Ralph

So I just booked a cruise for next June with my family, 3 cabins on the Symphony out of NJ. One of the cabins has my 2 year old grandchild who will have a crib. I was a little surprised that we had to pay for him since "kids cruise free". Well, they don't cruise free in June! And secondly, I have to pay gratuities for him. I called Royal to double check and they said I do. Has anyone cruised with their two year old? Is there any way around this? I mean it is not a lot, but still. Thanks!

Our boarding time is 1:30 and I see the wow bands going on sail at 11:00 for 3 hours. Will I still be able to get them, or will they be sold out. Thanks! See you onboard on Friday!

That is great advice! You live and learn, next time we will just hang out under cover.

Have a great time!! Let us know how it was. Keep reading this blog. @Matt does an amazing job here.

We book our first cruise through RC, talking on the phone for over an hour and a half, this was our first time so we had a lot of questions. I am curious, for our next cruise, can we get a better deal going through a travel agent or can we do just as good booking it through the web site? Thanks! Ralph

This was our first time, so I have nothing to compare, but this ship was amazing! We loved it!

We had an amazing time! I am hooked on cruising for sure and I am going to start planning my next one soon! Here are some observations about the week. We got our passports before the trip and pre-registered through the app. That was a huge timesaver getting on and off the ship. We got to the dock by 10:30 and we were on the ship by 11. When we left, we left the ship by 8:45, got our luggage and were outside by 9:00am. *We had two bags and I tipped the porter $5. I was so obsessed with the actual cruise days; I didn’t plan our departure day at all. We had late flights so we got to know the Miami airport really well!! Our flight didn’t leave unit 8:30pm. Live and learn! We did bring magnets, a power strip and I got luggage tags thanks to this blog. It was great advice, we used them all. We ate all our meals in the Windjammer and the main dining room. All meals were just fine. The food is actually really good. We also bought the deluxe drink package, and it paid for itself! :) We got to know our assistant waiter, Komang, very well, by the end of the first night; he knew our names and what we drink. The waiter was very nice also, but we connected more with Komang. *We tipped them both $5 a night. We did NOT see either of the two shows on the ship because the other things we wanted to do were at the same time. We did a lot of game shows and other fun stuff. Anything Silvia from Slovakia ran, we loved! Also, Piano Entertainment with David was THE BEST! He is so talented, and we happened to have a great crowd. He played for 5 hours straight one night! Loved him! We did have a BIG storm while we were on Coco Cay. Trying to get on the ship with 1,000 other people in a downpour with lightening around us was an experience. But, you can’t control the weather, right? Hooked on cruising for sure!! Washy Washy!!

Heading in tomorrow morning, and YES, I am hooked!!

We have had an amazing time!! We are so hooked on cruising, I’m ready to plan our next cruise!! Washy Washy!!

Thank you again @Matt! Your information here and you videos were invaluable! So far this ship is amazing and our first day has been great!!

We are beyond excited! I think I read this blog every day for the last two months! Thanks @Matt !! The information here is priceless and the people are amazing! Tomorrow we board the Navigator of the Seas!! As Bart Scott said years ago... “Can’t Wait!!”

Thanks @Matt ! It's the one thing we were worried about.

We will be on the same cruise and also be searching for shade!

Oh well, it was exciting while it lasted. I wanted a beach lounger when we book our cruise but I waited to long to get them. Then a few weeks ago they became available. We were excited because we just want to relax at Coco Cay. Today I get an email saying they canceled them "due to construction". Oh well, we just have to role with the punches! 4 more days and we will be on our FIRST CRUISE!

Can you tell me where you got these?

We can't wait to just relax! This is our first time cruising, and we were not interested in the water park.

Just a heads up, we are going out on the 24th on the Navigator and at one point the beach loungers were "sold out". I just checked again last night and I was able to grab one. So, keep checking!

Hi All, We are first timers, going on the Navigator on the 24th. I have been reading good and bad about this excursion. Has anyone recently been on it? I was wondering what type of experience did you have. Ralph

@StayFrosty we will also be on this cruise and my wife is a teacher! Her year ends on the 13th! Can't end soon enough! We are first timers so this is all new to us! This blog has been extremely helpful! Thank you @Matt and all!

Hi All, I was wondering if anyone can tell me where the Beach Loungers are located on CocoCay. This is our first time on cruise and we just want to relax. And I had no clue about all the "extra" expenses. Thanks in advance! Ralph

Thank you very much @Lovetocruise2002 This is helpful!! This is our very first cruise, going in June out of Miami on the Navigator. We are doing the 4 Night Bahamas and Perfect Day Cruise. I am trying to gather as much information as possible and this blog has been extremely helpful!

I was just looking for recommendations myself. We are flying into Miami the day before also. I was hoping to get a hotel near the docks so we can just walk over in the morning. Is that possible?

Thank you!

Is there a complimentary list of things to do at Nassau? For the complimentary things at both places, is there a “rush” to reserve them?

Thank you so much! That is very helpful!