ChessE4

If you have an emergency in port, you can still get your passport out of your safe before you fly home. Anything you take with you in port is at risk, but you do need to take some risks. You just choose which ones, and usually with an eye to minimizing them. While at home, I do need to carry my driver's license most of the time, but I don't carry all of my credit cards -- most are in my "safe" at home, along with my checkbook, etc. The reasoning is parallel when on the ship. Whatever you choose, have a great cruise.

My wife claims her filet mignon at Chops was OK but nothing spectacular. On another cruise, we were told by wait staff that the best steak was prepared by the Italian restaurant, which was Giovanni's at the time.

Yes, contacting one of the RCI executives worked for my wife when the ship lost her luggage on disembarkation. Another site publishes contact information for cruise line executives, likely you can easily search on the Internet.

Our rule has been to take our license as photo ID but leave the passport in the safe, unless the cruise compass tells us otherwise. We had table-mates in the MDR who were pick-pocketed when they took passports with them in the port. We aren't worried about being left behind. We also have travel cards and sometimes use those as photo ids, but they won't get you on the plane. On other threads it has been reported that RCI will get your passports out of your stateroom if you are a no-show at any port--- your documents are then left with the port agent. I have never tested this...My fear of losing or damaging my passport is greater than my fear of being stranded. Others feel differently, as reported.

My experience is that there is a face recognition program that searches for the faces of the guests registered in the stateroom with the photo purchase. There are sometimes errors, so one should check photos on the ship. If the entire group is together a lot, the group photos will be available to you as long as covered "faces" are in the picture. We saw photographers all over the place, at ports, by the dining room, in the MDR, by the stairs, etc. Port visits can involve photos with costumed representatives. Other threads discuss whether the package is a good value or not. That depends on what you get out of it. We have purchased an occasional photo but never the entire package. Again, if you purchase, make sure to check your account while you are on the ship. PS. There are lines for the photographers on the promenade or during peak periods, like formal night. That might impact your boys.

There is some geographic variation, e.g., different entrees and side dishes overseas. Case in point would be the British food experience when sailing out of Southampton. At least this was the case three years ago....

I am sorry it was so disappointing. Be sure to provide comments on the end-of-cruise evaluation. We sailed the Grandeur many times when we lived in Maryland and didn't experience the problems you've described. I suspect it was a "perfect storm" of sorts. Whoever you choose in the future, have a great time.

See recent post -- yes on drink sales.

We just watched some cruise shows on Smithsonian Channel, which helps fill the time. I like to download the excursions brochure for my cruise and then study it before I go into Cruise Planner. Enjoy your trips! PS. You are not completely addicted until you start saving the leftover foreign currency so you are prepared for the future....I am a strong believer that everyone should have a few Euros on hand (smile).

On all the ships I've been on you needed to pay for Voom (internet/wifi), and the self-serve ice cream was free. Ben & Jerry's or other premium ice cream requires a charge to your Sea Pass.

The flip side of larger ships, which offer multiple venues, is the smaller ship. I remember a New Year's cruise on the Grandeur, and everyone was packed into small areas - like 500 in a space for 100 -- whether Deck 6 bars, the Centrum, or the pool deck. Now that was crowded. I recall a chocolate buffet at midnight where the line on deck 4 went all the way to the bow (the stateroom hallway). I would expect crowds at particular times, but larger ships have more spaces as @Bakerette has stated. I have generally found Central Park to be free of crowds and very relaxing....

You'll want to go a la carte per@USCG Teacher . The drink cards that I have seen have been offered mid-cruise, and you need to drink a lot in a few days to get your $$ worth. As you gain Crown and Anchor status, you'll see some promotions on your Seapass, like 2-for-1 beer, wine, or soda or perhaps 10% off....Then there are the many opportunities for cheap or free drinks, like welcome celebrations, art shows, $2 mimosas in the Casino, etc. Some travel agents will give you something on Day 1, so if you have one, ask for beer! Have a great cruise! PS. I did note on the Harmony that domestic beer in the pub was more expensive than imported beer, not sure why.

The only bonus amenities we have received have been food items. Frankly, we get enough food and don't really need extra cookies or strawberries mid-week. We rarely use the available robes and don't value laundry benefits except on long cruises. My thought is that anything extra is just that, and I don't view it as an entitlement. Now those happy hour drinks I treat as an entitlement (smile)!

