Mum2Mercury

Random thoughts on the first day of a cruise: - Crowds feel heavy for the first couple hours, but chaos is too strong a word. - We like to hit our muster station right away /take care of that requirement. - I understand why people are saying "Avoid the buffet", but we've never had any problem finding a chair -- maybe not a prime window seat, but we've always been able to find a seat. - We like to get a seat out by the pool, get a drink and enjoy seeing the people coming /going, boats going by. - OR, if we're more in the mood to walk, we go to the top of the ship and "circle our way down", seeing everything on the ship. - Some people like to hit the water slides and Flowrider before they get busy. - Rooms tend to open shortly after 1:00, though with the changes to housekeeping that might be later soon. Because we board early, our suitcases are always in the hall as soon as we get into our rooms. - We always eat in the MDR on the first night. Just seems like the thing to do.

My initial thought was, NO WAY. I was thinking of the huge, heavy wooden set we have. But then I thought, "I have seen portable sets", and I looked on Amazon. You can get portable cornhole sets. If you're going to do this, I'd suggest finding an empty space towards the front of the ship ... often the areas beyond Johnny Rockets are pretty empty.

We just sailed from PC in December (I'm writing this in April), and at that point they were charging for parking as cars entered the deck. I was initially confused and asked my husband, "How do they know how many days we should pay?", and he pointed out, "Everyone sailing from this terminal is going on Independence for three days." Then we puzzled out that anyone who would be staying on the ship would not re-enter the deck. Money is not my main motivation for avoiding ship excursions. You're most welcome.

They don't have enough chairs to make this happen.

We hypothesized that it's not something that affects many people, and that closing the loophole would cost more than letting those few B2B people "slide".

Yeah, but you'd be in Congress, a group for whom I have no respect. I googled it, and the internet says 64% of all Americans live paycheck-to-paycheck. Certainly some of these people (especially those who are young) probably are making all the right choices and are still forced into this uncomfortable situation ... but most of us have enough wiggle room in our budgets that we could make some cuts and still be comfortable. Two benefits of booking far in advance: 1) if you're picky about your room, you're more likely to get that specific room. 2) if the prices go down, you can get a price match. But, yes, last minute deals are great. Now that we're retired, we're watching for them. Those of us who are granted the years don't necessarily get healthy years. Add to that, if you're married, you double the possibility that one of you will die young or experience a serious health problem. The right answer is "balance". Don't live your young, healthy years as a miser, but don't set yourself up to be a broke senior citizen. Absolutely true. A person living in a first-world country in 2023 -- even if that person is on Welfare -- has more than probably 90% of all the people who've ever lived. A middle class person today absolutely lives better than a king in the days of yore; I mean, we can buy ready-to-cook chicken at the grocery store, have central heating, and don't need to fear dysentery.

Nope, not something I need, and the price is pretty high.

Random thoughts: - Both of these ships are winners. - I love CocoCay, but I lean towards ONE beach day in a one-week cruise (I like variety), and my husband really wouldn't go for two CocoCay stops in one week. But the real question is, How do your people feel about this? - If you go with Independence, I assume your other stop would be Nassau. If I never go to Nassau again, it'll be too soon. I'd choose the Honduras and Mexican stops before Nassau. I don't see this as a big negative. On either ship you'll have other food options. I've just read on several threads that Fish & Ships on Independence is no longer a for-charge venue, and that's exciting to me because I adore fish and chips. True. Unless you pay the up-charge, no lobster for you. I don't think you're rare, but you're right that shorter cruises are more casual. We saw a surprising number of matching tees /matching Hawaiian shirts at dinner on our recent 3-night. Probably. I'd think the MUTS would be more likely to change. What would your group do if the show turns out to be a repeat? Are you a make-your-own fun type of group who'd play cards by the pool or hit the casino ... or would you be kinda at loose ends without a show? You're right to calculate your total cost, including your loyalty benefits. I don't know if you drive or not, but if you go with Independence, you may end up with a cheaper parking bill. Why? When we drove into the parking deck for our 3-night on Independence, we were surprised that the machine demands payment up front (not as you leave the deck days later) ... and we said to each other, "The machine charged us for a 3-night cruise, but what if we were staying for a second cruise? The machine wouldn't know, and we'd be parking for free for that second cruise." I was going to point this out. You might want to "hit the sauce hard" for a couple days, but then cut back. Paying for half a week of drink package is a whole lot cheaper than paying for a whole week. Ditto for Dining Packages. That'd be okay with me because every port offers multiple activities. We did our first 3-night in December, and this is true. Maybe take away the adjective "totally", but -- in general -- it was a younger, harder-drinking, wilder crowd. I'm not a person who's quick to say, "Wow, look what that person is wearing", but I saw a few eyebrow-raising outfits on our 3-night (think, barely dressed). People were up later around the pool. Our 3-night was a mid-week cruise. I suspect the differences would be more pronounced if you were doing a 3-night weekend cruise. On the way home we discussed the differences and agreed that we'd do another 3-night ... but we wouldn't pay more than $150 for a cruise that short ... and that price is pretty rare. We paid $99 for our 3-night and were 100% satisfied. Our main reason for setting our personal price low is the drive, the night-before hotel, etc. Those costs are the same regardless of how many days you stay. We also agreed that we'd be interested in adding a 3/4 night cruise to a longer cruise, and we'd be willing to pay more than $150 for such an "extension". This was not true during our recent 3-night, but it was December. The air and water were a bit nippy; I was up and out early on our at-sea day, and I wasn't 'specially warm in my swimsuit /cover up ... but after maybe 9:00 it was comfortable. I loved the absence (or reduced number) of chair hogs. Again, DECEMBER. Good point. Of course, a certain jerk on our last-fall cruise was actually entertaining to us. We saw him everywhere; he only spoke English when it suited him, and he was super rude. We just laughed at him ... what else can you do?

