Vlgg

I would not recommend Hampton Inn on Stirling. They are doing a renovation and it was a mess!  I have never been at a Hampton Inn I wasn't happy with until then.  The suites were new and great but the lack of help at the front desk and the renovation mess was awful!

My grandkids didn't even unwrap theirs.  They just asked for cokes at the bars.

We're first time cruisers on the Allure in January.  I purchased the customized magnet decorations from Etsy.  The smaller ones are card stock from Amazon which I placed magnetic tape on the back.  I thought it would be a fun idea to decorate our cabin door but from what I hear these might not last long.   ?

I just had a really bad TA.  Missing in action when I got ready to book flights, so did it myself.  Then she had our rooms on 2 different sides of the ship-I wanted 4 in a row.  Booked out 2 years ago.  Had names wrong, wrong parties in wrong rooms-needed 2 of them to be adjoining so kids in one and parents in the adjoining.  It has been a mess.  No benefits at all to using her.  Using MEI the next time.

I just had a really bad TA.  Missing in action when I got ready to book flights, so did it myself.  Then she had our rooms on 2 different sides of the ship-I wanted 4 in a row.  Booked out 2 years ago.  Had names wrong, wrong parties in wrong rooms-needed 2 of them to be adjoining so kids in one and parents in the adjoining.  It has been a mess.  No benefits at all to using her.  Using MEI the next time.

Guess ours went to the travel agent we used.  She still hasn't told us that the itinerary changed.  Just is assuming I already know, I guess. First and last time with her.

I found as our cruise got closer more things appeared in the cruise planner

I found as our cruise got closer more things appeared in the cruise planner

I like to help the greater cruise community.  
I find a chair for myself that is available.  Then as I have observed an area for a while, I move chair hog stuff and return to my chair.  Some innocent person comes along and starts using the now empty chair.    Chair hog returns and confronts innocent person who can honestly claim they didn't do it, the chair was unused.  
Walking to breakfast if I notice a series of hogged chairs that are still hogged when I return from breakfast I grab the towel and drop it off somewhere.   Chair is freed up. 
I consider it a community service.  

I remove mine when I am not cruising.  I like to have it to check the schedules of what is going on.

That would be a definite plus if they would eliminate the smoking.  On our last cruise we didn't gamble at all because of the smoke and almost got sick walking thru the casino because fo the smoke.  And on Adventures of the Seas it doesn't stay in the casino, it was rising up into other areas of the ship.  Would love if they would eliminate the smoking in the casino  before our Allure of the Seas in December with the family.

That would be a definite plus if they would eliminate the smoking.  On our last cruise we didn't gamble at all because of the smoke and almost got sick walking thru the casino because fo the smoke.  And on Adventures of the Seas it doesn't stay in the casino, it was rising up into other areas of the ship.  Would love if they would eliminate the smoking in the casino  before our Allure of the Seas in December with the family.

Have done one Christmas cruise in the past and had a great time.  This year we are doing Allure of the Seas over Christmas with my son, DIL and grands and really looking forward to it.  We have never spent Christmas with them before so it will be a special treat for us.

It is usually a lot less crowded on the excursions which because we like to snorkel is important to us.  Also usually less expensive.  For our zipling we were able to do more tricks than the ship excursion allowed. I always make sure they have 5 star reviews and are a reputable company.  Their reputation relies on them getting you back to the ship in plenty of time so we never worry about being late getting back to the ship.

I can pack it 2 days.  My husband takes a month.  I think about it for months so when it is time to pack I know exactly what I am taking and just have to pack it.  We do lay everything out on our dining room table and have it set by day.  I write the day on a note card and put clothes with that day.  There are some great packing lists for cruises on Pinterest that you might find helpful.

Maybe the reason they have moved so quickly is the father of the baby is a policeman and his friends are watching his back for him and making sure they help with the legal issues while they are in this horrible nightmare situation.  This is a very nice family.  My son worked with the father for about 8 years.  Have some compassion folks!  It is sad enough without a mock jury and trial.  May we all never feel the pain and hurt that this family is now dealing with and will for the rest of their lives.

Maybe the reason they have moved so quickly is the father of the baby is a policeman and his friends are watching his back for him and making sure they help with the legal issues while they are in this horrible nightmare situation.  This is a very nice family.  My son worked with the father for about 8 years.  Have some compassion folks!  It is sad enough without a mock jury and trial.  May we all never feel the pain and hurt that this family is now dealing with and will for the rest of their lives.

