JennyB

I hope it's ok to tag along on this thread...but these photos are STUNNING.  I never imagined anything like that on a ship in the ocean!  I would think that all that greenery could help with motion sickness...maybe mimic being on land?  Are the Oasis class ships the only ships with this greenery? 
Are the CP balcony rooms usually less expensive than the ocean view balconies?
And what is the difference between Central Park balconies and Boardwalk balconies?

I hope it's ok to tag along on this thread...but these photos are STUNNING.  I never imagined anything like that on a ship in the ocean!  I would think that all that greenery could help with motion sickness...maybe mimic being on land?  Are the Oasis class ships the only ships with this greenery? 
Are the CP balcony rooms usually less expensive than the ocean view balconies?
And what is the difference between Central Park balconies and Boardwalk balconies?

Most mocktails are around $8 or so

Not even sure why, but that made me laugh out loud (in a good way)!

Someone told me the rooms only have cots in them now to save space?????
The same person also told me that the 8th slot machine port side when entering the casino from the aft always pays out at 150%.   

People bring their dogs everywhere now.  Just was at Lowes and a family had their poor hot poodle in the shopping cart.  He couldn't get comfortable sitting in the front of the cart, his paws were too small.  My husband was getting pissed, it was very hot and you could tell the puppy was hurting. 
I've even seen someone take their dog into a movie theater??!! 
On the Harmony in May there was a guy with a little poodle, carried him around everywhere.  I have two dogs, I love dogs, but what is a poor dog suppose to do on a cruise ship?  My fur babies would be miserable stuck like that.
If you can't vacation without them go places that are pet friendly, I don't think a cruise ship is it.
Totally my take on it.

In my opinion unless it's truly a service dog it shouldn't be allowed around food at all

We recently took two teenage grandkids on the LOS. I set the rule they could not wear shorts in the dining room- jeans, long  pants, nice shirt or top ok. To my surprise my 16 year old grandson remarked “ I feel underdressed; I should have brought another shirt.”
The second formal night he was scrounging around in his closet looking for something clean to wear since he had spilled gravy on his nice shirt. Jokingly I offered my white button up blouse. He took me up on it, rolled up the sleeves and the photo is attached. 
I believe it is a good lesson to teach young people how to dress for certain occasions. 

As someone who appreciates when others try - this is adorable. 

I imagine there are several threads on this topic.  We are travelling with a couple families and looking like the guys do not want to dress up and wear pants, long sleeve shirt and especially a jacket.  I have heard that most ships have loosened up a bunch in terms of requiring jackets etc..  The guys are planning on nice shorts with button down Hawaiian type shirt with deck shoes.  The ladies are still mostly going to wear summer type dresses.  Will this work in the specialty restaurants and main dinning room?      

These are the exact ones we purchased...they were perfect...made for RC tags...
https://smile.amazon.com/GreatShield-Luggage-Weatherproof-Caribbean-Celebrity/dp/B074T36FS1/ref=pd_bap_rp_14?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=B9K12FMJW7H181RQPZGR
 
I brought a lanyard from the line of jewelry I sell.  My son and his friend bought theirs at Dollar Tree.  Hubby carries his SeaPass card in a pocket...

We get the refreshment package for the water and soda  and fresh o.j. and the specialty coffee drinks at least twice a day.  We grab waters every time we get  something. And Powerade as well. It literally pays for itself in no time especially if it is purchased on sale.   You are correct that the deluxe is not worth it. We get cocktails and wine but nowhere near enough to come to the price of the deluxe package. 

I am very prone to motion sickness.  I am also claustrophobic, afraid of heights and afraid of water I cannot see/touch the bottom of.  I SWORE I would NEVER cruise...
THEN, my brother and I bought our parents a cruise for their 50th Anniversary...and parents wanted us to go with them...so THEY bought OUR cruise.  LOL 
On that cruise (a 4 night Bahamas cruise that left from Orlando in an interior cabin), I took Dramamine non-drowsy every day...knowing ahead of time that I tend to get motion sick...and I didn't want to be sick on the cruise.  I was MISERABLE the whole time...not with motion-sickness necessarily, but just generally feeling "off".  I did NOT enjoy that cruise.  I just didn't feel like myself.  I even told my hubby and the others we were with that when i tell them, somewhere down the road, "Oh, it wasn't THAT bad...we can go on another cruise..." I WANT them to remind me how TERRIBLE I felt on that cruise. 
So two years later (LOL)...hubby and i went on another cruise (6-night Western Caribbean that left from Ft. Lauderdale, balcony room) ONLY after I did some TONS of research...I read somewhere that taking the non-drowsy Dramamine MIGHT have been the whole problem.  So, on our second cruise I didn't take it each day.  I just went and packed some to take with me "just in case".  The only time I ended up feeling sick was after an excursion day in port where we rode a charter bus all day.  That evening, back on the ship, I was a bit sea sick...So, i took dramamine and was perfectly fine the next morning.
We cruised again last December...didn't need the Dramamine AT ALL.  Not one time.
Having the balcony room also helped.  It helped me not feel so claustrophobic.  
I won't lie and say I don't ever feel the ship moving.  But it's not an uncomfortable feeling and it hasn't been to the point of making me feel sick.  And most of the time, I DON'T feel it. 
Honestly, everyone who tends toward motion sickness feels and deals with it differently.  I have had such a great time on our cruises, and we will likely cruise for the rest of our lives.

