LittleMissMagic

There's always the DIY alternative: Remove the cheese powder packet from a macaroni and cheese box. Add 3 1/2 ounces of vodka, 1/2 ounces of vermouth, and the cheese powder to a cocktail shaker. Go ahead and give it a swirl until the cheese dissolves. Fill the shaker with ice and shake vigorously until well chilled and consistently yellow in color. Strain into a martini glass and garnish with olives and cheese cubes. ENJOY???

I would try it. Not sure I would like it, but I would try it haha.

On my Harmony December 2019 sailing, it was labeled "Hair & Body Wash." I think the description "Soap" would be adequate. There is a small wire shelf, but the wires are spaced at an awkward interval so that tiny bottles will fall through.... I ended up leaving my toiletries on the shower floor.

I would absolutely get the Dining Package. My recommendation would be not to sleep on it. There's only a set number of packages that they sell per sailing, and they can sell out of the Unlimited Dining Package before your cruise. Go ahead and buy now - you can always cancel and rebook before your cruise if there is a better deal being offered later.

My boyfriend plays Xbox, and while we've never taken a gaming console on a cruise, the Xbox question peaked my interest. I did a little research for you. Bringing an Xbox on a cruise ship and hooking it up to your stateroom TV can be done. Here's a tutorial I found on how to set it up, filmed back in 2015 - https://youtu.be/6ekwFX_pV6E Playing Xbox Live or streaming games wouldn't be very fun with the very slow internet connection, but not all Xbox games need to be played online. Here's a tutorial on how to play digital Xbox One games offline (search for your grandson's specific Xbox model for model-specific information) - https://youtu.be/6JfeD1Yluew Now, an Xbox is not a compact console (I know because there is quite a large Xbox X in my living room). I'm not sure if they're in the market for a new gaming system, but the Nintendo Switch is intended to be portable - it can be played as a handheld, or with friends on a television. I do not currently have a Nintendo Switch in my living room, but I've had friends bring their Switches over and we've used them on my TV. Here's a video of how to set it up for game play on a cruise ship - https://youtu.be/oBkhpRB-U3Q (in the comments, it looks like others may have had issues with setting it up for online play), and here's a vlog of someone I can only assume to be a streamer playing a Switch on a cruise which demonstrates the portability of it - https://youtu.be/0Aaot5qinn4

I think other factors are if you have your reservations linked for dining, as well as what category stateroom you're bidding on. I haven't had MoveUp experience, but I have done RoyalUp with Royal Caribbean having two separate staterooms. We've "Royal Up'd" twice - from oceanview to balcony and also from balcony to club, and both times our rooms remained adjacent. If your reservations are connected, I think they try to keep your staterooms in close proximity. However, I wouldn't expect that would be the case if upgrading to a suite.

We were lucky in that on the first night, we walked into the Cellar Wine Bar and asked what champagne we could try with the Premium Plus package, and the bartender recommended a glass of Veuve. It became our nightly go-to. We'd even order mimosas with Veuve. Which is why I was asking the question - I'm spoiled now in regards to champagne. 😆

We were on NCL in December, and Veuve and Moet were included in the Premium Plus beverage package (it's the upgrade from their "Free at Sea" package).

When I start packing for a cruise, I always start by considering the number of formal nights. For a 12-night cruise on Royal Caribbean, there will be 3 formal nights. Formal night has become less formal and less observed over the years. Check in with her grandmother to see how formal she plans to dress (if grandmother isn't observing formal night, then no need to worry about formal attire). Something to be aware of in Europe is that if they're planning to tour historic Cathedrals or places of worship, shorts or short skirts are "not allowed" inside, and shoulders should be covered (if wearing shorts, you'll probably be advised not to enter, but it's not like they forcefully stop you). If that's on the itinerary, she'll want to pack pants, long skirts, or maxi dresses for those days. For the top, a blouse that covers the shoulders works, or pack a sweater to put on or scarf to throw over the shoulders. European itineraries can often include a lot of walking, so she'll definitely want to have comfortable walking shoes. Pinterest is a great resource for "capsule wardrobes." Search "European Summer Capsule Wardrobe," and you'll find a lot of mix-and-match outfit ideas. For example:

