Mum2Mercury

One of the variables is definitely your own ability to manage your luggage. Did you get it back? I'm curious. We're always in the first non-suite /non-special boarding group, and our luggage always beats us to the hallway. This might be different if you're boarding later. Yep, pros and cons ... and your answer for Embarkation Day vs. Disembarkation Day may be different. I don't see any point to carrying on swimsuits ... if you're going to get into the pools early, just wear your swimsuit (and a cover up).

I was going to say this same thing.

Yes, choose My Time Dining, then don't make any reservations.

Yes, I'm a night owl, so it's no sacrifice for me to grab that earliest time slot in the middle of the night! Since we drive in the night before, we like to board early. Yes, super easy. Also, if you don't have all your information on hand, you can claim a boarding time ... and come back later, but -- yeah -- if you have all your things together, you can knock this out in about 4 minutes. You'll need: Passport or birth certificate info, phone number for emergency contact who isn't sailing with you, credit card you plan to use onboard, and a digital photograph of yourself looking straight ahead /little background. Think that through: Sure, they'll get you another flight and catch you up to the ship ... but you could potentially miss sail-away and be shuttled over to meet the ship at the first island. You could potentially miss the first couple days of your cruise. Even if they get you on another flight that day, consider the stress of wondering if you'll arrive in time. If things go perfectly well, consider how tired you'll be after flying a "red eye" and then boarding. Arriving a day ahead of time is the cheapest, most effective "insurance" you can have for a cruise. We drive, but it's about 8 hours for us ... too far not to arrive a day ahead. Assuming you're able -bodied, that's the way to go. No putting your suitcase out the night before, no adhering to other people's schedules, no searching for your suitcase in the terminal ... just pick up and go when you're ready. The only negative is that the elevators tend to be quite crowded on Disembarkation Day, but with an 18-year old son to help carry suitcases, you can always use the stairs. Log onto Royal Caribbean's website. In the upper right corner, click SIGN IN ... you may need to create an account. Your cruise(s) will pop up, and you'll see how many days until you sail, a link to pay off your cruise, and a link that says CRUISE DETAILS. Open that link, and you'll see PLAN MY CRUISE. Here you'll see any "extras" you've purchased through Royal. And they'll be very pleased if you purchase more. I think the OP's asking good questions and is learning. Taking a cruise isn't difficult.

The mid-sized ships are our favorites: Freedom, Independence, Mariner, and others in those classes. Ships in that category will have teens' clubs with lots of activities. You should stay away from the older, smaller ships; for example, we just sailed Grandeur (and enjoyed it) but they didn't have nearly as much for teens. So stay away from Grandeur, Jewel, Briliance. We only sail in the fall, as we love the low prices and moderate weather. The weeks before Thanksgiving and the first week of December are usually good choices. Anything in late September or October is good. January and February are okay, but not our favorites. Agree, but not without reason. I'll say again, if you're going with a one-bathroom option, consider choosing a room near the gym (which has showers) or a public rest room. Doesn't matter where anyone else was assigned. Your own guarantee assignment could be anywhere on the ship -- no way to know what will /won't sell on your particular sailing. Personally, I would only go with connecting rooms, if I were putting kids in the other room. Too much can happen. Too much risk for me. While I love guarantees for myself and my husband, I don't think they're the right choice for you.

