Shaheed510

Yes, indeed. We actually used Uber as flew in from across the pond with heavy bags, but our son came in from the West Coast to join us with just hand luggage and he used the rail system. The station is only about 100 yards from the hotel.

Plus +1 for this hotel as well.  If you are flying in it is very easy and cost efficient to use the rail system to get to this hotel.  

We stayed 3 nights last November at the Hampton Inn Brickell, which is a Hilton brand hotel. We were very satisfied with it and would definitely consider staying there again.

We do enjoy larger cabins from time to time but generally just get interiors to save money and really aren't in the cabin much.   We just got back from a 5 night on Empress and the cabin was smaller than some other interiors we have had.    We asked the room guy/steward to split the beds and it created alot more useable space and an aisle to get out of bed without trying to squeeze by cabinets.  He gave us a funny look and asked "are you two ok?"   Lol!   Yea, we are fine, happily married.   Anybody else do this or are we strange?
 
BTW, this is interior cabin 3109 on Empress of the Seas.  We tried a guaranteed cabin (GTY) this time and it worked out just fine.  We will do that again in the future.
 

I usually check everyone into the app, then take a screenshot of the set sail pass and have each person have theirs on their phone. That way if the app fails (which as we know it often logs itself out) we have a failsafe. 

From what I know, the All-Digital Photo Package is per stateroom.  You get all the pictures taken by the ship photographers.  I did not pay much attention to it, but there is a sign in the photo gallery that says you can download the pictures directly to your device.
They offer discounts for pre-cruise purchases so it would be best to order it before your sailing.  The worth of the package depends on how much you value pictures.
One word of advice, since you're getting a digital package, you may want to print them when you get home.  Make sure to secure a Release Form for the pictures.  Some companies/stores like Sam's, Costco, and Kinko's may ask for it when you print the pictures.

As others have said you just walk out from the beach.  My husband is also a strong swimmer so he did not wear a vest.  If I recall there are 3 platforms with life guards.  The platforms are not for you to swim up to and sunbathe.  It is more of IF you are struggling the guards can get to you faster.   
I know the rental does come with fins, it probably comes with a vest too if you ask for one, but it is not mandatory that you take one, unlike the kayak or jet skis.
When we were there in July, the water was like glass, it really had no waves at all.  IE I am a beach girl, and love to jump waves, there were waves to jump at Horseshoe, but not at Coco Cay.  We also had no real wind as far as I could feel. but from Coco Cays standard it was too windy to send up the balloon..  My husband swam out to the must snorkel areas at least 3 times during the day.  He would be gone for about 45 -60 mins. each time.  I never asked how long it took to swim out there, just illustrating how strong of a swimmer he is.  
The water at Coco Cay is so clear you could be chest high in water and still see your feet clearly.  You will see fish swimming around your feet, but nothing like snorkeling according to my hubby.  He said when he swam out to the known areas that there were hundreds of fish. 
If you rented a cabana at Chill Island there is a rock jeddy by the cabanas (#10 and 11)  The cabanas have a roped off beach area for their personal use.  In that area there is also tiny crustaceans and fish to see inhabiting the formation.  You do not need snorkeling gear for that because it is not deep at all.  Just beware, when we were there, a family thought it was funny to basically tease the fish with food.  They would place it just at the top of the water for the fish to come up and nibble on it, and than yank it up in the air.  The problem with this is as they raised their hand into the air the gulls would come swooping down.  Once one gull finds food, a dozen more will be there within a few minutes.  Meanwhile you have now been under the water looking at the sea life and when you pop back up there are gulls swarming.  This family basically cleared the private lagoon area bc they did this.  They were so into take a picture of me, that they didn't realize or ignored the rest of us, saying quite loudly, can you believe they are doing that as we all walked out of the water.  They only stopped when at the end the gulls only had them to swoop in on.  The Mom of these teenagers even remarked OMG everybody left,  and now they only have us, let's get out.  (I heard her say this because of my cabana location -#10)   The gulls than lived on the rock jeddy for about 10-15 mins more until they realized that they had a better chance of food at the Chill Grill or Snack Shack.
Although it is a popular thing to do at Coco Cay my husband felt that it wasn't overcrowded with snorkelers.  IMPO, this probably is because you get the gear for the entire day.  We were there from 9 a.m. to all aboard at 5:30 (6 pm sail away).  
Hope that helps.
OBTW, we did Coco Cay 1st week of Nov. a few years ago.  The weather was beautiful, but it was chilly in the a.m., and the water temp will also be cooler than July.  You might have less people snorkeling,  due to the weather/water temp.  I recall that at 9 a.m. we wore light weight sweaters when we 1st got on the beach, but that day it also had some winds.  Nobody really went far out into the water until about 10-11.  After lunch it was really nice and warm temp wise and everybody was in the water.  My hubby is a water guy so he was in at 9:30 snorkeling, but he did come back and did the BRRR, I need to lay in the sun to warm up some.

Bring snorkel gear and you can snorkel for free.  Or rent some...great snorkeling there!  They have wave jets you can rent and kids can be passengers.  I have a video of the wave jets you can see to decide if you'd like it.  Or you just hang out on the beach like any other and just relax!

I always figured the Schooner Bar was an escape room. ? 

We usually get it when we have a big group.  Then we take lots of formal night pics and everything we can at the ports.  It's nice to have all the pics of the big group.  

Oct 28th..navigator of the seas out of Miami 

Personally I think you should applaud Royal for even making an attempt to be more accommodating.

Oct 28th..navigator of the seas out of Miami 

We eat primarily vegetarian AND gluten-free, so Mary my options are pretty much fruit and salad.   We also avoid dairy as much as possible.  At least on the menu posted above,  your daughter has some options.  I'd like to see more vegetable based options; I can't eat pasta for a week.