NC Grateful Dead Dad

Not that I am condoning breaking the rules by any means…let’s just say maybe I’m asking for a friend who is about to get on their first cruise in a few hours and maybe did not read all the rules completely. Let’s say this friend brought for his kids a bunch of Doritos and things like that, but put them in individual sandwich bags and they are not in original packing If this person we’re going to try to get onto the boat with these snacks, would it be better to try to do it in the bags checked/given to the Porter, or the ones you are carrying with you, or don’t even give it a try because there is no shot and I, I mean my friend, should have read the rules closer? (no matter the answer, I’m super excited for this first cruise…and thanks to everyone who has weighed in on all my ridiculous questions getting ready for this trip!)

We are looking at the app for our cruise next week (Symphony in and our of Rome). We are seeing lots of nifty little "classes", like jewelry making. Some of the "classes" have dollar signs by them, and others have it being a paid class in the description. If there is no dollar sign or mention of extra cost, does that mean its for free? Also, the "taste of the Caribbean" mixology class says that there is an extra cost. However, we have the drink package. Would it still cost if you have the drink package?

I ask this question thinking I know the answer & hoping I am wrong. Are you allowed to send out the clothes to be washed, say in the $35 bag, but request them not to be dried since they apparently use high heat. I thought it might speed up the drying process with the machine spinning out a lot of the moisture, thus making the time it takes to line-dry in the cabin shorter. If not, I guess the Tide is high and I'm movin' on...in the sink.

While we are early seating for dinner in the MDR next week on Symphony, our TA hooked us up with a night at one of the other restaurants. (We are debating as a family Hooked vs. 150 Central Park if anyone wants to weigh-in.) We have gone through the app looking at the MDR menu to see what is the best night to skip out what is being served in there. Based on the menu, we know 2 possible nights. Its just a matter of which night we think we can get in as we cannot make a reservation online with the coupon from the TA- the reservation must be made on board. Our cruise goes in and out of Rome. However, on day 4, we hit Barcelona where more than half the ship will disembark and new cruisers will come on starting their week. That is the night that sets up best menu-wise for us to have specialty dining. The next night- formal night, is our second choice based on the menu. All that to ask these: 1) Which night do you think we will have a better chance at getting a good eating time (6:00-7:00) for 4 people? 2) I know they list dinner as lasting 75 minutes in the MDR. Is that about the same for Hooked or 150? We have shows both nights and don't want to book dinner too late.

Outstanding berkeleykel!!! Ahhh, the Barcelona night. I know that is (hopefully) the 3-point shooting competetion that afternoon, ice-skating show that night, followed by listening to music at Copper & Kettle or Schooner (anyone know what kind of music the Plagio Band plays? I see them listed about on the ship.) I will be easily recognized as most times outside of dinner I will have on a Grateful Dead shirt (makes it easy for the fam to see me in a crowd).

I will say that as a Rome cruiser, it feels as if we are crashing the Barcelona people's party. They get the sail away party. They have the first-time cruisers orientation tour (this is my first cruise since the mid-90s). For me, that's on day 4. I guess I'm disappointed the sail away and orientation and such is not offered to both cruises since we all spent good money to be there. But in the end, who am I kidding? I'm not staying up until midnight for balloons unless I'm on a heater in the casino, and maybe getting around the boat will be so easy that on day 4 I will snicker (to myself of course) at those poor rookies in the first-time cruise class.

I am larger than the average NFL player (for those scoring at home, the average player in the NFL is 6'2, 245 pounds), so I can eat. Would I appear a glutton on the second night if on night 2 I ordered (yes, I just looked up the menu) in this manner? "I would like to start with the Calamari and Escargot, then for the entree the chicken cordon bleu and seafood linguine, and the apple cobbler for dessert." Just not trying to embarrass the family that early in the trip.

I am going on Symphony on Aug 17-24 through Rome. Rome, Naples, sea day, Barcelona, Palma, France, La Spezia, and back to Rome. I noticed that there are no Cruise Compass for that. However, what I do find is the Barcelona cruise. Am I understanding it right that those who get on in Rome are just joining the Barcelona cruise? Or are theyt just changing ports in the next week? If it is the case that the people in Rome are just joining the Barcelona cruise half way through, does that mean that we do not get a sail away party/balloon drop? I mean I guess we get one...half way through our cruise. A little anti-climatic. Is this done in other places as well? Still looking forward to a great trip.

Going on my first RC cruise next week (wow it's nice to finally be able to say "next week"). It is my understanding that the portions in the MDR are smaller than one might usually expect. And that you can, and should, order multiple apps, entrees, desserts, etc. My question is should you order everything all at once when first placing your order, or do you wait until after finishing up a certain course before you say "I would also like ..."? I know I saw on the YouTube live chat not to order more than you can eat. So that is why I am not sure what the propper etiquette is for when to order more than just 1 app or 1 entree (especially apps as there are quite a few that look nice!). If it makes a difference, we have an early sitting time.

