DandA

I agree with mworkman that if you wear jeans in the summer in Florida the ship will not be a problem.  CP can be hot during the day and warm at night; but I didn't find the temperature uncomfortable on the ship, except on the pool deck in the sun.

9 hours ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

The last time I looked in my cruise planner, it was still sitting at $49pp.  But I have not looked since the beginning of July at Dining.  With all the talk about Drink packages spiking, I'm not sure if dining has been affected as well.  I would personally not wait till you get on board.  I'm sure you could still get a reservation but why not make it now in your cruise planner?  What would be the advantage of delaying?

As far as I know, yes.

I've done Chops twice on Harmony.  My personal favourites there are:  Lavender Tonic (but you can get that at Trellis Bar), Mushroom Soup, Filet, Lobster, Seafood Tower, and their Red Velvet Cake.  Hubby also loves their cheesecake. 

Thanks for the info, do you mean that Wonderland is offered as an option on your Cruise Planner?  We've done Oasis once but this is our first time on Harmony.  I'm still 6 mo out and it is not showing as an option yet, I am showing a Chops +1.     I don't normally get beef out as my son and I split a black angus cow every year; so i get plenty of red meat at home and it's hard to beat the quality that we get.

We are sailing on the Harmony this coming February and are considering trying Wonderland.  This will be our 4th cruise and have been satisfied with the offerings and experiences in the MDR.   The reason for Wonderland is for the unique experience more than the food. The only specialty restaurant that we have done was the Lobster Brunch at Chops on the Grandeur and really weren't impressed with that experience.

1.What is the cost of Wonderland on the ship and it is easy to get a reservation when you board? 

2. Currently our cruise planner has a Chops +1. Can the +1 be Wonderland?

3. And to those who enjoy Chops. What is it you like about Chops? 

Welcome to the forum, there is a wealth of information here that can improve your cruise experience.  One thing I'd suggest is to check out the many videos of your particular ship and study the deck plans to get an idea of what to do and where things are.  You can also check out the Cruise Compasses to get an idea what is happening day to day on the ship. 

MDR has a made to order breakfast and a small buffet, you can have one or both.  I prefer MDR for breakfast as it's more relaxing.  You just walk up and they will seat you, they will ask you if you want to be seated with others or by yourself.  The made to order is your typical breakfast items, one thing I didn't realize till my second cruise is that i could ask for a small size of grits, oatmeal and such.  

Here is the link for the room service menu:  https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2017/03/16/royal-caribbean-shares-new-fleet-wide-room-service-menu

You can leave a hanging tag out the night before or you can also call it in.  Most will tip the waiter a few bucks in cash when the bring the food.

We too start packing/planning months in advance.  Several things that I do is (1) plan what we are going to wear each day/evening; (2) set up a table in the spare bedroom and layout the clothes; and (3) select our hanging clothes (suit/dresses) and hang them in another closet or separate them in the closet.  Make a list and pack things like tylenol, sea sickness med, first aid supplies, sunscreen and other personal care items.  I try to use travel size items, or those that we can't purchase in travel size I put them in smaller bottles.  Don't forget to leave room in the suitcase for souvenirs.

Hi, I try and answer a few of your questions.

1. When the beds are pushed together, they are about the size of a queen size bed, although I haven't measure them.  Just basing it on appearance.

2.  Port Disembarkation:  generally you are cleared to leave the ship 1/2 hour after the ship docks/arrival time.  So i would tell them to meet me 45 min to 1 hour after the ships arrival time.  A lot of that would depend on the port, so telling us what port you are meeting them would perhaps give you a better estimate.

3.  Movies, can't help you there, haven't been on the explorer yet and don't watch much tv when on board.

I seem to recall last year, that they were planning to raise the drink prices across the board in 2019.  My guess is that prices are adjusted to reflect what they think will pay and how many will pay it.  The customer purchases the package to hoping to drink more than what they paid for or at least break even and RCI is hoping that the customer doesn't break even.   I had read somewhere that only 8-10% of the passengers purchase the deluxe beverage package, (seems low to me but I've never really paid a lot of attention to what others are doing).

For boarding day lunch, skip the WIndjammer and try Park Cafe or Solarium Bistro.  Central Park at night is tranquil having a cocktail and listening to the string group.  Try Johnny Rockets for breakfast at least once.  Make reservations for the shows, they are quite good.

Pina Coladas and Lava Flows are $12-$13; I base the daily cost I'm willing to pay on how much I will drink per day.  So at $57 you would need to drink 5 frozen drinks each day, more if you got like a Rum & Coke which are about $8.  Don't forget to take into count port days were you will be off the ship and the number of drinks required to break even would be consumed in a shorter time period.

I typically price out the cruise I want before getting on the ship, and check the deal that I can get on the ship to see if it's a deal or not.  Last time I was able to book one that gave me a small OBC, had better room selection and was even about $50pp cheaper.  Another plus is the reduced deposit.

I have a question regarding the new "Perfect Day at Coco Cay"; on my one and only visit to Coco Cay we rented the Beach Loungers (clamshell with two loungers).  I have not seen them in the new Coco Cay nor offered on my cruise planner.  Are they still there ?  I've seen pictures of loungers with umbrellas, will we be able to find plenty of empty ones, mostly interested in siting in the shade and will want to wander the island and hoping to find shade as we go around exploring.

1 hour ago, JC123 said:

Hi - I am sailing in September and have pre-purchased the deluxe beverage package, and have also prepaid gratuities. Should I still tip the bartender every time I get a drink on the package, or do they get their share of the prepaid gratuities? (If so, do I need to carry cash?)

Also, is the MDR on Harmony open for breakfast and lunch every day?

