Mum2Mercury

Two thoughts: - If you want to go with Royal, but you don't want something big and oversized. Consider the mid-sized ships ... Explorer, Liberty and Mariner come to mind. Big enough to have plenty of amenities, small to find your way around and small enough that you don't have to walk forever. - Perhaps most importantly, I really don't care whether other people choose Royal ... or any other cruise line.

What's included in your ticket: - Meals in the Main Dining Room, Windjammer Buffet, Sorrento's Pizza, Cafe Promenade (sandwiches, desserts, drinks), Solarium Bistro Buffet, El Loco Fresh Mexican food - Water, tea, lemonade, fruit punch, and basic coffee - You don't need to buy water bottles. Just bring a refillable bottle; the water onboard is purified and is equal to what you'd buy in a bottle. Cups of water are sitting out any time the Windjammer is open. Cafe Promenade and a couple other small venues have self-serve water sitting out all the time. - Pools, shows, most entertainment What costs extra: - Specialty restaurants -- we don't bother - Alcoholic beverages, milkshakes, smoothies, and some other drinks - Room service is about $10 (for all you care to order) + you should tip your delivery person. - You can absolutely have a wonderful cruise without paying a penny extra onboard. If you opt for extra-cost meals or alcoholic beverages, you can buy them individually OR get a package. How flexible is it if we want to eat at a slightly later time? - You've signed up for Traditional Early Seating in the Main Dining Room. If you eat in the dining room, it'll be at 5:00 -- it's organized so that everyone enters together, the wait staff serves appetizers at the same time, etc. - If you want to give up Early Seating, you can change to My Time Dining, which means you can choose different times each evening -- but your options'll all start later. Like after 7:15. - You aren't locked into eating in the MDR every night. With an 18-month old, dinner in the Windjammer Buffet might be easier. The smaller venues (pizza, Mexican) are also open for dinner. Is it possible to just spend the day at CocoCay and not pay for any of these things? - Absolutely yes. - The first thing you'll see when you walk onto the island is a giant pirate ship playground. Your 18-month old'll love it. No cost. - Choose a beach and grab some chairs. - Yes, water (and other drinks) are free at the two big buffets (Chill Grill and ... I forget the other name), but drinks aren't available until just before lunch opens. No breakfast is available on the island either. It'd be smart to bring some water from the ship. - It's a long walk from the ship to the island. With a child, you'd better bring that stroller along. When we call in San Juan and Saint Marteen, - You'll find shopping, food, entertainment around the port. You can absolutely fill the time an 18-month old will "last" by just walking around. You can take a taxi to a nearby beach. - Yes, the ship wants you to buy their shore excursions. Private excursions can also be found on the internet. - Most excursions include transportation, but you should read the details and know exactly what's included (you might need to wear certain shoes or bring water, etc.). Some excursions include food. - Regardless of what you do, be sure you know what time the ship will sail, and return to the ship with 2 hours to spare. I'm interested in the Old San Juan City Tour, but it says Restriction Minimum age 3 years. Since my child will be only 18 months, does that mean we can't take him? Even if I'm wearing him on a baby carrier? Don't sign up for any excursion for which you're not qualified. You don't want to be told at the port, "Sorry, you can't come." When you call in Bahamas and Saint Marteen, do you have to go through a border control process and get your passport stamped? How long does that process usually take? Every time you exit the ship, security will run your Ship IDs through a machine that keeps count of who's on /who's off the ship -- then they'll do the same when you return. Few islands require passports -- your Ship ID is enough. How long does it usually take for everyone to disembark from the ship? Is it very slow? No. We do self-disembarkation, and we get in line about 7:00. We're always in our car headed North by 7:30. But we're easy: We're natural born Americans with the same last name, we pack light, carry our own stuff and don't buy anything. Are the shows aboard the ship free or do you have to pay for them? Included in your ticket price. I don't see any options to pay for on-ship entertainment like the waterparks, so does that mean they are free and included in the price of the cruise? Included in your ticket price. I read that Royal Caribbean cruises have a childcare service where we can leave our child. Do I need to book that ahead of time? Go to the daycare area shortly after boarding and sign your child up. Children under 3 only get day care -- older children get great programming, but that's for future cruises. I think it costs $10/hour. They'll tell you how to sign up. Will we be able to buy diapers onboard the cruise? Probably, but they'll cost so much more. Bring what you need from home. If you're flying in /can't carry everything, buy what you need in your port city the night before you board. You do know you need to arrive a day ahead of boarding, don't you? Bring your own sippy cups, etc. Will we be able to get a crib for our suite? You can request a Pack-n-Play. I personally would bring my child's own sheets. Will we be able to get a diaper pail? No. Since you're in a suite, your Cabin Steward will come to your room twice a day; emptying the garbage will be a part of that service. Who do I contact about these? Do I need to request them ahead of the cruise, or once I've boarded the ship? Two weeks before the cruise, email Special_Needs@RCCL.com . Put the name of the ship and your sailing date in the title line, or they won't even open your email. If these things aren't in place when you arrive, speak to your Cabin Steward; those guys are your front-line helpers in so many ways. Are compact, foldable strollers allowed onboard the ship at no extra charge? Is it convenient to move about the ship pushing a stroller? If you're asking whether the ship provides them, no. If you're asking whether you can bring them, yes. I don't think they'd be particularly useful around the ship, and I'd rather have the big, comfortable stroller for island stops. Other things you didn't know to ask: - Milk is available at no cost at breakfast. Bring a couple cartons back to your room and store them in your cooler (like a refrigerator but not quite as cold). - Onboard you'll have all the food you need, but you will probably want to bring pre-wrapped snacks and juice boxes for your child during the island stops. - My smart daughter only allows my grandson to wear swimsuits in red, orange and yellow. Most swimsuits are blue, and they blend into the pool. Bright colors stand out -- safety first. - Have you downloaded the phone app yet? It includes so much information -- you can see the MDR menus now, and later you'll be able to see show times, movie titles, etc. - Your child will be given a wristband, which he or she must wear the entire cruise. If you were to be separated, it'd let the staff know the child's name, muster station, etc.

