leaveitallbehind

We have visited the caves on our own and it is about an hour to hour and a half from the Dockyards via ferry to Hamilton and then bus to the caves. This is dependent on timing between the two transportations and could be longer. The bus schedule is more frequent than the ferry so we time it based on the ferry. The caves require an hour or two based on their tour schedule. So I would plan on 5 - 6 hours total and would think the departure day with an early AM ferry would work fine. Just be sure of the return ferry times. You can also take the bus the whole route as an option but that is typically longer. At the entrance to the caves, which is adjacent to the bus stop, is Baileys Ice Cream Parlour and across the street is the Swizzle Inn and Pub - both good stops if time allows. The other option would be to see what ship sponsored tour would be available. Clearly they would have that timed appropriately to assure no issues.

I certainly understand the cost v ROI on older ships, but since, as you indicate, they are included on most of the new ships in some quantity, RCCL must feel there is enough interest for bookings at a premium price or they would not include them in the builds. They must see a positive market for them, even if in limited quantities. Not arguing, just addressing the business case.

Agree - they certainly are not for everyone, but they are an attractive option for some. Attached is an article discussing them from their initial limited offering in 2015 on Navigator. They have scaled them increasingly on different ships and ship classes with Quantum having them on all interiors except the studios. Just interesting information IMO. https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2015/08/14/royal-caribbean-virtual-balcony-everything-you-wanted-know

At the time Monarch was the newest sister ship in the Sovereign class and the only of the three we never sailed on. I recall then that Sovereign was sailing the Eastern Caribbean itinerary, Majesty was the Western Caribbean (our 2nd), and Monarch was the Southern. Unfortunately we never did that itinerary when she was sailing it.

My question was as to why the category is not offered on more ships as an option - not that all inside staterooms would have them. To my knowledge most of the ships that currently offer them do not have them in all inside staterooms but as an optional category for certain inside staterooms for those who are willing to pay the premium. To me it seems the category is a popular one and I am just curios why the option is not included on more ship classes, especially the new builds launched since the virtual balconies were first offered.

They are an interesting concept. FYI from the RCCL website here is a list of ships that offer them: Symphony of the Seas®, Harmony of the Seas®, Spectrum of the Seas®, Anthem of the Seas®, Ovation of the Seas®, Quantum of the Seas®, Navigator of the Sea®s, Explorer of the Seas®, and Voyager of the Seas®. Not sure why they don't offer them on most ships, especially on the new builds since the idea was originated.

We have been fortunate to be on 18 different cruise ships (many multiple times) and could probably find reasons to mention all of them as a favorite in one way or another. But probably our most favorite was our first - and likely for the very reason that it was our first - and that would be RCCL Sovereign of the Seas in 1991. At the time she was arguably the most innovative and spectacular cruise ship afloat. By todays standards and comparisons of ships cruising today, maybe not so much. But she will always hold a special place for us as our first.

Probably the most accurate way to determine this would be to go to the NCL website and search for Baltimore departure port cruises. Here is their link: https://www.ncl.com/

I don't believe Oasis has any interior virtual balcony staterooms. The only Oasis class ships that have them to my knowledge are Harmony and Symphony. And on those ships (or any RCCL class that has them) they are not in every interior stateroom, only select categories.

One suggestion. As soon as you can check into your room, do so and leave any carryon luggage there. Then go explore the ship. Grab a beverage of choice and find your way around to locate the dining rooms, theater, bars, and other venues you would be frequenting. Confirm your dining arrangements with the maitre d to be sure they are as expected. Periodically check your stateroom and when your luggage arrives, unpack. Place the empty suitcases under your bed for storage. (We also place our dirty laundry each night in them to keep that out of the way and to have us 90% packed by the last night). Make sure you follow any instructions regarding the muster drill and complete that as soon as possible, or by the ship's schedule. Do not put this off as delaying it can delay your ship's sailing. As a first time cruiser you will likely want to do everything offered on the ship so as not to miss anything. I would suggest prioritizing as, IMO, one important aspect of the cruise experience is to also relax and enjoy the experience. You will likely find that your first cruise will not be your last, and if you are enjoying the cruise line you are on, you may want to look at booking your next while on board. Often times reduced deposits, on board credits, and other incentives are offered with on board bookings. But most of all enjoy your cruise! We have been fortunate in being able to do so for 32 years - and still booking new ones!

