Mum2Mercury

I'd start by sending out a "newsletter" to the whole group -- something in print that they would save along with their cruise stuff: - For the benefit of the newbies, include some packing tips. - Discuss how /when to sign up for boarding and explain the getting-on-the-ship process -- especially since you're sailing out of Miami, which can be kinda coo-coo for coconuts. - Be sure they know from which terminal you will sail -- newbies may not realize that's important. - Mention shore excursions and tell the newbies how to make choices, but leave each family to make their own decisions. It's unlikely that everyone would want the same things, and trying to push them all into the same experience is a recipe for disaster. You'll probably end up with two large tables in the MDR. Two weeks before the cruise, email dining (put your sail date + ship in the subject line) and request two tables next to one another. Since this is a short cruise, and most of your people are new to Royal, I'd skip the specialty restaurants. You can reserve entertainment for everyone, but do you know everyone will want to go to the shows each evening? Maybe ask the group which TWO they'd like to enjoy together. This is a great idea. Make it a relatively empty spot -- the library could be ideal. Look at the 7th floor deck plan and see if a good spot jumps out at you.

Yes, don't trust BOGOF or % off -- look only at the price. Also, consider that lately Royal has been offering sales on beverage packages, excursions and other extras -- some pretty decent sales -- but not cruise ticket prices. Until the last few days before your cruise. The positive is that you should consider the price you pay today "the highest you could possibly pay". The negative is that you have to do the homework yourself -- no one else cares as much about your wallet as you do.

Sorry if I insulted your job. I certainly didn't mean to offend you or anyone else. Do I chat with TSA agents, who usually have a line of people to deal with? No, but I am pleasant as I go through, follow directions and use pleasantries such as thank yous. I've seen such shows.

Viator is a tour consolidator, and they don't have the best reputation. Also more interaction with the tour guide and more choices. I'd use private tours even if they cost more. Ship's tours have their time and place, but almost always you'll have a superior experience booking directly with an independent tour guide. Good list. When you book on your own, it's your responsibility to know all the details. This board is a great resource.

We have one from the camping section of Walmart or Target. It works well for cruises because it folds flat and runs on batteries. One set of batteries typically lasts a whole cruise, though we take an extra set.

Additionally, that means the people at the back of the crowd can hear as well as those at the front. This is a good idea.

I'm not really buying that argument, as it assumes the TSA people are seriously dedicated to catching bad stuff going through. I think they're just trying to get through their day as quickly /easily as possible. The reality probably lies with the individual TSA agent.

- No take-away. Either order room service or go early to breakfast -- they know what time passengers will be going ashore and will be ready for you. - Pack your shore bag the night before and take it to breakfast so you can head straight down to the gangplank. - Aim to be in line to disembark at 7:45; that'll put you among the earliest to disembark. Once the line starts moving, it'll move fast.

I suspect they'd be less likely to inspect your luggage because it's less convenient. No, they likely wouldn't be careful at all. I once saw the ship's staff unloading luggage -- saw it through a door that shouldn't have been left open -- they were literally throwing suitcases down the stairs, and they just land on the floor, where staff on the lower floor picks them up and moves them. Yep, I'll handle my own luggage until I'm too old and infirm to manage it! Yes, a ribbon or decorative duct tape or whatever else is okay -- I can't imagine a small colorful luggage tag doing much good. But it's not as good as the whole suitcase being a different color.

By the time the tram completes its round, the best seats'll be taken. I recommend choosing from a map. Yes, I was going to recommend this area as well. It's closer to the ship (less walking for the 80-year old), and it's near a rest room and the Chill Grill (for lunch). Look at the map I'm sharing -- see the entrance to the island? It's the white dock in the bottom middle -- walk between the words PERFECT DAY and COCO CAY. From the entrance, the area we're both recommending is to the left across the bridge -- see those palm trees? That's complete shade. Yeah, these aren't going to keep you in the shade all day. Perhaps consider instead a long-sleeved rash guard and a good sun hat.

Is it ever wrong to rep our flag? Wait, yes. A bunch of rotten kids from my high school drive around in their Jeeps and pick-up trucks with GIANT American flags flying off the back. Having taught them, I assure you they're not 'specially patriotic -- they aren't serious about saying the daily pledge, for example -- and those flags are a traffic hazzard. I can't believe the police don't do something about it. But, in general, I believe in flying the flag. I don't think a flag in good condition's going to be a problem in normal wind -- hurricane wind or storm wind, that's a different story.

That would've been worth bringing to the attention of Guest Services -- you're talking about a group of guests bullying the lifeguard. The above poster used the right word: Entitled. Nobody likes such people.

Makes me remember a guy who was on a cruise with us a couple years ago -- what a pain, and he popped up constantly! - We first encountered him in the terminal, when he pushed ahead of us to get his stuff on the x-ray conveyor first. - Then we saw him being rude to terminal staff during check-in. - Once he pushed ahead of me at the towel station, and he pretended not to speak English. - We saw him being rude in the Windjammer several times. He'd tell people to hurry up with their selections, complain to staff about the food, etc. Why do people act this way? We knew his name, and for a long time we'd jokingly say to one another, "Now don't you be a ____". Salty snacks are kinda rare on the ship. If that's your thing, maybe bring some onboard. We used to enjoy the trail mix at the British pub -- we'd take a carafe back to our room -- but I think that's gone now. Consider, too, not everyone's a competent pilot ... imagine if the drone owner hit a passenger just laying out by the pool. Especially if he'd had a few drinks before playing with his drone. Or if he allowed a child to pilot the drone. Totally too much liability for the ship!

