Matt

When you rebook you can lose any discounts or sales you previously booked into but losing your excursions and drink packages seems excessive (or a fault in the booking system logic).

I agree, a two year old wouldn't be great with a pullman bed but we've done the couch idea with my daughter a few different times. Don't be afraid to ask your stateroom attendant for help too.

This blog post should be quite helpful: http://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2013/08/08/should-you-buy-the-unlimited-alcohol-packages Essentially, beers cost about $5-6 each, mixed drinks are somewhere between $7-12 each, soda: $1.95, juices: $3.95

Welcome to the forums! A graduation gift sounds like a great vacation. I think you'll enjoy cruising with RC and hope you'll stick around here to become a part of the community!

October 2014 5 - Marc (Allure of the Seas) 9 - Satkowitz (Explorer of the Seas) 12 - donalk (Liberty of the Seas) 14 - Darkcabbie (Independence of the Seas) 15 - ChrisTravel2114 (Oasis of the Seas) 15 - ian91 (Oasis of the Seas) 19 - ang73 (Freedom of the Seas) 20 - JasonDrahos (Sereneade of the Seas) 27 - Gwen (Oasis of the Seas) November 2014 9 - RCL lover (Navigator of the Seas) 12 - Matt (Quantum of the Seas) 16 - Greg (Allure of the Seas) 22 - mactrio (Serenade of the Seas) 23 - Sheltie (Quantum of the Seas) December 2014 6 - Swazoo (Independence of the Seas) 12 - Cleo (Quantum of the Seas) 13 - Auburn14 (Explorer of the Seas) 27 - Islandspud (Explorer of the Seas) 27 - KeithnRita (Serenade of the Seas) 28 - AGSLC5 (Allure of the Seas) January 2015 3 - KeithnRita (Serenade of the Seas) 3 - DocLC (Jewel of the Seas) 8 - RCKRZR (Brilliance of the Seas) 22 - monctonguy (Brilliance of the Seas) February 2015 2 - Geoff (Quantum of the Seas) 12 - poider (Radiance of the Seas) 12 - NCguys (Explorer of the Seas) March 2015 13 - AGSLC5 (Quantum of the Seas) 14 - Marc (Independence of the Seas) 14 - Don (Serenade of the Seas) 21 - Matt (Quantum of the Seas Royal Caribbean Blog Group Cruise!) 21 - RCKRZR (Quantum of the Seas Royal Caribbean Blog Group Cruise!) 21 - pnyxprss (Quantum of the Seas Royal Caribbean Blog Group Cruise!) 29 - ian91 (Quantum of the Seas) April 2015 4 - bcarney (Jewel of the Seas) 5 - FloatMe (Adventure of the Seas) 10 - CaribbeanPirate (Grandeur of the Seas) 19 - capitalkyle (Adventure of the Seas) May 2015 10 - RCL lover (Independence of the Seas) June 2015 13 - Shocked (Anthem of the Seas) 19 - turtleclanscott (Jewel of the Seas) 21 - TheMays July 2015 26 - Matt (Freedom of the Seas) 29 - DocLC (Brilliance of the Seas) September 2015 26 - RCKRZR (Jewel of the Seas) 27 - Steve (Brilliance of the Seas) October 2015 24 - greenline627 (Grandeur of the Seas) November 2015 3 - rekkie (Explorer of the Seas) 13 - rekkie (Explorer of the Seas) January 2016 3 - DocLC (Liberty of the Seas) March 2016 13 - Marc (Freedom of the Seas)

What category stateroom do you have? If it has a couch, you could use the cushions as a bed potentially. Another option is ask for a few extra comforters and lay them on top of each other until they form a make-shift mattress.

