LindaN

Yes I know.  I just wanted to make sure we always had it.  It looked like a long walk to go get water somewhere if we forgot some.  We drink a lot of water.

Our Symphony of the Seas cruise leaves tomorrow, Apr 13th, 2019.   “Our” being my husband Mike and 7 year old daughter Delilah.  This is Delilah’s first cruise, Mike and my second.  Our first cruise was Freedom of the Seas in 2007.
I’m hoping cruising will become our family thing, but it depends on how this cruise goes with my daughter.
I printed my Set Sail pass, cruise docs, and luggage tags.  I packed magnetic hooks, a USB hub and sea sick bands and pills.  I am at the airport in Sacramento as I type.  We fly Sac to Denver to FLL arrive in FLL tonight at 12:30am.
We have our drink packages purchased, alcohol one for Mike and I, refreshment one for Delilah.  We have ordered the picture package, the octopus stuffed animal for D, and water in the room.  
We got the key because at 19.99 is was only $3 more than the internet and with the chops lunch, it was a no brainer.  I would have even paid 24.99, since you don’t have to wait in line for shows and to get off the boat.   Waiting in any line with my ADHD daughter  is a nightmare.  I was going to also take advantage of the key for flow rider and zip line times but I read in the cruise docs my daughter is not old enough for those.   Had I realized that I would have probably picked a boat with iFly instead and dreamworks characters.  My daughter loves zip lining.
We booked an ocean balcony, #12610.  I’m kind of worried this room is going to be too far from an elevator.  We tend to forget stuff a lot and I think it’s going to be a pain having to run that far to the room.  To make it less painful I bought a Fitbit watch, so I can be happy getting so many steps.  We made low bids for each RoyalUp category, but doubt we’ll get an upgrade since the ship is full.  It would be nice to get a bigger cabin but I mostly bid in hopes of getting something closer to an elevator.
We requested early dining and have all our shows booked.  My daughters bedtime is usually between 7 and 8 so we’ll see if she can stay awake through the shows.  We have all our excursions booked, Atlantis in Bahamas, dolphin encounter in St. Kitts, and Turtle island Sail and snorkel on St Thomas.
Most of my posts will be more pictures than text but I thought I would make an introduction post here.  I have read all the other Symphony blogs and got a lot of my questions and info from them.  I had lots more questions on traveling with young kids, so I’ll try and include info on that too.  I have no idea if my daughter will like Adventure Ocean or if she’ll be with us mostly.  25 to 1 ratio of adults to kids with 40 kids may not be her thing.  If anyone wants pictures of anything or has any questions let me know. 

Our Symphony of the Seas cruise leaves tomorrow, Apr 13th, 2019.   “Our” being my husband Mike and 7 year old daughter Delilah.  This is Delilah’s first cruise, Mike and my second.  Our first cruise was Freedom of the Seas in 2007.
I’m hoping cruising will become our family thing, but it depends on how this cruise goes with my daughter.
I printed my Set Sail pass, cruise docs, and luggage tags.  I packed magnetic hooks, a USB hub and sea sick bands and pills.  I am at the airport in Sacramento as I type.  We fly Sac to Denver to FLL arrive in FLL tonight at 12:30am.
We have our drink packages purchased, alcohol one for Mike and I, refreshment one for Delilah.  We have ordered the picture package, the octopus stuffed animal for D, and water in the room.  
We got the key because at 19.99 is was only $3 more than the internet and with the chops lunch, it was a no brainer.  I would have even paid 24.99, since you don’t have to wait in line for shows and to get off the boat.   Waiting in any line with my ADHD daughter  is a nightmare.  I was going to also take advantage of the key for flow rider and zip line times but I read in the cruise docs my daughter is not old enough for those.   Had I realized that I would have probably picked a boat with iFly instead and dreamworks characters.  My daughter loves zip lining.
We booked an ocean balcony, #12610.  I’m kind of worried this room is going to be too far from an elevator.  We tend to forget stuff a lot and I think it’s going to be a pain having to run that far to the room.  To make it less painful I bought a Fitbit watch, so I can be happy getting so many steps.  We made low bids for each RoyalUp category, but doubt we’ll get an upgrade since the ship is full.  It would be nice to get a bigger cabin but I mostly bid in hopes of getting something closer to an elevator.
We requested early dining and have all our shows booked.  My daughters bedtime is usually between 7 and 8 so we’ll see if she can stay awake through the shows.  We have all our excursions booked, Atlantis in Bahamas, dolphin encounter in St. Kitts, and Turtle island Sail and snorkel on St Thomas.
Most of my posts will be more pictures than text but I thought I would make an introduction post here.  I have read all the other Symphony blogs and got a lot of my questions and info from them.  I had lots more questions on traveling with young kids, so I’ll try and include info on that too.  I have no idea if my daughter will like Adventure Ocean or if she’ll be with us mostly.  25 to 1 ratio of adults to kids with 40 kids may not be her thing.  If anyone wants pictures of anything or has any questions let me know. 

