PRebecca

Dollar tree stuffs are cheap so we can have more money to spend on RCI Cruise. Most things in dollar tree are the same other place has just a little lower quality and serve the purpose for the cruise. Just don't go overboard buy too many things. Just pick what you need for your cruise. 
Magnetic clip      https://www.dollartree.com/jot-heavy-duty-magnetic-metal-clips-4ct-packs/220186

I'm more of a forward person. 
Some ships do shake in the aft depending on ship speed but more importantly when I'm forward I get to where we are going first.  

I only do it for convenience.  Last June, I printed my Set Sail Pass for a cruise on the Mariner.  But I left it on the printer ? 

We always bring both a paper copy and the app just incase. We cant relax until we are on the ship...Lol

Symphony of the Seas, 7 nights!!!!
 
What about you!?

If you search live blogs, a member here did a fantastic review just recently, I immediately wanted to book that ship ?

If you search live blogs, a member here did a fantastic review just recently, I immediately wanted to book that ship ?

Received eDocs today after 2 calls to AARP, 1 to RCCL, and an email to RCCL. It seems that when you have included Air2Sea that those docs are not released outside of 30 days. Am happy now!!
 

First of all, you're doing the right thing by ASKING QUESTIONS!  No question is too often asked, no question is too silly.  ASK!  The people on these forums are super nice and really do want you to enjoy your vacation!
Secondly.  Immerse yourself in @Matt 's videos and vlogs.  https://www.youtube.com/user/RoyalCaribbeanBlog/videos  This is a great resource for many commonly asked questions by first time cruisers and Royal Caribbean veterans.  
Thirdly come up with a communication system for all of your people.  Be it postit notes, whiteboards, using wifi calling/instant messaging, smoke signals, whatever.  Come up with a communication system among your people.  That way you can let them know if plans change.  Maybe you want to go to the comedy act but others want to go to the pool deck... and then your plans change to going to karaoke.  Set a postit note in the cabin or on the cabin door saying you're at a different location, or text each other saying the plans have changed.  Set a designated meet up spot.  Be it the pool bar, the windjammer, a restaurant, whatever.  Set a meeting spot so you know where to go to assemble your tribe.  
Fourth, Be organied.   Get a binder to keep you organized.  To keep your receipts for excursions, travel documents, receipts for anything, ideas of things to do onboard, whatever.  But keep your binder and keep it organized.  There are 3 ring folders or sleeves to use as tabs and pockets to organize documentation.   Personally with my cruise documentation I like having in multiple places.  One copy in my checked luggage, the originals in my binder, and pictures or scans of the originals emailed to myself.  That way in case anything happens to the most important documents, copies are readily available.  I like also keeping my packing list in the binder.  That way I know what I packed so I know what I should have when I leave.  I might be a little overorganized when it comes to packing but I'm an organizing nut.  I do the same with my charging cords.  I label them.  I have a little checkin, checkout system in a cable organizer that way I dont leave behind a charging cable.  I use packing cubes to keep my clothing and cosmetics etc organized and separated so packing up everything becomes a breeze with just packing the cubes and then depositing the cubes into my luggage.  
Fifth.  Set a spending limit for the teens.  I'd limit their seapass cards personally but that's up to you how you handle the teens and the seapass cards.  This is just so you dont get any surprise charges on your account due to the arcade or drinks or gifts or whatever.  
Sixth.  Ask questions!  And when you think you've asked too many questions, ask MORE questions!

The Banner I made for our door. I need to modify it just a little. Lol

Keep in mind that Royal will adapt to the situation and timing will change based on circumstances on a case by case basis.  
Their goal is to operate each cruise as it was scheduled.  So while they notified me on the August 29th for a shortened cruise that was supposed to depart on September 2nd that will likely not be the case next time simply because the storm will be different, the cruise will be different, the track will be different and so on.
There are so many variables I'd be careful drawing conclusions from what was offered and when from this storm.

I admit that was my fault.  I should have come on time.  But my gripe was about being told that I could not make another reservation, that they were booked till the end of the cruise, when they were not.  I did not act like he owed me a new reservation.  I even said, “Can I plead with you? Can I grovel?”

Oh cool!  I had a Thrillpark Cabana for $799 on Harmony sailing 3/8/2020 and now its $499.  I cancelled and rebooked!