Just got off Navigator...I only drink the "tap" water at all my meals AND get it throughout the day...it's totally fine. I haven't had any issue on any of the ships we've been on...

I packed perfectly this time...just got home yesterday from the Navigator...I have always taken way too much...pared it down this time and took 26" hard-sided roller case.

Wife is retired army, so to me, she's earned the 365 days off each year she gets now.  I'm still working though, an RN in a hospital.  I'm getting 30 days PTO now, but like @spiralqueen, it's used for anytime I want/need time off, vacation, sickness, holidays, appointments.
 
 
 

I think a 9 year old would enjoy many of the 3-4 hour excursions, and you would return in time for a lunch on the ship.  Our son at that age enjoyed excursions.  It boils down to why you booked the cruise -- was it to travel or just unwind?

I just use my phone...I have an iPhone XS Max.  I think it takes awesome pictures.  It's the only thing I use my phone for while on a cruise. It's in airplane mode the whole time.

I just use my phone...I have an iPhone XS Max.  I think it takes awesome pictures.  It's the only thing I use my phone for while on a cruise. It's in airplane mode the whole time.

Honestly, I can be VERY overwhelming.  We are preparing for our 4th cruise and I am always overwhelmed.  This is a great place to start finding answers/ideas. 
I only JUST bought magnetic hooks for this upcoming cruise.  There are tons of ideas for using them.  For me, it's a place to hang extra things I don't want on the floor or on the desk...like lanyards with our sea passes, using them as just magnets for the daily cruise compass or other paper items we want to be able to see/access, swimsuits off the floor, towels off the floor.
I think most things like the trivias, etc. from what I've read here might take 45 minutes to an hour or so.  Someone else will chime in here who has more experience with those.
The compass can also be overwhelming, but so helpful.  Just find one that is a similar itinerary as yours and just familiarize yourself with wording/times/venues/etc, then don't worry about it too much more.  It was so helpful for me to see one before our cruise so I felt like I had more of an idea of those things so it WASN'T as overwhelming as it would have been if I had just showed up onboard and gotten this gigantic document.
What ship are you sailing on?  On each of our cruises, I've been able to find quiet spots to relax/get away from crowds.  I struggle with some crowd anxiety, non-medicated, but I can get to the point where I just need to GET OUTTA THERE.  It's helpful that we cruise in balcony rooms for times when I just need a quick getaway. 
We have been to Cozumel twice and I love it.  I might be in the minority.  I enjoy walking around town (after taking a taxi).  We have eaten at 2 different restaurants and shopped.  But we've not done a paid excursion.
You have enough time to do your research to get comfy with your ship/ports and have questions answered.  Make sure you keep up with this site.  DON'T join any FB groups.  They are full of drama and people not giving sound advice (IMO).

I just use my phone...I have an iPhone XS Max.  I think it takes awesome pictures.  It's the only thing I use my phone for while on a cruise. It's in airplane mode the whole time.

YAY!!! 5 DAYS!!!

We're on the Navigator in 5 days!  So excited!  Thanks for sharing your experience!

Honestly, I can be VERY overwhelming.  We are preparing for our 4th cruise and I am always overwhelmed.  This is a great place to start finding answers/ideas. 
I only JUST bought magnetic hooks for this upcoming cruise.  There are tons of ideas for using them.  For me, it's a place to hang extra things I don't want on the floor or on the desk...like lanyards with our sea passes, using them as just magnets for the daily cruise compass or other paper items we want to be able to see/access, swimsuits off the floor, towels off the floor.
I think most things like the trivias, etc. from what I've read here might take 45 minutes to an hour or so.  Someone else will chime in here who has more experience with those.
The compass can also be overwhelming, but so helpful.  Just find one that is a similar itinerary as yours and just familiarize yourself with wording/times/venues/etc, then don't worry about it too much more.  It was so helpful for me to see one before our cruise so I felt like I had more of an idea of those things so it WASN'T as overwhelming as it would have been if I had just showed up onboard and gotten this gigantic document.
What ship are you sailing on?  On each of our cruises, I've been able to find quiet spots to relax/get away from crowds.  I struggle with some crowd anxiety, non-medicated, but I can get to the point where I just need to GET OUTTA THERE.  It's helpful that we cruise in balcony rooms for times when I just need a quick getaway. 
We have been to Cozumel twice and I love it.  I might be in the minority.  I enjoy walking around town (after taking a taxi).  We have eaten at 2 different restaurants and shopped.  But we've not done a paid excursion.
You have enough time to do your research to get comfy with your ship/ports and have questions answered.  Make sure you keep up with this site.  DON'T join any FB groups.  They are full of drama and people not giving sound advice (IMO).

here's #1 solved :  https://www.monstermagnetics.com/