SuiteLady

12 hours ago, shazza_h said:

We did the dolphin encounter at Blue Lagoon too. You go in groups of about 20 down to the platform which is on the water.  Everyone wears a swim vest.  Then smaller groups of around 6 get to spend some time in the water with the dolphins. The water was freezing in January!  LOL. The interraction with them is about the same, you get to pat them, they give you a kiss, they do tricks etc.  Of course the staff takes heaps of photos and you can buy them later -but I can't recall what the prices were.  

 

The dolphin (swimming) excursion is right next to this one.  Looks a lot of fun - you get pushed through the water by the dolphins or you hold their fin etc so you have to be ok with that and being in the water.   This dolphin excursion was definately more swimming based and that sounds like what you are after.  Here is us back in January:

 

If I do this excursion, my mother will be with me....my question is, how do you get down to the platform, ladder?  And if so, is it easy to use?  Some can take more effort, especially getting out!  Are there options for those who may have difficulty getting in and out by a ladder?  Thank you and looks like ur family had a fabulous time!

This is the only one that I remember, as far as a "themed" party. 

Only advantage for me is the $100 pp deposit and usually some OBC.  However, as some stated above, it is usually non-refundable.  I believe they give u 30 or 60 days to make any changes??  I do believe that Next Cruise folks are sourced out by Royal and are not actual employees of Royal, so you do need to be careful that you get accurate info!!

7 hours ago, Lmm79 said:

Unles you kid is developmentally delayed in someway, there is no reason they can’t be potty trained by 3. But if you can’t get your kid trained don’t be gross and ruin everyone else’s kids vacation. 

Wow.....just wow (Obviously the part about being trained by age 3)

15 hours ago, pisymbol said:

 

Carnival is pretty much out because we live only an hour away from Cape Liberty.

Carnival goes out of Manhattan- just a hop, skip, and jump away from Cape Liberty.....

I am looking to do this excursion on my next cruise, also.  From what I have researched, it looks like Blue Lagoon is more favorable!  Many say Atlantis is over priced and you have to wear wet suits and on Blue Lagoon you wear vests.  I am planning on booking Blue Lagoon, if in fact I choose to do this excursion.  It looks like there are 2 that you can choose from:  a "Discover", which is getting into the water with the dolphins and petting/kissing and getting pics and the other involves the same with the addition of actually holding onto their fin and being pulled through the water by the dolphin (seems like the only difference that I have seen).  Maybe someone who has actually done this can comment?

11 minutes ago, boscobeans said:

 

Lol.... I stand to b corrected!  I got my decks confused!

23 hours ago, boscobeans said:

If you have assigned traditional dining can you still eat in the American Icon?

I chose 5:30 MTD and was in American Icon.... u will b assigned Icon or Silk on the 3rd deck.  4th deck is for traditional dining

In Anthem we did MTD and never waited more than 5 min!  They have a menu of items that appear each night and then a few that r different every night.  Found the choices to b plenty, as I always found something each night and food was good.  The tables do tend to b close to each other, but it did not bother us.... 

20 minutes ago, big al said:

 

SuiteLady- Thanks for the tips!! I heard the same about Wonderland..wife kinda picky..don't think we will try it...which other DR had MTD besides American Icon, do you know?

Had a wine tasting in Chic, so I was in there.  This was on deck 3...  Mostly white décor and perhaps looked "fancier".  I enjoyed the American Icon too....I think they are all nice in their own way.  You may want to youtube the dining rooms and get a better idea of exactly how they look....Deck 3 was traditional dining (set times) and deck 4 was MTD (my time dining). 

Sailed on Anthem in May.....2 of the MDR's are My Time Dining and the other 2 are for set time dining.  Your dining room will be listed on your SeaPass card.  I had MTD and was assigned the American Icon.  We had a table for 2 in American Icon- all dining venues can accommodate a table for 2.  All the dining venues have the same menu.  Lobster night is always done on the 2nd formal night and you can get as many as you like!  The guy at a table near us had 12!!  Lol.....I did not eat in Wonderland....friends of mine did and HATED it!  Very mixed reviews- I think either you love it or hate it....lol.  Enjoy the Anthem....I loved the ship!

They usually have wheelchairs with large beach wheels on them, and for a tip, they will "drive" you wherever you want to go!  I always see them on Labadee, however I have not been to Coco Cay yet (going next May!), but I am sure they have them too....maybe someone who has been there can attest to this?

It will be waiting in your room! 

I have sailed out of Bayonne several times and I find that arriving between 10-10:30 is perfect.  The line of traffic getting to the pier has not backed up too much yet, and last time we checked in and literally walked right on the ship- no waiting!  We might have had priority embarkation though, but I have had that before and had to wait for a bit.  At Cape Liberty, the check in counters are by class:  Gold, Platinum, Emerald, Suites, Key, Pinnacle, etc. 

