bhageerah

Both @AshleyDillo and @ChessE4 are correct and both bring up very valid points! I have and USED to do the carry on thing for shorter cruises, but found that it is such a pain lugging the stuff around even in a smaller suitcase that has wheels that it really is not worth the few dollars to just check it in curbside. When we sail we carry small backpacks with the valuables, and other necessary items and check the rest curbside. You have NO idea how much of a pain it is lugging even a rolling piece of luggage up and down and all over the ship while you are trying to explore. After doing it once I swore I would NEVER do it again, please bring a small backpack and pack what you think that you would need that first few hours say up until maybe 8 pm or so. Your luggage may take longer to get delivered or shorter but you will be prepared and have a much better first day than trying to lug it all over the ship with you until 1pm. (That is unless you plan on boarding the ship after 1pm then please ignore EVERYTHING that I just said!?)

I honestly would not see a problem with this one, as long as you have given your luggage to a porter and are coming back for the cruise (and as long as you are back in PLENTY of time to ensure that you and your luggage manage to reunite the same day) then I really do not see a issue with it. Once your luggage is checked it really should not be an issue, its in their care and is on its way to being scanned/searched and heading to your room.

I know it wasn't Rhapsody but we were on two of the smaller ships (Majesty and Vision) and we had a great time on both. I will have to agree with what @berkeleykel said, it was the same on both of the other smaller ships we sailed on but the staff more than make up for it. The staff was absolutely AMAZING on both and left us both speechless, I honestly would gladly sail on both of them again. That being said I would not try them for anything longer than 3-5 days because they seem a wee bit too small for our taste for a cruise for much longer than that. I think that you guys will have a great time and enjoy it! Have a great cruise!

I would purchase either one of them, other than what @CrznTxn has stated that is the only thing that I see. I would gladly purchase either set, I have the set of 8 we do not need that many so I gave a few to my sister since we cruise with her rather often. They are not a necessity but I do find that they make it easy and its nicer than having to tape them on my luggage or staple them on. Once we are leaving the hotel, or wherever we are staying its easy to take them out of my bag and throw them on.

Hello! I am not going to be able to answer all of your questions but I can answer a few of them! 1. Yes, that is part of the reason we love booking a JS! Especially at the price point on some of the ships that we have been on, my rule of thumb is that if its cheaper to book a JS than it is to take another cruise then I book it. Most have only been $4-700 more than a regular balcony room. 2. Can not help you with this one! 3. Yet another one I can not help you with, sorry! ? 4. Priority boarding, and depending on the ship CK access (if you do not know what it is then you need to do a search, I can assure you that @Lovetocruise2002 is the absolute queen of #teamCK. Once you have been there you will not desire to go back to the MDR. 5. I can assure you that you will not have any issues going back to a balcony room. We flip flop back and forth depending on which ship we are on and the price point, you do get a little spoiled depending on the ship but it really is not as much as you would think. You will enjoy both but it is not like you have booked a Owners Suite and are trying to go back to a "regular" room. Most important of all please enjoy your cruise and if you see a JS at a good price point then please do yourself a favor and book that room before the price goes up! And if you have the opportunity to book a cruise in a JS with a CK at a good price point then please heed my words and book that cruise ASAP!

I have not sailed on HOTS but I can tell you that out of 9 cruises every last single one has had a rowing machine, I use it regularly and it is one of the things that I use to get my cardio in before and after lifting weights. I have been on ships from Majesty up to Oasis and have used them on all of them!

I am still working my way through the ships, and have sailed on several more than once, but one thing that the wife and I agreed on was that anything Oasis class was our favorite, if I had to pick a second and third at the moment it would be Brilliance, and Rhapsody. I have to say that my absolute favorite ship will always be whatever I am currently on, and I have yet to have a bad day at sea. I have COMPLETELY enjoyed every cruise that I have been on, once I started letting go of the fact that not every ship is anything like an Oasis ship (that was my first cruise ever) and started to sit back, relax, and just enjoy myself and appreciate the ship for what it was vs what it wasn't I found myself having an absolute amazing time.

All I am going to say is that RCCL was number one IMHO after my first cruise on Oasis of the Seas! Even though it would be MUCH easier for us to sail on Carnival out of Norfolk VA, I will gladly travel and have a better trip! ?

Being a BBQ aficionado I really have to say thank you for sharing! My mouth is watering and I can not wait to try it!!!

Thank you and yes, we went before we left port, we were walking around trying to familiarize ourselves with the ship and saw that it was open and did not have a long line, and that they did not have any reservations for that period so we HAD to take advantage of that time.

