bearette

I have twins who are nine now, but we took the train when they were 2 almost 3. If you normally can maneuver the train it is easy in Rome. You just make your way to the main station(there are two that it leaves directly from) to the correct train and you are there within an hour- no train changes. People who look official used to hang around for tips so they are happy to help for a tip or you can shoo them away, (to help you load into the train.) The issue is a straight steep flight of stairs when you get to the cruise terminal stop. I walked my kids by the hand and my husband brought down the bags. There was another grandfather and daughter pair with two littles doing the same thing so we helped each other bring down bags and strollers and wait with bags, so it went perfectly.  If you pack light and wait for the crowd to disperse you can take your time. Most people will offer a hand too. Don't overpack. There is a couple dollar bus to take you to the cruise terminal and then a terminal bus from there, but with a double stroller I wouldn't bother, just walk. It's less than a mile oer about ten minutes. The bus  in the port is mandatory and free. Total cost 10 euro (5 euro per adult). I keep saying I like this port because it was easy and cheap to get to. Not dealing with car seats at that age is a delight.

cars were running  $100 or more for prebooking. Upon disembarkation - outside the ship port exit the shared vans were offering  15-20 euro per person shared rides. If you want car seats prebook and pay the fee- I have never found two car seats available in any car/taxi service without prebooking. You could make that Flight time, but you would need to exit the ship right away. I would get a hotel for the night and leave the next day, rushing and kids don't work well. You can also take the train but not if you want to make an early flight because you have to backtrack through Rome, good though if you want to add a day. We only used the train so if you are a comfortable traveler you can, if you never travel with your kids, get the taxi/car service.

I could have my kids share the bottom bunk laying feet to feet with a pillow on the side, but they also had a rail on the top bunk, so depends on the size of the rail. Another option is the couch with a pillow-I have done whatever works once we are onboard  from 18 months and up. I was able to get more than one crib onboard by asking, but it sucks because you have no room to move. When they were young like that I would ask for a room with a pull out couch, but you need someone who knows what they are doing or go online and research yourself and ask for those specific rooms.

At that age I could never sit and drink more than one but that is expensive, but it depends on how much you drink if it is worth it.

#2 for price and interesting ports but I doubt it will sail to those ports as others have said. It is also the better price so if you are unsure,take the gamble and see what happens with it!

Cabo for beach and as it is your first visit get a local boat, they will find you not effort t no find them, and do a tour to see the Arch and they drop you off for an hour or two to see the beach there, Honeymoon Beach is one side and Divorce beach is the other, the waves prevent swimming on the Divorce Beach side. No facilities are here so good for a short beach visit.  

A shorter boat or cab ride away is Medano Beach where the beach clubs, restaurants, bars,and restroom facilities can be found. Hotels tend to be farther away from port so not sure about any day passes.

Mazatlan we used to go to a hotel in the Golden Zone and just use their facilities ( some have pay day rates other times we ordered drinks and they let us stay), but Stone Island is nice too (did this last time we were there).  You can arrange a tour after you exit the ship, but if you exit the port and make a left you can walk to the dock, I use the term loosely, very local, and take the boat over to the island. (Search this board for Stone Cold island for detailed directions). Then you just pick your restaurant/bar and settle in. If you are ordering food and drinks the chairs are free, but the ones closer to the boat area try to charge per chair, so keep walking for cheaper prices. Then there are horse back riding, ATVs, and such available.

I was going to bring my kids skates, the nemesis hockey players. Anyone know if the ice sessions are currently open? How long ago was " just on"?

As it is not sailing yet, no way to know.  They did have a. Channel on the Liberty but it was o oh one channel.and the station varied from an RCCL teen style show to cartoons for preschoolers.

I would guess in January of it is available in the next couple days. We are booked for a cruise right before Christmas and we are trying to decide if we want to vaccinate them  right away or wait and see. Myself I was eager and ready to have it, but I am more cautious for my kids so unless a place mandates it I don't think they will require it before the new year. ( but my Crystal ball has been wrong before).

Check the Atlantis hotel price too.  It has been cheaper so maybe better than a day pass.

You won't find a free hotel shuttle from the airport to downtown.  Take the lightrail, uber, Lyft, or taxi. Shuttles are usually better priced for airport trips and taxi/uber around town. 

Most of the time it is fine, I've done it from LAX to Seattle.  We almost missed our ship because my son fell and had to have 8 stitches while playing outside of the cruise ship so things happen ( he was 3 at the time).  If you have the time and money get the hotel the day before, if you can 't then chance it.

