Mum2Mercury

Some people just aren't good with credit, and they stay away rather than get themselves into trouble. If you're one of those people, a debit card might be a good choice. What's the difference? A credit card tallies up your purchases and sends you a bill once a month; a debit card, on the other hand, deducts your purchases from your credit card immediately /no bill at the end of the month. We have been loyal Discover card users for years -- twice they've caught /stopped someone who was trying to use our card. They also give good rewards; we save our points for Christmas gift cards for our parents. Me too. I use my RCCI Visa for cruises, and I use it occasionally in places that don't accept Discover. True, which is why I much prefer credit cards, but my two super-powers are organization and money management.

I like "statement pieces" on other people, but I'm too small to wear them. They make me feel self-conscious. I bring three bags: - A small backpack as a carry-on, which doubles as an island bag. - A small pool tote, which I've had for years -- it was originally full of nice products from Bath & Body Works. - A wristlet (about 6x8"), which I always take to dinner and sometimes carry around the ship. It's just big enough to carry my husband's reading glasses, a lipstick, my ship ID and maybe a couple dollar bills.

They're bikini bottoms. You're not wrong -- but these were on a clearance rack.

I went out today to see what Christmas bargains I could find -- short answer, none. But I went into Dick's Sporting Goods to see what they might have marked down. I was thrilled to find nice swimsuit pieces marked down to $3 each. The bottoms I bought have a feature I've never seen in a swimsuit: a little zippered pocket on the middle back, just big enough for a room key or credit card. I've had this feature on running pants/shorts, but I didn't know anyone put it on a swimsuit. LOVE IT! FYI: the name brand is Nike.

Agree ... as a dress, they're very short and casual, but still cute.

Random thoughts that might help: - Google Maps tells me you're looking at 1200 miles /18 hours one way. - What kind of mileage do you get? I get about 41 MPG, so I'd need 29 gallons to make that trip, which would cost about $82 ($164 total). That's a pretty low cost to get four people to Florida (and back). Of course, you'd also need food on the road. - If you trust your car completely, renting doesn't make much sense. Why add that cost? - Don't forget that you'll have to pay to park. I think it's $16 to park at Port Canaveral (I just did it two weeks ago -- you think I'd be sure). They charge by the day, so that'd cost you $16x8 = $128. - Can you cancel /get your plane ticket money back -- or at least get a credit towards a next trip? - Can your four drivers do 18 hours basically in one shot? Or would you need to spend one night on the road mid-way? You're already planning to arrive two days ahead of time -- can you change one of your hotel rooms in Orlando to an on-the-road hotel? - Is your family a good road family? I mean, mine will ride 8 hours without blinking an eye, but not everyone will. Can they do two days in a row without killing each other? My family can do one marathon road day, but two days in a row is a problem. - Do you have travel insurance? Meaning, if you don't make it to the cruise, would you get your money back /be able to book a later trip?

Um, my suggestion was that they take dessert "to go" and enjoy it on their balcony or out by the pool deck. I mentioned that the pool deck has small table areas, which area always empty in the evenings, and they'd be a perfect place to go enjoy your dinner /get the baby away from the table. You even copied that part of my comment. I think you thought I was suggesting the baby play on the dining room floor?

You know how you remember things you should've said later? OP, you mentioned casitas -- you do realize these are on Deck 16, right? And the pool is on Deck 15. So you cannot supervise your kiddo from your casita.