None of this is difficult -- I promise! 1. Download the Royal Caribbean app on your phone right now. You'll be able to see a good bit of information now (and can make your dinner reservations now, if you have My Time Dining), and more details will show up as your sailing nears. 2. 90 days before your cruise -- put this on your calendar -- you need to "pay off" your cruise ticket. 3. 45 days before your cruise -- put this on your calendar -- you'll need to log on (through the app or on your computer) and complete your check-in. Gather your information before this date. You'll input your passport or birth certificate information, the credit card you want to use for onboard purchases, your emergency contact at home, and (optional) a selfie. The last thing you'll do as a part of check-in is claim a boarding time; most people want the earliest time slot. Once this is done, you can print your boarding pass /set sail pass. You can show it on your phone, but I prefer to have it printed. 4. 30 days before your cruise you'll receive your sailing documents in your email. Lots of legal info, and at the tail end of it you'll find two very important things: the specific terminal number from which you'll sail and your printable luggage tags. 5. On Embarkation Day I like to arrive one hour ahead of my check-in /boarding time. That seems to be "just enough time" to park the car, turn our suitcases over to the porters, and get in line. It's not an excessive wait. Once we're through check-in, we have to sit and wait until they begin boarding. The earliest boarding time is usually 10:30 (can vary). You know your son; if waiting isn't his strong point, you might want to have him bring a book, a handheld video game, or music /ear buds. 6. Understand that if you board early (as a 7:30 flight suggests), your rooms won't be available to you until 1:00 - 1:30ish. So whatever you carry on, you must keep up with for a while. This isn't a big deal, but it's better to know. When the rooms are ready, the captain will make an announcement over the loudspeakers. When you get to your room, your Ship ID cards will be in an envelope outside the door. That's it for paperwork and arrival. Be thorough, but it shouldn't be anxiety-provoking. I'd think twice about flying in a day ahead; so much can go wrong. This board isn't united on many things, but 99% of the regulars here will advise you (unless you live locally) to arrive a day ahead of time. Yes, it'll cost you a hotel stay, but if you experience any delays, it won't matter. And on Embarkation day you can sleep in a bit, have a nice breakfast, and head to the port leisurely and well-rested. Sorry, I've never sailed out of New Jersey, so I'm no help with the specific port, but I know that Ubers will be plentiful. The locals who drive Uber know that cruisers will use their services -- be ready with that specific terminal number, and it's safe to assume that your Uber driver is familiar with the port.

If I understand correctly, this is true. If you're fortunate enough to get an Express Boarding pass, it'll scoot you through the check-in process ... but you'll still be in the chairs waiting for them to begin boarding. I'd still rather, as my grandmother would've said, "take a fast stick and go through the country" and get through the check-in process faster. They usually re-take our pictures, and I've quit trying. However, it occurs to me that having EVERYTHING done up front -- picture included -- might be one of the things that gets you an Express Boarding Pass. I'll put in pictures next time, and maybe I'll try a little harder to have a solid background and have a plain front-facing picture. I don't care a bit if my picture looks good; only the security people will see it as we come /go. I can't believe they "study on them" even a moment more than's necessary to ascertain you're you. At the least, you get to visit Medical. I've seen something about "a free medical visit" -- but who wants that? From people who have the authority to quarantine you? I did lie once, and I wasn't sorry. We'd been out to dinner the night before, and I ate something different from the rest of the family -- and I was, um, in the bathroom all night. Thing is, I've lived in my body a long time, and I know when the problem is something I ate. Sure enough, I never had a moment's trouble the next day. I KNEW I didn't have anything that anyone else could catch.

I've been wondering about using a 50% off discount in this way.

I've heard of this -- did I read about it on Royal Caribbean Blog? Not sure. Anyway, I read it's still in the testing phase and is only being tried on a couple ships. Apparently it's being offered to "easy people"; that is, Americans sailing from an American port with a passport. From what I read (no personal experience), it's nothing to do with C&A status. I think we're all hoping to get this offer! In the meantime, I look forward to hearing details from current cruisers.

Yep, no problem. Well, we might buy a couple drinks (which cost about $1 more than they do on the ship ... something to do with VAT), but that's it. Two suggestions for setting up a no-cost base: Chill Island: nearest the ship, quiet, near hammocks in the shade, near one of the large buffets South Beach: a little less crowded, a little less quiet, has a cool bar out in the ocean, has games, near one of the large buffets I also suggest you get out early to get a good spot. And choose your destination before you get off the ship; the best, ocean-front chairs go quickly.

Too much, too little -- they're both problematic. The goal should be "just right", and -- for a cruise -- I have learned to hit that sweet spot every time. Agree. If you pack poorly, it shouldn't become my problem. So don't expect to borrow from me, and don't expect me to carry your excess.

