Auto

Beat me on board by about 30 minutes...but that is only because I dropped my family off and returned a rental car.

Christmas surprise achieved! Kids are over the moon and can't wait!

Christmas surprise achieved! Kids are over the moon and can't wait!

Auto you might need to buy a Tesla and resolve the key fears forever. No key, no problem.

On the passport topic- we were driving to PC for a cruise in 2023, with a stop at a friend's wedding on the way. At a gas stop in Nowhere, Alabama, I suddenly had a fear that we forgot our passports. So while the gas was pumping, I opened the back of the van to check my backpack...passports were safely in the pocket I had packed them.
When we got to our hotel that night, we were unloading and my oldest daughter asked "where's my dress for the wedding?" I tore the van apart looking then realized it must have slipped out of the van (it was laid on top of all our bags) while I was checking for the passports unnoticed. Fortunately, we were staying next a shopping area and my wife and daughter were able to purchase a new dress in the morning.
Second fear, losing my keys for the car after the cruise. Same cruise, we got to the parking garage to go home and I can't find the keys anywhere. After about 10 minutes of searching, I finally found them in a pocket of a backpack I have never used before (or since). Not a great feeling.

On the passport topic- we were driving to PC for a cruise in 2023, with a stop at a friend's wedding on the way. At a gas stop in Nowhere, Alabama, I suddenly had a fear that we forgot our passports. So while the gas was pumping, I opened the back of the van to check my backpack...passports were safely in the pocket I had packed them.
When we got to our hotel that night, we were unloading and my oldest daughter asked "where's my dress for the wedding?" I tore the van apart looking then realized it must have slipped out of the van (it was laid on top of all our bags) while I was checking for the passports unnoticed. Fortunately, we were staying next a shopping area and my wife and daughter were able to purchase a new dress in the morning.
Second fear, losing my keys for the car after the cruise. Same cruise, we got to the parking garage to go home and I can't find the keys anywhere. After about 10 minutes of searching, I finally found them in a pocket of a backpack I have never used before (or since). Not a great feeling.

My kids are going to freak out Christmas morning when they find out!
 

On the passport topic- we were driving to PC for a cruise in 2023, with a stop at a friend's wedding on the way. At a gas stop in Nowhere, Alabama, I suddenly had a fear that we forgot our passports. So while the gas was pumping, I opened the back of the van to check my backpack...passports were safely in the pocket I had packed them.
When we got to our hotel that night, we were unloading and my oldest daughter asked "where's my dress for the wedding?" I tore the van apart looking then realized it must have slipped out of the van (it was laid on top of all our bags) while I was checking for the passports unnoticed. Fortunately, we were staying next a shopping area and my wife and daughter were able to purchase a new dress in the morning.
Second fear, losing my keys for the car after the cruise. Same cruise, we got to the parking garage to go home and I can't find the keys anywhere. After about 10 minutes of searching, I finally found them in a pocket of a backpack I have never used before (or since). Not a great feeling.

My family of 6 will be spending New Year's Eve on Utopia this year!

I don't know if it would help you in your particular situation, but sometimes it helps to talk with someone knowledgable about the situation, i.e. a pilot. I've talked to several people about their fear of flying from a pilot's perspective, and I like to think it helped them somewhat.
Full disclosure, I am a pilot and also have an overwhelming fear of heights and roller coasters.

I don't know if it would help you in your particular situation, but sometimes it helps to talk with someone knowledgable about the situation, i.e. a pilot. I've talked to several people about their fear of flying from a pilot's perspective, and I like to think it helped them somewhat.
Full disclosure, I am a pilot and also have an overwhelming fear of heights and roller coasters.

I don't know if it would help you in your particular situation, but sometimes it helps to talk with someone knowledgable about the situation, i.e. a pilot. I've talked to several people about their fear of flying from a pilot's perspective, and I like to think it helped them somewhat.
Full disclosure, I am a pilot and also have an overwhelming fear of heights and roller coasters.

