Im_on_a_boat

As a parent, I would feel better about having my children in the suite with me rather than a balcony. I am not saying that your children are not trustworthy at all! I just know what my sister and I would have done if we had our own balcony when we were 5-13 yrs old. I know that we would have LOVED it - my parents, not so much.

I have a 9 yr old boy and I wouldn't feel comfortable with letting him have access to his own balcony even though he's a good kid. But that's just me.

All kids really need is a pool to keep them happy in between ports. :)

Since you will have more privacy in the suite, I vote suite.

Thank you both. Definitely put my mind at ease!

I'm going to hunt for a waterproof camera and the lockable bag. I wish I had a passport, but cannot get one at the moment. I've been putting off finalizing everything since I got married. Need to order a copy of my marriage license and stand in line at the ss office to change my name, and then order passports. Btw, I've been married almost 11 yrs, "putting off" was the best I could come up with. I'm just giving it 15 yrs to see if it's going to work out or not! lol

If something happened and we were left behind, I'm perfectly fine staying on the island for the rest of my life. I will not fight to get back to the states, especially GA right now. Kidding, kind of...it's "snowing" pollen.

All you need to take off the ship as far as documents are your ship cards, a photo ID for adults (not passports or BCs) one credit card and some cash. All of which can go in a pocket or in a plastic bag you keep with you.

 

You have to decide what risk you want to take with cameras, I only take a water proof camera on beach days so it gets wet with me.

 

Other stuff like towels, clothes etc. don't really matter and just get left lying around.

Just use common sense when leaving a bag with your chair wherever you are. There are bags that are lockable (to the chair or another fixture) available on Amazon if you want that added security. That way someone can't grab something quickly and run.

 

But the beaches you'll go to on Tortola - Cane Garden Bay or Brewers Bay - are both quite safe. Be sure to carry a credit card to rent loungers, etc (a cc is typically required).

 

One caveat on the documentation - you do not need a passport or BC when on the island as noted. However, in the extremely rare event where you are stranded you will need your passport to leave that island or to return to the US. So again a rare event but good to know...

I was 21 at the time and the casino manager was interested in me. I had a boyfriend at the time, now my husband, I made it clear in a polite way that 1. I had a boyfriend back home that I was very much committed to 2. my father was on the ship. 21 or not, dad paid for my ticket, so dad made the rules. He was a nice guy and respected that. I still got every drink on the house :D

I'm a little worried about what to do with our things when we go to a beach. Last time I cruised, I was with my parents and they were not interested in going to a beach. Mom held on to our birth certificates and the rest of our things (I honestly do not remember what all we had to bring at the time).

This cruise, I'm on my own, as far as my family's documentation goes...

If you are planning on a day at the beach, where do you put your things? I'm just envisioning handing someone a soggy blob that was once our birth certificates and getting stuck in Tortola. :(