Pima1988

I have mixed feelings about Enchantment.  Love and hate it.  It is small so you don't necessarily get that WOW factor like on the larger ships, but being smaller you not only get to know the staff, but it is more port intensive compared to the larger ships.  
We have done the larger ships, and the problem there is by the time you figure out the quickest route to everything the cruise is over.  Of course the positive is food selections, bionic bar, bumper cars, shows, etc.  You really need to think about your room location on those ships if you are like us and don't want to wait for the elevators.  
We are going on Adventure in July.  I am hoping that it will give us the best of both worlds.  Of course Adventure does not offer the kummelwreck so that is a negative...JK kind of!  

I just did that flight from DC about 6 months ago.  I left at 5 pm on Monday and arrived in Sydney at 8 a.m. Weds.  I flew through San Francisco.  I tried to nap as soon as I arrived, but to no avail.  I decided to explore Sydney during the day and than went out to dinner that night with my hubby and his office.  By the time we came back it was 10 pm.  My head hit the pillow and I was out.  Woke up the next day with no jet lag at all. 
Make sure you go to Queen Victoria's building (mall aka QVB) Go to the top floor so you can see the clock up close.  Also go to the Rocks...it has great restaurants.  The zoo is also a great half day trip, the view from the gondola to get to the zoo is amazing.  You just go down to the docks and you can buy tickets there. You have to take a short ferry ride to the zoo. At the zoo you will have to queue up for the Koalas.  You cannot hold them, but you do go in their pen and they will take photos that you can purchase.  I want to say they don't open their pen area until 11, but don't quote me.   On a scale of 1 to 10 that zoo is a 10 without a doubt.  Like Sydney it is hilly, so wear comfy shoes.
There is also an amazing church by Prince Albert and Queen Victoria's statue.  Finally if you do nothing at all make sue you go through the gardens until you get to Mrs. Macqueries (sp?) chair.  It is a great photo op.(we used it for our xmas cards this yr).  It will loop back around and drop you at the Opera House.  
If you want to get the genie a gift, Sydney is known for their macaroons.  Every flavor under the sun.  You can pick them up at the Queen Victoria Building.  Or you can pick up chocolate from Haighs, they are all over the place in Sydney.  Basically Haighs is like Godiva.  High end, but worth it and you can buy all different types/shapes.
We stayed at the Inter Continental.  It is right by the port.  I remember seeing an RCCL ship docked there the a.m. I arrived.  The Inter Continental is cool to have drinks or high tea at.  This hotel is where the US presidents stay at when in Sydney.  The reason why is it was originally their national treasury in the 19th century.  Due to that fact the walls for the 1st 3 floors are bomb proof.  You will see all of the original brick in the centrum.   The hotel is across the street from the botanical gardens.   Hint you will know if a VIP is entering or exiting the building because where the elevator banks are there is a secret entrance for them to enter without going through the lobby.  They have a hunt board (side table) against the wall that slides out and VOILA a door opens to the elevator banks. 
One last tip I would give is Sydney is a little hilly, not San Francisco hilly, but there is an incline you will feel if you start at the Opera House and travel to QVB.  You will also notice when you are walking the gardens.  We did the gardens, QVB, the church and the rocks all in one day at a leisurely pace.  Probably started @9 a.m. Went to the church 1st on the way to QVB, on the way back we did the garden.  Had a late lunch by the Opera House and headed over to the Rocks.  Shopped around for a while and was back at the hotel by 5.   I did this 4 months after having a full hip replacement and had no pain. I am 54.  
OH also remember that March will be their September to us.  Just saying don't expect to pick up any last minute summer items. The stores will be stocking up with their fall clothing. 
Have a great trip.  Sydney is absolutely amazing.
My tip for a trip like this is to make sure you get up and walk around frequently from a health aspect at our age.  DVT is common when you do a 20+ hr flight.  Also do not, repeat do not take your shoes off unless they are flip flop sandals.  Yes, they offer slippers and there is an urge to put them on, but if you are like me, your feet will swell during the flight and trying to put back on a shoe can be painful as you now have to go through the airport, wait for your luggage, clear customs and get to the taxis.  
Oh also don't go to their currency kiosks.  Right before you exit there will be ATMs.  You get a better rate even if your bank charges you a surcharge.  The taxis will also take credit cards.

Adventure in July to Bermuda/Bahamas for 8 nights.  Otherwise nothing on the books since our daughter is getting married in the fall, and that is draining our checkbook really quickly!  Looking into cruising out of New Orleans early next yr. for my birthday.

