whitsmom

For my 2 youngest kids, I put their clothes (shirt, short or dress, socks and undies) in gallon sized ziplock bags and labelled with the day of the week to wear.  Sounds a bit over the top but the first cruise, I didn't supervise the outfits and they ran out of clothes as they put on 1 outfit for breakfast, changed into a bathing suit, a different outfit for lunch, changed into bathing suit and a 3rd one for dinner.  This way they know which clothes to wear when.  
 
For my DD5, I'll pack a bunch of cotton dresses and she can wear a clean one to dinner and then reuses the dress the next day.  
 
Pack a battery operated tea light for the bathroom and possibly your room if the kids are scared of the dark.
 
Have a great time!

I'd consider the value proposition of paying for Voom in advance and using WiFi calling (free w/ most phone plans, including on ATT).  Then you don't have limits on SMS and voice, and the data will actually be usable.  The data you'll get on [email protected] is very slow.
 
http://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2016/07/27/how-stay-touch-someone-your-royal-caribbean-cruise

At the suggestion from many of you guys, I got us added on the wait list for early dining.  Well, just found out yesterday that they have changed us to the 5:30 pm dining time.  With the two youngest grandgirls (and hubby too) this will be so much better. 
 
We have our excursions picked and paid for, drink packages done, formal outfits figured out (for the most part) as we are doing the first formal night for family pictures.  I have an over the door (big pocket) organizer as the two grands staying in our cabin will have too much stuff I'm sure.  I have a USB charger that has 8 ports so that we can charge everyone's phones, tablets, and watches.
 
I still need to get some of those magnet clips to hang stuff up (swimsuits to dry and etc).  Any others good ideas that I might need?

I love that! We had read about this tip previously and it was so much fun to unpack everything and put those empty suitcases under the bed out of sight so I could pretend I lived there for a week!!

I have a collapsible mesh laundry bag that is a must and I also have a hanging shoe bag which really helps eliminate a mess in the bottom of the closet.
 
If you are on any of the "new" ships (Harmony is the only such ship I have experienced) be sure to bring an old Seapass card to put in the lights/electricity slot.  I know that any credit card sized card will work but I found an old Seapass card to be perfect.  On these ships there is a slot just inside the cabin door that controls the lights in the room and the AC.  If the card is removed, lights and AC won't work.  If the card is inserted, lights and AC work.  They use this power control method in hotels in Europe a lot.
 
I always bring water shoes with me.  So many of the beaches are rough and rocky.

Congrats to you both on your anniversaries! My wife and I will be celebrating our 45th anniversary on March 17th (yes St. Patty's Day) and then boarding the Adventure OTS the next day on the 18th.

I"ve found that if you booked out far, they only have 8:00 for dinner but as it gets closer (usually about 90 days) the 5:30 opens.  I think they want as many at the late as possible.  It always pays to call them if you want something.  Most of the time you can get what you want.

There are people that have Excel spreadsheets of what they'll do while on their cruise.

I am not one of those people.

I've seen people need a vacation AFTER their vacation because they jam-packed their vacation stem to stern with activities (Excel Spreadsheet Dude/Chick). Or worse, one little thing goes wrong and now they are gunched up and angry and making everyone around them just as miserable. 
 
Like I say about photography, if it turns into a job I'll sell everything and stop doing it. Plan, yes. Obsess, no. Don't let this turn into a job. You're suppose to be on vacation FROM your job! Act accordingly.

 

At the suggestion from many of you guys, I got us added on the wait list for early dining.  Well, just found out yesterday that they have changed us to the 5:30 pm dining time.  With the two youngest grandgirls (and hubby too) this will be so much better. 
 
We have our excursions picked and paid for, drink packages done, formal outfits figured out (for the most part) as we are doing the first formal night for family pictures.  I have an over the door (big pocket) organizer as the two grands staying in our cabin will have too much stuff I'm sure.  I have a USB charger that has 8 ports so that we can charge everyone's phones, tablets, and watches.
 
I still need to get some of those magnet clips to hang stuff up (swimsuits to dry and etc).  Any others good ideas that I might need?

