ATSEAMYLIFE

Kids will love it, if the price is right do it.

Read that some people have slapped luggage tags on water and sent it with the porters. For us it was easier to just buy a few cans to have in the cabin and then with the drink package I just stocked up during the day and took them back to the cabin, which I did also with beers. I was always able to get extra unopened cans of beer to take back.

That's true, due to global warming some don't even "commute" any longer.

We live in Rosarito and northern Baja can be a crap shoot. One day (like today) bright sunny, shorts, t-shirts and another (yesterday) foggy, dank, and cold. Once you get close to Cabo it should be warm and sunny most of the time. Personally, April is my time for the Caribbean (pre-hurricane). But price is a big factor and MX out of San Diego or LA is cost effective for us.

Sadly, looks like the stern elevators might work the best for you. If we were anywhere near mid-ships we walked to the front elevators. We were in 1832 and waited forever for an elevator to come up there most of the time.

Not sure if they have Roma pharmacies in PV but we have a bunch in Baja and they are excellent. They will have an MD clinic next door if you need a RX.

You can ask for 180 days, but they no longer automatically give you the max 180 days. If you tell them you are here for two weeks you get two weeks.

Don't over think or worry about an FMM if on a cruise. FMM's are still required and can be issued for up to 180 days. The reason you don't see them on the ship is the ship handles them with INM (MX Immigration). They are free for less than seven days. There has been a huge crack down on people flying/walking/driving across the border and not having FMM's. INM has setup check points to ask for your FMM and have deported US citizens for not having an FMM. In most cases near the border they just make you go to INM, pay a fine, and get one. I have seen stories of people in the interior with an FMM being put on a plane and sent back to the US. We have been stopped once and asked for ours, but we have permanent resident status and don't need an FMM.

Heck, we saw one less than 100 yards from the ship in July after leaving Catalina. So seeing a whale can be anytime. This year they have been slow getting to the breeding grounds, but I have seen local reports they are currently there and active. The small boat would be my choice as they can get up close enough to let you pet the whale. The breeding cove at Guerrero Negro is world renown for the mama whales pushing their babies up to the boats for a rub.

Book the ship excursion, we found during a cruise to Alaska that the ship RSVP's all the "better" vendors leaving the others to fend for themselves. In Alaska we (six) figured we would book our own helicopter tour and save money. First port all sold out, second port stop same, luckily a shop owner overheard our conversation about how much trouble we're in with DW's, made a couple of calls, and got us a late afternoon helicopter tour.

It depends on your interests. We did a TA on an Oceania 65,000 ton ship that would have held 650 people, we had 175. Any cruise more than 7-10 days will have mostly an older demographic and especially a TA. That being said, if you enjoy sea days, reading, and watching the ocean all is good. We love our sea days, laying out, reading, nice meal, and cocktails. So no rock climbing, zipline, water slide is good with us.

One hour before or after is good. We got a text the day before check in telling us we could check in and hour before or after our assigned time.

We were on Wonder for Thanksgiving and it was full. Embarkation and debarkation went smooth, they know what they are doing. As for elevators use the forward bank of elevators whenever possible. We found them much quicker and we were in a cabin at the stern. My uninformed opinion is there are a bunch of venues at the stern near the elevators so a lot of people use the stern elevator bank. If you look at the deck plans you will see what I mean Windjammer, Mason Jar, MDR's, sports deck, etc all right off the stern elevator bank on multiple floors, which means lots of stops up/down. You will either "love it or hate it" being on a mega-ship. We went the first time on Oasis as a "family obligation" and just knew we weren't going to like it. Since then it's been another Oasis, Allure, and Wonder.

We did a park and stay a few years ago at the Hilton Garden Inn across from the Walmart. They had a shuttle to the pier, but it was pretty well booked up when we checked in so I just called a taxi.

As a side note: if you happen to be there around Christmas you must walk through the lobby of the Hilton Roosevelt Hotel, it's amazing. We stayed there last year for a couple of nights between Christmas and NYE.

It's been a few years but we did a park and stay at the Hilton Garden Inn by the Walmart and they had a shuttle to the pier.

How about this, drop off in Texas City on 20th just before they close and then just get a cab or hotel shuttle to the ship on the 21st. Several years ago when we sailed on a Sunday there was a hotel that had a drop off desk for Hertz (I think) but they charged you until Monday when somebody from Hertz came to check the vehicle back in. Last time we cruised we stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn that had a shuttle to the pier. Also, right across the street from Walmart for those last minute items. BTW: two places we enjoy to eat/drink are Cajun Greek and Woody's BBQ. Woody's good for the view and drinks. Cajun Greek not much of a view but the food is outstanding.

Sad, we have enjoyed our stays there over the years (twice recently two and four weeks ago), gotten great rooms, which have been newly renovated and enjoyed the food at the bar. Most of the time it's cheaper than those other Hiltons you mention. Staff has always been very accommodating.

Book the Alcatraz night tour if you can. It's not always available, but might work better for your plans. Plus, it's really creepy.

Fog in San Francisco is a crap shoot. We have sat at the bar atop the Hilton Financial District (highest hotel bar in San Francisco) and watched it go from clear to you can't see anything within 20 minutes and then do that three more times before the sun goes down. It's not so much the air temperature drops as the radiant heat from the sun disappears and the fog is wet so you get chilled. Fog is inversely related to the temperature and dew point between the SF coast and the inland valley. While it might have been crystal clear today in SF, as CruiserBruce points out, less than 30 miles to the east in the central valley it was 100 yard visibility. If the dew point and temperatures flip then the valley will be clear and SF fogged in. That being said, San Francisco even on a cold, but clear sunny day is spectacular. Watching "Karl" dance across the City is part of the charm.

Love Lahaina. Pier at Lahaina? So no more tendering? Never done the HI cruise but have done land vacations at Kaanapali several times, not recently though wasn't aware a pier was being built for cruise ships.

Depending on how late and long you have traveled my opinion is stay by LAX and go to the port the next morning. We are Hilton brand loyal and usually stay at the Hilton LAX both pre and post cruise. It's also easier to catch an Uber at a hotel rather than at LAX proper. I think most LAX hotels have free shuttles that pick you up in front of the terminals at several locations.

Wonder's were much colder, even beer was drinkable.

I guess we could have been. Not that it mattered I'm not paying that per minute price.

We found on the Wonder for Thanksgiving some shows would show sold out, but then have open slots the next morning for the times we wanted. Keep in mind all the shows have a standby line which opens up about 15-20 minutes before show time for any open seats. I recall on Wonder if you had a reservation you were to be there 30 minutes prior and at 15-20 they opened up for anybody in line.