Adventure in July to Bermuda/Bahamas for 8 nights.  Otherwise nothing on the books since our daughter is getting married in the fall, and that is draining our checkbook really quickly!  Looking into cruising out of New Orleans early next yr. for my birthday.

lol, and to add to your point, unless you are at a hotel or bar over looking you're outside for hours and hours with little to no access to bathrooms.

I have the drink package, so are you saying the cost of the tour and meal is not worth it?   If so, I will go for the lime salt rub/glow at the spa because I am not a gambler, we have paid for our excursions, Voom, DBP.  IOWS I am just looking to spend the OBC and this looked cool for a sea day.   I guess I could always use the OBC on room service everyday.
 

With this many ships on order, I feel it is inevitable that the smaller ships will be sold to another line (or possibly they create their own separate line for small ships).  The Royal brand will be all mega ships sailing to their own destinations and the few places that where these ships can dock.

I lived in AK for almost 4 yrs right outside of AK.  I do believe the ship does not matter, but I would say the time of the year matters just as much, and maybe more if the itenary s port intensive.  In Anchorage we call May the SPIT month.  It basically does not rain, but it is not unusual for it to spit...mist, light showers all day.  Plus, a TON of big arse mosquitos.  By early June the mosquitos and spit is gone.  June and July are the best months. I would book 3rd week of June prior to summer solstice.  Believe it or not Denali is warm, than again I lived in AK for yrs.  If it is sunny, you can expect a dry air 80 degrees.  August, you are getting back into iffy weather.  Still slightly warm during the days, but chilly at night.  Depending on how cold August gets you might see more bears and moose....going into hibernation.  I would say that no matter when you go, if you dock in Anchorage, you need to book Simon and Seaforts.  It is an amazing restaurant (pricey), but the service, the ambience and if you can get a window table it is worth the cost.  Try the prime rib and the crab/artichoke dip.   I would stay at the Hilton over Captain Cook Hotel.  You can easily walk to Simon and Seaforts.  The Hilton has an amazing roof top restaurant/bar when we lived there.  They are north of Captain Cook.  
If you are in Anchorage I would suggest Eagle River Rafting.  http://rafting.allaboutrivers.com/Alaska_river_rafting/Eagle_River_(AK)_rafting-riv265.html 
We lived in Eagle River.  It is about 25 mins from Anchorage.  It is a mild ride, but still a lot of fun.
I would also suggest that if you are staying in Anchorage to contact Simon and Seaforts and book asap if you want a window over looking the bay.  I cannot tell you how amazing this restaurant is regarding food and service. 

I calculate using what I drink daily at home and than adding in a couple of cocktails because I am on vacation.  Everyday before work I get my Iced coffee, which runs me @3.50.    This is of course after having a coffee at home, I am a coffee snob....French roast, which means no for me at the WJ or MDR.  Now I am 2 specialty coffees.  7 bucks at least.  During the day I will drink at least 3 18 oz  water bottles, and go to bed with a 12 oz water bottle.  So now I am at least 30 bucks.  ( I try to drink 64 oz of water a day).  I will drink at least 1 soda per day.  I am at 33.  On a cruise or any time I go on vacation or out to dinner I will splurge and I will drink a glass of wine and have an amaretto side with my cappuccino at dinner.  Those 3 items will now tally another 20+ bucks.  Thus, I am at 53 without rationalizing, or playing catch up.  Yes, I could get water from the tap for free, and make my own iced coffee, but I am on a vacation and want to relax.  I would rather pay it up front.
My hubby as a different view and why he always buys the package.  This is a guy that rarely drinks.  I mean that....he drinks red wine and I now have many bottles that are expensive vinegars since he never finishes a bottle, weeks left open.  His view is he likes to play the catch up game.  He sees it as the time to order drinks he would never try....don't like it, than toss it.  Lava Flow is his favorite.  

I need to place a caveat.
I think it also comes down to how port intensive the cruise is.  If you are at port everyday, than you will have to buy drinks in port.

I need to place a caveat.
I think it also comes down to how port intensive the cruise is.  If you are at port everyday, than you will have to buy drinks in port.

