Hey all - first time posting here as I have never been on a cruise in my life. My parents went on a RC cruise out of Galveston this past Feb/Mar and they talked it up enough for me to take the leap into trying my first ever cruise. I have had an irrational fear of drowning and boats since a near capsize boating experience as a kid when we got caught out in a storm on a lake in Minnesota while we were fishing - this was 30 years ago but I still remember it like it was yesterday, but I digress.
Anyways after my parents raving about their first cruise on RC (and subsequently booking same cruise for January 2021 and an Alaska cruise on Celebrity for sometime during summer) I figured what the heck. Myself, my partner and two of our very close friends booked the 12/17/20 cruise out of Tampa to Cozumel - none of us have cruised before so its a first for all of us and we figured it would be a good starter cruise since it is short and was very reasonably priced.
Couple quick questions from you cruising experts. Up front I greatly appreciate any input.
1) Cabins close together. My partner and myself booked separate from our traveling friends and we both just did the "interior guarantee" where you cannot select your stateroom. What is the possibility of getting staterooms close to each other (does not have to be next to each other) if we call RC and let them know we are traveling together? Not expecting anything here as we booked the bargain basement fare but figured it would be worth a shot.
2) Brilliance of the Seas activities. RC website is really not that great in showing what each ship offers and does not, have found while looking at the portion for Brilliance it shows some activities that I don't believe are available on that boat. I know its mid-age for the RC fleet so does not have all the newest and best things but I can't really find anywhere to figure out what it does actually have. Our traveling group age range is 30-42.
3) Cruise planner extras booking time. Myself and my partner are planning on doing the deluxe beverage package (not sure about our friends), and we all are planning on at least 1 shore excursion in Cozumel. My planning personality wants to book it all ASAP so I can put it in the back of my mind until December, but then I step back and say 'what if shutdown causes cruise to be scrubbed'. Should I bit the bullet and go for it or wait to get closer to departure?
If you have any other recommends for a first time cruiser it would would be much appreciated, I am not even sure what to expect with any aspect of it so any insight would be excellent!
Thank you in advance!
Adam