mom2mybugs

I can guarantee that i would never have noticed the charge. There were so many line charges on my folio that I've never gone through it. I guess now i will..... Jane

I am paying so much for our spring break air fare that we decided to leap and do europe next year. The airfare looks to be only 200 to 300 more! Uts not good when you are paying 3/4 of your cruise in air fare (like we are next march! ) Jane

Yes...you can order enough for 10 people and its the one 7.95 fee. Jane

Yes...it is pretty bad. And i hate waiting for the cruise to actually start! Jane

Totally true...im just taking a chance right now because im planning 5 trips right now....fwp right?! But it is a good idea! Jane

I know...im in the process of booking my river cruise and about 5 other trips...will do when i can! I had a question though. Its not a vig deal to cancel and rebook the drinks pkg, because its not limited. What about dining and excursions. I booked them early...if a sale happens, am i playing with fire if i cancel and immediately rebook? Im afraid i will lose them or the dining time. Jane

My dad worked for ford Motor company at the world quarters in the safety department. He was instrumental in helping get seat belts installed and ignition locks put in. He wouldn't drive the car until i was buckled up! Jane

Hey...you could be me--a detroit lions and red wings fan living in chicago! Playoffs...what is this strange concept you speak of? To get back on topic, i would put my kids in swim lessons on land in a heartbeat. Can i swim? Yes. Did i play/teach my kids to swim? Sorta but lessons were a good idea. In terms of on the ship, i wouldn't because of the cost unless my kids were dying to do it instead of something else. Doesn't make me a bad parent if they are in the kids club or in an activity...its all of our vacation and my teens were very happy not seeing me at all the last cruise! In terms of the lessons, im much more concerned about them taking over pool space at peak hours. And if they run lessons at bad times, they prob won't fill them. Seems like a weird offering overall. Jane

Im waiting it out too...mine are still 55 plus gratuities for my match freedom sailing. As soon as i see a sail i will book 2 pkg....just in case they make both people in a cabin share...and then cancel one of they don't. Jane

Wow...so disappointing. We,are really struggling with what to do on grand cayman and this one won't be it! Thanks for your honest review. You still got some amazing pictures! Jane

I find the more dinners you book, the more the pkgs make sense. However, it you book a lower cost restaurant like sabor, the value goes down. It's a tradeoff--if you want exact plans ahead of time, then you need to book separately. If you can be flexible, and don't mind handling reservations when you get on the ship, then you can totally save with the pkgs. My understanding is that you pretty much can get what you want onship if you board early and go right to dining to book stuff. Make sure you have a list of the shows you have booked so that you don't schedule conflicts with dinner. Have a great cruise...I had oasis booked for march and switched to freedom....look forward to trying the oasis class restaurants sometime! Jane

and this is why food is so hard to judge by other people's opinions.I I love outback lol!!! Haven't been to Ruth Chris but I hear it is excellent. However, I will put that giavannis steak up against anyones! Jane

You will fit right in here!!! There are many of us that pretty much are right with you (myself included). I don't know anything about enchantments dry-dock, but it is supposed to be a great ship. It is smaller and older, but it still has things. I sailed on her smaller sister ship vision for my very first cruise in 2015 and had a terrific time!!! Welcome to the site! Jane

He did--I just read the water beach review and in it, there is a link to the Hilton rose hall, which matt seemed to like a lot better. Jane

I take so many pictures its scary. I need organization lol! I take a ton on the cruises, but you should see how many I take for each Disney trip...1000s! Jane

I desperately need a photo backup...I finally got an external hard drive. Do you find (not to hijack the thread but...) it better than amazon primes (which we have as well). I absolutely have not had good luck with dropbox. Jane

Thanks so much----loved your pictures. They were so easy to scroll through and I liked having the maps, because I'm very geographically challenged! My fave pic is the unhappy last picture--whis is how I always look leaving the cruise! Thanks again :) Jane

Our steak in giavannis was one of my best meals ever. Service was wonderful. I like the mdr...im not picky...but to have a specialty meal or 2 was really nice. It was a little "special" thing that made the trip better. We could have survived without but im really glad we did giavannis and chefs table. Jane

I have done small (vision) as well as adventure and freedom. We loved adventure and we went before the refurbishment. But someday i would love to do jewel for all the connection to the ocean. Adventure will have more bells and whistles but is still not overwhelming, jewel will have the small feel. I think it's a win either way. Jane

Maybe you guys can just be sure to try some of the more varied windjammer options as a "predinner" together (as matt world call it). Then you still have that bonding experience. Judging from my last cruise, we will be lucky if we see my 15 year old at all! Jane

I like to try things but what we found on our last cruise on adventure was that the mdr was disappointing. My first cruise i had amazing service and the food was always well made. The staff cuts in the dining room have made it a very haphazard event. If i didn't bring a class of wine with me, i didn't get one until halfway through dinner. My husband likes coke and a cocktail and would inevitably only get one. We often waited a very long time between courses. The specialty restaurants served us promptly with food and drinks, and the service and quality was incredible. In addition, as ive mentioned before, specialty dining plays havoc with large group tables, and often there were only 2 people at a table for 8. We just aren't enjoying the mdr as much, and if the variety is meh, im thinking we will focus more on windjammer and specialty. We are going to try mtd, and that isn't chaotic and slow as well. Jane

So i just read in my newspaper that a 57 year old woman died while trying to cling to the fence to watch the planes at st. Maarten. Apparently she was knocked into a wall when the jetliner took off. Just a reminder that the warning signs are there for a reason.. don't put yourself in danger unnecessarily! Jane

Im so glad you are going for it. It truly was one of the highlights of my adventure cruise, although for me the wine pairings were amazing as well. Please let us know how she enjoys it. I wish we were cruising a week later...it would have been fun for our teen girls to meet! Jane

Thanks so much for the comparison. As a self-proclaimed mickey and disney freak, i hope someday to try dcl. Until they do process significantly (haha) or my teacher husband retires and we can go during hurricane season, i will enjoy my rc cruises. I love hearing how the 2 lines compare though! Jane

I think if your daughter is a foodie and mature enough to sit for a long meal (it is usually a couple hours) then she will love it. My oldest would have enjoyed it, my other 2 would have been bouncing off walls. It is definitely an older crowd, but the food was great. I think freedom includes a galley tour, which I'd think she'd really enjoy. Its easy to check the age requirement...just try to make the reservation in the cruise planner. It knows how old she is so if it's a problem, it won't let you reserve. Have a great time...we are doing it the week before! Jane