gregorykicks

I'd do deck 7 or deck 8. Deck six is louder as it's closer to the promenade level. Deck 8 does have some lights that will very slightly block your view, but they do lean into the promenade so you can lean against the glass and see better directly below you.  Here is a good picture to demonstrate.  
If you're towards the middle then you can look either direction. I would also stay away from any room that are on the end or don't have a room on both sides (7263, 7275, 7283, etc..) as there are walkways that jut out that can block part of your view. Also, the bridge is between 7275 and 7283 and that's where the cruise staff will host the parties and parades from. 
 

Platinum and above are invited. 

How to find which groups are on your Royal Caribbean cruise

In Windjammer it's a separate area. You can speak to someone on the ship and they will help you out and try to make sure your in laws are taken care of. Same for the main dining room, speak to the head waiter and then your personal waiters and they will look out for you.

Can't recommend a beach as I haven't done a beach day in Bahamas, but I will say if you try to bring any shells on the ship they will be confiscated if they find them. 

yes, you are allowed to bring 2 - 750ml bottles of wine per stateroom.

Sounds like she'd find it worthwhile to head to the French side! Hope you enjoy!

We just did this trip and LOVED Roatan. Can't understand why anyone would skip it. The area around the port isn't the best but take a ride to west end bay and its great!
We went snorkeling in that area and it was amazing. I saw real sea turtles swimming through the reef just a few feet from me. 
Cozumel and Cozumel are a been there-done that for me. It seems to be just like any other port that's been getting cruises for years. Over commercialized and boring. For god sakes there is an old navy right when you get off the ship in Cozumel. No thanks, I can get that at home. If you're looking to skip a port, those are the ones to skip.
Roatan is a must do.  

It never hurts to ask about the drink card.  Sometimes you might even get one a day early.  

My wife pointed it out to me in the Compass, and I did see a sign at a couple of bars, but it definitely wasn't prominently advertised. 

Thanks to everyone for the advice. This was more of a question for future cruises.
I'm excited for our Jr Suite aft 8th deck. One of only two on the ship with an extra large balcony! .

I'd argue against that 'wisdom' for Alaska cruises.  Having done three doesn't make me an expert by any stretch, but I fail to see the logic for a specific side in Alaska and I am curious why people come to the conclusion that facing the land mass in the inside passage is better.  On one cruise there was far more marine live on the other side including pods of Orcas.  
Ironically the only time there is land just on one side you are so far offshore you can barely see land never mind make out details or look for a bear.  Regardless what side you are on if you just experience Alaska from one side of the ship you are missing out on something.  Plus you won't use your balcony as much as your think in Alaska.  It's cold out there.
If it makes you feel better and the price is the same, do it since you will feel better.  Of course the cruise lines have this figured out and often there is a premium for it.  Supply and demand, higher demand equates to higher price, not a better experience.  

I've come to a similar conclusion. I was looking at a cruise that stopped in Port Canaveral and with the travel time you were looking at under 5 hours at Disney. May be worth it if you don't think you'll make it down there again in a long time and you're okay with walking the park some and riding a couple rides. Otherwise, I think Disney Springs could give you taste of Disney without the park ticket expense. 

I've figured out that shoes are a menace. They're heavy and difficult to pack. I've been able to reduce my footwear to one pair dress shoes that will work with suits and slacks for dinner. A pair of tennis shoes, and a pair of sandals. I wear Chaco sandals which can be used at the beach or walking around just as well. 
For 7 nights I'll bring my suit or a jacket for formal nights, two pair of pants, and 5 shirts. If I wear a shirt with a suit/jacket then I figure it's clean enough to wear again. 
Shorts/tees/swimsuits are all small and easy to pack so I don't worry about over packing on them much. We'll also use the bag-of-laundry deal on day 4 or 5 if needed for tees and socks and what-not. 

Taxi is your best bet. It will be about $20-25 each way for 2 people. Add $5-8 per additional person each way. 
I've not shopped in Marigot but I believe it is more fashion/purses/clothing/perfume based where as Philipsburg (where you dock) is heavier on jewelry. Philipsburg will be a bit more touristy but I find that Sint Maarten/ Saint Martin aren't as bad as most ports. It's been about 4 years since I was there last, but I think that still holds true. 
Marigot should have some botique shops as well as major fashion brands. 

Assuming you still have to handle your luggage at the airport, the first thing you want to do when you get there is to run it through the agricultural scanners immediately to the right and left of the doors where you enter the airport.  Lots of people skip this, and then are turned back when they try to check in.  They'll put little stickers on your luggage to indicate they've been scanned.

100% agree on Rhapsody. No major "gold card" suite benefits on this ship. Junior suite will be a great room still. Plus this is a very port intensive itinerary so you won't have a lot of time in your room. 

They all do, but from what I've read, the shorter ones and the Caribbean ones are much less 'formal' than some of the European and longer cruises.

Let me pose an alternative thought for you.  One of the reasons we love to cruise is we feel like it is the one vacation we can over pack.  We start with if we are flying to the port then the restriction is really just what airline we're on and it's baggage costs.  We enjoy unpacking one time when we fist get our room.  Then changing depending on the activities and ports from there on out.  We consider the evenings our date nights so we probably dress up a little more than we would normally do.  So yes we over pack but we think that is part of the fun.  Enjoy your cruise. There is no right or wrong answer as long as you have fun.

I've figured out that shoes are a menace. They're heavy and difficult to pack. I've been able to reduce my footwear to one pair dress shoes that will work with suits and slacks for dinner. A pair of tennis shoes, and a pair of sandals. I wear Chaco sandals which can be used at the beach or walking around just as well. 
For 7 nights I'll bring my suit or a jacket for formal nights, two pair of pants, and 5 shirts. If I wear a shirt with a suit/jacket then I figure it's clean enough to wear again. 
Shorts/tees/swimsuits are all small and easy to pack so I don't worry about over packing on them much. We'll also use the bag-of-laundry deal on day 4 or 5 if needed for tees and socks and what-not. 

This is pretty much the same way I pack, I wear slack and shirts multiple times to cut down on what is needed.
As stated, if something were to get dirty or a stain, we will use the laundry service.

I've figured out that shoes are a menace. They're heavy and difficult to pack. I've been able to reduce my footwear to one pair dress shoes that will work with suits and slacks for dinner. A pair of tennis shoes, and a pair of sandals. I wear Chaco sandals which can be used at the beach or walking around just as well. 
For 7 nights I'll bring my suit or a jacket for formal nights, two pair of pants, and 5 shirts. If I wear a shirt with a suit/jacket then I figure it's clean enough to wear again. 
Shorts/tees/swimsuits are all small and easy to pack so I don't worry about over packing on them much. We'll also use the bag-of-laundry deal on day 4 or 5 if needed for tees and socks and what-not. 

Also remember that if you are dining in a specialty restaurant but there is something on the MDR menu that night that you really want (lobster tails or lamb shank comes to mind), you can always ask the specialty restaurant waiter to bring you something from the MDR.  We do this often. No need to miss your favorite MDR dish just b/c you are dining in a specialty restaurant that night !

You would have to go back through the same security line as everyone coming back on. If you're wanting to get rid of your luggage before you spend your day in Fort Lauderdale you'd be better off leaving your luggage with the porters but not finishing the check-in process and then just checking in when you're ready to stay on the ship. 

I was on deck 6 and heard almost no noise BUT I had a room above Guest Services.  The crowd stayed forward of that area.