sandy toes

We are doing the GOS to Bermuda in 2014 and LOVE your review and pics! Thanks for taking the time to share.

We had a good experience with Barbie...sorry to hear about yours. We did not have the fashion show as there was a "glitch" but we received an OBC for the inconvenience. I think Royal tired hard to make it fun for the girls. Our issue was our 10 yr old still enjoys Barbie and one mother was very rude about her being such a baby and not grown up...I WANT her to stay a little girl as long as she can. Our world is on a fast track and she will be on board that soon enough.

The Barbie experience is girls only:

"The Barbie Premium Experience, only on Royal Caribbean, brings aboard the fab-tastic style of the world's most famous fashion doll! Girls age 4 to 11 set sail on a Barbie dream cruise complete with fun, fashion and runway moments. Make lifelong memories and take to the waves in true Barbie style!"

Yes it would be great to see several activities (for both boys and girls) on ship...all ships and not just select ones. I love the Penguins more than the kids!!!!

Just sailed with a 2 1/2 yr old. She slept between us and also on a "blow up" sleeping bag bed unit that we purchased used from a friend. In years past we had other children that age...some slept fine on sofa with covers well tucked in (not even turned around), others we had steward bring us a bed rail that we covered with a blanket and slid under the cushions and once we had an almost 3yr old and a 4 1/2 yr old that HAD to bring sleeping bags and "camp out" on the floor for the week. There are a lot of workable options but honestly they really depend upon how your little one sleeps...restless or calm has a lot to do with it. Have a great cruise.

I would go with my original plan but be prepared to wait if you have to. Last cruise, I rec'd a message like this and when people (flights and such) got us all to the port early, there were buses to take us into town and they drove loops, dropping off & picking up, until we were allowed to board...the issue was immigration back log.

You did not say how many days your cruise was going to be (original booked cruise).

You said you were 74 days out and the contract does say 70 so that should have allowed for a rebook/moving of dates. I have done this before. Did you call C&A? They have always been very helpful with any issues. Do not use the term cancel when you talk with Royal always rebook/redate/move, something to that effect. Best of luck! Let us know what happens.

We had this for 2...age 4 and age 10. Both girls really had a great time. The 10 yr old was kind of worried but she had fun too. I think alot of the excitement is "created" by the numbers in attendance and the level of participation of the girls. I would have been upset if the activities were opened to the ship...I do not want strange people watching my little ones "strut their stuff" at the fashion show. The tea party was a blast for all the little ones (10 girls attended), the design part was a Mommy&Me kind of activity for many as they were younger, the room decor was a big hit!!! And of courser, so was the new Barbie. However, if you want to save money, just buy a Barbie and bring your own BD decorations for the room along with some feathery boas and fancy dress up tutus and let your little one walk around ship all dressed up. Don't forget a crown!!!!

Stayed there once and it had VERY noisey before and after game parties. Just make sure your stay and game day are not one and the same!!!!Will never return as there was no dining or even fast food near by and the area (bus station) did not leave me feeling safe.

Stayed twice, once $72 and once $64. Shop around at various booking sites for the best rates...don't book direct that is about $100

Recently stayed for the 2nd time and while nothing fancy it was clean and well kept. In the warmer months there is an outside pool. There is a small exercise room and they offer a nice breakfast. Super easy to get to right off the beltway on Richie Highway (6600 Richie highway, Glen Burnie, MD 21061 for those with GPS). You can park your car for free while on the cruise and they shuttle you to and from the port (about 10 minutes away). Right across the street is the MVA (DMV for the area). There are local places to eat and even a place that serves chicken right next door (LARGE helpings, one order would have served both of us). While there are many places in the harbor if all you want is a place to park and sleep this is a great option. The price is less than parking at the port and you don't have to worry about traffic the morning of the cruise. Drive in the night before, sleep, eat breakfast and get a ride to the port in the morning...all rested for the cruise you have been dreaming of for months!

DGD has very sensitive skin and sees a dermatologist regularly for medications and treatment. She is (of her own right, not due to pairing with parents) a Diamond C&A and Platinum with CCL, and Gold with NCL. In all that time, on all those ships and nights sleeping with various ship laundry services, NEVER has she developed any issues from the linens. Just a note:her mother always brings along bedding in a carry on for her to use just in case, on every vacation/holiday. Only once, while staying in Orlando did she ever have any issues and need her bedding from home.