When I was a kid/teen cruising with my parents, I always looked forward to tablemates. We would actually request a larger table, and I'd be kind of bummed if we ended up with a table with just the four of us. I wasn't the type of kid to go out of my way to introduce myself to a stranger, so the interaction of sharing dinner with people who I never met before sort of forced me to be more social. Also, tablemates made dinners more interesting. Hearing new stories from new people was entertaining. We've met up with past tablemates post-cruise. My parents still exchange Christmas cards with some of our past tablemates. On one cruise, our tablemates from a cruise years prior recognized us on the first day, sailing on a different cruiseline, and we were able to reconnect (it was NCL, and we actually chose to dine together). I guess I may not have noticed a larger change of table-sharing behavior in the industry (or the infrastructure - many newer ships have more 4-tops and 2-tops than sharable 8-tops) because I associate my recent gravitation toward not sharing a larger table as a lifestyle change. Now that I'm an adult living on the opposite side of the country from my parents and sister, I prefer to share a dining room table with only my family. Cruises are an opportunity for us to spend time together and catch up. I'm happy to meet and engage with other passengers, but for me, my cruise "goals" have shifted from making new friends to reconnecting and sharing quality time with my family.

Maybe it's a higher nonrefundable deposit for a suite and/or a sailing booked farther in advance? Last week, I booked two verandah staterooms for a December 2022 sailing, and the upcharge to refundable deposit was an additional $77 per stateroom (which I opted for). It's fully refundable until late September 2022, so just under three months that I could take advantage - perhaps why the cost was lower.

Sorry, hijacking for a related champagne question - Do they not have Veuve Cliquot, Bollinger, and/or Moet & Chandon on the ship, or are those just not included in either of the beverage packages?

There is an option to pre-pay gratuities. You'll find that it's an option to add to your reservation on the website (along with specialty dining, excursions, etc.). Which ship are you sailing on? NCL has a partnership with Starbucks, and you should be able to find them on most ships now (and on all ships by the end of 2022). Starbucks is included in the Premium Beverage Package (you'll need to upgrade to the Premium from the Deluxe Beverage Package that is included with "Free At Sea" promotions). They also have a little Starbucks cart on Great Stirrup Cay which is included in your the premium beverage package.

I think it's because they're pretty tough on the luggage. If your water bottles were to bust, everyone's suitcases in the vicinity would be soaked. That and I think they just don't want to handle cases of water.

Ooh both sound amazing! If you were on Oasis in April, you pretty much know what you're getting with the Harmony. Almost a little been there, done that - but if you loved it, do it again! I haven't sailed in the new "revolutionized" X ships either, but the new Retreat looks pretty amazing. Also, you get one more day with that itinerary, and I also favor Bonaire. In this scenario, I'd choose the Equinox.

I decorated the interior of my parents' cabin for my Mom's birthday on our most recent cruise. The decorations are from Party City. I hung them from the ceiling using magnetic hooks.

Royal Caribbean and Norwegian are two cruise lines that are fun for families with teens/young adults. More important than picking the cruise line is choosing a ship. Your daughters would probably have more fun on the Royal Caribbean Oasis Class and Freedom Class ships and the Norwegian Breakaway Class and Breakaway Plus Class ships. I see you're in the US where the drinking age is 21. Something to consider - on Norwegian, parents can sign for their kids ages 18-20 to be able to drink beer and wine onboard (go to Guest Services). That info could sway you toward one cruise line or the other.

Don't sleep on Los Lobos. I seriously think it's the best meal I've ever had on a cruise ship.