A Caribbean ESPN? Wow. That could be interesting. I figured with a Western Mediterrranean cruise and being 6 hours ahead, the East Coast 6:00pm SportsCenter would be perfect for coming back to the room and going to bed after a little time (honestly, probably a little too much time) at Copper and Kettle. I guess if it's American ESPN, Wednesday Night Baseball will be right around lunchtime. It will be like growing up when you would come home from school and find the Cubs playing on WGN!

I was looking to see what TV channels were on the boats (mainly checking to see if we would have ESPN in Europe). And I keep seeing a channel called "Royal Entertainment". Can someone tell me about this channel. I know many hotels have little programs that run on loops telling you the history of that hotel and/or a long infomercial for that hotel. But there were other channels that seemed as if they would do some of this. Is there any chance this Royal Entertainment channel shows any of the shows on board? It would be great to see a preview of a muscian who is playing, or the commedian. Or do they go as far to show any of the game shows on board- either taped or live?

Sounds like we will all be getting the app! Thank you so much for your help. On a side note- it's exciting to have Matt answer your question. It's like getting help from a celebrity!

Going on first cruise next week- Symphony out of Rome. It is my understanding that my family of four will communicate with each other via some chat or text feature on the app. And we will use the app for the muster drill as well. My question is can we all (family of 4) sign into the app on 4 different devices using the same login as my wife (the one who has been spearheading this adventure)? Or do we all need to create separate accounts? Thanks much in advance!

Symphony Aug 17- Rome

I went to print my luggage tags and look at what I found: "Specialty Dinner For 2Enjoy a complimentary dinner for two in one of our specialty restaurants onboard." Let's say I wanted to go to Chops (I wanted Izumi but that is not included). Do you get an appetizer, soup, and main course? I know it says alcohol is not included, but we do have the drink package. How does that work? We think we want either this or Wonderland (for the experience I guess, as Chops looks like better food). Any help and/or information woud be greatly appreciated.

Going on Symphony in less than 3 weeks. I know for one of our rooms, we want to request the beds be separated. In searching previous posts, it looks like since we didn't make this request at the time of our reseravation, we would want to find our cabin steward to let him know this request (side question-is this correct?). And I have seen also that your cabin steward is one of the first people you want to meet on board. My question is this- how do I find him once I get on board? Is there a station where they are located? Will I just find him randomly in the hall?

I would be interested in knowing what people would recommend for those of us who like a few adult beverages. I would hate to spend the money on the drink package only to have the sea-sick prevention put me to bed after just 2 drinks.

oo oo oo...quoting lyrics about young people! I want in. But before that, I am going on Symphony in roughly 3 weeks- what apparently is the height of children traveling in Europe. I read that Symphony is so big, that you really don't see the kids- or anyone you don't want to due to the size of the boat. I haven't cruised in 25+ years. Does that seem right (the part about not seeing people...not about my not cruising)? This must be one big boat I'm getting on! Ok...now my lyrics (well, not MINE...Grateful Dead) Cows are giving kerosene The kid can't read at seventeen The words he knows are all obscene But it's alright I will get by I will get by (wow this site gets addicting the closer I get to the cruise!)

Thanks for the info. And RC, my wallet thanks you as well.

As I get closer and closer to my first cruise since the early 90's (less than a month to go until Symphony!), I find myself with more and more questions. Today I ask, do balcony staterooms come with a minibar? And if so, can I have it taken out? It is easy for me and the two young adults I am traveling with in their own room, aka my children (who will be traveling with their first drink package) to now...sober in the afternoon, say "NO ONE TOUCH THE MINIBAR". However, following those rules after "hydrating" all afternoon and evening...that may be more difficult. But no minbar=no bad decision! (at least in terms of raiding the minibar) In the videos I have seen online, I have not seen mention of a minibar. Is there one? If so, can I request it to be taken out (maybe even via email before the cruise starts)?

I am going in my first cruise since the early 90s in August going in and out of Rome. I saw that the forecast for Rome this week is HOT. It got me thinking, what are the temps like on board during a warm destination cruise? I assume we have temperature control in the cabin (I am a fan of freezing out a hotel room, can you get it truly cold in your room?). But as my wife could freeze on the equator, how are temps in the main dining room, casino, etc? Will she need a cover up, or will she be comfortable, thus making me need to walk around with a cool damp hand towel?

We loved Florence when we went a few years ago. Our daughter, who is staying in Italy to study, will be in Florence a lot. So I don't think we are going to venture to Florence that day. I hope you have a great trip and hopefully will see you on board. (I'm the one in the Grateful Dead shirts most days!)

To add on to this question as our check in for Symphony is next week, what documentation do we need for that check in? Will we need passport info? Just want to have everything ready to get checked in quickly.

Thanks Speednoodles. It took some searching over that document, but it was there. For those who may wonder, if I am reading the invoice correctly, early dining on Symphony that week is 6:00.

Going on Symphony in/out of Rome in mid-August. Where can I find what time is the early seating for dinner and when is late, or does anyone happen to know the times? This is my first cruise in 30+ years, so I have no experience with this, but for me, any seating where the first number is a 5 is too early, and if the number is an 8, well, I don't think that will fly with the fam. And for reasons that escape me, no one in our group seems to be onboard with My Time dining. We are currently signed up for the early seating, but check-in is soon and didn't know if changes needed to be made.