deep1

Cococay- Most anything is fun. Snorkel. Jet ski. I'm not much on water park  stuff but the park there is world class. 

Cozumel we found a little chocolate factory (not the excursion one) (https://kaokaochocolatefactorytour.com/) that was very informative. Port itself very busy. 

Costa Maya- Chachoben ruins are about an hour away. There was a beach area with quaint little shops and restaurants  maybe 10 minutes taxi ride from the port. Port itself also busy.

Roatan-  World class snorkeling.

We're on board with that "meet us at X o'clock to get ready and do dinner". Then cut em loose when done. Let em run and feel a little Independence . In general I have been very pleased with the youth and teen programs through my natural daughter and now my GF's teens. Prior to her daughters last cruise we had a lot of positive feedback about that ships program. Hoping to find same here...  I know its a crap shoot. Some trips have seemed almost void of teens while others just right. This trip will be over Easter so I'm expecting (hoping) there is a large group to interact with...

Never had a fee for wine we brought to the room. They even gave us a corkscrew and glasses. I can't say what the policy is in the restaurants  but think I have heard of a fee there... 

My GF and I have a new favorite ship. Independence ... While we have had her daughter aboard other ship . Neither she or her brother have been aboard Indy... The daughter did great in the teen club on the other smaller Majesty.  Well  she gets a shot at the bigger time this next trip and her brother gets to taste his first cruise ever. The plan for them is to cut them loose and let them be a little more free. . I did that with my natural daughter several times and GF's daughter on Majesty with fantastic results. Really boosts their self esteem and confidence to be treated with a little more respect and adult like... Guess my question here is ...  Do we have any onn here with first hand experience with Independence's  teen activities and any suggestions or concerns... ???

I cut my little one loose in the Adventure ocean clubs early on. After divorce and new GF with two more she was skeptical  but very pleased . As they ventured into full teen years the nights out got later but it was clean wholesome fun. Gave them a feeling that we respected them enough to let them manage themselves and take on a little responsible behavior. 

Great... Thanks as always for the answers... Great people make this a fantastic place to visit and garner info from. We have had my GF's daughter on a 3 day on Majesty a couple years ago. She'll likely flip when she sees a much larger Indy... My GF's son has never even seen a cruise ship except from miles away looking at port of New York.  He has no concept. He'll point at a five story building "That big"? "Three times as tall and longer than from here to the stop light at the end of the street"... My mission is to show them trips of a lifetime... 

I had no problems with surf getting photos out and some basic Facebook stuff...  Vids hung and crashed until I got back home...

Was watching the live broadcast with Matt the other day... He endorsed the escape rooms o the ships that have them. Well I'm an INDY freak and deck 15 has one... He mentioned something about  booking asap but I was distracted as to details how... I don't see it on cruise planner. Ist there some way to prebook?  It was sold out our last trip. This trip we got the kids so really want to do it...

GF asked about  doing laundry aboard and I didn't have a answer.Do they have something akin to a laundromat or laundry service aboard? Next trip is on Indy only five days but with kids. Then we're eyeballing some of the trans Atlantics and other 12+ night trips...

18 minutes ago, Mr. Candyman said:

Putting it in your cart does not lock it in.  You have to complete the purchase

That I did not know... Thanks...

They changed pricing on me. I thought if you bought at a given price it’s locked in?

248 days til my treatment... Indy...

Gf got a little creative with this one using the lollipop from our RCCL 50th anniversary  cake...

On 7/26/2019 at 11:12 PM, BunnyHutt said:

Lobster was on the MDR menu on the last night of my 5-night Majesty cruise earlier this month. Like a PP stated, I combined with the (no-upcharge) steak for my own “free” surf and turf.

Must be nice... Only available as upcharge on last three sailings for us...  Majesty or Indy

Havn't seen it offered on 5 or 7 night cruises in a couple years now...

1 hour ago, Abyss of the Seas said:

If they take away your OBC they are taking away the only incentive to purchase Next Cruise. 

That's what they did... I'm Royal loyal but some things they do get under my skin...

2 minutes ago, twangster said:

I lost $100 OBC booking a cruise at Next that wasn't apparent until the paper work printed out.  "Wait, this isn't what we discussed"  Around and around we went, the blame shifted across a number of sources.  Can't combine diamond balcony discount, can't combine with current promo, some other excuse.  In the end I was left with that is what you are getting, you have 30 days to cancel without a fee.  

It left a bad taste in my mouth regarding Next.  I often visit Next but now armed with all the right questions to ask I often walk away and book through my land travel agent.  At least with my regular agent I don't have to play the OBC shell game.  

We actually went twice... First "agent" was really shifty, unfriendly and generally unhelpful. Second was friendly and accommodating but she too spoke with forked tongue...

2 minutes ago, twangster said:

That's a new one I've not heard before.

That's what they did... Exact same square footage and lay out to the last millimeter. Just further aft it had been same class cabin then designation changed. Again same thing just different designation?  It has me a little bothered they said nothing in that area was available when we booked but then when I looked on line the exact one (ones) were wide open. That's what's got me  a little uneasy...

16 minutes ago, twangster said:

With NRD - non refundable deposits, there is a $100 per person fee for changing ship or sail date.  

If your deposit was greater than $100 the difference is granted in the form of future cruise credit or FCC. 

For example, if your was deposit was $250 pp, $100 pp is lost and $150 pp is provided in the form of FCC.

If your NextCruise booking included reduced deposits you may just lose the deposit up tp $100 pp.  

NextCruise bookings give you 30 days to change without fees.  When did you book?

In April... 

13 minutes ago, coneyraven said:

It depends ..... if you put down a refundable deposit .... it shouldn't be an issue at all.  If it's non-refundable, I do believe there's a switching fee.

I don't honestly know. We did it at the next cruise desk. They took away my onboard credit when we requested a specific room...

While on Indy we booked for next year to mesh with dates for my GF kids spring break (April 2020). She just got a promotion at work and another may be in the works. Shes in accounting and we are booked in peak tax season. With promotions she may not be able to go on planned dates. Might have to switch dates and maybe even itineraries to possibly Oasis  out of Jersey a few weeks later. How tough is his gonna be? Do I get my deposit chewed up? Do they keel haul me then hang me from yard arm? Suggestions to make a swap smooth?

Costa Maya we took a taxi to their general beach area. Not much but wqas fun. Cozumel has a place called Money Bar and that was fantastic. Had an awesome lunch couple sodas and great snorkeling right there. Havn't done Roatan but hear its great. Coco Cay has good snorkeling as well..

Lose the blues with a fresh booking... I do it early in the trip to  make sure I don't get  the blues thinking abut this one ending...

G string and a "beater" t shirt might get you asked to be a bit more appropriate. I've done nice shorts with collared shirt but GF gets grumbly so usually its Khakis to fill the pants end of things...

I've always packed light. Ex and Daughter never figured how to do a weekend with short of a steamer trunk. GF has it figured out. 2 swim suits, two shorts, 2 pants, 4 shirts, 2 light dresses. Mix and match will get it for a week. I often wear my formal clothes aboard so I don't get  them wrinkled. Change by the pool after windjammer lunch. Then carry to cabin when its available. I too pack similar to GF. twosies that can mix and match.... We are carry on for a week.