cruisecraze96

I always being a notarized form stating that I can cruise with the kids without him. He hates cruises so those I take without him.

I have not there but have done it in St Thomas and it was a fun experience. If you have any issues with tight spaces or claustrophobia please do not attempt, my sister flipped out because of that that they had to bring her back up. But I loved it, not something you get to do all the time.

Thank you for posting, we are going on our first RCCL on the Allure in March on the Western route and this helps to give an idea on what to expect. DD 6 loves the camps on Carnival so it is good to know she will have a great time here too.

yes...make sure to wear "grippy" shoes...and the decks get HOT....

True, last cruise I had to take DD to have her foot looked after she decided to kick a rock ( just a blood blister ) and there was a guy there getting bandages and creams for his foot because he didn't wear shoes and burned the bottom of his feet. Of course they were trying to blame the ship and get out of paying the fee for the medicine and bandages. But it shows that you really need to wear shoes. I even have water shoes for the kids so when they get in and out of the pool they still have feet covering.

The hotel is pretty nice. I booked like I said through a bidding site, you know the dude with mad cow ( some of you may get that especially if you're from Boston) [emoji41] now when I booked I was actually able to tell it a room choice and Jr suites were one of the options so I knew it was the pier 66. The tower rooms are nice, but I'm hearing the garden rooms, not so much [emoji21] and they paid more for the garden rooms. Eek!

 

 

They said the only room they had left was not facing the port [emoji26] but it does have a nice view of the inlet and the ocean. I think it's because I used that bidding site, oh well I saved a ton a money.

 

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We stayed there last year before our June Cruise in a tower room and we loved the hotel, lots to do and several dining options onsite. The kids had a blast at the pool and the doing some of the outside activities.

Also suggest the Allure with your kids ages. I don't think having a stop at Port Canaveral excites me at all so would skip the Anthem just for that. They still have the dream works characters on the Allure and then there will be the zip line, rock climbing wall and flow rider for the teens and adults to try on the Allure.

So i'll preface this with I know everyone will have different opinions on this- as it goes with people and their kids... Just wondering how much freedom people give their kids on the boat? We are taking our kids for the first time this spring. We of course have our idea of what is and isn't ok for our kids but curious on what others do? Our kids are 11, 10, 8

My only experience has been with Carnival but:

At that age, I allowed her to go to the camp with check in and check out privileges and then she had specific decks she could check out and hang out with friends at. If she did want to check out to go have some ice cream then she had to call me first with where she was going, this was easy because I had a younger one in camp under 5 then and so had a phone she could call.

We set specific rules, no pool, never go into someone cabin or allow someone into yours. Basically it was lido and sports decks. Last cruise we were in the teen program and so it was a little nerve wracking but same rules and if you went someone I had to know locations plus we always do meals and shows together as a family.

You can follow the link in my original message (click on Mystic Mountain) to see their web site. They have a few pictures. Essentially, you take a ski lift through the rain forest to the top of a mountain. At the top is (or at least was in 2010) a restaurant, an infinity edge pool with a slide and a nice view of the Ocho Rios dock area, a small museum of sorts for the Jamaican Bobsled team, and of course a gift shop. You can ride the "bobsled" which is like the Dragon's Tail Coaster in Labadee, and/or take the Zipline tour through the forest (with some great views). If I remember correctly, the Zipline tour had 4-5 lines, a vertical drop, and I think a rope bridge. Both the bobsled and the Zipline tour end at the mid point of the chairlift where you can either ride back to the top or down to the bottom.

 

 

 

I took a quick look at their website and didn't see anything about minimum ages. My youngest was 12 when we were there and had no problems doing everything. Your kids might be a little young so you might want to contact them for more info.

I absolutely loved my mystic mountain experience when I was on the Carnival Freedom and the employees were top notch. I was traveling with my mom that trip and she didn't want to zip line so she waited for me. They knew that and took me a short cut back up the mountain instead of having to take the lift all the way down and back up again. It was rainy so didn't enjoy the pool but they also had walking trails a guide will take you on. Very nice place, the lift was a little white knuckle because it is high, but an amazing view.

