BlackForest

This is the European adapter USB charger I bought on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09ZLK1SFV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I forgot to add... *Either a large garbage bag or a travel hamper (I just bought this one and it is wonderful. Folds completely flat and is light weight yet it is really big: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CC58JTPX/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

I have cruised a lot so I thought I had some good packing ideas then I read @CruisingInFebruary's list. It is fantastic...I printed it out for my upcoming Christmas cruise. Thank you! Working off of that list, you may also want to consider adding... * Dryer sheets (I use them as drawer liners...they smell nice and protect my clothing from the drawers who have been used heavily) *Night light (can use battery operated small votives) *Bug spray *Corkscrew *Magnetic sign for outside the door (good as a door finder although make it a cheap one because we have had it gone missing in the past) *European adapter with USB outlet (we use this so that we don't have to waste the European outlet option on the ship) *A lot of singles for tips *highlighter (if using paper copy of the compass)

I literally laughed out loud when I read the comment from @not-enough-cruising (when MDR starts providing service and food like Capital Grille)...too funny! I completely agree with @Mum2Mercury's analysis. It is spot on! Personally, I always try to error on the side of dressing up more formal than not. I never forgot that as a young teen I wore shorts to an afternoon performance at the Kennedy Center when we took a family camping trip to the DC area. My mom's logic was DC is a tourist town then we experienced the embarrassment that we were way under dressed. Ever since then I prefer to be over dressed rather than under dressed. But that is me. Not everyone has that experience in their psyche 🤣

Thanks again everyone...I am going to try embarkation day to sign up and see where that gets me. Sounds like this might work based on @Tree_skier's experience. And thanks to @Vacation...Yes for the specific casita numbers. I am taking notes of what your picks were...but will also case it out in advance. We are not pool people so this is out of the box for us to reserve these casitas. Should be an interesting experience no matter what! Thanks again, all! Cheers.

Super interesting that you set it up ahead of time in the MDR. Thanks!

By the way, I mentioned to my sister and husband what my comments were about the dress code in MDR and they both disagreed with me. They believe the MDR should be treated like a really nice restaurant, say like Capital Grille. They don't like anyone wearing shorts to the MDR for dinner, but they did agree that no dress code is ever enforced. Now a days the dress code is "suggested" and not mandated. I believe RC "suggests" business casual for most evenings and shorts wouldn't be business casual. But because nothing is really enforced it is pretty much come as you are. I think even the "suggestion" for dress attire should be eliminated. At this point, the suggestion is meaningless.

Huh, what time can you play in the MDR? Thanks.

Oh, okay no MDR. I did think that would be odd for them to allow us in when they are prepping for the next service. Got it. Thanks!

Thanks a bunch Laurie JJ. I was hoping Navigator, being a bit smaller RC ship, would not have a long wait time to sign up for the specific casita we want. We reserved it for a port day on Navigator (specifically Christmas Day in port of Mazatlan) so we hope we don't have to get to Lime and Coconut at 7:30 am and wait until 9 am to select our casita. Like you did, we plan on scoping out a head of time which casitas we prefer. And like you we are trying to figure out which ones will be more in the shade. Did you try to book your specific casita on embarkation day or did you wait until the day of the reservation to put in your request for the casita you wanted? Thanks again!

Sorry, I am late to respond to my afternoon tea comment. My memory is poor but it may have been Celebrity? We are diamond plus on RC but have sailed many times on Celebrity, Holland America, Norwegian, Princess and Carnival. It may have been Celebrity that offered the high/afternoon tea. Sigh, it was lovely. Side Note: we used to be biased against Carnival for the longest time...we had a negative attitude that Carnival was a cheap version of the other cruise lines with rowdier passengers. But over the past 5 years or so we have sailed on Carnival (when the price can't be beat) and the food was excellent. We are still loyal to RC and Celebrity but we will sail on other lines.

On the contrary I prefer the chocolate covered strawberries as the Chef's gift for Diamond Plus...but they never last long enough too go bad. There have been numerous times we received the same dang cookies as you get in the Windjammer. I mean, really?! Windjammer cookies is the special "Chef's gift"! I feel like going all Chef Ramsey on those cookies.🤣

Bermuda shorts on men and women look great (and can be considered formal depending upon what is worn on top); the ship may even be sailing there! Personally, I love it when my husband and I dress up for MDR on all nights. But my hubby is from Germany and he sort of grew up with a more formal dress attitude so I don't have to twist his arm to wear a sports coat or frankly even a tie. But just because we love to dress up at night doesn't mean others have to follow. Now a days all ships have a come one come all approach to the dress code. Wear whatever you feel comfortable in...the dress attire is a mish-mash on board. Sort of a Windjammer buffet of style. I say, you do you and have fun!

Thanks again everyone...will try the conference room area, the Windjammer section that is not closed, the MDR (if they open it after service) and maybe poolside if weather permits. The 270 sounds super cool but Navigator doesn't have it.

Wow, reading everyone's (especially Bonsai3) memories of what we received back in the good old days reminds me of how good those days were. I also remember there was at least one sea day when the MDR served "afternoon/high" tea. One doesn't tend to notice all of these accumulated losses over time...sort of like a frog in a slowly boiling pot of water. But it is true that the cruise prices itself have remained steady over the years so at least we get to experience a cruise even if the service offerings are less than way back when.