Traveling Mike

I have done over 30 cruises on 7 different cruise lines. I do not regret any of them. I have decided in the last couple of years to cruise Celebrity and RCL on most of my cruises. I do not think you can go wrong with RCL cruises. If your cruise is non-refundable, I would cruise with Carnival and enjoy yourself. If it is refundable, I would switch to RCL and go on one of the bigger ships. Try the different size of ships to see what kind of cruising you like. I went on the Symphany of the Seas thinking I would not like being on a ship the size of a city with 7,000 people and I ended up loving it. I love small ships for my Trans-Atlantic cruises and large ships for my shorter cruises. The other think I would recommend is look at your budget. Everyone is different and to some $7,000 is nothing and to some $7,000 is a lot of money. Do not be afraid to book a regular balcony of you are in the second group. I would not go with an Inside or Ocean view with a child that takes naps. This allows you to enjoy the balcony while you child is sleeping. One last note: When your kids get older look at the Disney Cruise Line. I used to cruise them a lot before they priced me out of their market.

I am just posting this because I would have said anyone over 18 could book a cruise. In the United States you are considered an adult at 18 but you can not book a cruise. MINIMUM AGE TO SAIL UNACCOMPANIED Royal Caribbean's minimum age to sail unaccompanied on sailings originating in North America is twenty-one (21). Royal Caribbean's minimum age to sail unaccompanied on sailings originating in South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand is eighteen (18). The Company retains the right, on rare occasions, to raise the minimum age to sail unaccompanied on any sailing when local laws require or permit such a modification. For voyages originating in North America: No Guest younger than the age twenty-one (21) will be assigned to a stateroom unless accompanied in the same stateroom by an adult twenty-one (21) years old or older. A guest's age is established upon the first date of sailing. This age limit will be waived for children sailing with their parents or guardians in connecting staterooms; for underage married couples; and for active duty members of the United States or Canadian military. Certain other restrictions and conditions will apply; such as compliance with the age twenty-one (21) alcohol policy, and proof of marriage for underage couples or proof of active duty military status required.

I wish they were a little more flexible with the NextCruise offer. I am like you where I am cruising next week and would like to book another cruise, but I want a cruise that has not been released yet. Just give me until the 2025 cruises come out

I am confused what the problem is. What were you trying to cancel? If you showed up to My Time Dining, it is subject to availability. If you show up and they are full they will suggest you come back later rather than stand in line for an hour. My Time Dining is not a guarantee when you show up you can have dinner. It is the ability to change the time you want to eat or get a customized time. I always book dinner reservations when I have my time dining where I am not standing in line for long.

I am gust guessing but as a computer programmer I would say it is a problem with your booking record on their servers. There is nothing that you can do except keep after them to fix the problem. Does your booking load OK on the website?

I do lots of GTY Cabins and you are lucky to get your cabin this early. In my experience you will keep that cabin unless they upgrade you but that is not likely to upgrade from a Balcony. Here is a link to a cabin on the other side of the ship. It is the same location and size as the cabin you have just on the other side. https://youtu.be/bSP2y7Oi_eQ

I have not parked there; I have taken Uber to the port but... According to the port authority the lots open at 6 am on Cruise days. see link PortMiami - Parking & Transportation - Miami-Dade County (miamidade.gov) Parking at the port is expensive ($25). There are some with shuttles at half the price. see link Port of Miami Cruise Parking Coupon | Safe Cruise Parking

Everyone has an opinion. All I have is experience. I have been on 3 ships with StarLink and have worked remoting into secure servers in California. I have also been on multiple Microsoft Teams and Zoom meetings. The only issues I have had is with one of my rooms I was too far from the wireless router and had to keep my cabin door open to get a strong signal. My Thanksgiving Cruise out of Los Angeles I sat on my Balcony and took 6 different Team Meetings without any issues. I am not saying it was the best in the world, but it was good enough for a computer programmer to do his work.

If they are not good photos, they will retake them when you check in at the port.

We did this with a group of people going on the cruise. One of the people arranged the trip with a tour/bus company. We ended up taking 95 people on two busses. Make sure you book early because the Blue Lagoon sold out. We used Grey Line Tours but you can see all the tours we arranged and the details on this google sheet (look on the tours tab) New Voyager TA 04 Sep 2022 Roll Call_Tours_Activities - Google Sheets

The other option you have is wash some items out in the sink. Then hang them up to dry. I take Tide pods to wash a few items if needed.