We booked our next cruise for the ship not the itinerary. I have always wanted to go in the Allure and I know the kids will have a blast on her. We are now on the March 6 sailing going Western route and trying to figure out what to do for excursions.

Same situation here :), loved the hub app on carnival to keep in touch with my then 12 year old who will be 13 when we go on the Allure. Since sadly I still have to be somewhat available for work I will be getting the 2 device internet package and then that way we can use fb messenger to keep in touch on the ship. They do have iPhones you can rent for the week to keep in touch and they will run out early, but they have a hefty price tag if lost or damaged.

We have all the rules set on where she can/cannot go plus times to check in and time to be back. We always do dinner together and then there are other shows/activities that we try to do as a family as well. That way we have family time and some free time too.

We book both through the ship and private depending on the port, for Belize we booked private for a cave tube but sadly my sister decided to flake out because she was afraid there might be bats so we didn't do it (good thing was there was no out of pocket expense) but when there is extensive travel time then I prefer to book with the ship since it is almost like paying a little bit more for insurance. The ship is supposed to wait for all excursions through the ship to get back, and we have seen some cut it very close or run late.

When we have gotten off there was always a sign saying what time to be back, for the ones we have gone on this is SHIPS time not ISLAND time so make sure you know what time they are using. Usually the sign says to be back on the ship 1 hour prior to departure, but we always see people coming up minutes before. Cozumel is a good one to get back earlier for that way you can get a good spot to see everyone else running back later ;)

Hope you have a great trip :) I understand your frustration with the reviews but we are going to keep our fingers crossed that we pick some good ones.

When does it open up to book if you are in a suite? We are thinking about renting one since we have 1 room that is in a balcony and would like if we can all enjoy barefoot beach together that day.

We booked the Allure for next March because I really wanted to go on the ship and not for ports. So I plan on staying on the ship to relax and explore with the kids in Nassau at least.

Just booked CT to FLL for same dates... Because it is our sons March vacation..more schools are moving towards one week in March..... And sure enough what should have been a cheap fare on SWA was $575 pp.

 

 

 

Supply and demand....and we got some of the last seats at the lowest cost tier... Prices were only going up from there.

Same here, I found that if I flew in Friday morning and out on Monday it saved $1600 for the 3 of us. So I think even if I had to book a hotel for that one extra night I will still come out ahead. :) luckily my sister lives in ft Lauderdale so free rent for the nights.

Thanks, looking forward to this in March on the Allure. Was wondering if my 6 year old went what type of options she has.

Pretty sure the OP meant "Eastern" as in Eastern Caribbean. Not Easter as in the holiday during March or April time frame. The Western and Eastern times for shows and stuff can vary (since different sea days, etc)

That makes more sense since we are getting closer to when The Allure comes back to the Caribbean [emoji3]

I can't wait until after December when we can start seeing some Eastern cruise compasses with the new shows.

I can appreciate you are trying to give a gratuity to the camp counselor, but be aware that your waiters/assistant waiters work in all the food locations, not just the MDR. I would assume that your daughter had a snack/breakfast/occasional cookie or whatever outside of the camp. Therefore the tips should be left in place. If you decide to tip the camp staff that is entirely on your own. It's not really fair to take from me the food staff.

 

You mentioned you are new to RC. Didn't know if you were aware of this.

Trust me with 5 of us they get more than enough, plus I leave extra for the wait staff and any one who goes above and beyond. There are no auto gratuities for the camp and they work as hard our harder with our kids, and they are always very happy when I give them those envelopes.

We have always prepaid the gratuities, it is just part of the trip. But I have removed them from my youngest account and then taken that amount and split it between the camp and room steward. But that was because she always ate with camp, since this is my first royal cruise and she is getting older I will play it by ear. My oldest I just leave an extra tip for the camp since she eats with us most nights.

Our spring break cruise is the week of the 13th. For me I have found doing a cruise during spring break is very Fun and easier than trying to go to a beach or theme park

At what time can you start booking reservations? I noticed you said Easter, ours is during spring break and we cannot book anything yet.

