PhillyFan33579

As others have stated, it is up to the Captain. Prior to last year I had been on 30 if not more Western Caribbean cruises and the ship never changed time. Then last Summer I was on 3 cruises where the ship changed time (went back an hour early in the cruise and forward an hour later in the cruise). The change was well publicized including multiple announcements on the room speakers. I have been to the Western Caribbean several times already this year with no time changes. Based on my limited experience, not many Captains change ship time in the Western Caribbean.

In my view the cabin is more like a bigger oceanview room with a window that can be opened (technically lowered). When we were on Apex a few years ago we liked it (probably the novelty of it), but when we were on Icon we didn’t like it. I don’t think I would book one again. I like the feeling of being outside on a regular balcony and you don’t get that feeling on an infinite balcony. Plus, unlike a regular balcony, one person can’t be enjoying the balcony while the other one is inside taking a nap, for example. My bottom line recommendation would be if you like the extra room, this cabin type will appeal to you. But if you like the feeling and functionality of a normal balcony, you won’t like this cabin.

The previous poster provided a great answer. When I was on Icon a few months ago I saw everything from tuxedos (not many though) and dresses to people dressed very casually like any other night on the cruise. If my memory is correct, the “formal” nights were nights 2 and 6.

It seems to vary from ship to ship every year. Last year I did a cruise on Liberty the Monday after Thanksgiving and the ship was decorated when we boarded, so it was decorated shortly after Thanksgiving. It is impressive how they literally decorate the ship over night. By the same token they also remove the decorations overnight. I did a B2B on Wonder in 2022 over Christmas and New Years. They took down all the decorations overnight on the 29th if my memory is correct. We had friends join us on the second half of the B2B on 12/31 who were bummed that all the Christmas decorations were gone.

I doubt he is an Eagles fan. He said he never gets the drink package 🙂.

From my experience they are usually decorated by the first week of December at the latest. I have been on 4 Thanksgiving cruises. They never decorated the ship the day after Thanksgiving or before the cruise ended for that matter (I realize 4 cruises is a very small sample).

I have cruised on Odyssey multiple times. They always had pickleball in the morning at the sportsplex.

You can’t buy the refreshment package on day 3 of a cruise.

If you are cruising in the Caribbean, a passport is not needed at any port, so keep your passport in your safe.

From my experience all the hair dryers on RCI ships suck, and I don’t have that much hair to begin with.

Yes, on deck 5 on Promenade and deck 11 in WJ.

I don’t think there will be much of a difference kids wise between the two cruises. I did a Halloween cruise last year and there were a lot of kids on the cruise.

I always book my own cruises including B2Bs. As others have stated, having the same cabin for both cruises is the way to go. You can easily do this on RCI’s website. Once you find a cabin you like that is available on both cruises, start booking the first cruise but put a hold on it. Next, go book the second cruise, assuming the cabin you want is still available. Then go back to the cruise with a hold on it and complete the booking for that cruise.

I agree with you 100 percent. I loved Tap Factory. Saw it multiple times on Odyssey and Wonder. I would book a cruise just to see that show again. I have posted on this site before that Voices is the worst show I have seen on any RCI ship. Still confuses me that the shows on Wonder leave a lot to be desired. At least they corrected that on Icon; the Wizard of Oz was one of the best shows I have seen on a cruise. Also really liked the ice skating and water shows on Icon.

FWIW, I am currently on my 6th cruise this year. I have not had any issues with the app this year, with the recent exception that I needed to reset my password to logon to the app. But the app itself has worked fine for me including selecting a check-in time only for every cruise I have been on so far (plus a few upcoming cruises).

If you use the app, you can select your check-in time without providing any additional information. However, if you use the website you have to provide additional information like you mentioned.

Lots of good information already provided. I cruise frequently on both lines, although currently more often on RCI. The one point I would stress is the environment on RCI is completely different than on Celebrity. In general RCI ships always have something going on with lots of kids everywhere while Celebrity is a much more relaxing environment, which you obviously know. I am in my late 50s and cruising more and more on Celebrity. I don’t expect that to change in the future as I get older. Someone already mentioned this point, but if you didn’t like NCL, you probably won’t like RCI. People like to say the cruise line they are loyal to is best, but the reality is NCL, RCI and CCL have a lot more similarities than differences.

Since you are cruising in May there is no reason to pay for Hideaway Beach in my opinion. I have been to Hideaway Beach several times over the last few months, but the only reason we keep going there is for the heated pool. The area is definitely on the loud side, so when the water gets warmer (ocean and Oasis pool), there is no lure to pay for Hideaway Beach

Based on my experience, I find swimming in the ocean far more strenuous than sleeping by a pool.

Did you ever find out the total number of passengers on board? I am curious if the port change resulted in a lot of cancellations. The Nassau port area is significantly nicer these days. Unlike a lot of people, I have been to Nassau over 50 times and look forward to going there. There are lots of things to do around the island, not to mention there is a lot to do and see within walking distance from the terminal.

Looks like we were typing a similar response at the same time. It comes down to personal preference, but I find it much easier to complete check-in on the app as opposed to using a desktop computer.

The only thing you need to do is select an arrival time (the only reason people check-in as soon as possible is to get an early check-in window). You can add all the other information mentioned in a previous post at a later date. Make sure you check-in on the app; that is the only way you can just simply select a check-in time. If you do it on the website you will have to provide most of the additional information to select a time.

One thing we have done when there are a lot of people playing is go to rally scoring. Games go by fast, which helps with the courts constantly turning over. I find it interesting how one month I can be on a cruise with dozens of average or better pickleball players and the next month be on a cruise where you struggle to get enough players for a game.

The daily planner will show times when the sports court is available for pickleball. On most ships pickleball is available/played for 3 hours every morning. This has been consistent on every ship I have been on over the last few years. However, I have not cruised on Navigator since she moved to the West. The ship provides paddles and balls. I would recommend bringing your own paddle, since the paddles provided are not very good.

Park Cafe in Central Park.