Mum2Mercury

I'll echo a very good point made by another poster: - Know the difference between ship's time and island time. If you're at all unsure, ask the person who processes you out of the ship, "It's 9:00 ship's time now, right? And we sail at 6:00 ship's time?" They don't want you to be late any more than you want to be late. And I'll add some common-sense safety ideas: - Yes to wearing an old-fashioned dumb watch. Your smart phone may jump back and forth between time zones (or it may not). Your watch's time will stay where you put it. We have small carabiner watches (analog) that stay clipped on our small day packs. - Use the Google Maps parking feature to remember "where you parked the ship". Just as it would lead you back to your car, it'll lead you back to the ship. Be sure of your battery. - Do not allow your party to split up. Be clear on your movements -- especially if you have children (or worse, teens) in your group. Something so small as a rest room with two exit doors can cause you a small panic. It's best to say, "We're all going into the rest room. Meet back under this tree." If you do split up, be crystal clear on your plans: "We're going to shop. You're going back to the ship on your own. We will see you again on the ship." You'll rarely be wrong by being too specific with the whole group. - If you're any distance at all from the port, carry cash money for a taxi, even if you don't plan to use it. If someone twists an ankle, for example, you might be glad to have it. - Be sure you know which port you left from; for example, Cozumel has two ports. So does Roatan. Don't let a taxi drop you at the wrong one! Similarly, know what ship you're on. On a recent cruise, I was waiting to re-board and all the bad sirens went off when the woman ahead of me put her card into the machine. The security officer said to her very politely, "M'am, you are a passenger on Liberty of the Seas, which is docked over there (he indicated with a point of his finger). You are attempting to board Explorer of the Seas." - Your daily Compass (or other ship's newspaper) will list each island's port authority phone number. We like to take a phone photograph of that information. We've never even come close to needing it, but we've always felt secure having it at our fingertips.

You're a free person. You can go on an excursion or not go on an excursion. When that excursion's over, you can return to the ship or wander around town. You should not wait until the last minute to return to the ship though; our comfort level is returning to the ship 2 hours before all-aboard time, so if the ship's going to sail at 6:00, I'd want to be back no later than 4:00.

I don't know any of those words. At least, not in this context. Back to the "What'm I seeing at school?" report: - One particularly ugly jumpsuit, short pants, tight like a wrestling singlet but with short sleeves. The fabric was beige with just a hint of pink. Fortunately the girl wearing it was black, so the awful color contrasted with her skin, and at least she didn't look like she was naked. Seriously, what was that kid thinking? - No others.

We have a set of goldfish (painted by our artist daughter) that we use cruise after cruise. She painted the fish on plain poster board, and I cut them out /added magnets /laminated the pieces so we can just slap them up in about two seconds. The two fish + bubbles are small enough that they fit into a manila envelope folded in half, which takes up no space in my carry-on backpack. Notes: - The cabin's doors are all metal, and any magnet will do. The walls inside your cabin are metal too, but that's off topic. - I used free magnets (like from pizza places) on the back side of my goldfish. - Don't put something precious on your door. It's not likely that anyone would take your decorations, but it is possible. - My husband and I really enjoy seeing other people's door decorations. Occasionally we "take the long way" to the elevator just so we can see other people's choices. Some people really "splash out" beyond their own doorframes, but we're happy with our little no-effort goldfish.

Not the best advice -- if you're hoping to snag a front-row seat with a great view of the ocean. Coco Cay has PLENTY of chairs, but if you ride around on the shuttle "looking", you'll end up with a chair a couple rows back. Better to look at maps online (or go to Guest Services onboard and ask for a brochure) and choose your beach ahead of time. The basics, assuming you're not paying: - Chill Island -- quietest beach, nearest the ship, quiet, nice beach, convenient to food and other services - Breezy Bay -- Between the two big beaches, nice beach but stares out at over-the-water cabanas, convenient to food and other services - South Beach -- The more active beach with sports areas, includes a swim-up bar out in the ocean, little farther from its buffet, farthest from the ship - Pool -- loud party atmosphere, center of the island -- we don't care for it Three places to eat on Coco Cay: - Chill Grill and Skipper's Grill -- large eating areas, food is quite good, a bar is adjacent -- the two are identical except for color scheme - Snack Shack -- smaller food venues -- I haven't tried them yet - Captain Jack's -- a bar that also serves chicken wings and fries (nothing else) -- quite expensive, the only place on Coco Cay that charges for food Wherever you eat, don't leave your food unattended, even for a minute. Sea gulls have learned where to get a free meal!

