FireFishII

Thanks. I was wondering. I have seen some people have their 'joined recently' badge removed when they have only a few posting and others with more than a hundred. Maybe the program tracks it by # of days instead of # of posts.

@D Alt - I had found a freestyle machine on the Promenade deck next to Sorrentos - tucked into a corner. This was on Allure.

Don't forget you can use your UDP for lunches when the specialty restaurants are open (usually sea days). @CruisingNewb- You can usually find me in the WJ at 5 pm for my appetizer course (on a large plate of course). Then I am ready for my dinner at 8 pm. Followed by second dessert at 10 or 11 pm. As far as the morning: 7 am is appetizers from WJ that I bring back to my cabin and 9 am is my main breakfast in the MDR or back up to WJ.

Any one can use My Time. When you sign up for a cruise, you are usually asked if you want a regular time (early or late dining) or My TIme. If you have a TA, she/he should have asked and entered it into your profile. You don't have to pre-pay tips to use it. (But I like to pre-pay tips since it will make my final bill smaller after the cruise). On My Time, you can just show up but if you know when you want to dine, it is better to make reservations.

You do not have to rent/buy/wear a tux or a formal dress. Most will go with a shirt/tie/pants for men and women will wear either a nice dress or slacks/blouse. But some will ignore the 'Formal night' and wear whatever. Hey admin/moderators ( @SpeedNoodles, @Love 2 cruise 2022, @AshleyDillo ), does someone what to take away @Maggie M's 'joined recently' badge. She is already up to Diamond level with 112 posts. Thanks.

I used the app. However, the first time I was clicking on the wrong link. My sister (in FL) and brother (in NV) were both doing the same thing. After about 5 minutes of frustration, I found the right link. I am sorry but I don't know what I did wrong or what I had to press to check in.

I think any live blog is a good blog. Even a semi-blog. Enjoy your cruise! I will be following.

When is your cruise. I have seen that before but only because the cruise was too far out. The shore excursions were filled closer to the cruise date.

Don't forget about checking in that luggage. At Orlando airport, they are asking for baggage to be checked in 45 minutes prior to the schedule departure time.

I usually stay up until midnight to grab the earliest check in time for everyone in my group. Then I go to bed and finish the check in progress the next morning.

One more thing to add to this thread, airlines at Orlando requires 45 minutes before the schedule departure for checked bags. As far as breakfast goes: Bring ziplok baggies. Have someone go up to the Windjammer early and grab some easy to eat food (Fruit, pastries, ??). Bring them back to your cabin and pack them into the ziplok baggies.

I have also found missing items either in a unused (or though I thought) pocket of my luggage or in a pocket of a seldom used jacket or sweater. One reason why I love the change of seasons is because I never know what I am going to discover in a pocket.

Sorry I don't have many answers to your questions but here is something to consider: August = Hurricane season. In the Caribbean, a ship can maneuver around a hurricane. The seas could still be rough but the ship will stay away from the worst of it. In the Caribbean, they can even switch ports at the last minute. With NYC (or New Jersey), there is not as much wiggle room for the ship's captain. Basically, the ships goes south or north. Most hurricanes will hug the coast line - the same with a cruise ship. As far as the ship size and what they offer - you have to look at your children. I don't think the ship size will matter to a 4 year old. For the 8 year old - depends. How active are they. Both ships have the Adventure Ocean that caters to your kids ages. Both ships have water slides, just the Oasis will have more. I would look at the ports each ship will visit and make your decision on that. When your kids become teenagers, then I would start looking at what each ship offers. Good luck and enjoy.

My fingers are cross for you.

@BennyandBo - I don't think @MJ_is confused. I have seen the same thing - Even whey you pick the option "You pick your room", you are not given a choice of rooms. Instead you get the message "Guarantee" room. I have seen the same thing.

I am planning for myself and my family for our time in Barcelona. I am using a TA to book the cruise. We are each taking care of our own flights since some of us will be using airline points and we are also coming from all over the place (NH, FL, PA, and OH). But I like to plan things. I have been to Barcelona before and know a little bit about the lay of the land. I am using a couple of sites for my planning purposes. I am not sure if we will be doing a hotel or a house. I will be using Viator and similar sites to plan our excursions. After I finish my research, I will present our options to my family.

Thanks, @WAAAYTOOO. I thought it was a name on the reservation and not on the cabin. But on your solution - they would have to move one of them into their friends room and one of their friends into their room. Otherwise, the remaining person in their room may be hit with a solo charge? Or am I missing something?

I was able to do the same for my extended family (siblings). We each had our own spare reservations that I was able to link to mine using the app. One of our rooms were not connected and it still was not a problem.

Either booking the flights yourself or going thru the cruise lines, I would plan arriving at least 2 days prior to the cruise. When I go in 2024, I have plan on traveling out 3 days prior to the cruise. This lets me recover from jet lag and do some sight seeing in Barcelona and the surrounding countryside.

So sorry about your loss. I wish I had some magical advise to give to you. I think you should still go on the cruise. Yes, the purpose was getting away with your friends but the change of scenery may help with your grief. Either cancel the second room, sell the second room (you should be able to change the names on the room), or invite other friends or relatives. Just because they are using the room does not mean that you have to hang out with them. If you don't mind, I would also ask you to consider seeing a professional to help YOU. What you are experience is normal but sometimes we all need that little extra help. Best wishes.

Ditto here. I actually have a double first name along with a middle name. I usually don't use my middle name when I travel since the online forms don't allow a double first name. I have yet to get into trouble.

You should do a live blog so that we can come along and follow your journey. I too want to do a cruise as cheap as possible just to see how much I would enjoy it. I bet you will love it.

Here is a question: I know that you can board with 2 bottles of wine. And lets say you do that. Then, if you decide to get off at the disembarkment port to do a little shopping or whatever, can you 'embark' on the second cruise with 2 new bottles of wine?

My husband and I got 1 plan and shared. This works out well for use since I am usually on the internet in the morning while my husband is on in the late afternoon and evening.

I don't know about the present situation. But this past summer, 2 weeks before our cruise, they canceled one of our Mexican port and substituted Nassau for it. It was a good news/bad news/good news scenario. Good news: Don't go someplace where there is violence. Bad news: I really did not want Nassau. Good news: Our date for PDCC was changed - this meant that we were the only ship there at the time (instead of 3 ships). I was able to grab a cabana in the Beach Club and surprised my siblings with an upgrade. What was interesting was our cruise was the only one moved. I know that the next ship to sail to that region, did not have their port changed. I believe that RC will not take you into an area with potential violence. Be prepared for a change.