Too stressful for me. Too late I'd discover that the hem on a dress I want to take needs a bit of tacking up, and something needs to go through the washing machine, and the sunscreen in the bathroom cabinet is almost empty. I do that too. Everything I lay out on the table might not end up in the suitcase, but it's the starting place.

Leaving in two days? I'd already be packed! Years ago -- when I was still packing for the children as well as myself -- I instituted a rule: If we leave on Saturday, the bags MUST be completely packed and ready by Wednesday evening. That means that I never realize late Friday night that my favorite shorts have a rip (or need to go through the washer), or that I don't have any sunscreen. I don't like last-minute emergencies.

I'm working towards a couple goals right now, and I've promised myself one of their dresses once they're achieved! I hope they'll run a great sale like that again. I love backpacks, but that one -- with the extra handles and large size at the top -- looks heavy. If you opt for a backpack -- and I almost always do -- don't carry your money, credit cards and ID in the bag, which is -- after all -- behind you. Keep those things on your person. My personal favorite method is to wear bike shorts (with big pockets) under a casual dress.

My husband and I were just discussing this question today! We don't know the answer. No, but you can bring a plate out and sit at a table by the pool. From reading posts like this on this board, you could easily get the idea that the MDR is full of men who just stepped off the basketball court. No, they won't turn you away if you're in shorts, but you will be in the minority. Most adult men will wear long pants (many of them are in nice jeans). Go back and "edit" your check-in. You probably just skipped past that page. I have quit uploading pictures. Even though I put effort into taking a straight-forward picture with my hair off my face, they always want to re-take the picture in the terminal. It only takes a minute, so no big deal.

Nope, haven't seen the Tutti Salad in ... a decade? Too bad 'cause I love-love-loved it. You want a Mezzaluna Knife -- check Amazon. It's rounded and made for chopping things in a bowl -- salad, of course, comes to mind first, but it's also good for other things. I love mine.

I wear my tennis shoes to board because they're my largest shoes and because they make it easier to walk up the gangplank. Yes, I alternate between them and my walking sandals onboard. Glad it helped! I bring either little white Keds or white Vans, both of which work well with casual dresses (like tee-dresses, for example). I stand by my opinion on capris.

I've been cruising over 20 years, and we've never done this. We just don't mind getting wet as long as we have a hat. I do suggest you bring a pair of tennis shoes AND a pair of good walking sandals ... if one pair is soaked on an island stop, you'll have the other pair of day shoes available to you. Nassau is a pit. I'd suggest taking an excursion that leaves from the dock /doesn't require you to enter the city. Or stay onboard and have the ship to yourself. Yes, that's why a backpack makes so much sense as a carry-on. We're solidly Team Hands-Free. A backpack is perfect for island stops too. Shoes are the make-or-break item for packing lightly. I wear a pair of tennis shoes onboard, pack walking sandals, and pack a pair of dressy dinner shoes. If our excursion plans require them, I'll add water shoes. That's enough. Capris should be illegal. They make tall, willowy models look short and stout, so what do they do to the rest of us? Whereas I much prefer dresses -- but you'll see plenty of ladies in both types of garb at dinner. Neither is preferred over the other.

