Mum2Mercury

You got me thinking we might want to repeat the ATV excursion, so I've been looking online. I'm pretty sure this is the company we used before -- the stops sound the same. They picked us up at a shopping center walking distance from the port and (after the ride) they gave us the option of being dropped back at the port, at the beach or at a restaurant. If we go again, I'll pack a set of old clothes that can be thrown away after the ride. I see that the first ride of the day is 8:30, and it's a 4-hour excursion, so you'd be in NO DANGER of being late back to the ship. https://www.cozumelcruisetours.com/cozumel-atv-tours?utm_source=bing&utm_content=ATV&utm_campaign=Mexico&msclkid=750d75afb32513b8fd64116dc8921825&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=cozumel+atv+tours

You sound cautious but not paranoid -- perfect. Yes to joining the taxi line and searching for people who'd like to share a taxi. Who doesn't want to pay less? Remember you've gotta get back too -- ask your taxi mates if they'd look for you to share on the way back too.

Yeah, obviously if you can't make the stop, you'll get your money back -- but if the weather is icky but you get your so-so day, it'd be a poor value to have spent $$$ on the Beach Club or a day bed. Sounds like even more reason NOT to spend money on Coco Cay. I've heard that the hot air balloon frequently can't go up because of high winds. But, again, if your ride was impossible, you'd get a refund.

Nice idea! I've reviewed my choices for my own use but have never thought about analyzing for this board. Nice choices. I particularly like your color scheme, as it isn't plain old black! One piece of advice: I wouldn't pack a packable tote; rather, I'd use it as my carry-on ... cuts down on one bag. Every trip isn't the same. Oh, yes, even for a short cruise, two swim suits are a minimum number --especially if you wear Lands End (or similar suits that are a little heavier /have more support). If I'm planning a water-based excursion and expect to wear a suit for a whole day, I'll bring a third, assuming that wearing it all day will be "enough". I don't bring water shoes unless we're planning an active water-based excursion. I found out (accidentally) that my Kindle cord will charge my phone ... but my phone won't charge my Kindle. I don't have /need a "dumping ground" for electronics. We each bring a phone, I bring a Kindle and the one charging cord, and a camera (with a couple batteries). Yes to bringing extra prescription medicines. They take up no space, and IF you were to be delayed, they'd be almost impossible to replace. I repack /top off my toiletries when I get home. That way they're always ready for the next trip. Me too. We purposefully own only carry-on luggage. For a short trip, my husband and I share one ... for a longer trip, we each take one. I hear what you're saying, and avoiding a fee is good ... but it doesn't keep your luggage from going astray. A denim or chambray button-down is such a practical item to pack. It can work as a shirt or a light jacket.

Agree. I don't know if my family is typical, but we just aren't fussy about our night-before hotel stay. We know we're going to arrive somewhere around 5:00-7:00, and then we'll be out early the next morning. Hotels near the cruise ports know you're going to pay, so they aren't giving you a big discount. One way to get a better price: Choose a hotel a bit away from the hotel; for example, when we go out of Orlando, we always stop in Titusville. The hotel prices are considerably cheaper, and the next-morning drive is just under 30 minutes. I never heard of that, and I was excited to check it out -- but the prices were higher than the ones I've reserved through Priceline for our upcoming cruises. I pretty much always "win" with Priceline.

We're light packers. Specific thoughts: - We've never needed to expand our electrical outlets. - Long ago we brought an over-the-door shoe holder -- awful choice. It just made the clutter visible and the bathroom door clunky. Cruise ship cabins have a good amount of storage. - We do enjoy a couple magnetic hooks to keep things up off the desk. We hang a schedule that we print out for each cruise, our paper Cruise Compasses, hats, and a few other things. (Note that most cruise ships have two large hooks behind the entrance door -- we hang our backpacks on these.) - We definitely pack plenty of sunscreen, OTC medicines, and other basics -- they're quite expensive onboard. - I'm a big reader, and I always bring my Kindle. Do not count on the ship's super-small library. - We have a set of laminated goldfish, which our artist daughter painted for us. They're just made of poster board, but they're magnetic, and they mark our door for us. Between cruises, they're stored in an envelope, and they take up no space. - We always bring at least two swimsuits so we never have to put on a wet one.

