Mum2Mercury

Just realize this question won't make anyone happy here on the boards! First, "everyone" will never give items. Second, candy would go in the stomach. It's unlikely that the cruise line would hire a staff member with an ongoing medical condition, but -- if so -- do you think it'd be hard to give away a bit of candy in the crew area?

I don't believe that's been suggested as a possibility.

We didn't have rented mats, but we left our towels and beach bag with sunscreen, etc. on our chairs. No problems. Maybe put your mats UNDER your chairs? Are you saying you had FUNNEL VISION?

I think the real question is, would you rather have - Your tips - Your tips + a candy bar

Let me throw out an idea: Last fall we accidentally sailed on "The Buddy Cruise" -- I say accidentally not because it was a mistake but because we didn't realize we were with a partial-charter until we booked. "The buddies" are a large group that charters a cruise every fall -- they are families with children /adults with many different disabilities. They were great travel partners, very family oriented, and we'd absolutely sail with them again. You can google and find them easily. Anyway, if you were to sail with that group, you'd find loads of travel companions who would be very understanding of your son's needs. We're doing this sailing in October and can't wait! We've never been to Roatan or Belize. Be aware that to reach most excursions in Nassau, you must pass through the "gates" to the city, and it's extremely cramped /crowded /feels very, very unsafe. We didn't even leave particularly early, but the sheer number of people being pressed through the bottleneck that is the entrance to Nassau is unpleasant -- and I'm neuro-typical! Once you're past the crowds and with your excursion, you'll have no problem. You may find this to a lesser extent in Freeport, as people in that area are so poor that they're desperate to grab your business at any cost. I personally have no problem with this, but it'd be smart to instruct your children -- especially your son -- to keep his hands in his pockets, look down, and keep walking. Again, once you pass the crowds and are with your excursion group, you'll have no problems. Hard to argue with math!

Good for you! I'm sure you'll have a great time.

This is a great thread! Yes, this is so important. If you don't think through /plan what you want, you're not likely to get what you want! I also agree with your run-down of mainstream vs. premium cruise lines; it's important to choose appropriately. There's nothing wrong with a mainstream cruise line -- as long as you don't book a mainstream cruise line expecting it to be premium. You've included a ton of great detail. I'd like to add one more thought: After trying a few cruise lines, we've opted to "stick with" one particular line. Why? Because if you stick with one cruise line, you'll work your way up the loyalty ladder, which can translate to financial savings. For example, depending upon the line you choose, you might get upgrades, free drinks, free laundry, or whatever else. But most of us won't cruise enough to garner these benefits on multiple cruise lines. And that will never happen, not even with the heaviest drinkers. It's the same in my house! My husband looks forward to cruising, but he wants to know the date ... and doesn't really want to get into details until the week before the cruise. He's happy to let me choose the room, make sure the payments are made on time, and choose our shore activities. If I ask him a question, it's not likely to turn into a discussion. The positive side of this is that I really do enjoy researching and making plans, and I get to do all the things I want on shore! At this point in our lives, we're highly price-motivated. We're early mid-50s /early retirees ... so we have time on our hands /can travel any time of year, but we're too young to touch the majority of our savings. When it's just the two of us sailing, we really aren't fussy about our room, so guarantees are a great way to save money. We've been quite happy with our assignments ... but the important thing is, We fully understand the choice we're making! Don't go into a guarantee if you wouldn't be satisfied with the lowest-level cabin in your category. Definitely. At most Caribbean islands, you you can find multiple tour guides offering shore excursions very similar to those offered by the ship. Do your homework and verify through this site (and others) that the company is reliable. BUT you're focused on money alone. The reality is that small, private tours are superior in other ways: you'll be in a smaller group, you'll have more interaction with your tour guide (who, unlike the cattle-call excursions sponsored by the ships, is motivated to keep you happy), and you'll have more choices. With a ship's excursion, you'll be in a huge group, and you'll be moving at the pace of the slowest participant. With a ship's excursion, you'll be forced to spend an hour in a straw market that doesn't interest you, then you'll hurry past a cute little boutique or bar where you would've wanted to stop. In contrast, the private guides often give the group choices; for example: Okay, we've finished our main activity ... now I can drop you back at the port, or I can drop you at a beach /you can make your own way back to the ship when you're ready, or -- if you want lunch -- I recommend Restaurant X. Take a minute, then tell me what you'd each like. Good run-down of how to manage excursions. I like wordy-but-detailed. Yes, Google Maps and You Tube are great resources for planning shore activities. If we're talking Caribbean, tenders are rare now. And that's a good thing.

