pasodancer

Also includes specialty coffee (w/ liquor such as Irish Coffee, Captains, Call, etc. in Café Promenade (as well in all restaurants and the MDR).

Totally agree w/ Oasis class as 1st choice - it will be an amazing vacation with a lot of onboard experiences for the grandkids and you!

Our son walked off around 9am - know idea how much later folks were leaving.

8 hours ago, brillohead said:

OP stated that the water park cabanas are sold out, so they're considering purchasing a Chill Island cabana in addition to the water park passes they already purchased.  

I just don't see the point in getting a cabana outside of the water park when you have water park passes.

 

 

You are so right - I totally missed that..........thank you for the catch!

Thrill Water Park Cabanas come w/ 6 passes to the Waterpark.  At the time I purchased the Cabana it was $599 - for 6 people that isn't a bad deal considering you also get the secure storage, a dedicated server, lunch menu served in cabana, water & sodas (also could use our DBP there also).   The server saved us precious time waiting in line (loved that call button).  When the individual park passes were going for $89 back when we purchased the cabana - it was just a little more for the convenience of the cabana.

Always have a plan B - just in case!

On Symphony - we all had to wait in our cabins until they announced (TV - Channel 2) that self-assist was open and you could make your way to the gangway.  Announcement was made right around 7:05 am and we were off the ship & thru customs and in a taxi by 7:20am.

We paid $599 for ours (booked it in April '21).  Was for Oct sailing.  Kept looking for price drop, but it seemed to go up up up~!

We LOVED The Thrill Park Cabanas (10/2/21 SOS).  Has a server (you get a call button) to bring you food & beverages, a coffee table (which is a locker on 1 end for your valuables), and so conveniently located to other areas, restrooms, etc.   (and admission to Thrill Water Park of course).  

Would highly recommend wearing water shoes if walking around the island - ground gets a little warm.

Also - ask your server for a "secret sandwich" - chicken sandwich w/ mozzarella sticks & pickles on it.  

I would Uber it.  Distance is about 3 miles (+/- dependent upon possible road construction/detours in the area).  

So glad you had the back-up plan - that must have been so stressful, then relief knowing you had Plan B if needed

Did mine at noon on a Thursday and waited maybe a minute on hold.

we got the booster shot exactly 14 days prior to boarding.  But, the agents were only concerned with the 2nd Shot date, not the booster shot date.  (10/2/21 sailing).

best to do "self-assist" walk-off (hopefully you have priority departure).  

Anytime Up to boarding time.  

or order 2 Ubers.  You can get the blow-up car seats - just used them for the 1st time and they were invaluable ($35/Amazon).  Go to the FL Departures board for more help.

BTW - From Marriott Biscayne Bay to port - we used Larry's Limo for 5 adults, 1 child & 8 large luggage & numerous carry-ons.  Total cost was $187.  Excellent service.  Will definitely use them again.

Boleros has nightly Latin Music, Royal Promenade had a live band early evenings (rock & roll w/ oldies mixed in).  Dazzles has a live band (same one from Royal Promenade) and there is the JAZZ CLUB on deck 4 which has live music.  Don't forget during the day and sometimes early evening there is live music on deck.  (Symphony 10/2 sailing)

don't recall seeing it on Symphony (10/2)

15 hours ago, GetMeToTheSpa said:

We plan to roll our luggage on the ship because I don't want to wait for it to be delivered.  Plus its only a weekend cruise so we won't have much. 

What time are the cabins usually ready? Our boarding time is around noon, but the ship doesn't sail until 7pm.   

Are we allowed to drop off luggage near the cabin doors or leave just inside the closet or something?  Or will the corridors be blocked off?

Any other options other than lugging it around the ship? 

Its Freedom of the Seas.  Thank you! 

Last week on Symphony - cabin corridors were blocked off until just after 2 pm (when cabins opened).  You will need to lug it around the ship (we arrived at 1pm and went to eat lunch & began utilizing our drink package until the cabins opened and then deposited carry ons in the cabin.  Our regular luggage didn't arrive until 4pm ish).  

34 minutes ago, sandc4e said:

Nope, you have to get those at a bar.  If you order alcohol drinks on the room service menu you will be charged.

 

The only alcoholic drink I've seen on a room service menu is Mimosa at breakfast.

9 hours ago, Sayuil said:

Sorry for off topic, you just came back from cruises. Can you confirm if you saw car rental shuttle running between MIA and POM

Sorry - wasn't looking for shuttles - just Uber or Taxi.  Saw plenty of "MIA Airport Buses" & Private Company Shuttles but really didn't notice any rental car shuttles.

on 10/9/21 we walked off (Self Assist) Symphony at 7:10 (Gangway opened around 7:05am).  Breezed thru Customs (now electronic facial recognition system) and was in a taxi by 7:20 and at the Miami Airport at 7:45am.  BUT, Miami Airport was PACKED - (MSC Ship also).  Took us over 30 minutes in line to do self-check-in, another 20 minutes to self-check bags then 45 minutes to go thru security.  We didn't get to our gate until after 9am.   We were very LUCKY to be able to walk extremely fast, have a taxi driver who thought he was in the Indy 500 and knew exactly where to go to get us to the right check in area.  It also helped that we had Priority Departure (at 7 am or when gangway opened).  Do not recommend trying to get to the airport too early unless you are a seasoned traveler and can carry own luggage and speed walk.

We contacted the Special Needs Department (also distilled water) and it was waiting for us when we got to our cabin.  Did you contact Special Needs or just RCI Customer Service?

We were in a CLS last week on Symphony (Sky Class)....no Free On Demand Movies for us.  I also believe it is a Star Class Suite.

We did max bids last week (Symphony) for 3 Star Class Suites ....were in Sky Class Suites.  Did not win.