Mum2Mercury

I think lots of people mill about at the port after an excursion (ship-based or private). Most ports are filled with vendors selling food/drink or cheap trinkets, and lots of people are drawn into these things. If your friends are afraid of being left by the ship (they can read a watch, right?), let them know that people on shore excursions never really get left ... it's the people who've sat down at a $2 beer place in the shadow of the ship who lose track of time and get themselves left. We have done a private ATV tour in Cozumel, and it was one of THE BEST excursions we've ever taken -- sorry, I can't remember the vendor, as it's been quite some time. Seriously, it was great -- my husband looked into buying an ATV for our farm after the trip. We walked a short distance to a shopping center, where we met our ride, and they drove us in a van to the ATV site. The van was labeled with the company name, and the drivers were wearing shirts and name tags identifying them, so we felt perfectly safe. After the excursion, they offered us the choice of being dropped at a beach (and finding our own taxi back to the ship) or being returned to the dock. This tour was, in part, far superior to the ship's offerings because we were in a small group of 10-12 people. We weren't herded onto a bus, then forced to stop at some straw market that's giving a kick-back to the cruise line. Our guide was great, offered bathroom stops, etc. Three tips about the ATV ride: - Bring a bandana to put over your head, as you'll be wearing a helmet other people have used. - Bring bug spray -- I was so glad one of our fellow travelers had some to share. - Consider wearing throw-away clothes. Wow, that's such a first-world thing to say, but -- seriously -- we took this excursion just after a week of solid rain, and we were riding in the mud! Our clothes were splattered and never came clean. After the excursion, I was looking through things at one of those little vendor's shops, and my husband was standing around. The vendor asked him not to stand near his shop, as he was so filthy he was making his wares look bad, then -- realizing he'd been rude, he offered to use his hose on my husband! We still laugh about that.

I'd like to visit Alaska too, but -- when I started researching the ports -- I decided we'd rather do a train trip. I know, not a popular thing to say on a cruise website.

Wow, I can be obsessive, but I have never made an excel spread sheet! I do take notes to compare, and these are the things I check -- pretty much in this order: - A departure port to which we can drive -- this is always cheaper than flying. - Island stops -- we prefer a cruise with a nice mixture of at-sea days and island stops, and we prefer certain islands over others. - Price - Amenities

But, if refunded, you could go ahead and book another cruise. It kinda works out the same.

Keep in mind I haven't sailed Wonder yet, but the Voyager class seems to be "the sweet spot" between plenty of amenities and the number of passengers. They tend to cost less than the newer Oasis class ships, and that matters to me.

Good point. Case study is not the singular of Data. I walk through the casino occasionally, as it is the quickest way to get to some places ... but if I'm going to the pool deck, I purposefully go to the non-smoking side, even if it means more steps. Yeah, what I said wasn't kind. That should've stayed an inside thought. My apologies. The bathrooms have signs saying, "You can be fined $100 for flushing anything except toilet paper", and I've wondered HOW they could enforce this. I mean, if the plumbing lines are clogged, how can they say it was your cabin or mine right next door who caused the problem? I'm all about following the rules, but when rules are unenforceable, people are more likely not to obey. Changing the subject, but have you seen You Tubes about how these lifeboats work /how people are piled in three-high? I'm a little terrified, but since people haven't been put into a lifeboat since I was literally in high school, I can live with that tiny possibility.

I love Waldorf salad, but I didn't particularly like Royal's take on this classic. Yes, the casitas would've made a lot more sense if they faced the ocean. Nice! When we've sailed with a balcony, it's usually been a higher-floor ... but on a recent cruise we agreed that we really enjoy walking on Deck 4 because it's "closer to the water". I think we've made a good choice to go with a Deck 6 balcony.

1. Talk to one another 2. Leave sticky notes in the cabin Seriously, we have no problem when it's just the two of us.

That makes sense.

Are we talking fires? But vapes -- at least the vast majority -- aren't legally prescribed medication. Key phrase being "if they really care". How does it affect their business? Obviously, if someone sets a room on fire, that's a big deal to them, but does it cost them money? increase the cabin steward's work load? Asking, not telling, but I suspect the bottom line is that they won't make a change unless forced to do so.