So the bottom line is that she hasn't yet accepted any orders for Easter. She will not be disappointing anyone by cancelling an order. I understand her emotional attachment to her growing business. I've been making wedding cakes for four decades (and I'm only in my mid-50s). I am incredibly picky about quality and people buy from me because of the taste. BUT if I'd already booked a cruise and someone asked me to make a cake, I'd say -- without a moment's regret -- "Oh, I'm so, so sorry, but I have another obligation that week." Yes, logical options have been presented. I'd say the best two are ... - Deliver early with printed instructions on exactly HOW to keep in the refrigerator /how to bring to room temperature. This can be done without sweating. - Hire a friend to do the last-minute deliveries. I'm glad you're on board with the idea of testing the limits of the product's quality.

My thoughts exactly -- and well worded. I like Royal Caribbean's product, but we search for bargains -- they do exist. We don't sail the biggest and newest ships, and we don't spend heavily when we sail. Personally, I think we're currently in a high-priced bubble, as a couple things are happening: People are "back to sailing" after the pandemic, Royal is trying to pay off debt incurred during the pandemic, Royal is paying for new ships and the building of Coco Cay. Will prices go down in a couple years? I hope so.

We sailed out of Miami recently: Important: Royal Caribbean sails out of at least two terminals in Miami. Be 100% sure which one is for you before you leave. Traffic is INSANE, and Miami taxis have no concern for anyone's safety. We messed up, passed our terminal and were forced to exit the whole area /U-turn back. Once we found our terminal, getting a parking spot was super easy -- we arrived too early, to tell the truth. We were on the lowest level literally within view of the entrance to the terminal. Loved it! Yes, parking at the port is expensive, but parking off-site isn't cheap -- and with off-site you're at the mercy of a shuttle. With a long drive home ahead of us, we use self-disembarkation and leave early. We exited the ship approximately 7:15 and were literally in our car turning North by 7:30. We are willing to pay for the convenience of walking directly to our car. We always leave the car "gassed up", headed outward, and clean -- makes facing the drive home easier. Last thought: In Miami you pay as you leave the parking lot AFTER the cruise. Not all ports are alike in this.

