Matt

Nothing remotely mentioned. Biggest issue is Havana harbor can only support small ships. That precludes nearly all ships in RC fleet from being able to go there until the harbor facilities are improved/enlarged.

I saw that, but I'd prefer to limit my time on a ferry. Plus, I kind of like the adventure aspect of doing it on my own. My biggest concern is what happens after I arrive at St. Johns. Are there drivers waiting around to take people somewhere? Or am I better off making arrangements in advance?

No. The card merely allows for a fixed amount of drinks, which save you money compared to buying the same amount of drinks without the card. Once you use up all the drinks on the card, you're back to paying full price.

Unfortunately, this happens throughout the travel industry. Often it's errors in the price of flights because of a software glitch.

There is plenty of shopping on the Royal Promenade on Freedom of the Seas. The Royal Promenade is like a large shopping and dining district. In terms of prices, there are specials throughout the cruise, but I cannot comment how lucrative any of it is. My advice is to research in advance what you are in the market for. If you are looking to buy jewelry, be sure to know what the going rate is back home. Heck, buy an internet package and see what that same item is going for on Amazon while you're onboard! I've done that too for designer clothing to ensure I'm getting a good deal.

Here's 14330. Same room, different deck

Thanks for the report! Honey stung chicken in Windjammer on Embarkation Day seems to be extinct

Rental car is something I always use too. You might also consider Lyft or Uber.

Security: Hey, what's in there?! You: Uh, a fishing pole with plenty of dangerous and sharp lures. Security: Well, as long as it's not alcohol. Go on your way and enjoy the cruise!

To make things simple, there's nothing extra you need to do to properly provide gratuities. Royal Caribbean will automatically charge you each day of your cruise a gratuity rate that covers the basics.

Show up early, just like any other sailing.

Ultimately, it depends on the AO staff. My recommendation is to explain the situation and ask nicely. On a recent cruise, my oldest had turned 6 2 months before the cruise, so that meant she got moved up to Explorers. Well, on this sailing there were not a lot of kids and Explorers (6-8) and Voyagers (9-11) got mixed together and that meant a lot of the older kids were engaging in games she was not comfortable with. The AO director talked to me about having her stay in Aquanauts (3-5) since it was more her pace. I think the key is to ask nicely for what you want, but, be prepared if the answer is not what you want. Depending on the amount of kids on your sailing, it may or may not be so easy to change.

Sounds like you had a great day, and thank you for sharing the room service experience. It sounds like the room service is a step better than what it was before. I'll try it out on my Harmony cruise too....you know, for "research". My wife and I love Columbus, and I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it too.

Since we will be kid-free on our next cruise, we decided it would make sense to try St. John this time while in port at St. Thomas. Our goal is to go to St. John and enjoy a beach. I've heard nice things about Cinnamon Bay as a great (and far less crowded) alternative to Trunk Bay. I feel like it's simple enough to take a taxi to the ferry stop, hop on the ferry to St. John. Any advice for getting around to Cinnamon Bay (or really anywhere in St. John). Is it safe to assume there will be ample taxis? Or should I make a reservation for a driver ahead of time?

Harmony has a 90s party already

I would be shocked to discover that is the case....unless it was being replaced by some sort of Dynamic Dining 2.0

Couple of drinks I enjoy DiSorrono and Coke (tastes like Dr. Pepper) Kingfisher is a great beer That is what I love about Old San Juan. Just wandering and discovering what's around the next corner. A $10 minimum is actually low compared to most land based casinos. I prefer it to be lower so I can enjoy a game like Roulette without shelling out $20/round.

To the best of my knowledge there is not. As others pointed out, Jade referred to the Asian food section of the Windjammer buffet. Before RC had Izumi, its ships offered sushi in this area. To be honest, the sushi quality was awful. Worse than supermarket sushi, if you ask me. To get sushi on Harmony of the Seas, you will need to go to Izumi. The sushi there is priced a la carte, so you only pay for what you order. More importantly, the quality of sushi at Izumis is significantly better than Jade ever had. Here's an overview of sushi on Royal Caribbean ships: https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2015/09/04/sushi-royal-caribbean-everything-you-need-know

Honestly, I have no idea what "second quarter" really means. RC is in its second quarter now, but that goes for another 2 months or so.

I believe Allure does and it's referred to as the YSPA

That's what I consistently hear too

Just announced a new kids sail free deal starting today: https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2017/05/17/royal-caribbean-offering-kids-sail-free-deal-through-end-of-may

Thank you for posting the menus! What did you hit up in San Juan along your walking trek?

Royal Caribbean has not announced its return yet, but it seems to pop up about 3-4 times per year. If/when it is announced, I always post it on the blog ASAP. Keep in mind that there tends to be a lot of blackout dates associated with kids sail free promo.

I have cash for tipping porters, use in ports on shore excursions and in the casino. There are porters who will take your luggage and check it for you, just like at the airport. You will find a need to keep some luggage with you (carry-ons) because you need some of the things in the interim period between when you get the luggage delivered to your room. Or, you have fragile items.