Because you will be smiling and laughing!

We did an ATV excursion years ago -- sorry, can't remember the company, but it wasn't the cruise ship's offering. We still rank it as one of THE BEST excursions EVER. We saw some places of minor importance to the Mayan culture, but mainly riding was just FUN. 1. Watching You Tube videos can give you the idea that pier runners are common. They aren't. Seriously -- if your ship really has people who haven't logged back onto the ship, Guest Services will start calling their names over the loudspeaker every 10-15 minutes as the deadline approaches -- I've only ever heard that once. 2. An ATV excursion in Cozumel is likely to be a 3-4 hour morning experience /will return you to the pier around noon. You won't sail until evening. This excursion is not going to endanger your return to the ship -- not even close. Test what I say by checking the length of the excursion vs. the time you'll meet your guide. Our experience was different: Cozumel had had about a week of rain just before we had our ATV ride, so it was MUDDY! We ended up throwing away the clothes we wore, even our shoes -- I wish we'd known to purposefully bring something old. After our ride, we bought a few snacks and shopped a bit at the pier; one shopkeeper asked my husband not to stand in front of his stand (because he was so dirty) ... then he felt bad for what he'd said, and he offered to spray my husband with his water hose! We took no offense; the man wasn't wrong. I recommend a bandanna and a can of mosquito repellent. Maybe a small string backpack or fanny pack so you can easily carry your things. I had a disposable camera in my back pocket, and it fell out. A fellow rider saw it fall and had his young daughter jump off /pick it up for me -- I was so grateful!

In what world is a balcony "equivalent" to an oceanview? The truth is that the customer service people at Royal are well-trained in deflecting the question. They're also skilled at pissing on your leg and telling you it's raining. I was going to say the same thing. Consistency isn't Royal's greatest strength. This isn't the quite the same, but we booked a 7-night, which was "downgraded" to a 6-night. We were given a couple choices about changing cruises, etc., but we opted to stay because the price, well, the price is pretty incredible. I argued hard for a price reduction (yeah, I have no shame) because we did lose a day of vacation, 3 meals and an island stop ... nope. Got nothing. When they dig in their feet, they dig in their feet. I don't like it, but I understand it. The OP could understand BOTH rooms being changed to oceanviews, but treating the rooms differently is not logical. Have you gone into the reservation system as if you're making a brand-new ressie /checked to see whether balconies are still left? If so, you could call and say, I see that balcony room XXXX is still available. I'd like to be moved to that room. Knowledge is power.

I can only think of one item that really disappointed, and it's kinda odd: When I was a teenager I did a cross-country driving trip, and I was SO INCREDIBLY MOVED by Mt. Rushmore. The vast size, the connection to past generations, the feeling that anything is possible in America, the patriotism. When my own children were teenagers, we did a similar driving trip, and I was excited about seeing Mt. Rushmore again /sharing it with my own family. It didn't strike me the same way it did when I was younger, and I have no idea why.

I'm pretty sure no, as they use some of the wait staff to move luggage onboard and to man muster stations.

We don't know whether this particular incident was intentional and ongoing or whether it was a mistake that happened once -- the real question is whether it's a pattern. What bothers me more is the cutbacks in housekeeping coupled with the increase in gratuities. And cutback on food in the MDR -- refusing to bring two appetizers at once, for example.

