Mum2Mercury

I don't follow your thought about Windjammer plates. What I know for sure is that I will spend very little on alcohol -- period. If I bring a bottle of wine, I may drink more, but the amount I'm going to spend at the bars is not going to change. I don't think I'm alone in this. I also know that affect is a verb, while effect is not.

Voyager, Explorer, Independence, Liberty -- that size is my favorite. Not too small, not mega. I was trying to formulate that thought: How does the cost of operating a big ship (per person) compare to the cost of operating a smaller ship (per person)? I don't have the facts to have an opinion. And that was my other thought. Not all ports can manage a mega-ship. On the other hand, some ports could /would choose to build larger docks, if it meant a mega-crowd coming in to spend money.

I despise paying to park -- anywhere. Having said that, be sure to compare total cost to total cost; that is, include the cost of a taxi or Uber to the terminal. Personally, we usually bite the bullet and pay the huge cost of parking at the port -- mostly because we have an all-day drive ahead of us when we leave the ship, and we like to hit the road right away. Walking straight to our car is fast, and that has to count for something.

Waste and cost are related topics.

That's a huge price for a balcony that doesn't face the ocean! Well, it's a huge price for a balcony that does face the ocean. No way would I bring a friend for that price. That's a semester of college tuition! I was going to bring this up. I wouldn't enjoy sharing a single small room with an unrelated child.

Again, food itself is inexpensive compared to labor and presentation. I'm not impressed with a Head Waiter who isn't really "head" of his dining room. Eh, no. People are allowed to bring wine onboard, but it doesn't necessarily follow that without that brought-from-home wine people would spend more at the bars. Nor does it follow that other people's drinks go up in price. If the ship charges X for a drink and they sell fewer drinks, that doesn't make the drink cost 2X. The per unit cost would remain the same. We have two cruises booked for the next year, but we just decided our next vacation (after those) will be the Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Park.

Agree with both comments.

I don't think you'll have any ship- problem walking off the ship together, then returning as two separate groups. I'm kinda with the others who wonder about allowing a minor out on his own (or with his slightly-older brother). I teach kids that age, and they can get into a whale of a lot of trouble in 500 yards -- things you'd never anticipate they'd think to do. And scam artists are out in drove trying to tempt cruisers to do unwise things.

I'm always 100% honest on the survey, regardless of whether anyone has asked me for a 10 or not.

I wouldn't say you're being stupid to do this -- that's too strong a word -- but I don't really see any mathematical point in it. You're not saving in the long run. Seems like a mind game you're playing with yourself. As for buying ahead of time vs. buying on the ship, I'm pretty sure one of the truisms of cruising is that everything is more expensive once you've arrived. Buy ahead of time.

Random thoughts: - We're planning to do Daniel Johnson's Sloth Hangout on Roatan soon -- if you do that, I'd appreciate a review on this site! We're planning to eat lunch at Roatan's Famous Conch Fritters afterward -- looks like a fun place, and conch isn't something you get to eat often. - I don't think the 3-year old is old enough for a dolphin experience. Double check whether this is an option. - For our upcoming cruise, we're only in Costa Maya until something like 1:00 in the afternoon. Check to see if you're the same; if you also have a short day, I wouldn't want to venture as far as the ruins. I was going to suggest the same. That's an easy DIY excursion with something for everyone (beach, shows, massages, food and drink), and if you need to bring the 3-year old back to the ship earlier, it's not difficult.

No, don't push the little guys, the ones who have no voice. Management will not bend to their demands, no matter how frequent or vocal. It's the equivalent of criticizing the McDonald's cashier about the price of the Big Mac ... it annoys him, makes you look like an idiot and accomplishes nothing.

Because of spit.

I agree that prices are high overall, but bargains can still be had. We sailed an 8-night recently for less than $400 each, then we sailed a 3-night for $99 each. Of course, we're retired (and loving it), giving us the freedom to jump on bargains at any time of year.

If he applies for a passport, he will have to submit his birth certificate. The passport would be created with the same name as the birth certificate.

I thought whatever was on your birth certificate was truth written in concrete, even if it's not what you use everyday. At the high school where I teach, all our diplomas are printed with the name on the student's birth certificate -- and a number of them go by totally different names. Your husband's name might just be Seeberry. Off topic, but that's a nice name.

Land-based restaurants tend to serve over-sized portions -- enough for dinner and tomorrow's lunch. Cruise portions are different, and that's not a problem. Thing is, food is cheap when purchased in quantity as the cruise ship does. Labor and presentation are much more expensive than the food itself. Maybe because it's never smart to be mean to people who handle your food? Food getting cold is just an excuse. Actually, yes, I was thinking of that very song! No, don't go messing with the wait staff, as they have no control over the policies. Speak to the head of the dining room, speak to Guest Services, let it be known you're going to score the dining room low on the post-cruise survey, write to Royal's Customer Service, or vote with your dollar. But don't be mean to people who have no authority to make the changes you want.

Are cruise lines still taking shore excursions to the mainland ... like the Tulum ruins? I heard something that made me think they might've stopped.

Thank you for buying popcorn. That yummy stuff has been supporting my family for generations -- yes, we grow it. Yes, $2.50 for a small bag is pretty high, given that so many other snacks are free (or, included in the cruise ticket).

Yes, I've noted that recently people on this board are saying that EVERYTHING costs money onboard. Not true. If you pay your tips up front, you really can have a great time onboard without spending anything except the cost of a few drinks. Remember: Just because they offer it, you don't have to buy it.

Random thoughts: - Go ahead and book as soon as you know what you want. You can always cancel, but the best excursions /best time slots may fill up. - If the price of your excursion goes down (check every now and then, especially on holidays), you can ask for a price match -- but if it goes up and you're not booked, you're screwed. - If you're going with independent tours (far superior to the ship's offerings), they usually don't require any money up front -- or they require only a percentage to hold your spot -- so losing money isn't a big concern. - When tours or cabanas or whatever say (waaaaay in advance) "only six left", I never believe that.

That didn't seem to be an option on our recent cruises.

I do love buying things from the clearance rack. Lands End seems to get a lot of love on this site, and they put things on good clearance at the end of the season.

Any tip is appreciated. The more typically used bills are more appreciated.

If by "favorite" you mean what do I eat most often in the Windjammer, this'd be it for me too. Salad + chicken, beef or a piece of fish. As I eat low-carb, I almost always go for some variety of this plate for lunch. I tend to be careful about nutrition at lunch, then splurge on dinner. Specific thoughts on this: - With this simple plate, I like that I know exactly what I'm getting -- with the more complex dishes (Indian dishes, for example), I can't accurately guess the ingredients. - I like a hamburger patty topped with chili. - I wish they offered smaller burgers -- like slider size, as I often don't finish a burger. It'd also be good for someone who wants a burger PLUS something else. And it seems to me burgers are the #1 choice at lunch for most cruisers. - I wish the salad bar offered honey-mustard on a regular basis. I mean, I wish it to the point that I may just bring a couple little packets of salad dressing in foil. I do enjoy the Windjammer breakfast. I almost always go for some combination of egg and bacon, and I avoid pancakes and French toast -- those are better in the MDR, where they haven't been "sitting". Other things I've really enjoyed in the Windjammer: - Miso soup - Tacos - Chocolate fountain with fresh fruit - Cheeses