ChessE4

Concur with previous posts. We try to book at least a year in advance, and when new schedules are released. That said, there are sometimes good deals on the less popular cruises and ships just a few months out. You need to consider refundable vs. non-refundable deposits. We are usually pretty sure we are going, so we select non-refundable. But if you anticipate cancelling and rebooking, non-refundable would be better. Travel insurance is also a factor - RCI doesn't have great medical coverage but provides an option to cancel for any reason. Sometimes you are traveling with others, and they aren't sure when they are available, so you wait and hope for the best.

Ditto on the 3-card minimums based on my observation. As for the slots, one of the large, end-of-row $1 machines paid me $120 on just the 2nd or 3rd pull (at $1). I consider that total luck, and the first time I have come out a head in a long-time.

The brochure says there are plenty of freshwater showers throughout the park, but the only ones I remember from previous visits were outside. I didn't use one on my last trip, so you'll need another traveler to confirm.

Did it last month on Harmony, and it was OK. I even found one red California wine I'm still trying to track down. The tasting actually moved along pretty quickly, and there wasn't a lot of time to chit-chat with others at the table. We had 5 wines, fruit and cheese. The sommelier, as mentioned, was very knowledgeable, and he also put in a pitch for the $40 wine tasting at Vintages.

@JennyB Took the Harmony last month, and no pool in the Solarium (Solarium Bistro instead), just hot tubs. In prime time, the other pools are crowded, but in the early AM I saw someone doing laps in one of the pools. My wife and I had no problem finding lounge chairs in the Solarium, and there are about 3 different levels to sit, read, and relax. The pool congestion on the Harmony was no different than on Freedom or Explorer. One can cool off by taking a dip, but you can't swim unless you go to the beach on port calls.

There was a single Headliner on my Harmony cruise in May. He was a singer/impressionist who was definitely worth seeing. The other shows (ice, aqua, and theater) are different, well executed, but with story lines that may be hard to follow (so don't try). I heard mixed reactions from other guests because of the out-of-the-box thinking behind the plots. Thee were many great performers, who often performed in other venues in between shows. I recommend going to places like Central Park to catch the vocalists or guitarists who perform there. Of all the shows, I preferred the Headliner and ice shows with Grease #3. The high-wire work in the Aqua Theater was awesome, but no real plot. If Will Barratt (from Grease) sings in Dazzles, you've got to see him. PS. When taking a seat in the Aqua Theater, be sure the bench has been cleaned -- smoke from the ship's engines can condense and stain your shorts or slacks.

There are various cities with "park and cruise" options - your night's stay at the hotel provides free parking. Not sure if it is available where you are traveling. Might be worth checking online.

You can find an area and plant. For me, the plain old beach, which has umbrellas and lounge chairs, works out just fine. Our son is grown, so we don't need the waterpark. There are also some nice excursions to consider. So it depends whether you want an "adventure" or "relaxation". We snorkel off the beach and always see something new, but the man-made reefs cannot compare to the natural reefs accessible by boat. Have fun! PS. Get to the beach earlier rather than later for best selection.

If you prepay gratuities or are just billed the standard amount, there is a breakout that tells you how much goes to the waiter, the room attendant, etc. (I received a little business card at Guest Services to help me with calculations). You can give more at the end of the cruise using the provided "envelopes" and extras are available at customer service. For example, we tip the room attendant an extra $20-$30 for the week, which would cover 2 or 3 guests. It isn't a lot more ($1-2 per day for each person). We base our tipping on the premise that 20% is right in today's economy and the default gratuity is 18%, so we 'owe" everyone another 2% if the service is good as expected. (ditto for the dining room). We try to bond with the stateroom attendant as he/she can really make the cruise more enjoyable - like getting a mattress topper, unhooking the locked door between adjacent balconies, reminding us to lock our safe, etc. Sometimes engaging the staff and treating them like real people is a good way of enjoying great service. We don't use room service but the previous advice seems to be on track.

