KJ777

We are on Indy now.  We have been able (3 separate sailings) to use one of our BOGO on either night #1 or 2 and then use the other one later in the week (we usually choose last night). The trick is to let your server know, when you use your first BOGO, that you will be using your other BOGO later in the week and they will go ahead and charge you ahead of time right then for you second BOGO.  From what I understand, the [electronic] “coupon” for BOGO is only available on your rez for the first 2 nights so that means that your meals have to be paid for on nights 1 or 2….but when you actually consume the meal is immaterial as long as you’ve already paid by day 2.
As others have mentioned, some ships are far stricter with this rule than others.  We’ve only had 1 instance (Wonder) where they insisted that we had to consume both meals on days 1 and 2. Other ships seem to be much more accommodating.  We love this perk !  It work soooo well in conjunction with a 3 night package.  Yields almost a UDP.

That flight was now completely booked and had to book a later flight on December 2.

@AndrewJL, you are an awesome Uncle.  Your niece is very, very lucky to have you !  The cruise is going to be awesome, Radiance is a beautiful ship and your itinerary is perfect.  As luck would have it, you couldn't have chosen a better itin (IMO) for simply getting off the ship, wondering around and having a great time withOUT spending a bunch of extra $$.
Since this is the first cruise for both of you, you will find yourselves so busy you will soon realize that you don't need any kind of drink package or excursions.  Just enjoy !
Just make sure that you both have the proper documentation for boarding and the rest will take care of itself.  The only thing that will stop you from getting on the ship is not having proper documentation.  If you have different last names, make sure that you have authorization from her parents to take her out of the country.  Even if your last names ARE the same then it is probably wise to have that authorization anyway.  Once you are on the ship you will have a wonderful time.  Enjoy it and let us know how it all goes !

This, 100%. When I cruise, I enjoy what I have. There might be a few poorer choices on my part, but it's all good. I look forward to cruise food because it's different than what I typically have, so it's always good in that respect!
 
So glad you got to rest and decompress. I LOVE the photos of your room! As a solo traveler too, it's nice to see what other options are out there. I have a solo room booked on Celebrity Silhouette in 2025, and while it won't have a window, I'm excited to experience it. 

Summary:  Sleep does wonders
I am sorry for taking until the third day to update my trip.  I have taken a 2 to 3 hour nap every day.  I have also got 8 to 10 hours sleep every night.  I have kept my alcohol to one drink a day and drank lots of water.  I have not been doing lots of the events (trivia, game shows...) that I normally do.  Now today I feel like a real person.  I figure I was on autopilot and was going through the steps.  Now do not get me wrong, I was not doing my job or coaching subpar, but my entire life revolved around work and water polo.  I have gone 4 days without working and I have not done that in a lot of months.
Now I would like to give you some advice from someone that knows nothing.  Break your routine up with something different.  If you are working make sure you take a weekend day and get away and do something you normally would not do.  If you are retired make sure you break up your routine.  Go visit your family that you have not seen in a while.  Go someplace that you would never go by choice.  Take your spouse on a real date (drive in theater and make out).  The main idea is do something to break your routine up.
now on to the ship experience

Summary:  Edge Single Stateroom with Infinite Veranda
I am not going to talk much about the ship tonight because I have not had time to explore and experience.  What I will talk about and show pictures is my cabin.  I have got to spend time in my cabin and get a good nap this afternoon.  I have an Edge Single Stateroom with Infinite Veranda.  For a solo cabin it is very big.  The only thing it does not have is a couch.  I do have a balcony in the room that opens the room up.  Celebrity is an upscale cruise line, and you can tell that by the cabin.  I have 2 USB plugs next to my bed.  At the desk is a box with 3 different power plugs and 2 USB plugs.  The bed is nice and sleep well.  I want to take the pillows home.  They are big enough and are schrunchable.  Later in the cruise I will be creating a Cabin Review Video and will share it with you.
Note:  The nap helped, and I am starting to realize my funk is caused by being overworked.  I have done 6 months of 60-hour work weeks and the last 3 months with 25 to 30 hours of Water Polo coaching on top of that.  I think I am just tired and need this cruise to decompress.


 

Summary:  No sleep but great trip
It took all night Monday night, but I got packed.  it was the heaviest suitcase I have had so far on any of my trips.  it is a small, checked bag and it was 42 lbs.  I pretty much packed everything I own that can be worn in public that my 27-year-old would approve.  The flight and transportation were the best of any trip so far.  the only issue is my sons new Camero.  It is a brand new 2024 Camero and he wants to drive it everywhere.  The trunk is big but has a small opening.  The bag just barely fit in.  When I got to the airport there were no lines anywhere.  Once on the airplane I was in Main Plus seats, and I had a 3rd grader in my middle seat.  That gave me lots of room and gave me someone that I could talk to (I coach elementary and high school water polo).  On the second part of my flight, I had the Main Plus seat and there were only 2 of us in the row of 3 seats.  At the Fort Lauderdale airport I got my bag and as soon as I walked out the door to see where to find my hotel ride; to my surprise the van was right there with the hotel name on it.  I got to the hotel about 10 pm and got to sleep for the first time in two days.

I’m following because I do still get very excited about everyone’s cruises on this blog as well as my own!  I will never be able to do much more cruising than I currently do so all my down time at least gets hyped up with everything I get to read about here. 😃 
Guessing you, @Traveling Mike, are on your way now to FLL and tomorrow morning to the port.  Happy sailing!!

Beginnings of the Holiday Blues ?  I hope you are on your way and having a great time !  I know how you're feeling though....I think it comes from too much of a good thing.  If I'm being honest, I will say that I have really lost that OH MY GOD I'M GOING ON A CRUISE euphoria as well.  They're getting to be pretty routine at this point.  I hope that is NOT what you're feeling but it does happen.  Familiarity breeds contempt.  It happens even with cruising !  Enjoy your cruise !!!!!!!!!