I calculate using what I drink daily at home and than adding in a couple of cocktails because I am on vacation.  Everyday before work I get my Iced coffee, which runs me @3.50.    This is of course after having a coffee at home, I am a coffee snob....French roast, which means no for me at the WJ or MDR.  Now I am 2 specialty coffees.  7 bucks at least.  During the day I will drink at least 3 18 oz  water bottles, and go to bed with a 12 oz water bottle.  So now I am at least 30 bucks.  ( I try to drink 64 oz of water a day).  I will drink at least 1 soda per day.  I am at 33.  On a cruise or any time I go on vacation or out to dinner I will splurge and I will drink a glass of wine and have an amaretto side with my cappuccino at dinner.  Those 3 items will now tally another 20+ bucks.  Thus, I am at 53 without rationalizing, or playing catch up.  Yes, I could get water from the tap for free, and make my own iced coffee, but I am on a vacation and want to relax.  I would rather pay it up front.
My hubby as a different view and why he always buys the package.  This is a guy that rarely drinks.  I mean that....he drinks red wine and I now have many bottles that are expensive vinegars since he never finishes a bottle, weeks left open.  His view is he likes to play the catch up game.  He sees it as the time to order drinks he would never try....don't like it, than toss it.  Lava Flow is his favorite.  

I drink quite a few alcoholic drinks too, and everytime I order a drink I order a bottle of water too.  So for me,  even if I only drink 2 mixed drinks, add in the water bottles and I am at 30 bucks.  I get iced coffee, at least 2 per day in the a.m.  That puts me at 40.  I get a cappuccino after dinner with an amaretto shot.  I am 50+ per day, and that is only 2 alcohol beverages.  The Johnny Rockets milkshakes are new, and I intend to take full use of it instead of waiting in line for an ice cream cone.

Off topic, kind of, but tied into KJ1231's excursion posts.
I know that typically going through RCCL for excursions is more expensive than booking on your own.  However, I am a "what if" kind of traveler, hence, why we also get traveler's insurance.   Yes, it stinks to lose a port, but it would be worse to lose the money for an excursion if you did not read the fine print for the company you are using for the excursion.  Going with RCCL would mean you automatically get refunded since they were not able to make it to the port.

I drink quite a few alcoholic drinks too, and everytime I order a drink I order a bottle of water too.  So for me,  even if I only drink 2 mixed drinks, add in the water bottles and I am at 30 bucks.  I get iced coffee, at least 2 per day in the a.m.  That puts me at 40.  I get a cappuccino after dinner with an amaretto shot.  I am 50+ per day, and that is only 2 alcohol beverages.  The Johnny Rockets milkshakes are new, and I intend to take full use of it instead of waiting in line for an ice cream cone.

I drink quite a few alcoholic drinks too, and everytime I order a drink I order a bottle of water too.  So for me,  even if I only drink 2 mixed drinks, add in the water bottles and I am at 30 bucks.  I get iced coffee, at least 2 per day in the a.m.  That puts me at 40.  I get a cappuccino after dinner with an amaretto shot.  I am 50+ per day, and that is only 2 alcohol beverages.  The Johnny Rockets milkshakes are new, and I intend to take full use of it instead of waiting in line for an ice cream cone.

I am going to have to remember to make sure that on the Asian night I let my stomach rule...nothing is better to me than leftover Chinese food after a few too many drinks! ?  In essence, since we do late dinner seating I am not going to do my usual WJ hit, instead I will do a plate of Chinese to place in the cooler.  Plus, it looks like last night was desserts in a cup.  One of my favorites.

You also can just place the deposit and when you get the card pay the balance using that card.  Additionally, I don't know if the RCL card does balance transfers, but if they do than you can transfer it and get the points that way.
We also use a TA and they did exactly what Skid stated.

As I stated in an earlier post we do late seating. We always book a balcony.  We hit the bar for cocktails @5:30 and go to Windjammers and make a plate of shrimp, veggies, deli meats, cheeses, olives, bread, etc to take to our room.  We sit on the balcony and watch the sunset while we eat and drink what we brought back to our room.  It satisfies our stomach and holds us over to the 8 pm dinner. The trick is to look at WJ as an early appetizer and not let your stomach scream take everything!  We leave the plates on the table in the room and VOILA it is gone when we come back at the end of the night.  I will admit that I usually bring a little bit more and place it in the mini-fridge aka cooler.  I would rather have a sandwich that I pick and choose the meats/cheeses than ones they off late at night.  I also will bring back the desserts in a cup, or their key lime pie to snack on late at night instead of the cookie option.  
 

As I stated in an earlier post we do late seating. We always book a balcony.  We hit the bar for cocktails @5:30 and go to Windjammers and make a plate of shrimp, veggies, deli meats, cheeses, olives, bread, etc to take to our room.  We sit on the balcony and watch the sunset while we eat and drink what we brought back to our room.  It satisfies our stomach and holds us over to the 8 pm dinner. The trick is to look at WJ as an early appetizer and not let your stomach scream take everything!  We leave the plates on the table in the room and VOILA it is gone when we come back at the end of the night.  I will admit that I usually bring a little bit more and place it in the mini-fridge aka cooler.  I would rather have a sandwich that I pick and choose the meats/cheeses than ones they off late at night.  I also will bring back the desserts in a cup, or their key lime pie to snack on late at night instead of the cookie option.  
 

