packercruising

Your vacation starts earlier, you can be eating and drinking early, you avoid the noon rush.

Oh, then you HAVE to book at least a 4-night cruise so you can enjoy being Diamond on Adventure! ?

Get a drink. If ship has a Park cafe, get food, otherwise the WJ. If cabin is ready drop off carry ons and then explore the ship. Get a drink.

Well that's not right. That's just not right! ?
 

Eager anticipation...  
Probably not.  Belize is an amazing reef system.  That's probably why scuba diving is so popular there.  With that comes the need to anchor way out.  Destroy massive amounts of coral reef to build a channel, harbor and pier - I hope not. 

We went on Carnival and had to tender....sorry about that curse word...we've moved past that now and know our mistakes, sort of like Sabrina cruising MSC....LOL
 

I like my Belize tenders with plum sauce, but my son prefers BBQ.

Radiance class!

Pretty sure RC Excursions get priority, although it would depend on the time. That's what I am hoping anyway. ?

We have sailed it twice, once in May and once in August. We much preferred the May sailing.

How much time do we have. :)
 
There are limited outlets in the cabin
Bring some zip lock bags for wet things and other stuff.
You may want a highlighter for the Cruise Compass, but we never have. 
The walls ad doors are metallic so you can bring magnetic hooks if you like.
The empty luggage can usually be stored under the bed.
Make sure your credit card company knows you will be gone
Make a copy of your passport, embarkation docs, etc for you carry on and luggage.
As others have said, plan on an extra day if you are flying. 
 
Enjoy your first cruise! It is exciting. :)

Small grain of salt. :) Some people just insist on complaining. You have too much to be excited about to be worried about what some sad sack says.

What Gina said, It is a very nice, smaller ship. It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of larger ships, but if you like the more intimate atmosphere, you will really like it.

It is just plain easier. :)

It is just plain easier. :)

David, that is an interesting scenario. You want to remove gratuities for a person that doesn't exist for services they won't receive. :) There should be a way to do that.

I can tell you what would happen if that was me 40,000 feet above the Atlantic..My wife would have told them to shove me out the door I have a cruise to go on!

Just remember that your children are on the ship and are having service given to them. If you remove the gratuities, you are removing part of the wages for the people providing that service, many of whom have children of their own to provide for.

When is your cruise? If you have some time, and haven't already, become familiar with persicoping and check out the Persicoping forum here. You can watch people currently on your ship show you around. :)

Just remember that your children are on the ship and are having service given to them. If you remove the gratuities, you are removing part of the wages for the people providing that service, many of whom have children of their own to provide for.

When is your cruise? If you have some time, and haven't already, become familiar with persicoping and check out the Persicoping forum here. You can watch people currently on your ship show you around. :)

First of all, be assured that your gratuities do not include paid beverages. Those are included in the price of the drink. I think the casino is the same way. We never go to the casino, so we are in the same boat (so to speak) if our gratuities go for that. Secondly, you cabin steward has to clean and prepare for 4 people, regardless of their age. I have seen 10 year olds eat on the ship and am not sure I agree that they eat less than adults. :)
 
My hope and feeling is, that once you are on the ship, and see all the services they do provide, you will have no more qualms about paying the gratuity. These servers work hard to provide for their families and go for months without seeing them.
 
Whatever you decide, enjoy your cruise!

Your vacation, your choice! Or your wife's choice. :)

Your vacation, your choice! Or your wife's choice. :)

Alright!  Congrats. We will be 4 points away after our Allure cruise. You got some bragging rights now. :)