So you're going to wear shorts /tees during the day? You'll never wear these dresses as daytime wear? With that in mind -- partnered with your desire to pack light -- I'd bring one cocktail dress and three sundresses; each one would "go to dinner" twice. Even if you don't change right after dinner, these dresses will be worn less time than your normal clothes at home. Be sure one simple pair of shoes matches all the dresses. And, as someone else said, hang the dresses after wearing them once.

Good advice. Also have your kids go to the Teen Club on the first night while everyone is making friends. Yeah, but I'd prefer to do a bit of prep work to see what options exist along the route /have a bit of an idea where the best prices can be found /who offers breakfast.

Yes, you can "go back" after Disney. We loved our Disney cruise, but it's just so, so much more expensive, and -- honestly -- aside from the stupendously good kids' clubs, we prefer Royal Caribbean.

Each venue has its pros and cons: Breakfast in the MDR is a more leisurely experience and some people really enjoy "being waited upon". If you want to eat pancakes, waffles or French toast the food is better, as those dishes don't sit well under heat lamps. If you want Eggs Benedict, it's your only choice. On the other hand, if you want a bacon-and-eggs type breakfast, the food isn't quite as good. The breakfast burrito is not recommended; the wrap is thick and tough. Sometimes you have to wait to be seated (never long) in the MDR, and sometimes they ask you to sit with other people, which is something we don't particularly enjoy, especially first thing in the morning. Breakfast in the Windjammer provides a greater variety of choices, and it allows you to take as much (or as little) as you choose; for example, you can take all the pineapple you want while avoiding the honeydew melon that you wouldn't eat anyway. It gives you a chance to taste different things; for example, my daughter and I now love Miso soup for a light breakfast, but we never would've ordered it in the MDR. You can have eggs (or omelets) cooked to order, and they're hotter than eggs that've waited a bit then traveled to your table. If you want a couple small things (like a bit of salmon on a bagel and a mini-avocado toast, to be washed down with a small smoothie), it's easier to do that in the Windjammer. If you decide you want "a little more", it's quicker to go pick up a doughnut from the food line than to get a waiter's attention. You'll always find a table in the Windjammer, but the window tables go fast. If you're a couple, it's easy enough to stick together, but if you're part of a group, you may need to have someone sit down to "claim a spot" while the others get their food.

I'd try Adventure Ocean again. My kids ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT when they were small. I wouldn't want to have the kids sit there without eating. I'd either pony up the cost for the eight year old or come up with another plan.

I don't know "many" people, but I do know some. I'm thinking of a guy I used to work with who used to say, "I didn't buy a house so I could leave it." He also famously refused to buy Girl Scout cookies, etc. that people's kids were selling, saying, "I come to work to make money, not to spend it." Your time will come. Our kids are adults, and we're retired -- and we're able to scoop up those last-minute cruise prices. That's just sad to have so much money and no real time for leisure. I don't think most of us would take that bargain ... or, if we did, we'd work like crazy for a few years, then retire young. Kinda like driving a tricked-out Civic?

Oh, then they're perfectly able to manage a marathon drive -- even old enough to take the wheel for a portion of it. That's very different from making the trip with toddlers. My own family would probably be willing to do the whole 15 hours in one shot. We live relatively near Charlotte, and Orlando to Charlotte is a very reasonable day's drive -- and you'll find a plethora of hotels right off the interstate. Whether to reserve or not to reserve ... that is the question. My personal comfort level, given those circumstances, would be to create a list of potential cheap hotels in several cities ... then, as you see how the drive is going, call and make the reservation from the road. I would not be willing (with three kids) to fly completely by the seat of my pants ... or to go into multiple hotels hoping for an empty room.

Yes, a small minority can afford to spend 20K with zero impact -- but I suspect those people aren't sailing Royal Caribbean (or other mainstream companies). I'm not struggling, but I aim to spend as little as possible /keep as much as possible in my pocket. When we see a person who dresses well, drives a nice car, lives in a nice house, takes nice trips, it's easy to assume that person "has money", but it's not always true. I think young people especially fall for this facade. Agree ... because for that much money, I'd expect more than the experience could provide. Eh, I have just retired (young), and I really don't see a spend-spend-spend mentality among my peers. Oh, sure, many -- no, most -- are taking a nice trip or two as a gift to themselves after retirement, but I don't see them spending that kind of money. We put our kids through college, and we took them on many assorted vacations while they were young. We've given them a good start in life, and that matters most. They'll inherit a bit eventually, but I don't think it'll matter as much as the things we gave them early in life. Yes, I used to hear that at work too -- from people who lived in houses larger than mine, who drove expensive leased cars, and who brought in restaurant leftovers several times a week for lunch. Priorities. Someone who pays the minimum credit card payment isn't likely to end up with money in the end. Math doesn't support that idea.