As I stated in an earlier post we do late seating. We always book a balcony.  We hit the bar for cocktails @5:30 and go to Windjammers and make a plate of shrimp, veggies, deli meats, cheeses, olives, bread, etc to take to our room.  We sit on the balcony and watch the sunset while we eat and drink what we brought back to our room.  It satisfies our stomach and holds us over to the 8 pm dinner. The trick is to look at WJ as an early appetizer and not let your stomach scream take everything!  We leave the plates on the table in the room and VOILA it is gone when we come back at the end of the night.  I will admit that I usually bring a little bit more and place it in the mini-fridge aka cooler.  I would rather have a sandwich that I pick and choose the meats/cheeses than ones they off late at night.  I also will bring back the desserts in a cup, or their key lime pie to snack on late at night instead of the cookie option.  
 

As I stated in an earlier post we do late seating. We always book a balcony.  We hit the bar for cocktails @5:30 and go to Windjammers and make a plate of shrimp, veggies, deli meats, cheeses, olives, bread, etc to take to our room.  We sit on the balcony and watch the sunset while we eat and drink what we brought back to our room.  It satisfies our stomach and holds us over to the 8 pm dinner. The trick is to look at WJ as an early appetizer and not let your stomach scream take everything!  We leave the plates on the table in the room and VOILA it is gone when we come back at the end of the night.  I will admit that I usually bring a little bit more and place it in the mini-fridge aka cooler.  I would rather have a sandwich that I pick and choose the meats/cheeses than ones they off late at night.  I also will bring back the desserts in a cup, or their key lime pie to snack on late at night instead of the cookie option.  
 

As I stated in an earlier post we do late seating. We always book a balcony.  We hit the bar for cocktails @5:30 and go to Windjammers and make a plate of shrimp, veggies, deli meats, cheeses, olives, bread, etc to take to our room.  We sit on the balcony and watch the sunset while we eat and drink what we brought back to our room.  It satisfies our stomach and holds us over to the 8 pm dinner. The trick is to look at WJ as an early appetizer and not let your stomach scream take everything!  We leave the plates on the table in the room and VOILA it is gone when we come back at the end of the night.  I will admit that I usually bring a little bit more and place it in the mini-fridge aka cooler.  I would rather have a sandwich that I pick and choose the meats/cheeses than ones they off late at night.  I also will bring back the desserts in a cup, or their key lime pie to snack on late at night instead of the cookie option.  
 

Off topic, kind of, but tied into KJ1231's excursion posts.
I know that typically going through RCCL for excursions is more expensive than booking on your own.  However, I am a "what if" kind of traveler, hence, why we also get traveler's insurance.   Yes, it stinks to lose a port, but it would be worse to lose the money for an excursion if you did not read the fine print for the company you are using for the excursion.  Going with RCCL would mean you automatically get refunded since they were not able to make it to the port.

I lived in AK for almost 4 yrs right outside of AK.  I do believe the ship does not matter, but I would say the time of the year matters just as much, and maybe more if the itenary s port intensive.  In Anchorage we call May the SPIT month.  It basically does not rain, but it is not unusual for it to spit...mist, light showers all day.  Plus, a TON of big arse mosquitos.  By early June the mosquitos and spit is gone.  June and July are the best months. I would book 3rd week of June prior to summer solstice.  Believe it or not Denali is warm, than again I lived in AK for yrs.  If it is sunny, you can expect a dry air 80 degrees.  August, you are getting back into iffy weather.  Still slightly warm during the days, but chilly at night.  Depending on how cold August gets you might see more bears and moose....going into hibernation.  I would say that no matter when you go, if you dock in Anchorage, you need to book Simon and Seaforts.  It is an amazing restaurant (pricey), but the service, the ambience and if you can get a window table it is worth the cost.  Try the prime rib and the crab/artichoke dip.   I would stay at the Hilton over Captain Cook Hotel.  You can easily walk to Simon and Seaforts.  The Hilton has an amazing roof top restaurant/bar when we lived there.  They are north of Captain Cook.  
If you are in Anchorage I would suggest Eagle River Rafting.  http://rafting.allaboutrivers.com/Alaska_river_rafting/Eagle_River_(AK)_rafting-riv265.html 
We lived in Eagle River.  It is about 25 mins from Anchorage.  It is a mild ride, but still a lot of fun.
I would also suggest that if you are staying in Anchorage to contact Simon and Seaforts and book asap if you want a window over looking the bay.  I cannot tell you how amazing this restaurant is regarding food and service.