USCG Teacher

Day 2 - At Sea
   This was the only, and I mean ONLY day where we had any sort of a problem.  We had gotten a Casita to use as a "home base" for our sea day so we wouldn't have to fight the crowds and chair hogs on the pool deck.  I went up to the Lime and the Coconut at a little before 9 while everyone else enjoyed room service breakfast and was quickly able to select my location.  I went back to retrieve everyone else and by the time I got back up on deck at 9:15, they had closed Deck 16 due to weather.  It was incredibly windy and someone (correctly!) decided it probably wasn't safe to have guests up there while underway.  While I fully agree with and support the decision, there was really no communication about the situation, and many of the staff even seemed unaware.  As a result of half of teh avaialble seating being out of commission, the pool deck was EXTREMELY crowded. You'd think that common decency would lead to people being more mindful of their belongings and aware of their fellow passengers, but no, chair hogs gonna hog.  We were able to find one sole chair between two families that we piled our things on while we enjoyed the pool and bar for the rest of the morning, then (and take note here people) picked up our things and took them with us at we headed off to El Loco Fresh for lunch!  Shocking, I know!  Despite the over crowding, the kids had a blast in the pool.  We decided to eat at Park Cafe for lunch, as I needed to try the legendary Kummelweck.  It was pretty good!  Maybe not worth of cult status, but definitely not a disappointment either.  After lunch we played some mini-golf, watched some body and stand up surfing on the Flowriders, then headed off the enjoy the Boardwalk.  Later that evening, the cost of the Casita was refunded to my account as OBC automatically, so that was good.
It was formal night, so even though the dress code in CK is more relaxed, we opted to dress up both for the novelty of the situation for us and to take advantage of the photographers for some formal family portraits.  Dinner at CK was excellent again (spoiler alert, it was excellent every night).  Also, following up on a question I had asked pre-cruise, they were 100% able to deliver my favorite dish from the MDR, the Grand Marnier Soufflé for dessert.  I had asked our server Alma about the night prior, and she quickly brought the Maître d' over to confirm that it was possible.  He just told me to remind them upon my arrival, and they could make it happen.  I did so, and he did his due diligence in letting me know that the soufflé might fall on the trip from the MDR to Deck 17, but was happy to bring it up.  They not only brought me one, they brought two, and they were both as delicious as I remembered! While it was not implied or expected, I was sure to include an extra-additional gratuity to both my server and the Maître d' to express my gratitude.
After dinner it was more enjoying the ship, and again ending up back in Central Park.  The boys loved Rising Tide, and I was very surprised and pleased to see how welcoming of children (albeit well behaved ones) they were in what is essentially a bar setting.  I was also surprised that they consistently gave them their Shirley Temples gratis despite them not having a refreshment package (and our being sure to point that out more than once).  I'd imagine the fact that we tipped with our drinks and were quickly becoming regulars had something to do with that, but maybe not... After winding down after dinner and a few more photos, it was off to the room to enjoy the balcony before bed.




IMG_3905.HEIC

In what I hope will be a fraction of the assistance this board provided me in getting ready for my cruise, I'm going to finally start (slowly) posting some information and pictures from my most recent cruise.  I apologize in advance for both the holes in the narrative and photographs; this was DW and my first cruise in almost 15 years, and our first one as a family, so I was much more focused on be present in the moment.  If anyone has ANY questions, please don't hesitate to ask and I'll be glad to do my best to help.  For background, this cruise was originally booked for my family of four  in the winter of 2018 (!!) for 2020, but I think we all know what happened there.  Now, the boys are 7 and 11.  After taking advantage of the opportunity to upgrade prior to Lifting & Shifting in 2020 to a Jr. Suite, then winning a minimum Royal Up bid in May of this year, we ended up in 1BR Aquatheater Suite cabin #12730.  We also had the Deluxe Beverage package for the adults and no drink package for the kids.  The suite concierge reached out to us about a week before sailing and secured our Costal Kitchen reservations for the week expect for day 6, where they got us 7:00 PM seats at Izumi Habachi.  Two days before sailing, they also reached out for entertainment reservations, and we had them reserve seats for Aqua80 on Day 5 and the Ice Show on Day 6. 
Day 1 - Embarkation
We were able to secure a 10:00 AM health check/embarkation time, and thanks to the amazing predictive ability of Waze, we arrived at the port after an approximately 1 hour drive at 9:55.  The porters were already hard at work helping arriving passengers, and there was a short line up around the bend at the terminal.  It looked crazy upon arrival, but as you get up to the front of the line, it's actually very well organized.  There was a port employee directing cars from both lanes to the appropriate unloading terminal as they became available.  We quickly drove up, dropped the bags, and were directed to a surface lot parking space.  It was a short walk from there to the terminal building (well under 5 minutes).  Despite it being just after 10, the terminal building was already quite busy and a little chaotic outside.  We were first directed to the suites line, but then we had to go back to the main entrance so someone could check the two boys Vaccination Cards since they were under 12.  They each got a little sticker, then back in line for security.  All told, it took maybe 15 - 20 minutes from doors to gangway, no complaints.  We watched the safety briefing while in line, then went straight to our muster station before lunch at the Windjammer.  It was extremely busy there (as anticipated!), but we were able to finally secure a table and sit down for lunch.  After that, we explored the ship, signed the boys up for Adventure Ocean, then enjoyed the pools thanks to all of you who suggested to pack our bathing suits in our carry on.  Waterslides had no lines and the hot tubs were essentially empty!  After a few hours, we went down to check out our cabin.  I still hadn't told the family that we had been upgraded out of our Jr. Suite, and they were blown away by the cabin!  The balcony IS everything that everyone makes it out to be, even as high as deck 12 (deck 14 looked pretty small, though!).  We enjoyed sailaway and took in the sights from our balcony with a few drinks before getting ready for dinner at Costal Kitchen.  Thanks again for all of the suggestions for the CK filet for night 1, it was everything everyone said it would be.  The remainder of the night was spent exploring the ship, and we ended up spending some time relaxing in Central Park for a bit before turning in, an activity that would become a running theme. 