Our Symphony of the Seas cruise leaves tomorrow, Apr 13th, 2019.   “Our” being my husband Mike and 7 year old daughter Delilah.  This is Delilah’s first cruise, Mike and my second.  Our first cruise was Freedom of the Seas in 2007.
I’m hoping cruising will become our family thing, but it depends on how this cruise goes with my daughter.
I printed my Set Sail pass, cruise docs, and luggage tags.  I packed magnetic hooks, a USB hub and sea sick bands and pills.  I am at the airport in Sacramento as I type.  We fly Sac to Denver to FLL arrive in FLL tonight at 12:30am.
We have our drink packages purchased, alcohol one for Mike and I, refreshment one for Delilah.  We have ordered the picture package, the octopus stuffed animal for D, and water in the room.  
We got the key because at 19.99 is was only $3 more than the internet and with the chops lunch, it was a no brainer.  I would have even paid 24.99, since you don’t have to wait in line for shows and to get off the boat.   Waiting in any line with my ADHD daughter  is a nightmare.  I was going to also take advantage of the key for flow rider and zip line times but I read in the cruise docs my daughter is not old enough for those.   Had I realized that I would have probably picked a boat with iFly instead and dreamworks characters.  My daughter loves zip lining.
We booked an ocean balcony, #12610.  I’m kind of worried this room is going to be too far from an elevator.  We tend to forget stuff a lot and I think it’s going to be a pain having to run that far to the room.  To make it less painful I bought a Fitbit watch, so I can be happy getting so many steps.  We made low bids for each RoyalUp category, but doubt we’ll get an upgrade since the ship is full.  It would be nice to get a bigger cabin but I mostly bid in hopes of getting something closer to an elevator.
We requested early dining and have all our shows booked.  My daughters bedtime is usually between 7 and 8 so we’ll see if she can stay awake through the shows.  We have all our excursions booked, Atlantis in Bahamas, dolphin encounter in St. Kitts, and Turtle island Sail and snorkel on St Thomas.
Most of my posts will be more pictures than text but I thought I would make an introduction post here.  I have read all the other Symphony blogs and got a lot of my questions and info from them.  I had lots more questions on traveling with young kids, so I’ll try and include info on that too.  I have no idea if my daughter will like Adventure Ocean or if she’ll be with us mostly.  25 to 1 ratio of adults to kids with 40 kids may not be her thing.  If anyone wants pictures of anything or has any questions let me know. 

I like this site better too.  I am following the RoyalUp thread there.  Especially since reading that some people have gotten upgrades that were not what the bid email pictured.  I’m still trying to decide if I should cancel my bid since seeing that.

Feel free to let me know anything you would like to know/photos of areas and I’ll be happy to post them!  
 
 

Following.  We go on this same itinerary Apr 13th.  

I think it all has to do with personal preference.  We have a nice pool at home season passes to the water park in our city.  Sitting out at the pool has 0 appeal to me.  I would rather sit on our balcony and watch the ocean than in the sun at the pool.  Sitting around is not why I go on vacation.  I’ve already written down stuff that I want to do every day from the Royal App schedule.  
Some of the things I think sound fun are line dancing, family karaoke, martini tasting, family feud, scavenger hunts, whiskey seminar, towel folding, and a diff show every night.

Great photos!  I’m guessing you’re using a real camera, or were these from a phone?

I don’t know for sure but my friend just got back from a harmony cruise and brought me back a few of the kids daily planners.  On it is the phone number to contact the Explorers room (ages 6-8), so it sounds like if your kids wanted to leave they would just call you.  Here were the session times, I’m not sure if you have to drop them at the beginning or at any time during the session.  It did say they have 1 person for 25 kids and they fill up.  We’re going in April over spring break so maybe they will have 2 people then.  I can’t see my daughter wanting to stay long with 2 adults and 50 kids though.

