Don

Well what types of gifts are you looking for? One year I bought my wife a fancy necklace that she could wear with a dress on formal night on the cruise. Women love jewelry, clothing, shoes. They really aren't hard to buy for. 

 

If you can't find something that she needs before the cruise, decide to get something on the cruise for her. Example: Pandora charm bracelet. Buy her the bracelet now and when you're in a port of call with a Pandora store you can buy charms. Each time you cruise you can buy a few charms that symbolize that trip.

 

I bought my wife a pair of gem earrings in Grand Cayman once and she treasures them and each time she wears them it reminds her of that wonderful cruise we took on Freedom of the Seas!

Great suggestion -- Myra's Pandora bracelet was Nassau, she is adding a world of memories port by port. Jewerly unique to destinations is always great and very memorable.

Found it--use google search; Quantum of the Seas Food Truck. Return gives you a Cruise Critic Quantum Review. It,s mentioned in the description of Seaplex sporting & entertainment venue, Deck 15.

Also check @royalcaribbeanpr

Help me out here Shawn -- I can't find the source! Saw it this afternoon after your original post but don't remember where?

 

Found it--use google search; Quantum of the Seas Food Truck. Return gives you a Cruise Critic Quantum Review. It,s mentioned in the description of Seaplex sporting & entertainment venue, Deck 15.

Help me out here Shawn -- I can't find the source! Saw it this afternoon after your original post but don't remember where?

Shall we take our guesses at what kind of food truck will be on board as far as menu? Wish list?

 

Great question -- I have no idea. In a sports / fun center it has to be something snacky?

Nothing better than car service for traveling is there?! My favorite option. :)

Agree, have found private car cost slightly higher, but treasured vacation time saving priceless! I.e. saved $10 bucks NYC inbound transfer & cost us two hours of enjoying Times Square area. Spring $$ for time saving!

Can't wait to see itineraries, looking for an 11/13 day British Isles trip in 2015.

Two new super deals, both Enchantment out of Port Canaveral to Bahamas.

Dec 2 2013 4 nights Mon - Fri $129

Dec 6 2013 3 nights Fri - Mon $99 -- $75 cabin credit may be applicable (vacationstogo.com)

What are you waiting for--pack your bags

I'd do set sail pass & luggage tags. You could get and fill out luggage tags at the pier drop off --it should only take a couple of minutes.

If you booked thru travel agent they shold be able to print for you. I would think the biggy is the set sail pass.

What are you bringing cash for? I would not advise getting cash at the ship ATM as the fee is really high. I bring some cash, a few hundred. If I purchase things in port I use my credit card. If you do use a credit card make sure it doesn't have a foreign transaction fee. Otherwise you'll get charged extra for using it outside of the US. A lot travel rewards (hotels, airlines) credit cards don't have foreign transaction fees. 

 

I don't bring a lot of cash because if it is stolen, then you're left with nothing. I also don't utilize the in room safe. I keep everything on me, like I do in my normal everyday life. If you make credit card purchases and are left with bad merchandise or a problem you can always fall back on your credit card company to remove the charge. Also if your card gets stolen, your card company will protect you and send you another card. I bring 2 credit cards. My wife also has a few others.

 

Using a credit card for all purchases also makes it easier to see exactly how much you've spent and where you spent it at. And it's one less thing to have to organize and keep track of.

 

I use this same basic plan for cash!

 

I also link my SeaPass account to a credit card. Not that putting cash down is bad, but I just don't do that. I don't restrict myself on spending money while on vacation because I don't vacation very often. Honestly, I've already spent thousands on the cruise and airfare, what's a few hundred more?

We are planning a Mediterranean Cruise for next year but we can only find RC Cuises that have an itinerary that includes sailing into Venice if we fly to Barcelona which means luggage restrictions and airports.

After such a relaxing experience by going from Southampton we are hoping to avoid this so hopefully by next season there might be a change to some of the itineraries to include Venice from Southampton.

We are sailing from Barcelano May 2014 on Serenade. $1200 airfare exceeds 12 day cruise ticket base price for our interior cabin, with luggage it will exceed cruise & gratuities. AND they feed you peanuts instead of Chops grill & Windjammer. Air fares seem out of control. For our Caribbean & Bahama trips we are able to drive to Florida ports -- makes packing much easier.

