mom2mybugs

And frankly,  i love disney but i think for a company that is such a leader in so many things,  their website just stinks.   Its slow and constantly had stitch showing up saying he ate the page!   Seems funny these companies can't get their websites running better.   Jane

8 hours ago, Atlantix2000 said:

I've seen a few references to people needing letters due to divorce.  How does anyone at the port know a child's parents are divorced and need a letter?  Is it noted on their passport or something else?

It is really any child traveling with one parent.   When i took my 3 kids on a cruise without my husband i was told to bring the notorized letter.   I never had to show it but it was the same as if i was divorced...they just want to make sure you have 2 parent consent.  Jane

15 hours ago, Matt said:

Does "cruise compass" = Cruise Planner? If so, you will get it with your SeaPass card on embarkation day.

Yes that is what i meant...brain cells not firing!   Jane

44 minutes ago, DocLC said:

It's like the drink card. It can be shared as you're paying for a fixed number of drinks as opposed to an unlimited number with the drink packages. 

Thanks!   So when you buy it in the cruise compass,  will they leave it in your room?  

Is the specialty coffee card like the 10 drink punch alcohol cards that you can share,  or is it assigned to 1 person?   It would be a great deal for my husbands and daughter to share,  not so much if it's only one person.   Thanks, Jane

2 hours ago, FManke said:

I know you have mentioned the risotto in the past and I will definitely be getting it on our upcoming cruise.

The risotta was amazing!   Jane

And piggybacking a question ...do all the ships have these tours?  Or just the bigger ships?  Jane

32 minutes ago, monctonguy said:

It will go by quickly...so I guess the biggest thing is anything you want to see or do or experience on board, you have to do it and not procrastinate 

Very good point!  There is only 1 sea day so i would really have to decide what is "don't miss".  Thanks for your input.   Jane

14 minutes ago, Matt said:

The #1 problem I have with 4 night cruises (besides the fact they go by so quickly) is with RC, it seems like you will need to take off 3-4 days from work because they tend to occur over weekdays.  Because of this, I'd rather take 1-2 more days off work and get a 7-night cruise!

If you're new to cruising, I also recommend against 3 or 4 night cruises. By going with a slightly longer cruise, you will have the opportunity to really explore the ship and enjoy the experience. Shorter cruises go by so quickly and for someone new to cruising, it may not provide enough time on ship or on shore to really get a sense of it all.

If you've cruised a lot, then it's less of an issue and I defer back to my original point.

This will be my 5th rc cruise (my 4th will be my shortest...a 6 day on freedom in march).  The problem with the 5 and 7 nights is they overnight in cuba and the price skyrockets vs the shorter one that doesn't.   You are right...the weekday thing is normally a problem,  but my husband and i teach so we are putting a cruise in between summer school and the regular year.   Im hoping with empress of the seas being a smaller ship that there won't be so many "man we missed that" moments like there would be on a big so like oasis.  I guess i have to decide if being able to drove down from illinois because we have time will save us enough to plug into a longer sailing.   Jane

Hi all,

   My husband and I are looking at a 4 day cruise to cuba in July 2018.  Because of the timing,  cost etc, we are looking at what seems a hugely short 4 day cruise.   I just was wondering how people treated the short cruises vs long.  I don't expect those to be like the 3 day party cruises, but do you pack differently,  do fewer specialty meals,  consider or don't consider the drink pkg? Or do you just prep as you would for a 7 night and overpack, look at ports in determining drink pkg, etc.  Not sure if all this makes sense!  Jane

All of a sudden my family has begun playing pictionary!  Since i have no artistic talent,  that could be hilarious with the drink pkg.  Jane

4 hours ago, tiny260 said:

I just had this happen on my May 28th cruise in Costa Maya, at a Cariloha at the main port , it was the only place I used my card since getting on the ship, I didn't know it until the next day in Cozumel, I get my fraud alert by email and didn't have it turned on in Costa Maya, when I went to Nachi Cocom to pay my balance my card was declined, I spent the next 2 hours on the beach with my credit card company.

At least I was on a beautiful location in Cozumel...

That's awful!  Im sorry you had to do that!   Im 99 percent sure we will try nachi next march, and it sounds like a nice place to be if you have to be on the phone!  Jane

3 hours ago, arebee said:

The type of plate doesn't matter, there are a lot of slobs onboard who will just drop whatever, where ever. 