October 2014 5 - Marc (Allure of the Seas) 9 - Satkowitz (Explorer of the Seas) 12 - donalk (Liberty of the Seas) 14 - Darkcabbie (Independence of the Seas) 15 - ChrisTravel2114 (Oasis of the Seas) 15 - ian91 (Oasis of the Seas) 19 - ang73 (Freedom of the Seas) 20 - JasonDrahos (Sereneade of the Seas) 27 - Gwen (Oasis of the Seas) November 2014 9 - RCL lover (Navigator of the Seas) 12 - Matt (Quantum of the Seas) 16 - Greg (Allure of the Seas) 22 - mactrio (Serenade of the Seas) 23 - Sheltie (Quantum of the Seas) December 2014 6 - Swazoo (Independence of the Seas) 12 - Cleo (Quantum of the Seas) 13 - Auburn14 (Explorer of the Seas) 27 - Islandspud (Explorer of the Seas) 27 - KeithnRita (Serenade of the Seas) 28 - AGSLC5 (Allure of the Seas) January 2015 3 - KeithnRita (Serenade of the Seas) 3 - DocLC (Jewel of the Seas) 8 - RCKRZR (Brilliance of the Seas) 22 - monctonguy (Brilliance of the Seas) February 2015 2 - Geoff (Quantum of the Seas) 12 - poider (Radiance of the Seas) 12 - NCguys (Explorer of the Seas) March 2015 13 - AGSLC5 (Quantum of the Seas) 14 - Marc (Independence of the Seas) 14 - Don (Serenade of the Seas) 21 - Matt (Quantum of the Seas Royal Caribbean Blog Group Cruise!) 21 - RCKRZR (Quantum of the Seas Royal Caribbean Blog Group Cruise!) 21 - pnyxprss (Quantum of the Seas Royal Caribbean Blog Group Cruise!) 29 - ian91 (Quantum of the Seas) April 2015 4 - bcarney (Jewel of the Seas) 5 - FloatMe (Adventure of the Seas) 10 - CaribbeanPirate (Grandeur of the Seas) 19 - capitalkyle (Adventure of the Seas) May 2015 10 - RCL lover (Independence of the Seas) June 2015 13 - Shocked (Anthem of the Seas) 19 - turtleclanscott (Jewel of the Seas) July 2015 26 - Matt (Freedom of the Seas) 29 - DocLC (Brilliance of the Seas) September 2015 26 - RCKRZR (Jewel of the Seas) 27 - Steve (Brilliance of the Seas) October 2015 24 - greenline627 (Grandeur of the Seas) November 2015 3 - rekkie (Explorer of the Seas) 13 - rekkie (Explorer of the Seas) January 2016 3 - DocLC (Liberty of the Seas) March 2016 13 - Marc (Freedom of the Seas)

Coming soon, the hand lotion podcast episode!

Cruising solo can be a lot of fun. I'd suggest researching your ports and the activities on your ship to be prepared for what your options are,

You still get the cup. Back in the days before freestyle machines, you still got the special cup.

Yes, it's a perk for Crown and Anchor Society members. About half way through the cruise you will get a bag that you can stuff with clothing and it will be washed and folded for $25.

No freestyle machines on Brilliance

October 2014 2 - Shocked (Independence of the Seas) 5 - Marc (Allure of the Seas) 9 - Satkowitz (Explorer of the Seas) 12 - donalk (Liberty of the Seas) 14 - Darkcabbie (Independence of the Seas) 15 - ChrisTravel2114 (Oasis of the Seas) 15 - ian91 (Oasis of the Seas) 19 - ang73 (Freedom of the Seas) 20 - JasonDrahos (Sereneade of the Seas) 27 - Gwen (Oasis of the Seas) November 2014 9 - RCL lover (Navigator of the Seas) 12 - Matt (Quantum of the Seas) 16 - Greg (Allure of the Seas) 22 - mactrio (Serenade of the Seas) 23 - Sheltie (Quantum of the Seas) December 2014 6 - Swazoo (Independence of the Seas) 12 - Cleo (Quantum of the Seas) 13 - Auburn14 (Explorer of the Seas) 27 - Islandspud (Explorer of the Seas) 27 - KeithnRita (Serenade of the Seas) 28 - AGSLC5 (Allure of the Seas) January 2015 3 - KeithnRita (Serenade of the Seas) 3 - DocLC (Jewel of the Seas) 22 - monctonguy (Brilliance of the Seas) February 2015 2 - Geoff (Quantum of the Seas) 12 - poider (Radiance of the Seas) 12 - NCguys (Explorer of the Seas) March 2015 13 - AGSLC5 (Quantum of the Seas) 14 - Marc (Independence of the Seas) 14 - Don (Serenade of the Seas) 21 - Matt (Quantum of the Seas Royal Caribbean Blog Group Cruise!) 21 - RCKRZR (Quantum of the Seas Royal Caribbean Blog Group Cruise!) 21 - pnyxprss (Quantum of the Seas Royal Caribbean Blog Group Cruise!) 29 - ian91 (Quantum of the Seas) April 2015 4 - bcarney (Jewel of the Seas) 5 - FloatMe (Adventure of the Seas) 10 - CaribbeanPirate (Grandeur of the Seas) 19 - capitalkyle (Adventure of the Seas) May 2015 10 - RCL lover (Independence of the Seas) June 2015 13 - Shocked (Anthem of the Seas) 19 - turtleclanscott (Jewel of the Seas) July 2015 26 - Matt (Freedom of the Seas) 29 - DocLC (Brilliance of the Seas) September 2015 26 - RCKRZR (Jewel of the Seas) 27 - Steve (Brilliance of the Seas) October 2015 24 - greenline627 (Grandeur of the Seas) November 2015 3 - rekkie (Explorer of the Seas) 13 - rekkie (Explorer of the Seas) January 2016 3 - DocLC (Liberty of the Seas) March 2016 13 - Marc (Freedom of the Seas)

