mom2mybugs

I'm debating whether to try and book for our cruise... Spending so much on the drink pkg, airfare, and pre-cruise hotel since I'm worried about air travel that I'm trying to pace. Good to know at least a couple weeks ago, there were still spots! Jane

Another beach bed question...I like the sun but my husband would love the beach bed shade. Can you pull a chair next to the bed so that I could sit there summer? Moot point likely for December since lots is sold out but for the future. Jane

Mykenos was a very cool spot, but if I remember correctly the beaches were pretty small and a bit crowded. For us, it was so hot after the ruins tour that we didn't stop. Jane

This is true especially if you don't go in together to check in. They aren't particularly checking room numbers and keeping track of water, soda or wine. Jane

We did the champagne and chocolates with the anniversary decorations. It was waiting chilled when we got to our room. And definitely take the wine on board. We would carry a glass into dinner with us and enjoy drinks on the balcony. Jane

Just a piggyback question... Do you get pins at every level? I'm pretty sure I got nothing for reaching Platinum. In exciting news, I will reach emerald on my December cruise. In not exciting news, I still need 4 more cruises to hit diamond lol! I gotta retire in ten years so I can cruise in the off school season, grab a js and get double points! Wish I could have booked something when royal was doing double points! Jane

This is me and my husband! Can't wait to retire someday and just go when we want... And it's cheaper! Jane

Go Red Wings lol! Thanks for posting all the pictures... So much fun to live the suite life through you!! And happy belated anniversary!! Jane

Can't wait to hear more! Going on Harmony on December 31! I agree... You are a hopeful cheapskate like me... Try to save, but dang it, splurge on the drink pkg and balcony. I live for the hope that one day I will retire and be able to cruise the cheap October season and get a suite. I'm thinking though that the cost to stay in a suite vs a second cruise will sway me back. Have an awesome time!! Jane

I was not a my time dining fan in terms of the seating...pre-covid the tables were super on top of each other on allure but there is so much variety. Right now, it seems like my time is kind of a train wreck. Definitely check your planner ahead of time and MAKE RESERVATIONS!!!!. We have chosen to do traditional 500/530 dining (can't remember exactly what time) on our December Harmony cruise just to avoid any chaos. I always feel really guilty about this as we also have the 3 night dining pkg. I find specialty dining totally messes up seating in the MDR. If you get put at a big table and the others have specially dining, you can end up sitting at a 10 person table with 2 people... Which I totally hate!!! I'm hoping to check the seating after we get on and try to switch to a 2 person table if we aren't in one. I enjoy meeting people but I just don't like sitting at a big table all alone! Jane

I'm so torn on this. I had our passports stolen (or I lost them) in the San Juan airport. Thankfully we didn't need them to fly home. However, if I take them off the ship in a foreign country and they get taken on an excursion or at the beach, I'm screwed trying to fly home. However, if I don't take it, I am also screwed if I miss the boat. So...no matter what I do, Murphy's law is it will be the wrong choice lol! I will say that I have never had anything taken from my stuff on Caribbean beaches but I just may be really lucky and I stress every time we all go into the water. Jane

Royal isn't the last to drop testing... Disney is still way strict on it according to their website. I'm hoping I don't have to test for my December cruise strictly for logistical reasons. But I'm also kinda thinking that even if they drop testing, they might bring it back for a "school/University/fall surge". For the fun pool, I'm actually guessing tomorrow, Aug 16. Wait... Change that, I'm guessing today Aug 15. Go big or go home lol! Jane

On my Mediterranean cruise there were 2 seatings. I'd be shocked of there wasn't an earlier one... My guess is it's full. If you sign up for my time, you will be able to reserve before you are on the ship and be able to get those earlier times. I would book earlier than later. Just an fyi about our cruise, we were often so tired after a full port day that we frequently just grabbed dinner at the windjammer. It was relaxing and less stress than messing with the my time dining room. Have a great cruise! Jane

Ugh.... My second day is Nassau and my 3rd day is cococay on my Dec 31 cruise. It better be having a warm front going through or I'm going to be under a lot of towels trying to sunbathe! Though anything is warmer than Chicago that time of year! Jane

We almost always just do Uber in Miami and fort Lauderdale because we hate waiting for the shuttle. Though now I'm thinking maybe we did the shuttle from the Hilton....hmmm. not a deal breaker or maker though. Jane

Thank you!!!! Jane

We ended up with the drink pkg on our 12 Mediterranean cruise on vision. I think fewer people were buying the pkg, so we ended up with a great price on it. We found we were still having 4-6 drinks a day easy, even with the ports and being tired. We'd have a coffee in the morning, usually grab a pre-dinner drink, wine with dinner and at least one drink after dinner. We really enjoyed finding a quiet spot and watching sail away with a drink chatting about the day. Less drinking perhaps than on a Caribbean, but not a lot and we still made out well on the pkg. Also, we had 4 sea days and definitely drank more on those days. If you are thinking it will be close, I like to get the drink pkg just to budget ahead. Jane

The first time I cruised I used AAA and ended up pretty much doing everything myself. After joining the site here, I decided to try Mei and @Sharla has been amazing. She has repriced my cruise when the price dropped without me asking, helped me with covid Disney trips, and when we had a family emergency and had to fly home from Paris, she was there in my worst hour to help. I could book my own trips, but why bother when she makes the experience better! And now she's helping my daughter with her honeymoon cruise! Jane

Thanks everyone! Tony, I forgot about the water taxi... That could work for sure. I love waking up and looking at the cruise ship I'm getting on. I think Sabrina we ate at la Bamba the last time we were in Lauderdale! It was amazing. Jane

Oh Joe…I’m just so sad for you and Kathy! I hope that you weren’t feeling too sick and I’m glad the girls enjoyed themselves. I’m also so sorry about your poor cat Hoping you can find a way to cruise again on princess and have a better experience. Jane

Hello! Since I’m panicked about air travel, we will be flying in for our December 31 cruise on the morning of the 29th. Usually when we stay in lauderdale, we do the Hilton marina overlooking the cruise dock. However, with having 2 days, I’m worried we would be a bit trapped there with no restaurants, etc., close by. Does anyone have a favorite hotel or Airbnb that they like? While not absolutely necessary, a fridge and maybe a microwave would be nice! I’d love to stay in some of the beach resorts, but over 1000 for 2 nights isn’t in my budget when air fare is going to run me close to 600, Jane

I will tell you…I like both, but I like to mix them up. My last 2 cruises were on small ships so I’m trying a big one next time. It really depends on what you want to do…all the ships are amazing for adults and teens (I can’t speak for little ones since we started cruising when my youngest was 13). Jane

Awesome! I’ve never traveled this time of year and can’t wait! I’ve decided to do what raye suggested…I have the 3 times booked and the 3 dining pkg as well. I don’t mind tying up the extra money. As soon as we are on, I will head to a restaurant. If they won’t take my times, then I will cancel the pkg. if they do! I will take the pkg. I had to do the opposite dining pkg time (9pm) since the planner wouldn’t let me overlap day 2 times. After I settle that! I will book all the shows…frankly I’m such a planner that I’m a nervous wreck!! Jane

I’m sorry…online where? This sounds like definitely what we will do! Jane

What a great price, I have looked at New Orleans before, and can’t wait to hear about your trip! Jane