Booked on this one to celebrate my Air Force retirement!

First ever cruise! Celebrating husbands 65th birthday and our 45th anniversary. 

Booked on this one to celebrate my Air Force retirement!

Depending on where the ship docks, it is quite a hike from the dock to the entry of the port, and then a bit of a walk to the train station. When we disembarked in 2019, there were busses that ran from the terminal to the port entry, but it was a sea of humanity trying to get on one, so we walked it. I'm guessing it took 30ish minutes to walk from the terminal to the train station (this was also on MSC, so there's that). Also, the train is a commuter train, so the morning rush hour will be going on, be prepared.

As a person whose parents cruised with her during early adolescence, I recommend watching them closely 😂🤣 Well part of that is funny, part is a serious comment.  When I was a very young teen I had crew members coming on to me on cruise ships. Granted, this was in the 70’s and I was perhaps the only female under the age of 40 on those ships; but those guys were not just doing innocent flirting. Looking back with adult eyes it is rather shocking. 

But what if I’m way, way, way (sheesh!)…over 21 but feel and act like I’m 16? Should I be worried?

If you are in a cabin directly next door or directly across the hall then you can put the 17 year old in with the others.
Another way to do it would be to put one adult in one room and then the other adult in the other room. 

My wife tells me that all the time. I tell her she's known me since 6th grade, so she knew what she was getting.

We're booked! Independence of the Seas for the first week of January...3 cabins booked just like above.

Thanks all, that was fast! We've done the connecting cabins before, but never considered doing 3 side by side by side. Looks like we might book 1 adult in one room, the "adult" in the middle room, and the other adult in the 3rd.
 

Day 8: Boooooooo!
We woke up early, and sadly packed our last things to carry off the ship. Leaving our bags in the room, we got breakfast at a semi-leisurely pace, and then went down to say goodbye to our cabins. We then did a lap around the pool deck, and started to head for the theater to wait for our disemarkation number to be called. A crew member saw us headed that way, and told us we could wait in the Centrum, and she would come find us when our number was called, which was nice. When our number was called, we walked off the ship for the last time, and into the terminal. We were able to quickly locate our bags and walked on out. A benefit of sailing through the European Union is there are no customs/passport checks while leaving the port (at least for US/EU citizens). Our car service met us right at the exit of the terminal, and whisked us to the airport. Unfortunately, we had to sit in the airport for about 4 hours waiting on our flight, but the girls barely noticed since they all had their iDevices and wifi. I dozed off a little on the short flight home, and before we knew it, we were in the van and driving home.
 
Final Thoughts:
- I really enjoyed our cruise, ship, crew, and port calls. I was concerned about being on one of the oldest ships in the fleet during an off-season cruise, but my fears were nowhere near founded.
- We were keeping a running scorecard of the Disney Magic vs. Rhapsody of the Seas, and I must admit that Rhapsody stacked up favorably. Even in the areas where the Magic won, I kept telling my wife "if we were on a bigger and newer Royal ship...."
- I cannot say enough about how much my girls enjoyed their time in Adventure Ocean. Even though there were not as many kids on this cruise, the staff kept up a high level of programming and gave my girls all kinds of personal attention.
- With the exception of the tender debacle in Kotor, embarking and disembarking the ship was smooth and painless.
- I can't wait to try the other ships and itineraries Royal Caribbean offers. I am fully a "cruise person" now and constantly schemeing for the next one. 
 
Thanks for following along!

I suspect we'll find many departments within the CDC are isolated and have no awareness what another part of the CDC is doing.  
In this case the Political Directives Division has updated mask guidance while the Cruise Denial Division is still looking to add more protocols.  

By their own guidelines (which are only for when you are home, you might note), you should wash your hands immediately after removing your mask. So to follow to the logical (read illogical) conclusion, you should hand sanitize before every single bite. But hey...Science (Trademark CDC, 2020)