givethemwings

GREAT!! review. Thank you! Loved all the details.

APDMOM -

YOU ARE AWESOME! Thank you so much for doing this; an incredible amount of work. We are still new to choosing ships and choosing cabins, so this is extremely helpful. We have our next trip planned for 2016 - yes, awful far away, but it's when I retire from my present job so we're looking ahead. Your pictures helped us to decide on a cabin. Thanks again!

We went on our first cruise last year, and the first night asked for a table for 2 at 6pm for MTD. As we were leaving, the maître d asked if we were happy with our table and our servers. We were, so every night for the rest of the trip we had that same table at 6pm. The table for 2 to our left, and the table for 4 to our right had different diners each night, so we were able to exchange conversation when we wanted to. It worked out really well for us. We always wanted to move on to the evening's entertainment so took as much time dining as we wanted, but never felt rushed. The servers got to know us by name, our coffee preferences, etc., and it was only a 4 night cruise. We had a great experience.

We also had breakfast in the main dining room where they would fill up the tables for 8, so we had breakfast with other groups of 2's and 4's, and we met people that way. I felt like we had the best of both worlds.

 

We were told we could kayak as far as the neighboring island. It really isn't that far away.

 

Enjoy and have a good time!

Thanks for the tip about the neighboring island. We'll have to look for it. Can't wait to go back to Coco Cay again; we loved going there last year.

Our experience is that there are only two person kayaks and their rules are two persons to a kayak. DW was able to have them make an exception once but she said it was too difficult trying to paddle it herself so wouldn't try that again.

Thank you. I knew the kayaks used for the group tour were two person kayaks, but I didn't realize those were the only kind available. Good to know. I'll let him know he would have to go solo in a two person kayak; I'm a bit of a scaredy-cat when it comes to kayaking........

I was just there a couple of weeks ago and did the wave runner tour...it was a blast. Walked past the kayak booth but didn't stop.

 

According to post #5 on this thread, yes you can.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1893197

My hubby did the wave runner tour last year, during our Monarch cruise, and he had a blast too. This year he was thinking of kayaking, so the thread you referenced answers my question. Thanks!

We'll be going to Coco Cay in February during a cruise on the Enchantment. I know we can be part of a kayaking touring group while at Coco Cay, but has anyone been able to just rent a single kayak for an hour or two to be able to go out on your own? Thanks!

(I also posted this at Ports of Call, Bahamas, but haven't gotten any answers yet. I'm an impatient sort.) :)

I know we can be part of a kayaking touring group while at Coco Cay, but has anyone been able to just rent a single kayak for an hour or two to be able to go out on your own? Thanks!

Make sure you pack socks for the bungee trampoline.

 

I just showed my husband your bungee trampoline pictures and he said, "You'll love that; they'll hear you screaming all the way back to Port Canaveral." So, maybe I should bring some tape for my mouth too. :o

I was able to upgrade from an inside room on Deck 7 to an ocean view on Deck 3, in the newer stretched area. (Actually my price went down!! :)) I like that you described your cabin as nice and quiet on Deck 3.

Still months away but it's fun to look forward to it!

Great journal and pictures! We have our trip on the Enchantment planned for February, and you gave some great tips. We've been to Nassau only once, and while we'll probably walk along the beach again to a restaurant we liked, I really like the idea of a chocolate tour! (What's not to like?)

I'll have to try the cranberry bread, and I hadn't read about the bungee trampoline. Thank you for sharing!!

Sorry you missed your trip to Maine (our neck of the woods), but you certainly made the most of your cruising time.

Thanks for mentioning the dinners...first night is Mojo- I'm trying to figure out which menus are offered which night to decide if and when we want to try one of the specialty restaurants. There were a couple of nights where we didn't care for what was in the menu, and I'd be happy to go elsewhere. If you can recall a couple of the meals each night, I can figure to out from my " menu" spreadsheet and I will post the whole cruise by menu, with all the offerings, at the end of your review for future cruisers if you want!

I like your idea. It will be only our second cruise and I hate to think I'm missing something yummy in the MDR, but I also want to try one of the specialty restaurants. There aren't enough meals in a day. :D

I look forward to your menu spreadsheet. :)

"When we got there, Tommy and Marissa were both asleep on the couch bed. They usually stay as far apart from each other as possible so it was cute to see them sleeping next to each other. Kids are so darn adorable … when they’re asleep."

Enjoying your review AND your sense of humor very much! Thank you for all the details. We'll be going back to Coco Cay for the second time, which I'm excited about. Ours was the only ship at the island the first time and what's not to love about having your own island. :D

The formal picture of your family is adorable - it's a picture that you can't help but smile at!

Not only are you an awesome and funny writer, but I love how you can make something ordinary - extraordinary. You just decribe situations so well. I really appreciate all your details. I'm one of these "who, what, where" types of people, but you give so many answers, I have few questions left! It's very generous of you to share the All Access tour info too; it sounded so cool and probably not something I'd be able to experience, so I appreciate hearing about it! I'll stop gushing now :) but I've been a lurker for this review and your European one, and wanted to finally thank you!

Enjoy the Constellation in April. Maybe you'll do a review? (Pretty please, with lots of sugar on top.)

When in NYC, you might look into walking the High Line, a public park built on an old railroad line elevated above the streets on Manhattan's West Side. My son lives in Manhattan so we are lucky enough to know the city pretty well and that's a neat place to check out.

There are lockers for rent on coco cay! I think it was $5-10 to rent, can't remember exactly!! You will be getting off the monarch the day we get on!! Cheers to a great cruise!!!

Thank you for this info. Have a great trip!

Often I think I know more about RCCL then some of the staff, thanks to my Cruise Critic friends!

And you in turn have helped us. We know more about the Monarch now - our first ever cruise in February! We're very excited, and your review and pictures are great. Thanks so much for taking the time.

Do you happen to recall lockers for rent on Coco Cay? We want to snorkel while there and would feel better storing our stuff somewhere.

.... and didn't visit the casino except to purchase chips so we could cash them in and get our OB credit out which we used to pay the tips.

Very new at this (about to go on first cruise) and just wondering how this purchasing chips works for tipping. I guess I thought we had to put tips on the credit card we register. Do you mind explaining it a bit? Thanks!