Mljstr

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.

Absolutely NO for arriving an hour late to dinner in the MDR but perfect for MTD. The food is the same, the dining room is the same (just another floor) and the service is the same. That's the answer to your problem. On our very first cruise in 1997, we had early seating and  one of the tables our waiter waited on was a table of young girls from a South American country where they traditionally eat late. EVERY SINGLE NIGHT they came in very very late and our waiter was apoplectic in trying to get them served appetizers when he was already bringing desserts to the other tables. In addition, EVERY SINGLE NIGHT one of them claimed to have a birthday that day and the whole wait staff would stop and sing happy birthday and bring a flaming birthday cake. The waiter graciously accommodated then every night but it made an impression on me-be on time for dinner. 

Any tour where you are cramped into a van or bus for 12 hours! We did this in Hawaii and it was miserable. It was so bad, RCCL refunded 1/2 of the cost.
 

I do get the Travel Protection Plan. In addition to Trip cancellation and cancellation for any reason. it offers:
"
Trip Interruption: up to total trip cost if you can't start or finish your cruise vacation because you're sick or hurt, there's a death in the family or another covered reason Trip Delay: up to $500 for catch-up expenses  Accident Medical: up to $10,000 if you get hurt on your cruise vacation Sickness Medical: up to $10,000 if you get sick on your cruise vacation Emergency Medical Evacuation: up to $25,000 if you need emergency medical transportation Baggage Protection: up to $1,500 if your bags are lost, stolen, or damaged Bag Delay: up to $500 to buy necessary personal items if your bags are delayed  
Having been on many ships when an evacuation had to take place, i know how common and expensive it is. I take it for no other reason than that. We are taking our two grandchildren and June and want to make sure they are covered not only for medical but accident. You never know!

We are on the Liberty departing June 2, 2019 with two teenage grandchildren. We had pre-purchased excursions in each port-snorkeling, sting rays and dolphins and submarine. I just checked and saved about $330.00 by canceling and rebooking at the lower rate. So check it out!

Any tour where you are cramped into a van or bus for 12 hours! We did this in Hawaii and it was miserable. It was so bad, RCCL refunded 1/2 of the cost.
 

Any tour where you are cramped into a van or bus for 12 hours! We did this in Hawaii and it was miserable. It was so bad, RCCL refunded 1/2 of the cost.
 

We are on the Liberty departing June 2, 2019 with two teenage grandchildren. We had pre-purchased excursions in each port-snorkeling, sting rays and dolphins and submarine. I just checked and saved about $330.00 by canceling and rebooking at the lower rate. So check it out!

We are on the Liberty departing June 2, 2019 with two teenage grandchildren. We had pre-purchased excursions in each port-snorkeling, sting rays and dolphins and submarine. I just checked and saved about $330.00 by canceling and rebooking at the lower rate. So check it out!

Like @twangster our kids are grown and out of state and sometimes have their own plans! Whaaat?  So one year we took a Southern Caribbean cruise over Christmas and I feel guilty saying it was wonderful-no last minute shopping, no cooking, no stress! The ship was decorated for Christmas overnight and the meals were really first class and there were carols in the Centrum and  Santa came down the glass elevator and gave a gift to every single child on board. I would do it again except our children won't let us get away with it again.
 

Like @twangster our kids are grown and out of state and sometimes have their own plans! Whaaat?  So one year we took a Southern Caribbean cruise over Christmas and I feel guilty saying it was wonderful-no last minute shopping, no cooking, no stress! The ship was decorated for Christmas overnight and the meals were really first class and there were carols in the Centrum and  Santa came down the glass elevator and gave a gift to every single child on board. I would do it again except our children won't let us get away with it again.
 

Like @twangster our kids are grown and out of state and sometimes have their own plans! Whaaat?  So one year we took a Southern Caribbean cruise over Christmas and I feel guilty saying it was wonderful-no last minute shopping, no cooking, no stress! The ship was decorated for Christmas overnight and the meals were really first class and there were carols in the Centrum and  Santa came down the glass elevator and gave a gift to every single child on board. I would do it again except our children won't let us get away with it again.
 

Like @twangster our kids are grown and out of state and sometimes have their own plans! Whaaat?  So one year we took a Southern Caribbean cruise over Christmas and I feel guilty saying it was wonderful-no last minute shopping, no cooking, no stress! The ship was decorated for Christmas overnight and the meals were really first class and there were carols in the Centrum and  Santa came down the glass elevator and gave a gift to every single child on board. I would do it again except our children won't let us get away with it again.
 