I did not realize that you needed to book a reservation for MDT Yeah, I have literally made dinner reservations more than a year in advance. By now, "the good stuff" for early January is long gone. Our experience: they have two lines for MTD: a long line of waiting people who did not make reservations, and a short line for people who have reservations -- they aren't specially fussy about you showing up 15 minutes early or late, but they do care that you have reservations. Your MTD reservations don't have to be the same time every day, and you can always change them once you're onboard. I see several options for you: - Honestly, with a 1-year old, I'd suggest you make this a Windjammer-dinner cruise. It's not my favorite option for dinner, but it will be less crowded and just plain easier with a one-year old. It will also make packing easier. - Trade off with your parents. That is, tonight you take the baby to dinner in the Windjammer, while they go have an adult meal in the MDR, then tomorrow night it's your turn to go kid-free. - Shorten your dinner by asking for your dessert "to go". The wait staff will pack your dessert up nicely, and you can go back to your balcony or up to the pool deck to eat it in a more relaxed atmosphere -- and the baby, who will be tired of sitting still at the table, can be on the floor playing. Royal has these little "table set ups", just right for 6-8 people, and they'd be an ideal place for the baby to play while the adults have dessert. If anyone wants coffee, the Windjammer buffet is only steps away. - Put the baby into Ocean Adventure care while you and the family go to dinner. This costs ... $7-8 per hour? I am the grandmother of a 14-month old, and I would embrace any option to make the trip easier with him /for him, understanding that we'll have other cruises in which he will be a well-mannered little boy who will be a joy at the dinner table -- but right now he's still throwing his sippee cup on the floor and rubbing food in his hair. He can only be what he is: 14-months old. Expanding on this thought: What does your one-year old eat at home? You might want to bring along some of his favorites -- just so he doesn't have to wait. You probably think shrimp cocktail is a treat, but your child undoubtably prefers CheezIts. Are you taking along SEVERAL of the sippee cups your child uses at home? Are you taking a bit of dip soap so you can wash these in your room? Do you have several "quiet games" for him at the table? Maybe an I Spy bag? A tiny puzzle appropriate for his age? An ice cube on the high chair tray will entertain a one-year old longer than you'd imagine. Lunch reservations at Giovanni's and Hooked ... Chef's Table for some of the adults ... Drinks package for all the adults but me Sounds like food and meals are a big priority for your family, but you must-must-must adjust your expectations to what the one-year old can do. Note that if you put him into Ocean Adventure, you must go the first day to "register him"; they don't have unlimited space. Then you can drop him off whenever you want -- put the grandparents' names on his account so they can drop off /pick up as well. I remember when my kids were small -- and I see it in my daughter now -- I'd have killed for those kids, but sometimes I'd also have killed for an hour without them. I've checked us all in. Port arrival time at 12:30, so we are hoping to be able to go straight to our cabins with our mountains of luggage before doing anything else. I suspect you're being hyperbolic, but your life will be easier in multiple ways if you don't bring "mountains of luggage". Talk to your parents and decide what you're doing about dinner -- before you pack. If you decide you're Windjammer-bound, you won't need to pack as many clothes. However, I'd pack heavy-heavy for the toddler /would not count on anything being washed. I'd bring 3 outfits for the baby each day -- they don't take up much space anyway. And, of course, you want to be sure you won't run out of diapers, diaper cream and so forth; as an experienced cruiser, you know these things are expensive onboard. We're bringing our own pack n' play. It was easier with hotel stays before/after and I worry way too much about germs for someone whose kid licks her dogs on a regular basis. I'd consider bringing cleaning items (which would fit into a sandwich-sized ziplock) rather than the whole PnP. No excursions booked. I wasn't sure how my son would do - he's never been to the beach - and the most fun options in my opinion prohibit pregnant people. We were at Coco Cay two weeks ago, and a family with a one-year old set up next to us. Their son had an absolute blast playing in the sand -- for about two hours, and then he was done. They said it was his first beach trip. If you decide to go to the beach, bring along some sand toys -- if you're being very practical, some empty yogurt cups and plastic spoons will do, and then you can throw them away before you come home. When my kids were small, the pool was always their favorite part of vacation. You know that a non-potty trained baby can't get into the pool, right? But your ship will have a fantastic splash zone for your baby. Do you have water shoes packed? Those he's a competent walker now, I'd like my little fellow to have "good grip" on the floor. For the baby's sake, we are sticking to Mountain time throughout the cruise which is how an 8 pm ET dinner is possible for our group. That may be difficult, but it's a good idea. Rented a van to get to/from the port so we can stop by Wal-mart and buy a pile of diapers and sunscreen before boarding. Consider ordering ahead of time so your needs will be waiting for you /no wasted time shopping on vacation. If you only need a pick-up stop, an Uber would be cheaper than renting a van. Are the casitas on Wonder shaded? Um, since the sun moves, any given casita will be in sun part of the day /in shade part of the day. Can I bring/borrow on board a bottle warmer? It would make life easier. Do I request a fridge as soon as we get on board for bottles? Or do I call beforehand? Does your one-year old drink cow's milk? If so, you'll find small cartons (yes to whole milk) in the Windjammer at breakfast -- but not later in the day. You can bring as many as you want back to your room. Plan to take only what you need for each day, as you won't have unlimited space in your small fridge. If your fridge isn't cool enough, ask your cabin steward for an ice bucket /ice and put that INSIDE the refrigerator; that'll keep your milk safe. Since your child is already a year old, this might be a good time to transition from warm bottles to chilled milk in a sippy cup. Insert much talk about how "this is how big boys drink their milk". When the new baby arrives, you'll be happy not to warm bottles for a toddler anyway. You mention Oceanview Balconies. Ocean View cabins do not have balconies. What you say is true on Royal's older ships. But on the newest-of-the-new ships, Royal offers Central-Park balconies, Boardwalk balconies, and Oceanview balconies. OP, assuming you and your parents get next-door balconies, ask your cabin steward to have the balcony divider opened, giving you one big balcony. When we've done this, we've left our sliding glass doors unlocked so we could go between cabins without going out into the hallway. This is some trouble for your cabin steward, as he must go get a key from his supervisor (and he will have to un-do it after you're gone), so you should tip him extra for this extra service. We aren't going to use the porters because my son needs to take a nap, so we will need our large luggage and pack n play immediately. We can't really wait until dinner time or later to have all of the baby supplies. This sounds unrealistic. I suggest you pack just what you need for the baby in a carry-on and let the rest go through with the porters. Will your son really take a nap immediately after being brought onboard this huge, fantastic new place? My grandson would not, but he would crash hard several hours later. Other thoughts: - You're bringing an umbrella stroller, right? - Bring a small bag of some sort that'll carry just one diaper and some wipes -- you don't want to carry your whole set-up around the ship. - Pick up a pack of disposable bibs and disposable placemats. - Do you plan to use taxis or other transportation in port? Research and find out what kind of car seats are available.

