roadburner

A copy of custody papers and BC should take care of it.  If she didn’t have custody she would need written permission from both parents, signed by both parents, as well as BCs and health forms. (Been there, done that, several times.)

As of this afternoon, no health form required at all.

We cruise six to twelve times a year depending on length.  The only thing slowing us down is this darn virus and the ship stoppage.

2 hours ago, paula2051 said:

Hypertension has also been added to the list of underlying conditions.  So if you take bp meds and are over 70, you can not cruise.  If the policy doesn't change, I will have to resort to land tours.  I'll wave to you from shore!  🙂 

My brother was found to have high blood pressure (sky High) when he was being drafted back in 1966.  A week of testing followed in a local hospital with no cause found.  He was exempt from the draft and been on BP meds ever since, otherwise he is a very healthy and active 71 yo.  I’m sure that his Dr. would happily sign the form for him.

He and my DIL were on Enchantment in late February/early March.

I read it.  Didn’t say much and didn’t explain anything.

They are changing the age breakups in the Kids Club so that siblings (and cousins) are not as separated and there is more of a family feeling amoung the young cruisers.  I would suggest calling RCCI and asking about the program on your particular cruise. Dinner, with or without the children is often the parents choice.  Our grands have always loved the “kids club” and are hard to drag away.

Serenade spends much of the year out of North America where “freestyle” is not supported

After several day trips on Labadee, we no longer go ashore there.  The last three times that we have been there, maybe just a coincidence, but the DH has come home with pneumonia.  When  we stay aboard all is well.  Plus we have never found anything in the markets that we had to have.  Yes, there are lots of interesting and unusual things, but we can display only so much ‘stuff”.  And as far as gifts go, we have to consider the likes and dislikes of possible recipients.  Most people don’t appreciate “aboriginal” art from someplace they’ve never been.

Having a near-empty ship is a delight like few others.  Quiet areas abound.

One is more likely to see dolphins on sea days if occupying  a cabin very near the bow of the ship.  We have seen them both before and after the canal on Panama Canal cruises. We have also seen them on a cold October day off the Maritimes.  Dolphins were spotted several times while on Symphony last spring.  Just keep your fingers crossed and watch the water.

My parents gave us our first ever RCCL cruise on Legend of the Seas to Alaska in June, 1996 for our 25th anniversary. We had a starboard cabin  on deck 6 OV (pre-balcony days).As we were sailing through the Inside Passage and preparing for formal night, a movement along the shore caught our attention.  It turned out that a family of sea otter were romping and playing near the shore. We both stopped what we were doing to watch their antics.  We watched and laughed until they were pretty much too far away to see.  As we turned away from the window to continue dressing, our eyes fell to the bed tables. There in plain sight, unused but on the ready, were both our still camera and movie camera!😂

Kay (& Steve)

We have taken several family cruises over the years, babies thru great grandparents.  Everyone would do their own thing, singularly or in “cousin groups” during the day and we would meet and have dinner as a family to discuss our respective experiences during the day. (This didn’t work well on NCL as they don’t like accomplishing large groups until “late” when the grands want to retire and the tots have fallen asleep! ). Meeting up in the evening like this worked for us as no one felt pressured to take part in an activity that had no interest to them.

1 hour ago, Cyn874 said:

I'm currently packing for my Alaska cruise on Ovation, and now I'm wondering if I'm preparing to overdress. I have all dressy slacks and dressy blouses like I'd wear to work in an office, nothing much in the way of casual. I cruise Princess a few months ago and that might be an older demographic than RCI. Am I right? Maybe I'd do better to put in some more casual blouses and nice jeans.

On the larger ships expect a lot of families.  Since school has started, most of the children will be well-behaved as they are probably home schooled.

Onboard the ship, I usually wear the stretchy maxi dresses with only one or two pairs of capris & tee shirts for Excursions where a dress might not be appropriate.

I’m sorry for your loss, but welcome to a whole new way of life.

The tram has a stop right by the cabanas and there are paved walkways everywhere so the walk won’t be very far.  However, a scooter will probably get bogged in sand unless it has balloon tires. The walk from the tram stop to any particular cabana is across sand, not recommended for scooters.  We have a scooter but leave it on the ship both at Coco Cay and at Labadee.

One’s cruise card has the Coke emblem on it.  Simply show it at any bar and receive the beverage of your choice.  No need to carry the cup around unless by choice.

For our “Perfect day at cocoa cay”, we plan to stay on board.

Please, John, where is CK on Symphony?  I can’t find it on the deck plan and it doesn’t show up in my cruise planner.

Just finished scheduling all the entertainment for our September cruise on Symphony.  If Royal insists on building bigger and “better” cruise ships and retiring the smaller ships with no replacement to size, I guess I, (we) will have to find another line before long.  We cruise to relax, not to stress out over scheduling!!!!!!! Our vacation!!!!

Thoughts on dining in “Hooked Seafood” on Symphony? Quality, quantity, value, etc.?

There are paved walkways and scooters get around relatively well.  Unless you have balloon tires, don’t try the sand.

I’ve never cruised on Carnival. Their maintenace record is not the greatest.  Howeve I’ve cruised, not exclusively, on Royal since 1996. 

For My Time Dining, my advise is to prebook your favorite dining time.  After the first night, if you don’t care for the location, service, waiter, etc. speak to the representative at the entrance desk and ask for a different location for tomorrow.  Otherwise you will probably get the same table and wait staff.  Without rebooking you may have to stand in line and wait for a table.  If you have a set table and time, it is courtesy to let them know if you have reservations in a specialty restaurant.  

Reservations for entertainment depend on which ship.  Smaller ships there is usually no worries, except be there early.  Larger ships need reservations for Broadway shows, 240 shows, aquatic shows, etc.  without reservations there is usually a long line of first come, first seated..

Don;t know what the HUB is, but there is an RCI app which I never use.  I do the on-line chesk-in, print my Set Sail forms and luggage tags.  I pre-book excursions, either through the ship or off ship, and once on board, I plan to relax and let my vacation happen.

Kay

We always bring a “car vent clip”.  Clip it to the vent on the ceiling, virtually invisible.  We leave it when we leave the ship.  Maybe the next guests can benefit.?

I had to enlarge it greatly to read it.  If I were not also booked onSymphony, I would not have bothered trying to read it.

Look at WalMart, Michael’s, Hobby Lobby scrapbooking section. They have several larger scrapbook cut-outs in tropical and cruising themes.  Stick on tissue paper and tear off or cut off the excess.  Glue magnet(s) on back.

The only thing that I have ever had disappear from my door was a single letter from “Happy Easter”.  I’m inclined to think it wasn’t stuck well, fell off and went traveling on someone’s shoe. I started decorating my door every cruise some 20 years ago and have a goodly supply of seasonal door decor.  For our upcoming cruise I have both Mardi Gras and St Patrick’s.

On one of our cruises out of Galvestonwe had left our stop and we’re headed for our last stop in Cozumel when the captain came on the PA to say “Please make welcome Mr & Mrs wxyz from the carnival xxx.  They missed their ship and will be our guests to Cozumel where they will rejoin their own cruise.  It was lucky for them that we had been shadowing them since leaving Galveston, always an hour behind them,  same ports all the way.

’t know if ships do this often or how much it may have cost the couple, but they got back here they belonged.