5.HEIC 1.HEIC 3.HEIC 4.HEIC

Please don't take this as an attack, I truly don't mean for it to come off as such, but if you think C&A does an insufficient job of recognizing brand loyalty, good luck with the next cruise company you're headed to.

Day 3 - Port Canaveral
So, due to the prior day's weather issues and our afternoon arrival in port, DW decided to rebook the Casita this morning.  I was shocked there was availability given the capacity of the cruise, but we were happy to get one!  It serves it purpose nicely if you just enjoying hanging out at the pool for an extended period and just want somewhere to stash your stuff and/or take a break for a bit.  We had Casita #7, and it provided excellent sun protection for the first 3 or so hours, but by lunch time it provided very little protection.  What it was also perfect for was as a place to sit outside and enjoy breakfast and lunch.  Wait staff were thorough and responded quickly when summoned with the call button.  It ended up being a very enjoyable morning.  If I was not in a suite, I would book one again in a heartbeat.  Unfortunately for me, I had not yet discovered the Suite Sun Deck on the bow.  If I had, I would not have booked the Casita as the service and amenities there were far superior.  That said, it was definitely a live and learn experience, and given that we still thoroughly enjoyed the experience, I couldn't be too disappointed!
As for the actual port call, I'm sorry to say that on this itinerary that Port Canaveral is just about a total waste.  It gets in too late to make a trip to KSC or Disney really viable, and the rest of the excursions provided through RCI seemed either to be the cattle-call bus tour variety or consisted of a long ride for a short visit somewhere.  Now, as luck would have it, some family friends from NJ happened to be in Cape Canaveral that day for a softball tournament, so (thanks again to the suggestions of my more seasoned message board mates!) we arranged to meet at Grills for a late lunch.  Based on quick Googling and poor research on my part, I assumed we'd be at Terminal 1, leading to a quick walk over.  Turns out, we were at Terminal 6, around the opposite end of the complex.  We walked off the ship and went to the taxi stand, where they informed us it would be $80 for a round trip for the four of us to go the 2.7 miles to Grills.  That seemed beyond insane, so after a little finagling on the Lyft app, we got a ride for $13.  I'm not sure if it was just my phone or it's an app glitch, but Lyft would NOT let me enter Grills or its address as a destination.  Whenever I did, it would default to the Disney Cruise terminal zone.  Oddly enough, I was able to enter Cocoa Beach Parasail across the street as a destination, and that did work. 🤷🏻‍♂️ Anyhow, we arrived 15 minutes later than anticipated thanks to my incompetence, but the place was only half full at 2:30 on a Sunday afternoon, so no big deal.  Grills itself was quite good.  The food and entertainment were excellent and the staff was very friendly.  It definitely seemed to be a place that locals frequented but tourists were welcomed.  After lunch and a bit of a walk about, we headed back to the ship where we checked out the previous night's formal portraits (they were quite good!), went hunting for small wonders, then got ready for another excellent CK dinner.
After dinner, we again hit the Rising Tide to enjoy some more family conversation time and listened to the musicians before heading back to the the suite to check out Aqua80 from our balcony.  I am not engaging in hyperbole when I say that Aqua80 is hands down, far and away the greatest, most impressive show I have ever seen at sea, and easily a top 5 that I have seen anywhere.  The combination of elements with the music, the dancing, the diving, the fact that the stage itself serves as a key character, just incredible.  We were constantly looking around trying to figure out what was going to happen next!  A very specific warning for future residents of cabin 12730: when the high-rope walker comes out for his portion of the program, be careful because you CAN be seen in the background on the big screen in the theater for a short time!
I'm going to stop here for the day, and finish up tomorrow or Friday.  I hope something here was useful to someone, and again, please don't hesitate to ask any questions that you might have!  This cruise was such an amazing trip for us due largely to the invaluable input from so many people on this site, I'd like to be able to pay forward their knowledge and kindness in some small way!

