brassfrog

Still in early trip planning stages of very first cruise.  I'm fairly certain that when we stop at George Town, Grand Cayman, all we will want to do is hang out at the beach.
 
Royal Caribbean's website suggests an excursion at 7 Mile Beach.  Based on the posting, for $46 per adult and $36 per child (so $164 for my family),  I would get 4 complimentary drinks and lounge chairs, but no food.

This doesn't seem like a great value when the beach is a public beach.

What am I missing here?  Can anyone else comment on going to the beach at Grand Cayman (or any of the Caribbean ports)?
 
Thanks,
 
Neil
 

Having never been on a cruise, I'm curious what is a typical day at sea for the members of this forum.

What time do you get up?  Where do you have breakfast?  What's a typical morning activity?  Where do you eat lunch?  What's an afternoon activity?  Where do you prefer dinner?  What about evening activities?  What time do you finally collapse into bed?
 
 
 

It's a grill and a cooler!

What about a Grooler?




 

What about a Grooler?




 

I agree.

Great question Neil. 
 
When I feel a little motion sickness, seeing the horizon does help a lot.  Plus the fresh air helps me too.  So if it's going to be rough seas, a balcony would be best in my case.  
 
That being said, I love a little motion going to bed. It's like being rocked to sleep!

Motion sickness effects people differently. For some, having a balcony room and seeing the horizon bounce up and down can cause motion sickness. Others staying in an interior room will get sick without a window to look out of in rough seas. I don't have a preference because I'm not prone to motion sickness. For me, feeling the ship's movement is all part of the experience. :)

Matt, great podcast. 
 
I'd like to add a wrinkle to the question:
 
If you knew the cruise was going through wet weather and/or rough seas, which room would you prefer, Interior or Balcony?
 
Thanks,
Neil
 

I posted a quick message on Facebook & Twitter, but I really wanted to thank everyone who posts here, reads the site and listens to the podcast for being such good friends.
 
I use the word "friends" because I really do consider you all my friends.  This site started as an outlet for me to share my Royal Caribbean passion and I've come to (virtually) meet so many new people and I love reading different opinions, viewpoints and concerns that pop up.
 
So I wanted to take a minute to make sure I express to all of you how glad I am that you spend a little bit of your day on this site.  I hope we all get a chance to cruise together some day but if not, we can always dream of embarkation day here.
 
THANK YOU!

Soon my friend, soon :)

Howdy, Matt!

Since Len is now back from his non-Disney cruise, can we expect his trip report soon?  
 
Because I've been a longtime WDW Today listener, the crossover podcasts (Len and Annette) have been some of my favorites.
 
Keep up the great work!
 

I would guess that one of the "perks" of the drink package is knowing that you'd already paid for it beforehand.  
 
If this is the goal but you also want to make certain you don't lose money, could you not get a prepaid debit card with the amount of the total drink package on it, and use that to pay off your bar tab?
 
(Idea blatantly stolen from countless episodes of WDW Today discussing the Disney Dining Plan.  Hopefully I won't have to pay Matt, Len, Mike, and Mike a tax for using their idea.)

This is a great question. I will tell you, most people settle into an onboard routine very quickly. You find what works for you and repeat it each day. For me, I rise early. I always have and always will, no matter where I am. When on vacation I'm usually up by 7am. Especially when I'm on a cruise, I don't want to miss anything. After I shower and get cleaned up, its off to breakfast.
 
For breakfast, I usually go to the Main Dining Room. I like a relaxed eating environment, so the Windjammer Marketplace really isn't for me. But that is not to say I don't go to the Windjammer at all. In the Main Dining Room, you can choose ordering from a set menu that usually changes from day to day or go to the walk up buffet. Or you can choose both, it's up to you.
 
After breakfast I usually go back to the stateroom or I hit the walking track and check out the sights of where we are! I walk a lot while onboard, making sure I see the entire ship and always skip the elevator in favor for the stairs. Gotta feel the burn! 
 
Lunch again is in the Main Dining Room if it is open. It's only open on Sea Days. If not, then it's the Windjammer Marketplace for lunch or Sorrentos Pizza or Cafe Promenade. I try and go to the Windjammer a little before or after the lunch hour rush. It makes a more pleasant experience and the food is refilled and usually more fresh.
 
Afternoon activities might include a nap, more walking, people watching by the pool, or sitting in the Solarium staring out the window, thinking "I can't believe I'm on a cruise!" One afternoon activity I partake in each day, is getting an ice cream (or frozen yogurt) cone by the pool. I try and keep myself to just 1 cone, but sometimes it's 2. I won't lie.
 
I dress up for dinner each night. I dress up for work, so throwing on dress slacks and a button down isn't that big of a deal for me. My wife loves to wear dresses, so we always make a night of it. Dinner usually happens in the Main Dining Room. We check the dinner menu each day after lunch and if the menu isn't appealing, we book a specialty restaurant. We're totally not picky about food, but not thrilled with fish or Indian options.
 
