Mum2Mercury

Yes, cabin cleaning service is once a day now, and I've heard from a family member this is a real shortcoming if you have more than two people in a room /are using a sofa bed or pull-down bunk. The MDR offers a Chops steak and/or whole lobster every night ... but this is a choice /no one will force you to order these items. A steak is about $18, and a lobster is about $30; both are about $35. Note that this means one person could have an upcharge item without the whole group paying for a specialty restaurant meal. Don't forget the mandatory 18% tip on top of these costs. Room service at breakfast: Coffee and continental items (pastries, for example) are no-charge -- except you should tip your delivery person. If you order a full breakfast (eggs, pancakes, etc.) they charge about $8 -- that's no matter how much you order /not per person or per plate, and this is not the tip; you should still tip your delivery person. Room service after breakfast: All deliveries are about $8 -- again, that's no matter how much you order /not per person or per plate, and this is not the tip; you should still tip your delivery person.

Looking at other people's experiences, it's like we visited different places. I strongly suspect a big part of it is the time of year in which one visits. Personally, we are fall cruisers -- off season. It'd be interesting to hear WHEN the people who experienced crowds were traveling. Our experience: - The ferry to the island is, as another poster commented, long and boring. That's not the worst thing, but it does cut into your limited shore time; assume that between your trip out /your trip back, you'll spend an hour on that ferry. - We were on the first trip over, so it was fairly crowded -- most people want to get up and out early for excursions. - Before we exited, the ferry staff told us they would return to the island twice /gave us the times /told us we could choose our return trip. Perhaps they only run twice in off season? - Plenty of people were on the beaches, but I wouldn't say they were crowded. - The middle of the island has trails and shade, but who goes to this island and doesn't want to stay on the beach? - If you're particularly prone to burning, perhaps you should wear a long-sleeved rash guard or purchase a pop-up sun shade. - I know we had lunch included in the price, but I can't remember any details -- not positive, not negative. If we had encountered long lines, I think I'd remember. - We enjoyed Blue Lagoon and would return -- but we would not pay much to do so. Having the "empty ship" to ourselves is a fairly close experience. Having said that: - Nassau is not a pleasant place (for the sake of new cruisers: Nassau is the city where you'll dock -- Blue Lagoon is a small island some 30 minutes away -- you could potentially visit one or both). On our last-December cruise my husband and I went into Nassau, and we agreed: Never Again. Never. We are not fearful people or difficult to make happy people, but this place is just awful. - Why did we react so strongly? We genuinely felt unsafe as we were herded through a small bottleneck to exit the docks and enter the city -- if anything bad had happened, people would've been thrown to the ground and trampled. I think seven ships were in port that day, so a multitude of cruisers were passing through that bottleneck. We left the ship mid-morning, so we weren't in the first-wave crowd. - Yes, they are in the middle of construction in Nassau, but it doesn't look like it'll be any better once it's finished. Again, we will never, never, never go into Nassau again (and we're not the only cruisers who feel that way). - We returned to the ship and went up to Windjammer for a drink. Through the window, we noted that some excursions leave from INSIDE the cruise dock /those people don't have to go out into the city. We agreed we'd be willing to do that. The two ferries we saw were labeled Swim With Pigs and Blue Lagoon -- they may not be the only ferries /excursions that do not require entering the city, but they're the two we saw.

Wearing a life jacket. Do you think she PLANNED to do this? Surely not. A person who planned suicide wouldn't wear a life jacket. A person who wanted a little adventure would've chosen a lower deck. Agree. Not only do you have to climb up, you have to work pretty hard at it, as most railings are angled inward and covered with plexiglass to deny any foothold. It's not impossible -- not at all -- but it's absolutely not like you're walking into a store, fail to see a curb and trip yourself. I also wonder if this person will be escorted off at the next island. Years ago -- ironically also on Mariner -- a bunch of teenagers threw deck chairs into the ocean, and their families were thrown off at the next island. I remember the captain telling everyone over the intercom in his noontime address. This woman basically did the same thing, except what she threw over was herself. Well, if you don't know, you don't know. On our first-ever cruise (Disney), my husband and I were a little nervous about our then-young daughters, so we went to the top of the ship and "circled down", considering at every point whether a careless child could go overboard. We determined that it would be possible on Deck 4 to squirm between the railings /gates where the lifeboats are -- but totally impossible to fall over accidentally. And a child would need a chair to get to the top of a typical railing. We never worried about it again.