2 hours ago, SoccerMom#3 said:

I just booked this for our Harmony cruise in May.  Do we get a full day pass for just one person or for all 4 of us for the $499?

U get up to 6 day passes, so yes... all 4 will get day passes!!

On my upcoming Oasis cruise in May 2020, a Thrill Water park cabana went from $999 to $899 and now $499!!  Day passes for the water park are listed at $75 each, so according to the math.....if a family/ group of six people go to the water park and want a cabana, they are actually only paying $50 more for the cabana!!

16 hours ago, molsonschooner said:

I have had trouble getting fresh squeezed orange juice the last morning

I got it on my last cruise, on the Anthem, in May.....we ate breakfast in the dining room on morning of departure

I am always anal when it comes to excursions.....I start researching at a year or more out....I read reviews and get opinions on here from others who have done them....then I also try to do something that is not readily available for me to do here!  It always works out well and although some are better than others, I have never (knock on wood) had a terrible excursion!  Just for the record, I have done one's through Royal and also private....I'm sure you will have a great time in whatever you decide to do!!

Just sailed Anthem out of Cape Liberty in May....the gangway was relatively short and not much of an incline, compared to some....I have gone out of Cape Liberty on others, and there was more of an incline.  I think it depends on the water level on the day of boarding?  Like other posters above stated, they are very accommodating and will direct you accordingly!

22 hours ago, ONECRUISER said:

As you know these prices vary so much between sailings and ships, seen higher and lower. Some by a lot. Currently my Apr/May 2020 Cruise Thrill Water Park & Cabana is $399. The Chill, Lagoon and Oasis Cabana's are listed at $599 each. 

Wow...my May 2020 sailing is listing Thrill Park Cabanas @$899 and the others @ $799!!....so inconsistently, consistent

My Oasis sailing on May 17, 2020 is currently at $54 pppd....was as high as $64, buuuttttt I got in on the Royal beverage glitch and am paying $18pppd, which is the lowest I have ever seen!!.  My recent Anthem sailing was $48pppd.....

Sailed the Anthem in May, and our entertainment/ Ifly/ North Star opened up around 5 months before and online registration at around 90 days out.  Dining/ Spa/ Excursions can always be booked a lot earlier than the entertainment and some onboard activities.  U just have to keep checking ur cruise planner....another good way is to make sure you join your roll call on here- that is how I got wind of when the entertainment and activities opened up!  I loved the Anthem!  I will be sailing on the Oasis next May....:)  Enjoy ur cruise and the Anthem!

On ‎8‎/‎27‎/‎2019 at 7:22 PM, suesnake2002 said:

Our seven day cruise ended up being ten days

 

Silly question in the grand scheme of things,  but did you get 7 or 10 days credit to your C&A??

I was on Anthem in May and we had an extra day (9-day turned into 10-day), due to a medical emergency and needing to go 12-hours out of our way to dock for the patient needing heart surgery.  We got 10 C&A points, not 9! 

I did this tour in May (through Royal), while on the Anthem....the tour busses are at the end of the pier and to the right.  We enjoyed our tour.  I have been to OSJ a few times, but never really did anything beyond shopping near the port, the casino (which isn't there any longer), and Senor Frogs, so opted for a tour this time.  We saw many things and got off the bus several times...stop at a beach and at a Fort (not the one by the pier, but the other end of town), also got off by the government buildings.  Saw a lot and very informative- glad I did it.  Forget how long the tour was, maybe 2.5-3 hours- just long enough.....

On ‎8‎/‎21‎/‎2019 at 8:32 AM, peanut1277 said:

tree-skier we are on the Explorer of the sea and leave port on Jan 2020 . thank you for the helpful info 

The Explorer was my first RCI ship!  She was the reason that I fell in love with RCI (Did Carnival previously). I have become accustomed to liking the larger ships (Quantum and Oasis classes), but Explorer was lovely when I sailed on her!  We had the aft 2 bedroom family suite and it was a very memorable cruise!  I am sure you will enjoy her!  We ate in the MDR every night and had great service.  We always do pre-paid gratuities and then tip extra along the way.  I also usually do the beverage package- seems like a steep price, however as others said above, I find it easy to always get my monies worth!  Also beats signing a receipt each time you get a drink (just more convenient).  On Labadee, you use your beverage package just like you are on the ship!  I love Labadee (been there 4-5 times) and my next cruise I will actually be going to CoCo Cay,which I have never been to before!  Haven't been to the other ports yet.  Again, enjoy!  I have to wait until May 2020 (going on the Oasis this time).