I agree with the previous comments. My experience is that RC cruises are good experiences, but they are only epic when the people factor is good and the ports are awesome. I just can't compare the Caribbean to Europe, Europe is, well, incredibly historic. The Caribbean is, well, mostly fun and beaches. The sense of value I perceive comes from the way I spend my money. I avoid pricey excursions, beverages, or services unless I really, really want them. I can't believe the value I got from a simple coffee card (about $5/day with tax) that guarantees me a couple of nice coffee drinks everyday. For me, Disney lacks the value proposition - too expensive for what you get -- unless your goal is to have an epic trip for your kids. That said, our son grew up with Adventure Ocean and later teen groups and still talks to friends he met in high school. RC certainly met his needs. In summary, I try not to have overly optimistic expectations about any vacation, but look for value and make sure my trip plan seems to meet my needs. I've been disappointed by weather or missed ports on occasion, but I've always found RC passengers friendly to talk to throughout my trip. The Oasis class ships have a great concert location in Central Park that can be very relaxing. Best of luck with your next trip!

We took the Explorer of the Seas to the Canaries and enjoyed it. As far as beverage prices go, they generally don't get cheaper than the "sale" price during promotions. Now in between the promotions, I am not sure how much the prices change. I do know that for our excursions, we saved about 10% off the normal on-line price when we made reservations during the sales. There will likely be more than one sales promotion. For our recent cruise, we were nagged regularly to buy something else. In other discussion threads, you will see beverage prices mentioned. I received offers for the refreshment package at $20/day/person or the deluxe (alcohol) package at about $50/day/person. We find there are many opportunities to get free or cheap booze, so we don't buy the expensive drink packages. In the Med, nice rooms carry a premium unless you are booking a relocation cruise of some sort. You don't really get free upgrades, you bid on them on (the RoyalUp program). We did a 12 night cruise with an interior room and found it very easy to sleep. My wife now insists on at least a window. What is perhaps more important than window or interior is the location of the room. We avoid the bow of the ship as we once got stuck there and found it noisy. We prefer amidships. Sometimes you are near the kitchen, which is also noisy. The deck makes a difference in this regard -- the higher decks miss the noises from the lower decks. A good travel agent can help you with room selection during the booking process. The Med has great ports and excursion opportunities, so it doesn't hurt to save a few $$ on the room and spend it later to see the sights. Our Med cruise was the best we've ever taken. Have fun! Other travelers will provide additional tips, and some are very savvy about negotiating prices of upgrades. Think about what your needs/wants really are, figure out the price, and then decide whether a package or a la carte approach is best.

On a related point, if you have on board credit that you don't think you will spend on the ship, other travelers have told me to go to the Casino and take a cash charge on your Seapass. Last time I did that the service charge was 5%. Then I had some $$ to use in the Casino or use on gas for the drive home from Florida. Someone else might have more recent experience.

To Kathy C, I think the topic line said "symphony", but I understand your point about different restaurants on different ships. Nice reminder.

The port is walking distance to old San Juan shops and the fort. Maybe a fold-up stroller would be good for a 4-year old. That how we handled Disney when our son was 5.

Johnny Rocket has Bocco Soy burger, but we didn't try it.

You can buy one or more bottles of wine in the dining room, and it seems you can bring two bottles of wine on board per person. The MDR keeps your bottle available from night to night. I don't know about the bars, but I would guess they can sell wine by the bottle. Not sure about spirits.

I have used it before without problems. We had a cruise with Southwest air connections, we ended up with "B" boarding passes, and we were satisfied.

For me, the Grandeur and sister ships as well as Radiance class ships all took my breath away because of the music in the centrum. In the Oasis-class ships, music sites are fragmented and I find myself hopping around to find something I like (and it takes so much time to go from point A to point B). On the other hand, on a long cruise on a small ship, you might get tired of hearing the same musicians. On the smaller ships, I found we had more ballroom dancing music and better (but shorter) nightly shows. On our recent Harmony cruise, I found the audience reaction to the shows very mixed (in my age bracket). Performances were deftly executed, but the story lines were incomprehensible. I heard someone say the aqua show was an aerobics show instead, Soooooo, there are pros and cons to all, but I recommend ships with the Promenade just for the sake of being able to recharge one's batteries or sit in peace with a hot drink in the early AM. I think it's also nice to be able to walk out on deck 5 and really see the sea. You really can't do that on Oasis-class ships because of the jogging path. There are hidden quiet spots with lounge chairs, but it's just not the same thing. The bottom line is that with half-decent weather, almost any cruise on any ship is a good thing with RC staff at your service.