I heard they are going to transfer all passengers to Majesty of the Seas once you check in... 

My first few cruises with my kids I would re-learn this lesson: you have to slow down and let some aspects of the cruise go on its own time.  Meaning, while I might want to do 4 other things, with family cruising, sometimes you just have to slow it all down and let things materialize on their own.  
 
There is absolutely room for planning ahead, and I firmly believe research ahead of a cruise only serves to save you time and money.  But it's also important to let vacation happen too.

Thank you for your service!

Awesome!  I will be sure and do this.  I would like to do it on the first formal night as we are all dressing up in our finest that night!

My son-n-law turns 50 a few days before our cruise.  I would like to have a cake or something one night during dinner.  Is this something I can arrange once on board or does that have to be done prior?  I would like to keep it a surprise.  I know you can do something for the cabin decoration and such; however, I would rather do something special during dinner.

Just talk to the head waiter at dinner on your first night and he or she will help you arrange it.

Brightline (Florida high speed rail) will start operations later this year between Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, and West Palm.  Phase two (likely 2018) will extend northward up to the Orlando Airport (MCO).  It will be a three hour trip from Miami to Orlando or vise-versa.  There is also a stop being planned here in Brevard County, just south of Port Canaveral (and just north of me!)  They are currently targeting 4 trips per day from each end.
 
While Canaveral is a 20 minute drive for me, I think this is going to be great for getting to Port Miami and Port Everglades!
 
Any one else considering this?
 
 

Not long. Maybe 30 mins round trip.  Definitely not walkable back.

Just wanted to add my two cents.  Larger ships absolutely better, cabin location makes quite a difference, we take 1 Bonine in the morning, just in case, and bought sea bands to sleep with.  Years ago I also have candied ginger, but was fine.  We have never really had any problems except last year we had a cabin at the very back of the ship and could feel the motion of the ocean.  Drink and eat enough and you will be fine!  Seriously though, if you start to feel bad try a green apple!
We mostly cruise the Caribbean and have really had no problems.  However, when we cruise to Alaska we really felt it, which seemed odd as it wasnt really open waters.  A lot of people were quite sea sick on that one.
Anyway, I think you will be fine.  Bonine and sea bands, you will be good to go!

I have been all over the Caribbean, the Mediterranean,  and last summer on the Baltic Sea cruise.  There has been only one port that required a passport to leave and come back and that was St. Petersburg, Russia.  With that said I think you are right on taking your passport whenever you leave the ship.  From now on I will be taking my passport with me.  Thanks for the good advice.

Don't throw them away!! Take them home, put them in a file folder/ large envelope and label it with the ship's name and dates. That way you will have them for future reference......which is good to have when there is a"family" disagreement on where you went/what your did on the cruise. :)

I've got PDF scans of the Cruise Compass. I haven't uploaded our western Oasis from January yet but I can try to do that today. Here's the Dropbox link.
 
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/e99a6fcjsq3u76o/AAAK0pZbZcZao9f-0-xAtmB1a?dl=0

We did a cooking class through Royal years ago at Playa Mia.  It's a beach resort, but all of the cooking was done in the covered restaurant area and included preparing a three course meal and plate decorating.  I really enjoyed it and drinks were included at the time.
 
The turtle farm was interesting as was the island tour in Grand Cayman.
 
I can't help with Jamaica as I haven't been there yet, despite all of my Caribbean cruises.  First time will be next year.

Here's some more for Roatan:
 
http://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2014/01/06/planning-royal-caribbean-cruise-roatan
 
http://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2014/02/21/excursion-focus-parrot-tree-beach-resort-roatan

Thanks for the links - we are doing the Playa Mia as the grandkids like the water park. 

You might find this podcast useful: http://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/podcast/episode-110-shore-excursions-cozumel-and-belize-city
 
Nachi Cocom, Cozumel: http://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2015/11/04/excursion-focus-nachi-cocom-beach-break-cozumel-mexico
 
Info on Paradise Beach in Cozumel: http://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2010/07/21/excursion-focus-paradise-beach-cozumel
 
General Cozumel info: http://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2015/09/26/what-you-need-know-about-cozumel