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I agree with @Jedi Jason . I didn't transfer for the goodies, and my agent has been helpful in resolving some issues and answering questions.

The MDR has slightly more upscale choices than the buffet and you are waited on. However, I have noticed they have upgraded the dinner buffet choices and we skipped the dining room in favor of the buffet and were quite pleased. The MDR menu is posted somewhere-outside the dining room or on the TV so you can decide ahead of time.

Yes, they used to have a waiter who just filled your glasses, now you have to ask for it but it is included. Not sure about juice.

It has been several years since we went to Roatan. This sign greeted us when we departed the ship at the port. I think you should be very careful where you go and with whom. Take a cruise excursion to the beach. Also, we took a city tour and the tour guide was very vocal about the conditions of the natives living there. For instance, the good beaches require an admission which the residents cannot afford. So they swim in the beaches into which the sewage is dumped. They call it the "poop beach." So be sure to choose a beach which is not free.

@JennyB Yes, definitely. The letter must state the date, ship, itinerary and give permission to take him, sign waivers for him and seek medical attention. The letter must be notarized. We have to bring such letters for even our grandchildren. And if the child is from a divorced situation, depending on the custody agreements, you may need letters from both parents.

1. Yes, the birth certificates have to be originals with raised seals. 2. No they do not need a picture ID. 3. Are parents/guardians accompanying the children. If not, you also need a notarized letter giving permission for the child to accompany you, giving you permission to sign waivers and seek medical attention. W have taken several grandchildren on cruises and are familiar with the regulations.

I transferred 3 bookings to a TA even the one that was paid in full. I received nothing from the agency for any booking. One is inside, one was 12 night Mediterranean with balcony and the third is ultra spacious window cabin for 4. I guess it is up to the agency.

We love the robes and always use them for lounging in our cabin. However, we were surprised on our last cruise to see a couple in the Windjammer having breakfast in swimsuits covered by these robes. Would you do that? Just wondering if I am out of sync or they were.

I don't mean to hijack this thread but be sure to check all the disallowed items. I recently had an accident and broke a rib. The pain treatment is ice and heat.I am going on the Vision next week. I asked my TA to see what I need to bring a heating pad and was told it won't be allowed.PERIOD! I will be taking an old fashioned hot water bottle instead.

@Hoski I looked up the Dolphinaria and it looks like that would be perfect; however, it won't let me buy the Observers admission. It says I have to check onboard. I wonder why that is? Were you able to book on the cruise planner?

You can take the garment bag as a carry on on the plane, and then tag it and give it to the porter at the ship. It will arrive with your other checked bags and you don't have to carry it around on boarding day. You won't need it anyway as the first night is always casual and many people show up in the dining room still in their travel clothes because their bags haven't been delivered yet.

Wow! A lot depends on how old the infant is and how much carrying you are willing to do. 1. I would always use a RCCL excursion, especially with a baby- strange things happen and you don't want to be stranded in a foreign country with a baby. 2. A lot of excursions have age limits and requirements. Getting on and off a sailboat for example,can be tricky especially carrying an infant. I have been on some where you have to climb a ladder to get onboard. Even a beach day will require transportation to the beach probably by bus, so if you feel a car seat is safer, you will need to provide it. 3. Cozumel has shopping and access to taxis which is walkable. Grand Cayman is walkable, but you will need to be tendered into town. I would take a stroller, if possible. I haven't been to Jamaica in a while so I don't know about that. Hope that helps.

What is the departure port you are looking at. I don't have experience with Florida, but I know Galveston. Once you get to the Western Caribbean the weather will be great no matter when you go but the cruising days getting there will be different. Until you leave the bay and get far enough South into open waters, it will be chilly in February. SOOOO, all things being equal, I would choose May and you will have all 7 days of beautiful warm weather. Oh yeah-it will most likely be cheaper in February.

