Dharma517

Final payment is coming up and my mom is now questioning Eastern vs Western. She has done Eastern and I have done Western. So before we lock down a cruise. Does anyone here have a preference when sailing on Divinia?

Looking forward to getting away from the crowds at the pool. what is it like up there? Do I need to get there early to get a spot?

So I am thinking I should get one 15 drink voucher package for alcohol and 1 of the 7 bottles of wine at dinner package (I can always share that wine with my mother or table mates if i want I suppose?) Then two of the soda packages...i drink a lot of diet coke.

My question is this. We have plans for a lot of speciality dining. Will my wine dinner package be available there? If not, i will just go with two of the 15 voucher alcohol packages.

thanks!

Thanks for all the responses. Very helpful!

I'm sailing on 10/4 out of Miami with my mothers who won't purchase any drink packages. I would say I have one frozen drink a day...maybe one beer a by the pool. Dinner and evening I can polish off a bottle by the end of the night. I also drink a ton of diet coke. Probably 4 or 5 a day. So....what should I go with? I also like a latte everyday : ) It appears most of my diet is liquid...lol.

Thanks!

Yes you can and you will also pay double the price!!!

I have eaten at Chops a few times on a couple ships. It can be hit or miss. When it was $20 it was worth it (I think that was what it was). Now for 4 people? Not so much. I compare the food quality to Outback steakhouse. The presentation, service, and ambience (can be but not always) is much nicer than Outback however. For that amount of money I would hope to be lucky and get a great server and chef...it is not a guarentee though.

While I have not sailed on HAL, my understanding is that it draws a more mature crowd. I think sailed HAL if you are in your 40's would be a bit boring for you. If you pick RCCL both you and your parents will be happy! JMO.

I also need a fan at night. I have a little black one. If it is a big deal for you I would not rely on anyone but myself to make sure i had one. Even if the say...they will have it or you...stuff happens.

Sorry you didn't have a great time. Sometimes have not so great room stewards and not great MDR experience can really dampen your trip. I think a bigger ship and better servers ...before you give up totally.

I have sailed to Bermuda on EXP 4 times. August is the perfect time to go. The best weather!!! Once I went mid May...never again...too cold and too many man o war. I have also cruised Celebrity summit. I actually found them very comparable. EXP is a fine ship to take for most people. If you are expecting luxury check out another line. Otherwise...I am WAY jealous!

Kids gone wild. As a mom of 4 kids ages 12-5...I am fully in touch with wanting to have one or 12 drinks and completely ignore my kids on vacation. Unless of course they set fire to something or knock an elderly person to the ground :) Some days I am really ready to blow my brains out between work and the kids...joking of course but I can't even use the bathroom in peace.

Having said that..when I am with the kids I don't even really consider it vacation. Vacation is without kids. Can you tell I have parental fatigue and am not going to win mom of the year? lol When I am on vacation and my kids are with grandma and grandpa and I see kids running wild and being annoying... I just sit back and smile and thank god they are not mine and I don't have to deal with them.

Its all about where you are coming from...my life is insanely crazy. So when I get to step outside of that life...but see someone else's crazy...it makes me really appreciate that brief time on vacation when I left my crazy shoreside.

I look forward to the day when my life is calm enough that I can be annoyed by someone else's crazy life. Then I will know...things have settled down.

When I get on the Divinia in October....will I have kids with me? NO... Everyone breath a collective sigh of relief. BUT...I will have my mother!!!!

Thank you so much for the very detailed and visual review. Sailing on Divina in October...can't wait!

I have sailed with DCL about 5 times and RCCL about 6 times. I am a fan of both. With and without kids on DCL btw.

So really you can not compare Enchantment of the seas to the Disney Dream. That isn't even a fair comparison. I would compare one of the newer ships Oasis/Allure with all the bells and whistles. As well...nobody has an island like Castaway Cay..nobody. Disney is more upscale for sure and the service/food beyond compare.in my opinion.

However, still I would choose RCCL in this instance for the balcony and the extra day. The cruise is what you make of it. RCCL is a great cruise line and the family will enjoy it..and its a long vacation.

If it were just you and the hubby I would go more upscale but still you are going to have the kids and you will be in "MOM MODE" still so they luxury of disney might be a little wasted on you. That is just the way I look at it.

Either way....have a great time...Im jealous!

You do not have to all go thru together and they wouldn't know. No way for them to know you carried two bottles in carry on each and two bottles in your checked luggage. AT least on the cruises I have been on. You probably will have to collect your bag on deck 2 after they open and confirm it is your two bottles of wine with a smile. Have fun!

I don't think RCCL is better or worse than any of those other cruise lines. In my opinion all in the same category. All have had cut backs and forgive me if I am wrong you haven't cruised in two years? You would notice cutbacks in all I am sure. Anyway...have you given Disney a try? Its not just for kids you know. Even though I still consider it a main stream cruise line to me it is just more...but again...you will also pay more for it.

I would not give up on RCCL. Perhaps get a suite next time? Or try MSC yacht club. i hear that is fantastic. Luxury lines are going to be a huge cost increase but it you can afford it...go for it!

I can't speak to NCL but I will say...2 rooms is better than 1...esp for 4 people. I have been to Bermuda 4 times and I love it...but I don't love it in May. We went mid May and it was too cold and windy to enjoy the beach/water really. The water was full of jelly fish as it can be at that time of year and the locals don't even go in the water until Early June. Its still beautiful but certainly not tropical at that time of year if that is what you are looking for. Hope this help a little!

Agreed..went to two chocolate breakfasts...one on Grand and one on EXP and it was simply chocolate poured over things..in the form of syrup or chips. And the milkshake was no milkshake..lol. I can't even remember what was wrong with it but everyone at our table got a big laugh out of the "milkshake".

This is not true. My girls skate competitively and we fly with our ice skates in our carry on's all the time. No figure skater wants to arrive to a comp with skates lost in luggage. Skates can go as carry ons....just did it this weekend.

Yes she can. Many ships have times set aside for people who bring their own skates. They call them advanced skates. The rinks can get busy during normal skating times especially after the ice shows start playing. You must wear long pants and the ship will supply a helmet which is mandatory. Figure skating moves such as spins and jumps are not allowed, it is merely a pleasure skate. I always take my skates when we sail on a ship with a rink. Beats going to the gym.

 

As an aside, the airlines do not allow skates in a carry on. Must go in checked luggage.

The most I ever gained was .5lb. I usually lose a pound. Probably from watching other people gorge themselves..lol.

I eat what I want at dinner and limit my frozen drinks to one per day...visit the gym every morning and take the stairs. It has worked for me while allowing me to splurge on vacation.

That is the rule and it makes perfect sense to me. Simply eat earlier if you want to eat there.

Best,

Mom of 4

I just booked the 10/4 balcony $499 room no problem with my TA.

Thats a very nice way to start a cruise. I would book for all but the infant and if worse comes to worse..have the baby on your lap. Still better than the WJ!

Thats very nice. We are always happy to share our wine (when we have some with our table mates). We had MTD for our cruise in October on ExOS and we all liked each other so much the first night we arranged to dine together with the same wait staff every evening. By the end of the cruise we were drinking from each other's glasses and eating off each other's plates. Noro be damned people! :D

So, yes this had been done. 2 adults in one room. Each has two in their carry on and one has 2 in checked bag. 6 bottles of wine on board. Against the rules but possible.

So yes?

 

 

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