@JLMoran This reminds me of our first cruise on the Monarch in 1997. We shared a table with a couple from NYC. He was a firefighter. I remember him saying the same things about the stars. He had never seen stars he said because of the light pollution. He stood on deck every night and marveled.
 

I think those days are gone.  They are only left in old re-runs of "The Love Boat"

@JLMoran This reminds me of our first cruise on the Monarch in 1997. We shared a table with a couple from NYC. He was a firefighter. I remember him saying the same things about the stars. He had never seen stars he said because of the light pollution. He stood on deck every night and marveled.
 

@JLMoran This reminds me of our first cruise on the Monarch in 1997. We shared a table with a couple from NYC. He was a firefighter. I remember him saying the same things about the stars. He had never seen stars he said because of the light pollution. He stood on deck every night and marveled.
 

I don't know the answer to the FaceTime question,  but the answer to cell charges is turn off your cellular in the settings and turn the phone on to airplane mode. Then you will be just using the ship wifi. No charges. 
Also, depending on your cell carrier you may have free wifi service in port and can use your phone for texting. Check with your carrier and enjoy the cruise.

I just got back from the Vision and thought about your post while watching the 70's party onboard. Here are a few of the guests in costume for the party. Also, I was on the LOS over a year ago, and I believe the party was an 80's party.

Since the untimely passing of my phone, I have also contracted a terrible cold.  So I am shortening the slog to some random observations.
1. Having been to Cozumel too many times to count, we just took a taxi to Pancho's Backyard for a margarita, guacamole and flan . YUM!
2. We never had to search  for a table in the Windjammer. Where was everyone? The Windjammer food  selection was very limited and not outstanding- a big disappointment after the outstanding Windjammer selections on the Jewel in November. 
3. We had the least friendly and helpful cabin steward in 20 years of cruising. Never introduced himself, or left a card or smiled. He actually snapped at me when I needed help with my safe.
4. A bartender at the Solarium bar was setting up to open the bar. I asked her for a napkin and she sent me to get one at the Park Cafe which wasn't open. When I got back, she was already serving drinks to a couple. 
5. Lots of salsa dancing but no country and western or even pop?
6. Could not understand a word the captain said so I am glad he wasn't telling us to evacuate. 
7. Embarkation was a snap but self assist debarkation took almost an hour.
8. I watched a woman fill her water bottles by jamming them up and touching the water spout with the inside of the bottle. Can't they do something about that? I reported it and was told they clean the water spouts at the end of the day. It should be done frequently.
I don't mean to say it was a bad cruise, maybe I'm looking at it through the lens of someone who is sick, and who suffered the tragic loss of my phone.  LOL I will think of the good things when I feel better!
EDIT #4   In thinking about this during the night, I realized maybe they don't give out paper napkins anymore at the outdoor bars???? When I went back to get the napkins at the Solarium bar, she handed me paper towels. 
EDIT #2 The Windjammer had theme meals-Mexican night, Caribbean night, Mediterranean night, etc. I wonder how many really ate the pigtail stew and goat curry? I only saw pizza two days. Comparing this to the Jewel in the fall, if they had lamb shank in the MDR they had lamb shank in the Windjammer. The carved turkey and ham were non existent. Chicken was in the carving station as well as a sirloin strip.
FINALLY,  we went on this cruise for two reasons: 
1. we needed 5 points to become D+ and we accomplished that goal.
2. we desperately needed some R&R when we just chilled out, and unplugged.We had lovely days hanging out in the solarium and reading and eating when and where we wanted and came home refreshed. . So all in all, it was a great cruise!
 
 
 

Tried the rice thing then read Do not do that because a piece might become lodged in the plug in. Sure enough that happened!  Now I have rice stuck in the plug. I tried everything then I read the online suggestions and I had already done everything wrong. 
Looks like I will be heading to phone store on the way home tomorrow. 