Yes. People have no right to be angry when they're asked to follow well-established, well-published rules.

If you care about purple (or matching), consider buying two suitcase covers from Amazon. They're stretchy covers that protect your suitcase and make it more difficult for a thief to unzip an outer pocket. We own three suitcases in this house -- olive green, rust and rose-gold pink. So easy to locate! Okay, we do have a fourth, which is black. It's a tiny thing my husband used to carry on single-night business trips. It's wheeled, but it's just big enough to hold a laptop, a clean shirt and toiletries -- it's never checked, so the color doesn't matter.

If that's the strangest experience you've had, you've lived a charmed life! In all honesty, I probably wouldn't have noticed that these people weren't "on the list". If I had noticed, I would've thought, "Not my circus, not my monkeys". I would not have talked to the velcro-couple about their tagging-along. I am reminded of the quote about "Character is how you behave when you think no one is watching"; this is just a little different in that they showed lack of character when they thought no one had any power to stop them.

We were parked next to another ship in port, and my husband noticed a whole row of balconies all flying a pirate flag -- he loved it and ordered similar flags from Amazon right away. If they're attached with zip ties, I don't see how they could possibly fly away.

Waiting until the waiter leaves sounds like a good idea. Agree. I doubt an individual waiter decided to make his job harder /look out for Royal's bottom line. Disagree. Apples and oranges. You've paid for essentially unlimited food in the MDR. No problem with sharing something on your plate. Same thing if you buy an individual drink -- you paid for it, and if you want to split it, no one else's business. On the other hand, when you buy a drink package you know it's meant for your own consumption only.

Parking meters alone solve nothing -- a person who'll toss a book and a towel on a chair will just ignore the meter. No, the parking meter concept would only work IF staff were charged with meter enforcement, and that opens the door to confrontations that the staff don't want -- even fear.

My grandson, who'll just have turned 3 when we cruise in the fall, is used to drinking from a variety of sippy cups. Would you bring one good insulated straw cup, or would you bring a handful of those cheapy Sip-and-Toss semi-disposable type cups? Or something else?

Ask. Be polite and be prepared to take NO for an answer since that IS the official rule. What do you have to lose?

I'm glad to say that Royal has been addressing this problem: they've put these -- well, I don't know what to call them -- chair toppers? chair signs? Anyway, they've been putting these on every 2nd or 3rd chair, and chair-hogging has been reduced.

Sounds perfect! Most people don't know ahead of time /don't pack anything for theme nights. I personally never need a wrap (we always cruise in fall), but you should consider your own comfort level. I've been to that area in July (twice). You'll want shorts for daytime wear. I'd personally lean towards one pair of jeans + one skirt. I could do without the sandals; I'd opt for a pair of thick socks to pad about the room.

1. I haven't noticed many people skipping the hand-wash station. Not that I'm really looking. 2. Since bathrooms are located right outside Windjammer, I assume some people have just stopped in the rest room and washed on their way out.

- Yes, I did love that Tutti Salad! Now I make myself a big salad + a bit of chicken or fish from the Windjammer for lunch, but I do miss that old salad. A personal whine: They rarely seem to have Honey Mustard dressing, which is my favorite. - I've been happy with the food in the MDR, but they have cut back on the quantity of vegetables. - The MDR will only give you one lobster tail on lobster night. - The MDR offers a Chops steak or a lobster tail (or both) every night as an upcharge. Personally, I like this option -- it's cheaper than taking the whole family to a specialty restaurant. - Service in all food venues continues to be excellent. We find the MDR food to be good-if-not-superb. Fewer choices (not less) but still enough options. Agree, though I still want a paper Compass -- you have to ask your cabin steward for that. I really mind the once-a-day room service; I'd like to have one service + one touch-up to remove wet towels and empty the garbage can. Let's not forget: Royal RAISED GRATUITIES while SLASHING SERVICE IN HALF. I mind that very much. I prefer morning service. I think those who board early /see the cabin steward earlier are more likely to get their choice. We're sharing a room with our adult daughter on an upcoming cruise in the fall, and I'm concerned about having the sofa bed opened /put away each day. It is more convenient. Watch the video ahead of time, then -- at your convenience -- go to your Muster Station. A staff member will talk to you a moment, check you off, and you're done! Other things that've changed: - You need to sign up for a check-in time online -- is it 45 days ahead of time? This is a positive, as it divides the crowds and makes boarding more efficient. - Don't know just how far back we're reaching, but people are dressing more casually than they did in the past. - With the addition of the big screens by the main pool, that area seems to be louder. - In the past suitcases were placed at your door. Now they seem to line them all up at one end of the hall. Not the end of the world, but we were rather slow to figure it out and waited around for our suitcase.