mom2mybugs

It was very cool! We did a combo zip line/cave tubing. I got to shock my children when i tried eating termites on the walk to the caves...best moment of the trip! Jane

Hey everyone! I am sure i won't do the ultimate dining, but trying to figure out if i do bogo, chefs table etc. When i was looking into stuff i saw the mtd times can be entered. While everyone has said it's totally ok to show up and i won't wait long, I would def. feel better with reservations. However, i have seen tons of 8 day eastern freedom compasses, but no 6 day west to grand caymon, Costa maya and cozumel. Id really like to see show times etc so i can book. If anyone could post these to the cruise compass board or let me know what they are, id really appreciate it! Gee, only 326 days to plan lol! Jane

I have cruised 2x with my teens. On the first cruise we did vision and the kids were 18, 15 and 12. The next year we did freedom. The 2 older ones mostly hung with me since my 15 year old son was busy watching the ncaa tournament. The 18 (and the next year 19) had a challenging time in that she was too old for the teen club, and too young for the party scene. We joined the roll call on cruise critic for her 2nd cruise and she met a girl that she went to some shows with and stuff. She still mostly hung with me though. My 12 and then 13 year old is the one that loved everything. She still snapchats the girls she met 2 years ago in the term club. Have your 15 year old go to the forest night and just meet some people. After the first night they tend to meet at the teen area and then wander the shop. On sea days they would meet early and hasn't out all day. We had a late dining the 2nd cruise and she ate with us once! She met everyone else in the windjammer a lot. Let me know if you have any specific questions! Jane

Have a great trip and let us know all about it!! Jane

Yes...this is my life! Went back to disney world last month and planned that trip to death, but had to book a cruise for the next year's trip because i need something to get me through next winter! The planning makes the trip longer...feels like im almost on that boat drinking a lava flow! And hey, if i do the next cruise booking on the ship, i can just keep planning lol! Jane

This is a tough question. I have been on 3 cruises now and each one was "best" in dinner way. My first on vision was the best in that the first sea day was the most relaxed i have ever been in my entire life! The 2nd on freedom was the best in that i loved the promenade. The 3rd was the best on adventure because i loved the southern ports and being on my husbands first cruise! If i had to pick one, id say the first one was the most magical because everything was new and i had no expectations! Jane

You must be the 8 day right before or right after my 6 day on freedom (im 330 out) Wish i was getting your extra day! Ive always done 7 days so well feel shirt to me! Im thinking about the ultimate dining but just don't think i want to eat 2x in each of the 3 restaurants. If they had a 4th like izumi id be very tempted! Jane

In st thomas, take the boat over to st johns. The beach was one of the prettiest we have ever seen and easy less busy than magens, which is also beautiful and ok if you are the only ship in town! Curacao is beautiful to just walk around...the architecture was amazing. Arubas beaches are beautiful but the one we went to was packed and we were sorry we didn't do the other (can't remember eaglw or palm)...id advise getting there early and getting an umbrella! If you have any extra time at all, wander san juan. It was maybe the favorite part of our trip. The food was great and the forts amazing. We loved it! We had the exact same itinerary last summer on adventure pre-refurb. It was a wonderful trip! Happy anniversary! Jane

That's fine...you gave me great advice about chefs table on adventure...i will let you trailblaze and give us all the tips! Wouldn't it be great to skip airfare though....one can dream! Jane

And the waits really aren't bad? I have this fear of waiting 45 mins for a table. That would make me crazy i think! Can you make reservations and show up at a different time? Or do you need to cancel first?

I thought the mayan ruins in costa maya were great. It was a long bus, but not insane, and we still had some beach time and "hair braiding" time before sailing. Jane

Wish i knew what my 14 year old is going to do! We are trying MTD this time. If we eat early she will likely eat with us, but if we eat late she will be with her friends. We'd like to be just the 2 of us if she isnt with us and don't care as much if she is. Not sure other make reservations we can do. Im sure you can't request just 2 at some meals and not care at others! Jane

Is this class bigger than vision and smaller than freedom? Am i right that the views of the sea are the string points of these boats? Im having a hard time keeping all the different classes straight! Am i right that these would be less teen friendly? Jane

Totally get this! I'm almost a whole year and chomping at the bit lol! Jane

As a northwest suburb girl...it worud have to be in summer but it would be great! Jane

Ok this was hilarious! Now they need my red wings and im set! Jane

I always use the lanyard. I like not having to have my purse or wallet with me all the time and the lanyard keeps me from losing the card on the table or pool bag all the time. Mine had the bottom detach so it was easy to hand to the bartender. It is totally personal preference though, and you will figure that out pretty quick. Jane

It would have to be warm lol! Our biggest issue if we went spring break would be time. My husband and I both teach and our youngest will be in high school. So we might save money but then have time issues. If we go in summer, then we have more time in between summer school and the school year, but then we could drive wherever. I have considered texas too...those flights from chicago seem a bit lower. Jane

I had no idea this was such a strongly felt issue? The last production i went to at the oriental theater in chicago (in my broadway in chicago series) let us being in drinks and they were even selling snacks in the theater...but it was a very different sort of show. I will let people know after we go see Aladdin on sunday! Jane

I have always been seated at our own table at the specialty restaurants. They have never even asked if I'd want to sit with someone else...it is more like a regular "true" restaurant. Jane

I have been on 3 cruises (Vision, Freedom and Adventure) and loved them all for different reasons. Kidwise, my teens (13-18) had a good time on all of them, but it was a plus to go during spring break for my youngest (more kids on board). I absolutely loved vision because it was smaller and I could just relax without feeling I was wasting the rest of the ship (and it has the best schooner bar in my opinion). But I was surprised how much I loved the promenade on Freedom and Adventure! In regards to ship vs itinerary, I end up cruising mostly on checking dates and then what is out there. My kids liked more ports with active shore excursions, while I'm ok with just walking around a bit. Seems like most of the Caribbean ports have the same offerings of activities anyway. Anyway, I would go on any of royals ships and my guess is I will find things I love on each and things I wish each had (that another does). In the end if I have my drink, my sun chair, and no place to drive to...I'm good! OMG--I am so wanting the free diamond drinks...hard to remember how much I have to spend on the cruises to get there! Argh....I'm only at 21 nights lol! Jane

Totally!!! We need to work on that. The airfare to florida at spring break time is what is killing me! Jane

I have heard lots about 7 mile beach....looks beautiful.

It's my favorite place in the world, and I can't wait to watch her! She is more excited about hitting 5 parks (4 Disney and universal) in 5 days than she is singing lol! Thanks Matt---I still can't visualize where that St. Tropez area is, but I will totally look. And I'm am absolutely going to try the heliopad for sail away, if it's not too cold that day! Good to hear for sure!! I have been on 3 royal cruises, and they have all been awesome...even adventure pre-refurb. We could have, but Freedom was such a deal that even dropping down to window on Oasis wouldn't come close. There wasn't a huge difference btw window and balcony like on other boats...we could have saved going balcony in a neighborhood but everything started feeling just too much. We are saving almost 1/2 of the oasis cost by going with freedom instead. That will buy a drink pkg and a couple plane tickets.... Thanks everyone---super excited to go :) jane

Ok...this is the one new Port on our trip...what would people suggest we try? Is there anything we can't do elsewhere, or is it pretty typical dolphins, beach etc? Haven't done any research yet as im just decided to switch boats and sailings, but would love a quick narrowing down! Thanks, Jane