I see a couple issues with overpacking -- you may feel differently about it, but the pros /cons are real: - I don't like to over-crowd my stateroom. - On the last day I like to be able to pick up my one small suitcase + backpack and just walk off, ignoring everyone else's schedule. - Unpacking is easier if you haven't overpacked. I'm not going to return something un-worn to the closet -- not if it's been in the suitcase with dirty clothes -- so that's more work when I return home. Bringing what you need is being prepared. Overpacking is excess. Absolutely true -- and if you try to buy, say, sunscreen in port you'll pay more /have fewer choices than you would at your local drug store. But, again, packing light is about bringing just what you need -- not too much, not too little. I'd title this, Know Thyself. I never want a wrap or sweater at dinner or in the theater, but once or twice I've wanted something for Movies Under the Stars or walking on deck after dark. What I've hit upon: I bring a light chambray shirt, which is "just enough" in case I need something ... and then I wear it home with leggings + a short sleeved tee-shirt. It's the perfect layer for heading North. I'm more with you here. It's smart NOT to bring yourself to the attention of the medical staff, if you know you just have a stomach ache or whatever. So I have a cosmetic bag filled with OTC meds (as well as Neosporin-infused bandaids and a couple other things) that I bring on every cruise -- but it's nothing large. And, yes, I have easy hair -- but I've gotta have my own shampoo /conditioner. That's a very small thing though. Sounds a lot like us. On our first-ever cruise we realized we'd badly overpacked. On our second we downsized but still had quite a bit of stuff we didn't use. On the way home from that second cruise (this was 20 years ago) we started the template, which we still use as a "starting place" for cruises today. My husband's clothes are actually harder to pack than mine, as his shoes are so big.

I like being in control of my own reservation /if I see a lower price, being able to call in myself. BUT I don't have a lot of moving pieces: We drive to the port, reserve a hotel for the evening before ourselves. Furthermore, I've never found a travel agent who'd give me a lower price -- and I've quit trying. This may be because we cruise exclusively in the fall, which is already rock-bottom prices. Call early or late. You'll get right through. Accents are sometimes a problem. Yes, when my kids were teens those WERE the big boys! No shortage of fun activities for the kids. True. And most of them only have one bathroom; I'd much rather have two connecting rooms.

Maybe. I am a light packer, but I can't remember last time I forgot something. How? - I have a template, which I follow while packing. I am very good at packing "just enough" -- I use everything I bring, but I don't find myself saying, "If only I had ..." - While I'm unpacking, I refill my toiletries -- this means I'm ready to go at a moment's notice. Ditto for my first aid kit.

I think Royal Caribbean is a good choice for families -- but I'd also consider Princess. You say you're leaning towards the Oasis ships -- they have more amenities, but they also come with bigger price tags. The mid-sized ships also have plenty to keep kids entertained. We always factor in the cruise port as a major deciding factor too. We're close enough to drive to Orlando or Tampa, but Lauderdale or Miami feel So Much Farther. Driving, if possible for you, is easier in several ways. If you think you'll be cruising again, I'd suggest you stick with one cruise line so you'l eventually build up some rewards with that line. For the moment, I suggest you look into your ship and date /get yourself booked. THEN start on all the other topics. So much more. And holidays are even more. That's part of why we are exclusively fall cruisers -- prices are low + we like the weather. So true! Yes, this is what we did when our kids were younger. Emphasis on CONNECTING. I personally would never put my kids across the hall. You're much more "connected" when you have an interior room between you ... across the hall you don't fully know who's coming /going. You don't want new friends coming /going out of your kids' room (or even the cabin steward or maintenance people) without your knowledge. We have had three balcony cabins in a row with the dividers removed ... that was great. We left the sliding doors unlocked and could come /go between the rooms without going "out in public". You could have connecting Interiors, Ocean Views or Balconies ... I wouldn't tell you which is best for your family and your budget, but we've stayed in all and have been happy in all. You could get one of the few Family Rooms onboard, and they'd give you more space -- but not another bathroom. With 5 people, you might want to look at online deck plans and choose a room fairly near a public bathroom (or the gym, which has bathrooms + showers).

Camp Occoneechee, rural NC. The song's a classic.

"If" being the key word. The staff doesn't want to mess with identifying the problem on their busiest day. The owner of the bag would certainly grab the bag and throw it into his room shower. I think it'd be pretty uncommon for the victim to know the author of his troubles. But bottles can break pretty easily. I remember once in college a couple of us were headed to the beach for a weekend ... we were driving my hatchback car, so our bags were closer to us than they would've been in a trunk. We started saying to each other, "Do you smell alcohol?" We pulled over and found that the half-bottle of tequila I had packed in my duffel bag, padded by my clothes had broken! No idea how it happened, but my clothes were soaked. We rolled the windows down and drove SO CAREFULLY the rest of the way. We knew that if the police pulled us over, we were sure they'd think we'd been drinking.

