ColoradoCruiser87

I honestly don't remember much about TV or entertainment near the cardio machines. What I do remember is that the elliptical I used was dead center looking out a panoramic window as we pulled into port in Marseilles. Best view I've ever had doing cardio. Cruisecritic does have some pictures of the gym and where the ellipticals are placed. https://www.cruisecritic.com/photos/ships/freedom-of-the-seas-358/vitality-fitness-center-123433/ We also went early in the morning and, as was mentioned above, it is pretty empty early in the morning. Never had a problem getting a machine I needed and the cardio machines only have 5-8 people at any one time (which included my brother, my dad, and I).

We did freedom in the Med. last summer. About half my family (Americans) lives in the middle east and we are all used to eating spicy curries and other ethnic foods. On the second day my brother in law joked with our indian waiter about the fact that he needed to make us some food, because he would know how to make some good curry. The next four nights we had huge plates and bowl of curries and masalas that were not on the menu but that had been made just for us. It was fantastic.

I'll start out by saying this is only applicable if you are in good shape. If you are, a backpack is very convenient and doesn't care what the ground is like underneath it. You don't need to take the long way around in order to find the ramp that gets your the same place a set of stairs would. You can bring a child in a backpack in to almost anywhere, even small shops with narrow isles where a stroller would need to be collapsed and a child carried anyway (now you are carrying a child and a stroller, good luck). Our kids, when they fall asleep, tend to sleep longer in the backpacks because they are constantly swaying and moving with your body, so they get good rest.

As an additional benefit, you get some killer exercise out of having your best friend right there behind you.

I have searched the boards but haven't been able to come up with an answer to this specific question.

People on these boards have written that when you are on the cruise, you can schedule any of the currently scheduled cruises, and then after you get home just transfer your reservation, keeping your reservation number, low deposit, and onboard credit.

My question is two fold:

1) How far out can you schedule the NextCruise?

and

2) Is there any limit to how many changes? Realistically, could you book your NextCruise far enough out that you can wait until the next booking season and then move it into the future into that booking season? or (less realistically) could you eternally change your NextCruise pushing it further and further out into the future?

Now, the practical reason for all of this. I am in a graduate program that will end (if everything goes according to plan) around June 2019. I have a young family that has supported me through leaving a paying job to go back to school and I would like to reward them, and me, for sticking it out. My parents are paying for a cruise for my siblings and I this summer, so I will be on a RCI ship. So, my question is really can I book a sailing that either IS scheduled for June 2019 or at least far enough out that I can transfer to it. And, (if everything doesn't go according to plan) can I reschedule it for farther out?

Not seeing it for our June sailing. Too far out or just not gonna happen?

I tried searching for this in the forums but it appears my Google-fu is not working.

Here's the deal, as a kid still living at home we went on several cruises, including with RCI. Since getting married and starting a family I have only gone on one other cruise on a different line. However, I am now at the point in my life where semi-regular cruising is becoming more of a possibility. We are considering a cruise with my siblings (and their spouses) for next summer and I thought it would be a good idea to join Crown & Anchor. During registration it says that they will use my information to search for past cruises. What I am wondering is (1) will they actually use my information to search for past cruises, and if so, (2) how long it will take for them to do so?

Thanks in advance for any responses.