lola4795

3 hours ago, gerif said:

Remember, if you get a drink with the drink plan you need to ask for it in a plain glass rather than the souvenir glass many are served in. 

Why is that?  I will be doing the Deluxe Drink Package for the first time in November.  There is probably a lot I don't know!

Thanks for these great answers. We will definitely be on time. I have a piggyback question. We have always cruised with ATD. Does assigned time mean that we will have to eat with strangers at the same table every night?

We just booked a cruise on the Conquest November 18 sailing. YTD is full, so we were assigned to Late Dining. Do we need to be there right at 8:15, or is there a bit of flex in that time frame?

I'm normally a stickler for times, so if it really is a set time that's fine. But....we're on vacation. I would love to be more flexible if possible. ;);)

I'm reviving this thread to say, "Congratulations!" and that my dh and I just booked our 30th anniversary cruise on this same sailing! :)

If airfare is too expensive from Fort Lauderdale check Miami or West Palm Beach. Miami is approximately thirty minutes from Port Everglades and West Palm Beach is approximately an hour away. I have flown home from all three airports to Newark, New Jersey numerous times over the last forty years.

My main motivation for this was that the tiny airport we would fly out of has free parking. It's a huge bonus since we live 1+ hours from the airport and I don't like asking people for airport rides. I've moved on now and will just do MIA or FLL. :)

Yes. Renting a car and flying Allegiant. When you spell it out the way you just did, it really does seem too risky! Thanks for helping me sort through it. :)

If I book a 1pm return flight out of Punta Gorda when we are returning to Fort Lauderdale Port Everglades? I don't want to risk it if it's not enough time!

Aft Balconies are the best. Doesn't matter how obstructed the view is - they still have a better view than balconies on the side and many are massively bigger than ones on the side.

 

The only thing hump balconies have in their favour is their location ie they are more conveniently placed than ones that require a 1 minute walk further back. They are no bigger or better than any other balcony and there is nothing special whatsoever about them.

 

If you want a hump/midship cabin - go for a starboard one. The smell of cigarette smoke from portside will reach your balcony (and your cabin if the door is open).

Wow! I had never thought of this before! So, on the Navigator the smoking rooms are all on portside. Really good info. Thank you!!

My husband and I have never cruised on RCI and have actually never booked a balcony cabin on any of the 3 cruises we've taken. We would really like to spring for a balcony for our 30th wedding anniversary trip. We are currently looking at a 5-day cruise on the Navigator. I have a couple of balcony related questions.

1. I absolutely do not want any kind of obstructed view. Which decks do I want to avoid?

2. We will probably not spring for an aft balcony (ask awesome as they seem!), so we will most likely do a mid-ship room. Is the hump a good spot to be, or not as desirable? If we book on the stern side of the hump will we avoid a little wind, or won't it really make a difference?

3. The RCI website lists square footage of the decks, but I'm wondering about the approximate dimensions? 10ft x 3ft? Or similar?

Thanks in advance for the advice. I did a search on the RCI forum but didn't find answers to any of the above questions. I hoping that all of you with balcony experience can help me out! :)

We cruised on the Pearl a few years back and they had a latte/cappuccino machine at the back of the buffet. Do they have one of these on the Getaway?

We are going with extended family. The general idea of the people in charge is for all of us to spend the whole trip together. Are there any good tips for traveling with this huge pack? What are the best thoughts for dinners? We won't be doing any specialty restaurants. Only non-charge places. Any tips you can give for traveling in a herd would be appreciated!

Good for you, but I don't think the purpose of the thread was to brag about all the things you can afford / blast out money for. The purpose was to give people some helpful hints on how they can save some money.

I agree! If someone disagrees with the spirit of this thread, they can start their own thread on ways to spend money extravagantly!

I promise not to chime in and pompously proclaim that I go on my vacations and look for ways to save money.

Good for you, but I don't think the purpose of the thread was to brag about all the things you can afford / blast out money for. The purpose was to give people some helpful hints on how they can save some money.

I agree! If someone disagrees with the spirit of this thread, they can start their own thread on ways to spend money extravagantly!

I hope it's mental but I'm afraid it may be physical. I've tried dry runs and still can't breath with the mask.

What about with just the snorkel and no mask? Out of the water. Just try doing that at first.

The second I put on the mask, which also covers my nose of course, I can no longer breathe through my mouth. I start choking and gasping. I am an otherwise normal person. I would love to be able to join my family on snorkeling excursions, but just can't do it. Any advice?

Do you mean you physically cannot breath through your nose, or it is a mental thing? I totally understand the mental thing. When something covers your entire nose and mouth like that, your brain starts to panic.

If it is indeed a mental block, I would advise you to just keep practicing. Start using it out of the water. Use the snorkel without the mask and just practice breathing through your mouth. After you are comfortable with that, add the mask.

When you are comfortable with breathing with the mask on, try doing it in a bath tub or swimming pool.

Take deep, SLOW breaths. The main thing is not to panic.

Good luck!

Is that black thing on the catamaran a trampoline, or just a place to sunbathe?