Darkcabbie, restart your useful thigs to know subject -- this one quickly turned into a discussion of food which obviously deteriorates to how many ways one can enjoy Chops. OR, is "don't fail to dine at Chops the #ONE useful thing to know"?

Now what's for lunch? Imagine an eleven or twelve day cruise with Chops three meals a day! Could be that dream trip you've been looking for!

It's on our bucket list also. We enjoy the smaller ships, if 96000 tons is small, so hopefully we'll get there before further bans.

So you got to the show late right before curtain call and the theater is packed, you'll probably find great seats availble in the first 4 or 5 rows up front, go on down!

Hm. I'm going on Majesty for Nassau and Coco Cay. Very similar itineraries--different departure ports! Will offer feedback, for sure!

 

we liked that itinerary as it included Key West, but choose Enchantment as Port Canaveral only one day drive for us. We'll catch Key West again on a longer Western or Eastern Caribbean trip

We are sailing on Enchantment of the Seas.

 

We're sailing Enchantment mid-Dec -- Nassau, Coco Cay, sea day. 1st time on Enchantment, will give the blog some feed back.

I have booked our very first cruise in June 2014 to celebrate our daughter's graduation.  We are sailing out of Port Canaveral.  I have sooo many questions.  I will try to limit to one or two questions per post so I will not overwhelm everyone.   :)

 

My first questions

When I booked, the early dining time was full and I had to choose the later dining time.  We do not usually eat that late and I don't think my family will go for the later time.  I placed us on the waiting list for the earlier time.  Should I wait and see if spots will open up?  Is that a possibility?

Should I just go ahead and choose the My time dining so we can choose when we want to dine?  I noticed that if I choose that option, I must also choose the prepaid gratuities.  Is this also a better option?

 

Sorry to have so many questions.  Thanks in advance for all your help!!!whatever you decide about dinng time, don't forget crusing is worry & decision free, if you can't make up your mind about what you want for diner or dessert, you can have one of each! Just ask your waiter, he or she will take care of it.

 

Elizabeth C

North Carolina

We also like to dine earlier. We always select my time dining. Easy to get reservations between 5:30 - 6:15. Request them 2 months in advance on-line. You can pick same time same table or different times with different tables each night. Highly recommend Chops Grill speciality in lieu of MDR one night-- Superb!

Dec 16 Enchantment

Yeah I really enjoy Key West! It's a great must! Is Tampa ever going to a year round embarkation port?

Don't know. Have never sailed from Tampa, or any of the Gulf ports. Tampa is an hour + further for us than Canaveral & we have family in Flagler Beach. Usually stay pre-cruise night with them -- Canaveral is only an hour from there so it makes it simple to get to Port early and not tired.

It was our 1st choice for our Dec trip. But, did not want to drive the extra distance to Miami Or Fort Lauderdale for only 4 night Bahamas trip. RCI doesn't sail there on the 3 or 4 night cruises out of Port Canaveral. It is a must Port for Western Caribbean trips.

Key West is always high on our list. Peppers of Key West has best sauces in the South.

Nassau in 5 hours. Self guided walking tour of Bay Street, Queens Staircase, & Fort FinCastle -- highest point on Nassau thus great views of city & ships in port. You'll find lots of local hand made crafts on Bay Street, great woven baskets. Fort is about 15 to 20 minutes from ship whole tour maybe 2 hour. Enterprising locals will probably offer historical review discussion, it's worth a few bucks gratuity, they are knowledgeable. Top off with Margaritta & Nachos stop at Senor Frogs on return -- just outside terminal to the left ( facing ships) across from Straw Market. Sit at counter seat overlooking the harbor & take your camera -- best harbor view in Nassau. 4 or 5 cruise ships docked just across the water -- impressive view! Even if you don't trinket shop still walk through the straw market, it's amazing.

Post cruise withdrawal is why we always book pre-cruise days in embarkation ports! We did a post stay in San Juan a couple of years ago and found it to be a reality shock.