We recently took a 12 night cruise with extra days and travel we were gone 17 days. I had the same dilemma as you. I found out the laundry was really geared to PJs, underwear, socks, etc. Even though they sometime run a special to fill the bag, and we have a diamond discount coupon, I thought it was expensive and not particularly geared to our needs. Jeans, shirts, blouses would probably be handled best by dry cleaning. I ended up hand washing shirts, socks and even jeans and hanging to dry. I took a small bottle of liquid laundry detergent and a spray bottle of Downy Wrinkle Release. It was cheaper than the laundry service or the baggage fee. Hope this helps.

I too have done both and agree with both@KristiZ and @tiny260 . There are wonderful things to see and do on both itineraries. A little negative edge I guess could be given to the travel time to do the Med one. We did a 12 night Med cruise and the travel time and jet lag were issues. You should plan to go in to Barcelona at least one if not two days early to get acclimated. Now you have me dreaming! it was 20 years ago that we did Hawaii. Maybe it's time to repeat that one!

T@WAAAYTOOO Thanks for the caveat. I am hoping someone who has done this will tell me how much time is actually spent swimming with the dolphins. We have done the sting ray thing several times and have been pleased with the time and felt we got out money's worth. Trying to do the same with dolphins.

We are taking our two 16 year old grandchildren on the Liberty in June. Both want to do a dolphin experience. I believe at least one is offered in each port, Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Jamaica. Any recommendations for which would be best for teenagers who are both excellent swimmers ( and two old grandparents who will be along as observers .)

@twangster Thanks, that I am familiar with. Just wanted to make sure something has not changed and I was missing out on something.

No eggs benedict on our last cruise on Radiance Mediterranean last November. ?

When you say "cruise tour", what does that mean? If Istay in a RCCL hotel before and after the cruise, is that considered a cruise tour? If so, I did not get credit for that>

I hope @Matt is right on this one. We are going on the Vision the end of March and got a 2:30 boarding time. We have never gotten such a late time and always ignored it anyway. We are staying overnight in Galveston the night before and plan to be onboard early. We have to be out of the hotel by 11:00. We took the same cruise a year ago and got on around 10:30. Any recent experience with the Vision?

My first question is where is the cruise going? Some cruises are more casual than others. The Caribbean and Mexico are more casual than European. My husband and I have been cruising for 20+ years and times, customs and we have changed. We both used to dress to the nines and followed the dining suggestions to the T. But now we go more casual but dressed like we are going to a special party or event. I have certainly seen many men in the dining room in jeans and t-shirts. My husband usually wears dark jeans or khakis and collared polo shirts on casual nights and slacks and button up shirt on smart casual nights. We have stopped taking formal clothes because of the hassle of packing them. I take a dressy black pants outfit and he takes black dress pants and a black button up shirt. I understand the want or need to be dressed appropriately, but actually, this is your vacation. You should dress so you feel comfortable. A couple of years ago, we took our 17 year old grandson to Alaska. We wanted to take advantage of the photographers on formal night but didn't want to dress formally (especially the teenager.) We all wore jeans and flannel shirts since we were in Alaska and got a great photo memory!

We always buy this insurance because we too have seen numerous evacuations from the ship by helicopter or Mexican coast guard and ambulances meeting the ship at a port. Unfortunately serious illness and accidents happen and cannot be handled by the ship doctor. Be on the alert for the pre-existing condition clause if you are buying it in case you need to cancel because of some illness which has already been diagnosed.

He was just about in your shape when he joined. He was 27 ( the maximum age to join.) and had a heck of a time completing boot camp. We didn't even recognize him when we went to his boot camp graduation-he had lost 15 pounds, quit smoking, was tan and wearing military issue " birth control" glasses.LOL So maybe it's not too late!@PocketsRN

My son was in the Coast Guard and got paid to take this "cruise." He was on an icebreaker and spent one summer going to the Arctic and the next summer to the Antarctic. LOL