FunTimeIsSunTime

Some pastries that are dairy free. The only dairy free desserts offered are sorbet and a rotating flavor of a moose type pudding. Good? Yes but a cookie or cake or even a piece pie would be nice. 

Otherwise I would enjoy trying more dishes that are specialities of the places that the ship is visiting. 

I thought I'd take some time to give a review of my experience with a dietary requirement as when I was looking for information there wasn't a whole lot that applied to my situation. We were on the 2nd sailing of the Discovery Princess out of Los Angles along the California Coast. I wanted to included this as your experience may be slightly different than mine. I have recently taken dairy out of my diet due to health reasons so I'm not an expert and can have a little bit dairy so if there was a slip up it wasn't a big deal. I do not like seafood but do eat meat. This seemed to be the biggest barrier for me. 

I did use the princess form in the Medallion App to indicate my requirement ahead of time and they emailed me to confirm about a week before the actual cruise. When we arrived at the dining room I informed the hostess and the server. They both seemed very (overly?) concerned and left it to the manager. The manager came to talk with me and he was my link to ordering all of my meals in the dining room. He was very good. The first night I ordered things I absolutely knew were safe (house salad, chicken breast with roasted veggies and potatoes). My meal came from a different kitchen that is specifically for dietary requirements. I then would look at the next night's menu and order with the manager. He was quite knowledgeable about many of the things on the menu. Like the cold pina colada soup has heavy cream in it (insert sad face here). I was a little discourage because he kept steering me towards roasted vegetables and roasted potatoes for every main course. I could definitely mix and match from the main courses. One night I chose beef but the fish option had asparagus, he was happy to give me asparagus as my veggie. Don't be afraid to ask for something. If they can do it they will. 

One night we went to Sabatini's as my husband wanted to eat there. The night before I stopped in and actually ended up speaking to the head chef. He made some tweaks and was able to accommodate my needs but it felt like this was out of the ordinary for them (maybe it was the dairy free component?).

At the Marketplace (buffet) I just tried my best to steer away from things I knew would have dairy and asked quite a few times if something was cooked in butter or oil. The servers were always happy to assist and if they didn't know they found someone who did. They did fetch me plain rice on more than one occasion from a back kitchen as apparently the rice on the line typically has butter in it. Lots of options but this would have gotten boring every night. We ate here once for dinner and twice for lunch. Every morning we ate here for breakfast but that was super easy as I had fruit, eggs and bacon every day. 

Gigi's pizza (inside, sit down) was more than happy to make me my own pizza without cheese. They were unwilling to make one with half cheese to share with my husband so it felt a little wasteful but it worked. The pizza place on deck (Slice?) was unwilling to make me any without cheese and after I asked they also refused to give me a piece to take the cheese off myself. The Salty Dog Grill (free next to the pool) had a few options that I was comfortable getting without asking (like a hamburger without cheese). They also didn't seem to understand my questions about if things had dairy. I could have asked to speak to a manager about this but it wasn't worth the hassle in my mind. 

Overall a good experience with two exceptions. Some nights they would offer me plain bread but other nights they told me that I couldn't have any. As I stated I'm fairly new to this so maybe there is dairy in all their breads or maybe they thought I wouldn't like it without the butter. The other and my most disappointment was dessert. The first night they offered a fruit plate and ended up bringing some jello as well. The next two nights (including Sabatini's) they brought me a dark chocolate pudding type dessert in a martini glass with fruit at the bottom. It was fine. The next night was the same type dessert made from mango (it looked like baby food) and the last reiteration of this was peanut butter (which was a giant blob). It wasn't until near the end of the cruise that a waiter suggested that I get the sorbet from the main dessert menu that rotates. I never looked at a dessert menu so I didn't realize this was an option. I had lemon and orange but I'm sure there were others earlier in the week. So please know that this is an option. I'm not quite sure why this wasn't the default dessert anyways. I make my own desserts at home and can't understand why they couldn't make a cookie or a pastry with shortening or lard although I'm sure this isn't something they have regular access to. 

All in all I was well feed and besides the sweets wasn't lacking in any way. 

Thank you so much for the replies. I'm happy to hear that on our next cruise we will be able to get an updated photo. We also tend to run away from the photographers at the end of the gang way, I've got places to be, fun to be had.

Thanks again!

One of the things I love about cruising is that they have photographers who will take your picture on formal night (or other nights). This is how I've gotten updated photos of my husband and I in the recent past. Are there still photographers on board? Also, since masks are required indoors, are all the indoor opportunities masks required? Do they now have outdoor photo opportunities before dinner? Not trying to start a mask debate as they have posted rules that are expected to be followed but am genuinely curious about this. 