Regardless of the posted age, our experience is that it is inconsistently enforced, especially during daylight hours. If there is a problem with an "open" pool, parents with kids have used the Solarium on many ships we've sailed. Personally, I would prefer some sort of "adult" area where one can relax.

The brochure for Royal's excursions doesn't list any age restrictions.

I have never seen anyone tip for free dancing classes, but I haven't taken gym classes. One idea is to watch others at the first class you attend. There is some cash tipping that occurs surreptitiously on the ship as the official Royal policy is to use Seapass card (for meals and drinks) or envelopes at the end of the cruise. The cash tipping I have observed has generally been discreet. When in doubt, I avoid cash tipping until the end of the cruise (drink prices have tips added automatically). Spa services involve tipping, but my wife usually uses her Seapass card. There is a line to add extra above the 18% default level. Standby for comments from gym class participants...

I agree with other comments but wanted to point out a practice at Port Canaveral for future reference. This involves a shuttle bus from the hotel. The practice is to get bags out first, then passengers. Passengers are asked to eye-ball their bags so you know they have been off-loaded. The porters gather everyone around to make sure they have their boarding passes and passports. It is at this time that the porters collect tips. I am not sure if, in Miami, you will be on a shuttle bus or other vehicle, so I thought I'd share my experience....

All I can tell you is that there are frequently glitches with the App. Following up was a wise move, but in the big scheme of things, I don't think reservations are worth losing any sleep. Just travel safely to the port and enjoy your cruise!

On the topic of ports/excursions, many ports will be hot in June, so plan on drinking lots of water! Between Pisa and Florence (from Livorno), I'd vote for Florence. We visited Pisa, which was OK, but not exactly overwhelming. The next time we are in Naples, will try to visit Capri. We climbed Mt Vesuvius, which has a great view, and also toured Pompei. Both have value, but Pompei is better. In Rome, you can walk around on your own and see most of the key sites. Royal has excursions like "Rome on your own" which provide you transportation from and to the port. I'd suggest taking a look at Rick Steves' videos on Italy for some background and ideas.

When Cruise Planner isn't working (or I have no cruises booked), I search cruises by ports, and when I am at the desired port I look for the link on shore excursions. It isn't 100% accurate, but it is the basic inventory of excursions and prices for that port. It actually helps me decide if I like the available itineraries. When Cruise Planner is up, you'll then know what to look for and order.

Your alcohol question has been answered, but don't forget the perk of getting espresso drinks or a continental breakfast. Not sure what the lounge is like on the Adventure, but I found it fun to use the espresso machine throughout the day when I needed a pick-me-up. Have a great cruise! On your Seapass, you will also have some other Diamond benefits like a 2 for 1 purchase on certain drinks, and this isn't limited by the happy hour. There are more details about your Diamond level benefits at this URL. https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cas/benefits/diamond-members/

On the smaller ships, I like being near the Centrum (Deck 4), and have found Decks 3 and 4 convenient. This assumes you are roughly amidships; the bow can be noisy. On the larger ships I find proximity to elevators is useful, and since we go to the promenade a lot, a deck like 7-9 balances distance to dining and activities. Since elevators are often in use, it is important to be about 3 decks or less from your destination so taking the stairs is healthy but not fatiguing. The main point is to avoid being near a noisy venue and to think about the locations on the ship you'll visit most. On the Harmony we were pretty far aft, and we ended up eating a lot in the Solarium Bistro, which meant long walks to the bow of the ship.

On a previous post someone stated the "PIG" excursion was a bit of a scam--not at all like the true pig island elsewhere in the Bahamas. So I would check more recent reviews on that one.

When you reach a decision, remember to book excursions online rather than on the ship. You can download the entire excursion brochure instead of spending hours on the cruise planner going back and forth...If your selected excursions drop in price, you can cancel and rebook at the lower price, up to the cut-off time.

I used it on the Harmony, but as @FManke noted, they started charging two punches for some drinks, like the Caribbean Coconut I love to drink in the afternoon. If you stick to a normal (1-shot) cap or latte, then it is a good value unless you have Diamond Lounge access. Also, on the Harmony they don't show Chai Tea on the menu, but I was able to order that for my wife.