TXMary

For the first time ever, we are very reluctant to make final payment. We are willing to jump through all the hoops but we are scheduled for Explorer on October 31st out of San Juan. There has been no news on either Explorer or San Juan. Final payment is due tomorrow. Absolutely no idea what we are going to do but need to decide today. 

We always buy the drink package. We prefer to drink what we want and when we want. Although we are doing the Greek Isles next year and haven't decided yet if we will buy it or not since we will be in port almost every day. If we can get a good price on it, we probably will.

Derek Lewis is playing in San Antonio now. His shows are listed on his Facebook page Five Minute Party. We hate that Royal let him go unsigned. Best entertainment out of Galveston ever!

Thanks for sharing your review! Leaving on Indy on the 30th- our first time on her and our first 4-nighter. Really looking forward to a few days of rest and relaxation. Hope you get some answers for your health issue.

Thanks again!

Michael, I tend to agree with you. We stay on the ship sometimes too if we have already visited a particular Island or are "tired" of the Island (St. Thomas). BUT....they have never cruised before. To stay on the ship to get enjoyment out of the drink package is silly to me. They have plenty of time to take advantage of it. :)

I missed that it was their first cruise. I absolutely agree with this! Get off the ship! You will probably be addicted and go on many more cruises...plenty of time to stay on the ship then. Enjoy the ports now.

Hi Everyone! Some of you might find this a stupid question, but I've really been debating and haven't been able to decide, so I thought I'd put the question to people who have probably done it before!

 

I'm cruising on Oasis of the Seas on March 26. My husband and I are first time cruisers. We're having a beach day on Labadee, so I thought we'd have a pool day while the ship is in port at Cozumel (none of the other excursions caught my eye - if it matters we're doing Dunn's Falls River in Falmouth). I figured the ship would be pretty dead and we both purchased the Ultimate Drink Package so the beverages will be flowing ;) But I was googling excursions to make sure I wasn't selling myself short, and I saw a lot of people talking up Nachi Cocom. I'm curious what the draw of Nachi Cocom is vs the ship pool? Other than the obvious (it's a beach).

 

Help me make up my mind! :)

 

Thanks!

I love the pool at Nachi!! It's usually pretty quiet too as most people go to the beach area. We set up at the pool right from the start and walk to the beach as we want to. There's a swim up bar and nice steps to sit on. I like how the pool at Nachi is a gradual in. The ship pools seem deep to me. And it's beautiful. In fact, my desktop picture right now is the pool at Nachi with the beach behind it taken from my lounge chair and there isn't a soul in the picture. Plus the pool at Nachi is freshwater and that's definitely my preference.

But staying on the ship is fun too. I have done that while my husband golfed. They're both a pretty good way to spend the day. :)

Ha! I came here to ask the exact same question and this was the first post I saw. Wondering the same thing.

We did a b2b grand suite on Liberty and there's no free internet.

I fell on wet tiles in the hotel room in Galveston, and bruised or cracked a couple of ribs. So we didn't get off in Belize either. So we missed Sit, Sip & Pedal. :o

 

At Maya Key and Nachi....I pretty much just sat and sipped. :D

I'm so sorry! I hope you are doing better!

We were at Maya Key too. We also spent the day at the pool there after a beach walk around the island.

I think you were sitting in front of us at Nachi, Mary. :) I'm sorry that we didn't meet. I was sitting in the restaurant chair, I can't do loungers. :)

On the beach? If so, it wasn't me. We hung out at the pool all day. I'm sorry we didn't meet too. We ended up not doing the Sit, Sip and Pedal. After we saw how far out we were, we didn't even go into Belize. We just stayed on the ship and enjoyed a pool day- even without a live pool band. ;)

Since you were just on Liberty, do you recall if the outdoor area in the Diamond lounge is open yet?

We didn't spend much time in there but I don't think it was.

Just off a b2b on Liberty on Sunday. We're Diamond and were in a GS both weeks. We did have to swipe our card to get into the Diamond lounge. We did not have to swipe to get in the suite lounge. Suite lounge is for GS and above and Pinnacle on Liberty.

Did you happen to notice if there was any live entertainment in the PUB in the evening? Would appreciate if you can provide info on that.

Just off on Sunday from a b2b. The first week there was an entertainer in the pub. He was good but just quietly played. The second week there was no live entertainment in the pub other than one night when one of the singers from Saturday Night Fever and a guitar player from the Royal orchestra played there briefly. One night they did karaoke there. It was pretty boring. Not Derek Lewis style. :D Most nights it was quiet in the pub. Really missed the live entertainment. :(

Phil Anderson is still in the Schooner Bar at least for now.

We're in the middle of a b2b on Liberty so we were on last week and are still onboard. We have had a great trip so far. Certainly no bedbugs and no reports of any from our fellow cruisers. No food poisoning either. If I had experienced either of those things, someone would have heard about it.

We went to Roatan last week. I have never experienced them but I know some have gotten sand flea bites there.

Her story doesn't really make any sense.

Following along... thanks for sharing!!

Love Maya Chan!

Great review!! Thanks so much for doing it!!

Our waiters have often brought us appetizers or entrees we didn't order just so we can try them. We have found new favorite dishes this way that we wouldn't have even tried on our own.

I don't think you are crazy at all! Our first cruise in 2004 was Alaska. Since then, there have been many Caribbean cruises, Hawaii and Canada/NE. We have been talking recently about going back to Alaska. We were so overwhelmed the first time we went with both Alaska and first time cruising. It was amazing. Definitely on the list to do a repeat! We have done the same itinerary many times out of Galveston, but I agree that every cruise is different. Try new things, go at a different time of year, book different excursions...so many ways to make each cruise unique. Enjoy them all!!

Thanks everyone. I never even looked at the other choices...just checked private car. I should pay more attention. lol :)

Came across this thread while searching something else. We are doing our first b2b in September. I already did the online check in and didn't notice the consecutive cruisers choice on the travel info. Do I check that for the first leg or the second or both? I did email RCI and tell them they were b2b as I booked online and the agent responded that he had linked them. Ever since then I've had trouble getting into the first leg. That must be why. lol

Following along...I love to see cruising through the eyes of a newbie! Glad you had a good time!! It's an addiction, you know?! :D

We're Diamond and suite cruisers and we always buy the drinks package. We prefer to drink exactly what we want and for more than a few hours in the evenings. The convenience factor for us is having drinks paid for before we sail. We actually prefer to sign the receipt so we can add an additional tip without carrying cash. We rarely go in either lounge and never in the evenings when they are so crowded. Just our preference.

I'll let you know tomorrow night!

Please and thank you!! :)

Any idea how long Derek's break will be and if he is headed back to Liberty?

We are just going to barely miss him, DeeDee. We are so disappointed. :(