michelle

You should consider adding this to your planning timeline.

Agree with tonyfsu21 - I always have stayed at the Embassy Suites - happy hour, huge rooms, breakfast, and about $7 pp to get to the port
or you can hire a cab from here..  Easy location for eats the night before and a Total Wine right down the block!  what more could a girl want

You may be able to get the passport back in time, but this year, passports are going to take longer
also - like WAAYTOOO says very important to have your original birth certificate out now and
available - but if you mailed it away with your passport, then you could be in trouble.

I have 3 copies of my birth certificate in files just for these kinds of things - that could
go wrong

And I have had to get a passports 48 hours before a sailing cause I could not locate
mine or my birth certificate 2 days before sailing.  $575 later, I had a passport

RULE OF THUMB - when you pay your final payment on a cruise - look for your passport
or birth certificate right then and make sure they 1) can be found 2) are up to date

It's Feb 17, 2017, 9 nights going to the ABC islands. From what I hear many people signed up already, should be a blast.

Ya know, if you really want to try a southern 9 night navigator trip you could join us on the 2017 group cruise, just sayin.

Thanks for the heads up.  Heading to Belize and Cozumel next month on Independence of the Seas.

On January 15, 2016 the US CDC upgraded their travel notice of Zika Virus to Alert Level 2
(practice enhanced precautions) Zika virus is transmitted by mosquitoes, and systems include
fevers, headache, red eyes, rash, and joint pain.   The illness is usually mild and lasts
between 2-7 days.  However the alert specifically references women who are pregnant or
who are trying to become pregnant (www.cdc.gov/zika/pregnancy/question-answers.html)
 
The notice currently only affects specific cruises calling in to certain Caribbean, Central
America and South America countries.  However, the situation is evolving so please regularly
check the affected areas, via the following links:  http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices and
http://www.paho.org/hq/.   Guests are reminded to take enhanced precautions against
biting insects by covering exposed skin and using insect repellant.
Thanks just fyi
 

You may be able to get the passport back in time, but this year, passports are going to take longer
also - like WAAYTOOO says very important to have your original birth certificate out now and
available - but if you mailed it away with your passport, then you could be in trouble.

I have 3 copies of my birth certificate in files just for these kinds of things - that could
go wrong

And I have had to get a passports 48 hours before a sailing cause I could not locate
mine or my birth certificate 2 days before sailing.  $575 later, I had a passport

RULE OF THUMB - when you pay your final payment on a cruise - look for your passport
or birth certificate right then and make sure they 1) can be found 2) are up to date

cdixon22 - too funny - I agree - I know these guys don't get a lot so I do $5-10 to them
And I put extra tip money away for my steward right away before it disappears!
Figure I have the money then - by the end of the cruise - not so much

I am local to Fort Lauderdale. Stay at the Embassy Suites in Fort Lauderdale (17th street). You can leave your car at the hotel for the duration of your cruise and they offer a very reasonable shuttle service. You are in close proximity to the port so there are other options like Uber or cab. Not to mention you are in walking distance to several good places to eat dinner the pm before. Happy hour great at the embassy.

WAAAYTOOO - bummed to miss this one with you and the group

By the way, what does your screen name mean?  always wanted to know that, lol

Cafe Promenade is Always our last stop of the evening. Pizza and desserts on the cabin balcony perusing the next day's compass. SIGH......

I think the Boardwalk and Central Park balconies are a tremendous value.

Boardwalk balconies are my favorites - you get partial ocean view, view of boardwalk
and the cabin is the same size of the other balconies -

Familyof4  -Welcome to the blog and yes the PIZZA on the Promenade is my go to

Boardwalk balconies are my favorites - you get partial ocean view, view of boardwalk
and the cabin is the same size of the other balconies -

I have always been able to find someplace on the ship for Football games
and I'm sure they will list it in the Navigator or like Matt said Guest services
should have an idea!
 
Have a great cruise

I find the same prices you do for the [Feb 2016] Allure blog group cruise.  When I check my next cruise, which is the Empress in April, there are no beverage packages available at all.  Now, that may have to do with the unique situation that the Empress presents.  The next one, following Empress is Christmas and New Years 2016 on the Navigator.  That one shows the same price schedule as the Allure.  The one after THAT is Feb. 2017 on Harmony and there is nothing listed as it falls into that same category as Empress....so I have 2 new prices, 2 no prices.
 
BTW....cruise docs are ready for our group cruise on Allure !  Yipee !!!!

Just wanted to start a little thread with my random thoughts this far. First RCI cruise, western Caribbean. Used to be primarily a Disney cruiser
 
-Ship is a lot cleaner than i excepted
- After about a day, you get a good feel of how to navigate the ship
- There are less activities I actually want to participate in onboard than DCL
- Did chefs table last night. Cool experience but was 4 hours long (8 pm- midnight). Needed a designated walker back to the room
 
Labadee today. Looking forward to trying a labadoozie and falling asleep in our cabana. My one year old is licking the sea salt off of the table on our balcony right now. Kinda gross but kinda funny too. Have a great day, everyone

woot- that is a great deal!  and lots of fun people going on this cruise too
 
And the Caribbean is looking quite enticing for February!

I may do it from the Allure, just not sure if I want to pay for Internet, maybe.
 
I'm @Halifax_Jerel
 
As a heads up I posted a thread in 'people connect' to share names of people presently scoping.

This was the same advice my agent gave me.  In addition, by buying the insurance to cover the airfare portion, we only had to pay for that coverage and then can add the cruise fare later once final payment is reached and we still qualify for the preexisting condition waiver.
 
We bought our airfare for Europe nearly a year out as I was able to get roundtrip airfare for next July/August from Los Angeles for under $700 roundtrip on British Airways.  I knew there was no way I could beat that fare after paying nearly $400 more per person this past year.

love the freedom - best cruise staff and entertainment I think

Yes like Matt said go to Flow Rider when it first opens and sometimes right when
you get into the ports like 10am its not as busy but ask the guys/girls that work there
too for good times

Have fun !!  and January I'm jealous, the Caribbean is looking good this winter for sure

I would have loved to see that! Tried to convince Annette to do it on her wedding cruise.

love Love Boat, that cracks me up! 
watch weekend cruise shows all the time
plan plan and plan for my next cruise of which I always have several going on
Why can I not be as dedicated to other things in my life...