Maybe the reason they have moved so quickly is the father of the baby is a policeman and his friends are watching his back for him and making sure they help with the legal issues while they are in this horrible nightmare situation.  This is a very nice family.  My son worked with the father for about 8 years.  Have some compassion folks!  It is sad enough without a mock jury and trial.  May we all never feel the pain and hurt that this family is now dealing with and will for the rest of their lives.

Maybe the reason they have moved so quickly is the father of the baby is a policeman and his friends are watching his back for him and making sure they help with the legal issues while they are in this horrible nightmare situation.  This is a very nice family.  My son worked with the father for about 8 years.  Have some compassion folks!  It is sad enough without a mock jury and trial.  May we all never feel the pain and hurt that this family is now dealing with and will for the rest of their lives.

I love the Creme Brûlée and order it whenever I can. The cookies are good and so is the ice cream but most of the chocolate desserts are disappointing.  We love chocolate!
 

1.  Regretfully formal nights are getting more and more informal.  It is supposed to be a night the whole family dresses up and a lot of families have formal pictures taken that evening.  There are has been some discussion that cruisers are seeing even shorts on formal night.
2.  You take your luggage to a porter before you enter the terminal.  It is really an easy process.  It is recommended that you keep a bag with your jewelry, meds and electronics and maybe your bathing suit and change of clothes to carry on to the ship.  Don't forget to NOT pack your passport/birth certificates on your luggage you leave with the porter.  It will be delivered to your stateroom.  Most evenings by 5pm.  We usually only carry off one bag and get the rest from the pick up point off the ship.  I just read a post that someone had their luggage stolen and was only paid $300 from Royal for their loss so it's up to you whether you carry it off.
3.  Tips are included in your beverage package but I know that some cruisers tip above that to those who really provide excellent service.
4.  They charge your account daily for the tips, if you didn't pre-pay them.  I like to pre-pay ours so our credit card bill isn't quite as high after the cruise has ended.  In fact, I try to pay as much as possible before we get on the ship.  All our shore excursions are paid for, drink packages, tips on the ship and I also pay for our parking before we even get there. We are scheduled for December and our parking has been paid for a couple of months.
5.  There is always something going on somewhere on the ship so she really doesn't have to spend anytime in the room except changing clothes and sleeping.  I love to play trivia and play a lot of it on the ship.  I love to read so I usually take a book and find a quiet place on the deck someplace and read for a while each day ( and usually fall asleep ?)
6.  Dressing for specials nights is optional.  It does make it more fun for you but the decision is yours.
7.  There are multiple pools on most ships. The ones with the solarium have a pool and hot tubs for cruisers over 16.  There will be other pools, not kiddie pools, that your children can use.  
8.  There are hangers in your room and if you need more ask the steward for more.  There is a retractable clothesline for across the shower.  I usually pack a few clothes pins to hang our wet clothes.  The magnets come in handy to hand your lanyard with your card, your hat, your sweater, etc.  Also, a lot of people take post it notes to leave notes for the kids to let them know where you are or they can leave a note for you.
9.  I believe that 3 days is too close to sailing date to make any purchases thru the cruise planner.  You could try calling RCI and see if you can sign up for Royal Up on the phone.
 
Hope you find this helpful.  Enjoy your cruise.  You are there to have fun and relax.