Day 2 - At Sea
   This was the only, and I mean ONLY day where we had any sort of a problem.  We had gotten a Casita to use as a "home base" for our sea day so we wouldn't have to fight the crowds and chair hogs on the pool deck.  I went up to the Lime and the Coconut at a little before 9 while everyone else enjoyed room service breakfast and was quickly able to select my location.  I went back to retrieve everyone else and by the time I got back up on deck at 9:15, they had closed Deck 16 due to weather.  It was incredibly windy and someone (correctly!) decided it probably wasn't safe to have guests up there while underway.  While I fully agree with and support the decision, there was really no communication about the situation, and many of the staff even seemed unaware.  As a result of half of teh avaialble seating being out of commission, the pool deck was EXTREMELY crowded. You'd think that common decency would lead to people being more mindful of their belongings and aware of their fellow passengers, but no, chair hogs gonna hog.  We were able to find one sole chair between two families that we piled our things on while we enjoyed the pool and bar for the rest of the morning, then (and take note here people) picked up our things and took them with us at we headed off to El Loco Fresh for lunch!  Shocking, I know!  Despite the over crowding, the kids had a blast in the pool.  We decided to eat at Park Cafe for lunch, as I needed to try the legendary Kummelweck.  It was pretty good!  Maybe not worth of cult status, but definitely not a disappointment either.  After lunch we played some mini-golf, watched some body and stand up surfing on the Flowriders, then headed off the enjoy the Boardwalk.  Later that evening, the cost of the Casita was refunded to my account as OBC automatically, so that was good.
It was formal night, so even though the dress code in CK is more relaxed, we opted to dress up both for the novelty of the situation for us and to take advantage of the photographers for some formal family portraits.  Dinner at CK was excellent again (spoiler alert, it was excellent every night).  Also, following up on a question I had asked pre-cruise, they were 100% able to deliver my favorite dish from the MDR, the Grand Marnier Soufflé for dessert.  I had asked our server Alma about the night prior, and she quickly brought the Maître d' over to confirm that it was possible.  He just told me to remind them upon my arrival, and they could make it happen.  I did so, and he did his due diligence in letting me know that the soufflé might fall on the trip from the MDR to Deck 17, but was happy to bring it up.  They not only brought me one, they brought two, and they were both as delicious as I remembered! While it was not implied or expected, I was sure to include an extra-additional gratuity to both my server and the Maître d' to express my gratitude.
After dinner it was more enjoying the ship, and again ending up back in Central Park.  The boys loved Rising Tide, and I was very surprised and pleased to see how welcoming of children (albeit well behaved ones) they were in what is essentially a bar setting.  I was also surprised that they consistently gave them their Shirley Temples gratis despite them not having a refreshment package (and our being sure to point that out more than once).  I'd imagine the fact that we tipped with our drinks and were quickly becoming regulars had something to do with that, but maybe not... After winding down after dinner and a few more photos, it was off to the room to enjoy the balcony before bed.




IMG_3905.HEIC

In what I hope will be a fraction of the assistance this board provided me in getting ready for my cruise, I'm going to finally start (slowly) posting some information and pictures from my most recent cruise.  I apologize in advance for both the holes in the narrative and photographs; this was DW and my first cruise in almost 15 years, and our first one as a family, so I was much more focused on be present in the moment.  If anyone has ANY questions, please don't hesitate to ask and I'll be glad to do my best to help.  For background, this cruise was originally booked for my family of four  in the winter of 2018 (!!) for 2020, but I think we all know what happened there.  Now, the boys are 7 and 11.  After taking advantage of the opportunity to upgrade prior to Lifting & Shifting in 2020 to a Jr. Suite, then winning a minimum Royal Up bid in May of this year, we ended up in 1BR Aquatheater Suite cabin #12730.  We also had the Deluxe Beverage package for the adults and no drink package for the kids.  The suite concierge reached out to us about a week before sailing and secured our Costal Kitchen reservations for the week expect for day 6, where they got us 7:00 PM seats at Izumi Habachi.  Two days before sailing, they also reached out for entertainment reservations, and we had them reserve seats for Aqua80 on Day 5 and the Ice Show on Day 6. 
Day 1 - Embarkation
We were able to secure a 10:00 AM health check/embarkation time, and thanks to the amazing predictive ability of Waze, we arrived at the port after an approximately 1 hour drive at 9:55.  The porters were already hard at work helping arriving passengers, and there was a short line up around the bend at the terminal.  It looked crazy upon arrival, but as you get up to the front of the line, it's actually very well organized.  There was a port employee directing cars from both lanes to the appropriate unloading terminal as they became available.  We quickly drove up, dropped the bags, and were directed to a surface lot parking space.  It was a short walk from there to the terminal building (well under 5 minutes).  Despite it being just after 10, the terminal building was already quite busy and a little chaotic outside.  We were first directed to the suites line, but then we had to go back to the main entrance so someone could check the two boys Vaccination Cards since they were under 12.  They each got a little sticker, then back in line for security.  All told, it took maybe 15 - 20 minutes from doors to gangway, no complaints.  We watched the safety briefing while in line, then went straight to our muster station before lunch at the Windjammer.  It was extremely busy there (as anticipated!), but we were able to finally secure a table and sit down for lunch.  After that, we explored the ship, signed the boys up for Adventure Ocean, then enjoyed the pools thanks to all of you who suggested to pack our bathing suits in our carry on.  Waterslides had no lines and the hot tubs were essentially empty!  After a few hours, we went down to check out our cabin.  I still hadn't told the family that we had been upgraded out of our Jr. Suite, and they were blown away by the cabin!  The balcony IS everything that everyone makes it out to be, even as high as deck 12 (deck 14 looked pretty small, though!).  We enjoyed sailaway and took in the sights from our balcony with a few drinks before getting ready for dinner at Costal Kitchen.  Thanks again for all of the suggestions for the CK filet for night 1, it was everything everyone said it would be.  The remainder of the night was spent exploring the ship, and we ended up spending some time relaxing in Central Park for a bit before turning in, an activity that would become a running theme. 

