Itchy&Scratchy

if you are not planning on using any taxis or ubers at the port or the destinations, then I'd go without. If you are planning on taking any cars at all, how old, tall and heavy is the toddler? How mature? What seat do you have at home? Do you have a travel seat? Will he or she have her own seat on the plane? I cover these topics a lot in the https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/28-family-cruises/. Also useful: https://community.babycenter.com/groups/a10635/traveling_with_children https://community.babycenter.com/groups/a7645/car_seat_questions

did you have to sign up in advance or just show up when they opened?

we had 5 pm flights before... We waited on the ship for a max allowed time, then took a taxi, stood in line to drop off luggage (usually within 4 hours beforehand, but Spirit used to be a lot less rigid about it before the pandemic), then went through security, lounged around at FLL, had lunch, read books, browsed internet... It wasn't too bad. Now there is a 2 pm return flight which we enjoy more. Found MCO to be a lot more "lounging before going through security" friendly than FLL. Didn't get to lounge at MIA, so no opinion.

didn't see it on Harmony in 2021 or on Allure in 2022.

no. The machine will only work with a chipped tumbler.

on our very first cruise we booked a 10 am return flight. We barely made it to the gate when they were closing the door. Never again. We now only book 12 pm and later. I don't need this stress - all I get is a migraine. Nor do we want to get up at 6 am for disembarkation and rush out without having a proper breakfast and an unrushed cup of coffee.

I would definitely call RCI and do what S.A.M.J.R. said - change your package to refreshment. If your DH isn't going to break even on his package or you on your, maybe, cancel the deluxe alcohol package and pay for alcohol as DH goes? That would also be an option.

we loved it on the Allure last year! Ordered it for DS, and very unlike him, he finished the entire adult plate!

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2916876-housekeeping-moving-to-once-a-day/ https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2922976-changes-to-stateroom-cleanings/ https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2924879-housekeeping/ there have been many threads in the last couple of days asking the same questions... These three are just the most recent ones.

you could always get an independent excursion.

I already have 2 Kias. 🙂 And I don't have a problem with kiddie noises.

but what if Toyota was all you could afford?

what about parents who cruise with kids who don't participate in these programs? Mine is 12 and he refuses to go to kid's club. If we use your logic, we will be unable to sail because the cruise will be "sold" out to anyone with kids within minutes of opening up, even if we don't use the kid's club. Plus, 17 yo teens aren't supervised in the kid's club anyway. So, what program will be handling them? So, in this case I say - if you want a cruise with no more than 100 kids, don't try to turn an RCI ship into them. Go try something else which already caters to your interests.

that only punishes the actual personnel who are providing you with your services and doing the best they can. It doesn't hurt the decision makers.... and doesn't tell them anything.

we are hoping to finally try the Solarium bistro on this sailing. I cancelled our Mexican MDR night reservations and made a reservation at SB. We are not vegetarians, but my kid will not eat either salmon or shrimp, so I hope he finds enough of the vegetables to eat. I also told him we could stop by Sorento's on the way and get a couple of slices of pizza for him to enjoy at SB. Do you know if there were any chicken kebabs? It probably wasn't on your radar at all, but maybe you noticed. 🙂

I think that dead horse has been beaten to a pulp by now.

so are we (sadly for the last time, since DS turned 12 this month), but it was an error on RCI's side. They accidently released the promotion with the Easter week being eligible for KSF. I snatched it up right away since it's our school break, but within mere days RCI realized what they had done and added the Easter week to the ineligible times. I kept an eye on the T&Cs and that's what I saw.

the problem is not with GETTING EXTRA entrees. The problem is with them being served at the SAME TIME. Everybody else is reporting this problem. You may have gotten lucky, but others said that waiters went as far as to say they would get in trouble.

there is now. With the new menu, RCI also rolled out the "no two entries at the same time". Just read the MDR related threads.

what the heck? It's only for kids 12 and under. KSF has nothing to do with the hoards of teenagers. Plus, it's so dang limited that it's extremely, and I mean it, extremely difficult to apply it to any cruise that working parents with kids in school could possibly go on. KSF definitely doesn't apply to any school breaks.

We will ask for some extra veggies on our cruise in two weeks and will report upon our return.

I have just prepaid our gratuities (due to new higher rates) which I don't usually do, and now we have $100 for frivolous things like iced coffee and alcohol. Clarifications: I had a $50 OBC to begin with.

it was disgusting.

just an FYI - these are not new. We had them on the Allure in June 2022.

I'll post a thorough review upon my return from Oasis on Apr 9. With pics and honest opinions. I am a glutton, and not a very picky one at that, and I have until now found RCI food to be mostly good, with some outstanding dishes, and some that should be shunned forever (looking at you, Beef Stroganoff with pickles).