Mum2Mercury

What is your motivation for searching for a hat? Is it expected in a Catholic church? Sounds like you're questioning exactly HOW to wear a hat in a dressy situation ... a good excuse to watch Downton Abby! The dress is nice, and everyone looks good in navy -- but I'm confused on a practical level, and (like several others) I like the hat AND the dress, but I'm not sure they're friends: - The dress is very much a warm-weather choice. Bare arms = cold in Ohio in January. And that hemline puts emphasis on the shoes, so you really need to wear something similar to what the model's wearing: a solid winter shoe is going to look clunky. - If the hat is the driving force, I'd consider a heavier dress ... something that'll balance with /be more proportional to this heavier hat. A light wool would work well. - You mention your outer coat, but I think you'll also need an inside sweater or wrap of some sort. - You say you're going to wear the hat during the ceremony AND reception. Will this be comfortable, or will it make your head hot? That's easy to "practice" by wearing it around the house ahead of time. And are you going to be comfortable wearing the hat for photographs? If not, where will you do a hair touch-up? Oh, what a good idea!

Thoughts: - If you're only mildly seasick, you'd probably be just fine with over-the-counter Bonine. Be sure to get the 24-hour stuff so you don't need to take it over and over ... the fewer times you have to take it, the less opportunity for mistakes. - If you've done river cruises, I assume you've been on small ships. You're less likely to be sea sick on a bigger ship. I sometimes get seasick on small boats (like shore excursion boats), but I've never had a single moment of seasickness on a cruise ship. - Bring along Crystalized Ginger, which is INSTANT but short-lived relief. I get car sick, and I love that stuff. Along the same lines, green apples and ginger ale can be soothing to the stomach. - If, in spite of your best efforts, you get seasick, you need to go lie down and take a nap. That's kind of a re-set.

Not exactly what you asked, but I've sailed the first week of December ... sandwiched between holidays, it's often a bargain week. The weather is typically chilly but not cold; you can count on wearing shorts during the day and (depending upon your personal thermometer) might need a light jacket in the evening. Of course, temperature can vary widely. I remember once we sailed on Thanksgiving, and it was very, very cold ... not typical at all for the Caribbean. So true, so true. Any week of the year, stuff occasionally happens. I'd be okay signing up for a cruise at this time of year under these conditions: - If the price were low, and -- excepting Christmas and New Year's -- they often are at this time of year. - If I could drive to the cruise. Okay, not a total deal-breaker, but you're more "in control" if you can drive to the cruise. - I wouldn't want to make this a once-in-a-lifetime cruise. The weather could mess things up, so I'd want to be sure all members of my party were coming in with a roll-with-the-punches attitude.

The Solarium is usually pretty quiet; the main pool is quite different. We've had a cabin right under the WJ -- never heard a peep. We prefer midship (for convenience, being close to everything) or aft (straight up or down the stairway to the WJ or main pool). We aren't crazy about forward, as it isn't really close to anything and means more walking -- but it's far, far from a dealbreaker.

- USUALLY guarantees are assigned 2-4 days after boarding opens. - We've never had ours earlier, and once our number didn't officially pop up until a couple days before sailing. - We've always (always being since the pandemic) been able to learn our number through the "barcode trick" 1-2 days ahead of Royal officially releasing it. - We've always been pleased with our assignment, and we usually end up mid-ship on Deck 6.

Honestly, this doesn't matter. No drink delivery to private rooms. Options: - You're allowed to bring a bottle of wine onboard with you. - You can order a bottle to your room ahead of the cruise ... not sure where it's located online, but it's something like Gifts and Gear. - You can walk to the closest bar and bring drinks back. If you're talking about beer, your mileage will vary as to whether the bartender opens the beer ... most will say yes, especially when you explain you're carrying these drinks back to your room, possibly up or down a staircase. - If you're talking about cocktails, you might want to bring a large insulated cup with you ... it'll keep your drinks cold longer, and it'll be easier to carry a lidded cup. If you're getting a drink package, they'll give you a thermal mug when you get your first bar drink. - You will have an ice bucket in your room, and you can request ice every day -- it's a small bucket. This is standard service, covered by your standard tips. You didn't ask this, but you don't have access to serve-yourself ice like you do in a hotel. You can always get a couple glasses of ice from the Coke machine (it will give you ice whether you have a drink package or not). - You can bring a small soft-sided cooler, which you probably already have at home. - Note, too, you can get a "bucket of beer" (from the pool bar only), which is a slight bargain over buying individuals -- and you get a small Royal cooler. They're actually "coolers", not refrigerators -- not an item we use in our everyday lives. Yes, I was going to mention putting the drinks in the ice bucket, then putting the ice bucket into the cooler/fridge.

Exactly right. Having the room number pop up now would be akin to winning the lottery -- yeah, it's gonna happen to someone, but it's a one in a million type event. It's to Royal's advantage to keep as many rooms as possible "open" for people who will pay to choose, then to "fill in" their guarantees later. April will get here, and you'll get your room number.