5.HEIC 1.HEIC 3.HEIC 4.HEIC

In what I hope will be a fraction of the assistance this board provided me in getting ready for my cruise, I'm going to finally start (slowly) posting some information and pictures from my most recent cruise.  I apologize in advance for both the holes in the narrative and photographs; this was DW and my first cruise in almost 15 years, and our first one as a family, so I was much more focused on be present in the moment.  If anyone has ANY questions, please don't hesitate to ask and I'll be glad to do my best to help.  For background, this cruise was originally booked for my family of four  in the winter of 2018 (!!) for 2020, but I think we all know what happened there.  Now, the boys are 7 and 11.  After taking advantage of the opportunity to upgrade prior to Lifting & Shifting in 2020 to a Jr. Suite, then winning a minimum Royal Up bid in May of this year, we ended up in 1BR Aquatheater Suite cabin #12730.  We also had the Deluxe Beverage package for the adults and no drink package for the kids.  The suite concierge reached out to us about a week before sailing and secured our Costal Kitchen reservations for the week expect for day 6, where they got us 7:00 PM seats at Izumi Habachi.  Two days before sailing, they also reached out for entertainment reservations, and we had them reserve seats for Aqua80 on Day 5 and the Ice Show on Day 6. 
Day 1 - Embarkation
We were able to secure a 10:00 AM health check/embarkation time, and thanks to the amazing predictive ability of Waze, we arrived at the port after an approximately 1 hour drive at 9:55.  The porters were already hard at work helping arriving passengers, and there was a short line up around the bend at the terminal.  It looked crazy upon arrival, but as you get up to the front of the line, it's actually very well organized.  There was a port employee directing cars from both lanes to the appropriate unloading terminal as they became available.  We quickly drove up, dropped the bags, and were directed to a surface lot parking space.  It was a short walk from there to the terminal building (well under 5 minutes).  Despite it being just after 10, the terminal building was already quite busy and a little chaotic outside.  We were first directed to the suites line, but then we had to go back to the main entrance so someone could check the two boys Vaccination Cards since they were under 12.  They each got a little sticker, then back in line for security.  All told, it took maybe 15 - 20 minutes from doors to gangway, no complaints.  We watched the safety briefing while in line, then went straight to our muster station before lunch at the Windjammer.  It was extremely busy there (as anticipated!), but we were able to finally secure a table and sit down for lunch.  After that, we explored the ship, signed the boys up for Adventure Ocean, then enjoyed the pools thanks to all of you who suggested to pack our bathing suits in our carry on.  Waterslides had no lines and the hot tubs were essentially empty!  After a few hours, we went down to check out our cabin.  I still hadn't told the family that we had been upgraded out of our Jr. Suite, and they were blown away by the cabin!  The balcony IS everything that everyone makes it out to be, even as high as deck 12 (deck 14 looked pretty small, though!).  We enjoyed sailaway and took in the sights from our balcony with a few drinks before getting ready for dinner at Costal Kitchen.  Thanks again for all of the suggestions for the CK filet for night 1, it was everything everyone said it would be.  The remainder of the night was spent exploring the ship, and we ended up spending some time relaxing in Central Park for a bit before turning in, an activity that would become a running theme. 

5.HEIC 1.HEIC 3.HEIC 4.HEIC

Please don't take this as an attack, I truly don't mean for it to come off as such, but if you think C&A does an insufficient job of recognizing brand loyalty, good luck with the next cruise company you're headed to.

Please don't take this as an attack, I truly don't mean for it to come off as such, but if you think C&A does an insufficient job of recognizing brand loyalty, good luck with the next cruise company you're headed to.

This is a true statement. RC has a pretty great loyalty program (and suite program). The competition has done catching up to do. Let’s also not forget about the grand slam that is Coco Cay! None of the other cruise lines are making these significant investments in not only the programs but also the infrastructure. 

Wow..great reviews and making me more excited to check out this Ship in a few months! Nice to know that the kids can join at rising tide,my son is 11 and I'm sure he would love a Shirley temple or two while checking out the rising bar. We are on the fence about a Casita but I think we will go ahead and do it,bringing lunch out there to enjoy sounds like a great idea! Thanks again for the posts and pics! 

Day 3 - Port Canaveral
So, due to the prior day's weather issues and our afternoon arrival in port, DW decided to rebook the Casita this morning.  I was shocked there was availability given the capacity of the cruise, but we were happy to get one!  It serves it purpose nicely if you just enjoying hanging out at the pool for an extended period and just want somewhere to stash your stuff and/or take a break for a bit.  We had Casita #7, and it provided excellent sun protection for the first 3 or so hours, but by lunch time it provided very little protection.  What it was also perfect for was as a place to sit outside and enjoy breakfast and lunch.  Wait staff were thorough and responded quickly when summoned with the call button.  It ended up being a very enjoyable morning.  If I was not in a suite, I would book one again in a heartbeat.  Unfortunately for me, I had not yet discovered the Suite Sun Deck on the bow.  If I had, I would not have booked the Casita as the service and amenities there were far superior.  That said, it was definitely a live and learn experience, and given that we still thoroughly enjoyed the experience, I couldn't be too disappointed!
As for the actual port call, I'm sorry to say that on this itinerary that Port Canaveral is just about a total waste.  It gets in too late to make a trip to KSC or Disney really viable, and the rest of the excursions provided through RCI seemed either to be the cattle-call bus tour variety or consisted of a long ride for a short visit somewhere.  Now, as luck would have it, some family friends from NJ happened to be in Cape Canaveral that day for a softball tournament, so (thanks again to the suggestions of my more seasoned message board mates!) we arranged to meet at Grills for a late lunch.  Based on quick Googling and poor research on my part, I assumed we'd be at Terminal 1, leading to a quick walk over.  Turns out, we were at Terminal 6, around the opposite end of the complex.  We walked off the ship and went to the taxi stand, where they informed us it would be $80 for a round trip for the four of us to go the 2.7 miles to Grills.  That seemed beyond insane, so after a little finagling on the Lyft app, we got a ride for $13.  I'm not sure if it was just my phone or it's an app glitch, but Lyft would NOT let me enter Grills or its address as a destination.  Whenever I did, it would default to the Disney Cruise terminal zone.  Oddly enough, I was able to enter Cocoa Beach Parasail across the street as a destination, and that did work. 🤷🏻‍♂️ Anyhow, we arrived 15 minutes later than anticipated thanks to my incompetence, but the place was only half full at 2:30 on a Sunday afternoon, so no big deal.  Grills itself was quite good.  The food and entertainment were excellent and the staff was very friendly.  It definitely seemed to be a place that locals frequented but tourists were welcomed.  After lunch and a bit of a walk about, we headed back to the ship where we checked out the previous night's formal portraits (they were quite good!), went hunting for small wonders, then got ready for another excellent CK dinner.
After dinner, we again hit the Rising Tide to enjoy some more family conversation time and listened to the musicians before heading back to the the suite to check out Aqua80 from our balcony.  I am not engaging in hyperbole when I say that Aqua80 is hands down, far and away the greatest, most impressive show I have ever seen at sea, and easily a top 5 that I have seen anywhere.  The combination of elements with the music, the dancing, the diving, the fact that the stage itself serves as a key character, just incredible.  We were constantly looking around trying to figure out what was going to happen next!  A very specific warning for future residents of cabin 12730: when the high-rope walker comes out for his portion of the program, be careful because you CAN be seen in the background on the big screen in the theater for a short time!
I'm going to stop here for the day, and finish up tomorrow or Friday.  I hope something here was useful to someone, and again, please don't hesitate to ask any questions that you might have!  This cruise was such an amazing trip for us due largely to the invaluable input from so many people on this site, I'd like to be able to pay forward their knowledge and kindness in some small way!