1.  Regretfully formal nights are getting more and more informal.  It is supposed to be a night the whole family dresses up and a lot of families have formal pictures taken that evening.  There are has been some discussion that cruisers are seeing even shorts on formal night.
2.  You take your luggage to a porter before you enter the terminal.  It is really an easy process.  It is recommended that you keep a bag with your jewelry, meds and electronics and maybe your bathing suit and change of clothes to carry on to the ship.  Don't forget to NOT pack your passport/birth certificates on your luggage you leave with the porter.  It will be delivered to your stateroom.  Most evenings by 5pm.  We usually only carry off one bag and get the rest from the pick up point off the ship.  I just read a post that someone had their luggage stolen and was only paid $300 from Royal for their loss so it's up to you whether you carry it off.
3.  Tips are included in your beverage package but I know that some cruisers tip above that to those who really provide excellent service.
4.  They charge your account daily for the tips, if you didn't pre-pay them.  I like to pre-pay ours so our credit card bill isn't quite as high after the cruise has ended.  In fact, I try to pay as much as possible before we get on the ship.  All our shore excursions are paid for, drink packages, tips on the ship and I also pay for our parking before we even get there. We are scheduled for December and our parking has been paid for a couple of months.
5.  There is always something going on somewhere on the ship so she really doesn't have to spend anytime in the room except changing clothes and sleeping.  I love to play trivia and play a lot of it on the ship.  I love to read so I usually take a book and find a quiet place on the deck someplace and read for a while each day ( and usually fall asleep ?)
6.  Dressing for specials nights is optional.  It does make it more fun for you but the decision is yours.
7.  There are multiple pools on most ships. The ones with the solarium have a pool and hot tubs for cruisers over 16.  There will be other pools, not kiddie pools, that your children can use.  
8.  There are hangers in your room and if you need more ask the steward for more.  There is a retractable clothesline for across the shower.  I usually pack a few clothes pins to hang our wet clothes.  The magnets come in handy to hand your lanyard with your card, your hat, your sweater, etc.  Also, a lot of people take post it notes to leave notes for the kids to let them know where you are or they can leave a note for you.
9.  I believe that 3 days is too close to sailing date to make any purchases thru the cruise planner.  You could try calling RCI and see if you can sign up for Royal Up on the phone.
 
Hope you find this helpful.  Enjoy your cruise.  You are there to have fun and relax.

1.  Regretfully formal nights are getting more and more informal.  It is supposed to be a night the whole family dresses up and a lot of families have formal pictures taken that evening.  There are has been some discussion that cruisers are seeing even shorts on formal night.
2.  You take your luggage to a porter before you enter the terminal.  It is really an easy process.  It is recommended that you keep a bag with your jewelry, meds and electronics and maybe your bathing suit and change of clothes to carry on to the ship.  Don't forget to NOT pack your passport/birth certificates on your luggage you leave with the porter.  It will be delivered to your stateroom.  Most evenings by 5pm.  We usually only carry off one bag and get the rest from the pick up point off the ship.  I just read a post that someone had their luggage stolen and was only paid $300 from Royal for their loss so it's up to you whether you carry it off.
3.  Tips are included in your beverage package but I know that some cruisers tip above that to those who really provide excellent service.
4.  They charge your account daily for the tips, if you didn't pre-pay them.  I like to pre-pay ours so our credit card bill isn't quite as high after the cruise has ended.  In fact, I try to pay as much as possible before we get on the ship.  All our shore excursions are paid for, drink packages, tips on the ship and I also pay for our parking before we even get there. We are scheduled for December and our parking has been paid for a couple of months.
5.  There is always something going on somewhere on the ship so she really doesn't have to spend anytime in the room except changing clothes and sleeping.  I love to play trivia and play a lot of it on the ship.  I love to read so I usually take a book and find a quiet place on the deck someplace and read for a while each day ( and usually fall asleep ?)
6.  Dressing for specials nights is optional.  It does make it more fun for you but the decision is yours.
7.  There are multiple pools on most ships. The ones with the solarium have a pool and hot tubs for cruisers over 16.  There will be other pools, not kiddie pools, that your children can use.  
8.  There are hangers in your room and if you need more ask the steward for more.  There is a retractable clothesline for across the shower.  I usually pack a few clothes pins to hang our wet clothes.  The magnets come in handy to hand your lanyard with your card, your hat, your sweater, etc.  Also, a lot of people take post it notes to leave notes for the kids to let them know where you are or they can leave a note for you.
9.  I believe that 3 days is too close to sailing date to make any purchases thru the cruise planner.  You could try calling RCI and see if you can sign up for Royal Up on the phone.
 
Hope you find this helpful.  Enjoy your cruise.  You are there to have fun and relax.

