HMY624

Visting on RCL Symphony in August with 4 kids- ages 9-16. We are only in port 8am to 4pm. Considering a beach day or the train to Soller- Thinking the train would be super crowded and not much fun for the kids (although that would be MY choice for the day). Opinions?

Have read all of the posts in this thread and had some questions about the Beach Club at Illetes: Saw that you can book a lounger at the beach club- would we need to book one for all 6 of us or could we just book one for my husband and I (my kids won't sit there). Are the loungers in a specific place where they won't let you in if you don't have a reservation or could our kids come and go? If we don't book a lounger, are there other options to rent an umbrella? (I can't sit in the sun for more than an hour or so). Finally, what time does the beach usually become "crowded"?

Thank you!

We are doing whale watching in Juneau so are looking for something different but I appreciate your help!

Trying to figure out how to best see Sitka with a group of 12- 6 adults and 6 kids. Sounds like most things are walkable except the Fortress of the Bear? Is it “worth” it to hire a taxi/rent a car to go there or is this something that is disappointing once you are there? We were fine doing a tour but can’t find anyone who will take more than 10 of us! Does anyone have a suggestion? Or just skip the bears? 
 

also, where can we see the salmon run (we will be there in August)? Is this something we can walk to as well?

TIA

I haven't seen it lower than $50 for an Oasis class ship- we got it for that price last Black Friday. But paid more than that for our Symphony cruise back in Feb 2020 even with the Black Friday sale (can't remember how much though...)

Depends on what type of luggage you have and how much of a risk-taker you are. Royal will tell you noon but if you aren't checking any luggage on the plane and you get off the ship with the earliest group (and carry all of your luggage off with you) you can probably be at the airport by 9am and onto a flight that leaves by 10am. I wouldn't book anything earlier than that and that is if all goes well!!

From the RCCL website: A U.S. citizen under the age of 16 will be able to present either an original, notorized or certified copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad issues by DOS, or Certificate of Naturalization issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

So, you only need a birth certificate (if your kiddo was born in the US). But, I would bring her passport too just in case there was some reason you have to fly back from a different country- she won't be able to get on a plane without it. 

Are there no show reservations in Cruise Planner before departure anymore? That's what we did when we sailed on Symphony in Feb 2020. 

We had no issues getting an extra card on Symphony in Feb 2020. We had two cabins and one adult in each so my husband's card didn't work in our cabin and I couldn't get into the kids so we got two extra keys. They were just plain cards without any names or anything. 

I got our Oasis class drink package for $50/day during the Black Friday sale last year. Waiting for this year's sale to book shore excursions as they were actually on sale (none of this 10% off stuff that you see every day) last year. If you are cruising later than then, hold on 🙂

Booked on Independence on Nov 5th and got my guarantee cabin assignment on September 30. 

Just looked at our March 13 cruise on Oasis and Nassau has been subbed in for Puerta Plata. We didn’t get any info about it officially but when I checked like I was booking a new cruise alas it is there (but it still says PP in cruise planner). I’m so disappointed because we also have Labadee (those were going to be the only two new ports for us) but that’s going to be changed to. Wish they would just tell us the change so I could make an informed decision whether to “jump ship” for another ship. 

Anyone have insight into the new 3 day Independence itinerary in the COVID era? Is Grease going to be performed? Do we make reservations for shows on the app or somewhere on the ship when we board?  Do we need reservations for breakfast or lunch in the main dining room?  (we have early dining so that’s set). Thanks! 

Not the same ship but we had a cabin above and a little down the hall from the theatre one time and it was LOUD until the shows were over for the night. I wouldn't be too concerned about being over the dining room (but maybe over the galley since there would be prep going on early in the morning). I also would not choose right below the pool- chairs blowing around in the wind and people moving chairs around.... JMO but maybe it varies from ship to ship. If I had to pick my poison, I would go above the dining room hands down!

Yes! I'm totally paranoid- especially since there are 6 people in our family including 4 kids (2 will be vaccinated for sure and hoping all four before we leave) so our odds increase! I'm going to get the antigen test for everyone since the chance of getting a positive result if you are asymptomatic is a lot lower than the PCR tests! Fingers crossed tough!

What is the cheapest soda package you have seen? Ours has been $8.99 regardless of the "sale" or when it's not on sale? Seems a little steep but wondering if you have seen it cheaper? We still have a ways to go before our cruise (March '22) so hoping it might drop during Black Friday?

Upgraded our cabin over the weekend (same ship/sale date and reservation number) and got an email last night saying that my internet package (which I bought during last year's Black Friday sale and was only $160/4 devices) has been cancelled. Just spent an HOUR on the phone with RCCL who claims they can't do anything for me that I can re-purchase it- "no worries- we have a sale starting today"- yes, for $272 for the same package. They even stated that they screwed up and reissued our OBC incorrectly which is why it was cancelled but now I'm taking the fall? Does anyone know if there is a complaints department that I can reach? Every number I call seems to get me back to the same people. Grrr....

I am planning to go solo too- tried to book for on Independence 3 night for about $380 for a balcony guarantee but guess I waited a day too long and now it’s $200 more! Looks like they weren’t charging for single supplement and now they are- guess my plans are changing. Did you get the super low- no supplement rate? 

Yes- that’s exactly what I mean- thank you. I was worried that the interior cabins opened up towards the other interior cabins instead of the balcony cabins.  

Could someone help me out with which way the doors open in the bank of interior room at the front of the ship on Harmony on decks 7 through 11? Specifically, do any rooms open towards the balcony rooms on each side of the ship? We usually book ourselves a balcony cabin and the kids an interior right across the hall, so want to make sure the interior cabin doors open up towards our door and the kids don't have to go down the hall and around the corner to get to our room. Thanks in advance!

Funny you should mention price- it is actually cheaper to book Oasis and we get a better cabin for the kids- Central Park balcony on Oasis vs interior on Freedom. Thanks for the feedback- think we book Oasis this time! 

Booking our next cruise for spring break 2022. Looking at Oasis vs. Freedom. We just got off of Symphony in February. Is Oasis basically the same ship? How much smaller is Freedom (or how much smaller does it feel?) My family loved Symphony! We have four kids who will be 7-14 at the time. Is Freedom a "disappointment" after Oasis class ships? 

We have 4 kids- the youngest will be 7 when we are in the DR. The kid really want to do Damajagua Falls. Are there tour companies that will take a 7 year old? I saw that the website said "over 8" and "under 7" but that doesn't cover 7 or 8 year olds... 

Any help would be much appreciated. TIA

We had to wait until the day that my son turned 6 months on every cruise line that I found so we postponed our trip a couple of weeks. 

No deal for ANYTHING on my cruise that sails in February 2020. I actually got better prices on some stuff before today. Another "fake sale". Pretty disappointing!

Just a question for some piece of mind or a plan B. Does anyone know if we can get laundry done in an “emergency”? We have 4 kids and last time we sailed (on Carnival so they had laundry facilities) my son got a stomach bug so we had to do several loads of laundry. TIA