You're on the right track. DINNERS - For 10 dinners onboard, I'd pack 5 dresses and assume each'd be worn twice -- believe me, no one will notice. I can't really say I pack what I'd wear for church; I tend to bring a lot of sleeveless dresses on cruises, and I wouldn't wear sleeveless to church. But nothing too dressy; I tend towards bright-colored summery dresses. I never wear pants to dinner -- just my preference. - You say you're packing fancy dresses. You won't be alone -- maybe 30% of the ladies will be in cocktail dresses. - Be sure one pair of simple dressy shoes matches ALL your dinner dresses. - I don't bring a cardigan or other warm layer -- I never want it, but you know your own comfort level. - For 10 nights my husband'd bring a pair of nice jeans, a pair of dress pants and 5 dress shirts -- again, assuming that each'd be worn twice. As you said, short sleeved button down shirts and /or polos. He has one blue guayabera-type shirt with a shark print that he likes to wear on cruises. - You ask if you need long pants: They might be required for some activities. We like Royal Caribbean, and they require long pants for ice skating. On our next cruise we're taking a tour of the kitchen, and long pants are required for that. It's possible you'll need long pants for an excursion. You'll have to judge that for yourself. - Will you need long pants for general wear around the ship? Not during the day. My husband, personally, would not wear shorts in the dining room; you may see a smattering of adult men in shorts, but they'll be few in number. DAY CLOTHES - I wear casual (not athletic) shorts with pockets paired with casual blouses -- occasionally a tee-shirt. I pack three tops for every pair of shorts, and I always wear shorts "on their last day of wear" ashore, where I'm more likely to get sweaty. I also wear casual dresses or tee-dresses around the ship. - My husband wears typical men's shorts -- mostly cargo type shorts paired with mostly tee-shirts. He's partial to the Guy Harvey fish tees, Hawaiian type shirts and occasionally a polo. - We do not bring jackets. We bring raincoats only if rain is expected; on our last trip to Cozumel we got absolutely drenched, and it was okay -- upon returning to the ship, we showered and changed into dry clothes. We were fine. - I'd suggest you add hats to your packing list. I sometimes bring a pretty straw hat, but I always pack a ball cap -- very handy for wearing on island stops. We're both fine to keep going in the rain as long as we can keep the rain off our faces. - You say you're not the type to wear your swimsuit around -- most adults don't wear them around the ship, but you'll see people in the elevators wearing cover-ups over suits. DISEMBARKATION - Assuming you're able-bodied, definitely plan to use Self-Disembarkation. This means you keep your suitcase in your room and just leave whenever you please. The negative is that a lot of people do this, and the elevators will be crowded. You may need to wait or take the stairs (with your suitcase). With one small suitcase each + a carry-on bag, this is easy. If your carry-on is a backpack, you'll have no problem managing it + your suitcase. If your carry-on is a tote bag, try to choose one with a trolley sleeve or bring a bungee cord or other method to attach it to your suitcase's pull-up handle. - Just so you'll know, the opposite is Traditional Disembarkation. You put your suitcase out in the hall the night before, and your cabin steward takes it away, leaving you with only your carry-on bag. You will be assigned a 30-minute time slot, and you must leave during that 30 minutes. Your luggage will be paraded out during that 30 minutes, and you'll have to search for it. See why just keeping your stuff and walking off is easier? - For 10 nights, we'd each bring a rolling carry-on + a backpack (or tote bag) OR we'd share our 26" rolling bag + a backpack (or tote bag) each. - When 3-4 days remain, your cabin steward will ask you when /how you plan to leave. That's how the ship knows whether you plan to use Self-Disembarkation or Traditional. - We also drive to the port, and we prefer to leave our car in the port's terminal parking. Yes, it costs more, but we face an 8-hour drive after a cruise, and we like being able to walk straight out to our car and leave. We take care to leave the car clean of food wrappers and full of gas.

If you want to avoid wait times, call early or late -- they're open much later than you'd expect. Like maybe 1:00 am. You can get right through if you don't call mid-day. Oh, the drink package is never actually sold out. 1-866-562-7625 Never pay attention to % off (or BOGO Half Off, or whatever else). Just look at the actual price ... it never seems to change more than a couple dollars.

Oh, that early? No, I'm pretty sure that's before My Time Dining starts on all ships.

$30 to move to an OceanView Balcony Guarantee? Yes. Do it. Moving mid-trip will be a bummer, but for that price I couldn't turn down the balcony.

We saw a bird in the Solarium /Park Cafe area. It was quite odd since we were out at sea; the poor thing must've been hiding onboard. Several passengers tried (unsuccessfully) to capture it, then the crew got in on it.