We got the key for 3 of us for our April Symphony cruise.  I got it at $19.99, which is only a few dollars more pp than getting the surf and voom internet.  Being able to get on earlier and the chops lunch make it worth it too.   I don’t really care about dropping my carryon luggage off, it’s on wheels so it’s not a pain. 
One of the big perks I wanted it for was private times at the flow rider, zip line and rock wall, but have since found out my daughter isn’t tall enough to go on the flow rider or zip line so we won’t even be using those.  She lives rock walls though, at least she can use that one.
Vip seating and shows and not having to wait in line as long for shows is totally a perk we’ll use.  If you’ve ever waited in line with a first grader with ADHD, you would understand why.

Ok, I looked up cruise ship dock runners on YouTube, I guess this is a thing, and not caused by the app.   The videos are kind of funny, sorry for laughing at the misfortune of others.   More than half of them you see Atlantas in the background, but it happens at other ports too.  One thing I know now for sure, if I am late and miss the boat, my run will be YouTube famous with lots of hecklers and mean, but funny, comments.  Lol

I appreciate the video.  The video is a cautionary tale for us noobs.

I disagree with this.  If I were to be left behind anywhere I would hope it was there.  There are so many excursions I want to go on here I can barely even do one in the 4 or 5 hours here.   If I was left behind here I would go back to Atlantas and actually get my money’s worth at the waterpark.  I would check into a hotel and try the next day try and make it to Dolphin Cay in the morning and see the pigs in the afternoon and maybe even something else before getting back to Miami the morning the boat got in.  That’s just me though, I would move to the Bahamas if they weren’t so strict about not letting in dogs that look like any kind of bull terriers.

I disagree with this.  If I were to be left behind anywhere I would hope it was there.  There are so many excursions I want to go on here I can barely even do one in the 4 or 5 hours here.   If I was left behind here I would go back to Atlantas and actually get my money’s worth at the waterpark.  I would check into a hotel and try the next day try and make it to Dolphin Cay in the morning and see the pigs in the afternoon and maybe even something else before getting back to Miami the morning the boat got in.  That’s just me though, I would move to the Bahamas if they weren’t so strict about not letting in dogs that look like any kind of bull terriers.

On non formal nights, I would wear a sundress or black pants with a cute top. Here's one from a smart casual night. DH would wear dockers and a polo or shirt like in the picture. 

This is how we dressed up for the first formal night on Harmony last May. The second formal night we ditched and at at Jamies Italian 

Ok, I looked up cruise ship dock runners on YouTube, I guess this is a thing, and not caused by the app.   The videos are kind of funny, sorry for laughing at the misfortune of others.   More than half of them you see Atlantas in the background, but it happens at other ports too.  One thing I know now for sure, if I am late and miss the boat, my run will be YouTube famous with lots of hecklers and mean, but funny, comments.  Lol

Ok, I looked up cruise ship dock runners on YouTube, I guess this is a thing, and not caused by the app.   The videos are kind of funny, sorry for laughing at the misfortune of others.   More than half of them you see Atlantas in the background, but it happens at other ports too.  One thing I know now for sure, if I am late and miss the boat, my run will be YouTube famous with lots of hecklers and mean, but funny, comments.  Lol

It’s understandable, especially if they were using the app instead of the website.  The app says on my cruise planner that the boat leaves at 7:30 but the websites cruise planner says 4.  4 of the excursions you book through the cruise planner are listed as going past the time the boat is in port.
The second picture- left side, shows when the cruise planner website says you leave.  The first picture -right side, shows when the the Royal app says you leave.
The first picture shows the Royal app shows the excursions that go past 4, when the boat leaves.

There are sample kids cruise compasses here.  Just click cruise compass at the top and you’ll find some.

Book a room at Comfort Inn and Suites (across the road from Atlantis) - the room comes with full Atlantis day passes. Catch a taxi to hotel - check in and out at the same time and they will give you a pass which you take to Atlantis and swap for Aqua Adventure wrist bands. Stay there as long as you like for about half the price. Catch a taxi back to ship when you are done.