True for sure,  though sometimes i have glasses, etc, that I don't know where to leave.   I usually try to have it  "join a friend" so at least the wait staff can try to take more in one trip.   Jane

18 minutes ago, Matt said:

From PR Week:

That's me!

Not me....i took my first cruise 2 years ago at 47 with teenagers.   I was busy being disney's sweet spot lol!  I do wish Id found cruising earlier,  but teeing to make up for lost time.   I hope though that in aiming towards that group, total doesnt lose other groups in the process.  I know WAAYTOO has mentioned that rc doesn't treat loyal repeaters well in trying to get new cruisers.   Jane

3 minutes ago, Matt said:

I'm kind of like that in some regards. As an example, when I go to the beach, I prefer to stay in the shade and just enjoy the ambiance, as opposed to spending time in the water and sun.  

This is how my husband is, and so we only planned one beach day on our last cruise.  We didn't have the kids,  but if they were little,  they'd have been bored sitting at the little cafes and wandering the streets as alternatives.   If you have family members that like way different things,  sometimes you have to search/get creative!   Jane

Ive always just carried a tray with food items on it or even simply a plate.   I don't think I've ever seen a to go box except at a specialty restaurant when i brought back some of my steak and dessert for a midnight snack.   Im sure if they exist though, someone here will know.  Jane

5 hours ago, firegal2539 said:

The passengers I give the wine to just love me.

Candie

I wish we sailed together!   Jane

I can't switch to the royal card...i use my disney rewards visa to buy all my cruise stuff and then eventually have enough points to go back to see the mouse and save money for more cruises.    Really it's great how my obsessions can be so symbiotic! Jane

19 minutes ago, KWofPerth said:

...the first thing you do when you wake up is log onto RoyalCaribbeanBlog.com to read the latest post

Yes, and you check the boards so often that the isn't enough time for posts to show up!  Jane

11 hours ago, FManke said:

This is really storage advice, but, somebody mentioned in a previous thread about storing your empty suitcases under the bed, and using them to store dirty laundry. This frees up valuable closet space. I think this come in handy, with all the girls in one room.

I did this too...but i didn't like getting the suitcase out all the timer.   Instead i also brought a collapsible hamper that didn't take up a ton of space and i would empty it every couple days when it was full.   Jane

On ‎6‎/‎17‎/‎2017 at 11:45 AM, JLMoran said:

Thanks for the heads-up, @DocLC! Unfortunately, I got nothing when I logged in. Based on a comment from the blog post that linked to an RCI doc listing all the eligible sailings, mine is still too far out.

The list document went to the end of 2017 for each ship, so hopefully there will be another such offer in 3 months that will include my sailing that leaves at the end of March.

Yes--we are too far out.  I got all excited til I saw it was only 2017 cruises.  So I will wait...I could book at 55/day now, but I'm looking at a cuba cruise too, so I need to pace the spending!  Too many options, so little money lol!  Jane

I think the smaller ship wool be fine,  especially with your oldest being 10.  Id say maybe (and its a maybe because my teen loved her first cruise on vision) go big if they were older teens used to every bell and whistle,  but for those savings you can do another cruise!  Have a great trip!  Jane

Awesome! Since you are the week after me,  i will go look!   Jane

I haven't done the metal hooks but i have absolutely loved using the 3m command hooks.   They were easy as could be to put up and take down, could go on any wall, didn't damage anything,  and were easy as could be to remove!   We had extra hooks for jackets,  pjs, purses and bathing suits!   Jane

On 6/8/2017 at 9:46 PM, cruise-y said:

We always do MTD.  Usually it is on an upper level (where there are more tables for 2) and you can look down on the large, main dining areas.  MTD is always full, and when we look down, we see tons of big empty tables for 8 or 10 or 12.   Really, some people love to gab and want to sit with a bunch of strangers that will become friends for the week.  But I think most people just want to do their own thing.   I remember in the really old days, when you had to sit all together, a cruise official once told me they never put New Yorkers and Texans together at a table!  But I admit we did meet some nice people that way.

I think that the specialty restaurants have made the mdr more tricky.   I don't mind being at a big table,  but we felt guilty when couples were left with nobody to sit with while others went to specialty.   One night it was 2 peopled by themselves at a table for 12....that feels awkward.   This time we are going to see if we like my time...we are doing 3 specialty dinners and trying to accommodate the teenager on the other nights.   Im not sure i will miss the big table thing.   Jane