luvbrady

I check mine on the regular.  Lowest I've seen for my upcoming cruise was $62.99.  I've seen it as high as $79.99- so I'll just keep watching.  Today it's $66.99.  I think I can do better and am willing to be patient 😉

They'd have to pay me $1 a piece to eat it.....  My husband and son would, however, would miss it.  I doubt they'd pay for it.

Also mid-50's one launched one still in college.  YES- are there more people, sure.  But there's also more space for those people to disburse.  So it all becomes kind of relative.  They places you would expect to be busy on any class of ship at certain times (pool deck on sea day, Windjammer on embarkation) will not disappoint and will be crowded LOL. As many have said Park Cafe is great- but if you go between 12-1:30 ish it will be crowded.  Go at 3 not so much....But just as you can find your nook for some peace and quiet an exploration of the ship will get you there. 

My understanding is that downlining was occasionally allowed but strongly discouraged due to all of the reasons mentioned here that may impact guest safety/security including at the time testing/travel restrictions and changing itineries.  Looks like it was stopped all together after the resumption of service post covid.  But can't hurt to ask....

We have traveled with large groups and just made sure all reservations were linked.  We had the adult table and the kids table right next to it so the kids could enjoy but we could still see, hear and supervise.

We have done self-disembarkation 2x around 7 and been at the gate (after bag drop) by 9AM.  But we travel with passports and essentially get waived through customs....

There is also an email address for special dietary restrictions.  Have traveled with my GF SIL a couple of times.  The head waiter will typically come towards the end of dinner and go over the following days menu with options and you can pre-order.  One day chicken cordon bleu was on the menu- a favorite of hers.  She asked if they could make that GF and they did.

The potential problem with booking yourself at the tourney but still staying in the cabin with your wife would be that if you are booked into a cabin for 3 and change to 2 they may reassign you to a cabin only accommodating 2 passengers to free the 3 person cabin.  I've had this happen under different circumstances and they rebooked my 2 young kids 6 doors down because the aunt traveling with them was able to take her grandson.  We had to go from deck 8 to deck 3 to get them in connecting cabins.  Was not fun....

From RCCL site:

For voyages originating in North America:

No Guest younger than the age twenty-one (21) will be assigned to a stateroom unless accompanied in the same stateroom by an adult twenty-one (21) years old or older. A guest's age is established upon the first date of sailing.

This age limit will be waived for children sailing with their parents or guardians in connecting staterooms; for underage married couples; and for active duty members of the United States or Canadian military.

I know there have been situations where the cabins can be adjacent or directly across from the parents but I would make sure....

I am a beaches gal, but that said I was very happy to have done this cruise.  It was breathtaking in a totally different way.  We went mid July and had some days in the 70's with sunburns and other days were gray and rainy.  DEFINITLY want at a minimum a decent rain coat.  Mine was fairly light but easy to layer.  Think layers of clothes.  Might be cold in the AM but the sun can get strong enough to chase that away.

We have been at the gate by 9 self disembarking at 8.  If anyone in the group is traveling with birth certificates instead of passports that slows things down considerably at the port.

Please also note that the cabin prices vary by sailing date.  So if you were to change the sailing date  you would have to pay(or be refunded) the difference.

I don't cruise with out a 3lb bag of peanut M&M's.  Breakfast of champions.  One year we even brought Easter basket fixings when the kids were little.  I did make sure everything was individually wrapped and in the bags since we were going out of San Juan and our bags would more than likely be exposed to heat!

On a side note- the facial recognition easy breezy customs line is for passport holders.  If you are traveling with a birth certificate that is a different line.  And it can be a line- and a slow one at that!

For me the best class of ships is the one I'm on!  We've been bouncing back and forth for quite a while now and love them all.  Regardless of the class of ship the space to passenger ratio is more or less the same.  More peeps, more spaces for them to disperse to.  So generally embarkation and sea days will feel a bit busier- but I've never not been able to find a spot of relative peace and quiet.

I do like the newer, bigger ships- that said if it is just us itinerary would be #1.  If we are with a group or just another couple who have not experienced a bigger ship I will sacrifice the itinerary for the bigger ship to 'allow for the wow'.  Just did that early in the year where we did a Mexican itinerary versus the St. Thomas/St. Marteen I would have prefered.

I would make sure they will even let you board.  I'm not sure they would want to be policing who can leave the ship and where and when.  And if someone did make it past the goalie they're stuck with a potential mess.....

While you don't need a passport, keep in mind disembarkation times.  We traveled with passports and were off the ship, through customs and curbside in minutes.  My SIL and niece had birth certificates.  It is a seperate line and it was LONG (due to a Bahamas short sailing) and didn't move all that quickly.  We waited for an hour for them.  Which can be huge if you are trying to get to the airport after the cruise....

All personal choice, but for me I'd go balcony with the big gals across the hall.  My husband enjoys a mid-day nap in the cabin.  I am NOT a napper-so I enjoy the quiet time out on the balcony.  I don't mind sitting alone on the pool deck, but for me on sea days it gets to be a lot.  Rather be able to come in and out of the heat on the balcony then back and forth at the pool.  I'd feel pent up if we were hanging in an inside cabin...

Fact of the matter is you can't drink ALL day unless you start in the morning.  Facts. 😁

We tended to end our nights in the same place, so when we said goodnight the bartender loaded me down with a roadie, 2 waters and a diet coke for the AM nightly.  After making good use of the drink package it was a challenge to get all that juggled- I made sure to have a zip up sweatshirt with inside pockets that the waters fit in for easier transport 🙂

I have always felt reasonably safe in Miami but as many have pointed out- all cities have their share of issues.  If we are cruising we will typically stay with in easy walking distance of Bayside/the Arena/Port of Miami area.  I have never been concerned, but as always and with all places take extra care when out and about, particularly at night.

20 minutes ago, paross4 said:

You can look at your account on the App.  (before the final day - as it blanks out then)   That view only shows that you got a drink and the place you got it.  It will also show your other purchases (room service, shops on the ship, etc. along with the total OBC you have left.  (if you started with any)

I usually check each night before I go to bed - and count up the drink orders.  You'd be surprised how fast they add up.  lol

 

 

 

Truth!  Unfortunately it then seems to turn into some sort of demented contest for us!  Can we 'outscore' the previous day.....

Officially no- but you can get them here and there.  On our recent sailing they had cans at Cafe Promenade.  So if I went there and asked for a soda I was given a can.....  Sometimes at Boleros as well.  I don't specifically ask for the can, but if I have a venue that hands me one that's where I'll try to head whenever possible.

Thank you- we have a few Michelob Ultra drinkers who are very brand specific.  So wanted to have those discussions early!