Chaosgirl426

i just bought one of these, the newer model... but id go with best buy rather than wal mart. the wal mart camera comes from someone other than the actual store, it comes refurbished and they didnt give me the sky blue when i paid extra for it. i returned it and went with best buy. got a new camera and a free floaty strap. :) (i did my research and settled on this after about a month) im with you on this one jolly ogre!!

I have cruised with other cruise lines in the past and my husband and I are embarking on our first Royal Caribbean cruise in less than 2 months!! A few things I have learned over the years other than 'planning, planning, planning' is finding the time to relax. In the months leading up to my cruise, I tend to do as much research as I possibly can. I figured I would share a couple things that I have learned, and that I think are really cool in general on a cruise (mind you I have been stalking this blog for a month or two before posting).
1. $2 bills are not seen as often on land anymore and even more rarely at sea. I stock up for a while and bring them as tips for my room steward and bartenders and whatnot for the fun of it!
2. A journal. I bring a small notebook and essentially 'journal' every night before bed. I write down everything so I can remember it in a few years (I do this for a lot of vacations, not just cruises)
3. Dry erase markers are awesome for leaving notes for your room steward, and sometimes they write back!! (on the mirror), i also bring tape and tape the $2 bills to the mirror and draw pictures to them too, it's fun!
4. Alarm clock to wake up with a familiar tone, power strip for more plug space, hilighter to decide what you want to do (or family MUST do's)
We are going with 'BGG@sea' and will be playing board games for most of the trip, but I have planned some entertainment and food venues, and of course excursions. We will be on Symphony of the Seas, and I have looked at as much as I could. My birthday is on day 4 of the cruise. 
My question- what do you reccommend? what are must do's on Symphony (aside from the obvious Abyss, flow rider, water slides, carousel... and wonderland?)?? anyone have any tips for haggling with the market people in Labadee? I saw the magnetic hook idea, and i may try that this time around!! :)

i just bought one of these, the newer model... but id go with best buy rather than wal mart. the wal mart camera comes from someone other than the actual store, it comes refurbished and they didnt give me the sky blue when i paid extra for it. i returned it and went with best buy. got a new camera and a free floaty strap. :) (i did my research and settled on this after about a month) im with you on this one jolly ogre!!