We're young retirees (I'm mid-50s and my husband will turn 60 in October). Not sure that really matters. Anyway, here's what I can say: - I heard on the TV news just yesterday that Covid is still "out there", but the people who catch serious cases /are hospitalized /die are almost 100% non-vaxxed. So if you're vaccinated, your chances of a serious case of Covid are small -- even with other medical conditions. - As the virus has mutated, it has become weaker. This is what typically happens with viruses. - I worked part-time as a substitute teacher last spring semester, and I didn't have a single case of Covid among my students, nor did I hear of a single case in my school. When Covid was in full swing, our principal sent us lists every day of students who were out with Covid, and we had a special Covid-support team to help those students keep up with their studies. - We've cruised a couple times recently, and few people -- passengers or crew -- were masked. Covid was not a topic of conversation. - We have been packing Covid tests to take on board. When my husband developed a cold on our "first cruise back", it was good to be able to verify it was NOT Covid. In conclusion, when Covid was at its peak, my family was very serious about prevention /protection, but we have given enough of our lives to this pandemic. It's time to "call it" and go on with our lives. We are fully vaxxed, and if more vaccinations become available, we'll take them. But we felt perfectly safe cruising and have two more cruises "on the books" for fall.

No, but the new beach that's coming soon (Hideaway Beach) will be adult-only. Food on the island is good! Yes to that ribeye sandwich, but the tacos are a close second. Don't forget that the Snack Shack has mozarella sticks -- my youngest is insane for mozarella sticks. You're talking about more than $300 so a child can take a nap. Can the child nap on a regular lounge chair? I'm attaching a picture of a for-cost day bed and a set of regular chairs ... regular lounge chairs are arranged at all the beaches in groups of 2 or 4 /with a small table and umbrella between. You can take the child back to the ship for a nap, but it's a long walk back. They can play in the ocean (bring your own sand toys) or they can play in the splash area at the pool. A safety note: My daughter only allows my 21 month old grandson to wear swim trunks in red, yellow or orange (not so easy to find) because they are so much more visible in the water.

Yes, you can just walk off the ship and have a great beach day. I suggest you watch a couple You Tube videos and choose your beach ahead of time; this means you won't all need to head out together in the morning, and the others will know where to find you. It also means you'll be able to go out early and get good seats -- the place is pretty big to wander around trying to decide what you want. Essentially you have four choices: - Chill Island -- quiet, nice beach and snorkeling, first beach to the left as you arrive - South Beach -- more active, games, water isn't quite as nice, straight ahead and a bit of a walk - Breezy Bay -- smaller, lies between Chill and South - The pool -- in the center of the island, a loud party atmosphere On any of the three no-cost beaches, you'll find plenty of chairs; they're arranged in sets of 2 or 4 with a small table and an umbrella between them. Once you're onboard, you can go to Guest Services and ask for a couple Coco Cay brochures /maps. No, you don't need to schedule an excursion or spend a single penny. Yes, beach towels can be checked out (or traded for fresh) on the island, but it's easiest to bring your own from the ship -- this means you can go straight to a chair and not need to search for a towel stand. Yes, some areas are restricted, but you'll find plenty of open spaces and will have no problem seeing which areas are for "paying customers". When you walk onto the island, the water park (which costs $$$) is to the right; no-cost beaches are to the left and straight ahead. Across the island, the day beds and cabanas will be marked "reserved", and you won't mistake them for the regular chairs. Yes, two huge buffets -- essentially the Windjammer moved to the island -- called The Chill Grill and the Skipper's Grill; they're identical except for color scheme. You can also get sandwiches and snacks at The Snack Shack. If you're trying to keep your wallet in your pocket, just avoid Captain Jack's, as it's the only place that charges for food. Food's available starting about 11:00 /drinks will be available at the two buffets maybe 10:30ish. Bars will open to sell alcohol and sodas 9:30-10:00ish; drinks cost a little more than they do on the ship -- I think it's something about VAT, but I'm not sure. Things you might not know you don't know: - No breakfast on the island, but you can bring breakfast sandwiches or doughnuts off the ship for your own family. - You can walk back to the ship, but it's a fairly long walk. - Don't forget everyone's ship ID; even though it's a private island, you still must be logged on/off the ship. - The tram will take you around the island, then right back to the ship's gangplank. - You can save money by bringing your own snorkel gear or floats. - If you want a nice nap in total shade, you can find a nice hammock between the entrance and Chill Island.

