melski94

I don't have a teen compass. There will be teen only flowrider, rock climbing, basketball games, scavenger hunts, trivia, etc. The biggest thing for the teens is to be there the first night. They will do get to know you games and from there the teens sort themselves into groups. My teens rarely did any of the teen sponsored activities but used the teen club as a meeting place for their new friends. We've always cruised during Spring Break in March and there are a ton of other teens for them to meet.

Unless something changed, AO doesn't open until 8 the first night and 7 the other nights.  My kids always go the first night and as others have said, check in on the first night is a bit crazy because many didn't go and pre-register.  We always eat in the MDR with my kids...sometimes it may be our only meal as a family.  I have 2 teens who would check in my younger 2 early before the dessert course if they were in a hurry to meet friends.  Sometimes I'd ask for dessert early for the kids if its taking too long or if they want to get it on their own at WJ.  

While not FOS, we had 2 lounge chairs plus table and 2 chairs in each JR suite on Liberty.  We were about midship in 1300/1302.

Not sure if you know this or now but you don't have to book shore excursions through RC (except Labadee).  If you are willing to do a bit of research, you can find great independent operators or even the same beach club for much less.  While you give up the cruise line protection, I think you spend more time at the actual location rather than in the herd of crowds where you spend a lot of time waiting for your fellow passengers.  We like to give ourselves plenty of buffer time to make it back and all of the operators we've worked with know the ship schedule very well and won't chance not getting you back on time.
 
We hired a driver in Falmouth, Wilson of Tour Jamaica Today and he was great, safe driver.  We chose to go to Blue Hole and lunch but he'd take you anywhere.  My kids (oldest on that trip was 16 and youngest 4) are pretty adventurous but you don't have to do any of the jumps if you don't want to.  Lots of smaller jumps between the big ones.
 
Why go to the mainland if only shopping and beaches in Cozumel?  I can see it if going to the ruins but there are so many shopping/beach choices in Cozumel within a 10 minute taxi ride as opposed to spending 2 hours of your day on a ferry.  Just my .02.

This seems like another reason to buy trip insurance.
On my honeymoon almost 18 years ago, we flew down the same day as cruise...wedding was night before so no choice....took a 6 am flight out which was tough but we made it.  

This seems like another reason to buy trip insurance.
On my honeymoon almost 18 years ago, we flew down the same day as cruise...wedding was night before so no choice....took a 6 am flight out which was tough but we made it.  

I really don't understand this.  I'm not sure if this is because you are in the UK.  I thought the price when you made a deposit was the price you paid.  In the US, we can take advantage of price decreases which I understand you can't in the UK.  Almost always, the cruise costs more at final payment but I only have to pay the price that I agreed upon when I booked (unless I change the reservation by adding another person, in which case I have to pay current price).  Who told you that you owed 700 more?  Was it Royal Caribbean or a TA?

I was just off Liberty and they were giving out several phones to the Aquanauts (3-5) parents.  I think that if there is a medical reason, they can make sure you have one.  I'd call Royal's special needs department to go over your specific concerns regarding the medical staff onboard.   

Have 4 kids 17, 14, 10 and 5 and we cruise during their spring break...just came back from our Liberty cruise on Sunday.  I can't pull my older 2 from school out for that long without a mountain of make up work.  Plus, when we cruise during a school break, they get to meet other kids at the teen club/Adventure Ocean.
 
Our last 2 cruises have been on Liberty.  Liberty tends to be cheaper than other Freedom class (although still more expensive during spring break) and we can do a long drive there to save on airfare.  My kids really enjoyed Liberty with the slides and kids splash park.  Next spring break we'll be on Harmony which will be our first Oasis class cruise.  Next year, my oldest will be 18 and no longer in the teen club and hoping that Harmony will have some meet and mingles like they had on Liberty last week for the 18-20 year olds.   
 
I've never seen that moms website.  Thanks for sharing it.

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!

In the evening there is a staff member there to organize activities in the teen club.  However, there is no parental check in or out.  Teens are able to come and go as they please.  Due to that freedom, its not on RC to make sure kids make it back to the parents. 
 
We typically cruise during Spring Break so very high number of kids.  That week, they will split the teens between 12-14 and 15-17 groups.  That being said, my kids normally go there the first night and meet a few friends. After that, they use the teen club to meet up but then they leave to get ice cream.  I have shy kids and my kids always find a nice group to hang out with in the evenings.  My biggest problem is enforcing a curfew as they stay out later than us.
 
If you are worried about the freedom, I suggest getting the internet package for 2 devices and use an app like group me to communicate.  

We have 6 (2 adults and 4 kids) and every time I price it, 2 rooms comes out cheaper.  Even 2 JS can come out cheaper.  I would get with a TA and have them price it multiple ways.  I find using a TA is very helpful in getting 2 rooms especially if you want them connecting.