I leave tomorrow morning on a B2B Celebrity Caribbean Cruise.  The booking is in a Solo Balcony cabin with premium everything and shore excursions in every port.  It was an unbelievable deal that had premium everything and $1,500 OBC. 
I am a 63-year-old single man that has about 30 cruises under my belt.  I cruised the first 10 with my first wife.  I cruised the next 12 with my son as a Single Parent.  The next 6 were as a Solo Cruiser and the last 6 have been a mixture of Solo and with my 26-year-old son.  I have always loved cruising and loved planning them and going on them.  I am past my planned retirement date and have a new plan on retiring November 2024.  My work keeps making me offers where it is hard to retire.  After I retire, I am planning on doing a lot of travel and cruising.  For now, I work 60 hours a week and Coach Water Polo in my free time.
Now you are wondering about my title...
For the last few months, I knew it was coming and I leave tomorrow, and I really don't care.  I am not excited and do not know what to expect.  It is not that I do not want to go but I am not looking forward to the cruise like I have on all my others in the past.  I go to the airport in 9 hours and have not packed yet.  I did print my documents and cleaned out my backpack but have not packed anything back in it.  I am setting her thinking I need to pack and get ready to leave but it is hard to get moving.
I am writing this blog in hopes it will:
Help me get excited. or Give me something to do. or  Both If you would like to follow and see how it goes, I will keep you posted.
Traveling Mike
Celebrity Beyond
November 22, 2023 - 9 Night Aruba, Curacao & Cayman Cruise
December 1, 2023 - 10 Night Ultimate Southern Caribbean

I think it's incredibly generous that you're doing this for your niece. I've never been that generous and I don't think you should feel bad at all.
As far as excursions, both Cozumel and Costa Maya have large shopping areas at the head of the pier. Costa Maya even has a couple free pools and a flowrider (I don't know the cost). In Cozumel you can take a taxi in to town and explore on the cheap or go to a beach. I'm not a beach person,  so maybe someone can give more specific advice. 
I wouldn't worry about a drink package.  As many people have said, a lot is included.  If your niece really wants a Coke, you can carry on 12 cans or 16.9 Oz. Bottles on your first day.
A more important issue is paperwork.  Make sure you have everything you need. Since your niece is a minor, you'll need documentation that you have permission from her parents. I also recommend passports for both of you.

Looks like the stops are Cozumel and puerto costa naya
 I’m sure some people here can weigh in on what’s available to do at those ports that is relatively  cheap
there is  still time to buy a beverage package, perhaps ask a relative to help out and buy the package?

If I may offer some advice, now is the time to transfer your reservation to a good travel agent. There are so many considerations with a cruise, and it sounds like a good agent might be a real benefit to you!
You can transfer it up to 30 days after you booked on the website. 

Thanks for the feedback; that's mostly what I've been hearing. Sancho's was never an option, seemed like too much of a party vibe for us.
We're normally frugal (don't spend a penny on CocoCay for example) but splurged for a daybed at Paradise b/c the beach area looked kinda crowded in some videos with the loungers packed closely together. We normally look for smaller places (like Nachi) so this was our way of making a bigger place feel smaller.
All that said, we'd probably be fine just sitting on free loungers b/c we always get off the ship early and there are only 2 ships in Cozumel the day we're going, but once I mentioned it to my wife, it was too late, lol.

Visiting Cozumel today and Nachi Cocum with the family on Wonder. Looking forward to a great beach day at Nachi as we always do!

There are servers all over the island... just be sure to tip well and often for the best service.
I tip $1 on order and $1-$2 when I get it depending on how fast they are and then $2 if i never have to ask again. usually they are back before I am finished with one.

Lost me at "left my dog at home alone".  Dogs are not cats.  They can't be left alone with someone stopping by daily.  Maybe that works for a cat, not a dog, not for any length of cruise.
"Smoking area on deck 5 and 9"
What ship has a smoking area on deck 9?
"Advanced internet"
What is Advanced internet?  There is only one package.
But seriously, I can't get over leaving a dog at home alone.  

When you book interiors (as I do), it's just a place to sleep, shower, and change. I'm sure it will be fine. You're there for Wonder... and she's a great ship!

Registered sex offenders are not allowed to cruise. The cruise lines run the manifest a few days before sailing and they will call you and let you know you can't cruise.

Stealing a magnet for the grandkids?  What a terrible excuse for a human.  
I stopped bringing magnets because of magnet thieves.  Still bothers me that people think they can just take other people's hard earned things, even something as small a magnet on a door on a cruise ship.  To think she was going to present it to her grandkids so they would look up to her and think what a wonderful person she was for thinking of them while in reality she was nothing but a common thief.  Hopefully she is banned from Royal.  No room for criminals on board.  

Onboard with a beer in hand by 10:15am. This is a record for us. 

prices have gone up so much that Black Friday sales don't seem like sales.  30% off now is 30% higher than last year.

Neither Dan nor I had any health issues….thank goodness.  Thoroughly enjoyed the cruise and we’re so happy to meet @PPPJJ-GCVAB, her husband and their friends !  Can’t wait to cruise with them again some day.  ❤️❤️

The 70.99 30% BF deal is on Adventure, the 89.99 Buy One 50% off one is Icon.
The varying starting prices across ships and across different sailings on the same ship is a Royal thing.  On other lines where I'm booked, the price is the price.  It's not a constant used car sales technique of figuring out the most I'll pay or can afford.
I still enjoy sailing and feel like I can manage to get the things I want at the lowest price they'll ever offer it, but it requires work and babysitting I'm relieved of with other lines.