LOVINCRUIZIN

Aaaahhh - I forgot to factor the warm chocolate melting cake into my recommendation lol

Then JUMP!!!!

We had the same spot on the Splendor last summer. Aside from sailaway, NOBODY came to the deck outside, so it was a great room I would def book again. For us, it had a huge window, but it was an inside category. Definitely a different cabin, but we like the location and pretty private deck.

Whatever excuse you have to use to book the one day...go for it !!!

 

I am a Carnival fan (of late), but I was not thrilled with the BReeze. We were docked next to the Getaway in Nassau, and we were impressed with their fun sailaway and staff interaction. At that moment, I wished I could have "jumped ship" and saled back on the Getaway.

 

The Breeze is nothing special - I think you would be happy on Getaway.

 

Also, watch your specialty dining, and you will only get nickeled and dimed if you let yourself :)

 

Have an awesome cruise!!!

Best way to communicate? Set times for your teens to check in with you. Many ships will have cabin phones with voice mail. They can call in from courtesy phones and leave a message. But you may have to check messages from your cabin and not remotely.

 

For our last cruise' date=' the three of us used the paper method. My hubby would leave a message when he returned to the cabin to change from his workout clothes and say that he's going with his guitar to Skywalkers. I would note down that I finished with hula class and is now on my way to lunch. My teen would write ok, will return to the cabin at such and such time.

 

I don't recommend walkie talkies as they won't work all over the ship and can be annoying to the other passengers.

 

Don't know about the phones as I turn off my phone until we reach a port. My daughter doesn't bring her phone (she's not calling her friends while on a cruise) and my hubby doesn't bring his work phone (he doesn't have a personal cell phone) on a cruise.[/quote']

 

 

I think this is perfect advice. The walkie talkies are indeed annoying to me. It is best to leave notes and have regular meet-up times and places

And spend a real lot of time in the casino and they will keep inviting you back.

I have experienced the same thing - they do come out regularly, and it does become hard to pass a couple up (which is why I went 4 times last year!) But the cruise fare is no the expensive part :eek:

I have cruised with my kids since about 9 months of age (they are 10,13 now).

We have always enjoyed a good mix of adult time and family time.

I never minded sending them to the after hours and paying 20-30 a night for care.

In some cruises, we had a cruise staff come babysit in our cabin for a few hours ar night.

Twice we brought a babysitter along with us.

My 13 year old has cruised 15 times. YES - it's worth it (and my kids agree).

ENJOY IT!!!

I think Royal Caribbean is a good fit. And I believe Freedom class is a nice option.

 

I like to gamble, so Disney is not appealing to me - nor is any Disney park.

 

RC has great facilities for kids, but the overall experience will be great for adults and kids alike.

I am a single mother booking Alaska this summer for myself and my two kids (10,13).

With the great deals I have been offered, I will be using Carnival.

 

Have a great time!

Just snooping around for next month. I will definitely be taxi'ing to West Bay. Thanks for the info :)

All of this is just another reason to buy a passport. Will never understand why folks do want to spend the few dollars for something that lasts for 10 years.

 

 

Add several kids' passports (which expire in 5 years) and perhaps that will help you understand it.

I agree with booking now, especially since you are presumably putting 3 in one cabin. There are limited number of cabins that can accomodate the extra person, and you don't want them to sell out, or be unsold due to capacity restrictions.

[quote name='ja_martin']Thanks for the information! Sounds like you had a good time. I was on The Splendor a couple of years ago, but I couldn't remember if they had the Mongolian Wok. You answered that. For burgers, was it Guy's Burgers? My husband is hoping for Guy's. I am looking forward to next year because we are doing six straight weeks on her. It is a good winter getaway.[/quote]


WOW - sounds like an awesome plan!

You didn't mention gratuities, which is a considerably large expense. Most lines you can add them to your shipboard account, but I prefer to pay them directly to the staff myself, in cash.

We did this itinerary.

Antigua has great ziplining.

And Grenada has fun river tubing.

And Barados pirate ship was a lot of fun (snorkeling with sea turtles)

Another vote for the baths on Virgin Gorda :)

Such a great point!

I'm on Carnival Magic 3/29 Premier cruise. I think it's my third Premier and I've done one other casino offer cruise. I think they are great and have no complaints at all. I'll get $200 cash too. The hosts have been very nice and on top of the Premier gifts have offered comped steakhouse meal or spa visits.

 

Hope they keep offering them so when I retire in 2 or three years I can go more often than a couple of times a year.

 

 

I've heard that on some of those cruises they have so many casino players that you can't move in the casino, and they even increased the table bets to attempt the supply vs demand equation. If this is true, I would much rather cruise on a typical cruise, and not have to fight for a seat at my favorite game :eek:

Parking in NY is expensive. period. However you can't beat the convenience of parking at the pier and taking an elevator down and checking in. For me, it's worth it not to park elsewhere, save a few bucks, pay a taxi or shuttle and lug luggage around NY.

That's funny that she beat you out:) Keep watching. They DO become available randomly. Good luck!

If you are venturing out on your own, in St. Thomas, for example, with that many ships in port, the roadway DO get busy and the trip back to the ship can be long, so leave yourself extra time. If you book an excursion through the cruise line, they will wait for you, so no worries there.

Hey... Congratulations on being the first person with graphics to join in the discussion.

 

PS.... Continue to be happy! :D

 

 

Thanks (sending this just for you and me ;))

 

:D:D:D

Assuming they are "older" teens, you will probably see them in passing during the day. We always had a rule that everyone had to be at dinner each night. We would use that time to be sure everything was going ok and have some fun family time.

 

 

Funny - we do EXACTLY the same thing. And I love our dinners together :)

When our daughter was young, our cabin had a bunk from the cieling and I would not let her use it. Instead, I had our cabin steward bring a crib mattress and she "camped Out" on the floor. At that age - she loved it. Had I known at the time of booking, I would have looked for a couch option.

 

ENJOY!