DebAtSea

27 minutes ago, ChessE4 said:

The restaurants vary by ship. For example, on the Harmony you could eat at the Solarium Bistro (for free) as an alternative to the Windjammer or Main Dining room, but they want reservations for dinner to manage the crowd.  You can look at the deck plans for your ship to learn more about restaurants and locations.

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-ships/deck-plans

If you read a past cruise compass for your ship, you can find hours of operation for the restaurants.  You also can eat in the Main Dining Room without a party dress...Have a great cruise.

Thank you! I'm going on the Mariner of the Seas. It should be a great vacation.  I was thinking maybe Johnny Rockets that night. 

I've been on one cruise, but not on Royal Caribbean. I loved formal night (which will be dress your best.) But last time all we did was show up. The cruise line picked up our luggage from the airport and did all the heavy lifting. (We did a cruise tour.)

This time I'm going alone. I'm going to Disney before and after, and I'm just not sure I want to lug around a party dress. Will the Windjammer be nuts that night? What are my other choices that will not cost more than $15? (I feel weird saying I can't afford a more expensive dinner, but what started as a cheap 4 day getaway has morphed into the thing that ate my credit card.) 

I went in June. It was utterly gorgeous. The weather was perfect. The thing I both loved and hated was this. There was no night, just twilight. I would love to go in September and hope to see the Northern Lights. 

I like to bring thank you cards and put the money in that. 

17 hours ago, Dan Curtis said:

 it's the same with flying, years ago,people dressed up to fly.

But years ago they didn't make you take off your shoes and feel you up at the airport!

On 9/16/2019 at 10:09 AM, Matt said:

Are the beds comfortable? Does broccoli taste good? Is that new movie any good? Is 11pm too late to stay up?

The answers are going to very subjective. Just because some say one thing doesn't mean that will be your experience.

Is it wrong that I feel able to answer these with absolute certainty? 

It's kind of huge and can be an excellent resource if you want to research a question. But it's also the internet in miniature. It's weird how angry and unpleasant people can be. I don't really get how something as fun as cruising can inspire such rage and vitriol. Giving rise to sentiments like, "This is why we can't have nice things," and "Don't make me turn this car around!" 

Clearly here is where the happy funny good looking cruisers go. 

They should at the least give people the option to book a different room without penalty.

On 9/15/2019 at 10:58 PM, mk-ultra said:

The #1 tip I can give you is to fly out and stay in a hotel the day before your ship sails unless you live near your departure port.  You don't want an airline/airport problem causing you to miss boarding the ship.

 

This. Also it gives you the leeway to choose the cheapest flight of the day. 

Hi! 

Jet blue has flash sales. Join trueblue. Subscribe for emails, on Facebook and Twitter and watch them like a hawk. 

I'll just be obnoxious and brag... I just got fligh5s from NY to Orlando for 3400 points each way. I think it was a slightly better deal than cash, which was $59 each way. I agree about Hopper. Also Skyscanner and Google Flights will track prices on a specific flight. 

Oh! Travel Pirates. They send notifications about travel deals. 

16 minutes ago, AshleyDillo said:

Hah..I think I was the one that pointed you in this direction.  I know I commented to someone on that group who was looking for a friendlier site than that "other place that shall not be named".

Yes! That was you and that was me! Thank you! 

Thanks. It's Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Azamara Solo Cruisers. Nice bunch. Often not very chatty though. 

Thanks! 

I was told that everyone was nice. That it was a fun place to be. And so far you all have lived up to the hype. 

Thank you all for being as advertised. 

Actually, yes. I think you're right. 

On a Disney board I was read about sites licensed to sell Disney tickets at a discount. Disney uses them to get business that wouldn't buy at full price, without having to post the lower prices on their website. 

My guess is that the discount cruise sites work the same way. 

Take me along? I need a cruise today! 

Was there dessert? 

Only one cruise line for me too. ( Not RCL though.) I've been wanting to go since '91 when I was in the Coast Guard. I knew I liked to cook. I thought maybe I'd like to sail. I always suspected that they're both improved by not doing them simultaneously. 

Turns out I was right. 

Feb 28. Sandwiched between two Disney visits that I'm only taking because of the cruise. I blame Royal  Caribbean for all of this.