Here are a few pictures from our experience, I wasn’t able to attach them last night!

We were on Anthem in March/April and we booked on a sea day, Nassau to be exact since we knew that we were not getting off of the ship. As it so happened we got on the ship early and noticed that North Star was open that day as well (it was not in the Cruise Planner) and they were taking anyone that walked up at the time, the line was maybe 15 people deep and we only had to wait MAYBE 10 minutes before we were on! So my advice would be book for a day, but try and get to the port early enough to try and get on that first day!

OMG AK was absolutely AMAZING, and I too spent quite a few hours sitting outside on my balcony, FAR more than I have for any other cruise. We went in early June and I did have to bundle up but it was well worth it. Definitely something I would wake up to everyday! Almost wish that the ship could have docked during the evening hours so we did not miss any scenery outside!

Ok have to say you had me cracking up with that first meme! And I am also pretty jealous of that picture! I have not had a aft balcony and that is one thats on my bucket list for sure! Looks like you had an amazing time and judging by your name, I have to say thanks for your service in the fire department!

I have to agree with that one! When I am onboard I do not wear covered shoes except when I am in the gym, or on formal night! ?

We usually get a balcony and its just fine to me! It can be windy depending on the day and the normal fluctuations in the weather but we end up spending quite some time out on ours. I get up early in the morning and head off to the gym and grab a quick snack afterwards and sit out on the balcony and read a book and eat my "pre-breakfast" while the wife is still sleeping. There are times that I will spend out there just watching the waves roll by, to me its honestly perfect! I can assure you that you will have a great time! We have had balconies all over the ship and on quite a few decks and it really has not mattered. Each and every one has always been greatly enjoyed!

I am fortunate enough to get to pick about 8 weeks of leave per year after working for the amount of time that I have, the wife does not get this much off but she gets about four weeks and we usually cruise two weeks at the absolute most. We both work in healthcare and are able to afford it by just working one extra shift per month or cutting back on our expenses such as Starbucks or one of our favorite fast food restaurants Chick-fil-a!? We afford it by booking in advance when they first roll out the itinerary and pay monthly. As far as the tips go I can tell you that there is a spot on here that should be within the first page or two that has FAR MORE tips than can fit on this page! Lets just say that there are a few on there that I actually put in my own toolbox! I hope that you have one absolutely AMAZING cruise!!

Enjoy your cruise, and feel free to pack me away in a oversized piece of luggage and take me with you PLEASE!!!?

I can honestly say that I have never seen any dimsum out of the 9 that we have been on so far, I can tell you that if they did have it and I saw it then they would have one heck of a hard time getting me out of there! I absolutely LOVE Asian food (I do not care which part its from) and would absolutely love to see it on one cruise one of these days. I have seen an Asian influenced night in the Windjammer but I do not recall seeing any dimsum, but that is subject to change from ship to ship and sailing. We shall see! I can tell you that I honestly am looking forward to the results, hopefully someone else has seen some and can let us know which ship!!?

We normally take about 30-40 singles on a 7 day cruise in addition to the $5's,10's, and $20's between the two of us we take about $200-300 in cash, she gambles and I do not. Cabin steward, and those in the dining room get a tip. But as you already know the amount that you choose is your choice. Happy sailing and I hope that you guys have an absolutely AMAZING time!!

Gotta agree with everyone above, if he were in his own pool I would not worry but knowing that you have an open way for bacteria to get into a wound and cause possible sepsis while out at sea is a great way to ruin a vacation. I assume what he would be going onboard with would be a JP drain and I still would not risk at ALL there are still sutures and still areas for bacteria to go in and get inside of a moist, hot environment and spread into his bloodstream. Definitely NOT worth it at all! Please just say no!

I have used Budget/Avis in a prior cruise and agree that they are pretty darned close to the port and well worth a check!

Those are the same ones that I have, I can tell you that if you find ones of that particular quality at a dollar store then you have indeed found a GEM! You will find magnets but you usually will not find ones that are strong enough to be very useful, meaning that they will not hold much weight when attached to the wall. I carry about 4-6 of them in our luggage and have only used about three of them. Wet bathing suits, towels, and clothes are pretty much what we use them for as well as leaving notes for our cabin steward, or hanging up the cruise compass.

I know that temp can be a personal thing but we have been on several cruises in December and have been to all of the above during that time of the year, and we snorkeled in all of them! I can not give you an exact temperature but it was pleasant and even the kids had a great time!

Welcome to the boards and happy cruising to both of you! Word to the wise, you both may want to start looking at future dates that you may want to sail. If you are anything like most, then you will be hooked by the time that you get off of the ship and will desire to book another!!?