1 hour ago, bonsai3s said:

We spend a lot of time outdoors...running, walking or hiking...when it's raining, we have socks, then use a thin plastic grocery bag over the socks, then put on our shoes........stays dry most of the time.  Hope that helps. 😊  (The plastic bags are basically weightless, so you can bring a few of them on your trip.)

Wonder bag snow boots! Bread bags work VERY good for this because they are narrow and long. My mom used to do this in the winter as they didn't have enough money for snow boots and she carried this on with us (we did have snow boots though). You'd be very surprised how well they work to keep your feet dry and you can't really tell that you have them on over your socks. 

I LOVE Harry Potter and have gone to Universal for that reason. I honestly think its doable but go in with some realistic expectations. The walk into the park from bus drop off/uber/parking is very long. It is another considerable walk to the areas in each park that are Harry Potter themed. If this is the only time you ever get there then you might find it worth while but you will not get everything done even in the Harry Potter portions. If you could swing this as a different trip it might be better saved.

On another note, if you decide to do it. The train ride between the two parks is different each way so make sure you ride it in both directions.

The first night is just the sign up time. Kids go with parents and fill out paperwork saying who can pick them up, allergies, etc. There are no planned activities that you leave kids at on the first night. This is one of the few times that adults are allowed "in" the actual AO rooms. Otherwise you stand on one side of the counter while they check your kiddo in and out.

They usually offer a couple different options regarding meals so the adults can go out. They have a time slot (5-7pm I think) where you drop your kids off at AO and the staff takes them to a secluded part of the buffet with a limited menu (pizza, fries, fruit, etc). Because they go as a group the kids have to be there by a certain time (5:15?) and there is no drop offs or pick ups during this time. Otherwise AO usually opens at 7pm so you can plan to have a late supper that night and feed the kids yourself at the buffet beforehand. AO is free until 10pm after which you will be charged around $7/hr/per kid.

They do take the kids out and about the ship occasionally as a group and this will be noted on the Cruise Compass. Usually this is either the sports deck to play dodgeball or to the promenade to have a parade. Again there are no drop offs or pick ups during this time so make sure you get the kids there in plenty of time beforehand. If it is an activity that requires a parent permission/waiver they will not bring the kids to that activity.

I think the kiddos will have a fun time if they like to keep busy and meet new people. AO is a great program if you have outgoing kids.

Our family (2 adult and 2 kids) are looking at booking a cruise on the Liberty. My immediate family are Gold Crown and Anchor Members. Grandma and Grandpa would like to come along on the cruise. They have never sailed with Royal Caribbean (only on HAL). Would there be any benefit to booking one grandparent with one adult and putting the other grandparent with the other adult and kids? Grandma and Grandpa would sleep in one room and myself and family would be in another.

We have sailed both Princess and RC. We are in our late 30s with two young kiddos. We've decided for us that when we want a cruise without kids we will take a Princess Cruise. We like that it is a little slower paced, go with the flow. When we have the kids along we find that there is always something to do on RC and we prefer their kids programming. But all in all I think that you will find that they are pretty comparable. Trivia can be found on both at different times of the day, the beer is just as cold on both and in the end someone else is doing the cooking and cleaning. Have a great trip!

I've sailed on the Empress of the Seas when it came back into the fleet before it started consistently doing the Cuba itineraries. We were on a 3 night cruise that was a little more party atmosphere than I have experienced on RCCL. There were a lot of drunk people on the pool deck doing a lot of things I wouldn't want my kiddos to witness but I truly believe this is the exception. No straight out nudity.

The Family Quest is a lot of fun. We took our kids the last cruise and we even won! I recommend it to anyone with children under 12. The craziest thing we had to do was dance in unison with our family and make a family hug.

Our 9 year old didn't care for the kids club. We only brought him at night after supper but he was frustrated that all they did was play dodge ball, tag type activities. He would have preferred a mix of quieter activities, like board games or even watching a movie. He didn't like that so much time was spent on getting all of the kids ready to play the game. He said that there were a couple kids that never listened to the staff so everyone else had to wait until those two decided it was time to start the game and listen. They had computers in the room but I never saw anyone using them even when we were up in that area for family events or to drop off/pick up our younger child who loved going. One night they brought the kids to the basketball court. This was on the Oasis.

Thanks...if they tell us, then that's even better. Looking at posted Mariner cruise compass, it just lists "Comedy Showtime starring Royal Comedians" for both showtimes.

Its been my experience that they are very open about which shows are for adult audiences. I've seen it referred to in the compass and then when the CD introduces the comedian they make a statement about how now is the time to take your kids out if you mistakenly brought them and that you are forewarned and its on you if your kids hear something offensive.

I live in MN and I vote YES! As someone said, a short vacation is better than no vacation. I have small children so the appeal to be gone just for a short time from them but to be relieved of all duties is great. I think if you can get good airfare then it is totally worth it. Have fun!