I find that there are numerous "sales" so you don't need to panic and book a year in advance. Figure out what you want/need first. For example, when we had inside rooms or an ocean view room, we found the soda package useful for our son, a minor. Back then the child's price was lower, online ordering was limited or nonexistent, so we paid on the ship. Later, we discovered we could get a good price on a balcony that came with soda packages, so we looked at something else. By then our son insisted on wi-fi to communicate with friends. So that was our "need". We never got into alcoholic drink packages because there was too much free stuff on board, such as a bottle of bubbly from our agent, Crown and Anchor parties, or the Captain's reception. (Don't forget $1 or $2 mimosas in the casino!) It was cheaper to buy the occasional drink a la carte. Frankly, the excursions strike me as the best place to save $$ on a sale. 25% off of a $100 excursion adds up for multiple guests and ports. So enjoy the pre-cruise research and note your lessons-learned after the trip. Have fun!

it all boils down to risk management -- which risks concern you the most, and the probability of a particular risk materializing. If being left behind is a big risk for you, then passports would ease that. But if pickpockets,water damage, or lost purses are your major risk, then you will want your passports on the ship where they are safe. Other ID and seapass are sufficient to get back on the ship. If you do keep your passports, you need a plan B if you lose them, which gets back to having both a travel card and a passport plus photocopies and an extra photo. How you carry any valuables is another concern, but likely you won't want valuables in a beach bag left on a boat or unattended. There are waterproof document protectors for whatever you choose to take off the ship with you. On the ship, I had a lost wallet with ID and cash returned to me via guest services, but I had a baseball cap left in the dining room totally disappear. It's hard to predict what will happen....Bon voyage to all!

Am I the only one who sometimes washes socks and underwear in the bathroom and allows them to drip dry? And with a balcony room, there is usually sunshine outside. That way I don't need to use their laundry service unless there is something special that needs cleaning. Just a thought.

When I pay in full I always request a new statement showing 0 balance. My travel agent handles that for me. In your shoes, it seems reasonable to request RC to e-mail the document.

My recent discovery on Oasis-class ships is Central Park. Not only will you find specialty dining and complimentary dining (Park Cafe), but in the late afternoon and evening, there are small concerts, such as a classical guitarist or a vocalist and musician. We found many music venues simply to loud for us, so we made it a point to check the Cruise Compass everyday and show up about 10 minutes before a scheduled performance. We got ring-side seats, and it felt like we had our own private concert. On the whole, in good weather Central Park is simply delightful. Being in crowds on the Promenade can be thrilling, too, but when you want something more peaceful, don't overlook Central Park. Also remember that Windjammer isn't the only place to eat breakfast or lunch. If it becomes too crowed for you, try the other venues spread throughout the ship. As a teenager, my son joined the teen group on several cruises, but he enjoyed them more at 16-18 then at 12-14. What I have learned is that you don't have to try everything -- go at your own speed, but don't be afraid to try something new. At 66, I tried the zipline and lived to talk about it. Spread your show reservations over the entire cruise so you don't feel rushed.

Every ship I have been on has had vegetarian dishes, but I can't remember if I have seen a burger. Other guests may be able to answer that question, and I've seen various menus floating around or accessible through the smartphone app that RCI provides. The WindJammer seems to have the broadest range of foods. My Time Dining is in the Main Dining Room, and they do provide vegetarian dishes. Additionally, your waiter can usually arrange for something not on the menu if it is "doable". Just ask. (The waiter is motivated to receive a 10 rating on the Post-cruise survey, so the staff work hard to accommodate you.)

OIn the Harmony, we just ate there two weeks ago for lunch using a voucher than came with our stateroom. We ate on the day scheduled for Coco Cay after hitting the beach in the AM. Because the staff were helping on the island, the restaurant didn't open until 2 PM that day vice the normal noonish opening. The amount of food for lunch was dinner-sized portions, and we couldn't eat everything. My wife claims that lunch and dinner menus are identical. So if you eat a late lunch, you can skip dinner and then hit all the snack spots or WJ later. I would eat there again. At lunch there was only one other occupied table since everyone else was on the island or at the pool....