Consider that I just paid $99 for a three-day cruise.

I live in a low-cost-of-living state (another term for low-income), and we are not close enough to reasonably drive to any American border. I teach public school, so I rub shoulders with people from every segment of society -- those who live in trailers and those who live in mega-mansions. Eh, getting a passport does require a number of steps, and isn't cheap: - The photograph - The official birth certificate - The completed form - The payment - For a first time applicant, the in-person appointment to turn in all items And an amazing number of people just can't follow instructions. I gave blood last weekend, and the worker who processed my paperwork looked at my driver's license and said, "I tried to get a Real ID, but I couldn't find the right paperwork." I didn't respond to her comment, but I'm amazed at adults who can't look at a list and pick out appropriate documents. I've heard other people say the same thing about the Real ID.

Something similar happened to my husband on a business trip once. He was flying into Canada, and when he left the plane, he was pulled aside with 4-5 Russian men. Apparently they thought he was "with them" ... he could be taken for a Russian, but our last name screams "English as fish & chips". They were all taken into a side room, and the Russians' bags were searched more thoroughly than I would've thought possible. I mean, my husband said the airline agents turned the men's garments inside-out and felt the seams to see if anything was sewn in. They found nothing, but each of the Russians was sent on to a "more secure room", and he doesn't know what became of them. He was under the impression their bodies were going to be searched. He said he was shaking in his shoes when his turn came (last). They asked his name and his reason for travel. They looked at his passport, heard his Southern drawl and sent him on his way ... without even opening his suitcase. Clearly they were looking for something and had a very good reason to suspect these Russian men ... and just caught my husband in their net somehow. Maybe he had shared a connecting flight with them?

A cruise is a pretty straight-forward method of travel. Unless you're getting some financial benefit from using a travel agent -- like, maybe a free room for yourself for doing the organizing? -- I don't see any reason to go with a travel agent. Having said that, I'd put together all the details for the 25 people, type if out and give it to them -- and then let them make their own reservations. When you type up the details, explain the pros and cons of cruising with a passport vs. cruising with a birth certificate. Facts, not opinions. Let each individual make his or her own choice. Since it's late December (and Christmas week), and you're looking to cruise in March, your friends would have to HURRY to get a passport processed. My husband and I had to renew our passports earlier this year; we sent them away in early June -- his came back in 5-6 weeks, but mine didn't come in until September! No differences between us -- we're both natural born Americans, no red flags. Possible, but highly unlikely. Actually an adult not having a passport would mean the person hasn't traveled outside the USA in the last ten years. That's most people.