Taking the right bags is important! Short story, I bring three bags: a backpack, a wristlet, a pool bag - I board with a small backpack (my current favorite is the Osprey Day Lite, but even a string pack would work), which doubles as a shore excursion bag. I really like being hands-free. - I never carry spare clothes ashore -- if I get wet or dirty, I'm going back to the ship, and finding a place to change is a hassle -- so I don't see a point, and I don't want to carry a large, heavy bag. But the backpack will hold a rolled-up towel or a jacket easily. I sometimes carry a bottle of water, but -- when available -- I prefer to buy cold drinks on shore. I often wear hats ashore, especially if rain is expected -- I personally can keep going in light rain as long as my face and glasses are protected from the rain. - Practical is the name of the game for shore excursions; I don't worry about a backpack being "not nice". BUT, if it matters to you, "nice" backpacks are readily now -- leather or Vera Bradley prints. If you want something that doesn't scream "I love hiking!", you can find it, and a "nicer" backpack could work well for a city shore excursion. - Sling bags, an off-shoot of backpacks, are also practical for shore excursions and maybe a little "dressier" for a city excursion. I have a Healthy Back Bag, which I love -- it's safe because the zipper is on the "inside", and it's easy to "sling it around" to the front to take out an item or make yourself a little safer in a crowd. Sling bags are smaller than backpacks; you'd be able to carry a rolled-up towel or jacket, but certainly not a change of clothes. They're available in nice prints and leather, though mine is plain navy ripstop nylon. I saw some nice sling bags at DSW Shoes last week. - Having declared my devotion to backpacks (and let's agree not to discuss how many I own, okay?), I never carry my money or ID in my backpack -- they're always on my person. ALL my cruise clothing has pockets; if I'm wearing a dress, I have bike shorts with pockets underneath. - I do not recommend a tote bag for shore excursions -- unless it has a zip top, and you keep it firmly under your arm with the zipper pull towards the front. Carried casually, it's just too easy for a stranger's hand to go where it has no business. And with any tote bag, you give up that hands-free status, which is just easier. - I have a little wristlet that I use onboard -- yes, in the evenings, and occasionally during the day. It's about 6x8 and flat, so it takes essentially no space in the suitcase. Mine is not "chic"; it's a pretty print fabric, but I like it. It's big enough for ship's ID, a few dollars in case I want to tip a bartender, a camera, a lipstick. - I have a little purse hook -- a very nice little thing to have to "hang" my wristlet on the table at dinner, which is nicer than holding it on your lap. More than a few people have commented on this little thing. - I am devoted to Lands End swim cover-ups. They're like tee-shirt dresses, though a bit shorter. Mine ALL have pockets. They tend to go on clearance at the end of the summer -- I bought a couple at the end of last season for about $10 each /gave them to my adult daughters for their birthdays. I would not feel comfortable going from my stateroom to the ship's pool in just my swimsuit, but these cover-ups are "enough" to go into the ship's buffet. - I have a small, open-top tote bag that I carry to the pool. I've had it maybe two decades, and I still love it. Originally a gift from my mother-in-law, it came from Bath & Body works /full of nice bath products. It's canvas and doesn't fold flat, but I make it work by stuffing it full of socks and underwear and packing "around it" in my suitcase; if I didn't do this, it would be a space hog. If I suddenly lost this bag, I would buy one that would fold flat, but I would still stay "small" for a pool bag. Mine is roughly the size of a 6-pack of canned drinks /wider than it is tall. - Anyway, my much-loved pool bag has several pockets, which old my ship ID, a chapstick, and maybe a few dollars. The main pocket holds sunscreen, my Kindle, and a rolled-up towel standing up /sticking out. It's not a secure bag, but I don't worry over-much about my things at the pool. I'm always wearing my prescription sunglasses, and I tuck my Kindle under my towel if I leave my chair. - As for my first cruise, oh, yes, I messed up -- brought way too much. Second trip I brought much less but still didn't use it all. On the way home from the second trip, we made a list of what we actually used -- now my husband and I share one suitcase and each carry a backpack. - Now I bring 2-3 tops for every bottom piece, and I always wear a "this is its last time" bottom for a shore excursion (because those things get sweaty and dirty). I assume a dress will go to dinner 2Xs. I bring only three pairs of shoes -- shoes are a make-or-break: tennis shoes for boarding and for walking excursions, daytime sandals, and a pair of dressy shoes that match ALL my dinner dresses. If necessary for the specific plans, I add water shoes.

