Katana_Geldar

Lifou is not that big, you can walk to Jinek Beach for the good snorkeling.

There's are plenty of places in the tourist areas around circular quay that sell duty free stuff.

I like not having tours, Mystery Island has to be one of the last untouched bits of paradise left.

Stay safe, Rhapsody. Hope you come through ok.

I wouldn't put them on the outside of my door, they might get pinched. Someone stole our Just Married sign from our door on our honeymoon. It was replaced and out in the inside if the door.

The Workd is definitely where I want to retire, do they allow pets?

Also on the list is transpacific cruise. Fly to LA for a few days, then Hawaii then cruise back.

Everything is taken care of, including breakfast which they can bring to you in bed.

Early morning swims followed by early morning cocktail

Formal night and seeing everyone dressed up to the nines.

DH and I want to have a last cruise on the Rhapsody before she leaves Sydney for good. We honeymooned on her.

We did not bring our children until they were around 3 years old.

 

Anything younger than that is too much hassle..

We did want to wait, but we want to go back on the Rhapsody before it leaves Sydney for good.

Thanks for your input.

What about changing facilities on board? Are they in the bathrooms? I don't remember seeing them when I was there, but then I wasn't looking.

Rhapsody of the Seas is leaving Sydney for good next year, DH and I honeymooned on Rhapsody in 2013 and we wanted to go back before it left but didn't think we would be able to. Now it looks as if we might and possibly take our son who will be 9 months old when we plan to go, march next year.

We are looming at getting either balcony or suite guarantee.

So I'd like to ask you people what is it like cursing with a 9 month old?

How different is a suite to a balcony room? I understand the cabin is slightly bigger and there's the bath, but would it be more comfortable for a by in a suite?

Will we be provided with a travel cot or should be bring our own? Same with bed linen and mattress? (Luggage is not an issue as we aren't flying to the port)

What about laundry? I remember the laundry service being rather pricey.would it be worth taking oodles of clothes or trying to do it in our room?

What services are provided for babies under a year old? I know he's too young to go to Adventure Ocean, but what is there for him? Can he be watched by a sitter in our room and how much is that?

What is the policy for restaurants with a baby? Can he sit in the MDR in a high chair? In Windjammer? In the speciality restaurants? Is he allowed in the lounges with us?

And more importantly, can the kitchen make his food as in steamed and blended fruit and vegetables? I've hard they're not allowed to blend, so perhaps should we get a manual hand blender for him. I don't want to have him on the commercial baby food unless we have to.

And are their changing facilities for him in the bathrooms in the ship?

Is it okay to do the paddle pool option by getting water from the pool for him and them emptying it a drain? I assume we can't take him into solarium at all.

Thanks so much, we still aren't 100% if we are going at all but everything would help so much.

Also saying when we put them out there we do put them in the alcove, next to our door on the blank bit of wall so it doesn't take up much space. If there are two trays, we stack them and the plates and move the left over food to the top dishes and cover them with the lids.

Our room was small, just a regular ocean view and the tray took up space we needed to get ready for the day.

BTW, Australian hotels have a great thing here that's unfortunately dying: the breakfast hutch. Breakfast is delivered here and the tray goes there when you leave. And yes, it wouldn't be feasible in a ship, but oh well..

If it's an issue, it's not hard to out on the room service menu: "Please call room service when you have finished to have your tray collected".

Though I imagine they would get a lot of calls and it may be hard to get through and order something.

I recall RCI's guest information kit clearly stating that used room service items should not be placed in the corridor -- echoing the request made by every line I've sailed.

 

I am concerned by your attitude about something not being a problem if it is not "...brought up by one of the staff..." Is that your approach towards not urinating in hot tubs or swimming pools?

No, but not everyone pees in the pool and everyone leaves their trays outside the rooms. If everyone who left a tray outside their room also peed in the pool, then yes we would have a problem.

I'm sorry, but I disagree. Leaving trays in the corridor is something that everybody does. DH and I ordered room service quite a few times on our honeymoon with RCI and left the tray (or trays if there was more than one) out every time. If this is a problem for staff, surely something would be said?

And we didn't just pile everything on trays. We made sure plates were stacked and everything neat to minimise any movement. And the trays never stayed long out there anyway, someone would always pick them up.

I understand it may be a safety thing, but unless I see it being brought up by one of the staff while on the cruise I don't really see the problem.

I love formal night, it makes everything more special. Everyone dressed up to the nines, the band and dancing in the centrum. I have found that it's during formal night that the drink staff in the dining room will have shooters.

DH and I bought RCI robes as part of our package and I love them, so comfy and useful. They're coming with us on our next cruise.

Our just married sign was taken day 1 if the cruise. We got a new one that they put up higher but we instead put it on inside of door.

For some reason it happens more when in narrow corridors. My husband and I had it for about two weeks after.

Getting off Rhapsody in a few hours. Both DH and I brought a bottle of wine on board but its drinks significantly cheaper and the champagne in our room due to the package, I don't think they were needs.

Three.

Clock is on US time, it's three.

$55 a day does seem a bit much. How many drinks would I be having a day for that much in an RCI ship anyway? I really don't like how it's set up, for that much they could include coffees and teas and room service.

No multiple drinks? You can't send someone to the bar to get them for everyone?

That's a bit pedantic.

Happy to see its going to be implemented for our cruise though!

I think that making everyone in the cabin get it is a bit much.

The packages will be available on all Royal Caribbean sailings of seven nights or longer by early 2013. Passengers must be 21 years old or older to buy one of the packages and must make the purchase on the first day of a sailing.

 

A caveat: If one passenger in a cabin buys one of the packages, each additional passenger age 21 years and over in the same cabin also must buy the package -- a rule presumably enacted to prevent cabin mates from sharing a package.

How early? We're cruising in January 2013 from Sydney.

It won't be allowed on. They have specially trained dogs that can tell if your wine is made from honey instead of grapes.

I guess that's a yes ?

Would I be allowed to take on Metheglin? It's a fortified honey wine. In a wine bottle, LOOKS like wine but its made from honey, not grapes.

Any ideas? If not I'll take a bottle of my favoured sparkling wine. But there are a few things that fit under the 'wine' heading.