Last cruise a lady (young) was snapping pics with her cell, sending them to her Mom at home asking which to buy. She had over a dozen to purchase and the clerk came buy and told her to move along and pulled the good pics out of her hand tearing them across the top. She actually left in tears...I thought from being "caught". I saw her 2 days later and she remembered me. She asked me to come with her to the photo manager to report the clerk, said guest services told her she could have a few free pics if she found a "witness". I did, she even shared her texts with the manager and she ended up getting 12 pics FREE. So, sometimes the photo folks have very bad days and sometimes that dept can be very kind. (I really did feel bad for her...her Mom has MS and it was her graduation gift from college)

oh my!!! I know how much of a treasure pics from any holiday are and to be thinking you are doing something that will make obtaining them easier only to run into a night mare! I do hope the package shows up with ALL of your pics. Was thinking of this for our Dec cruise and now will be thinking again...thank you for sharing.

8520 and 8566 both have poles. 8520 is more to right end of bed and 8566 is center of foot of bed.

Thank you for taking the time to write such a fine review. Please, post it in the actual review section so everyone will see it. CONGRATULATIONS! How sweet, on the balcony...ahh, young love is wonderful! Isn't Francis just the best!!! Hoping he will still be there in Dec when I return.

I was just told in May that IF you had OBC there was not a 3% surcharge but if linked to a CC/debit card there was the surcharge. Please, someone else with more current info, let me know as we will be cruising w/friends and family and there are some that want to know for certain.

Glad you got the refund. I understand they are trying to please everyone but then, the web page needs to be adjusted accordingly. The Birthday and the Bon Voyage are still great and bring lots of aahhhs and ooohhhhs from everyone. And with the cost of airline baggage, I think the cost is fair to have the cruise line take care of everything.

First, I have traveled with family member and have had Accessible cabins 2 times. They were both not as described but they were much better than the standard cabins. That said....Many years ago, we were booking on the Norway (NCL), the cabins on her were a nightmare. If you wanted to know what a cabin was like (almost everyone was different) you needed to ask for a description of that individual cabin, NOT the cabin class or even the class and deck location. It was tough to find cabins that did meet your needs but the TYAs and reps knew those cabins...this was before all the computer deck plans, etc!!! I do not understand how, with all the technology we now have, each individual ship could not keep up their "catalog" on line as changes were made. Pics and descriptions could be made before first sailing and someone on ship could have the job of updates say monthly. Seems like it would work. Closet pics, BR pics, Balcony view pics, and exact layout of cabins. I guess I am dreaming...

I frequently meet up with a family from another state. They put their doc on a flash drive, go to the local office store, there it is printed off in color and laminated. They get 4 on a sheet and it was less than $3 total when they cruised 3 wks ago (talked with them over the wkend). I am having mine done in the 4 on a pg style this wk. I ha always printed at home and then had them laminate. This time I am letting them do it all.

Thanks to all for the pics! Enjoyed them. Grew up USN kid, then USN wife (for 12 yrs) and love ships/boats/sailing/kayaking/cruising and all things water related. Really found these interesting. Thanks again.

There are 2 newer reviews and one specific to odors. Check it out.

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=216892

OP: Oh Pooh Bear!!! (What the 3 yr old says when she is ticked off!!) Book your dining choice early evening and you will have staff that is wonderful and a fantastic celebration. Both venues are great and both have received the little ones without any issues in the past. If you can have the family all together for one and the adults for the other that would give you a special celebration 2 ways. IF you are like our family the children are a central part and we actually do very little without them in tow. We are having an adult only night out while they dine with AO one evening during this upcoming cruise. Some people don't like to dine with children, the main reason for the time cut off...those people can book later and won't even see a child. Plan your celebration YOUR way. It is your holiday, enjoy!!!!

The way it is supposed to work is the perks are interchangable...kind of like Celebrity with Royal BUT one does not earn "points" that lead to growth of the other...a visit to Vegas will not gain the C&A member growth points just as a cruise will not gain the Mlife member growth points. We each get the reward of the other system at a preset level based upon where we currently stand. The Mlife staus changes based upon yearly rewards if my son (lives in vegas) is correct. The C&A status just grows as one enjoys more cruises with Royal. So yes Tom, the Mlife will be granted to a C&A member as long as the program continues BUT Tom you will also get all the C&A perks as long as the program continues. You can visit the Royal web site to view the perks for each level. I am sorry to say that your Platinum Mlife which equals C&A Diamond + will not offer you a free cruise. IF you make it to the Pinnacle Club level you can upon joining (=100/7 day cruises) and at certain levels (=150/7day cruises) within the Pinnacle get a free cruise but that is a long way off for most folks here on CC. I am sorry you don't feel it is an even swap...we have worked hard to get to our Diamond and Above levels too.

Still planning on the spring cruise...actually booked May instead of April. Hopeful for Barbie!!!

NewhampsWing I recall those cruises too!!! Each port we bought whatever was the special, rum (Caribbean) or scotch (European). Ahh...the memories your post brought back...thanks.

There is a wall that helps block out the noise from the Centrum at night. The cabins are beautiful and the window is really nice. Good for anyone that doesn't really like the balcony but wants to see the ocean view.