PRebecca

Hi @Stepheroo welcome to the message boards! I just went thru this same choice and thought I'd share what helped me decide, which is actually very little and probably not too helpful but here I am. I landed on a South Beach bed for our upcoming trip (May) because A. the floating bar seems pretty close and B. it appears to get deep enough for swimming . I also read the sand at SB is a little rougher with shells than CI so we're bringing water shoes. I had a hard time finding anything that indicated one was any better, quieter, calmer than the other because it seems to possibly depend on the other guests around you at the time.When we went to CI in September it seemed almost empty in the cabana area since not many were rented that day. If there would have been cabanas full of rowdy folks or kids (love 'em, dont get me wrong) on either side of us then it may have been a less relaxing experience, but as it stood the area was pretty empty and we felt almost alone. I hope this helps, but if you're anything like me I went round and round and finally just landed at SB because of any random bit of info to push me in one direction over the other. Not even sure water good for swimming and floating bar being close is factual info but the point I'm trying to make is I don't know there's a blanket statement as to which will be more private. I think it will depend on who is near you at the time of your visit, but either location in a beach bed really should be a big score of a day ? Hoping someone else chimes in.

Caught my eye here: DH insisted on the Key (I think he liked the seats on Nav with the Key and the welcome lunch and getting internet anyway) for our May trip on Indy in a JS; can I ask what prompts your dropping it if you're awarded a RU to GS or OS? Do those come with Internet? I wondered about dropping the key when we were in a similar situation in September but thought it was too close to sailing date to cancel if you're awarded your RU a day or 2 before sail date. I appreciate your input on this ?

Happy Cruise Day!!

have a great time all!

Hi Virginia, welcome to the message boards! I can share my experience with this and surely others will chime in. When we were on Mariner and missed Coco Cay due to weather we had a sea day. My excursions purchased for Coco Cay were immediately refunded. I knew this was a possibility when I booked the cruise and had a plan B in place, so having reasonable expectations led me to have a great day even though we missed that port. As for guessing if you'll miss the port with the current forecast I can't say, but think it wise of you to explore that as a possibility! James VanFleet is RC's meteorologist (or similar) and sometimes posts on social media updates on weather that he's keeping an eye on. I hope you make it if you're scheduled there and have a great day.

On the balcony with a coffee first thing in the morning. It's starts my day off just right!

Did you just call and say you noticed it's the same price for upgrade that you paid for lesser cabin and could you upgrade? Was it that easy? I understand it varies call to call and case to case but just wondering what did work for you. And that's awesome for you!

What a fun trip, thanks so much for taking the time to share with us! I hope to meet your obviously awesome family on a group cruise one day! I want to meet everyone here!! The numbers are fun, and I can't remember them at all but love to hear them- especially about the crazy amount of food served on a ship. But 90,000 dozen eggs, I wish they'd reword that (picky much?). 90,000 dozen. Ninety thousand dozen ? @WAAAYTOOO I hope you're recovering nicely!

Time schmime, get on that ship!! ? Have a great cruise!

I love cruising because once we get on the ship there's really nothing I have to do like cooking and cleaning on other vacations. I wish I would have discovered this type vacation when the kids were younger and vacations seemed like almost as much work just in another location. I also love the uninterrupted time that cruising gives my husband and I together. Because we live in Florida I still enjoy the affordability and ease of Caribbean cruises but if I could go anywhere on a cruise it'd be Scotland and Ireland. Great fun question!

I love this story!!

yes it does! includes passes up to 6 people

I for sure thought this had something to do with Disney world ?

@shortgirlc123 have you been on your cruise? Do you have any recommendations to share now that you've been? I hope you had a great time!

Some of you have really interesting and obscure screen names; I wonder what they mean, stand for, or where they come from. If you've been wishing someone would ask so you could share the cool connection or story, please do! I've made up what some of them mean or stand for on my own and would like to see where the really come from, if you care to share. I think the term 'handle' may not be used properly in this context, nor is 'screen name' so feel free to correct me on what term I should be using! Rebecca (my first name is Polly but haven't used it since elementary)

@LToman have you been on your cruise yet? I've booked a South Beach day bed for May and wondered if you went to that area and have an opinion on if you'd prefer SB to CI day bed?

Oh thanks, much simpler than I thought. Deck's irrelevant. Thank you again

Good evening, I'm wondering if someoneone can please tell me what deck the slides dump you out on on Independence? I kind of wanted to do them on Mariner but not enough to find out where I'd end up. I don't want to make the same (lazy) mistake on Independence. TIA

Wow, I'm still new enough I haven't seen any Caribbean itineraries that we're all port days!! That seems awesome.

@1stTimerHappy cruising! Have a great time!

I have a change for November 21, 2021. I switched my Oasis sailing to the Harmony GC. The FOMO would have driven myself (and DH) batsh*t crazy.

May 11, 2020 (80 days to go!) on Indy hits both.

Thanks so much for returning here to share your recent experience! That's great helpful info from you both.

I've been back and forth over and over about a SB cabana for May! I always say one can have a great time on CocoCay without spending an additional dime but have a hard time listening to my own advice. I look forward to seeing your March photos. For now I have a beach bed and am trying to stick with it.

I think I read on Royal's site that over 50% of folks cruising are celebrating something, wow! My cousin got a towel cake from our steward for his birthday, it was the first I'd seen that and thought it was coolest towel creation!