mom2mybugs

My name is Jane and I have a cruising "problem" too lol! Enjoy your cruises...I have been on freedom 2x and love it, and going out of san Juan was wonderful! Jane

We docked really early and a few of us actually beat the employees there. We grabbed a seat and payed when they got there. The lack of crowds is well worth it. The food was amazing. The view was amazing. I have to admit our service was only so so, but we aren't super demanding so it was fine. They take a picture on the beach that was the only group pic we got on our cruise (our 15 year old ditched us) for a great price. Have fun! Jane

Yep... makes no sense. I'm 422 days out. Excursions and the spa have been available for at least a couple months, but today drink pkgs are finally available (52 a day for a 12 day trip? Not gonna happen) as is internet, but not dining or activities. No rhyme or reason. Jane

If they were bored on freedom, they'd be bored on grandeur. My daughter actually liked vision in some ways better because she could find her new friends better, but she did like sorrentos and the promenade on freedom. We are taking her on vision next summer to the need/greek isles and she figures the 4 sea days will be a good time to rest from the busy port schedule. 6 days might be a lot. Jane

We are sailing for the 2nd time on vision next summer for a 12 day greek/med cruise. We sailed on vision for our first cruise and the smaller ship has a lot of pros. I loved the fewer crowds, the ability to get into smaller ports, and the amazing service. No, we didn't have the big bells and whistles (most of which I don't use anyway) and I might miss the promenade next time, but it was an amazing cruise. Give the smaller a try... esp. For the new ports and the better weather. I can't wait to go to santorini, mykenos and Athens! Jane

I've never had a problem on my 3 cruises over spring break (teacher married to a teacher). The 6 and 7 night cruises are fine and I agree the 3 and 4 night seem to attract the college spring breakers. The teens and kids on my cruise were busy doing their thing and they didn't bother me... and I work with kids and usually am super sensitive about my break! Jane

Never in a lifetime will I fly in the day of a cruise...not with the stress... but you could fly out the same day.... then you only have the one side commute to FLL. That doesn't help though if you fly into FLL though! I have only gotten into FLL but I would say go where you want. The traffic back is irrelevant if you fly late enough and just factor it in on the way in. I personally would tell my teens to deal if all other factors were the same (it wouldn't be a deal breaker) but if the other factors toward fll, then hey, tell them you made that the first factor and win mom of the year points lol! Jane

We found on the week we were on freedom that it was pretty dress casual on the formal nights in both sabor and chops. Jane

I found that we had many that were drinkable under the $12... and some that were definitely worth just the $1. The vintages bartenders were amazing at figuring out what we liked and steering is in the right direction. Jane

If allure does a chef's table, that would be a super experience to add on! Jane

Stay where it's warm! Illinois had been cold and wet ! Jane

My husband will be teaching every minute til 65.... when you teach in illinois, better get a lot of years in! I teach preschool but I'm not sure I will be able to keep up with the little ones another 15! Jane

Lol...we have at least 15! Gotta get these kids through college first... it's taking away my travel money lol. Jane

Where is this located? We stayed at the w in fort laud after our last cruise... it was wonderful but really expensive. Since we will be in 2-3 days ahead... I'm wondering... is the port area too far out to really tour the city well or is it close enough to public transportation? Jane

I'm way excited too (sailing out of Barcelona on vision in July 2019) so I get it lol! Im following this closely...we will be going in 2-3 days ahead ane's are trying to figure out location (Las ramblas oor by the familia church) and whether to do hotel or air bnb. Have a great trip! Jane

But I live for the sky deck! If I can't pick pool, I'm finding my favorite is changing every cruise. On this past cruise on freedom it was the r bar, on the adventure before that it was the schooner bar, on freedom before that it was the promenade, on vision before that it was the view from izumi. Hard to pick a fave on royal but schooner and upper decks on every ship will be a go to. Jane

Sounds like your experience was virtually identical to ours the week before! We also sat in the mdr...we had 10 at our seating. We enjoyed the wine pairings as well...did they use the aerator test tube thing to pour the cab? We loved all the food...I still think the soup would make an amazing barbeque sauce (and it smelled and tasted amazing! ). The world was the best thing I've ever eaten lol?! The only thing that was less than perfect was the branzino... they overcooked it and it was pretty dry (I enjoyed my husband's filet better). We actually wrote down the recipe for the pasta! It was wonderful... more if only I could find it! I don't remember what the invitation said regarding dress but one couple was super casual. Everyone else was dressed up like we were. I'm sorry you couldn't convince your daughter but glad you had an amazing time! We are planning on chefs table when we go to Europe in 2019 on vision...I will be very curious where they will put us and if the menu will change. This menu was different than what we had on adventure in 2016. I'm not sure if the experience would suffer from the same menu or not but either way I'm willing to take one for the team and try it again! Jane

Looking so forward to all the scopes and blogs on this cruise! Adventure was a great ship pre-refurb so it will be fantastic now! Jane

So.... if I'm understanding correctly...a $12 drink would cost $12 +$3.36 (18%+10%)=$15.36? Is this only in port? Or through the entire Mediterranean/Greek isles trip for example? We are on a 12 day cruise which I was absolutely not going to pay for 12 days of drink pkg. However, if each drink costs an extra dollar it might be worth it. And am I right that if the drink card showed up, or i wanted to buy an extra specialty dinner on board that those would be taxed the extra 10% (or would the food be the 21%)? Yikes... hadn't considered any of this at all! Jane

I'm thinking we will stay 2 to 3 days before the cruise! Thanks for your thoughts... the cruise is over a year away but I have so much fun planning! Jane

Omg... this would kill my youngest daughter lol. We are going kidless... I would like to really explore all the neighborhoods. Your scam/ train advice is wonderful... I'm talking a secure purse and I know about the kids grabbing money etc but hasn't heard this one. Other than spending 1 day at Disneyland Paris and going to Versailles, we will be guessing in Paris. I'm excited about where we are starting. Originally I wanted to stay in marais but we just couldn't beat the price for staying out a bit. We are traveling with another couple so we need a bigger living room too! I might message you here as I stay to do research! Thanks again, jane

I love your blogs traveler and am looking forward to following! Do you have any advice for Barcelona (tours, specific hotels/ areas to stay, restaurants we can't miss)? We will embark on vision in summer 2019 and have never been to Europe before! Jane

Anything you have to share is awesome! We will be staying in an airbnb near Luxembourg garden for 9 days before going on the cruise. I'm foggy on best ways to pay for the metro... I'm assuming that is the best way to travel in France... and the trains. Is there a week pass? Jane

Never say never... go back! I know we loved in Virginia for 3 years and I wish we'd visited DC more and got into the Shenandoah more often! Jane

That is our only group pic... the 15 year old found friends and ditched us! It was really a nice break for us! We can't wait for our next family cruise! Jane