Day 2 - At Sea
   This was the only, and I mean ONLY day where we had any sort of a problem.  We had gotten a Casita to use as a "home base" for our sea day so we wouldn't have to fight the crowds and chair hogs on the pool deck.  I went up to the Lime and the Coconut at a little before 9 while everyone else enjoyed room service breakfast and was quickly able to select my location.  I went back to retrieve everyone else and by the time I got back up on deck at 9:15, they had closed Deck 16 due to weather.  It was incredibly windy and someone (correctly!) decided it probably wasn't safe to have guests up there while underway.  While I fully agree with and support the decision, there was really no communication about the situation, and many of the staff even seemed unaware.  As a result of half of teh avaialble seating being out of commission, the pool deck was EXTREMELY crowded. You'd think that common decency would lead to people being more mindful of their belongings and aware of their fellow passengers, but no, chair hogs gonna hog.  We were able to find one sole chair between two families that we piled our things on while we enjoyed the pool and bar for the rest of the morning, then (and take note here people) picked up our things and took them with us at we headed off to El Loco Fresh for lunch!  Shocking, I know!  Despite the over crowding, the kids had a blast in the pool.  We decided to eat at Park Cafe for lunch, as I needed to try the legendary Kummelweck.  It was pretty good!  Maybe not worth of cult status, but definitely not a disappointment either.  After lunch we played some mini-golf, watched some body and stand up surfing on the Flowriders, then headed off the enjoy the Boardwalk.  Later that evening, the cost of the Casita was refunded to my account as OBC automatically, so that was good.
It was formal night, so even though the dress code in CK is more relaxed, we opted to dress up both for the novelty of the situation for us and to take advantage of the photographers for some formal family portraits.  Dinner at CK was excellent again (spoiler alert, it was excellent every night).  Also, following up on a question I had asked pre-cruise, they were 100% able to deliver my favorite dish from the MDR, the Grand Marnier Soufflé for dessert.  I had asked our server Alma about the night prior, and she quickly brought the Maître d' over to confirm that it was possible.  He just told me to remind them upon my arrival, and they could make it happen.  I did so, and he did his due diligence in letting me know that the soufflé might fall on the trip from the MDR to Deck 17, but was happy to bring it up.  They not only brought me one, they brought two, and they were both as delicious as I remembered! While it was not implied or expected, I was sure to include an extra-additional gratuity to both my server and the Maître d' to express my gratitude.
After dinner it was more enjoying the ship, and again ending up back in Central Park.  The boys loved Rising Tide, and I was very surprised and pleased to see how welcoming of children (albeit well behaved ones) they were in what is essentially a bar setting.  I was also surprised that they consistently gave them their Shirley Temples gratis despite them not having a refreshment package (and our being sure to point that out more than once).  I'd imagine the fact that we tipped with our drinks and were quickly becoming regulars had something to do with that, but maybe not... After winding down after dinner and a few more photos, it was off to the room to enjoy the balcony before bed.