As a teacher, I wore white Keds (or similar) with simple knit dresses -- think Lands End type things -- with a cardigan for much of my career. Perfect teacher outfit and cute.

I have a weakness for bags. Not expensive designer bags, but functional things. I love the organization in this one, and I love that the interior is a lighter color /easier to find your things, but -- to my eye -- it looks a bit big to use for a day of touring. Have you ever tried a Healthy Back Bag? They're sling bags, so nothing fancy looking. They're available in multiple sizes, come in a variety of materials, and -- even when full -- they feel like nothing. They're so well thought out with the zipper on the "underside"; thus, harder for a pickpocket to access, and you can "sling" them around to your front to access your wallet. Perfect pockets for pamphlets and paperwork one collects during travel. I'm interested in merino wool, but I'm allergic to regular wool, so I'm nervous about spending on an item that might "attack me". I'm thinking of trying a pair of socks first. That IS creepy! One of my fellow teachers wrote us a great 3-day unit on how we're all being monitored online (and in other ways). We paired it with the novel 1984, a natural match. One of the big thing that stood out to me -- she had a great video about it: If it's free to use (this board, for example), YOU ARE THE PRODUCT. That is, if you're not paying to use it, they're collecting data from you /about you. Your experience seems to be proof. What surprised me was that the students (high school seniors) were quite unconcerned about their online movements being tracked. They were 100% certain that nothing online affects their purchasing -- they think that's for weak-minded chumps. They are immune to advertising! What DID upset them: learning that their cell phone tracks their movements. They don't want people do know where they go physically, but they see no issue with their online lives being monitored. (Insert face palm here.)

Wow, I'm glad to say I've never seen anything like this in person. Multiple chairs flying. One guy being knocked off his feet /sliding along on his knees. A family duck-walking along holding onto the railing. That stroller was the worst though; note that the woman just left it and kept going ... can't blame her.

I just saw my sister at our Father's Day cookout. She asked me if I'd cruised since the reduction in housekeeping. She didn't give me any details, but she just shook her head sadly. She's pretty easy going and easy to please, but she was clearly disappointed. I'm glad to hear this. We'll be taking our adult daughter on an upcoming cruise, and I really don't want to pay 3 people's tips (recently increased tips) and have to make /unmake the sofa bed each day. Here's what I believe to be the newest tips breakdown -- oops, it shows up at the end of this post. Do remember that each person in the room's paying this amount. Bad analogy: - At home we have multiple bathrooms, which are all significantly larger than ship bathrooms -- so they don't get as dirty. - We have a whole stack of clean towels at our disposal and ample towel bars so they can be spread out /can dry properly. - We don't eat /leave dishes in our bedroom. - Our trash cans are larger and don't fill up in a day. I don't mind changes, but I do mind increases in price coupled with reduction in service.

My sister and her family just did this on Norwegian. Things she told me: - It was very port-heavy, and she was exhausted at the end of each day. She said they only had one at-sea day in a two-week cruise. - She said they did much more walking than she anticipated. - They bought their airfare through the cruise line (BOGOF) and said it was the best deal they could find. - They did the 3-day (3-day?) London extension and said it was worthwhile.

The person's age makes no difference. If you're an American citizen and are leaving from /returning to an American port, you can sail with just a birth certificate. Well, I'm lying: the age does make a difference because an adult also has to show a picture ID. "Best" is a subjective word. Yes, about what are you anxious? Well, once the ship reaches an island they can try to get a seat. Island airports are smaller and have fewer flights out. And last minute flights will be expensive. Ditto for me. Agree. Just because I have money doesn't mean I'm going to spend it on this or that. I also don't buy into this line of thinking. Whether you buy your passports one per year or all at the same time, the cost is the same. In addition to the cost, you must consider the effort that goes into obtaining the passport: It'd be less effort to get all your pictures and appointments at the same time. I've been reading these boards two decades, and I remember one.

