Lynnea

We fly out Saturday for the June 5th sailing on Mariner. We’re coming all the way from San Francisco. No way am I canceling unless something cancels on me!!! We will sort out whatever is thrown our way! Travel during covid and the onset of Hurricane season is def crazy. My daughter is 13 too.

This! With the only addition being stalking Weather app over news of growing tropical depression in next 72 hours when I’m set to board in 4 days and I have to fly across the country to get there!!!!

I’m sorry some have had less than stellar experiences in the Facebook groups. I haven’t had that experience with our June 5th sailing on the Mariner. We’ve all been friendly, planning a get together after sail away, sharing yay’s over royal ups and introducing our kids to each other. No one bothered to set up a group for our sailing here, so I did it myself and it’s hardly visited. I do feel that I am running a gauntlet with covid and general illness right now. In the last month my daughter has had covid and then the flu, people coming off Mariner cruises right now have either tested positive during the sailing or just after and posting about it - not great, but not horrifying either. I was really hoping that by choosing this time is year, I could fully relax in a large group unmasked and be my usual social butterfly. So we’re just crossing fingers and hoping for the best.

Ha! This was going to be my recommendation as well!!! If you have the chance, have dinner at Babettes Feast, which is walking distance on Via Margutta. They have a lovely courtyard. Enjoy!!!!

Assuming your sun was underage, were you Able to have his test done on your account?

We’re taking this same test before flying out to Orlando from CA. How do we show proof of this? Does Binax Now email me a doc that I can print and show? Do I take a pic??? Thanks!

I never saw better than $68 pp for the deluxe drink package for our June 5th Mariner. I think prices tends to go up the closer to get to the cruise date. The price for the Cococay water slides was $94 and now it’s on sale for $133! At least this is what I’ve seen since I first booked last October.

Goodness, I’d feel like I was right at home! Unmade bed and used towels? Facts of life. I’ve read that some of these stewards are tidying up twice a day. Wow!

SpeedNoodles, you always have the best tips!!! I wouldn’t even think to consider that I could access my check in at 9pm because I’m on the west coast!!! Ha! Perfect!!!

Thanks! I appreciate this thread because I’ll be traveling when check in opens and didn’t want to take my family’s passports with me!

Hmmm… now we’re less than 60 days out and there are just two excursions, one is sold out and the other has three spots left. I’ve recently read that at least through May you need to be on a RC excursion to leave the docking area. I really hope they either add more or the restriction is lifted.

How do you find out how many kids are on board? We’re sailing Mariner on June 5th with our 13yo daughter. I’m hoping for a good number of kids in hopes she finds a friend.

One potential upside is the adult only areas may not be very crowded!

As a first time cruiser this topic has been interesting to follow. I received my Royal Up offer a few days ago. We’re in an Ocean Balcony stateroom. Of course I went back in to see what RC says is currently available to purchase. Seems like they’ve had a hard time selling their spacious Ocean balconies - and I can see why for just 5’ more interior and a smaller balcony, I’ll stay there I am. But the funny thing is there is hardly any thing else. Maybe one or two Grand Suites and nothing larger than that. My Royal Up offer had Junior suites, the 2 bedroom grand suite and both the larger ones as well. Why such a disconnect between what was on the offer and what is available on their site for sale??? I did immediately put in an offer for a Jr suite - I don’t want us to have too much luxury the first time out! Ha! We’re on the June 5th Mariner of the Seas.

We’re three on an 8 day cruise as well (13yo daughter). I got her the refreshment package because I have a feeling she will want to go off and make friends and would appreciate easily getting a drink, smoothie or whatever. Which one are you on? We’re June 5th on Mariner on the Seas.

Well okay! I hope it returns then in time for my sailing in June.

What?????

What the heck is Quest? After the descriptions of the other games mentioned, this sounds like fun!!!

Hi… new cruiser here. Should I be concerned that there have been no excursions offered for St Kitts yet? We sail June 5th on the Mariner. Also, only one excursion has been offered for San Juan, Puerto Rico. Seems a bit strange to me since there are many for St. Martin. Thanks!

Thank you! I think we will just keep our current time. I like the idea of sitting with the same ppl and having the same server. That was a fav part of the first cruise I was in over 20 years ago.

This makes me wonder if I made a poor choice by selecting an 8pm dining time. As a first timer, I had no idea which time would be best. Any more opinions out there on which time is best in terms of activities/excursions??? Thanks!

We are new cruisers and I can tell you after spending our usual summer vacation in Kauai with empty grocery shelves, closed restaurants and angry locals, we (mostly I because I am the planner) needed a vacation where everything was taken care of for me. I don’t want to worry that I won’t be fed! Or that I’ll be surrounded by angry people! That and we have an only 13yo daughter who would really like to experience vacation with some kids her age. A cruise seemed to fit the bill for us! We are sooooo excited!!!

Hi…first time cruiser here and wow, it does seem like there is a fair bit of nickel and dime-ing. That aside, what exactly is a coffee specialty drink? Is it a latte or cappuccino? Because I def need two cappuccinos in the morning and my husband three. If those are included I might be enticed to get the DBP, which for our cruise on the Mariner on June 5th, is $68/person/day no matter how they offer it. Thanks!