I don't like to wait until the last-last-last minute. I'm not bad about forgetting to pay bills, but we all know that sometimes life gets busy -- and it would be awful to miss the final date and have your cruise cancelled!

Agree completely. Yes, that's the point I was making. I don't know that a lot of people are actually "chased away", but a lot of people who previously would've just gone to Royal's website are now checking into other lines or are looking at land-based vacations. That is, people who automatically "knew what they were going to do" are now investigating other options. I spoke to someone in real life yesterday who is DONE with Royal.

We're in a high-travel bubble right now: People haven't traveled during the pandemic, and they're "getting back out there". Ships are full, and it's a seller's market at the moment. BUT if Royal (and other cruise lines) don't please their customer; that is, if people "come back" and find the product badly degraded, the company won't get repeat business. That's the fine line the company must walk: Cut enough to be profitable and to pay off debt, while keeping the customer happy enough to return and to give positive feedback to friends.

No, it's kinda like Vegas using gaming machines instead of humans. The gaming machines work 24 hours a day, never call in sick, don't need criminal background checks, don't make mistakes or steal money. In comparison, the need for regular oiling and maintenance is a small thing. But, in this particular situation, I think everyone'd have to admit that a massage from a human isn't anything like a massage chair. The dealership where I get my car serviced has massage chairs for customers to enjoy while they wait. I sit in one for 5-10 minutes, but that's enough -- they're kinda rough. And if one (they have three) isn't available, I don't get upset.

Agree, but -- if a company is to succeed -- it must avoid pissing off its clients in the process. Royal doesn't seem to be walking this fine line particularly well at this moment.

First, you're making lots of good choices here, especially refusing to carry a balance on your credit cards. You can never "get ahead" if you're still paying for yesterday. Thoughts: - Must you fly to the port? Driving is almost always cheaper -- though you must include the cost of parking. I see you're going out of Dallas -- did you consider a cruise that leaves from Galvaston? - If you pack light, you might avoid paying for your suitcases to fly. My husband and I pack one rolling carry-on + a backpack each for a 1-week cruise in the Caribbean. The backpack does double-duty for island stops, as we're solidly on Team Hands-Free. - I think you're on top of this, but are you arriving a day ahead of time? It's the cheapest "insurance" possible to avoid missing your ship. I like to make my night-before hotel reservation about 6 months out; if you wait until the last minute, the cheap rooms'll be gone. We like to stay 30-45 minutes away from the port, as closer rooms tend to be more expensive -- but, again, we have our own car. The right answer is, Do your math. - Definitely pack all the sunscreen, Tylenol, etc. you'll need. These things are very expensive onboard. If you can't bring these things on the plane, consider placing an online order to a Walmart or CVS near your night-before hotel. - One of our small ways of saving: We always pack a homemade charcuterie board and a 6-pack (we pack a small cooler) for our night-before hotel. After a long day's drive, we enjoy laying a towel over the foot of the bed and eating a snacky-dinner while watching TV. - Check into what drinks you're allowed to bring onto a Carnival ship. We're Royal Caribbean sailers, and we're allowed to bring a bottle of wine + 12 non-alcoholic drinks onboard. That's big savings -- and possible because we're close enough to drive to the port. - We usually get a night-before hotel room that includes breakfast. - Do you already have your boarding documents? Passport or birth certificate + government picture ID (if you are an American citizen leaving and returning to an American port). Don't leave this chore til the very last minute; without appropriate boarding documents, you're not sailing. - We spend very little onboard. We don't buy up-charge food (so much is included at no cost). We buy a few drinks. If you want a massage, look for a beach massage on an island stop; it'll cost so much less. - Look into private excursions (not the ones offered by the ship) for your island stops. Do your homework and read reviews. You'll be in smaller groups, get more attention and more choices; that these excursions are cheaper is just the cherry on top. We hate cattle-call ship's excursions. - What kind of room did you reserve? Balconies are wonderful, of course, but (now that we're retired) we prefer to sail more often in an Inside Guarantee. We don't stay in our room much anyway. - One cost that's easy to overlook: the cost of boarding pets. Agree. Even if you're young and in good health, no one plans for an accident. We don't get "full service" insurance -- after all, we drive, and we're not likely to lose our own luggage. What we really care about is health insurance and evacuation insurance. That last one's the biggie: you're highly unlikely to need it, but -- if you do -- it's so expensive that it could potentially be life-altering. Beware of over-buying stuff you don't really need. - A backpack will carry your stuff more easily than a jacket. - We have one cell phone protector that we use for beach days. - Gloves and long johns? Are you doing an Alaskan cruise? Even so, I don't think you'll need those in September. - You can start researching private excursions online now, though if you're doing Alaska, expect prices to be high. Since you're watching prices carefully, know that if you call the cruise line to reserve one of their excursions, you'll be expected to pay right away -- they don't add it to their bill. Private tour guides vary in their when-to-pay expectations.

