MaryCS62

In a perfect world we would prefer around 6:30.  More and more often the first available MyTime became 7:30 or later so we switched to early seating.  Now Wonder and Icon have pulled early up from 5:30 to 5:00.  That’s a bridge too far.

I know where to get mudslides before bed... that's sorta like chocolate milk. 😋

or ask your cabin steward for an ice bucket to be filled daily - you can put the bucket in the cooler to keep it colder, or just put the milk cartons in the ice
 

You would need to rent a wheelchair or scooter for him (pre cruise) if he can't walk long distances easily - as far as I know, RC wheelchairs are only for use on the ship. Prior to boarding, you can request wheelchair assistance to get him onto the ship, but they will just bring him to whatever deck boarding is on and leave him there.   Scootaround and Special Needs at Sea are rental companies that will rent you scooter, manual wheelchair (I think) or electric wheelchairs, which are typically delivered to the stateroom.

You would need to rent a wheelchair or scooter for him (pre cruise) if he can't walk long distances easily - as far as I know, RC wheelchairs are only for use on the ship. Prior to boarding, you can request wheelchair assistance to get him onto the ship, but they will just bring him to whatever deck boarding is on and leave him there.   Scootaround and Special Needs at Sea are rental companies that will rent you scooter, manual wheelchair (I think) or electric wheelchairs, which are typically delivered to the stateroom.

Ok, so a couple weeks ago I posted about being frustrated with the MDR parades and constant announcements, so this past week I sailed a solo 5 nighter on Explorer and decided to only eat in the Windjammer. Here are my takeaways:
• I tried to eat a salad/soup/or some other appetizer, followed by an entree dish and dessert to compare times. I was in and out in 37 minutes on average.
• I cruise quite frequently, so I’ve grown kind of apathetic to the new menus already, and the WJ allowed me the option to try some new things (the good and the bad), and the ability to make my own dish. Chicken AND fish AND pasta on the same plate? Yep. 
• Service (or should I say self service) moves at the speed I want. I sped through dinner on the nights I had plans, and took a leisurely pace the other times. And best of all, no parades or dance parties mid meal. 
• Since I didn’t have a server, per se, I didn’t have the inclination to pay additional gratuities. 
• Normally my family of 6 eats in the MDR and regardless of the theme, the boys wear suits and ties, the girls wear dresses. Not packing that and the pre-dinner half hour (at least) preparation was surprisingly noticeable. A week away with just a carry on and being able to go from pool deck to dinner in 10 minutes was a real treat. 
My 11 year old son and I will be sailing on Indy in a couple of weeks and he said he’d love to try the WJ for dinners as well. I’ll let you know his thoughts afterward. 

That's only for the nightly happy hour where they serve snacks (5-8pm or so) on certain ships/sailings. You will always have access to the coffee machine in the morning (and all other times it's functional besides possibly happy hour). Just more info for ya.
Enjoy your first cruise as Diamond!

Got very familiar with the policy when traveling with DD who, while over 21, could not have alcohol - but loved the mocktails, sodas & hot chocolate she could get. Then, due to various health issues, last cruise DH & I took alone, he got DBP and I got Refreshment - needed my specialty coffees, soda & waters, and brought wine for myself for dinner.  We just hit diamond, so get 8 drinks/day between us, and with bringing wine on board, figure we'll do just fine with both of us getting the refreshment package

Got very familiar with the policy when traveling with DD who, while over 21, could not have alcohol - but loved the mocktails, sodas & hot chocolate she could get. Then, due to various health issues, last cruise DH & I took alone, he got DBP and I got Refreshment - needed my specialty coffees, soda & waters, and brought wine for myself for dinner.  We just hit diamond, so get 8 drinks/day between us, and with bringing wine on board, figure we'll do just fine with both of us getting the refreshment package

or stop in the middle of, or right at the end a grocery store aisle, therefore blocking traffic in both directions.

Never cruised with it, and it has been FDA approved for less than a year, so there probably aren't too many people who could answer that question for you.  However, I am a licensed pharmacist, and my recommendation to you would be to make sure it has the most current prescription label on it.(ie, not a bottle from several months ago),-- definitely do not bring it unlabeled or transferred into another container, and, if you want to be paranoid about it, a letter from your physician stating that your child uses it for the treatment of epilepsy, but that's only if you really want to cover all your bases.  When we were on a 12 night, I brought a 2 week supply of my meds in medication holders, but my daughters meds (she has epilepsy) -- 1 week in a medication holder, & 2 weeks supply (extra 1 week just in case!) in their original bottles, especially because 3 of the meds we were bringing (1 for every day & 2 for "as needed" use) were controlled substances.  Epidiolex is a schedule 5, which is the "lowest" schedule (illegal drugs such as heroin AND marijuana  are schedule 1), so I would definitely make sure it is labeled properly.