We'll be sailing Wonder next year, and I appreciate this info! - Does Wonder have nothing similar to the open Deck 4 that the medium-sized ships have? That's a place we've particularly enjoyed ... as you said, after dinner strolls, also a good place to watch the ship come into port (we've sailed in interiors lately). I don't think it's a make-or-break, but it is something we'll miss. - However, I do look forward to the jogging path. - I don't know for sure, but it seems logical to me that the lifeboats have "moved down". Closer to the water, surely, is better. - We will have a balcony on Deck 6 on Wonder and are looking forward to having a balcony "as close as possible to the water". - I'd love to hear more about the entertainment -- are reservations necessary? When are they available? - I don't welcome the "inward focus". - I don't welcome the louder Solarium -- if I want loud, I'll go to the main pool. - At this moment, yes, Voyager class is my favorite -- but I'm looking forward to sailing Wonder.

I'm not defending smoking /vaping /breaking of rules ... but what can they do about vaping in private cabins? It's essentially an invisible crime. How would they know? How could they prove guilt?

My parents went on a river cruise, and they commented they were among the youngest cruisers; they were in their upper 60s. They had an absolute blast, and they made me want to go on a river cruise.

Yeah, the "It's no big deal" crew are defending his actions. I agree that throwing him off the ship and reporting him to CPS (can you do that across state lines?) are "too much" ... but I do think a talk with an officer is a good idea. That would be enough to make a reasonable person say, "Uh, I shouldn't have done that."

Yuck, I'd rather have a skunk in my living room than a smoker. Seriously, I was surprised when one person said this -- but two?

You'll need your ship ID to leave for all ports. A few ports require a picture ID (as the port officials can't see the picture the ship people can), but that can be a driver's license or whatever.

I think groups are super-common. I've encountered three: A church group on our recent 3-day: - December cruise on Indy - I was only aware of them at dinner and only because they constantly left their tables /went "to visit" other group members. Examples of their constant up/down: two little girls went around to all "their tables" giving candy canes to their friends ... a couple times group members "switched tables" for dessert to sit with different friends ... another night it was someone's birthday, and the whole bunch congregated near our table to sing. They were a little annoying, but -- again -- only at dinner in the MDR. They weren't "enough" to keep us away from the MDR. - I suspect this is the most typical kind of group -- they numbered maybe 100 or so? Not so big that you'd note them walking around the ship, but it was clear that they knew one another. A Buddy Cruise, which was a HUGE group of disabled children (and some adults): - September cruise on Explorer -- this is a yearly thing, and they vary their ships. - These guys were great cruise-partners. They were family-oriented, weren't loud at night. The only "problem" I saw was a young adult who was turned around /couldn't find his room -- and he was crying. - They did sometimes crowd the elevators with scooters or strollers (and folding wagons on island days), but I'm certainly not complaining --- just saying what I saw. - They did hold several events onboard: They had a Walk-a-Mile event one day -- lots of non-members joined in. They had a presentation /video /awards thing in the theater one afternoon -- I only knew because I had just finished watching a movie in that area. - I'd totally sail with the Buddies again! A pretty big Quinceanera group all sponsored by one travel agency: - July years ago on Mariner - In the terminal we saw a young girl carrying what appeared to be a wedding dress, and we said to each other, "Oh, look! A bride! She's getting married on the ship." Then we saw another and another and another -- this was starting to seem unlikely. We noticed that all the girls carrying dresses (and their families) were wearing matching tee-shirts -- and the shirts clued us into what their group was. - They were all nice people, and we enjoyed seeing the girls (and their families) dressed up at dinner. - They did "hog" the portrait area on formal night, as it was a once-in-a-lifetime thing for these families. Every group probably "hogs" some part of the ship. - We'd sail with them again.