1.  Regretfully formal nights are getting more and more informal.  It is supposed to be a night the whole family dresses up and a lot of families have formal pictures taken that evening.  There are has been some discussion that cruisers are seeing even shorts on formal night.
2.  You take your luggage to a porter before you enter the terminal.  It is really an easy process.  It is recommended that you keep a bag with your jewelry, meds and electronics and maybe your bathing suit and change of clothes to carry on to the ship.  Don't forget to NOT pack your passport/birth certificates on your luggage you leave with the porter.  It will be delivered to your stateroom.  Most evenings by 5pm.  We usually only carry off one bag and get the rest from the pick up point off the ship.  I just read a post that someone had their luggage stolen and was only paid $300 from Royal for their loss so it's up to you whether you carry it off.
3.  Tips are included in your beverage package but I know that some cruisers tip above that to those who really provide excellent service.
4.  They charge your account daily for the tips, if you didn't pre-pay them.  I like to pre-pay ours so our credit card bill isn't quite as high after the cruise has ended.  In fact, I try to pay as much as possible before we get on the ship.  All our shore excursions are paid for, drink packages, tips on the ship and I also pay for our parking before we even get there. We are scheduled for December and our parking has been paid for a couple of months.
5.  There is always something going on somewhere on the ship so she really doesn't have to spend anytime in the room except changing clothes and sleeping.  I love to play trivia and play a lot of it on the ship.  I love to read so I usually take a book and find a quiet place on the deck someplace and read for a while each day ( and usually fall asleep ?)
6.  Dressing for specials nights is optional.  It does make it more fun for you but the decision is yours.
7.  There are multiple pools on most ships. The ones with the solarium have a pool and hot tubs for cruisers over 16.  There will be other pools, not kiddie pools, that your children can use.  
8.  There are hangers in your room and if you need more ask the steward for more.  There is a retractable clothesline for across the shower.  I usually pack a few clothes pins to hang our wet clothes.  The magnets come in handy to hand your lanyard with your card, your hat, your sweater, etc.  Also, a lot of people take post it notes to leave notes for the kids to let them know where you are or they can leave a note for you.
9.  I believe that 3 days is too close to sailing date to make any purchases thru the cruise planner.  You could try calling RCI and see if you can sign up for Royal Up on the phone.
 
Hope you find this helpful.  Enjoy your cruise.  You are there to have fun and relax.

1.  Regretfully formal nights are getting more and more informal.  It is supposed to be a night the whole family dresses up and a lot of families have formal pictures taken that evening.  There are has been some discussion that cruisers are seeing even shorts on formal night.
2.  You take your luggage to a porter before you enter the terminal.  It is really an easy process.  It is recommended that you keep a bag with your jewelry, meds and electronics and maybe your bathing suit and change of clothes to carry on to the ship.  Don't forget to NOT pack your passport/birth certificates on your luggage you leave with the porter.  It will be delivered to your stateroom.  Most evenings by 5pm.  We usually only carry off one bag and get the rest from the pick up point off the ship.  I just read a post that someone had their luggage stolen and was only paid $300 from Royal for their loss so it's up to you whether you carry it off.
3.  Tips are included in your beverage package but I know that some cruisers tip above that to those who really provide excellent service.
4.  They charge your account daily for the tips, if you didn't pre-pay them.  I like to pre-pay ours so our credit card bill isn't quite as high after the cruise has ended.  In fact, I try to pay as much as possible before we get on the ship.  All our shore excursions are paid for, drink packages, tips on the ship and I also pay for our parking before we even get there. We are scheduled for December and our parking has been paid for a couple of months.
5.  There is always something going on somewhere on the ship so she really doesn't have to spend anytime in the room except changing clothes and sleeping.  I love to play trivia and play a lot of it on the ship.  I love to read so I usually take a book and find a quiet place on the deck someplace and read for a while each day ( and usually fall asleep ?)
6.  Dressing for specials nights is optional.  It does make it more fun for you but the decision is yours.
7.  There are multiple pools on most ships. The ones with the solarium have a pool and hot tubs for cruisers over 16.  There will be other pools, not kiddie pools, that your children can use.  
8.  There are hangers in your room and if you need more ask the steward for more.  There is a retractable clothesline for across the shower.  I usually pack a few clothes pins to hang our wet clothes.  The magnets come in handy to hand your lanyard with your card, your hat, your sweater, etc.  Also, a lot of people take post it notes to leave notes for the kids to let them know where you are or they can leave a note for you.
9.  I believe that 3 days is too close to sailing date to make any purchases thru the cruise planner.  You could try calling RCI and see if you can sign up for Royal Up on the phone.
 
Hope you find this helpful.  Enjoy your cruise.  You are there to have fun and relax.