JMonty42

My extended family have booked an Alaskan cruise on the Ovation for next May. My wife and I have 3 kids that would be 5, 8, and 10 when that sails. We had a Caribbean cruise booked last year that got cancelled that would have been their first cruise. We're wondering if an Alaskan cruise would be fun for them in May. We're not so worried about hiking and what not for shore excursions. We've visited many national parks and trails and they enjoy that. We're more concerned that they will enjoy the boat in the chilly weather. Are the pools on the boat heated? Is it too cold to enjoy them?

Thanks for the input!

It looks like all of the excursions that RCCL offer for Dolphin Cay specifically include access to the water park (Aquaventure), but there's no mention of beach access on them.

Another quick question: lunch is only included at Blue Lagoon in their VIP swim package. If we all bought their shallow water package, is there food available for purchase?

We'll be in Nassau in April with Royal Caribbean. We've got 3 kids, 8, 6, and 3, and are interested in a dolphin encounter. Would anyone recommend Dolphin Cay or Blue Lagoon over the other and why?

Things I've noticed:

• Blue Lagoon has a minimum age restriction on their swim package, so one of the adults will have to go with our 3-year-old on their shallow water package while the other takes the older kids on the swim. How separated are these experiences? Will we be apart the entire time? I figure we'll at least have access to the same beach area, right?
• I understand Dolphin Cay includes access to the Atlantis water park, but we will be in Coco Cay the day before and will be visiting parks in Orlando afterwards so not sure if we want a park experience on this day in particular.
• Dolphin Cay doesn't list a minimum age restriction on their swim encounter through RCCL's website. Does anyone know if we can take our 3 year old along for that one? If we split it up where an adult takes the 3 year old to the shallow water encounter, the 3 year old gets into that one for free.

Had my bid on the 2/19 Sky sailing just accepted. I was in an Oceanview GTY cabin and bid $125pp for a Balcony. That was just inside the fair range, minimum bid they were accepting was $50pp.

Awesome, thanks.

Does filling in the information assign me a stateroom? I'm assuming it's analogous to checking in for a flight, where if I didn't reserve a seat when I booked the flight, a seat is assigned when I check in. I'm just curious if it would be better to wait to check in so more Oceanview staterooms are booked and I end up getting bumped up a class. Or is that not how it works?

I've booked a Sail Away Oceanview rate on the Sky for the week of Feb 19th. I haven't completed the online check-in yet. When is the best time to complete that? As soon as possible? As close to sailing as possible? I'm assuming that is when my actual stateroom will be assigned, right?