IMG_3905.HEIC

Day 3 - Port Canaveral
So, due to the prior day's weather issues and our afternoon arrival in port, DW decided to rebook the Casita this morning.  I was shocked there was availability given the capacity of the cruise, but we were happy to get one!  It serves it purpose nicely if you just enjoying hanging out at the pool for an extended period and just want somewhere to stash your stuff and/or take a break for a bit.  We had Casita #7, and it provided excellent sun protection for the first 3 or so hours, but by lunch time it provided very little protection.  What it was also perfect for was as a place to sit outside and enjoy breakfast and lunch.  Wait staff were thorough and responded quickly when summoned with the call button.  It ended up being a very enjoyable morning.  If I was not in a suite, I would book one again in a heartbeat.  Unfortunately for me, I had not yet discovered the Suite Sun Deck on the bow.  If I had, I would not have booked the Casita as the service and amenities there were far superior.  That said, it was definitely a live and learn experience, and given that we still thoroughly enjoyed the experience, I couldn't be too disappointed!
As for the actual port call, I'm sorry to say that on this itinerary that Port Canaveral is just about a total waste.  It gets in too late to make a trip to KSC or Disney really viable, and the rest of the excursions provided through RCI seemed either to be the cattle-call bus tour variety or consisted of a long ride for a short visit somewhere.  Now, as luck would have it, some family friends from NJ happened to be in Cape Canaveral that day for a softball tournament, so (thanks again to the suggestions of my more seasoned message board mates!) we arranged to meet at Grills for a late lunch.  Based on quick Googling and poor research on my part, I assumed we'd be at Terminal 1, leading to a quick walk over.  Turns out, we were at Terminal 6, around the opposite end of the complex.  We walked off the ship and went to the taxi stand, where they informed us it would be $80 for a round trip for the four of us to go the 2.7 miles to Grills.  That seemed beyond insane, so after a little finagling on the Lyft app, we got a ride for $13.  I'm not sure if it was just my phone or it's an app glitch, but Lyft would NOT let me enter Grills or its address as a destination.  Whenever I did, it would default to the Disney Cruise terminal zone.  Oddly enough, I was able to enter Cocoa Beach Parasail across the street as a destination, and that did work. 🤷🏻‍♂️ Anyhow, we arrived 15 minutes later than anticipated thanks to my incompetence, but the place was only half full at 2:30 on a Sunday afternoon, so no big deal.  Grills itself was quite good.  The food and entertainment were excellent and the staff was very friendly.  It definitely seemed to be a place that locals frequented but tourists were welcomed.  After lunch and a bit of a walk about, we headed back to the ship where we checked out the previous night's formal portraits (they were quite good!), went hunting for small wonders, then got ready for another excellent CK dinner.
After dinner, we again hit the Rising Tide to enjoy some more family conversation time and listened to the musicians before heading back to the the suite to check out Aqua80 from our balcony.  I am not engaging in hyperbole when I say that Aqua80 is hands down, far and away the greatest, most impressive show I have ever seen at sea, and easily a top 5 that I have seen anywhere.  The combination of elements with the music, the dancing, the diving, the fact that the stage itself serves as a key character, just incredible.  We were constantly looking around trying to figure out what was going to happen next!  A very specific warning for future residents of cabin 12730: when the high-rope walker comes out for his portion of the program, be careful because you CAN be seen in the background on the big screen in the theater for a short time!
I'm going to stop here for the day, and finish up tomorrow or Friday.  I hope something here was useful to someone, and again, please don't hesitate to ask any questions that you might have!  This cruise was such an amazing trip for us due largely to the invaluable input from so many people on this site, I'd like to be able to pay forward their knowledge and kindness in some small way!

Starbucks beverages are not included in any beverage package (exception being Star Class) however, if the venue is not a Starbucks branded kiosk but serves beverages prepared with Starbucks beans, then it is covered.

Day 2 - At Sea
   This was the only, and I mean ONLY day where we had any sort of a problem.  We had gotten a Casita to use as a "home base" for our sea day so we wouldn't have to fight the crowds and chair hogs on the pool deck.  I went up to the Lime and the Coconut at a little before 9 while everyone else enjoyed room service breakfast and was quickly able to select my location.  I went back to retrieve everyone else and by the time I got back up on deck at 9:15, they had closed Deck 16 due to weather.  It was incredibly windy and someone (correctly!) decided it probably wasn't safe to have guests up there while underway.  While I fully agree with and support the decision, there was really no communication about the situation, and many of the staff even seemed unaware.  As a result of half of teh avaialble seating being out of commission, the pool deck was EXTREMELY crowded. You'd think that common decency would lead to people being more mindful of their belongings and aware of their fellow passengers, but no, chair hogs gonna hog.  We were able to find one sole chair between two families that we piled our things on while we enjoyed the pool and bar for the rest of the morning, then (and take note here people) picked up our things and took them with us at we headed off to El Loco Fresh for lunch!  Shocking, I know!  Despite the over crowding, the kids had a blast in the pool.  We decided to eat at Park Cafe for lunch, as I needed to try the legendary Kummelweck.  It was pretty good!  Maybe not worth of cult status, but definitely not a disappointment either.  After lunch we played some mini-golf, watched some body and stand up surfing on the Flowriders, then headed off the enjoy the Boardwalk.  Later that evening, the cost of the Casita was refunded to my account as OBC automatically, so that was good.
It was formal night, so even though the dress code in CK is more relaxed, we opted to dress up both for the novelty of the situation for us and to take advantage of the photographers for some formal family portraits.  Dinner at CK was excellent again (spoiler alert, it was excellent every night).  Also, following up on a question I had asked pre-cruise, they were 100% able to deliver my favorite dish from the MDR, the Grand Marnier Soufflé for dessert.  I had asked our server Alma about the night prior, and she quickly brought the Maître d' over to confirm that it was possible.  He just told me to remind them upon my arrival, and they could make it happen.  I did so, and he did his due diligence in letting me know that the soufflé might fall on the trip from the MDR to Deck 17, but was happy to bring it up.  They not only brought me one, they brought two, and they were both as delicious as I remembered! While it was not implied or expected, I was sure to include an extra-additional gratuity to both my server and the Maître d' to express my gratitude.
After dinner it was more enjoying the ship, and again ending up back in Central Park.  The boys loved Rising Tide, and I was very surprised and pleased to see how welcoming of children (albeit well behaved ones) they were in what is essentially a bar setting.  I was also surprised that they consistently gave them their Shirley Temples gratis despite them not having a refreshment package (and our being sure to point that out more than once).  I'd imagine the fact that we tipped with our drinks and were quickly becoming regulars had something to do with that, but maybe not... After winding down after dinner and a few more photos, it was off to the room to enjoy the balcony before bed.




