beachys

We love to stay at Marriott Biscayne Bay. It's very close to the port and you can get a bay room and watch the ships come in from your balcony! 

We just got off the Carnival Vista and it was far better than we anticipated! The main pool area was chaos, but were were in Havana, it's 12 and over private area and it made the cruise. The staff were so nice and the food was great. I'd recommend it!

I've seen 5 people cabins on Royal and Norwegian.

Sea Day. Sometimes there is champagne and little flags. Each Cruise Director does it a little different. But it is not to be missed. Bring tissues, very patriotic. They usually gather us all on the stage for a photo. And then pass the microphone around for a few words about what you did, how long in service, etc. ALSO- look for the special Veterans Table during 3pm Tea Time. Nice to chat with other veterans. Husbands and wives of veterans also welcome at the Tea Table. Big round table- sometimes enough to fill 2 tables.

I've not sailed on the Magic, but the only area that seemed crowded to me on the Vista was the main pool area. Chaos! Otherwise I loved how many small areas to gather there were. Of course during the muster drill it was crowded and also disembarkation. Honestly I really thought the layout broke up the crowds.

I would pay $800 more for Havana inside. Just returned from cruising in one and the Havana area was well worth it!

I deal with an online travel website which has blocks of rooms and I have to call them to get all of the available Royal Caribbean cabins, they don't list them on their website, nor Royal's website.

They got us connecting cabins and three other rooms next to us none of which were listed as available on any website I looked at.

We’re FINALLY going on our first cruise since our honeymoon 15 years ago. We’ll be on the Oasis of the Seas January 7th. I have all sorts of questions which I’m trying to find on here, but my biggest one is this: We’re leaving my 12 year old son back at home with my parents. What are my moms options of getting a hold of me in case of an emergency?? I really don’t want to buy the WiFi package if I don’t have to. We were hoping to just check our email in the evening to make sure everything is ok. Does Royal Caribbean have minute plans at all?

We love Ocean Blue! All of the food was fabulous and between five of us I think we tried most everything, but the best part about it was the service!

I second the lanyard! Plus waterproof pouch, highlighter, pen, bottle of champagne and chocolate covered strawberries sent to room.

I pre-order a case of bottled water, and the canned orange juice. I carry on a bottle of champagne and then make mimosas on board. :) :)

Sadly, I can't walk around the ship with a glass of wine.

It's always empty WAY before I make it all the way around! :D

We booked a balcony guarantee. Got a cabin we didn't particularly care for, so we called and paid to upgrade to a better cabin.

We buy it sometimes and other times do not. My medical insurance will cover us, but I buy it for other reasons.

I use insuremytrip.com. Their pricing is better and I get better coverage. Plus they compare multiple plans for me and give recommendations.

I have not yet had to make a claim against insurance so I cannot comment on that end.

The drink of the day is a go to for me.

Also mimosas and bellinis!

My renewal took 6 weeks. My friends took 2 weeks. It depends on time of year. You can go on the website and check your status and estimated return date.

Sometimes bigger isn’t always better! We tried to avoid the buffet as just too many people! Loved the specialty restaurants and imax and thrill theater!

Guy was even on board!!

Tell me about Royal and NCL’

 

 

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First cruise 30. Loved it, waited 12 years to do it again. Four since then with two more booked! We waited that long because our first cruise there were little to no kids or activities. Now the are a lot for the kids to do!

Cruise bingo:

Man wearing speedo

Sugar Daddy

Cougar

We are taking our first cruise on Carnival soon. We've only cruised Celebrity and Norwegian.

Our arrival appointment is 11:30am. On Norwegian this means absolutely nothing. Does this mean anything on Carnival? We do not have faster to fun and it's sold out so what will the lines be like?

Does Carnival have servers going around with drinks premade, such as the drink of the day? They had this on Celebrity. We don't have the drink package this time, but we usually find a quiet bar and make friends with the server and tip them well. Any thoughts on your favorite bartender?

Is there an upgrade fairy? Or upsell phone line?

We are traveling Vista.

Best place to take in sail away?

Good place for lunch embarkation day?

Thoughts on the seafood restaurant?

This is a 4 day cruise, will there be a formal day?

Any other tips you can give would be greatly appreciated! I've searched and read this forum.

Thanks!

I love NCL, it's my favorite cruise line, but the Breakaway is my least favorite ship of theirs. Way too crowded and smokey.

Hi:

 

We are platinum on Carnival, but have taken a few years off from cruising. In the time we've been away, both NCL and MSC have started to offer fares with the Unlimited Drink Option included as a perk. Now that we are looking to book another cruise, I have to admit that these perks are very enticing and swaying us away from Carnival, whose drinks package is very expensive to book. I'm just wondering if others are feeling the same?

Typically I would factor the drink package cost in as part of the cruise as we normally use it.

check your carrier, it's about $2,50 a minute

Has anyone used the pay as you go method? We have at&t and when we sail Norwegian we just make sure roaming is turned off. Texts are free to receive and 50 cents to send and i can get phone calls which i pay by the minute for. I of course do not have internet or anything like that, but i really just need to know if there's an emergency. It's our first time on carnival and i wasn't sure how it worked on their ships.

I love Bingo. I realize that's odds are against winning, but I look at the expense as entertainment.