If you arrive early and leave late you get charged the extra day, but if you are under the 24 hr period it will only be for five days. So your final cost will be based on your arrival and departure time.

4 minutes ago, hallux said:

You can, but you need to opt-out before 60 days until sailing if you want a refund.  Yeah, they don't tell you, and I had to go back and look at my correspondence with my TA that booked my Mexican Riviera cruise in 2019.

 

Maybe it's changed since then?  I don't know, but that was what I was told 2 years ago (actually, 2 years ago 4 days ago I got that answer).

Reading the the terms someone posted it doesn't sound like you can, but it's confusing since you don't have to book the hotel, I doubt they go to any random Airbnb or hotel. Probably something I would conform over the phone and in writing...

My quoting isn't working- in fact most airlines have a basic economy that doesn't include a checked bag and some don't even include a carry on even on international flights, see United my case in point.

Since this involves the same topic, can you opt out of the transfers?  The air deal

 was good, but the transfers were more then an uber/taxi to the port for the whole party of four per person. It sounds like you can pay a fee to change the date, but not control your flights. We have used NcL air  before on a cruise to Hawaii where the air was $500 a piece cheaper- we hated the flight time, but it was back when you could standby for free so we did-no easy feat with a party of six but we did it. Now with basic economy not including bags and seat assignments can you pay more for that too?  Especially with covid we thought using their air may be better in case the port of departure changes, but it may be better to book my own changable flights.

What does the AI cost now?

Too add in... I loved them both. Pick one and do the other the next time. When in doubt I take the best prices airfare or/cruise option.

I have been on all except Costa and msc, my med got cancelled. More similarities on cruise lines then differences, so it depends on which specific items you like or are annoyed by

Carnival- more party but not as bad on longer cruises

Rccl- fa!Iliad and multi generations

Ncl- same as Rccl with more " freestyle" concept

Princess - couples and middle to upper age. More refined in my opinion, with a more then a handful of families

celebrity-upscale but more grandparents with a handful of families

I also agree that guidebooks on cruising most do a nice comparison, you just need to get nit-picky.

The deposit will be converted to an FCC if you cancel.  It is up to you if you have the funds to wait it out for a full refund of save the money and do another trip.

I enjoyed hearing about river cruising, maybe one day, but back on topic...The loyalty perks will change and continue to change as it behooves RCCLs bottom line.  When they remove perks it's because it costs too much for the return they are getting.  Pre- covid they were phasing out the lounges and adding the drinks to your card.  I told my husband they are slowly phasing out the Diamond lounges and giving us time to adjust.  Covid has put the nail in the coffin on the lounges because they don want people to gather.It gives a perfect excuse so my prediction is the Diamond lounges will go the way of the Dodo bird. Covid will be the first excuse, but once it goes , I don't think it will return.

Regardless enjoy cruising and post about your fun times!

This isn't  a dissertaisnt or research study, but with everyone vlogging and blogging now they want traffic to their sight, it actually said the name Singapore Cruise Society in the photo to.  If you want credit, digitally add your signature to the photos before posting, so any repost will have your credit.

I would suggest a cruise without kids first for the parents, if they don't know if they like it, it will be harder with the kids.  If they have experienced a cruise before, they know what to expect. My kids went at 9 months old, I have twins. Where there is a will, there is a way, but it depends on what the parents want out of the trip. If they want some time away they will have to pay for it so I would recommend waiting until the youngest is 3 ( make sure he/she is potty trained, no pull ups allowed) so they can utilize the kid's club. I was the type that wouldn't let them babysit my kids so I took them everywhere before three. 18 months -3 years were the hardest travel ages for my family. All kids are different and parents too. My sister didn't want to travel with her son because she said it wasn't a vacation for her, just more work. So the bottom line, do the parents want to go? If so then go and enjoy.

For anyone doing global entry, my husband's expired in March 2020,  he sent it in January (or Decmebr-ish). Yesterday we got the approval. They were behind even back then so they will be good for another 18 months now.

If it is 50% capacity I think you will see less people on the elevator (high risk?), also the more able bodied of us will resort to walking the stairs, before waiting forever for an elevator.

I've done all of the above as well, depends if the bad of the show outweighed the tiredness of getting up. As someone else said, I usually like it so hubby takes a nap and we stay, but we have done both, kids in tow too, walked out of a show. I left a theatre show once before that was bad enough, I was complaining loudly at the box office for my money back. My time is precious.

Something to think about, do the helicopter first in case of bad weather you can possibly move it to the next week. I haven't done either ,but I think doing both depends on if there is anything else that excited you, I would do that before selecting a similair trip.