You made that? Impressive -- knitting's not one of my talents. You enjoy packing and managing more stuff -- and spending more. I can't get on board with that, but I hope you enjoy it. My point is that people aren't cheating if they're bringing what the airline allows. Packing light is logical, but I've made my point, and I'm done.

Eh, repeating what I said above -- these are facts, not opinions: - Most of us don't get free bags when we fly, so it's cheaper. - Upon arrival, if you've flown with a carry-on only, you can skip the slow-slow baggage carousel and head straight to your hotel. Who doesn't want to skip a chore and start relaxing? - If you fly with just a carry-on, your luggage won't be lost. - Know how your room feels so clean, inviting and spacious when you enter for the first time? If you bring less, it feels that way for the whole cruise. Less clutter just makes for a better experience. - People say, "But I want choices!" Yeah, I like choices too, but I make my choices at home. - If you've packed light, you can enjoy your last evening rather than spending time gathering up excessive clothing and packing large bags. We put our (open) suitcase on the bottom of our closet and toss in dirty clothes -- on the last night we just drop any shirts /dresses that we'd hung up into the suitcase, and on the last morning we zip it up and packing's done! - Less luggage makes self-disembarkation easier. No schedules to adhere to, no searching for your luggage in the terminal -- just take your one bag and walk off the ship. The negative to packing light is that it requires more organization /better packing up front, and not everyone can visualize what's really going to end up being used.

That's a really pretty shawl, and it looks like it'd fold up quite small.

Well, the facts do lean that direction. They're pushing the envelope of what's allowed, but they're not cheating.

You need to "link" your reservations. Not sure HOW to do it -- my son-in-law did it for us. We gave him our reservation number, and he made it happen.

Your chances are almost 100%. Once they assign you, they rarely go back and make changes. Once my number disappeared /went back to GYT, but even then it didn't change -- the next day it was back to the same cabin number. Nope, you're trying waaaay too far in advance. Yes, I feel like I'm a spy discovering something secret!

How can it be scrap if you're seeing it sliced from a haunch of roast beef? You could argue that it's not cooked to your taste, but "scrap" doesn't make sense. This conversation has passed tiresome. No one -- not even people who've never cruised -- believe the food is literally free. No one on Earth would attempt to walk onto a docked cruise ship (without a ticket) and expect to get a burger.

If you're bringing more than is allowed, the staff will force you to check it. I don't see how cheating is really possible. When it comes to cruises, we are close enough to drive, so not an issue for us. Totally agree. If you're not using these things at home and don't get sick (I'm sure you mean rarely), I wouldn't bother to bring them. The Dayquil capsules, for example, will take care of a sore throat. You don't "have to" manage with a carry-on, but it's a smart choice. Why? - Most of us don't get free bags when we fly, so it's cheaper. - Upon arrival, if you've flown with a carry-on only, you can skip the slow-slow baggage carousel and head straight to your hotel. Who doesn't want to skip a chore and start relaxing? - If you fly with just a carry-on, your luggage won't be lost. - Know how your room feels so clean, inviting and spacious when you enter for the first time? If you bring less, it feels that way for the whole cruise. Less clutter just makes for a better experience. - People say, "But I want choices!" Yeah, I like choices too, but I make my choices at home. - If you've packed light, you can enjoy your last evening rather than spending time gathering up excessive clothing and packing large bags. We put our (open) suitcase on the bottom of our closet and toss in dirty clothes -- on the last night we just drop any shirts /dresses that we'd hung up into the suitcase, and on the last morning we zip it up and packing's done! - Less luggage makes self-disembarkation easier. No schedules to adhere to, no searching for your luggage in the terminal -- just take your one bag and walk off the ship. The negative to packing light is that it requires more organization /better packing up front, and not everyone can visualize what's really going to end up being used. Admittedly, I'm smaller than most people, so my things fold up quite small, but I have no problem packing for a week: - 3 swimsuits + 3 cover ups - Usually about 4 dresses -- I'm never cold, so I wouldn't bring a shawl; I do bring a chambray shirt, which works well as a light cover for late night walks on the deck and the trip home - Usually about 2 shorts, 1 pair of pants (mostly for the trip home) + 5-ish shirts - Nightgown and gym clothes - I board wearing Keds or Vans tennis shoes and pack a pair of walking sandals & a pair of dressy shoes for dinner; depending upon the shore excursions, I might add a pair of water shoes - My Kindle contains well over 2000 books and stays charged about 3 weeks, even with heavy use - I sometimes bring a needlework project, which is -- admittedly -- smaller than knitting - I don't really buy stuff on a cruise, so no real need for space to bring stuff back - One medium cosmetic bag for toiletries - One tiny-small cosmetic bag for make-up - A small folding fan, which I think makes the room more comfortable Why wouldn't that -- if folded nicely -- fit into one rolling carry-on? And then I still have my backpack, in which I carry my wallet, jewelry, electronics, and one medium cosmetic bag for first aid /meds