Great question. I suspect breakfast and dinner will be treated like MDR for those meals, first come, first served but that's just my guess.

I have no idea what Kiehls is :lol:

Busy time for Royal Caribbean in Europe!

I'm doing 8-night on Quantum for the Royal Caribbean Blog group cruise and thought that was a good schedule!

October 2014 2 - Shocked (Independence of the Seas) 5 - Marc (Allure of the Seas) 9 - Satkowitz (Explorer of the Seas) 12 - donalk (Liberty of the Seas) 14 - Darkcabbie (Independence of the Seas) 15 - ChrisTravel2114 (Oasis of the Seas) 15 - ian91 (Oasis of the Seas) 19 - ang73 (Freedom of the Seas) 20 - JasonDrahos (Sereneade of the Seas) 27 - Gwen (Oasis of the Seas) November 2014 9 - RCL lover (Navigator of the Seas) 12 - Matt (Quantum of the Seas) 16 - Greg (Allure of the Seas) 22 - mactrio (Serenade of the Seas) 23 - Sheltie (Quantum of the Seas) December 2014 6 - Swazoo (Independence of the Seas) 12 - Cleo (Quantum of the Seas) 13 - Auburn14 (Explorer of the Seas) 27 - Islandspud (Explorer of the Seas) 27 - KeithnRita (Serenade of the Seas) 28 - AGSLC5 (Allure of the Seas) January 2015 3 - KeithnRita (Serenade of the Seas) 3 - DocLC (Jewel of the Seas) February 2015 2 - Geoff (Quantum of the Seas) 12 - poider (Radiance of the Seas) 12 - NCguys (Explorer of the Seas) March 2015 13 - AGSLC5 (Quantum of the Seas) 14 - Marc (Independence of the Seas) 14 - Don (Serenade of the Seas) 21 - Matt (Quantum of the Seas Royal Caribbean Blog Group Cruise!) 21 - RCKRZR (Quantum of the Seas Royal Caribbean Blog Group Cruise!) 21 - pnyxprss (Quantum of the Seas Royal Caribbean Blog Group Cruise!) 29 - ian91 (Quantum of the Seas) April 2015 4 - bcarney (Jewel of the Seas) 5 - FloatMe (Adventure of the Seas) 10 - CaribbeanPirate (Grandeur of the Seas) 19 - capitalkyle (Adventure of the Seas) May 2015 10 - RCL lover (Independence of the Seas) June 2015 13 - Shocked (Anthem of the Seas) 19 - turtleclanscott (Jewel of the Seas) July 2015 26 - Matt (Freedom of the Seas) 29 - DocLC (Brilliance of the Seas) September 2015 26 - RCKRZR (Jewel of the Seas) 27 - Steve (Brilliance of the Seas) October 2015 24 - greenline627 (Grandeur of the Seas) November 2015 3 - rekkie (Explorer of the Seas) 13 - rekkie (Explorer of the Seas) March 2016 13 - Marc (Freedom of the Seas)

Good find!

For the child, speak to your waiter when you check in at the restaurant. They can make the adjustment. As for times, the online booking system and the real reservation times don't always sync up. You should make a reservation so you have something (and can pay it off now) and then once onboard look at rebooking for a better time. I've never had issues with this approach.

Even if you don't drink, the events can be interesting because you get to hear crew talk about upcoming news/changes as well as it being a good place to meet fellow cruisers who are obviously fans. The events are hit or miss but they are always quick and I've always found it to be worth my time.

Hilton Marina has a good reputation as well as the Marriott Spring Hill Suites in Dana Beach. They have free shuttle from airport to hotel, free shuttle to cruiseport and free breakfast.

Looking forward to your review Marc!

I can't think of a better way to start a cruise

Bonine works well, despite the drowsiness. For me, the drowsiness is that feeling of "I could use a nap". Not like you're falling over walking around.