mom2mybugs

This is just what we decided to do...we spent so much on our ft lauderdale flights we decided it wasn't that much mite to fly to Europe. We are going for the first time next summer! River cruise out of Paris! Jane

It should, unless you get an extra entree or the dry aged steaks. I believe gratuity is already included at purchase. Jane

I really really love this site! I have been checking for days and at every cruise planet sale and the drink price for the deluxe has always been 55/ day for my March freedom cruise. I looked at sabrinas post and decided, ok I will look... won't be different but.... Well, it was down to $45/day for no reason so I hopped to buy. If I get 30% on black Friday I will cancel and re book, but that saved me 75 dollars a person! At 45 a day, that is 3 cocktails, a coffee and a bottled water... even my husband would do that (he drinks a Lot less than I do) so I can justify the 2 adult pkg. Wondering if pkg purchases were down with the 2 adult thing...but it's a long time till March. Nothing else was on sale. Thanks for posting...i never would have gone on today! Jane

Air fare is killer but even during March spring break I have paid at most 550 round trip out of Chicago to south Florida. Have you tried looking at mayrix.itasoftware.com? It will give you all the combinations and prices to check. Also try checking into orlando...port Canaveral is an easy shuttle from there. I handle my own airfare...i haven't found the travel agents where I was to be helpful on that. I have just switched to mei travel (who sponsor this site) and sharla has been great so far. In terms of ships and rooms, there are people with way more experience. I can definitely say you will get more bang for your buck and more cabin for your money if you go on an older or smaller ship. I know freedom was a steal for next spring break. I personally would rather cruise 2x on a smaller cabin than 1x with a huge suite but I'd love to try one someday! Goodluck...i know people here will give you tons of advice but i would definitely search cheaper airfare... it's out there! Jane

Really enjoying your journey! Jane

I am really hoping for a black Friday/cyber Monday sale...if we are buying 2 drink P kgs, it would really be nice if I could save 11 bucks a day! Jane

The luggage tags are awesome... don't remember which ones I got but the plastic sleeves have lasted 3 cruises and still are in great shape. So much nicer than worrying about the paper tags. Jane

We always take our Disney travel mugs for my husband to grab coffee! I'm not a morning person and room service seems silly to order for just coffee. I usually get him to bring a donut or something else back. I haven't brought a lot of good back to the room (I still think eating dinner on the balcony would be nice though) but i do take food to my deck chair. I spend most of the sea days on my sun deck by the sky bar and I don't want to be a chair hog gone for an hour. It is easy to fill a plate at the wind jammer, put a cover on it and walk it back. It does stay hot enough (but again... travel mug helps for not spilling the coffee! ) Jane

I've always just taken my weekly organizer too but great idea to take a pic of the original bottle too! Jane

I was wondering how many ships have just changed from eastern to western and if it will make the area crazy congested. I also wondered if prices for private excursions, restaurants etc will go up there because it's the biggest area with no damage right now. (And will the prices all jump up in eastern to pay for all the repairs). Jane

If you are taking a lot, I took my smallest suitcase with rollers...it was way easier than trying to carry a super heavy backpack or a carry bag, and it was easy to stand up next to me in the crowded windjammer. Jane

I have nachi booked for the first time in March as well. Heard such positives here that I can't wait to try it! Jane

I will have to look up native choice. We will be in Costa Maya and my husband will be doing chacchoben. When i went we did the rc tour because we were first timers and panicked about getting back to the ship. Does native choice run on time and not too tight to get back? My husband wouldn't do wrk with that! Jane

I totally 2nd the go the first night advice. On both cruises my teen met a bunch of girls she hung out the whole cruise with.... even without her phone! They would usually meet up at the teen center and rarely stayed the whole time... they would go in and out. It was nice to have her feel like she had a "place to be ". I know that the teen activities are often listed in the regular compass. I haven't sailed an oasis class so I don't know if there are a lot of different activities vs what's on other ships, but the activities were similar on the freedom and vision class. So if you find any teen compass for any ship you will get a sense of what there is to do. Hope you all have a great trip! Jane

Enjoy the relaxing! I'm a Disneyaholic who has been to Disney 13 times. My kid's got lots of pics... they were built into the touring plan lol! We opened the park and closed the park (and never went back for the nap!) I will tell you that my first sea day on vision in 2015 was one of the best days of my life. I was on vacation and sitting in my chair with nothing else to do but read a book, wave to my teens and drink my frosty beverage. I've never been so relaxed in my whole life. I loved the 4 ports and excursions that gave my teens something to do, but mostly I just enjoyed enjoying the ship and the meals and the relaxation. I have found and treasured those relaxing times on both cruises since. Remember that you just can't do everything, so don't worry about it and do only what you want to! I can't wait to read all about your trip! Jane

So glad you had an amazing time! Jane

Me too! Jane

Just being away and not planning a wedding will be awesome! I love being on a cruise and having some days where it's me, a book and my frosty adult beverage.... so different from my 55 hour work weeks for sure! You have a great attitude about all the changes...i hour you have a wonderful time!! Jane

Im sure the right audience helps a ton! Im sure we will try it sometime! Jane

True.... that at least keeps it no more than the 55/day. Jane

I've heard very mixed reviews on the mystery dinners...id like to try it sometime but it hasn't fit well with our plans. I have done chefs table on adventure and it was amazing. I'm very much looking forward to it on freedom in March. You won't be disappointed! Jane

I thought of you when I was thinking about my trip and glad it is scheduled to be western. Jane

I was just not a fan of st. Kitts... maybe we need better advice on it but the port area (as ports often are) was kinda cruddy and we couldn't find a good excursion we felt was worth the money. I almost booked a trip to Cuba next summer because I feel in love with all the empress periscopes and I have been wanting to get to key West. I'm glad now that I didn't book it, but worry about the local economies since the cruise ships had to change their itinetary. I have not ever been to the bahamas...is Freeport that bad? Jane

I totally did too! Sometimes you get a happy review and the pics are awesome. But the rant threads are just hilarious. Jane

Hi everyone, I have been working and traveling and just wasn't able to really check the boards and periscopes the last few weeks. Excited to read all the new live blogs from harmony and again get psyched for my March freedom cruise! I still haven't purchased my excursions and drink pkg... keep hoping they will run a sale on my sailing but no luck on labor day or July 4. I'm also waiting to see what happens with the drink pkg and if they change policy for everyone having to get it. We will make money on mine, lose it on the hubby. Since it is only a 6 day cruise, we are flying in to ft lauderdale on Saturday and will have the Saturday and part of Sunday after. Would love hotel ideas and things to do. The plan would be to go less nice on the first... one where we could get to water taxis and tour/sightsee and then the last hotel more relax by the pool/beach. I have tried to follow Irma damage but am not sure how bad the damage was in ft laud. Anyway, just wanted to say hi I'm back and enjoy everyone else's cruise info! Jane