Since the untimely passing of my phone, I have also contracted a terrible cold.  So I am shortening the slog to some random observations.
1. Having been to Cozumel too many times to count, we just took a taxi to Pancho's Backyard for a margarita, guacamole and flan . YUM!
2. We never had to search  for a table in the Windjammer. Where was everyone? The Windjammer food  selection was very limited and not outstanding- a big disappointment after the outstanding Windjammer selections on the Jewel in November. 
3. We had the least friendly and helpful cabin steward in 20 years of cruising. Never introduced himself, or left a card or smiled. He actually snapped at me when I needed help with my safe.
4. A bartender at the Solarium bar was setting up to open the bar. I asked her for a napkin and she sent me to get one at the Park Cafe which wasn't open. When I got back, she was already serving drinks to a couple. 
5. Lots of salsa dancing but no country and western or even pop?
6. Could not understand a word the captain said so I am glad he wasn't telling us to evacuate. 
7. Embarkation was a snap but self assist debarkation took almost an hour.
8. I watched a woman fill her water bottles by jamming them up and touching the water spout with the inside of the bottle. Can't they do something about that? I reported it and was told they clean the water spouts at the end of the day. It should be done frequently.
I don't mean to say it was a bad cruise, maybe I'm looking at it through the lens of someone who is sick, and who suffered the tragic loss of my phone.  LOL I will think of the good things when I feel better!
EDIT #4   In thinking about this during the night, I realized maybe they don't give out paper napkins anymore at the outdoor bars???? When I went back to get the napkins at the Solarium bar, she handed me paper towels. 
EDIT #2 The Windjammer had theme meals-Mexican night, Caribbean night, Mediterranean night, etc. I wonder how many really ate the pigtail stew and goat curry? I only saw pizza two days. Comparing this to the Jewel in the fall, if they had lamb shank in the MDR they had lamb shank in the Windjammer. The carved turkey and ham were non existent. Chicken was in the carving station as well as a sirloin strip.
FINALLY,  we went on this cruise for two reasons: 
1. we needed 5 points to become D+ and we accomplished that goal.
2. we desperately needed some R&R when we just chilled out, and unplugged.We had lovely days hanging out in the solarium and reading and eating when and where we wanted and came home refreshed. . So all in all, it was a great cruise!
 
 
 

Since the untimely passing of my phone, I have also contracted a terrible cold.  So I am shortening the slog to some random observations.
1. Having been to Cozumel too many times to count, we just took a taxi to Pancho's Backyard for a margarita, guacamole and flan . YUM!
2. We never had to search  for a table in the Windjammer. Where was everyone? The Windjammer food  selection was very limited and not outstanding- a big disappointment after the outstanding Windjammer selections on the Jewel in November. 
3. We had the least friendly and helpful cabin steward in 20 years of cruising. Never introduced himself, or left a card or smiled. He actually snapped at me when I needed help with my safe.
4. A bartender at the Solarium bar was setting up to open the bar. I asked her for a napkin and she sent me to get one at the Park Cafe which wasn't open. When I got back, she was already serving drinks to a couple. 
5. Lots of salsa dancing but no country and western or even pop?
6. Could not understand a word the captain said so I am glad he wasn't telling us to evacuate. 
7. Embarkation was a snap but self assist debarkation took almost an hour.
8. I watched a woman fill her water bottles by jamming them up and touching the water spout with the inside of the bottle. Can't they do something about that? I reported it and was told they clean the water spouts at the end of the day. It should be done frequently.
I don't mean to say it was a bad cruise, maybe I'm looking at it through the lens of someone who is sick, and who suffered the tragic loss of my phone.  LOL I will think of the good things when I feel better!
EDIT #4   In thinking about this during the night, I realized maybe they don't give out paper napkins anymore at the outdoor bars???? When I went back to get the napkins at the Solarium bar, she handed me paper towels. 
EDIT #2 The Windjammer had theme meals-Mexican night, Caribbean night, Mediterranean night, etc. I wonder how many really ate the pigtail stew and goat curry? I only saw pizza two days. Comparing this to the Jewel in the fall, if they had lamb shank in the MDR they had lamb shank in the Windjammer. The carved turkey and ham were non existent. Chicken was in the carving station as well as a sirloin strip.
FINALLY,  we went on this cruise for two reasons: 
1. we needed 5 points to become D+ and we accomplished that goal.
2. we desperately needed some R&R when we just chilled out, and unplugged.We had lovely days hanging out in the solarium and reading and eating when and where we wanted and came home refreshed. . So all in all, it was a great cruise!
 
 
 

Tried the rice thing then read Do not do that because a piece might become lodged in the plug in. Sure enough that happened!  Now I have rice stuck in the plug. I tried everything then I read the online suggestions and I had already done everything wrong. 
Looks like I will be heading to phone store on the way home tomorrow. 

I intended to post from Cozumel yesterday but had an accident  in that my ?flew out of my pocket and landed in an unfortunate place ?in the cramped bathroom. I tried everything but it appears to be be like the witch in the Wizard of Oz “undeniably and reliably dead.”  
I am using my husband’s ? for this post and he is a little stingy with it ??so I will finish when I get ? tomorrow.