mom2mybugs

Over 300 days out I couldn't get 6pm mtd.  Really wanted to get it for night 1 so my teen could eat with us before going to the teen center for night one.   DocLC, you said you've never waited...even on night 1?  We might just try and show up with her right after sailaway at 530!  Our reservations aren't until 730, but we could cancel when seated.   Also,  do times pop up? Do mtd diners teens to cancel those prime 6pm times ever?   Jane

On Friday, May 19, 2017 at 6:39 AM, RestingBirds said:

Speaking of the in-line track, I'm waiting for RC to start adding 90's parties onboard, along with the 70's and 80's (or instead of).

I keep waiting for the 80s parties!  Hey, i could do the big hair, and im sure i have a old pair of leg warmers around somewhere!  Jane

I was trying to find out on freedom too, and couldn't find any, but swear i had heard about them on our last cruise.   Jane

5 hours ago, BigHouseFootball said:

The Cave Tubing in Belize is something I really want to experience!  

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

14 hours ago, Bob_KY said:

For my wife and I,  5 days til "set sail" and new memories.

Bob

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

On Friday, April 28, 2017 at 2:30 PM, chiboo9 said:

I don't know what I'm gonna do after we get off the ship in September! Right now, I spend my days scouring message forums like this, stalking cruise planner, looking for recent compass for my sailing, and calling RC when there are price drops. I'm really hoping we enjoy cruising!

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

6 hours ago, JLMoran said:

As of today, I can (finally?) book dining on the Cruise Planner, but beverage packages for my Eastern Caribbean outing on Freedom next year are still unavailable. Which is kind of nuts since beverage packages are now the only category not opened up, even though I'm still 330-ish days from that cruise. I can buy excursions, dining, spa treatments, and internet, but no beverage packages! 

I'm not counting Entertainment as "missing", since there's no reserving shows on Freedom.

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

4 hours ago, bobroo said:

HEY! HEY! HEY! 

I'm from the Northwest 'burbs and any RCL sailings out of Chicago--the line starts in back of me! ;0)

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

15 hours ago, DocLC said:

This is why I don't make reservations for MTD. Sometimes my son goes with us; other times, he eats with the kids in the AO. Thus, we just go when we're hungry and ask for an appropriate sized table. 

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

10 hours ago, klaconqueso said:

Grr! I'm cruising on Allure in 170 days and they still haven't released our entertainment bookings. I wanna plan!!!!! 

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

On Thursday, April 20, 2017 at 0:23 PM, fmanke said:

I would love to cruise out of Chicago.  The great lakes are a lot bigger than people think.  

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

5 hours ago, DocLC said:

Other alternatives to accessories with:

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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

On Tuesday, April 11, 2017 at 7:41 AM, JLMoran said:

Maybe Newark could become your new "home port". We do offer Canada and New England cruises along with those Bermuda and Bahamas/Caribbean trips. ;)

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

33 minutes ago, Arizona73 said:

So it sounds like it's reasonably easy to request a table for 2 at the MDR, but what about specialty restaurants?  I'm assuming, particularly since you're paying extra for those, that you can be seated alone if you prefer?

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!

12 hours ago, Spiegeje said:

 

I was dying to get on a ship again, and I saw Freedom of the Seas docked at Port Canaveral as we disembarked from our first cruise. That sold me on the next ship I wanted to sail. The next was the Navigator Group Cruise when my geekdom metastasized. I will now get on a ship any time, any place...as long as it is RC until I hit Diamond, then I will try Celebrity and maybe Princess one day. NCL would be a distant third...but I want the free drinks in the diamond lounge.

 

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

12 hours ago, fmanke said:

That's a great reason, saving on airfare for a cabin upgrade. Now if only RC would home port in Chicago, I could save on airfare, and cruise more often! :D

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