial issues. What about all of the other information, including passport information? Can her parents submit that information, or must my sister as part of the "cabin" check-in?

I just did this, as my son was under my moms reservation. When you log into RCCL, under 'my cruises' you can add any reservation you want, if you have the number and last name, and you are able to add any information to that portfolio.

There is only 1 comedian per week and he or she does all the shows that week. Simeon, the host, does a 5-10 minute warm up. At the end of the week that guest comedian leaves and another boards the ship.

Does the comedian have the same 'act' every show? or does he/she change it up throughout the week.