Typically the cruise lines will provide transfers that you can sign up for to the airports that would normally serve that port. They would likely be generic to the airport and not tied to a specific airline. The shuttle would then stop at the different airlines departure terminals. The other option would be Uber, taxi, or other private transporter that you could arrange direct transfer to the airport and airline departure terminal. There is no one set method - it really is up to you. But as your travel agent has arranged the departure transfers, they likely can also arrange the return transfers as well. Maybe contact them with this. If your return port is Fort Lauderdale, the airport is only 2 miles / ten minutes from the port and is very easy for which to arrange transportation.

As CruiserBruce indicates, you aren't providing much information to go on, so I will answer it this way - most cruise lines will offer adult oriented areas on board. But in terms of cruise lines that cater mainly to adults, Virgin is adults only, but caters primarily to a younger to mid age adult demographic. Of the main stream lines, Celebrity is primarily an adult focus more to the mid to older adults, with little on board for children, and HAL is primarily an adult focus more to the older adults. There are also a number of premium lines such as Viking, Crystal, Seabourn Regent Seven Seas, Silver Sea, Oceana, etc., that have mainly and adult focus. You really need to provide more input as to your preferences, itineraries, budget, etc. to get a better idea of different cruise lines that may appeal to you. But my suggestion would be to contact a travel agent and work with them on your selection. They would be able to best match a cruise line that would suite your preferences.

I don't have any direct recommendations but would suggest that maybe you talk with your doctor or pharmacist for advice and specific options. They may know best what would be good for you.

If you have no preference on cruise lines and the price is not an issue I would always choose a 7-night over a 4-night itinerary.

Pack less and bring more cash.

NCL has similar promotions. Most lines that offer that are as limited promo's and not their standard pricing.

Better to have something and not need it then need it and not have it. Great minds think alike LOL - my motto as well as mentioned before. Always good advice!

I was referring, as example, to certain prescription pain medications, which commonly would be a narcotic - and as such as a controlled substance. The other medications as your referenced such as statins, steroids, or diabetes pills, etc., are not in that classification. I am also pretty sure your doctor would make you aware of any medication that was a narcotic that was being prescribed to you as they can be addictive. And I took no inference of you arguing - just that you were asking a question.

It's not a "must", but a recommendation. Even giving that suggestion I as well have brought some of my meds in a non-descript container. IMO any prescribed narcotics should be in the original container.

Obviously you need to take any prescription medications (in their original bottles) with you. But all the other items you mention for day to day occurrences would be good. Often port of call medicines are not the same composition or strength and may be more expensive. No reason to rely on purchasing those items in port - or on the ship - when it would be easiest and likely less costly just to take them with you as they won't take up much space. Better to have something and not need it then need it and not have it.

I have done that itinerary a number of years ago (Bayonne, NJ / Bermuda / Caribbean) - although it was in the summer months - and the waters between Bermuda and the Caribbean were fine and not noticeably rougher than the transit to Bermuda or the Island hopping in the Caribbean. This was our experience and yours can certainly vary. We also did the 5-day transit from Hawaii to Vancouver during April and a couple of days were very smooth and a couple were more noticeably choppy. While there are certain specific areas of the world where seas are more regularly defined caused by conditions in the region, I don't think there generally is any "typical when it comes to sea conditions - there is no pattern or firm prediction.

And I will counter by saying that the calmest water we ever experienced in 30 years of cruising was around Bermuda - smooth as glass. The roughest was in the Caribbean near Panama where we hit 25 foot waves - and not resulting from a storm. So anywhere can be rough - or calm. Generally no predicting.

Sea conditions are next to impossible to predict and can change rapidly from calm to rough and visa versa. Weather and other factors that would influence sea conditions are typically only accurate a week or so out, so there is no way to even begin to predict anything now. You are also asking about conditions in an area covering more than 900 miles just to reach the Caribbean. Things could change multiple times over that range. The only situation that could add impact to be considered is that November is the end of hurricane season so the conditions that are present that could favor storms developing will still be present to some extent. But even that is impossible to predict. In other words there is no way to know this answer.

We have been on 5 cruises since the restart and all were consistent in the manner in which our on board reservations were handled - which, as I described earlier, were arranged to our preferences by the maître d's at the specialty restaurants on day 1. BTW that is how it was in our experience pre-pandemic.

RCCL customer service typically only can advise what the T's & C's are per the packages offered via the planner. In practice, things are often different and the on board staff will, in our experience, be more flexible. All of our information was on the app as entered via the cruise planner once we were on board. Any maître d can help you on board, but we typically go to the one at the restaurant that was "assigned". They have always accommodated us and have booked all of our reservations together at that time for the different restaurants.