Srp431

I believe you'll be Gold once you complete your first sailing.
 

Just like the bacon trough in the windjammer, one of my favorites?

We were on FOTS 2 yrs w/ connecting balcony rooms and on Deck 9 and it was fine for our Western Caribbean cruise . No issues with wind, only glare from the sun.

Just like the bacon trough in the windjammer, one of my favorites?

I'm in the same boat on timing, which is school calendars. We normally cruise end of March during spring break and again in late June right after school gets done for the year. We also live in Minnesota, so in addition to paying high cruise fares we also deal w/ crazy airfares as well.

Thanks for sharing this was really interesting. Maybe someday we'll be able to go star class. The highest suite we had has been sky class

The main advantage of buying Royal is the guarantee to get back to the ship.  This is great for unexpected problems because royal guarantees they get you back on board.  Non royal excursions you would be on your own if you miss the boat.  This happened to a friend of mine but thankfully they had a royal excursion so they got to the ship as it was leaving.  They were put on a boat and caught up to the ship as it was leaving port.  You will pay a little more for that piece of mind though.
 
What kind of things do you like?  How adventurous are you guys?  How much do you want to spend?  We have done several excursions at these ports and some we have videos so you can actually see it

I agree with all of you!  I like, but do not love, chocolate.  However, I absolutely adore caramel, so the fact that hot caramel sauce is poured over The World made me want to try it-the experience of watching the chocolate coating melt is also really awesome.  I have to say that it was good, not great, and I would not make an effort to have it again, but I am really glad I got to try it!

Thank you!!! The suite is just as advertised. For a family with kids, this room leaves little to be desired. From the multiple video game consoles, to the ridiculously fast slide (it's faster than the Ultimate Abyss), to the dining room table that converts into an air hockey table, to the balcony that manages to fit a mini ping pong table, hot tub and lucky climber the list of things to do in the suite go on and on. The only negative I can think of is trying to get all the kids to leave the room to explore other parts of the ship. Aside from all the things they manage to pack into the room I'd say the most impressionable feature is the size of the suite. To be able to enjoy such a voluminous living space while on a cruise ship is mind boggling. I know the royal loft suite and the 2-4 bedroom suites have even more square footage, but I don't think they have 2 sets of staircases and 3 ways to go from the first and second floors. This room really lends itself nicely to epoch games of hide-and-seek & tag. This was our first time with RCL, and I was just like SuperNinja endlessly researching every facet of the star class experience to try to know what to expect. I had to know if the Starbucks would be free or not!!! Reading this discussion board and all the helpful advise from all the nice people on it is an invaluable resource.

I refuse to set foot in their casinos, I'd be happy to go gamble if they become smokefree

I refuse to set foot in their casinos, I'd be happy to go gamble if they become smokefree

The same way I don't leave my kids locked in a baby seat in a hot car for 6 hours.....by paying attention ?
I keep all the ids in the same spot in the back back, I unzip it, hand them Id and boarding passes....they hand it back...I put it back and zip it up.  Back pack zipper stays open and I hold it in my hand until I have replaced it all...then zip...and back onto the back.
 
 

Study the Compass before the day starts.  You will likely find an activity you'll end up enjoying that you would have missed otherwise.

That's what I get for teaching my kids to behave in public and be respectful at all times.....damnit.

Can I rent a kid from Adventure Ocean for 30 minutes on day one?  

Avoiding standing outside (on the smaller ships) during muster drill.  Once the drill is starting, go to the person who is scanning the sea pass cards, have your cards scanned and then go inside and have a seat ! One of the crew will be demonstrating the life vest and you have a comfortable place to sit and wait for the crowds to diminish after the drill ends OR be ready to dash to the elevators once the Captain has completed his remarks.

Bring your patience. Some people will act rude, but go into the trip with a vacation state of mind, and any absurd actions from other passengers will roll easier off your back. 

1. Arrive to the port early. You are paying for your day 1 and the sooner you get on the ship, the sooner you can start your vacation.
2. Bring a USB port outlet for more charging space. Do not confuse this with a surge protector, since it most likely will be confiscated.
3. Be friendly to the crew and chat with them. Room stewards, for instance, enjoy when we have conversations with them because their jobs are very repetitive and have to clean up after us. It can really make someone's day.
 

I refuse to set foot in their casinos, I'd be happy to go gamble if they become smokefree

Day 5 - Sea Day
Two sea days now on our way to Guatemala.  Flat seas and warm.  Beautiful cruising weather.

Day by day my Crown and Anchor selections have been arriving.  Drink package?  Who needs a drink package?

Our progress...
Looking at the map it makes you appreciate how far North we started, relatively speaking.  


With that I am caught up to real time.  Another sea day tomorrow so I won't post much.  

Day 1
IT'S CRUISE DAY!!!
But first, more Queen Mary pictures in daylight.

The Queen Mary was a fast ship.  Faster than today's cruise ships of this size or larger.  She routinely cruised at over 28 knots and during sea trials she reached just over 32 knots.






This enclosed promenade deck would have been popular on those cold North Atlantic winter crossings.


The Verandah Grill towards the aft of the ship was an extra cost restaurant.  In other words the concept of specialty dining started decades before modern cruise lines embraced the idea.

During World War II the Queen Mary was put into service as a troop carrier bringing troops back and forth between the US. and Britain.   She was painted grey and earned the name the Grey Ghost.  Her top speeds allowed her to elude german u-boats. 
On one crossing she carried a staggering 15,740 service personnel with a crew of 943 for a total of 16,683 souls on board.  That remains the highest count ever carried by any vessel, a record that is unlikely to ever be broken.   

During this time they removed all the fine china and crystal and converted every square inch to the goal of maximizing space for the troops.  Gone were the cabin class 1st class accommodations, it was all about squeezing troops on board.  During the war when she was a troop carrier he was fitted with anti aircraft guns.

A lego model has been constructed and is on display in a room called the shipyard.


Sir Winston Churchill would routinely sail her during the war to coordinate efforts with the allies. In this photo he is sitting by this very fireplace.

How about these lifeboats?


The bridge:







The Captain's quarters have been preserved in their original condition.



She even had a fitness center back in the day with modern exercise equipment.



If you ever get the chance I highly recommend a stay on the Queen Mary.


 

I would love to back after your trip and let us know what a great time you had and in which rooms?

Plus 9 time out 10 all they'll ask for is room number.

LOL! ?
Just in case you did not see Matt's article from 10/29...
https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2019/10/29/royal-caribbean-delays-deployment-schedule-may-2021-april-2022

So don't do like a friend did and added a tip with each drink he bought, unless you're very generous.  He didn't find out until day 4 that he was basically double or triple tipping. And he wondered why he got such good service from the bartenders.?