Instead of standing in the longer "no reservations" line, make a reservation. Once you're onboard, you can just walk up to the podium earlier in the day and make a reservation. Or you might opt for dinner somewhere other than the MDR. We like the MDR, but 7 nights of the same thing gets old. The doors to the cabin rooms will be closed until about 1:00. The captain'll make an announcement when the rooms are ready. 10:30 is usually the earliest embarkation time.

I've seen last night's MDR offerings served in the Windjammer the next day. They appear to be fresh-cooked, so I assume these are things that were prepped but not cooked the night before.

I don't think any reasonable person actually believes that. Sounds like no one on this ship was properly trained /adequate safety drills were not held on a regular basis. I can see one mistake being made, but this many? Disagree. He was a captain, a position of trust. To take away that title is to put him on the same level as the cabin stewards and dishwashers -- no, if you want to sit in a big chair, you've gotta be ready to take what comes with that chair: money, accolades for sure -- but also responsibility and consequences. No, call him a captain. It shows what he should have /could have done.

Does anyone have clothing they save just for vacation? That seems odd.

That's true, but we got into the habit of bringing them when our children were small -- they liked being able to have a small glow stick in their own beds. Oh, yes. While I'm a light packer, I never stint on my OTC meds. Like another poster here, we have collected small travel-sized containers, and we refill them at home ... yes, when carefully packed they hold at least 2Xs the original number. I've also painted the tops with bright nail polish for classification ... bright pink for help with pain, bright blue for digestive woes, motion sickness remains its original white. Two notes on your list: I always make some of those bandaids waterproof for a cruise, and I buy those bandaids with built-in Neosporin. We just use the suitcase itself ... nothing else to move around on the last day. And we never have any clean clothe Just know this is an incredibly unlikely possibility. Last time it happened was 2012. Time before that was in the 1980s.

Thanks for that info, DCTravel. We're already signed up for excursions for our next visit to Cozumel, but on our next-next visit, I know what we're doing!

Start with this website ... I think that portion of the site's called Ports of Call. Or if you know you want a specific activity, Google that activity + the island. Check reviews for any company you plan to use.

You'll find great beaches in every port. They are Caribbean islands, after all. The best shopping, hands down, will be in Cozumel -- though I personally never find anything I would actually use. We prefer Chankanaab, which is more family-oriented, less focused on all-you-can-drink. Chankanaab is a national (state?) park and requires a $12 taxi ride ... taxis are super-easy in Cozumel; they're lined up outside the shopping center, and an expediter manages the taxi-needers and the taxi-drivers. Entrance to Chankanaab is about $25/adult ... don't allow your driver to stop by a road-side stand; insist that you're going to buy your ticket at the gate. Chankanaab has a pool, the ocean (which is too rough for kids), playgrounds for kids, snorkeling, a sea lion show, a reptile exhibit, and a trail with Mayan statues and a replica village. Loungers and umbrellas are plentiful. Food and drink are reasonably priced. For additional fee you can swim with dolphins. Maybe some other activities. That sounds like something we'd enjoy! Would you please share the tour company you used? We rarely use a ship's tour -- too crowded, too lackluster, too focused on shopping. We only opt for a ship's tour if it's an activity that takes us some distance from the port or requires complicated transportation. That they cost more than private tours is just the nail in their coffin. We like to make our choices before we leave home -- it's easy to look for reviews and be sure you're making a good choice.

A good answer. Yes, you can do these things to grease the wheels and move faster, but any one thing that goes wrong could ruin your chances: the ship arrives late, they have an ill person to disembark first, your driver doesn't arrive on time (or at all), a wreck delays your trip, TSA is slow ... 10:00 is a risky choice.

I don't know anything about the smoking area -- except that I try to avoid it -- but I can say a couple things about the Park Cafe: - It's located in the corner of the Solarium Pool area. If you have children, they're allowed to come in to get food, but they have to take it out of the adults-only area. - Windjammer opens first every day, and when they close after breakfast, Park Cafe opens. Throughout the day one or the other is open. - Park Cafe is small and offers pizza, roast beef sandwiches, small sandwiches (egg sandwiches at breakfast, other things later in the day), ready-cut fruit, and desserts. They also have a small salad bar on the other wall, along with water, lemonade and coffee. - The line for the roast beef sandwiches can get long, but the staff is quick to call out, "Anyone who doesn't want roast beef sandwiches, please move to the left, and we'll serve you more quickly." - Park Cafe only disappointed us once, and that was on the last evening. It was late, and we thought, "Let's eat one more roast beef sandwich before we disembark tomorrow." They were only serving hot dogs!

Call the cruise line and be SURE of what you'll need for this sailing.