We all have our preferences for long days. My family has good "riding stamina" and can do a marathon day without fuss -- but we can't do two of them in a row. In my experience, driving home is always worse than driving to the port. Maybe plan a couple surprises for them on the way home? Stop at their favorite fast food? Are they young enough to enjoy fast food playgrounds?

Ah, I didn't understand that. Maybe I'm just being argumentative, but Savannah -- I've been there many times, and it's a wonderful city with so much to offer! -- is a bit off the highway. Wouldn't you save some time by choosing a hotel near the interstate? Someplace near Savannah but not IN the city? Better safe than sorry. Yeah, I don't think pre-paying is a thing. But do have your credit card ready when you pull into the parking deck -- Port Canaveral is unusual in that it collects as you go IN, not as you go GO. Good, and the app will continue to be useful to you during the cruise -- you can check menus, for example, to decide whether you want to go to the MDR for dinner. You can check show times, port times, etc. However, I still like to request a paper copy of the day's Compass from our cabin steward. I like seeing everything laid out on one sheet rather than JUST the information on the app. A small task but necessary. While we're talking about luggage, we always pack a tote bag with our night-before hotel things ... and it stays in the car when we board. This prevents you from bringing (useless) dirty clothes, etc. onto the ship. Included as in no charge? That's good news! I thought it made no sense that they (and Johnny Rockets) charged, while other small venues were free. I do love a good fish and chips meal. It's an outdoor eating area next to the pool, which I suspect you'll enjoy for your first meal.

I tried the Sky Pad. It was fun, but it wasn't a highlight of the trip. I wouldn't do it a second time, to tell the truth.

We just sailed Indy in December and had a great time! This is not ideal, but it's also not the worst possibility. You're talking about a half a day drive. Could you leave the night before /after work? Say, if you get off work at 5:00, could you hit the road about 7:00 and drive during the night? This would put you in the Orlando area midnight - 1:00ish. Yes, that's a late night, but it'll put you close to the port. You could sleep in and make the last bit of the drive leisurely. If you go that direction, we like the Days Inn in Titusville, which puts you about 30 minutes from the port. It'll make for a more peaceful boarding day. Talking about parking & the port: I don't think you can pay ahead of time -- but have your credit card ready, as they charge when you enter the port. No human beings are on duty; you must use a credit card. In our experience, they check boarding times, so you should try to hit the port at 2:00. If you drive during the night, could you change your boarding to an earlier time? On the positive side, your rooms will be open as soon as you arrive. We didn't book shows on Indy and had no problem finding seating -- this includes Grease. Eh, don't sweat it. You'll be able to enjoy Windjammer lunches for the rest of the cruise. You'll be able to have sandwiches at Promenade Cafe, pizza at Sorrento's, fish and chips at Fish and Ships (for a fee) or room service. We did enjoy the pizza a great deal; our favorites were BBQ chicken pizza and Veggie pizza. As someone else said, they will make you a whole pie /give it to you in a box. Windjammer does seem a little chaotic at the first lunch because 1) newcomers are finding their way and 2) people are carrying so much luggage. We never bother with internet. No delay, but -- as others have emphasized -- be sure it's an official birth certificate from the state. As I said, we were just on Indy in December, and it's a wonderful ship. It doesn't get as much press as the newer, larger ships, but this size ship is my favorite. Our favorites: Fish and chips, Key Lime Pie, Braised ribs, Shrimp in any form Nothing was outright bad, but we didn't prefer: Salmon, Caesar salad, Calamari Deck 2 is not a preferred deck, but that doesn't matter much. From Deck 2 you can go up two decks quickly and walk on the open Deck 4. You can go up one more deck to the promenade for drinks or snacks. You'll be very close to the MDR and the theater. We personally like Deck 6, and that's not a favorite either. Just some "Do you know?" items: - Have you downloaded the app on your phone? - Have you made decisions about shore excursions? - Have you printed your luggage tags?

I was also at a loss, not understanding what point you think I was proving.

I have no problem with that.

Not really, but whatever. Agree that if you're using the chairs, no problem.

We always take a picture of the numbers /letters /whatever identifier near our parking spot. My daughter and her husband have a different method: They always head to the top level of any parking deck so they don't have to remember a different spot each time. We recently had a Promenade View Room -- loved it, by the way -- and our curtains had velcro closures.

That's a unique day to board and a a great choice of outfit. We were onboard when Queen Elizabeth passed away, and we heard the words "God save the King" in the captain's noontime address -- it sounded so strange to our ears.