Cactus527

My TA has actually recommended this hotel as well.

I just got off a cruise yesterday with The Key benefits. LOVED the early boarding - 10:25am for the win, RC! (Navigator of the Seas) Having designated private times at places like the rock climbing wall and Flow Rider were nice too. Special seating in the theaters = take it or leave it, but I did think it was super useful for the ice skating show. Free Internet made this worth it to me (when I purchased, The Key and getting internet were only $5 apart). However, my FAVORITE thing about The Key is dedicated time to disembark. There was a massive line off the ship at 8:45am. I just mosied over to our meeting location (R Bar, in this case), showed The Key employee my SeaPass, and she escorted me straight to the scan-to-get-off employee. I literally skipped 20 minutes of waiting in line with that. Time from showing her my SeaPass card at the R Bar to stepping out onto the street to get a ride = 14 minutes. LOVE. EDIT: No free room service, but continental breakfast is free for everyone - take advantage of it!

I think there's a bunch of itineraries that still have yet to be released. For instance, I'm still waiting for releases for the west coast after April 2024. I read on here of a fair amount of people that are still waiting for Caribbean sailings, and I'm guessing that that might be the same time frame. So, there will probably be more sailings posted at some point.

Adventure Ocean requires registration to use but it's free to use during certain hours (late night = fee). If your kids are anything like mine, they won't want to leave AO! Just feed them before you drop them off. Enjoy your Greek cruise!

Isn't that the ancestors of Aragorn in Lord of the Rings? Makes sense if it is in New Zealand since LOTR was filmed there...

Backpack and carryon only for 3N or 4N cruises. That's it! Backpack - coowoz large travel backpack women, carry on bakcpack, hiking backpack waterproof outdoor sports rucksack casual daypack school bag (thanks, Amazon, that's a MOUTHFUL). Best part? IT HASA SECRET COMPARTMENT ON THE BOTTOM!!!! Carry-on luggage - Monos Carry-on Plus. It is unbelievable how much you can stick in this sucker. Seriously. It rolls beautifully and I love the compression feature inside!

... and I'm reading this while I'm literally trying to fold my tags right now. Scissors - commence!

I also feel like I need a PhD in origami in order to fold the luggage tags correctly...

Hahahahaha, sometimes it's hard to avoid Amazon! Cheers.

I like the Cabin Guru on cruisedeckplans to find out this kind of information. Here's what it says about Symphony of the Seas, Deck 3: https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/DP/deckplans/deckbydeck.php?ship=Symphony-of-the-Seas&deck=3

Random thought - during my first actual running marathon, someone was handing out beer at the mile 22 aid station. BEST. BEER. EVER. It was probably garbage brand and warm, but it was PERFECT.

Glad all is going well now. I invested in these tag covers to ensure that my tags were conspicuous and wouldn't fall off my bags. They've been a lifesaver!

The one we did in October was a four night, and there was an ice show on that one.

When I was on Navigator in October, there was an ice show that was done. I remember it showed up on the entertainment schedule in the RC app a couple of weeks prior too. Checking the app now for a cruise departing on Friday and there is nothing listed for ice skating. This includes both the show and the open skate. Has anyone been on Navigator this month and know anything about the ice shows? I was really hoping to see the ice show again. Thanks!

This made me laugh so hard. Good on you!!!!!!

If it helps, I got an email directly from Royal Caribbean last week (exactly 14 days prior to sailing) regarding The Key benefits. I'm assuming you'll get one as well!

Small carry-on bags? As in, the ones that will hold all your essentials such as passports, Sea Pass copies, money, medications, etc.? Keep that on you! Don't give it to a porter!

I've been curious about these, @ChessE4. Are they easy to push the buttons through the plastic thingy it's inside? I would love to have one of these but haven't seen any reviews online that specifically address how well they actually work while in the cover.

I'm so glad you asked this - I want to know all the answers about Roatan too! Following this post...

I'm so thankful you posted this. I wasn't going to pay full price for myself and teenagers to do it when I wasn't sure the teenagers would enjoy it, but at this price, I'm going to force them to enjoy it!!!! Three people for just over $90? Heck yes!!!

My TA books the shuttle with Royal Caribbean if that's what I want. I think he quoted me at somewhere between $60-65 per person round trip from Houston Hobby to the Galveston pier. We worked it out so that way we arrive the day before, stay in a hotel near the airport, then go to the airport that morning and hop on the first shuttle with Royal Caribbean. Even he has said that Royal Caribbean won't tell them what time the first shuttle will leave until super super close to the sailing date because they don't know how many people are going to be using the shuttle.

I wasn't sure where else to put this, but I thought the information would be pertinent to some cruisers: https://abcnews.go.com/International/mexico-imposes-worlds-strictest-anti-smoking-laws/story?id=96457353 "One of the World’s strictest anti-tobacco laws has been imposed in Mexico, setting in force a total ban on smoking in public places, including hotels, beaches and parks. The new law, which is part of the country's General Law for Tobacco Control reform, came into force on Sunday. It will also see the total ban on the promotion, advertising and sponsorship of tobacco products. The sale and use of e-cigarettes and vapes are also due to face new restrictions."

This is the basic format I used to create the letter. https://eforms.com/consent/minor-child-travel/ I think at the end, it wants you to pay for it in order to download and use it, but I just took screenshots, typed it out in Word, printed it, and had it notarized at my local UPS store. You can make the form applicable to your state too. Hope this helps!

No, it was NOT a cruise! Just saying, even those of us that don't have divorces or other things going on with minor children can still experience problems, so have your paperwork!

Even from a married relationship, I can tell you crossing borders sans one parent can be a nightmare without proper paperwork. My daughters and I were held up at the Canadian border once for an hour until they could physically reach my husband on the phone to confirm that he knew what was going on. They didn't care that I had notarized paperwork, passports, and birth certificates - it was such a headache. Definitely get all your paperwork for custody agreements, permissions, passports, birth certificates, divorce decrees, and other paperwork notarized before traveling. You'll be grateful if something comes up!