Random thoughts on this topic: - I'm glad you said you are planning a "practice cruise" to see how you like it. I was prepared to say you're totally nuts for trying to launch a year-long cruise without ever having experienced it! - Realistically, you're not going to book a one-year cruise; rather, you'll book 50+ short cruises. You'll probably switch rooms and ships frequently. If I were you, I'd need a big notepad to keep up with my plans. - If budget is a concern (and I assume it is since you're concerned about paying "both halves" of the room), consider booking guarantees. That means the ship chooses your room for you. - Do you anticipate sticking to one ship /one cruise line, or do you see yourself jumping around? Sticking to one cruise line makes financial sense because you'll "move up the ladder" in terms of loyalty rewards, but sticking to one cruise line also means you'll hit the same itineraries over and over. - You say you want to see the world -- cruises will give you a glimpse of shoreline places, not necessarily an in-depth visit to any one place. - What do you see yourself doing when the ship stops an island? Most cruises look into shore excursions -- short trips, which vary widely from beach stops to animal encounters to cooking lessons. They're offered by the ship AND by independent tour guides, and they can be expensive. - Someone mentioned repositioning cruises. That sounds like a very good idea. - Yes, medical insurance will be a concern -- since you're over 65, I assume you're on Medicare. Does Medicare pay on cruises? You should also look into travel insurance that would fly you home in case of a serious injury /illness -- if you're doing a year-long trip, you should be able to get it through your regular insurance company. - Your body can't afford to live like a typical cruise for a year. All cruises offer gyms and healthy food; you'll have to make conscious choices, or you'll pay for it in short order. Last thoughts: Have you heard of Super Mario? Google him. I met him last fall on Explorer. He's a semi-famous guy who is retired, single and lives on Royal Caribbean cruise ships. He's a nice guy -- 'cept I could do without the stinky cigars. He jumps from RC ship to RC ship, and he's pretty open about how he manages this lifestyle: He has someone who meets him at the port /trade his laundry /bring anything he wants purchased. He's a finance guy, so I'm sure he has figured out the cheapest way to sail every week. Since he's sailed so much on RC, he's at the top of the loyalty ladder and gets free drinks, laundry, etc.

I have never seen a thing like Kristelle is showing. Funny that we both picked the same purple hoodie as an example. My daughter has an oversized hoodie, but it is "fitted" at the top like the red example I showed ... and it's long and straight like a tunic /covers her butt /looks cute with leggings and short boots.

I live in the Southern portion of the USA, and hoodies are super-popular among my high school students. It's probably the #1 clothing item for my students (and has been for more than a decade). Since our climate is so moderate, these are winter-wear for us. As an adult, I'd wear a hoodie to a fall football game or a fall hike -- something like the red hoodie below, but with my school mascot. I occasionally wear one to school on Friday, especially if it's a football game day or if we have a pep rally. It's considered poor form to wear the hood "up" indoors, but I think I look cute with a hoodie and a little pony tail. Hoodies can be any color, but many people wear "team colors". They can be oversized, but -- in my experience -- are usually fitted. When most people say "hoodie", they mean no zipper; the same sweatshirt with a full zipper is usually termed a "jacket". They can be made of thin tee-shirt material or thick, fluffy material, but sweatshirt material is most common.

So Easter falls at the end of your cruise. What I meant was, go ahead and test her sweets /make a dozen of them so you can each test one a week for six weeks. Then you'll have solid knowledge about how long they "stay good". You can't go wrong by testing /knowing. But the biggest question was the first one I asked: Has she already accepted orders for Easter 2024?

Thoughts: Has she already accepted orders for Easter 2024? If not, you have no problem! Just don't accept orders. Her regular customers may be disappointed that their favorite treats aren't available, but her reputation will not be damaged. If her business is growing as you say, people will still want sweets in future Easters. If she has already accepted orders, let's think about timing: When would you need to fly out vs. when is Easter? Surely you're not talking about more than a week. If she delivers /ships them the day before y'all leave (along with a note about storing them in the refrigerator), they should still be good. Your wife says they need to be last-minute fresh (and she knows the ingredients), whereas another poster here says they should be good for six weeks. You need to NOW, while you have ample time to make decisions, test the product! Have her make up a dozen of her Eater candies and taste them ... one each week for six weeks. The she will know what happens to the quality over the course of several weeks. Last thought: With business growing, has she considered taking on a partner for busy holiday times? She could train someone to use her methods ... or she could do the preparation /store them in your refrigerator and hire someone JUST to manage distribution this one year. Okay, the REAL last thought: With this business in mind, don't book another holiday cruise in the future. It seems to be very, very important to her (and I get it because I have a similar business), and she doesn't have to choose ... she just has to plan ahead.

These "hot hands" are for sore muscles? Would a bit of time in the hot tub provide the same result?