If you make a pre-cruise purchase, you'll have the CHOICE to use your OBC as payment (or partial payment). If you don't spend your OBC ahead of time, it'll be available for spending as soon as you board.

Of course! Jean shorts are very practical because they match everything and can be worn over and over. While full-length jeans would be overly warm, I don't think jean shorts would be an issue in the heat.

I think searching out stores where clothes could be replaced -- before any luggage is lost -- is a little "above and beyond", but everything else sounds reasonable. You say "naturally", but not everyone is careful with those essentials. I say this with shame: Last week I dropped off my mom and disabled father at the airport. They picked me up, and I drove them in their car, so I didn't see the contents of the trunk until we were knee-deep in the chaos -- she had two suitcases, a small duffel bag, two open-top tote bags and a big purse. We got my stepfather's scooter out and covered him in little bits of luggage. He asked, "Which of these bags holds our passports?" And Mom replied, "I don't know. We'll figure it out once we get you inside and out of this heat." They left me behind, and it all worked out, but I didn't feel easy about them managing all those bits and bobs. They signed on to do the very same cruise next year, and my mom made one comment to me as I drove them home: She said, "Next year we're each wearing one outfit and packing three more in one shared suitcase. The ship had no-cost, self-service laundry." I jumped all over this conversation and offered to lend them each a backpack (as I said earlier, I'm Team Hands-Free and own several) and my travel wallet (for their documents).

I enjoy planning too, which is good because my husband hates it. You've shared some good ideas. I'll add a few /won't do any repeats: - We're close enough to drive to cruise ports, so we manage our own luggage. If we get the suitcase all the way to the porters, I'm not overly worried about it getting lost between the parking lot and our stateroom! But that's not a possibility for everyone. - Our suitcases are olive green and rust colored. No one has those colors. - We secure our suitcases with zip ties. The cruise line could open them, but they never have. - If we're flying to a non-cruise vacation, we never check luggage. We purposefully own only rolling carry-ons so that we're not tempted to over-pack. For a one-week cruise, we share one rolling-carry on. We bring 2-3 tops for every bottom, and we always wear a worn-several times pair of shorts before a shore excursion (why get a fresh, clean outfit sweaty?). We are both experts at rolling things up small. - We minimize shoes, which is absolutely the key to packing light. Typically my husband wears tennis shoes and packs black boat shoes, which he wears for dinner. I wear tennis shoes and pack walking sandals + wedge heels that match all my dinner outfits. If we're going to be at the beach or taking part in an active water-based shore excursion, he brings water socks (which pack so much smaller than his chunky water sandals) and I pack water shoes. - We absolutely carry no more than one suitcase + one backpack each; in contrast, we often see people juggling two suitcases each + multiple tote bags. They're just asking to lose something. Worse, we saw an elderly lady trying to manage two large suitcases + a tote bag on an escalator as we disembarked in Miami -- she fell, and she got hurt. - If you ABSOLUTELY MUST pack more, more, more, at least minimize the number of bags in which you pack your things -- the more you divide your attention, the more likely you are to lose something. - If you're juggling multiple bags or are prone to losing things, seriously consider one of those around-the-neck passport /document holders. - Do not allow yourself to be hurried. After you show your documents, STOP and put them away. Holding them in your hand or shoving them in an unsecured pocket is a good way to find yourself in a crisis. - When we boarded our last cruise, the family ahead of us was really smart: they had a collapsible wagon. The father was pulling the wagon, which contained two small boys + a bunch of tote bags or backpacks. The mother was following so she could watch the boys, and she was carrying a toddler. Brilliant: their children and their stuff was contained. I'm sure they wheeled that wagon right off the ship for island stops. - We minimize toiletries by decanting products into small bottles. I carry the smallest bit of base make-up in a contact lens container, and I have a few "free gift items" from Clinique that're perfect for travel. I bring my old eye make-up, etc. and throw it away at the end of the trip. Ditto with toothbrushes. My grandmother taught me to bring sample perfumes from magazines on vacation /rub them on my wrists. - Being Team Hands-Free, we always choose a day pack as our carry-on. They're more secure than an open-top tote, and they carry plenty and are perfect for shore excursions. - We have a "travel wallet" (originally a gift from a travel agent) that holds our passports, cash and cards, prepared envelopes for island stops. We check and double-check this before we leave the house. The big point is that we have a way of keeping our essentials together. I've known a couple people who've managed to lose their passports or credit cards on vacation -- it's harder to lose them if they're corralled together. - I don't bring the entire contents of my everyday wallet. I don't need my library card, my retired teacher ID, or gift cards /punch cards for lunch places in my home town. I move the essentials over to a tiny zippered coin purse, which I keep in a wristlet that's easy to carry around the ship. - Once we're on the ship, we store our keys in our room safe. No point in carrying around what you aren't going to use. - We bring two separate credit cards. We've never had any problem with loss or identity theft, but -- just in case -- we want to have a second card at our disposal. We have copies of all our documents and cards at the bottom of our carry ons. - I attach TWO laminated luggage tags to our suitcase, and I put our cell phone numbers in /on the suitcase. But I don't put our hotel or home information -- anyone who found our suitcase would call us /would not bring the suitcase to us without calling.

