TinyDancer

I agree, hard to find a room for four. I just checked the hotel where I stayed a few years ago — Hotel Residenza in Farnese —and the largest room is a triple. I would echo others’ advice to get 2 double rooms or an apartment. I noticed booking.com had a couple apartments in the area near that hotel. I would recommend the hotel itself if you like old world charm and are willing to accept a less comfortable bed for it. For me, it is nicer to stay near the Piazza Navona/Pantheon area, rather than near the Colosseum or Roma Termini. I really loved the location of the hotel mentioned above because it felt very safe, was very quiet at night, yet was super close to the Piazza Navona and other nice places to explore. We also were able to walk to the Vatican and to the Trevi fountain from there, but they would probably be a little too far if it was really hot.

The bars have a list of a few “zero proof” cocktails on their menu, see below. Our favorite was the blueberry nojito. Then you can also get virgin piña coladas, daiquiris, lava flows, or whatever else you think would work well without alcohol.

I was able to get it for $18.99 in the cruise planner in March. I got it for my 12-yr old son and we just returned from our cruise last week. I think we would have done a little bit better if we had bought the drinks individually. But having the package was more convenient — bartenders didn’t make us sign the bill every time. I definitely would not get it if I had to pay $34.

Thank you all!! Based on what you’ve told me, I think we should be ok. He hasn’t had a fever since earlier in the week. But good idea on the Tylenol! We’ll do that, too, just in case.

Well… I guess after seeing your answers I’m realizing that I might have asked the wrong question. My bigger concern is probably what they might ask us in person at the cruise terminal. I wouldn’t ever want to tell my kid to be anything less than truthful (or have him catch me being untruthful). So if they don’t really ask about symptoms, or if they only ask about symptoms for the last 48 hours, then we should be ok. But if they’re going to ask about symptoms for the last week or two, then we’re in in trouble and maybe I should cancel.

My son recovered from the flu in the last couple days (tested positive for flu, and had many negative COVID tests), and we have a cruise that sails on Monday. I’m wondering what questions are on the health questionnaire that we’ll have to complete on Sunday? Not sure if those questions might trip us up since he did have flu symptoms not too long ago. Thanks for all the information that you all provide here! It has been invaluable in my planning.

I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you, too! I’m doing a mother-son trip the same week, but the thrill park is not sold out yet on the 19th. I was checking the cruise planner pretty frequently for a while, and I noticed that the beach club would vary from being sold out sometimes to having a few passes available, as people canceled, I assume. So I think there’s hope if you check back often.

I totally agree with the advice above from JasonOasis!! I’ve never done a Mediterranean cruise, but I did two independent 2-week trips in Italy, once in my 20’s and once in my 40’s. The first time was low-budget and I visited outside but did not go in the Coliseum. I regretted it and made sure I finally went inside 20 years later. I planned the heck out of my second trip, which included my son and my mother, and it was so worth it. For half the price of a group land tour, we did private tours of the Coliseum, Roman Forum, Vatican, Pompeii and Capri, a cooking lesson in Lucca, a wonderful private driver in the Sorrento/Amalfi area, a gondola rowing lesson in Venice, a private fresco painting class in Florence, and first class high-speed train rides in between cities. Oh and one of my very favorite things was a food tour in the Trastevere section of Rome. There’s a lot you can do for so much less money if you do a little searching! Let me know if any of these things particularly appeal and you want more info.

I think maybe it depends on the sailing. For my Freedom cruise in April, it was totally unnecessary. The earliest boarding time slot didn’t fill up for nearly a week.

Thank you for this! It worked for me today. Before I saw this thread, I was afraid I’d have to wait on hold and talk to customer service to get an invoice.

I sailed on a 20-passenger yacht for a Galapagos tour in 2001. I don’t remember now everything that we did, but I remember we were all on deck for our equator crossing, there was some fanfare, and they served us all some very pretty cocktails to toast as we crossed. I can still picture those cocktails! Vastly different from your experience, wineguy!!!

I have the same question! I’m sorry I’m not posting with an answer. I have a 12-yr old son and I know he will want to order off the regular menus at the specialty restaurants. I purchased the UDP for us (for a cruise in April) and the only option the cruise planner gave me was to buy the children’s plan for him.

Thank you!! I think the app must just have it wrong!

I’m sailing on Freedom in April and was sad to see this in the RC app. Is this really true? Everyone on here seems to say that Johnny Rockets is included in the unlimited dining pkg. Is that only true on certain ships?

Thanks for all the suggestions! I have a few things planned now and am getting excited! Renting a car in Prince Edward Island, booked private tours of Acadia (Bar Harbor) and Cabot Trail (Sydney, NS), booked an RCI excursion in Halifax that includes a trip to Peggy’s Cove and hop on/hop off city bus tickets, and tentatively planning to do a lobster boat trip and some biking around Portland. Still need to make a plan for St. John and Quebec. Will hit some of your food recommendations in Portland, @FManke! The private tours out of Sydney and Bar Harbor are really affordable. About the same price as it would have been to buy group tour tix for all 3 people in my party. I like being able to decide exactly what I/we want to do! ?

Oh man!!! So sad to hear there’s no fresh brewed iced tea on RC. Add me to the list of people who live on it. I was not envisioning having to brew my own tea while on my cruise. Yikes.

Thanks for posting this question. I’ll be on the June 12 Empress Canada/NE cruise and would love to hear about excursions, too! One blog I’ve found that helps a little is this one: https://thesmallworldfamily.com/2018/08/31/canada-and-new-england-cruise-live-blog-day-1/ Matt’s podcasts (listener e-mail portion) sometimes have relevant tips — there’s tiny a bit in Episode 332. If I notice any others I’ll post here. And one small tip of my own. Montreal is the original home of Cirque du Soleil and they will be having shows in Montreal in June. So something to consider if your cruise starts or ends in Montreal. Good luck with your planning!

That’s great — thank you!

If you would have any interest in this, I did a short gondola rowing lesson with my son and my mother, and we all loved it! We did it with a nonprofit organization and proceeds go toward preserving the boats, etc. rowvenice.org I’d also recommend getting off the tourist trail in Venice! There is literally a marked path for tourists — it’s a zoo in the middle of the day. I remember that I enjoyed strolling through the residential area between the train station and the Frari Basilica.

I’ve never been on a Mediterranean cruise, but I have visited Cinque Terre (20 yrs ago, at a non-touristy time of year — full disclosure), and I’d say go! It’s one of my favorite places in all my travels. I really need to go back someday...

Thanks for your great review! I’ll be on Empress for a Canada itinerary in June. I love all your detailed descriptions. I have a question for you about the ship’s theater. From the pictures I’ve seen, it looks like the theater has tables with two chairs (fixed in place?) at each table. I’ll be part of a group of three on the ship, and I’m wondering if there’s any seating in the theater that would work well for a group of 3?