1. What is your favorite speciality restaurant for a birthday meal? We are not super adventurous eaters. I like 150 Central Park for a nice upscale restaurant with the best service. If you want a more casual one, I would go with Jamies Italian. 2. What is your favorite breakfast/lunch spot? When I am in the mood for Breakfast, I go to the Windjammer Buffet and get an omelet or fried eggs to order. If I am in the light mood, I go to the Vitality Cafe. It is a light healthy snack. Some ships will have light food items and some just healthy snacks. 3. What are your favorite non-water excursions for the 3 ports? Costa Maya: Rent a golf cart with Red Carts and go see the town and beach area. Mayahual Red Shirts Golf Carts in Costa Maya - USED 2-4ppl carts (60us) BRAND NEW XRT(80US) BRAND NEW FANCY (90US), 6ppl USED carts 80US, Rest of the day, GAS & COLOR MAP INCLUDED. (business.site) Cozumel: I did one that went to the Chocolate Factory and Mayan Bee Sanctuary that I really liked. 4. What are your Favorite items to pack to make our week easier? Magnet Clips for the wall. It allows me to put all my paperwork on the wall that is out of the way but I can see it to remind me what I have coming up. With kids I pack a couple of Tide Pods to be able to wash things out in the sink. 5. What is your must dos/advice for first time cruisers? Don't try to do everything: Plan to do everything and settle on doing 1/2 of it. Do try new things at dinner. At meals you can order anything you want including multiple items. If there is something on the menu you have never tried get it and if you do not like it ask the waiter to bring something else, you know you will like.

I use Costco as the TA on all my cruises. They are great people to work with because they are paid by the hour and do not mind getting a supervisor involved. I would give them a call and see if they can help you process your payment with RCL. In the future you can book through Royal and get everything set and then transfer it to Costco to get their rebates and discounts.

My foggy memory tells me they are always cleaning rust and painting some ware on the ship.

I do not like the 4-day cruises, but I have been on 2 of them in the last year out of Las Angeles. How do I pass up 4 days on the Navigator for $300 a person?

I spent a lot of years cruising without any electronics. I am a computer programmer and that was my way of disconnecting. It was great. The day we got on the ship the cell phones went into the safe and stayed there until the end of the cruise. We would take friends with us and as long as I paid for the trip they were under the same rules. My son is 26 and he still cruises disconnected most of the time. Full Disclosure: Now I have to tell you; in the last 3 years I purchase the internet package every time because of my work. For me to be gone from work for 7 to 14 days can be an issue and they are willing to pay me overtime to take care of issues. This helps me pay for the trip and for the internet package. My son is taking online classes getting his teaching credential, so he uses the same internet package to do his homework while on the cruise ship. Last Note: If it was not for my work, I would not get the internet package and would cruise disconnected.

I do soda package on all of my cruises including the Sympathy. The soda is unlimited. I have never had the free style machines stop me. You can go to any bar or dining facility and get a soda without the cup. Most of the time I do not use my cup. The only time I use the cup is when I want something different like Diet Root beer with Vanilla. You need to get 3 or 4 sodas a day to break even.

On the ship they do not check your ID for alcohol, it is on your sea pass card. With you turning 21 on the ship I am wondering what will be on your sea pass card/ account.

My last cruise out of Los Angeles they would not let me take my luggage on the ship. They told me there were to many people going through security. They made me check it with the porters.

Extra bottles will be returned at the end of the cruise. When I go to Ensenada, I purchase bottles of Tequila and wine and get them back at the end of the cruise.

I have had the same issue in 2 of my last 3 cruises. This is what I have done: go to the casino and get on a slot machine. put your sea card in the slot machine and connect to your stateroom account. Request the money from your stateroom account. Cash out the slot machine and get your ticket. Take the ticket to the cashier and get your cash. Note: Do not try to double your money. The Casino is there to take your money does not give you money.

When I am on the ship alone can-do dinner in 30 minutes. I tell them to keep the bread (don't need the carbs). I skip the appetizer unless there is something amazing (don't need calories from something that is just ok). Then I eat the main dish and take my time and enjoy it. About 1/2 of the time, I get my dessert to go (my snack after the show).

RCL has a free messaging application. You connect to the ship free Wi-Fi and you get the messages and updates of schedules.

Me and my 26-year-old son share one device for one person. We just communicate who is connected. While on the cruise I am working and he is doing his school work but we seem to make it work without any issues. This allows us to save the money for other things.

I have never taken my passport on an excursion with me. Also leave it in your Cabin Safe. I see where people said your suitcase, but you want it in your cabin safe. If anything happens when you are on shore and the ship leaves without you or has to help you on shore, they will go to your cabin looking for your passport and important documents. They will get them to you if they can find them.