Matt

I have two issues with the casitas.

1. It's on the upper pool deck, so if you're going to the pool and going to going in and out, it's not that convenient.

2. The lack of walls means there could be no shade, depending on where the sun is.

The Classic Package was treated like the Premium package on CocoCay is a huge win. I doubt it lasts, but good for those early birds!

Thanks for sharing your review

32 minutes ago, BZSTANG99 said:

I found a RC blog page with 295k subscribers. Is that also fake?

No, that's the original one. Facebook mysteriously re-instated it today

I'm on this sailing too

Great report, thank you for sharing!

36 minutes ago, wolfies said:

Our younger son plays well with others very easily, and he went a few times, but he came out complaining about how obnoxious/crazy some of the kids are.

Unfortunately this is luck of the draw. As a dad of girls, I've often thought I was glad to have girls since they all seemed to be more interested in less rambunctious activities.

37 minutes ago, wolfies said:

I could see it working out if you have a very outgoing kid but it's so dependent on the other kids on board.

My oldest daughter is starting teens club stuff, and she agrees the ice breaker stuff is lame.  But if they don't offer it, it becomes a stereotypical middle school dance with boys on one side and girls on another.

When my daughter knows someone else on the ship that is going to teen club, that has helped immensely. Like your son, she's not an extrovert that can jump in and make a ton of friends.

Welcome to the message boards!

I'd recommend two connecting cabins instead of one room.

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2022/02/15/mailbag-whats-the-best-cruise-ship-cabin-my-family

14 hours ago, chrismelissa said:

Try the Brightline Train

 

I love Brightline, but it wouldnt be practical for Everglades to PortMiami because you'd need to pay for a taxi/lyft from port to train station, and then train station to the port. Just easier to take a lyft the entire way.

Welcome to the message boards.

You are correct, there's no more Diamond Plus line.

For Express Check In, you need to have the setsail pass say it (regardless of C&A status). In order to get it, you need to do the check-in on the Royal Caribbean app (not website), scan your passport in the app (not enter it manually), enter all contact info, add credit card, upload check in photo, and then do health questionnaire. 

I believe @CHart got a similar message for a suggestion he made for the app

Yes, if you hustle off the ship (meaning you dont take your time and roll off the ship at 9am).

Welcome Annie!

As others mentioned, Chops isn't open as a specialty restaurant for breakfast.

Your UDP would work for Chops for lunch or dinner.

14 hours ago, DZ_Da_Dude said:

Where in port (costa maya, cozumel) is the best place to get lobster

Almost certainly somewhere in Cozumel. Costa Maya is a small village in reality.

The Lobster Shack in Cozumel Downtown is a good choice.

I would say there's a 0.1% chance, but there is indeed a chance in the academic sense of the word.

22 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

Also keep in mind they don't show up until midway through the cruise, if they show up.

Yes, that's a very important consideration to note. There's no way to know if it will be offered at all on any sailing.

They were practically extinct between 2021-2023.

On 12/1/2023 at 8:13 PM, Wilson said:

We are going to give Paradise another try since they are offering a RC Blog discount. @Matt during your recent visit did you happen to notice the brands of liquor they were using if you did NOT purchase the top shelf option? We experienced the "gasoline" taste you mentioned in your article at a couple other resorts and ended up going back to beer. TYIA for your response and for working out a discount for your followers.  

I'm so late on responding to this, but I'd expect well liquor if you don't go for the upgrade options.  I apologize I don't have specifics, but if you want more than beer, I'd go for the top shelf option.

I believe DJ MP3 is at Oasis Lagoon. There's still music there.

Chill Island has no music. They purposefully dont play music there to adhere to the name.

Doesn't mean it's a library, just that the line doesn't try to convey the party vibe there.

On 4/12/2024 at 8:56 AM, Fellus said:

Just want to know your thoughts on the above and deck 3 in particular? Thanks

Is your concern having a cabin on a low deck?

If so, there's pros and cons https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2023/05/31/cruise-ship-cabin-deck-2-bad

The pricing is not all crazy high.

My May 20 sailing of Freedom of the Seas has the lowest price I've ever seen for an OTW cabana

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2023/03/23/celebrity-royal-caribbean-cruise-loyalty-reciprocity

I don't think the scenario @loki007 describes of going to get lunch is the problem. It's the people that get up at 6-7am and reserve chairs without being there for a while to actually use them.

It breeds others to grab chairs so they have one, and it's the primary reason why you can't get a chair when you get up to the pool deck around 10 or later.

Once you get to the lunch hours, all bets are off if you ask me. 

You could go to the Shore Excursion desk and request one, but otherwise, they assign you one when you arrive.

Your C&A status on your luggage tags are meaningless, so don't worry about it.