Random thoughts: - I had no idea they'd accept a photograph of a birth certificate. I'll be snapping pictures soon as an emergency back-up. - I have a "cruise template" with my packing list + a list of tasks we must complete before leaving the house. I'd like to say, "Passports are on my printed list, so I'd never make this mistake", but I know that even someone as organized as I could do this same thing.

I don't mean this meanly or sarcastically, it's just the truth: Prove it. Without proof, you have nothing to go on. Two options: - Having said that, keep watching the excursion price every single day. If it goes down, call in for a price match. It's not likely to happen with only three weeks left, but it's possible. - You're talking about Atlantis in the Bahamas? Do just as you suggested: skip the excursion. Reserve a day pass ticket directly with the hotel and take a taxi. No way I would pay anyone even a single dollar to manage such a simple trip.

I don't care what topic you're discussing, doing your homework /knowing your options is always the right answer. Well, starting from the farthest point and "working your way back" is good advice at home too, say, while you're running errands. Organization is my super power. Agree. Both my husband and I will have this person's name /phone in our backpacks. Agree: risk assessment. You have tremendous control over whether you return to the ship on time. Sure, you may encounter problems -- maybe even a really serious problem -- but if you've made good choices, you're going to be okay. That is, if you've kept your group together, you have money for an unexpected taxi, you know the pier you're trying to find, and -- perhaps most important -- you've allotted yourself plenty of time for your return trip. If you've made good choices, it would take something genuinely awful to keep you from making it back to the ship. On the other hand, in every port evil-doers are waiting for tourists, and they hone their craft in the same way you work hard at your job. You can make good choices to minimize your chances of being a victim, but it only takes a moment of distraction or bad luck for you to become their victim. You don't have a great deal of control over whether the pickpocket (or worse, mugger) picks you.

Oh, you're right to wait! That sale is so much better than 30% off both passengers. 😅

I've done both, and I slightly preferred the Saints over the ABCs. All have good water activities. I've heard of "Irish twins" lots of times.

No one can spell my first name, so I always give my very simple last name ... people still spell it wrong. Super cute dog! What's her breed? My Pitsky loves wearing clothes.

I guess I start packing as soon as I return from a cruise: - I have a handful of things I use only for travel. Upon returning home from a cruise, I put these things away carefully /ready for the next trip. For example, I refill /replace my toiletries, check to see that the first-aid kit is ready-to-go, store away my pool tote. These things live in a box on the top shelf of my closet. - I have a packing /task template, which I consider a "starting point". I always end up altering the template a bit for the length of the cruise or for specific plans we have made. It includes things like making kennel reservations for the dog and packing her food and bedding, making sure the car is ready for the drive. - My rule is that if we're leaving on Saturday, the suitcase MUST be fully packed on Wednesday. Why? We always discover that the sunscreen we were sure we had is empty, or the dress I'd planned to wear is in the dirty clothes. Packing a few days ahead of time means we aren't scrambling night-before. - Our family tradition is that we pack a charcuterie board for the night-before hotel room. Having the suitcase packed means I can turn my attention to that task.

Yes, I was thinking of the Caribbean.

I don't think 30 minutes is enough. Traffic, a twisted ankle, any other small problem could delay you by that much time. Anyway, it seems to me that most "all aboards" are around 5:00 and most people tend to return to the ship 1:00 - 3:00ish. That seems to be the amount of time most people need /want for a typical excursion or "walking around". I honestly don't know whether they search for your passports, but I agree that carrying your passport isn't necessary. Your risk of losing it or having it pick-pocketed is greater than your risk of missing the ship. From reading this board you can get the idea that multiple people miss the ship at every port -- but it's actually pretty rare.

Maybe the value doesn't translate well through the computer images.

Royal is the cruise line that cried wolf? Seriously, lots of money is floating around at the end of the year, and lots of people are thinking about booking their vacations for the next year. A sale will pop up in a day or two.

The TV channel shows you what's happening at the front of the ship -- whether it's dark or light, whether it's raining or sunny. Basic concept is the same as virtual balcony. Sounds kinda like a building at my so-many-years-ago college. Five floor building. Instead of numbering the floors 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 like any normal human being would do ... they numbered them in the order in which they were completed! Who on earth thought that was a good idea? Three months early? WOW.