Jump to content

ChessE4

Members
  • Posts

    2,809
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by ChessE4

  1. We found Central Park concerts in the late afternoon or evening romantic -- if you arrive early and snag a drink, it is like a private performance.
  2. At Royal's site for Vision, there is a video that explains a little about the ship. You might want to check it out or explore the deck plans. https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-ships/vision-of-the-seas Whatever you choose, have a great cruise.
  3. I've always done what @Psycho and Barb describe. Have a great cruise!
  4. Whenever you travel overseas, you'll want to be vigilant and practice safe travel practices. Your odds of getting pick-pocketed would be higher in Barcelona or Rome because you'd take those places for granted. I think you'll have a great trip as long as you are aware of your surroundings, use the safe on the ship, keep valuables hidden and secure, etc.
  5. Just make sure you have trip insurance (e.g., in case of a travel delay). We successfully flew to and cruised from Europe twice while arriving on the same day as the departure. But we carried insurance, and I had a list of alternative routes in case we were delayed en route. That said, I would normally follow the lead of others and travel a day early. We do this now since we drive. Have a great trip!
  6. We consider our packing requirements, e.g., new shoes or clothes. The idea is to buy on sale in the last 90 days....?
  7. PS. I just took a quick peek at a compass and didn't see anything stated. If you plan on smart casual for dinner, you should be fine.
  8. Check a recent cruise compass (link at the top of the browser) and you'll what recommended attire would be, or wait for a reply from a recent traveler.
  9. On the whole, I agree the shows are a little odd, but I find myself admiring the singing, the skating, and the incredible maneuvers the ship in Columbus makes. I didn't worry much about anything else. I actually prefer the production shows on smaller ships. That said, the cast often performs their songs in more intimate settings, such as Central Park or the Jazz lounge. So one could actually skip the scheduled shows and listen to the performers in other venues, most of which we found fantastic. But I agree with you, I was not fond of the show plots.
  10. Look at the ending price after all adjustments. Normally, you end up paying for food for your child. It does depend on itineraries. Med cruises aren't discounted much for 3rd or 4th person.
  11. When I make reservations in Cruise Planner, I receive an e-mail confirmation. So that can be printed. Also, in Cruise Planner, you have a calendar that can be printed.
  12. If you like culinary excursions, St. Maarten has something like A Taste of St Maarten which takes you to three locations will also driving around the island. You'll make pasta and have wine/juice at a cheese and wine store near the port; then you'll have a grilled lunch in St. Martin, followed by gelato in St. Maarten. You can be dropped off near the town shopping or return directly to the port for shopping by the ship.
  13. At Cozumel there are many excursions that take you to the mainland, but remember that the ferry ride is fast and bumpy. I get a little queasy but don't need meds for the trip. However, seasickness pills are usually provided. Just wanted you forewarned. Cozumel is popular for purchasing jewelry, but remember to cut through the hype. The quoted price is never the real price. Check online in the US before you travel if you are thinking of making a purchase. Then you will know the typical price. (Don't pay $700 for $300 earrings.) Other than that, it can be fun to go from store to store with the shopping guide just to sample the drinks without buying anything substantial. There is supposed to be a good Cozumel Island museum near downtown - a cab could probably take you. I've seen some good online reviews, but I haven't made it there as yet. At Roatan we visited Maya Key for snorkeling, swimming, seeing zoo animals, shopping for artisanal gifts, etc. It is a short boat ride from the ship and reasonably priced. There is a swimming pool plus swimming areas at their beach. If you want company at dinner, you can ask to share a table in the Main Dining Room rather than sitting alone. (Have your agent arrange this or talk to Royal staff.) When we took your itinerary in September, we dined with a single woman and had delightful conversation.
  14. One thing I take that I don't see on packing lists is foreign currency (part of cash?). Not that US dollars can't be used, but some excursions go to rural areas, so I try to plan ahead, e.g., euros for Europe or pesos for Mexico. There are so many cruises at each destination that I hold onto the extra currency for a future trip. But really, aside from medicine, BUG Spray, and clothing, we haven't found it necessary to overthink packing. One trip I packed white socks, but not dark socks, and they weren't sold on the ship or in port. So I always think clothing first. Everyone seems to pack sunscreen but not something for flies and mosquitoes. Have a great cruise!