 

Thanks! 

Hi welcome to the forums, you can find a wealth of information here to make your cruise much more enjoyable.

Many here tip the bartender/waiter an extra $1 or $2 per drink in cash.  I find that it helps them to remember you, and your usual drink if you have one.   A funny story on the Majesty this past April, we asked to share a table in the Schooner bar and this lady started saying that we would have to go to the bar to get our drink, basically complaining about the slow service.  As she finished telling us this one of the waiters saw us and came to take our order, I chuckled to myself as we had never had that problem, thinking well maybe that extra buck really helps.  I don't think you are singled out for poor service if you don't tip extra but an extra buck never hurts.  I take a bunch of ones with me, and will take what ever amount I think I'll need for the day/evening with me to hand out as needed, the rest stays in the safe.  I also bring larger bills 5, 10 and 20's to tip others in cash like porters, MDR waiters and tour guides and the such.

The MDR is open for breakfast, but only open for lunch on sea days.  Breakfast in the MDR is made to order and they also have a small buffet.  The MDR has an item called a "tutti salad" for lunch that is really good.  It's a buffet station where you choose your salad ingredients, they chop and toss it for you.  It's one of the better salads I've ever had, and eating light for lunch, makes you feel better when you have that desert in the evening. :)

Breakfast is served in the MDR everyday, but lunch is only served on sea days.

Overplanner here,  there is a web site that lists the port schedule: https://pevvesseltraffic.broward.org/webx/

Also when port security checks your id at the entrance, they will give you directions to the terminal.   Pay attention as I don't think our Uber driver had been to the port before and I had to tell him where to turn.   

The Cruise Compass for the next day is generally left on your bed while you are at dinner.  I will look thru it just before turning in for the night to see if there are things I want to do.  Take a highlighter and highlight the events you wish to attend.

I'm a type A personality but, as soon as I step aboard my stress level winds down and cruising is the most relaxing vacation I have ever been on.  You will be able to find several places away from the crowds.

I too am one that enjoys Cozumel, even if you don't find an excursion to take, get a taxi to take you downtown and stroll around.  Last time we grabbed a taxi to the Mega Store (Walmart type store) and walked from there to Poncho's Backyard for lunch. Started walking  back till we got hot/tired and grabbed a taxi back to the ship.  All total we were only off the ship around 4-5 hours.

There is baggage storage found here:  http://www.miami-airport.com/baggage_storage.asp

We came into Port Everglades and flew out of Fort Lauderdale in April, FLL when I checked they would only hold your bags for a short time (less hours that we needed), so we rented a car and did the Everglades tour with the luggage in a rental car.   

We did it on the Grandeur last December, there were 5 wines, maybe 1/2 a glass.  It was okay, I didn't learn as much as I had hoped the person leading it didn't really explain what wines to have with which food.  He was kinda everyone has different tastes.  We purchased on the cruise planner and had no effect on the DBP.

I agree with Pancho's Backyard.  I like Mexican food but normally don't care for enchiladas but the wife ordered their enchiladas and I had a taste and the sauce they use was fantastic.  We will definitely eat there again on our next visit to Cozumel.

We prepurchased them on the Granduer in December.  They were just down the beach from the floating bar.  They were all clustered together, was a good way to hide from the Sun, you have to get there early as the ones closest to the shore go fast.

Many people do stay on board at the ports, but I think most have been there multiple times.  If you are on an Oasis class ship, trying to see and do everything available on the ship would be exhausting.  In fact my first cruise was on the Oasis of the Seas, I reserved the shows, went to other shows and events, got home and realized, wow I never went there or saw that.  For me this was another reason to book another cruise.

If you've never been to the port/country that the ship visits, I'd encourage you to research things to see or do.  The areas around the ports are "touristy".  Whether you select a ship sponsored excursion or find something on your own is a personal decision based on your level of comfort.  If the excursion you select is a long one, far from the port or ends close to the all aboard time I would go with a ships excursion.  On my last cruise I selected an excursion that should have gotten me back 45 minutes before the last tender departed for the ship.  Even this was to close for comfort for me; well things went longer than that and we caught the next to last tender back to the ship.  Arriving 15 minutes after the all aboard time.  I was glad this was a ship sponsored excursion because I knew they wouldn't leave without us. 

Yes it covers the beverages there.

JennyB and Matt:  thank you for your input, honestly I am in favor of saving some money on this cruise as this will be my 3rd one in 2019.  I will see what the others want to do save money or be close together in a guaranteed location.  DS and DIL will definitely be getting a soda package so adding internet to that won't be so bad. The cruise were looking at is on the Grandeur and I know it's not hard keeping up with the others on a ship this size.

Looking for any one that has experienced booking two guaranteed cabins at the same time.  We have always picked our cabin, but next year our DS and DIL wants to take their first cruise with us.  The DIL doesn't like boats or airplanes so this is a trial run for a Baltic cruise/tour that they want to accompany us on in the future.  This sailing will be on the Grandeur and will be booking inside cabins and booking a guaranteed cabins will save about $300 pp.  So my questions are:

1. If you've booked two cabins at the same time, how far apart have the cabins been?

2. If they weren't close how did you stay in touch so that you could do things together? 

Just had our Global Entry interview, last Thursday.  Made two appointments for DW and I and they took us at the same time, the questions were very benign.  Casual questions we weren't put under bright lights .  Just answer honestly as was said before they already know the answers.  We were told to expect an email in 2 weeks and the cards should be received in 4 weeks.  In addition to fingerprints they will snap a picture.  We were not asked why we wanted it but my honest answer would have been "so I don't have to take my shoes and belt off".