My experience is mostly with Royal Caribbean. I don't know that all lines are alike. - Black Friday sales are not a great thing right now. We're in a seller's market, and prices are just high-higher-highest at the moment. - If you do find a "sale", do the math. Buy-one-get-one-free isn't always a bargain, for example. They may claim that the drink package is "whatever percentage off", but they'll jack up the price before they take that percentage off. Always do the math. - The one universal truth is that buying "extras" ahead of time -- shore excursions, drink packages -- is always cheaper ahead of time. - Booking onboard will get your some OBC -- usually about $100 if you're talking a standard room for a 7-night cruise. BUT do your homework before sailing: take your time to choose the cruise you want and go in with an idea (or two) of what you want to book. You can also buy a Next Cruise without a specific date. - If you find a price drop (again, not likely right now -- seller's market), do not cancel /rebook. Instead, call in and ask for a price match. Handling it this way, you will not lose your OBC. Calling can be a hassle -- call late at night. They're open later than you'd expect. - Do not wait. Go ahead and book now, and IF you see a lower price later, call in for a price match. - If you're looking for the lowest price, avoid the newest, mega-ships. Wonder, Icon and their ilk will cost considerably more than older, medium-sized ships such as Independence and Liberty. - Consider a "lesser" room to save money. Now that they kids are out of the house, we're find with an Inside Guarantee, and the prices are certainly lower.

Agree ... at home: - I have a system for keeping groceries down, though nothing will bring the total to pre-pandemic prices right now. - Being retired (well, I substitute teach 3 days a week), we don't buy a lot of clothing, and most of what we do buy is second-hand. We do this for environmental reasons as well as the financial bottom line. - We are a one-car family, which makes a whale of a lot of difference in our finances. Agree ... for cruises: - We are fall cruisers. We like the weather, the smaller crowds, and the lower prices. - We take advantage of Next-Cruise credits, and VISA OBC. - We stick to Royal Caribbean -- not because we think it's better than other lines, but because by sticking to one company, we are working our way up the loyalty points ladder. - We always sailed in larger cabins (or multiple cabins) when our children were at home, but we tried an Inside Guarantee and were 100% happy -- when it's just the two of us. - We keep an eye on our prices and would call in for a price match, if such things still happened. Super low prices do still come around: last December we sailed a 3-night on Indy for $99 each. Our next cruise -- soon! -- cost us $364/person. - We skip most of the extras -- we're happy with standard food, no spa, private shore excursions. We buy a few drinks, and our OBC covers most of that. - We choose a port to which we can drive; of course, that's not an option available to everyone, but it's cheaper than flying -- especially when you add in ground transportation. - We usually go out of Port Canaveral, and we stay at Days Inn in Titusville (about 30 minutes away from the port), which is clean and basic -- and usually less than $100/night, which includes breakfast. - We don't buy a lot in anticipation of the cruise. We have clothes a-plenty and aren't trying to impress anyone. - We bring plenty of sunscreen, OTC meds, etc. Those things cost a fortune onboard. We have a tried-and-true packing template that assures we don't forget socks or something equally silly.

I wear skirts /casual dresses often. I often wear bike shorts (purchased from Amazon) under them ... partially for modesty, partially because each leg has a deep slash pocket, which can hold a phone or whatever else very securely. We'll have to disagree on this. I like overalls /think they're cute, but they do take up more space in a suitcase and would be difficult to put on /off in a miniscule airplane bathroom. I like long skirts on other people. One of my coworkers wore a dusty pink maxi skirt with a tee and a denim jacket this week, and I thought her outfit was super cute. But I personally feel "overwhelmed" with a long skirt. I'm only 4'11", and it's just too much for my stature. Okay, jumper /romper watch at the high school: - Saw a teacher wearing a loose-fitting (not fitted at the waist) olive green jumpsuit + a loose white cardigan. Jumpsuit was ankle-length, and she wore it with flat brown sandals. Super cute. Looked very comfortable. Definitely the best jumpsuit /romper I've seen during back-to-school -- something I would like to own! - No other examples at this moment, and I've been looking.