  15. And there is also swimming with the occasional octopus. True story, a diver gave a child a Conch shell, and he told his father there was an octopus inside. Of course, Dad didn't believe is 5 year old, but I walked over to check it out. Yep, the octopus was there, but it fell/jumped out of the shell and onto the sand. I grabbed it and took it to the water, where it swam away in a cloud of ink!
  16. Concur with @Biff215 . I am an early riser and don't find a line at Cafe Promenade, but on departure (disembarkation) day, it will be very busy. When you are at the Diamond level and above, you'll find free cappucinni in the Diamond Lounge of most ships. But I still use the coffee card for its convenience and choice of drinks.
  17. I agree with@TXcruzer . You can take a glass of wine virtually anywhere (but no glass on pool deck), so if you bring your own bottle, just ask the Stateroom Attendant for glasses. Take your wine to your restaurant as explained above. Later, when you earn Diamond vouchers, you'll probably do something similar--get a drink at a nearby bar and take it to the restaurant to avoid the "delay" which can often occur in the MDR.
  18. It seems like a long time when I run out of clean clothes!
  19. Ask for a Moscato. That's what my wife drinks, because sometimes the White Zin is a little on the sour side.
  20. The Cruise Compass will indicate the recommended attire for dinner in the Main Dining Room as well as various dance parties. The longer the cruise, the more events. Haven't been on the Mariner, but on other ships there is a dress your best/formal night (or two), but you don't need to go overboard. There will be a night for a tropical/Hawaiian shirt, and maybe a white night late at the pool deck. Other threads discuss clothing in great detail, but as long as men have a collared shirt and long pants, men won't feel out of place anywhere regardless of the recommended attire. I like to pack a sport coat or wear it on the ship, but other men don't. My wife has clothes that are nice but doesn't wear fancy ball gowns. Again, Cruise Compass from the link at the top of the page will get you started. Have a great trip!
  21. My bad eyes ,I though you said "snorkeling" rather than smoking ?. Still it's worth a try.
  22. Yes, I snorkeled off of Chill Island in May and September. The fish were buy the rocks at the end of the cove. However, on my next trip, I will try an excursion that goes to a natural reef. Because of hurricane damage (Dorian) and all of the island reconstruction, the snorkeling at the beach isn't as good as it was. We bring our equipment but you can select at your leisure snorkeling in Cruise Planner if you don't want to pack your gear.
  23. In Cozumel the red & white taxis are legitimate, and they can just dump you downtown at the jewelry stores, just as you've stated. It's easy to pick up a cab going back. On return, they will drop you off at 5th Avenue next to port shopping. You'll need your SeaPass to get back into port shopping. For us it was $8 to return so I gave the driver $10. If you sign up to go with the shopping guide, your taxi trip into town will be free. There is a little square a couple of blocks in from the main street, and numerous gift shops or cafes border the park. Downtown, expect to haggle on all prices - don't accept the first quote. Diamonds International marks everything up. We paid $399 for earrings (after negotiating down from $700) that were $299 online (from their store site). As always, buyer beware. There is a Cozumel Island Museum near downtown that is supposed to be good, but we haven't made it there yet. It can be looked up online (map and directions). Have a great trip! PS. You can also take a cab to local beaches, but we haven't done that yet.
  24. Concur with everyone, but I also pack a lanyard with a phone-sized plastic pouch that can be sealed when I go into the water on excursions or in the pool on the ship. When I wear a lanyard that is card-sized, I make sure the fastener is secure, or I place the card end of the lanyard in my shirt pocket. I find that I can go through a lot plastic card holders -- the soft plastic holders found at Walmart tend to tear, so I use hard plastic holders. Have a great trip!
  25. In addition to walking around, we have tried snorkeling. One tip: don't pick the cheap trip that crams a large crowd together, try an excursion with a smaller number of guests. Equipment is provided. I just skimmed the surface and enjoyed it. Have a great trip!
×
×
  • Create New...