Nay

Hi MiAMiA
Welcome to the blog. I am new to cruising, & joined this blog several months ago. going on our very first cruise in about a week. so excited,  can't wait to get started.  love traveling & I've had so many questions answered here on this blog, its a great way to get info

First cruise in 1 week. This blog has really been great and a lifesaver with many topics. I have researched and planned, watched YouTube videos, asked questions and still continue to think up things that I don’t have a clue about. Does anyone else stress & overthink? Just trying to get it right. 
I’m sure the next cruise will be easier. Hoping to go to Alaska next, but have to survive the Southern Caribbean first. We are soooo excited.
Just want to say to each that have answered questions or chimed in, “Thank You” for all of your help.

I think this is exactly what everyone ought to be doing. You're spending thousands of dollars on a vacation, wouldn't doing a little homework to ensure you aren't making a mistake or missing out on something greatly benefit you? 
By asking these kinds of questions, you're doing yourself a big favor!

Well we both work but I pay for all of it too.

Yes! We've been on 2 Alaskan cruises, have one this June and are talking about another one (since my husband has decided that he wants to do 3-4 cruises a year now, lol).  Highly recommended!!!

I'm guilty.
But.....I justify it by having convinced myself that that is better than stumbling around clueless.
I'm in the same boat (no pun intended). I have been on one cruise in the past but that was in 2003 and truthfully have forgotten many details. So I'm brushing up and re-thinking a lot for an upcoming cruise. I'll be watching response you get for sure.
Good luck on your cruise and have fun!

Welcome to the cruising club. I am D+ and I still stress over my cruises. It's a good stress. I have 7 this year and I check prices and airfares daily.

^^^^ This

Same here. I do all the planning...my wife just has to pack and then enjoy the ride.

You are totally free to stress out, but I'm pretty confident that even if you went into the cruise with no research you would have an AMAZING time. I don't come on here because I'm stressed about my cruises, I do it because I love cruising so much that it's always on my mind and it actually alleviates the stresses of work and life! 
But yea, you it is also great to get all the info you can to optimize your vacation. So have fun researching and planning, but remember that this is exciting! One important thing though, don't sweat the small stuff. You will make minor "mistakes" and will wish you have done something different. That's ok also, just keep a positive attitude about everything and look forward to the next cruise where you will do X,Y & Z better.
Welcome to the community and HAVE FUN!

First cruise in 1 week. This blog has really been great and a lifesaver with many topics. I have researched and planned, watched YouTube videos, asked questions and still continue to think up things that I don’t have a clue about. Does anyone else stress & overthink? Just trying to get it right. 
I’m sure the next cruise will be easier. Hoping to go to Alaska next, but have to survive the Southern Caribbean first. We are soooo excited.
Just want to say to each that have answered questions or chimed in, “Thank You” for all of your help.

First cruise in 1 week. This blog has really been great and a lifesaver with many topics. I have researched and planned, watched YouTube videos, asked questions and still continue to think up things that I don’t have a clue about. Does anyone else stress & overthink? Just trying to get it right. 
I’m sure the next cruise will be easier. Hoping to go to Alaska next, but have to survive the Southern Caribbean first. We are soooo excited.
Just want to say to each that have answered questions or chimed in, “Thank You” for all of your help.

First cruise in 1 week. This blog has really been great and a lifesaver with many topics. I have researched and planned, watched YouTube videos, asked questions and still continue to think up things that I don’t have a clue about. Does anyone else stress & overthink? Just trying to get it right. 
I’m sure the next cruise will be easier. Hoping to go to Alaska next, but have to survive the Southern Caribbean first. We are soooo excited.
Just want to say to each that have answered questions or chimed in, “Thank You” for all of your help.

First cruise in 1 week. This blog has really been great and a lifesaver with many topics. I have researched and planned, watched YouTube videos, asked questions and still continue to think up things that I don’t have a clue about. Does anyone else stress & overthink? Just trying to get it right. 
I’m sure the next cruise will be easier. Hoping to go to Alaska next, but have to survive the Southern Caribbean first. We are soooo excited.
Just want to say to each that have answered questions or chimed in, “Thank You” for all of your help.

I always use the clear packing tape - never had a problem.  I use one layer of tape.  Don't attach them until you are ready to leave for the ship.  I ask the hotel for a stapler and staple them when we're waiting for the shuttle. 

Thats not silly as it happened to me in Phuket!  Ever since that happened, I cross pack a few outfits.  I put at least one day, evening outfit plus a swimsuit in another bag so if my bag is lost I'll have at least something.