After dinner it's off to the nights show. After a few more drinks and a walk and stroll through the shops, it's off to bed. 

Having never been on a cruise, I'm curious what is a typical day at sea for the members of this forum.

What time do you get up?  Where do you have breakfast?  What's a typical morning activity?  Where do you eat lunch?  What's an afternoon activity?  Where do you prefer dinner?  What about evening activities?  What time do you finally collapse into bed?
 
 
 

I don't consider 12 and 6 to be teens (6 is still a sweet baby to me :unsure: )... but between us we have 4 kids - 11, 16, 17, & 18. The older 3 get their own room and are free to go about the ship. We usually see them around throughout the day anyway and we have dinner and see a show together. As for my 11 year old, I was hesitant on our first cruise when he was 9, so he did the kid's club when we wanted adult time, but now at 11 he didn't want to do the kid's club (on Carnival) and we didn't force him. I wasn't too worried about him walking around by himself, but he stuck to us most of the time. My short answer... I think it's easy to find your kids throughout the day - and other travel companions for that matter. When my husband went missing I could usually find him in the casino.

good question - my husband is up about 6am he likes to walk the deck before its crowded - then he meets up with people - gets breakfast and coffee
I typically get up and try and do a class or go to the Gym and work out, it gets busier on sea days.
 
Many times they have good deals at the Spa so I have done that, and lots of activities - I have never been bored
Actually I almost find I'm more busy - on Sea Days cause I really get to see the ship
Go to shows for sure on these days and I like to eat in the Main Dining room and save
specialty dinners for days in port.
 
others?

Just saw this about Royal Caribbean Connect phones for onboad use.  Not sure how old/new it is.  Might be helpful.  http://www.royalcaribbeanincentives.com/docs/rccl-pdfs/connect-brochure.pdf

Hi Nikki,
 
Congratulations on your recent engagement! My wife and I were married on Liberty of the Seas in 2008 in Miami, Florida (the port Liberty was home ported at the time). We had a group of 10 sail with us and the over all experience was wonderful. I do know the process has changed a bit though. Back in 2008 only a marriage officiant could marry, but now I believe that a captain can marry. Also legal ceremonies had to take place either in a US port or while docked at an island. But I believe this has changed too. Now you can have a ceremony at sea in international water. I could be wrong, but I have read this on Cruise Critic. 
 
Royal Romance (now called Royal Weddings) did all of the leg work, which made things very easy. Since we got married in Miami, Royal Caribbean obtained our State of Florida wedding license on our behalf. This is something some states allow, some don't. Most you have to show up in person to get a marriage license. With island ceremonies, you are at the mercy of whatever their rules are for obtaining a marriage license. The first thing to do is to contact Royal Weddings and go over what you want and check on dates, when sailings become available.
 
And if you get marriage on Oasis or Allure you'll get some amazing photographs that you'll be able to take home with you at the end of your cruise. Ship photographers took us all over the ship for photos!
 
Good luck and feel free to ask any questions. 
 

Posing with our wedding officiant Marty. She was amazing!
 

Taken in the wedding chapel on Liberty of the Seas.
 

 

 

We have a photo of us sitting in the Morgan with the sign switched to Just Married.

The Independence Casino was ok with no real smoke problem and i never noticed any smell on our clothes. Usually if the Air Con is good it clears most of the smell away. 
 
Infact there was more problem with the wind , if you know what i mean  :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

I  do have asthma.  I am also allergic to dogs, cats, and dust.  But I realize I have to accept and deal with these things in my everyday life or I would never do anything or go anywhere.
 
If we block and ban everything that pople dont like/enjoy/appreciate or are allergic to or have potential reactions to, we might as well live in a bubble.
 
So based on my experience, and from someone who does have asthma(the orginal posted did not indicate that was his issue with the smoke) I would say the casino's arent that bad when it comes to making your clothes smell!! :)

Glad you are going and she will love it - I too have Type I- diabetes and like matt said I use a white board or notepad
on the cabin to leave messages- I have not taken walkie talkie's but I know the crew has them and can use them
for emergencies I'm sure - but I also buy internet minutes in case we have to turn our phone's on and use them
then the kids have some money -etc.  Have a blast

Hi Neil
 
If I were you, I would look on a site like TripAdvisor and research a good beach to go to on 7 Mile Beach and then get off the ship and find a taxi driver to take you there.  Negotiate the price with them.  
 
You will likely get a better deal than with RC in this situation.

Have run into this a few times.  I use www.shoretrips.com to book beach days or
you can sometimes call hotels, located on the beach you want, and some will give you
day rates to use the hotel - without you having an actual room - and yes if the shore tour
does not include food - I would not book it.
good luck

There may be something on the horizon, stay tuned!