mom2mybugs

I've heard of this too...especially with the izumi hibachi. I don't mind the money being locked up...we would just do the onboard credit and use it for gratuities. If we did this, I would just have to adjust 150 now and put it on day 2 instead of day 3, since we have to do night 1 or 2. Thanks Jane

If anything falls through!... Question... How do you order these kits and how long do they get to you? How flexible are they in terms of appointment availability? We are flying in 2 days before the cruise because we are so worried about air travel and I feel like we should just set this up in advance so we can test in the 2 day window from our hotel. Glad you had a great trip!!! Jane

Thanks for the info! I was going to ask the same question. I figure I will be very tired at midnight trying to get the check in time and don't really want to fill everything in! I will use the app! Jane

Hi everyone! I'm waffling between saving a bunch and worrying about getting into restaurants. We are sailing on Harmony Dec 31- Jan 8. We very much want to dinner at 150 Central Park, wonderland and izumi hibachi. I'm not so worried about getting the central Park reservation, but with what will be an insanely full ship, I'm afraid I won't get the other 2. In addition, I think many people won't pay the extra for specialty on new years Eve (it's like 40 more a person) and that will crowd the other nights). The difference between booking the pkg vs 3 expensive restaurants is over 40 a person savings. So, for people who have traveled, if I get an early check in time (and I'm planning on going on at 1200 midnight Eastern Time on day one of check in snail-like), will I be able to get into these restaurants? And will they be available on not formal nights (we are trying the mdr again and planning on being there for the better menu on formal nights 2 and 6)? I need someone to either talk me off the ledge on availability or tell me to just suck it up and pay the extra. I've never traveled this time of year, but I've been on busy spring break cruises. I've just never seen as big of price savings on the 3 day. Thanks! Jane

I found it was chewy and fatty too. Still an ok sandwich, but not the "big deal" like I had heard it was! Jane

I will say that when we did our heavy port Mediterranean 12 day cruise, we were tired at the end of the day. To be honest, my husband and I really used the windjammer more than on any other cruise. It was nice to just relax and not overeat. We did a couple specialty dining, but didn't want the huge "event" every night. Plus we never saw our 16 year old at dinner because she found friends she ate with, so it would have been a waste of money. Jane

One of the big reasons I almost did symphony over Harmony for our upcoming trip was for playmakers. I've never been , and in retrospect, would have been an awesome place to watch new years day football games! I personally love Johnny rockets and I think I would love playmakers, but definitely different atmospheres. I think the cost difference is a non-factor when talking about everything else you spend. Jane

Good to know. I don’t know why I’m so stressed out about getting the good boarding time. I think it’s just different and I love being on the ship early. We will be boarding in ft lauderdale too. Do they let you into the terminal before your check in time? Is the check in time the line up time? I’m stressing about this so I don’t have to think about the Covid testing…that will kill me! Jane

Thanks everyone. I think she is going to go with the Galveston trip! So now another question…is there any reason to avoid a ship that just repositioned? The sailing she’s looking at will be the first one out of Texas. Jane

Thanks…I hadn’t really made the port canaveral connection and that wasn’t a big deal for us. I actually saw your adventure blog and had Morgan look at it. Why don’t Galveston hotels lend themselves to cruise guests and why avoid the airport ones? Just curious…. Jane

Harmony is out of Miami the last week in October and moves to Galveston I think the first week in November (2023 is what I meant! ) I will go edit that. I’m glad to hear all the ease of Galveston! Jane

Never mind…just saw it’s updated! Jane

We are booked on our next cruise! I’m so excited for the experience! Jane

Ok…new question. I’m helping my daughter plan her honeymoon cruise and it looks like harmony might be what she goes with…weird after her dad and I booked but just how it is working with her dates in October 2023. My question is that harmony does a western itinerary that is $500 less than the eastern. What’s significant (she likes the eastern better but can have fun at either) is that the cheaper cruise goes out of Galveston. Can anyone share their opinion on that port? We’ve never cruised out of Galveston. How much of a pain is it to get to the port? If you fly in at least a day early, where do you stay (near the airport or the port)? Is the getting to open sea a big deal with the limited bar? Are there any pluses to Galveston vs Miami? Thanks for any input! Jane

Would you keep these reservations and go ahead and buy the udp, and then cancel on board? I’m worried about losing the hibachi. Jane

We stayed in an Airbnb near segrada familia and it was great. Easy to get to the port and easy to get to the metro station. Jane

Ok…I was playing with it and now am convinced! I was going to fly in first flight the day before our New Year’s Eve cruise, but I was stressed about weather too. Now Add on the travel issues and I’m flying 2 days early. Im worried on the return, but will book an early afternoon on that Saturday and hope. Driving from Chicago to Florida straight is just not gonna work. I will say, I flew Chicago to Orlando in February and Chicago to LA in march and there were no delays at all. Seems like things are getting worse though…. Jane

I did my first red-eye in March and ended up sleeping like the dead. I felt awful the next few days! I’m definitely too old for this lol! Jane

It depends on how full my suitcase is. Like someone said earlier, the shoes are the killers. We kind of avoided the mdr most of last trip due to my time being awful and the europe itinerary long days, but we do dress casual/semi-nice even at specialties. Usually I’m in a nice dress, but not gown or full out, and my husband usually does a sport coat because he doesn’t love how he looks in just a dress shirt. He’s likely to have more polo nights and more casual this time I think, but we will see!

This is good to know. Right now I have wonderland, hibachi and Jamie’s booked. Udp is at 219 right now, but if it hits a real sale, I would buy it, keep hibachi and try not to feel guilty if we underused it. It is so much food! Though the idea of sea day lunch sounds good…normally I don’t move out of my deck chair in the sun but with all very traveled ports, I might spend those days by the pool and actually do stuff on sea days. I’m happy to hear seating at coco cay wasn’t bad! I would reserve a day bed but I might want to save that money for the udp lol! Jane

Good to know. We have early dining this time, but my time was such a fiasco last cruise we kinda gave up on mdr. I will look forward to it this cruise! Jane

Thanks everyone. In all my cruises, I hadn’t seen the departure time listed as “boarding time” so I was very very confused and figured it was a weird thing due to New Year’s Eve. I will now try to get the earliest time I can in November because we are always first on trying not to waste the whole day! Gotta use that drink package! Jane

Hi, Forgot (well, working on my computer and it got deleted) to check on this. Boarding time on my Harmony Dec 31, 2022 cruise is 430 pm. Is that because it's Dec 31? With starting being that late, will I have to have a boarding time? And when is likely sailaway? Eventually will be trying to make dinner plans etc. I haven't been on a cruise since boarding times were assigned--how much in advance can you usually sign up? Jane

and thus no charge Thanks...I know i looked up how to do it and my samsung had about a gazillion steps. I could always go into the stupid t-mobile store and have them do it (I really really really miss sprint!) Jane