Sigyn

I read the fine print about 5x before booking. I ended up making my son guest 2, so that he'd get the soda package, and my husband guest 3, so he'd get the PBP promo. It's very clear that only guests 1-2 get the soda package if they're under 21 as a replacement for PBP. Guests 3-8 will get PBP if they're 21 or older, but no soda package if they're under (or over) 21.

I'm looking at the Encore or Joy for spring break in April. There are three of us - my husband, 15-year-old son and myself. I am trying to decide between the two NCL cruises, or two that are more expensive on Royal Caribbean (the new Wonder of the Seas ship) and the Celebrity Apex. All balcony or infinite veranda (Celebrity) rooms: NCL Encore is $3,205 - free drinks, bar gratuities and $130 of Wi-Fi and $160 of specialty dining (those are things that matter and we'd pay for) NCL Joy is $3,860 - free drinks, bar gratuities and $130 of Wi-Fi and $160 of specialty dining Celebrity Apex is $5,881 - free drinks, bar gratuities and basic Wi-Fi (about the same as NCL) RC Wonder is $6,059 - no drinks or Wi-Fi RC's ship is brand new and very tempting but crazy expensive without drinks or anything else added and we would be paying for those on top of everything else. But, it looks like we wouldn't be nickel and dimed like you get on NCL with all of the fees for go-karts, laser tag, etc., which would add up super fast (I saw where it's something like $199 for unlimited for each of those per cruise!) The itineraries are fairly similar - ports that we'd enjoy in the Caribbean, so those aren't a big consideration. I picked these cruises already based on the dates that work for us and ports that we would want to visit. My big question here is which of these ships would be best for a family of three with an outgoing, athletic 15-year-old boy for spring break. I could spring for the $6,000 Royal Caribbean cruise, but it is pricey and if either the $3,200 or $3,800 NCL are a good choice, I'd rather spend less because those look like a better value. But if all of the extras on board start adding up too fast, then I want to be aware. I read somewhere that on NCL there is a "pack of teenagers" that roam because they end up with nothing to do since everything costs extra. I'd pay for my son to have things to do, but I don't like the idea of bored packs of teenagers with nothing to do on a ship. Of course, if it was just my husband and I, the Celebrity seems like the way to go - but would a teenager be bored on a Celebrity ship? It seems to skew older with less fun stuff for kids. Any thoughts here? I've never sailed on NCL or any of these lines I'm considering, only Carnival, because I've sailed with friends in the past that were Platinum and Diamond Carnival members, but I'm not tied to that line by any means. My husband and I love to stay at high-end hotels and eat at high-end restaurants when we travel, so we like fancy when we find it. But we're not snobs, so Carnival is a fun line for our teenager, and we're traveling on it for a holiday cruise again in December. I'm trying to learn all I can about the other lines so that I can figure out what will be the best one for us this time as we experience a different cruise line. Thanks in advance for any advice!

One of the free promotions NCL is offering right now is the Unlimited Open Bar Package. There will be three of us cruising - my husband and myself and our 15 year old son. It seems like, based on this description, that I should make guests 1-2 myself and my son, and then guest 3 should be my husband. That way my son will still get the free soda package since he's under 21. Is there anything you can see incorrect about this decision, or should an adult be guest 2? Unlimited Open Bar Package (Open Bar)Unlimited Open Bar Package is applicable to all qualified sailings excluding Pride of America.Applicable to guests 1-8 on the reservation. If 3-8 guest is under 21 years of age, Unlimited Open Bar Package does not apply and soda package will not be given as a substitution.Guest 1-2 must be at least 21 years of age at time of sailing to qualify for the Unlimited Open Bar Package. Guests under 21 will receive the soda package.

We did a food tour in Rome a few years ago and it was one of the highlights of our trip. We had all three kids with us at that time and they really enjoyed it, too. I'd like to find a walking food tour in San Juan for myself, my husband and our teenager. I see two companies that do them, Flavors Food Tour and Spoon, but I know nothing about either one. Has anyone done a tour with either, or another company?

I don't see any posts about scuba diving in St. Kitts. Is this an option while at port? My husband and son would like to go diving. Has anyone done this?