I've sailed both Royal Caribbean and NCL, and I like them both. For either cruise line, I think it really depends on choosing the right ship for the type of cruise experience you want to have. If you like the Oasis Class ships, the most comparable NCL ships are the Epic Class, Breakaway Class, Breakaway Plus Class, and (brand new) Prima Class. I've sailed NCL Epic (3 times - I liked it enough to do again!), Escape, and Encore (currently writing a review on my cruise on the Encore if you'd like to read more). Everyone has preferences when it comes to ship layout. I generally prefer the central Promenade for orientation purposes on Royal Caribbean ships. However, Norwegian has a really cool outside space on Deck 8 on Breakaway and Breakaway Plus class ships called The Waterfront. It's an outdoor wrap-around deck that has bars and outdoor seating for restaurants. On the mega ships, the top deck feels so far from the water - The Waterfront has a very nice atmosphere where you can hear the waves crashing under the ship. Norwegian "Freestyle" concept means no early/late dining room seating. There are main (complimentary) dining rooms, but you do not have an assigned time every night. Show up, and they'll seat you. If you've ever done My Time Dining on Royal Caribbean, it is nothing like Freestyle (MTD you still have to choose a set time... it's just not a traditional seating time). Now, "Freestyle" doesn't really apply to the specialty restaurants - you'll need to make advance reservations for those. The same goes for shows - reserve in advance. It's very similar to Oasis-class ships where there is a lot of pre-planning involved if you want to see the shows and dine at specialty venues. Like @twangster said, food is personal. Personally, I think the MDR food is mediocre on both Royal and Norwegian. I would utilize specialty dining on both cruise lines (also, I think the specialty dining is very hit-or-miss on both lines). If you're curious about Norwegian, I'd say give it a try!

Yep, I'm definitely feeling the airfare sting. I've been looking at some Caribbean cruises, but flights from LA to Miami are really high for my dates. I've set up Google Flight tracking for the dates I need, hoping to see them fall in a few weeks after the summer travel rush slows down. You can set up Google Flights tracking to follow a single flight, specific airlines, and/or set dates. I also track the flights that I already have booked. With Delta changeable flights, if the price goes down on a flight you already have booked, you can Modify/Change your flight on the website to re-book the same flight, and they'll give you an eCredit for the price difference.

Depending on when you're traveling, you may want to avoid Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay. They're in the middle of a refurbishment, and there's daily construction from 9am-5pm. They also lock the balcony doors so the balconies are not accessible. The pool and pool bar are closed through January 2023. Per their website: Our hotel is undergoing exciting changes. Due to façade enhancements, guest room balconies may be inaccessible and work may be noticeable in the front drive. Due to facade enhancements, guest room balconies are not accessible; noise may be heard 9am-5pm daily. Due to pool deck resurfacing, pool and pool bar closed Jan 3-Dec 31, 2022. Please be aware there will be construction noise Monday - Friday from 9am - 5pm. During our enhancement project, restaurant hours and location may change. Our Concierge Lounge will remain closed through the end of 2022. Our pool and pool bar are closed for renovations. Guests are required to show a photo ID and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply. In the event of an early departure, the property will charge you the full amount for your stay. 180⁰ Pool Bar: Closed from Sun, Jan 23, 2022 until Sun, Jan 01, 2023

With the BYOTray route, if anyone stops you, I bet it will be to ask where you got your tray (because they're also looking for one). You may be a trendsetter! I could see a tray being added to some blogger's "List of 40 must-have items to bring on your cruise!"

It says "due to a berthing conflict," which means that multiple ships were scheduled to visit St. Thomas that day, and the port facilities and local tour operators may not be equipped to handle all of the ships adequately. The Harmony can carry over 6,000 passengers - I think the larger ships are more likely to be turned away when this kind of port conflict happens.

Yep, I think the introduction of specialty restaurants is when the quality of food started to decline across the board. Back in the mid-2000s when specialty dining options started becoming more prevalent, I used to think who would pay extra for food when there's fine food and atmosphere in the main dining room? I wonder if the decline in MDR food quality was done intentionally to incentivize guests to pay the surcharge for specialty dining, or if it's because now with so many specialty dining venues, their more senior and talented food and beverage staff are assigned to specialty restaurants while the more junior staff begin in the main dining room.

She'll be able to upgrade the WiFi for herself only easily once she's onboard. Just a note on the Free Internet - there is a $3.95 activation fee to use your free internet (not much, but not completely free as advertised). Also, since you only get 120 minutes, be sure to type in logout.com as soon as you're done browsing so that you don't accidentally spend all 120 minutes in your first session (simply closing the web browser on your phone does not always stop the minute ticker for internet usage).