I was going to say the same thing.

I think you misunderstood my post. I'm saying I probably wouldn't be willing to pay even $54. My thoughts were about the value of the visit to the water park -- not about you personally, and I'm certainly not "worried" about the tax -- just pointing out that potential buyers should add that into their budget. I'm sure they deal with this on a regular basis. Sounds like they took good care of him.

Thanks for the information!

So you need to use up $500? - What type of credit do you have? Is any of it refundable? - Are you going to reserve a Next Cruise onboard? If so, that's $100 per person. - I don't like ship-based excursions, but if you have literal free money, this could be a good reason to go with the cattle-call excursions. Yes, the sales will likely start early. Black Friday used to be a day; now it's a season. They weren't great last year, and I suspect you're right about this year too.

We're in a balcony for an upcoming cruise -- it'll be me, my husband and our adult daughter. With three of us, we're considering trying to "Royal Up" to a larger cabin. Questions: - Since not every cabin can hold three people, do they accept bids for three-person groups? - If accepted, do all three people pay X amount? Or just two people? Thanks.

I accept that my "worth it meter" is set lower than other people's, but I'd think hard about whether to pay $54. Do they add 18% gratuity to that cost? I look at it the same way. $$$$ for a couple hours ... or all summer at a local water park? I feel the same way about specialty dining onboard ... a step-up from the "included" food, or a meal out at home? Okay, so if you do each slide once, that's about $25 per slide. Who thinks that's a good value? I have heard that the lines can be long. I find it hard to believe.

Yes, we also loved Castaway Cay and have some great pictures of our children playing on the beach years ago! But your question: First, I suggest you check You Tube -- you can find several nice "walk arounds" of Coco Cay that'll give you a good idea of what to expect and a hint about which area is "for you". The place isn't all that big, but it feels larger because they've divided the areas with trees and natural areas. Still, I was pretty well exhausted after walking the perimeter of the whole place. Coco Cay is made up of several beaches -- I'm only describing the no-charge areas: - When you approach Coco Cay you'll see the water park to the right and the beaches to the left and center. - If you have children, they'll enjoy the giant pirate ship playground right by the entrance. - The water park is a relatively long walk from the beaches, and we heard zero noise from the water park. In contrast, the pool's music can be heard for some distance. - Our idea of a fun beach day is a quiet beach where we can lounge comfortably, read, listen to our own music through headphones, and just relax. - We prefer Chill Island, which is the first beach on the left. You walk over a bridge and through a shady area filled with hammocks to reach it. Its downside is that it may be the more crowded beach (maybe because it is nearest the entrance?). - Breezy Beach and South Beach are straight ahead of the entrance and a little further on. Breezy Beach might be the "best all around" area, but my husband likes to stay near those hammocks. South Beach's water is a little inferior to Chill Island, but they have sports activities. - Some people choose to stay "inland" at a lake right by the Chill Grill. Personally, I don't see why. - And then there's the large pool, which isn't for me -- too loud. But I see why it appeals to those who are looking for a party atmosphere. - I suggest you choose a beach beforehand and head straight for it. While Coco Cay boasts ample seating (even for multiple ships), not all those seats are front-row, and everyone wants that uninterrupted ocean view. - We claimed our seats early and stayed until mid-afternoon. We were a little nervous about leaving for lunch, but no one disturbed our things. - Seats across the whole island are arranged in twos and fours -- with a little plastic table and umbrella for each "set". - No matter which beach you choose, you'll be near a bar, and you'll able to lunch (without charge) at either Skipper's Grill or Chill Grill ... they are essentially the Windjammer brought ashore and are identical except for their color scheme, offering burgers, hot dogs, tacos and cheese steaks. The Snack Shacks are also no-charge and serve burgers and chicken sandwiches. My husband adores escargot and orders it every time it's on the menu. I'm 80% sure he had it in the MDR during our 3-day cruise. I remember the foods we ate, but I don't remember clearly what we ate on which cruises.

I've never seen anyone vlogging either. Since I do enjoy watching those You Tube videos, I don't think I have any right to complain. Again, I like seeing pictures of meals, so I have no right to complain.