This is exactly what I was thinking: These are small children, and Dad has "okayed" climbing on the rails. I was a climber ... I raised a climber ... now I'm grandmother to a climber. Some of you know what I'm talking about; a climbing child will scare you! That's something I've seen proven true over and over. Yes! That -- not the grandfather who dropped his granddaughter -- was the first thing I thought of! Even if she hit the deck (instead of the ocean), it's maybe 4' to the awning below, but she'd keep falling, and she'd definitely be hurt: cuts, broken bones, maybe a concussion. She might fall on a table or chair, which could hurt her. Even if not, consider how you'd get her back ... she might land on another person's private balcony, and they might or might not be in their room. No, this Dad's choice cannot be defended.

Dress codes really don't exist on three-day cruises. Wow, three-days are a different animal. Agree. That's also why we can't catch high school kids vaping in the bathroom -- to their detriment. I also grew up in a house with second-hand smoke -- wasn't my decision, but I do still pay a price for my parents' decisions today. No, it's not smoking, but it's related, and it carries its own dangers. Two things can be dangerous. No, not okay to disobey rules -- but vaping in a private stateroom isn't an enforceable rule.

Whereas all guests were all compliant with the old system? I think going in person in a group probably is a better preparation for an emergency, but the digital drills sure are popular; I don't see RC ditching something the majority likes -- unless they're forced to do it. No. We've sailed twice in the last six months ... once we were in the dining room, once we were outside on Deck 4, but both times we physically went to the muster station. That's a good idea. That means all passengers would take care of this chore before drinking!

Or with the Royal Caribbean VISA card. Or by purchasing it yourself or having it gifted it from a friend. Or by getting a price reduction after you've paid /taking the price difference in OBC.

I have problems with Eczema and Rosacea. I could honestly tell them I only use products approved by my determatologist.

Yeah, we just booked a "spacious balcony room" (booked it, didn't bid for an upgrade); the room is identical, but the balcony is about 50% larger ... it cost $140 more than a standard balcony. That's a good way to look at it. Assume you'd get the worst possible room in your potential category ... and decide what you'd pay for it.

Yes, shoes are your biggest suitcase space hogs. I like to have a pair of tennis shoes + comfortable sandals for day-time wear; those are my work-horses ... water shoes only if I'm going to need them for a specific excursion ... and one pair of dressy shoes for dinner. I wear the sneakers for boarding, so that means only 2-3 pairs in the suitcase (and the water shoes pack down to little more than a pair of socks). I only took one swimsuit for our three-day cruise, but I typically bring three. When our kids were young /still at home, we always got a balcony because it was the cheapest way to get extra space ... essentially an extra "room". Now that it's just us two, we've turned to Inside Guarantees, and we are quite pleased. I do have the alcohol tolerance (I can drink a scary-lot, and -- coming from a long line of alcoholics -- that's not a positive thing), so I don't even drink an alcoholic drink every day. As for ports, consider that you don't have to do a big-deal activity in each port. You can opt to stay on the ship or spend just half a day ashore. You might opt to make your middle day a beach day, in which you lounge around instead of doing something active. The negative, of course, is that you're paying port taxes even if you don't leave the ship. Love a couple magnetic hooks, but I don't know what I'd do with 12. Forget laundry bags. Put your open suitcase in the bottom of the closet, toss in your dirties, and at the end of the week zip it up ... and you're packed for home. Yeah, even though we could easily afford to spend-spend-spend, but we don't see the value. Aside from drinks, we spend nothing onboard (and it's not a sacrifice). We pay our gratuities ahead of time, and -- if we're doing any excursions -- we count what we'll need, add a few dollars for tips, etc. and create an envelope for that island stop. On the outside we write the name of any excursion companies we're using ... along with contact information, meeting places, etc. My prescription sunglasses are among my prized possessions. My eyes are bad enough that I don't like to drive without them. I'm getting new ones in three weeks and can't wait! Agree that most of the things you say you won't bring again are useless ... but don't toss out bug spray altogether. It's necessary at some ports; we were really glad to have it riding ATVs in Cozumel, for example. Yes to bringing your own OTC meds ... you don't want to bring yourself to the attention of the medical staff without good reason. We bring a pack of sticky notes and a pen to leave notes for one another.

Well, their on-the-beach competition gives massages for about 1/3 of their price, so it's a tough sell. I really wonder how the spa can afford to stay in business.