I'd say "scary" instead of "funny", as these people drove to the DMV office! Interesting. Yes, I can see that all countries would need to be able to "read" other countries' passports. Hey, I'm not in charge of the world just yet! I didn't say my thoughts were thoroughly cohesive and well-vetted. Yes, I was saying that in today's modern world we should do away with the cumbersome passport books /have the full-fledged passport on a more convenient wallet-sized card. We'll have to disagree on this.

Note that if you're seeing $83, your real price -- after adding gratuity is $97.94 /day. And that $14 drink would be $16.52.

I know what you say is true, especially the political reasons; but I stilll think one single type of ID for all Americans would be easier in numerous ways. I'm surprised your state requires Real ID. When I renewed my driver's license (2-3 years ago?) I figured getting the Real ID would never be convenient, so I might as well go ahead and do it -- so I read online, gathered up the various necessities, and took them into the DMV on a clipboard. The examiner said practically no one does that -- she says people just grab a few things THEY THINK are identification and bring them in. To borrow your word: Clueless. Why must passports from country to country be alike? I mean, I know that my dual-citizenship grandson has two passports -- one blue, one red -- but why can't a country opt to change the format?

Check your credit card activity. If you've been charged, you know you won.

Yes, and plain old driver's licenses are still a thing too, and the variety causes confusion. Personally, I think the whole system could use an overhaul. If I were in charge of the world, I'd: - standardize driver's licenses across the 50 states. If every state's license was identical, law enforcement would more easily spot fakes. - I'd do away with either "enhanced" or "real" and just have one upgraded driver's license available for everyone. I would say just have every driver "upgrade", but some people have enough trouble proving their identification for a plain driver's license. - do away with the old-fashioned passport "book" and create simple plastic cards sized like driver's licenses, which would fit into wallets and pockets more easily and would be less subject to water damage. Today all the information is coded on those magnetic strips anyway. If, if, if ... if the OP takes this cruise, loves it, and decides international travel is for him, passports will still be available. If you did all that for several thousand, I'd love to hear your budget travel tips! The new -- okay, not really "new" anymore, but still -- the new facial recognition system for re-entering the country is so fast. The first time I did it, I genuinely didn't recognize I was finished, and I just stood there. You barely have to quit walking. Having expressed my admiration for the system, I do have several thoughts on the subject: - I'm not sure I'd pay $350 to avoid one line at the end of the cruise. Even a long one. - The make-up of passengers is going to be different on every cruise. At a glance, I'd bet the birth certificate line is longer on 3 and 4 day cruises, shorter for longer cruises. - If you and your companion are traveling with different documentation, you might be forced into different lines. If you're two adults, no big deal, but if your companion is a child or an infirm person, this could matter. Okay, that's just stupid. Some people can't /won't do math.

Classic mixed drinks such as Pina Coladas or Daquiris will be more like $14. They will add 18% mandatory gratuity to every individual drink purchase. They will add 18% to the package too, making it even more expensive than it appears at first glance. Likely more. We have two cruises on the books for fall, and the package is $63 on one, $83 on the other. The lower price is on a smaller, older ship, and it's been up and down, while the $83 for a larger ship has held steady.

I'm mid-50s, but I love my paper Compass. If that salad were available at lunch again, I'd eat it every day. I don't see that it's all that expensive a thing for Royal to provide.

Two cabin services each day Poolside barbeque on at-sea days Tuti Salad in MDR on at-sea days Printed Compass without begging

They are strict about kids being potty-trained -- and they should be. Imagine the discomfort of a child sitting /waiting while they contact you, and you make your way to the kids' club area. Imagine the staff cleaning any "spillage" in the club -- maybe multiple times per day. Things you can do to set your son up for success: - Keep working with him at home, and "talk up" how fun the kids' club will be and how only potty-trained kids are allowed to go. - Take him to the bathroom immediately before dropping him off. - Don't let him drink a lot before being dropped off. - Each time you go, point out where the rest room is and emphasize that he should "try" often.