Do we need to have cruise paid in full to book, not super worried (except comedy :) ) since we are in a suite but just curious.

My Wife has a service dog and the day we got her we stopped at a Pizza Joint on the way home and were thrown out because of the dog.

 

 

 

I didn't know the law then but within 24 hours I was an expert.

 

 

 

Service dogs are specially trained to perform specific tasks for their owner.

 

 

 

They are not pets, best friends, or for comfort! But as the owner and the dog bond the animal becomes everything above.

 

 

 

There are no State or Federal Licensing or Certification requirements!

 

 

 

 

 

And Please, please, please, never pet a Service Dog. They are working to serve the person they help and become very protective.

 

 

 

 

 

To the OP. If you need a Service Dog, get one specifically trained to help you with your disabilities. Part of the training is teaching them not to bark or yap and disturb others. Somewhere in CC is a thread about a "Yappy Dog" that never quit yapping and disturbed everyone it came in contact with. Check it out!

I have always taught my children to not pet the service dogs, especially when they have on the working vests. When we were at Disney this year I mentioned to my 5 year old to remember we don't pet the service animals since they are working hard and the wife of the man who needed him thanked me for that as we were in line.

My daughter has a friend who had part of her brain removed and the community and school raised money for a service dog to help with seizures and recovery. Every child in that school district knew him and also that when he had his blue vest he was busy but when they removed it he could then play.

We are cruising on the Carnival Breeze in January with our 1 year old. The port that I am having the most difficulty with planning is La Romana. I would love to hear what others who have visited this port with a small child have done. Thanks!

Honestly I would stay on the ship, or do we what I did and leave kids, mine were 5 and 12, for a little while so I could check things out and it was one of the scariest trips off the ship for me imo.

They will tell you that you must have a plan for that port, originally our plan was to go to Dreams which is an all inclusive but DH just did not feel like going anywhere the day we were there so that is why I had to improvise.

I am hoping that when we go on the Vista in 2017 that port is removed and switched to Amber cove

We are booked in cabian 11243 on the Breeze, which is a spa balcony. There are 4 of us and only the first 2 get the use of the spa.

That is correct, only the first 2 get access included. Also not all cabins on deck 11 are spa cabins. Make sure your category is one

Here is some information

Carnival Dream Spa Amenities

Note: Only 1st and 2nd guests in the Spa stateroom will receive the access and amenities; 3rd and 4th guests booked in Spa staterooms and suites are not entitled to spa access and amenities.

Amenities and offerings available to all the Spa accommodations include the following;

Welcome Reception/Ritual

Priority spa appointments for reservations made by 6:00pm on Embarkation day (as stated in the Welcome Letter).

Unlimited access to Thermal Suites:

Laconium

Tepidarium

Oriental Steam Bath

Aroma Steam Bath

Unlimited access to Thalassotherapy Pool:

Detoxify, unwind and revitalize your body in a pool which is gently heated to body temperature.

Ideal for alleviating arthritic pain, soothing sore muscles and offering relief for sport injuries.

Two complimentary fitness classes per person (Pilates, Yoga, Tai Chi)

Spa-branded bathrobes and slippers for use during the cruise

Cloud 9 Spa Carnival Products in Stateroom:

Elemis Carnival Shampoo and Conditioner

Elemis Carnival Sharp Shower Gel and Vitamin Rich Body Lotion

One hand and one body Elemis Carnival Soap Disk

I know there is a list of all concierge emails and can't find it! Can someone help? Sailing Oasis late October!

Found a thread when I was wondering an it shows that it is the first 2 letters of the ship name underscore concerige 01 @rccl for example when I emailed for Allure it was al_concierge01@rccl.com.

That got back very quickly

Join us on the Allure :) we have 5 of us in connecting rooms with a grand suite and a balcony. I am super excited to be going on the Allure and looking forward to all the activities and shows that it offers.

Whoops nevermind, saw your going 2017 and we are going 2016. Sure you don't want to go sooner :)