Yes, we chose this cruise for the ports ... and the extremely low price, which seems even lower now that prices have exploded. This is good news. I'm investigating this. We like to park at the port so we can head straight to our car after we disembark and start our long drive home. I'm going to do this. Again, thanks to All. I appreciate your help.

Have We Met Yet, we're not seniors ourselves -- I'm mid-50s, and my husband will turn 60 on Grandeur. Our next two cruises will be on Grandeur and Wonder, so we're expecting them to be quite different. Hmm, two different answers about the NFL games -- I think you're right to say we won't know until we board. I'm really hoping we do get at least the Sunday game because that's his birthday AND our home town team is playing. Behind the bar? Not something I would've considered -- good information! I'll look into this. When you say pre-pay, you mean at the official terminal, right? Not an off-site parking area? Thanks, All, for your help.

If you read in a negative tone, please be assured I didn't intend that. I don't remember why I said "Wow", but it wasn't meant as a negative.

Do they hate money? Yes, journalism is dead. People who write articles for the internet today are barely literate.

Did you ask them the right question: "Would you rather have money ... or the same amount of money PLUS a small candy bar?" We heard you, but realistically anyone who brings candy is bringing a bag of $3 mini-bars. Divided between this and that crew member, it'd be maybe .40 per bar. Would you really say to your cabin steward, "I pre-paid my tips, and here's an extra .40 for you."? That's the reality.

To see what your room'll look like, go to You Tube. If you've seen one inside room on Freedom, you've seem 'em all. If you move to a different category, look at a deck plan and see what other rooms are in your category /same color -- they'll be the same. Or nearly the same. Deck 3 isn't the greatest, but I have a couple thoughts: - Once you're in the room, it's identical to all other inside rooms. Our personal favorite is Deck 6 because it's just one quick set of steps down to the Promenade ... Deck 3 is just two quick steps up to the Promenade. - The negative of Deck 3 is largely mental ... you're far from the fun, but aren't you going to take the elevator up anyway? The only real, tangible negative of Deck 3 is that it has a lot of small rooms, which means it's more crowded. - If it really bothers you, call and ask if another same-category room is available. Be nice, be willing to take no for an answer, and go in knowing you have nothing to lose. - $100/pp to go from an inside to a balcony? No, you don't NEED to do it, but I'd throw the dice! Again, nothing to lose.