I've never sailed Viking, but Americans do make up the majority of the cruising population on most ships -- doesn't mean Brits stand out in a negative way or are made to feel uncomfortable. My son-in-law is British, and people love him (and his accent) everywhere he goes. Absolutely. Being new genuinely doesn't matter. Consider, too, that although you're new to the entire experience, a lot of people will be new to Viking, this particular ship, or they'll be "new" in that they haven't cruised since before the pandemic (lots of people in that category). You're not unfamiliar with the protocol for eating in restaurants, claiming a sun lounger, or staying in a hotel room -- and these things aren't significantly different onboard. To keep from holding up lines (or missing out), you should be sure you understand a couple basics before your cruise, and you can learn all of these from reading this board: - Study the deck plans for your specific ship. Pay especial attention to where the stairwells are located; maybe it's just me, but I sometimes get myself turned around by using the forward stairs /thinking I'm on the aft stairs. Don't stress about memorizing every location -- just gain a general idea. Ship maps tend to be located by all elevators (and more places), and even people who aren't new to cruising stop to check them out. - Understand the Embarkation process, and don't be discouraged -- it isn't much fun. - Understand how to make dinner reservations -- I don't know about Viking, but most cruise lines offer traditional dining + a My Time type option. Know what you've chosen, and if it's traditional, understand that you must arrive on time. - Viking will give you a "daily newspaper" each day. Especially as a newcomer, read everything -- this'll let you know what time shows, movies, games, etc. are taking place. It'll tell you what food options are available for the day (along with times). - Understand tipping. - Understand your choices at Disembarkation. If you know those things, everything else will fall into place. Yes, agree. One more tip: If you have any problems, ask your cabin steward for help. Those guys know EVERYTHING. Nice idea!

If those are things you use on a regular basis at home, then you should absolutely bring them. Take pride in traveling light? Not quite the right vibe -- more like, it's a smarter choice. Bringing only what you need means a streamlined, clutter-free cabin; that's for the whole vacation, not just during travel. I agree that many cruisers are kinda ridiculous in bringing excessive suitcases; however, being in the majority isn't an indication you've made the best choice. None of these need be of concern: Packing light doesn't mean packing too little or needing to wash clothes (even once). The only time I wear sweaty clothes is in the gym or on the running track ... and sometimes returning from active shore excursions. Packing "just enough" doesn't mean being sloppy or unattractive. The first time we cruised, we overpacked and wasted effort getting to and from the cruise. The second time we purposefully packed less, but it was still too much. On the way home from that second cruise we created a list of what we'd actually used. That list evolved into a template that we still use ... so no fuzzy memories here.

Yes, book as soon as you have your cruise reserved /as soon as you know what excursions you want. Not only do the most popular excursions fill up fast, the most popular times fill up fast. I think this is true whether you're going through the cruise line or through independent tour hosts. If you're going through the cruise line (not recommended for most excursions) and they drop the price, you can always cancel and rebook. They offered some good prices over Black Friday this year, but you're not really likely to see price drops on a regular basis.

- I'd be inclined to make a phone call before the cruise begins. Get it out of the way. - At the worst, you can ask the steward to change it once you're onboard the ship, but that means he has to change clean sheets ... making the call is easier for him, and it means your room'll be ready upon arrival. - Make one phone call to the Travel Agent vs. make one phone call to the cruise line ... no time savings by using an agent in this situation.

I could say this ... except that we've been upgraded twice. And on our recent Grandeur cruise we were placed in a handicapped room ... not an upgrade, but we loved the extra space.

I don't know that we bring a "wide variety", but we bring the things we use commonly at home. Opening a first aid kit in your own cabin is always going to be more convenient than going to Medical onboard ... and you don't want to bring yourself to Medical's attention if you KNOW you just have a case of "bad tummy". I just went through and re-did our travel first aid kit. Our new kit is housed in a cosmetic bag, and it contains small containers of - Bandaids & Neosporin - Nail clippers & tweezers - Aleve - Tylenol PM - Pepto Bismal - Tums - Bonine - Day-Quil capsules

Yes, for example, I often wear something along the lines of a tee-shirt dress to breakfast, then change into a swimsuit ... the dress has been worn maybe an hour, so I hang it up. Or I'll wear a swimsuit all morning, then change into shorts for the afternoon ... but I'll wear something nicer for dinner. That shorts outfit is still fine for the next day's island stop. I could have said every bit of this. It keeps paperwork and hats "up", organized and off the dresser/desk.

I never take my rings off ... well, except when I was pregnant and my fingers were swollen. And when I had surgery a couple years ago. Other than those few occasions, 33 years I've been wearing these rings.

The Thrill Park is absolutely not for your grandkids. It's for teens and up. What they will love (aside from the ocean, which is pretty obvious) is the pirate ship playground -- it's dead-ahead of the entrance, so you can't miss it, and it's no-cost. Image:

We cruised Grandeur in October, and we particularly enjoyed the barstool seating facing out towards the ocean. It's perfect for individuals eating alone, though once chose to sit together at the ocean-view bar (this was during a mid-day storm at sea, and it was quite a show!). These seats were almost always available. I wish Royal would incorporate this type of seating into other ships. Sorry my picture isn't opening ... please click on the file, and you'll see a picture of what I mean. Few Royal ships have this feature. Grandeur.avif