mom2mybugs

Keep an eye out for cruise planner sales and also add ons if you are getting the drink pkg. I know my last cruise I got voom for $9 a day. Also if you aren't going to be on at the same time, you can share the pkg (if you get 1 device it's as many as you want, just 1 at a time. Jane

@karl_nj thank you for your review! I agree with you that I definitely could feel I wasnt on a ship with Oasis class. We ended up going to the sky deck a lot in the late afternoon when the chair hogs were gone to get a glance of the ocean. One of these days I'm going to try the tutti salad...I'm just always guarding my deck chair on those sea days! Let us know what you book next! Jane

Thank you! That was awesome! Jane

Not really on the research.. Usually I do a ton of looking up and then call Sharla say MEI and say yolo book it. I haven't found her prices to ever be better than mine... Jane

Nope... Traveling with friends who don't seem to understand my obsession with cruising! Jane

Yes...I have never been asked in the Caribbean! Just Europe. Jane

Awww... Thank you.... Lands end and zulilly are my new faces! Just like heading to Disney... Just take the breaks when you gotta and you will be fine! Also grab lots of water...I think that made our trip so much more bearable (though we got so lucky it wasn't hotter). I will cross my fingers that adventure open turns out to be the best thing ever!! Jane

And be sure that if asked, you pay on the card in the local currency. We were told that the conversion is better when your credit card does this after the transaction and not the store charging in your own currency. Jane

I will not cruise or travel outside the us without insurance. While we weren't covered with our last huge issue even with the insurance, I still trust that the insurance will cover the medical if something happens... And too much can happen! I just take the cost of insurance and consider it part of the cruise fare. Jane

Thanks! We didn't do the solarium alot on vision because frankly the chair saving made me want to strangle people! Did you find the pool deck and upper deck (does empress have a sky deck?) crazy crowded on sea days? And we survived an ocean view on majesty... are the rooms significantly smaller than that on empress? I could go look but you were just on!!! Jane

My daughter and I did this exact itinerary on vision our very first cruise, but my husband hasnt done it. I really like the idea of 4 ports for him! Jane

I never had to show an Id... Just the sea pass card. If you need a picture Id, the passport card definitely works but I don't remember showing any Id other than the sea pass card. Jane

I think freedom will be out of San Juan and those flights are incredibly high usual. Ok.... Obviously I need to organize, because some of the bigger ships are only 300 or so total more. Can someone give me a way to see exactly what ships have what? Anyone done the research already and made a spread sheet of restaurants, amped etc? I can take notes ship by ship but if this is already done it saves me the effort lol! Ok.... Editing because I'm back. Any bigger ship will cost me btw 600 and 1000 more so that just can't happen this trip. the other thing that looks intriguing is empress. It's a tiny ship, but an extra day and it's 200 cheaper on a different ship than vision class. Problem is the itinerary isn't as good (only 1 new port) and 3 sea days on the very tiny ship I will have to go back to @twangster's blog and look at more detail since I didnt read it closely (was too tired in Europe lol). I also hate to give up Tampa so I have to count that as a factor. Jane

I think just like room choice, team drink pkg etc, the key is a highly subjective and personal decision. I don't look at it as 19 per day, but at least 38 because everyone in the room has to get it. Right there I know I'd never get the value out of it if we have any kids with us. Then in addition, I know I usually end up doing specialty dinner one night at least, so the lunch isn't really something I'd normally do. I will say after my Europe trip that you might want it if you have a lot of tender ports and aren't doing royal excursions. My guess is that I will never purchase it, because we will usually share the 1 device so that makes the value go v down even further. Jane

Welcome to all the new cruiding friends! This is a great place to hang out!!! Jane