We did a 3-night recently. Two differences from your anticipated trip: We were on Independence, and we went mid-week. Still, I suspect it was similar to what you're considering. It was our first 3-night, and it was a little different: It was a younger, harder-drinking crowd, but I didn't see any bad behavior. We agreed that we'd do a 3-night again, but it would have to be for a good price (or part of a B2B). Why? Because the cost /effort of traveling to Florida, is the same whether you're on a short cruise or a long cruise. In answer to your specific questions: - Meals: We enjoyed the Windjammer and the MDR. You don't get a lobster night on cruises less than 7-nights. Somehow we were starving for pizza and ate lots. On a longer cruise we tend to "pace ourselves" -- on the 3-night we didn't even try. - Movies: I enjoy Movies Under the Stars. I went back to my room for a chambray shirt, as it was a little chilly at night. The app said they were showing Downton Abbey: New Era in the theater one afternoon -- and they didn't! A bunch of ladies showed up for this, and we were pretty upset. - Shows: The ice show is always my favorite -- go early and get a front row seat. Very worthwhile. And I enjoyed Grease. I think a larger percentage of passengers bought the drink package on the 3-night cruise. We loved Coco Cay, which I think is pretty typical for Royal Caribbean guests. No, you don't have to pay anything extra. You can get a lounger by the ocean and relax for free. Lunch is provided on the island. If you have a drink package, it works on the island ... but if you're buying individual drinks, they cost an extra dollar! Something about VAT. Royal describes it as "Perfect Day at Coco Cay", and they're right. It was just an easy, relaxing beach day. One small note: We were on Coco Cay the first week of December, and while I wasn't cold, I also wasn't particularly warm. Next time I'd wear a long-sleeved rash guard.

I'd say Hooked twice (my husband and I both love seafood) and Chops once; if twice at the same place doesn't appeal, make one Italian. And I really don't "get" Wonderland's appeal.

Recently my son-in-law lost his keys. Because he had an Apple Air Tag on them, he was able to track them to a restaurant parking lot, where they'd fallen out of his pocket. I can imagine you could put one in a child's back pocket and do the same. Kids can disappear in numerous ways. Once we FREAKED OUT because we lost our 8-year old just as we were prepping to leave the ship for an excursion. We'd just left the Windjammer, and near the pool she said she needed to go to the restroom. The rest of us sat down by the pool to wait ... and she was gone for a long time. I went into the steps-away bathroom to look for her ... nope. As I said, we FREAKED OUT and feared we'd miss our excursion. We found her. She hadn't been aware we were standing right next to a bathroom, and she'd gone half the ship away to a different bathroom.

I had a fanny pack with a leash when my kids were small ... they LOVED wearing it around Disney World and felt "big" because they could carry a small toy. My grandson has a backpack with a leash, and he too loves wearing it. Cries when his parents take it off of him. I couldn't care less whether other people like our family's choices. My primary motive is keeping my little grandson safe, and at 20 months he is already fast.

When our kids were small, we often let them crawl in bed with us. Could you all three share the king? Ding-ding-ding! We have a winner! This is a great idea. Yeah, for a couple hours, but I -- as an adult -- would not want to sleep on a non-pull out sofa for the week. Now that we're retired and can cruise more often -- and now that it's just the two of us -- we are FINE with an interior. The size is quite comfortable for two people. That's a great idea! I wouldn't try for an Oceanview -- that doesn't give you any extra space. But a balcony would give you a separate space to enjoy after you've put the toddler down for the evening.

I was going to say the same thing. If school's out, the ship will be full of kids. We sailed ONCE years ago on a holiday, and it was a bad experience: - With so many kids on board, the ship sailed above 100% capacity; that is, a large number of cabins sailed with 3rd and 4th passengers. I wasn't aware that "above 100%" was a thing until that cruise. - The pools and other amenities were more crowded than I had ever experienced. - This was before My Time Dining, and instead of being assigned to a "real table" in the dining room, we were placed in a "side room". It felt like being at the kids' table. On Day 1 I asked to be moved into the "real dining room" and was told it was impossible because of the crowds. - I watch my prices pretty carefully and usually see a price drop (not recently, but that's another topic), but this holiday cruise went up-up-up. We will never sail a holiday again.

I've seen people boarding with those collapsible wagons. With that many adults, you can easily pick that "out of the way" spot and take turns holding the fort.