We actually did a short cruise like one you are suggesting in the spring of 2017. I prefer longer trips but for the time off that I had at the time (very few days) it was fun and we would do it again! Have fun!

So is it true you can bring a case of soda and a case of water onboard with you? I have seen people say yes and no. I would definitely like to do this but want to be sure we can do it so I don't have to abandon a case of Diet Mt Dew and water at check-in...

You will need to decide if the cost of the Diet Mt Dew and water is worth the gamble if you lose it. Many people would think that would be worth it to try.

We've done 4 Princess and 2 RCCL. For us, we prefer Princess because of the laid back feel but our next is on RCCL. They are very similar and appeal to very similar (not identical though) crowds. I agree the entertainment is different (not better or worse) and that the buffet is better on Princess but just go into knowing that things may be different and you will have a fantastic time, I mean you will be on vacation after all. Have a great trip.

Thank you SO much. I was a little bit dreading bringing activities for the kids to do while we waited or was considering asking them to serve the kiddos at the adult pace. I appreciate your responses, one less thing to try to figure out.

Hello all,

My family (myself, husband and a then 9 yo and 5yo) will be sailing on the Oasis in December. I currently have us signed up for My Family Time Dining at 5:30pm. We were hoping to take advantage of the kids club staff coming to get the kids so we could finish our dinner with dessert and coffee alone but I don't think the timing is going to be right. When I read about My Family Time Dining it indicates that the kids will be served within 40 minutes to allow for them to be picked up at 6:45pm by the kids club staff. That seems like an awful long amount of time in between the 40 minutes (6:10pm) and 6:45pm.

Has anyone done this? Are we really supposed to start dinner at 5:30pm for them to pick up at 6:45pm? We have a table for just the 4 of us if it matters.

Thank you in advance.

Thanks everyone. I will definitely have the kids share. I think we are just going to have to practice some beforehand. I appreciate the youtube link. That gives me a better idea and I will show the boys before we go so they can see it and to tell them they have to stay on their "side".

The MDR has them on the kids' menu and anyone can order off of that menu not just kids. :)

Hello All,

We jumped at the opportunity to book a cruise on the Oasis for next winter during a kids sail free event. We booked a Guarantee Interior at an astoundingly cheap rate. There will be four of us, two adults and our two boys (ages 5 & 9 during the cruise). We just were assigned a room and we are happy with it (we would be happy with anything, hence the guarantee). It is Room 9436. I looked it up on the deck plans and see that it is sofa bed.

Does anyone have experience with either sleeping on the sofa bed themselves or their kids sharing? I'm wondering if my husband and I should share the sofa bed and have the big bed turned into two singles. The thought of sleeping on a sofa bed doesn't thrill me but neither does waking up all night because my kids are kicking each other out of bed.

I have heard that in some cases the sofa bed is actually a trundle bed. Can anyone confirm or deny this on the Oasis?

Just trying to make the best "plan". Although maybe the best plan is to play "bed change" every night and take turns sleeping on the sofa bed. I appreciate any insight you may have. TIA!

We've never had a problem getting two drinks with two cards with only one of us going to the bar. My husband has also been able to purchase an alcoholic drink and a soda at the same time on his card to bring me the soda.

I managed to accidentally bring back a can of beer once when we were at a port in Mexico (Puerto Vallarta, I think). I had put it in my beach bag to drink on the way back to the ship (we were walking). Both my husband and I were a little tipsy and it was close to the "all aboard" about 10 minutes before. I imagine that they saw it during the x-ray and just didn't want to bother. So as you can see YMMV (your millage may vary).

In January on the Ruby they had a few different offerings including paper flowers, origami, and a water painting class. Both sea days and port days. Of those I listed only the water painting class had an additional fee. There may have been more but that is what I remember.

MUTS is an experience not to be missed if you enjoy movies. They often come around with popcorn in little bags as well which is a nice touch. I agree with the other posts about dressing warm.

If I am not mistaken, Princess pioneered this offering and in my opinion does the best job with the added touches like the padded seats, blankets and popcorm.

When you order the Unlimited Soda Package online it says: "Package must be purchased for full length of voyage, cannot be shared, is non-transferable, and is non refundable within 3 days of sailing".

 

It is the last part of the above quote I don't understand "...is non refundable within 3 days of sailing" and I am hoping that someone can share their experience of what this actually means. Does Princess mean you can cancel the unlimited soda package in the first 3 days of sailing? The words read as though you can't get a refund in the first 3 days of sailing, but if that's the case why would they limit it to within 3 days of sailing.

Its 3 days of sailing on the other side, 3 days BEFORE your sailing your purchase through the cruise personalizer is refundable through the cruise personalizer.