I just re-booked my Thrill Water Park Cabana on Navigator Jan 2020 for $299 down from $499!!!

I'm thinking that all of us seek out a cruise strategy that best serves their allotted time, finances and unique personal tastes. Looks like you have found yours.

I'm going to join in the chorus of Enjoy the sea.  Watch a sunset over the open ocean.  Watch a sunrise over the open ocean.  Meditate  (ok that's a little spiritual, sorry, its a thing I do) on the vastness of the open ocean when you're nowhere close to land.  Its absolutely awe inspiring that I get on every ship I've ever been on.  
Also, find a quiet spot on the ship.  You may have to search for one.  Maybe its the library, maybe its a nook off of the centrum, maybe its the solarium.  Maybe its in one of the specialty restaurants.  Maybe its the art gallery.  No matter the place, find a place to get away that's not your room, and its at least semi quiet.  Have a conversation about your trip, what you've done, who you've met.  Its amazing that in all of the hustle and bustle of a cruise so many forget to just take time to reflect on those experiences.
I'd also suggest, dont miss formal night.  Yes its adult prom.  But I love it.  No matter the cruise line, no matter specialty unlimited dining packages, take time to enjoy formal night.  Take pictures.  You dont get this moment many times anymore as an adult.  So make the most of it.  Get in those suits, get in those sparkly or flowy dresses or pantsuits.  Have FUN at adult prom.  Its 3 hours of your life.  Suck it up for 3 hours and then you can put on your track suit again.  

Thanks! I've been looking over that Fleet Guide pdf, very informative. My next cruises will be based on price of course, itinerary, time of year (although hurricane season worked out really well for me :-) and then work my way up the fleet classes with an eye on the amped ships. Thanks for the advice everyone!

We're on the ship and enjoying our lunch courtesy of Chops Steak house.  We've done a little bit of exploring and I am totally in love with this ship!
 
I want to thank everyone (especially Matt) for answering all of my silly questions and helping us prepare to make this the best vacation ever!  
 
The only sad part is that next week it will be over....but I'm going to enjoy every second while I can!  Talk to you all in a week!

My favorite post I've seen all weekend and I've seen a lot of great ones! Thanks for sharing ?

Here's my immediate family on the Navigator June 24-28, 2019

Huge is a relative term for an old guy in a small Tennessee town. I saw lots of bigger boats along the way on that cruise and I imagined what it would be like on one and concluded that the Empress was huge enough. I don't need a water slide or a city within a city, I just want a limber little boat that I can walk from one end to the other easily.

I was on the recent extended Empress cruise (due to Dorian), it was my first cruise, and I just wanted to say that was the best consecutive eleven days I've ever experienced, and I'm an old guy that's seen a lot. I'm a huge Royal Caribbean fan now, can't imagine riding with anyone else from here on out. I don't know if it's appropriate but I'm posting a sunset photo taken the night before arriving back in Miami.

I believe you have to go to Shore Excursion on board and provide the names and cabin of the other guests.
Personally I'd be very leery of a stranger on a ship coming over to me and saying "buddy, give me $25 and I'll get you a pass.  Just give me your name and cabin number".

We have finally booked all of our excursions for this cruise! We ended up going no snorkeling as my husband doesn't want to deal with his facial hair bothering him 
Cococay - currently planning on just hanging out by the pool, maybe by the beach. I've been eyeing the beach beds and may jump if the price goes down. Really devastated by everything going on in the Bahamas right now, but hoping we can still get here 
Costa Maya - we are going to Maya Chan! 
Roatan - we booked our first & only excursion through Royal (it was cheaper than any 3rd party site similar excursion I could find) We'll be doing the Jungle ATV Adventure & Beach Break (got it for around $75pp) 
Cozumel - going to Nachi Cocum for a beach day 
 
I figured I'd use this post to keep my thoughts organized about what we thought of all the stops! 

Please delete or let me know if this doesn't belong here ?
 
I learned here on these boards to continue checking prices for shore excursions in the cruise planner and what do you know! We saved $100 on the beach bed for Coco Cay sailing on Navigator this Friday the 13th. All Cabanas decreased in price quite a bit also to a much affordable range for me in case anyone is on that sailing.