BeachGal

I spoke to several members of the staff when I sailed, and many said that they have all the basics they need, and whatever they don't have they can order from Amazon. I think the sweet treats/snacks are a nice touch, especially if it is something they can share. @JennyJenny How about VA peanuts? Much easier to pack than a VA ham.

Fingers crossed for you!!

Vibrator of the Seas? <<puts glasses on>>. Oh! Vibrance of the Seas... ya, still a no! Some of those names are horrible. I think the best of the bunch is Melody

Truth!!

Also, John Watling's Distillery in Nassau... best dang pina colada I've ever had!

If you are a beer fan, then try to check out the distillery tour for Alaskan beer when you are in Juneau

Crabcakes and Alaskan brew on tap at Skagway Fish Company, and all things crab at Tracy's King Crab Shack in Juneau - Jeez, just thinking about it makes me want to go back to Alaska!!

BowTie, sorry you had some struggles. There is nothing worse than a kid who is looking forward to something, only to not have it happen. I was on the 7-day inaugural cruise at Thanksgiving. It was their first revenue cruise (two done in early Nov. for TAs and big wigs). Were there some glitches? Sure, but most of us took into account that it was a new staff and a new set of itineraries. I loved all the scavenger hunts and activities that the Cruise Director's crew put on for kids and families. There always seemed to be daily activities for the kids. Bartender-wise, I never had an issue with getting a drink, and they were always willing to make a drink my way(anyone want a 'Kat-tini'?). Did I have a crummy excursion in Mazatlan? Yup, but that just makes me want to come back and try it again. I'm grateful to be cruising/traveling, and am willing to give the crews some leeway until they figure out the daily (or so it seems) changes that come at them from the CDC.

Nope, the Mouse gets a pass!

Thank goodness... really not interested in Harmony's new itinerary

I've started using them as well. I struggle to find masks that I can talk in, that don't scoot down my face, and that don't annoy me. Did double masking on a recent plane trip and used the KN95 under a cloth mask. I was surprised at how much space my face had (sorry, that sounds a bit silly), but I liked them a whole lot better than the paper or cloth masks.

@bazingau I'm sure the others will chime in here with additional options. I don't know if Royal is doing luggage transfers to the airport. I didn't have to deal with the airport when I was on Navigator, so I don't know about that side of it. If that is not an option, then I would definitely look at the excursion. @Matt is on Navigator right now, so I'm sure he can answer questions for you as well.

@bazingau I have to ask, what do you want to get out of this excursion? Are you super interested in Hollywood or Rodeo Drive? You are probably going to be sitting in traffic for the majority of this tour. Born and raised in So Cal, so I don't have much interest in driving into LA (again, traffic!). My suggestion is to check out what is available in Long Beach. It is across the Vincent Thomas bridge from San Pedro. Plenty of shopping, restaurants, beautiful views. Personally, I'd rather be outdoors enjoying the views, rather than stuck on a bus passing by famous landmarks. I don't know what time your flight out of LAX is, but if you don't do the airport transfer, you will want to stay away from rush hour(s), and give yourself plenty of time to get to the airport. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Did my first solo this last month and I really loved it. I enjoyed the freedom to do what I wanted, when I wanted. Schooner Lounge was a great place to connect with folks through trivia, games and just hanging out. Figure out what you love doing (trivia, dancing, sports, etc) and you should have no problem meeting people. In the MDR they were incredibly flexible and let me sit solo, or with friends I had met on the cruise. While there were times that I missed having a partner in crime, it was refreshing to just do my thing and not have to check in with anyone. I had an interior room this last trip (had to try it once) and even though it was a nice room, I wanted to be able to see the water, so that forced me to wander and find spots to watch the world pass by. I brought two books to read, and made it through one book, but not the 2nd one because I kept running into people who wanted to chat. Same thing that @Pattycruise said... I enjoyed my time alone, and my time chatting with others.

Holy cow, only 13 nights for me. Unfortunately I have a job that gets in the way of my cruising desires!! Hoping the promise of the Nigerian prince comes through and I can retire and cruise more than 13 nights a year.

Purple out of LA a couple of weeks ago. Love all the tips, thanks all!

Totally comfortable with my first cruise back this last week. I felt more safe on board than I have at any point at my job in the last two years. On the 1st cruise for Navigator, I thought Royal did a great job of following guidelines. We noticed a handful of people who were not willing to mask-up, but it was quickly addressed.

Navigator, 11/19 - 1972; cruise leaving today was at 2500(ish)

Does DW require a reservation to visit the park?

Having worked my way through college in jobs that depended on tips, I always make sure I give extra. My room attendant always gets at least $50 (and usually a sweet treat on day 1). I tip for drinks as I go, and my dining attendants/assistants are given an envelope on the last night ($20/$10 per person in our party). Anyone else who takes care of me I also tip. i had a bartender on Oasis that we hung out with quite a bit because he made amazing martinis. Those martinis were definitely worth the extra $$. I love handing out the envelopes on the last night and giving a personal thank you to each person.

I totally understand this! Most times I am happy to talk to whoever is around me, but sometimes I just want time on my own. I normally carry a book with me so that I can have something to do if there is no one to talk to (or if I don't want to). Enjoy traveling on your terms, and you'll discover what works best for you.

I've only seen that sailing out of San Francisco.

Me too!! What an inspiration for young women coming up through the ranks!

From what I have read of others' reviews, plenty of folks recommend the Crown Plaza LA Harbor Hotel. A little further down the road is a Doubletree (Hilton). If you are looking for something a bit more fancy, you can find that in Long Beach which is a short drive away.

I totally understand that 'lesson learned' - tried out a new TA, thought I had done my homework on them, but apparently there was something I missed because they are not very good. Oh well, lesson learned for me too!!