I have friends who can go into Marshall's with a $20 dollar bill and come out with two outfits, a jacket, a kitchen gadget and three Christmas gifts. Me? I can never find anything at Marshall's; I think I lack the Marshall's gene. Thrift stores though -- that's my place! Ebay too; I stick to a couple name brands whose sizing I know will work for me. I also like the ecological aspect of buying used. Bras are the bane of my existence. I'm a difficult fit and really only like one name-brand, and my size is always sold out.

I'd rather see something that hasn't been around since I was a child, but that's just personal opinion.

I don't have solid information /opinions on the CEO, but I do think this board has been more whiny and more critical than usual lately -- and many people are unhappy with very real cuts to service and quality, while prices are increasing. Trouble rolls uphill (paraphrased, but true).

I'm surprised /doubtful about 20% of cruisers saying they'd be willing to pay for a simple, inexpensive product that has traditionally been free. As for "Those of us who do 20+ cruises a year need variety", that's a lie. If you take the same vacation 20 times a year, you do not crave variety. Agree. Food is an integral part of our lives, of any vacation, and ESPECIALLY a cruise vacation. This is not the place to cut. Several thoughts: - I would go for the concept of free meal /pay for drinks, especially milkshakes. - In my limited experience, yes, JR's is a ghost town. Hamburgers fly off the grill at Windjammer, and most people aren't interested in paying for the same thing that's free in another location. - I still don't believe Royal's reason for making JR's a for-cost location: They said teenagers were taking over the place /hogging the space, and a cover charge would keep them out. Never believed it. I think the popcorn is also about the mess. If you give popcorn away, people won't be careful with it ... and then if the staff can't get it cleaned up quickly enough, you'll have a problem with sea birds swooping in to eat it. We'll be cruising again soon -- we much prefer to cruise in the fall -- and I am concerned about loss of these little sandwiches. We've really enjoyed them in the past. I had a tuna sandwich on our last cruise, and it's the only Cafe Promenade sandwich I've ever disliked. As you say, I like a good tuna sandwich, but this one was "off" somehow. Not that the tuna was bad as in spoiled; I just didn't like the way their tuna salad was made. First comment: I don't think any of us are concerned about getting enough food to survive; rather, we want to ENJOY our vacation meals. Second comment: Sometimes I'll trade quantity for quality. Other times I won't. Depends upon the situation. Third comment: Definitely yes! Cruise prices are up, and I am questioning whether the quality is worth it. Not saying, "No more for me!" But I only have two cruises booked at the moment, and we're thinking about Yellowstone and a train trip through Canada. Yeah, that was poorly state; a CEO should be more eloquent. I really hope he didn't mean it like it sounded.

We were on Explorer last fall, and MTD worked well. We waited about 10 minutes one night; the other nights we were admitted essentially immediately. Two thoughts on this: - We only sail in the fall, when crowds are smaller. This makes a difference. - They took people with reservations in right away (even if you were a little early or a little late), but people without MTD reservations were waiting. Not in huge lines. Agree that loss of the second cabin service ... combined with an increase in tips is crap. I've never understood the obsession with having the same wait staff each evening. I'm not all that into someone remembering my drink order. Regardless, we did have the same waiters every night on Explorer with MTD. On the first night, they were very anxious to "book us" for the rest of the cruise. I wondered if it had to do with how their tips are allocated? Admittedly, one person's experience is not the same as data -- but I saw a lot of EMPTY day beds and cabanas when we were at Coco Cay. I am concerned that they're building more and more of these for-cost spaces. I hope they'll leave adequate space for those of us who want to sit in the free seats; after all, we have paid our ticket price and port taxes, and we deserve space too. Daily gratuities went up. Cabin service went from twice a day to once a day. Yes, I'll "play the game" and leave auto tips in place. I don't particularly like the system, but I'm not going to "stick it to the little guy" by withholding tips. I'm rather amazed at people who brag about doing this. Personally, I think we're in a weird "cruise price bubble" right now. We're still in early days recovering from the pandemic, and that's affecting us in a couple ways: - People didn't travel for a while, and now they want to make up for it. You can't blame the cruise lines for wanting to make hay while the sun shines. You could say that, at the moment, it's a seller's market. - The cruise lines do have debt to make up. - I don't think this'll last. Prices may not go back to what they were pre-pandemic (or, if they do, we may get less for that price), but -- as time passes and things revert to what they were -- competition between lines will bring prices down. Agree, but it'll never happen.

