aggiekat2004

Yes...but interestingly, a few days ago when we were scrambling to figure out how to fix the damage to their door, my Google search returned these threads with discussions on the gel clings and painted surfaces...I hadn't even thought about the same issue on a cruise ship, but had seen these things on doors on Royal Caribbean. So in hopes that anyone else is thinking about putting clings on a door, they'll see the responses. I added the same comment to several threads in hopes that we save someone the cost of repair.

:-)

We are also of the "don't really want to cruise to party" kind of people. My husband is a writer, and we literally take cruises so we can work on the ship.

The travel agent is a good recommendation.

I would suggest going when school is in session. When the kids are out of school, even on the nicer cruise lines, there are little kids running around and it's more stressful. There is plenty for your kids to do on the ship.

I would recommend having your little ones in an adjacent room...it's not that much more if you have an interior stateroom to put them in their own room, but I would price both options. I know on Royal Caribbean that you can put 4 people in some rooms, but that's with bunk beds. If you like your kids, and don't mind them sleeping above you, that might be a decent option, but you would also be sharing a bathroom, which might be a hassle. Since you're tall, you might feel cramped with the extra bunks pulled down.

We always travel in winter months...late January or February is good. The prices are cheaper, and we usually get an interior stateroom on RC for about $449-500 per person for the 7-day cruise out of Galveston. You will have gratuities per person that will be additional, and that is automatically added each day (I think it was $12.50 per person, per day?), which would be an additional $350 for four people for the week. That leaves you over $2500 for excursions.

The advantage of cruise line sponsored excursions is that if you're late back, they'll hold the ship. If you're careful, you can arrange excursions with reputable operators for less. RC offers a Cozumel/Jamaica/Grand Cayman route and a Roatan/Belize/Cozumel itinerary. For our wedding, we chartered a boat in Grand Cayman, but for the best prices you'll be with other people. If you really want a private excursion, you can do a little research and maybe take a smaller boat out snorkeling or to Stingray City.

We find the quiet places on the ship to work...there is a club that overlooks the pool area where people sit and read, and plenty of areas that are accessible. My personal opinion is that Carnival seems to be a younger clientele, so more partiers, and Royal Caribbean seems to have a more mature clientele (most of my "party" friends think that RC is more expensive, so they look first at Carnival). There is also an adult pool area with comfortable, shaded seating. Your kids could go play in the waterpark while you read quietly in the adult area. They also just upgraded Liberty of the Seas with new water slides and there is a surfing activity onboard that is free.

Also, since you don't drink, a cruise is a really affordable way to go. We don't either. A soda package is separate, but if you want juice, water, and tea, you'll be able to work within that budget easily.

I am going on a cruise with my mother in April, and my husband and I are frequent cruisers with passports. My mother has some health issues. It was suggested by the cruise line that we get her passport updated just in case we have to fly back for a medical emergency. They said with the current political climate, we could be denied entry into the US if we don't have the "required paperwork" even if we are US citizens.

Better to be careful than sorry.

DO NOT USE GEL CLINGS! THEY WILL STAIN THE PAINT ON A DOOR WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS.

My mom put these on a painted door at her assisted living, which is the same type of painted door on a cruise ship, and the dyes in the gel clings STAINED the door, causing permanent damage that can only be repaired by applying a stain-blocking primer and paint. Another cruiser on a forum said that it stained a door and she was charged to repair the door. It cannot be removed with Magic Eraser because the color is embedded in the paint. These are designed ONLY for use on glass.

The cruise lines will charge you for the damage. Stay away from the thick gel cling decorations...the vinyl decorations that are flat and soft vinyl will NOT damage.

DO NOT USE GEL CLINGS! THEY WILL STAIN THE PAINT ON A DOOR WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS.

My mom put these on a painted door at her assisted living, which is the same type of painted door on a cruise ship, and the dyes in the gel clings STAINED the door, causing permanent damage that can only be repaired by applying a stain-blocking primer and paint. Another cruiser on a forum said that it stained a door and she was charged to repair the door. It cannot be removed with Magic Eraser because the color is embedded in the paint. These are designed ONLY for use on glass.

The cruise lines will charge you for the damage. Stay away from the thick gel cling decorations...the vinyl decorations that are flat and soft vinyl will NOT damage.

GEL CLINGS WILL STAIN THE PAINT ON A DOOR WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS.

My mom put these on a painted door at her assisted living, which is the same type of painted door on a cruise ship, and the dyes in the gel clings STAINED the door, causing permanent damage that can only be repaired by applying a stain-blocking primer and paint. It cannot be removed with Magic Eraser because the color is embedded in the paint. These are designed ONLY for use on glass.

The cruise lines will charge you for the damage to the door. Stay away from the thick gel cling decorations...the vinyl decorations that are flat and soft vinyl will NOT damage.

GEL CLINGS WILL STAIN THE PAINT ON THE DOOR.

My mom put these on a painted door at her assisted living, and the dyes in the gel clings STAINED the door, causing permanent damage that can only be repaired by applying a stain-blocking primer and paint. It cannot be removed with Magic Eraser because the color is embedded in the paint. These are designed ONLY for use on glass.

The cruise lines will charge you for the damage to the door.

DO NOT PUT GEL CLINGS ON PAINTED DOORS. THEY STAIN THE PAINT!!

I gave my mother gel clings for Valentine's Day...they were red and pink. She lives in an assisted living facility, but the doors are painted metal doors just like on a cruise ship. After two days the dye in the clings had STAINED the door. Not residue as some folks have mentioned on the forums, but permanently stained the door with pink and red dyes.

My mom was able to remove some of it with acetone (fingernail polish remover), but you risk damaging the paint on the door. You also do NOT want to use Magic Erasers...the finish on these doors are usually an eggshell/satin/semi-gloss finish, and Magic Eraser will scratch the finish and make it dull.

I would recommend not using these on any painted surface...they will damage painted/powder-coated refrigerators, painted doors, furniture, countertops.

My experience...construction professional with experience working in paint at both Home Depot and Lowe's.