SummerJoy72

This is our first time using a travel agent, which I decided to do after listening to about 10 podcasts. ?. Well, lo and behold she called me earlier this week.  Our cruise went down almost $800!!!!  Such awesome news and reinforced to me to always use a travel agent for cruises in the future!

This is our first time using a travel agent, which I decided to do after listening to about 10 podcasts. ?. Well, lo and behold she called me earlier this week.  Our cruise went down almost $800!!!!  Such awesome news and reinforced to me to always use a travel agent for cruises in the future!

This is our first time using a travel agent, which I decided to do after listening to about 10 podcasts. ?. Well, lo and behold she called me earlier this week.  Our cruise went down almost $800!!!!  Such awesome news and reinforced to me to always use a travel agent for cruises in the future!

This is our first time using a travel agent, which I decided to do after listening to about 10 podcasts. ?. Well, lo and behold she called me earlier this week.  Our cruise went down almost $800!!!!  Such awesome news and reinforced to me to always use a travel agent for cruises in the future!

This is our first time using a travel agent, which I decided to do after listening to about 10 podcasts. ?. Well, lo and behold she called me earlier this week.  Our cruise went down almost $800!!!!  Such awesome news and reinforced to me to always use a travel agent for cruises in the future!

This is our first time using a travel agent, which I decided to do after listening to about 10 podcasts. ?. Well, lo and behold she called me earlier this week.  Our cruise went down almost $800!!!!  Such awesome news and reinforced to me to always use a travel agent for cruises in the future!

This is our first time using a travel agent, which I decided to do after listening to about 10 podcasts. ?. Well, lo and behold she called me earlier this week.  Our cruise went down almost $800!!!!  Such awesome news and reinforced to me to always use a travel agent for cruises in the future!

This is our first time using a travel agent, which I decided to do after listening to about 10 podcasts. ?. Well, lo and behold she called me earlier this week.  Our cruise went down almost $800!!!!  Such awesome news and reinforced to me to always use a travel agent for cruises in the future!

This is our first time using a travel agent, which I decided to do after listening to about 10 podcasts. ?. Well, lo and behold she called me earlier this week.  Our cruise went down almost $800!!!!  Such awesome news and reinforced to me to always use a travel agent for cruises in the future!

Yes, you need to call-in for those items.
Better yet, transfer your reservation to a good travel agent (you can do so within 60 days of your initial booking) and let them do all this for you!

Yesterday we were in Coco Cay and had pre booked a Chill Island Beach Cabana. Here’s the quick & dirty:
Pros:
We booked early and paid $399 for the day which turned out to be a good price. Our suite concierge said the remaining few rented last minute at $700+. 
Cabana was more then enough room for 4 adults and a few kids. There’s a nice couch, 2 plastic (but comfortable) chairs, coffee table, cooler table (stocked with comped Evian water), a ceiling fan and 2 water floats. 
Cabana attendant “Linda” was awesome and was always stopping by to see if we needed anything. I don’t believe there was ever a moment we had to wait for anything. 
Location was great. You get your own private beach area that is shared with only the Chill Island Cabana guests. Tons of small fish near the barrier rocks to look at. Nice white sand and free of the absolutely annoying sharp coral that you find on the Suite beach at Labadee. 
The complimentary cabana menu offered a very nice selection of food that could satisfy basically anyone. The food came piping hot right off the grill. 
Cons:
No option to tip the cabana attendant on your seapass card. The thought here was that I would start a tab and order alcohol, soda exc (non drink package people here) and give the attendant a nice tip when I close out the tab. This is not the case. The attendant does not run a tab and you must close out every order (meaning the tip goes to the bar personnel). I walked back to the ship and got cash. Slightly annoying but mostly my fault. I do think for the sake of the attendants tip that they make this more obvious. 
Coco Cay is huge and it’s easy to miss the chill island cabanas if you decide to walk instead of using the tram. We overshot the location by 1/2 mile and ended up taking the scenic route. Again, more my fault for not paying enough attention. I did notice the map location is deceiving and also the cabanas are not well marked. 
I noticed the showers are located in sand which makes 0 sense. I found it difficult to get the sand off of us. Very annoying. There should be a shower(s) close to the pier so 5000 people don’t track sand back to the ship. RC missed this one. Sure you could spray off your feet in the pirate ship next to the pier but there really needs to be a better solution. 
 
My overall all review is an overwhelming positive experience. We will 100% only do this island in a cabana because the experience was excellent. We spent some time in the pool and it’s simply awesome! RC did a great job on Coco Cay!

Am I the only one calculating calories when everyone is talking drink packages? ?. I’d rather eat my calories!

I know that at any price, the drinks do make me rounder.?

Am I the only one calculating calories when everyone is talking drink packages? ?. I’d rather eat my calories!

Hi everyone!
I live in Maryland and have only done one cruise, the Allure in 2017, with my husband and son.  We are going on the Oasis out of Cape Liberty in June 2020.  A friend told me about the podcast which led to the blog.  I’m a big vacation researcher, so this has been a goldmine!  Also using a travel agent for the first time, which is super strange for me.
Love hearing tips and hacks to make everything smoother!
 

This is totally me! I'd actually rather eat AND drink my calories, but alas, my body has other ideas!

Am I the only one calculating calories when everyone is talking drink packages? ?. I’d rather eat my calories!

Am I the only one calculating calories when everyone is talking drink packages? ?. I’d rather eat my calories!

Am I the only one calculating calories when everyone is talking drink packages? ?. I’d rather eat my calories!

Thanks.  Completely annoying but it is what it is.  It burns my bottom to give them another $48 for the two of us.  I am really re-thinking if the drink package is such a good deal for us.  8 nights is $982 is a ton of money for the flexibility to drink as we see fit.  At $10 a drink that is nearly 100 drinks!

Hi everyone!
I live in Maryland and have only done one cruise, the Allure in 2017, with my husband and son.  We are going on the Oasis out of Cape Liberty in June 2020.  A friend told me about the podcast which led to the blog.  I’m a big vacation researcher, so this has been a goldmine!  Also using a travel agent for the first time, which is super strange for me.
Love hearing tips and hacks to make everything smoother!
 

Also consider this isn't the extent of drinks they can make.  They can make just about any drink. 
The drink menu is to give people something to look at to help them decide.  It would be impossible to list every possible drink that a bartender can make.

Fresh off Navigator in March 2019 here is the latest version of the drink menu found on many ships. 
It's largely unchanged from 2017 but prices have been updated.

I would suggest My Time Dining (MTD).  Everyone would need to be on the same dining and that would have been arranged through your TA or Royal when you booked.  It can be changed.  Once everyone is on MTD, then get everyone's reservation number and book for whatever day/time you decide and request it.  You typically can only request up to 12 people but someone over the phone may be able to help if bigger party.  Just verify it with the MTD desk on the first day.  The other nights, each family is free to make individual reservations.  If families don't want to switch to  MTD, then I suggest a big Windjammer gathering.  If you are in Traditional dining, this would be impossible as each family would already be assigned a table.  

Hi everyone!
I live in Maryland and have only done one cruise, the Allure in 2017, with my husband and son.  We are going on the Oasis out of Cape Liberty in June 2020.  A friend told me about the podcast which led to the blog.  I’m a big vacation researcher, so this has been a goldmine!  Also using a travel agent for the first time, which is super strange for me.
Love hearing tips and hacks to make everything smoother!