I just showed up -- kinda late, in fact -- and I got a front-row seat. Twice on two different cruises. Of course, I went by myself (my stupid husband dislikes the ice show), and a single seat is a whole lot easier to find. I'll say this: The ice show is best enjoyed from the front row.

This was my experience as well. We always have 10:30 check-ins, and I've seen the staff -- in Orlando and in Miami -- sending later check in people to the back. As you say, I went on in, and I don't know if those people had to wait until (for example) 1:00 or not -- or if they were allowed in during lulls in the crowds. But they did not get in at 10:30 with us.

Agree. We had a Promenade Room on Indy, and it was only noisy twice -- during two musical shows in the Promenade. We could just hear the boom-boom-boom of the base in our room, and it was annoying, but -- once we realized what was going on -- we opened our curtains and could hear the music well. So we sat on the love seat and enjoyed the show. It was only about half an hour. We were only one room away from the "entertainment bridge" in the middle of the Promenade, so we were smack-dab in the noisiest section. We had a great view of the dancers. We were on Deck 6 (the lowest Promenade Rooms), and we liked that level because we were just above the Promenade and could people-watch. We didn't see anything anyone wouldn't have wanted us to see -- most people seemed to leave their curtains closed all the time. Note that the bay windows have TWO sets of curtains: one set of sheers that block most of the view while allowing light through, and one set of black-out curtains. The curtains have velcro closures so they'll shut tightly, if you want solid darkness. The lights in the Promenade dim at night /come up slowly with the sun. Of course, that's not the same thing as natural light. Admittedly, that can happen with any connecting room in any category. Our Promenade Room was a connector, and I think we heard a sneeze from our neighbors once. Once we were in a balcony room that connected to some terribly loud neighbors. They were carrying on, laughing all the time. I kept going over to fuss at them about their noise -- of course, they were my kids. To conclude my thoughts about Promenade Rooms: - The storage isn't quite as good as a standard inside room. The closet is just as good, but the drawer storage is less. - We didn't 'specially like that you open the door and run right into the bed, BUT we loved the seating area over by the bay window -- and in that small space you can't have both. - I think the bathrooms and closets are essentially the same in Inside Rooms, Promenade Rooms, Ocean View Rooms and Balcony Rooms. - We loved the Promenade Room and would love to stay in one again. We'd choose the 6th floor again -- we like being one flight of stairs from the Promenade, and we liked the view out to the Promenade.

I spent $0 and had a fantastic day. My husband purchased two beers and had a fantastic day. Seriously, Perfect Day is a place where you can spend as much or as little as you want. If you want to spend nothing, here's my advice: - Look at the maps ahead of time and choose your beach. Most no-pay people will go to Chill Island, South Beach or Breezy Bay. Or the pool. - Leave the ship early so you can get a prime lounger and head straight for your chosen spot; in my opinion, a good chair is essential. - The buffet lunch is good -- some of the best no-charge food you'll have on the cruise. - Bring plenty of sunscreen, etc., as it will be outrageously priced on the island. Bring your towel from the ship so you won't have to stop to search for a towel station (but, if you find one, trade for a clean towel on the way back).

Yeah, you're right about having a limited amount of time on shore, but that's just what a cruise is like. The ship must move on towards the next port. After you've completed this first cruise, you'll be able to say with certainty whether you like this style of vacation or not. Yes, read reviews. Look for patterns. I can't claim 70, but my experiences have been the same. And consider your timing ... if you leave the ship early (like 8:00 or 9:00), complete your planned activities, and then head back to the ship after a bit of exploring around the port, you're likely to return mid-afternoon and still have a couple hours before sail-away. Very good point, but few ports require tendering these days. Thing is, the private excursions are almost always superior, so I wouldn't want a price match.

To be argumentative, no. Overalls are different from a pair of pants: Once you lower them to use the restroom, you have to deal with the excess top-half fabric, and you have to get the straps back over your shoulders without twisting. This isn't an issue in a land-based bathroom, but I think it would be a bit challenging in a small airplane bathroom. And I'm small.