IMG_3905.HEIC

Day 2 - At Sea
   This was the only, and I mean ONLY day where we had any sort of a problem.  We had gotten a Casita to use as a "home base" for our sea day so we wouldn't have to fight the crowds and chair hogs on the pool deck.  I went up to the Lime and the Coconut at a little before 9 while everyone else enjoyed room service breakfast and was quickly able to select my location.  I went back to retrieve everyone else and by the time I got back up on deck at 9:15, they had closed Deck 16 due to weather.  It was incredibly windy and someone (correctly!) decided it probably wasn't safe to have guests up there while underway.  While I fully agree with and support the decision, there was really no communication about the situation, and many of the staff even seemed unaware.  As a result of half of teh avaialble seating being out of commission, the pool deck was EXTREMELY crowded. You'd think that common decency would lead to people being more mindful of their belongings and aware of their fellow passengers, but no, chair hogs gonna hog.  We were able to find one sole chair between two families that we piled our things on while we enjoyed the pool and bar for the rest of the morning, then (and take note here people) picked up our things and took them with us at we headed off to El Loco Fresh for lunch!  Shocking, I know!  Despite the over crowding, the kids had a blast in the pool.  We decided to eat at Park Cafe for lunch, as I needed to try the legendary Kummelweck.  It was pretty good!  Maybe not worth of cult status, but definitely not a disappointment either.  After lunch we played some mini-golf, watched some body and stand up surfing on the Flowriders, then headed off the enjoy the Boardwalk.  Later that evening, the cost of the Casita was refunded to my account as OBC automatically, so that was good.
It was formal night, so even though the dress code in CK is more relaxed, we opted to dress up both for the novelty of the situation for us and to take advantage of the photographers for some formal family portraits.  Dinner at CK was excellent again (spoiler alert, it was excellent every night).  Also, following up on a question I had asked pre-cruise, they were 100% able to deliver my favorite dish from the MDR, the Grand Marnier Soufflé for dessert.  I had asked our server Alma about the night prior, and she quickly brought the Maître d' over to confirm that it was possible.  He just told me to remind them upon my arrival, and they could make it happen.  I did so, and he did his due diligence in letting me know that the soufflé might fall on the trip from the MDR to Deck 17, but was happy to bring it up.  They not only brought me one, they brought two, and they were both as delicious as I remembered! While it was not implied or expected, I was sure to include an extra-additional gratuity to both my server and the Maître d' to express my gratitude.
After dinner it was more enjoying the ship, and again ending up back in Central Park.  The boys loved Rising Tide, and I was very surprised and pleased to see how welcoming of children (albeit well behaved ones) they were in what is essentially a bar setting.  I was also surprised that they consistently gave them their Shirley Temples gratis despite them not having a refreshment package (and our being sure to point that out more than once).  I'd imagine the fact that we tipped with our drinks and were quickly becoming regulars had something to do with that, but maybe not... After winding down after dinner and a few more photos, it was off to the room to enjoy the balcony before bed.




IMG_3905.HEIC

Factoring in the flight cost is very logical... but I agree the funnel cake should be a bigger factor. 😋

We have been trying to get to Coco cay since before this miserable pandemic and we are finally here on Oasis. This could not be better and cooler. I watched, we watched a million videos of this island and none of really prepared us for how freaking awesome it truly it. Kids are having a blast and there is no better value on vacations at all. We will be back here on Oasis or anthem and probably both. This splash away bay is just amazing. The dump buckets are just so much fun. This vacation was worth every penny even with a 7 month old which can be a bit challenging at times. 9 year old is having the time of his life. Just loving this! Loving this!

In what I hope will be a fraction of the assistance this board provided me in getting ready for my cruise, I'm going to finally start (slowly) posting some information and pictures from my most recent cruise.  I apologize in advance for both the holes in the narrative and photographs; this was DW and my first cruise in almost 15 years, and our first one as a family, so I was much more focused on be present in the moment.  If anyone has ANY questions, please don't hesitate to ask and I'll be glad to do my best to help.  For background, this cruise was originally booked for my family of four  in the winter of 2018 (!!) for 2020, but I think we all know what happened there.  Now, the boys are 7 and 11.  After taking advantage of the opportunity to upgrade prior to Lifting & Shifting in 2020 to a Jr. Suite, then winning a minimum Royal Up bid in May of this year, we ended up in 1BR Aquatheater Suite cabin #12730.  We also had the Deluxe Beverage package for the adults and no drink package for the kids.  The suite concierge reached out to us about a week before sailing and secured our Costal Kitchen reservations for the week expect for day 6, where they got us 7:00 PM seats at Izumi Habachi.  Two days before sailing, they also reached out for entertainment reservations, and we had them reserve seats for Aqua80 on Day 5 and the Ice Show on Day 6. 
Day 1 - Embarkation
We were able to secure a 10:00 AM health check/embarkation time, and thanks to the amazing predictive ability of Waze, we arrived at the port after an approximately 1 hour drive at 9:55.  The porters were already hard at work helping arriving passengers, and there was a short line up around the bend at the terminal.  It looked crazy upon arrival, but as you get up to the front of the line, it's actually very well organized.  There was a port employee directing cars from both lanes to the appropriate unloading terminal as they became available.  We quickly drove up, dropped the bags, and were directed to a surface lot parking space.  It was a short walk from there to the terminal building (well under 5 minutes).  Despite it being just after 10, the terminal building was already quite busy and a little chaotic outside.  We were first directed to the suites line, but then we had to go back to the main entrance so someone could check the two boys Vaccination Cards since they were under 12.  They each got a little sticker, then back in line for security.  All told, it took maybe 15 - 20 minutes from doors to gangway, no complaints.  We watched the safety briefing while in line, then went straight to our muster station before lunch at the Windjammer.  It was extremely busy there (as anticipated!), but we were able to finally secure a table and sit down for lunch.  After that, we explored the ship, signed the boys up for Adventure Ocean, then enjoyed the pools thanks to all of you who suggested to pack our bathing suits in our carry on.  Waterslides had no lines and the hot tubs were essentially empty!  After a few hours, we went down to check out our cabin.  I still hadn't told the family that we had been upgraded out of our Jr. Suite, and they were blown away by the cabin!  The balcony IS everything that everyone makes it out to be, even as high as deck 12 (deck 14 looked pretty small, though!).  We enjoyed sailaway and took in the sights from our balcony with a few drinks before getting ready for dinner at Costal Kitchen.  Thanks again for all of the suggestions for the CK filet for night 1, it was everything everyone said it would be.  The remainder of the night was spent exploring the ship, and we ended up spending some time relaxing in Central Park for a bit before turning in, an activity that would become a running theme. 