Yes it goes so fast but I am thankful for the opportunity to cruise and visit different parts of the earth. Plus I always spend time making a video of the trip which keeps me in the moment. 
With that said, walking off the ship is such a terrible feeling. Then I snap out of it cause it's time for the great suitcase hunt! 

@Nay, I am just a few weeks off of Freedom and would like to suggest the main dinning room as a nice breakfast option on your last morning. We were in group 2 (shore excursion) and needed to be at our location by 7:45 - easily seated at 7am with a table for two - service was fast and the food was delicious. I believe the menu was limited but my french toast and eggs were far superior than the Windjammer equivalent. 
Have a wonderful time and let us know about your cruise when you get back!

Thank you so much. I have probably looked at 4 or 5 cruise compasses and I did not find any with the info that this one has, guess I looked at the wrong ones. I don’t think the ones I looked at were complete because non of them had this info. 
Much appreciated...you are such great help for all of us newbies!

Welcome to the message boards!
Each specialty dining venue has it's own menu as you've seen.  Most items are included but there are typically a few items that cost more than the cover charge you pay to eat there.  Full Maine Lobster in Chops for example carries an additional charge above the cover charge.  Those extra charge items have a price on the menu.
The specialty dining restaurants tend to have some rules.  You can't order 10 steaks in Chops for example.  You might be able to order 10 side dishes though.  To be honest it's so much food I've never tried.  Your waiter will explain it all.  Ask as many questions as you like.  
Soda packages typically work anywhere on the ship except room service.  
SeaPass cards are handed over when there is a chargeable item involved.  When you visit the MDR (main dining room) they will ask your cabin number.  You'll never have to produce your SeaPass card unless you request something that isn't free.  If you have the soda package they'll ask for your card to confirm you do indeed have the soda package.  Sorrentos is included so no SeaPass card involved.  Asking for a chargeable beverage at Sorrentos will require a SeaPass card.  
Debarking - A letter will be provided a day or two before arriving back.  The letter will explain the process and times for "self-assist" guests like yourselves who carry their own luggage off.  Self assist typically starts as soon as US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) give them the clearance to start.  There will be a stated time in the letter such as 7:30am to 8:30am for self-assist.  Early birds will go to the designated self-assist meeting point before the stated start time.  A line will begin to form and your place in the line is based on when you arrive at the self-assist meeting point.  Once CBP give the go ahead, the line begins to move and you leave the ship.  Once the line starts moving it typically is pretty fast to get through CBP so budget 30 to 60 minutes to reach your car.  
On my Liberty cruise last year the scheduled arrival was 8am.  i lined up at 7am and was about 30 from the front of the line.  They started letting us off at 7:30am (early).  I was outside hailing a Lyft at 7:45am.  I got lucky, have cruised a lot, know the routine and CBP was kind that day.  My Lyft ride share had me at Hobby airport at 8:40am.
On boarding day they always have some restaurants open typically starting around 11:30am.  Getting on the ship right at 10am is unlikely.  The terminal typically opens around 10am to begin check in and the ship has to wait for all previous guests to leave and only when US Customs says the ship is clear can they start taking on new guests.  That is typically closer to between 11am to noon but if you are lucky could happen before 11am.  Consequently there usually isn't much of a wait to enjoy lunch.    

I'm sorry to hear about your personal life changes, but you gambled and lost on this one.
Seriously though....is it really taking advantage of people when they lay out all the ground rules in advance and you even had the option to purchase insurance but declined?
 

No one ever plans on getting sick.  That's why insurance exists for such things.  Sorry to hear about your family member.

Not a pleasant tale but yet another example of blaming someone else for your own blunder. Its becoming the new American pastime.

That has got to be the most hilarious thing I have read today.  As if people buy insurance planning on using it.
"Gee, I didn't buy life insurance because I didn't plan on dying soon."
"Gee, I didn't get car insurance because I didn't plan on crashing it."
"Gee, I didn't get homeowner insurance because I didn't plan on that tornado hitting."
I love how people think that their excuse should exclude them from the rules and how horribly shameful it is that they are treated exactly like everyone else.  To the point of joining a forum just to complain.  Nope, family member being diagnosed does NOT make a difference.  Nope, your fixed income does NOT make a difference.  This is a sad situation, but one that was preventable.  Your failure to prevent the financial loss is nobody's fault but your own.
Best of luck to your family member, I do sincerely hope for a happy outcome there.

I think that plan works well. As you're aware, you late arrival means not a lot of time to sleep but the pre-cruise excitement may not allow for much more sleep anyway.