Yes, you can do this. Boarding with a rolling carry-on and a backpack /tote bag has its pros and cons: - Zero chance of your luggage being lost or delayed; though, to tell the truth, if you hand your bags over to the porters, the chance is pretty close to zero anyway. - If you board earlier (and rooms aren't open yet), you'll have to roll your carry-on around until 1:00-1:30ish. If you're inclined to board, eat lunch, find a shady spot and enjoy a drink, this isn't a big deal. On the other hand, if you expect to be "on the move" or in the pool, it's more effort. - This isn't so hard for an individual or a couple ... harder if you have kids /more carry-ons. - If you like to carry on a 12-pack of sodas, you can attach the sodas to the top of a rolling carry-on, making it easy to carry them. Packing a carry-on only will impact your trip more on Disembarkation Day, when you can carry it off and walk straight to your car.

Admittedly, we only sail in the fall, which is low season -- sailing mid-summer or on holidays might be different -- but theater seats are not hard to find at all. If you walk in at the last minute, you can easily get a good seat on the bottom level -- or even 3-4 together. The balcony level is the Key reserved area. Once not long ago I went in by myself (my husband's not a show guy) and thought I'd sit on the top level -- I didn't realize until after I was seated that it was a reserved area. The place was maybe 1/4 full, so I definitely wasn't taking anyone's space. And I saw a couple I'd spoken to while boarding -- so I know they didn't have the Key -- and I decided that, since no one was enforcing it, I'd stay right where I was. Priority tender IS a good perk ... but few Caribbean ports require tenders any more. I was saying I want to hold onto my electronics, jewelry, medicines because I want to be SURE they get to the room. I wasn't thinking about doors being left open during cleaning, but that is another realistic reason to hold onto your own stuff. We're always in the first boarding group, and our luggage always beats us to the hallway. Every time. I love the Ice Show, and it's best enjoyed from a front-row seat! Since I go by myself (my husband isn't into it), I never have any trouble finding a single front-row seat. I definitely care about this, so if I were going with other people, I'd go plenty early /maybe sit and enjoy a drink while waiting to get my front row seat. Windjammer's first lunch IS the busiest meal of the sailing, but it's not as bad as the whiners make it out to be. We are always among the first regular cruisers (meaning no suites, no Key, no special needs) to board, and we've never had a problem getting a table. Never. I'm not saying we always get a prime window seat, but seats have always been available. And, yes, it is more crowded than it will be later in the week ... partially because people have carry ons, partially because people are slower getting their food /are searching for the mustard and ketchup, etc., but it's not going to keep you from getting your meal. Honestly, it's crowded, but it's not impossible. Again, we only sail in the fall, which is less crowded. If I were going to pay and the first lunch was 'specially important to us, I'd be more inclined to pay for a Specialty than for the Key. Since you only have to pay for that meal once, it's a whole lot less than paying for the Key the whole week.

This is not news to the cruise line; thing is, they gauge whether it's a big enough problem to hire more personnel /slow embarkation to check more thoroughly. Every "problem" isn't big enough to address.

Insane. The mid-sized ships are our favorites. Moderate prices are available -- off-season and in "lesser" rooms, and you have to search and be flexible (which is easier for those of us who are retired). We sailed Grandeur last fall and had a great time. Agree it was easy to get around /easy to get on and off at ports. Yes, loved the theater and had great service! We had an inside guarantee but ended up in an interior handicapped room ... so much space! Expanding that thought: Boarding and disembarkation were a breeze on a smaller ship. Sailing out under the bridge was fun. The only negatives: My husband missed Playmakers, and Grandeur offers fewer evening activities. We'd sail Grandeur again in a heartbeat ... though we would expect to pay a lower price than we'd pay for a larger, more amenity-filled ship.

In theory you can just tell the security personnel that you have a pacemaker, and they'll do the pat-down instead of sending you through the metal detector. After all, pacemakers are quite common -- and why would they want to do anything that'd get them into trouble? In reality, if you have a card, you should carry it.

When a poster hates ALL the food and describes it ALL in over-the-top disgusting terms, I tend to discount that person's information. I tend to believe people who like some things and dislike others and those who give details about the various foods.

The rule is you must carry on your non-alcoholic beverages. I haven't tried to do anything else, and I haven't observed any sodas in the hallways along with suitcases.

I know you've already chosen a sailing, but Royal Caribbean does a once-a-year trip called a Buddy Cruise, which is about 50% people with a wide variety of disabilities. We accidentally sailed it once and would absolutely sail "with the Buddies" again. It was a quiet, family-oriented cruise and everyone was very friendly /understanding of the children and adults with disabilities.