The kiosk was one of the reasons we didn't choose to get the refreshment package for our March cruise - we have so many Starbucks gift cards that we've gotten over the years and never use at home, that we decided that we'd just get our specialty coffees directly from Starbucks rather than Cafe Promenade, etc. And (what we Americans consider) specialty coffee is a big chunk of our refreshment package usage. 

in addition to coffee, there will be hot (not actively boiling) water available - usually for tea or hot cocoa packets. Not sure that will do the trick for you.

I've seen that the ships are phasing out kettles to use in the rooms, It'll be a hit or miss situation.  This is what we are talking about when we say large pots... they brew coffee into those large containers, then put it out for you to dispense on your own from the little tap in the middle

to add on to that - specialty coffees cost you - but are included in the deluxe drink package & refreshment package.  There are also coffee cards that are for 15 specialty coffee drinks (from cafe promenade, park cafe, cafe lattetudes, cafe 270 & sometimes windjammer - locations are ship specific). Freestanding Starbucks locations are NOT included in any package, although you can use starbucks gift cards, I believe.  

to add on to that - specialty coffees cost you - but are included in the deluxe drink package & refreshment package.  There are also coffee cards that are for 15 specialty coffee drinks (from cafe promenade, park cafe, cafe lattetudes, cafe 270 & sometimes windjammer - locations are ship specific). Freestanding Starbucks locations are NOT included in any package, although you can use starbucks gift cards, I believe.  

So basically the free coffee is just out in giant urns, like you would see at a convenience store or gas station. If you have to order it from the Promenade cafe or park cafe (or any cafe), it's a specialty coffee...which is anything other than regular or decaf coffee. 

Took the Disney Shuttle from Port Canaveral - 2 buses. Our driver told us if one bus filled up before the scheduled 7pm departure time, it would leave, the other would stay til 7pm.  They also gave us business cards with a number on it for emergencies - and we did, in fact, wait a few minutes (no more than 10) for one family that called and said, "Don't leave, we're almost there!"  Leaving before the specified time of 250, if that's what people were told, is unfair

One caveat - I would recommend any controlled substances be in the original, pharmacy labeled container - at least the backup supply. Also - needles/ syringes if they are used - at least cut off the label from the box if you transfer them from their original containers. 
My last cruise was a B2B - 16 days - I had 2 weeks of everything in daily pill sorters (4 weeks of the early morning stuff), and an additional 2 weeks of the others in "larger" pill sorters - with my own handprinted label as to what was in there. I refilled an additional 2 weeks worth near the end so that I would have it all done before I got home, since I had to work the next day, and didn't want to deal with it the day we returned.  I had it all in carryon - didn't want to take the chance of losing any!
 

One caveat - I would recommend any controlled substances be in the original, pharmacy labeled container - at least the backup supply. Also - needles/ syringes if they are used - at least cut off the label from the box if you transfer them from their original containers. 
My last cruise was a B2B - 16 days - I had 2 weeks of everything in daily pill sorters (4 weeks of the early morning stuff), and an additional 2 weeks of the others in "larger" pill sorters - with my own handprinted label as to what was in there. I refilled an additional 2 weeks worth near the end so that I would have it all done before I got home, since I had to work the next day, and didn't want to deal with it the day we returned.  I had it all in carryon - didn't want to take the chance of losing any!
 

general info:
https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/what-travel-documents-i-need-for-boarding-day
Traveling with children (read all the way to the bottom):
https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/minor-identification-forms
Depending on how your divorce / guardianship is worded:
https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/what-family-legal-documents-do-i-need-to-board
 
 

Currently on Oasis, have the UDP. Went to Chops night one & Giovanni's last night. DH got filet at both, and said the one at Gio's was hands down better than Chops. Chops was good, but Gio's was amazing, according to him 

10 years ago on explorer we had a group of 11 in 4 rooms &;we all were assigned the same table. 12 is probably the max. We were in the back of the dining room, which probably made it easier for them 

Currently on Oasis, have the UDP. Went to Chops night one & Giovanni's last night. DH got filet at both, and said the one at Gio's was hands down better than Chops. Chops was good, but Gio's was amazing, according to him 

Currently on Oasis, have the UDP. Went to Chops night one & Giovanni's last night. DH got filet at both, and said the one at Gio's was hands down better than Chops. Chops was good, but Gio's was amazing, according to him