5.HEIC 1.HEIC 3.HEIC 4.HEIC

In what I hope will be a fraction of the assistance this board provided me in getting ready for my cruise, I'm going to finally start (slowly) posting some information and pictures from my most recent cruise.  I apologize in advance for both the holes in the narrative and photographs; this was DW and my first cruise in almost 15 years, and our first one as a family, so I was much more focused on be present in the moment.  If anyone has ANY questions, please don't hesitate to ask and I'll be glad to do my best to help.  For background, this cruise was originally booked for my family of four  in the winter of 2018 (!!) for 2020, but I think we all know what happened there.  Now, the boys are 7 and 11.  After taking advantage of the opportunity to upgrade prior to Lifting & Shifting in 2020 to a Jr. Suite, then winning a minimum Royal Up bid in May of this year, we ended up in 1BR Aquatheater Suite cabin #12730.  We also had the Deluxe Beverage package for the adults and no drink package for the kids.  The suite concierge reached out to us about a week before sailing and secured our Costal Kitchen reservations for the week expect for day 6, where they got us 7:00 PM seats at Izumi Habachi.  Two days before sailing, they also reached out for entertainment reservations, and we had them reserve seats for Aqua80 on Day 5 and the Ice Show on Day 6. 
Day 1 - Embarkation
We were able to secure a 10:00 AM health check/embarkation time, and thanks to the amazing predictive ability of Waze, we arrived at the port after an approximately 1 hour drive at 9:55.  The porters were already hard at work helping arriving passengers, and there was a short line up around the bend at the terminal.  It looked crazy upon arrival, but as you get up to the front of the line, it's actually very well organized.  There was a port employee directing cars from both lanes to the appropriate unloading terminal as they became available.  We quickly drove up, dropped the bags, and were directed to a surface lot parking space.  It was a short walk from there to the terminal building (well under 5 minutes).  Despite it being just after 10, the terminal building was already quite busy and a little chaotic outside.  We were first directed to the suites line, but then we had to go back to the main entrance so someone could check the two boys Vaccination Cards since they were under 12.  They each got a little sticker, then back in line for security.  All told, it took maybe 15 - 20 minutes from doors to gangway, no complaints.  We watched the safety briefing while in line, then went straight to our muster station before lunch at the Windjammer.  It was extremely busy there (as anticipated!), but we were able to finally secure a table and sit down for lunch.  After that, we explored the ship, signed the boys up for Adventure Ocean, then enjoyed the pools thanks to all of you who suggested to pack our bathing suits in our carry on.  Waterslides had no lines and the hot tubs were essentially empty!  After a few hours, we went down to check out our cabin.  I still hadn't told the family that we had been upgraded out of our Jr. Suite, and they were blown away by the cabin!  The balcony IS everything that everyone makes it out to be, even as high as deck 12 (deck 14 looked pretty small, though!).  We enjoyed sailaway and took in the sights from our balcony with a few drinks before getting ready for dinner at Costal Kitchen.  Thanks again for all of the suggestions for the CK filet for night 1, it was everything everyone said it would be.  The remainder of the night was spent exploring the ship, and we ended up spending some time relaxing in Central Park for a bit before turning in, an activity that would become a running theme. 

5.HEIC 1.HEIC 3.HEIC 4.HEIC

After reading the posts in this topic, I am fortunate to have booked a cruise terminal within driving distance from my home. I imagine the cruise ship companies are as frustrated as the passengers when they don't arrive on time for boarding or the baggage handlers lose their luggage. I wish all of you the best of fortune starting your vacations without incident.

Well night 2 was completely opposite and thank goodness for that. We got to the main dining room at a little before 6 and were seated right away, no line at all. The guy at the front set us up for 5:30 each night. That was a relief actually. By the way, food was excellent, just excellent. 

To get the My Time Dining reservation times we wanted, we had to book them in the Cruise Planner several months in advance. 

I did!  It is 100% not my normal profile at all, but the Schooner Bar was temporarily out of Ginger Beer, so I had to panic order.  I saw the Lavender Daiquiri on the table placard and said, "yes, that."  It was fantastic!