WannaCruise

Our son is 13 and for the first time asked if he can wander on his own on our Symphony cruise coming up. First night we have Hairspray and he has no interest seeing it, so this is his opportunity to be on his own. We do not get the internet package so no way to contact him. But he's pretty reliable. At what age did you let your child wander on their own? Did you specify an area to stay in? Meeting spot (or just back at the cabin)? Any tips? Not worried so much on the ship about safety but just wondering what age, and if others have boundaries? Only thing I'm a little apprehensive about is that it'll be the very first night. PS - Up until now, he's had no interest in the kids club (which we don't push either as we consider these cruises our family vacation together).

Never noticed (or even checked) but we always book in CAD. That way, we know what we are paying. If you pay in USD, then the CAD equivalent will change (unless you pay if off right away). Also, there is an extra exchange charge on a credit card. PS - Just tested this for Harmony 2021 cruise. Non-refundable cost is cheaper in USD, but refundable cost is cheaper in CAD. PPS - Not related to price but I love how the USD stateroom selection screen highlights the actual available rooms (whereas other rooms are in white). In CAD, the colors don't change so you need to manually look for the room number to see where they are. Great feature. Not sure why they don't have this on CAD search.

So glad to hear. The room is a spacious balcony but looks like the size of a junior suite (but regular bathroom). Lol...I've seen pictures of that pole....travelling with our kids so aside from bumping into in the dark it by accident if need to get up for a bathroom break during the night, I don't see any issue with the pole (and won't be used as you mentioned ?)

Thanks for the feedback. Funny they have an elevator, but understandable. Can see us going on the lazy river so good heads up. We're going spring break so will probably be crowded (although you don't see this park mentioned that often)

cbnsoul, I'm not OP, but thanks so much for sharing. Looks like a great place. A bit of a logistics question...we're coming with our 2 kids. I won't go on the slides and I doubt DH will either. For your first picture with the big slides, is it something you can let your kids go up by themselves and we wait at the bottom? Or would we walk them up? It seems like a long ways up. Also, obviously you felt safe? Some of those slides are mighty steep. (Or you commented you mostly stayed at the kids area)

We have corner aft on Marinee on deck 10 (think it's 1688). You recommend this stateroom? It looks like it's a good size inside.

Same here. I have the app on Android. Calendar shows for our Symphony cruise but it's empty, even though we have shows and one excursion through Royal.

Ah ok..that makes total sense. I feel the same way. If you've done Symphony already and the itinerary is better with Harmony, then maybe book Harmony again? Don't think you can go wrong either way.?

Love your reviews and your wealth of knowledge and experience. Am really excited for you to be trying star class, and your kids Oasis class. We'll be on Symphony at same time (in measly Boardwalk balcony room .. lol) so will need to read your review after the fact but will definitely follow. Its exciting with the time leading up to a cruise...just 5 weeks.

Not clear...what is wrong with going to Coco Cay on your last day? If price is similar and that's only negative then I'd try Symphony just to see how it compares (although I imagine it'll be more similar than different). But nothing wrong with repeating a ship again. (I just posted about this and many good thoughts)

Lol...can totally see that. We typically do insides for the price (promenade) but we did try and balcony last summer and see the fuss. Our upcoming cruises are a mix (including a balcony) and I totally get what you're saying. My mentality used to be "we're never in the stateroom except to sleep and shower so doesn't matter" but even that hour in the morning watching the sun rise while waiting for our kids to get up was heaven. And this summer we're trying 2 staterooms so may be hard to return to one. Then...if we ever try JS, can imagine the space and normal bathroom will be wonderful and hard to return. All very addicting and with each one, there is something better. ?

That's awesome, and a great advantage of sailing again in same ship

I heard on Oasis class, the beach pool is salt water, but the other pools are freshwater. And yeah, the Mariner is salt water. I was on Indy in December, but not with our kids (as it was my daughter that noticed) so I didn't notice if it was saltwater or not (and we stuck with solarium).

Our daughter commented last time about the salt water pool on Mariner (which is what she'll be "stuck with" next time as it's their only pool she can go in). We don't have that issue...yet...with them adding to the "no repeat" list....but hopefully we'll get there someday...lol (meaning we keep cruising enough)

The only time we consider the ship is when travelling with our kids. For example, DH and I would have no issue trying a Radiance or Brilliance class ourselves, but if with our kids would select where there is lots of stuff for them (i.e. Oasis, Quantum, Freedom, Voyager - amped ships). And with Royal's ships, the itinerary is last consideration as we look at the ship/date/price first. I should add that when selecting our latest booking, which ended up being Harmony, we did put the ships first that we hadn't been on (Oasis, Harmony ....over Allure which we were on, and Symphony, which is coming up). But that's just because we had the option between the four ships. And if it came down to it, we would have no issue going on one of the other two again.,

Ah ok..so first time was your honeymoon. Well, this time can be your anniversary cruise then. You should make it a tradition. ?

It's your honeymoon? Congrats! Yes true...you already know your way around. We booked aft for Mariner for the first time. A bit apprehensive but also interested to try to see if we like it. (Not sure it'll be a true test though as Mariner 4 day cruise is staying still more than the ship is actually moving so we don't have much wake time to enjoy).

SO great to hear. We're trying Anthem next March for the first time. Makes a difference too if you can drive to the port so double reasons for you to have been on it multiple times. Enjoy your NCL Bliss cruise. Never done NCL but they look like great options too.

I know...we keep saying this as well...not that we have any plans to move to Florida...but it would be so easy to jump on a ship at last minute or if it works with time off work. For us, it's a 3hr plane ride each time (which means around $2k on non-peak times, much more during March break)

Such a cute picture, and glad to hear you like the room despite feeling the vibrations. What ship is that? I don't think the ones on Harmony (the 1K rooms) have the slanted window. They are at the front though; 2 aft facing, and a few others aft but on the sides.

That's amazing you gave do many cruises to look forward to..repeat ones but new experiences.

Touche! Totally agree with your last comment. ?

Was gonna say that 2 seems to be your lucky number...but good to know that 3 is your sweet spot. ? Seems like you try the bigger ones (Oasis, Quantum, Freedom and Voyager class) Maybe i should ask too...what is your favorite ship? My favorite so far is Allure (although ask me again in March after we try Symphony). But really loved the revamped ships. Our kids loved the Mariner with the additional amenities (slides, Sky Pad, and Laser tag)

Just curious. I have been on Grandeur, Voyager, Allure, Mariner and Independence. We have following booked: Symphony, Navigator, Anthem, Mariner and Harmony. So only ship that will be a repeat is Mariner (but can see us starting to repeat after that). The only negative with repeating...if can call cruising a negative...lol... is that you are repeating the ship's production shows. With different cruises too, we try different staterooms (e.g. promenade, starboard balcony, aft balcony, interior virtual, Boardwalk, etc)...2 rooms, 1 room, etc (Dream is someday to try a Junior Suite but hasn't happened yet). So what about others....do you repeat ships? Or do you try and do different ships? And if you repeat, is it because you like the ship, or the date/time/itinerary/price worked out that way? (And of course, this is within Royal, as there is also trying other cruise lines).

We return on Mar 17 so probably can't give you review in time. ?