MandyMooToo

Basically, yes. The table(s) have some perks such as the champagne and I think a dedicated server. They may have had some snacks too? I do not remember the exact details but I can tell you that whatever it was, it wasn't worth $700-1000 for us. But the tables were full by the time the party started so I guess passengers were spending that cash!

They definitely required reservations for some venues and tables 2023-2024 NYE. The cost was from about $700-1000 per table and depending on which one you chose, a bottle of champagne was included. Rising Tide Bar, Schooner and some tables on the Promenade had to be reserved. I assume these areas were due to the NYE party on the promenade.

This is a great breakdown! The issue for us, personally, is the we will have 4-6 alcoholic beverages a day. Each one is usually about $14 per drink. Top shelf G&T, piña coladas, martinis, etc, are at the high end. So even with the refreshment package we would spend more. We paid $1271.76, total, for our deluxe package for the August Icon cruise. Besides that fact, it is our 20th anniversary while on the cruise so we thought it would be really nice to not have to even think about it!

We sail Icon in August and paid $76.99 per person, per day. It is worth it for us, even though my husband is not a big drinker, because the package is not just for alcohol. I drink a lot of sparkling water and will have some diet sodas on the cruise too. Most of the top shelf drinks are around $14 each, sodas a few dollars each and San Pellegrino too! We usually have a latte or cappuccino of some sort to start the day and a few alcoholic bees by the pool throughout the day, a glass or two of wine at dinner and maybe even a drink at a show. Sprinkle in the water and sodas and you don't have to be huge drinkers to break even.

We were on Wonder over this past NYE. The pricing, in our opinion, was ridiculous. We went to the pub and found tables/seats right in front of the "window" looking out on the promenade and had a blast. No reservations needed.

Monos Hybrid line. We have two carryons, a trunk and two of their travel backpacks. Have used them for years now and they're great.

I am so tempted to change flights to a 10am departure out of Miami. Delta rebooked us due to a "flight change" and now we have a 5 hour layover in Atlanta and won't make it home until after 10pm. I have to travel for work the very next day so this is a PITA. But I worry about missing the 10am flight and getting home even later, or worse, the next day...🤦‍♀️

This is our rule, regardless of who we are traveling with. We have a couple that we try to travel with at least once a year and this rule is why, I believe, we have remained traveling friends for so long. The same goes for traveling with our children and their spouse(s). If you want to hang together, fine if we agree on an activity (or lack thereof). Otherwise, we will see you at dinner. Makes for relaxing vacations with the element of being social too. For the record, we tend to still spend a decent amount of time with the other couple but usually do not meet up until after lunch each day. Our son and DIL typically want to hang out with us most of the day but still wander off on their own at times too. It is really nice to have no expectations.

You can go to the MDR and ask that you all be moved to MTD as soon as you board. But I would suggest reaching out to RCCL dining beforehand by email. The ship and sail date must be in the subject line and then list names, booking numbers and cabin numbers (if they have them and aren't awaiting a guaranty assignment) of everyone. Ask that all reservations be moved to MTD. The biggest thing to consider here is will you want to eat together in groups of more than 4 or 6? If so, then you need to plan for what nights, times, etc. and ask to be accommodated. My concern would be moving everyone from a connected dinner reservation that is set to MTD and then 8-11 people showing up for a table at a random time. Who knows how long you would have to wait??

And this is the biggest reason that I hate the buffets. I love the options but the idea of people being gross AF and touching things without washing their hands is 🤢 Adult or child, it is disgusting.

We typically make Saint Martin a beach day. We take the water taxi over to the shopping area and reserve beach chairs (wifi and a bucket of beverages is usually included) then do some shopping and maybe have some lunch. Most all the resorts/hotels near the water taxi have chais and umbrellas to rent out for the day. We usually pay $15-20 per person and a server comes around to take drink orders or you can go to the bar associated with the chair rentals. The rentals also usually come with use of facilities such as bathrooms and sometimes showers.

To be fair, we spent $2660 total, on an interior plus, for our August sailing on Icon. Prices have gone nuts since we booked, in my opinion, but not all those cabins were sold at such a high rate.

I agree. I think the reason they are not vigilant at the hot tubs is because people (regardless of age) are less likely to drown in one when they are full of people staring across the water at each other in a circle, lol. The life guards are usually more aware of the pools themselves. We have seen them remove children multiple times in pools, sadly hot tubs get ignored.

Just complained here, I am sure. HA HA HA. I jest. But really, for as many of these complaining posts, there will be people defending the children using the pools for toilets and then those that defend the adults that never leave the hot tubs after drinking all day. "It is my cruise too" or "my children deserve to have fun too." While that is true, most all of these problems can be eliminated by: Adults acting like they have sense and going leaving the bodies of water to use the restroom, parents not placing their children in situations where they have "accidents" (because let's be honest, it is not the fault of the children), and the staff trying their best to stay on top of it all. This is not Icon specific behavior by any means. On our RCCL cruises we have watched life guards and other staff members make children get out of the pools when they are in diapers, not so much the hot tubs though. I am not sure why anyone would allow their children in the hot tubs as I always thought they were unsafe for children but I could be wrong. Last cruise, or the one before, A family pushed into the hot tub we were in, and I do mean pushed-they physically sat down where there was no space and I sat in my husband's lap! They had three small children and one was in a diaper. Dad (I assume) placed the baby on his knee while the others stood and bounced/jumped around and then floated in the center wearing floaty lifejacket things. The other adults just got out and gave them the hot tub because it was uncomfortable for all of us. Once before a young man got in wearing snorkel gear and was "swimming" around snorkeling in the hot tub while his mother sat in a chair watching from afar. Nothing was said to these kids or their families. But in the main pool, the life guards were on top of making diapered children get out. Who knows why one is different?

It was not available for us last cruise on Wonder in December. We always enjoyed it but I do not know that it was any healthier than anything you could have gotten in the WJ, just prepared in front of you and chopped nicely.

No concerns for us above the normal, don't flash cash or wear lots of jewelry, don't lay your bag down anywhere, don't wander down any alleys, etc. But to me, that is common sense in any place, anywhere in the world. We were in Cozumel in November and will be there again in a few months. Can't wait, we always enjoy that port.

We like to watch the live map in the mornings while getting ready and then at night when winding down before bed. It is nice to spend a little crash time together, vegging out after a busy day. The channel options are not great but we can usually find something to play that isn't too annoying and on our Wonder cruise last year we could airplay to the TV and watch whatever we wanted to. That was nice!

Very moving! I admit to crying a few tears.

You never know. Our experiences have been yes, you can take it onboard and no, you can't. So we typically just take one and if they deny us then we pick it up on the way home. It has been 50/50 in the last two years.

The last time we flew into Sanford we rented a car and drove to the hotel, nearer to Port Canaveral. The morning of the cruise we returned the car and they shuttled us to the port.

Sign into your cruise and check the excursions for Miami. I know for cruise port to airport they have shuttles that are typically around $25 pp for port to airport.

I am certain the timing of our visit, shortly after they opened and not long before Covid, has a lot to do with the situation. This will be our first trip back to Costa Maya since and I wanted to try something new, without having to do the AI thing. CM may become a port that we remain on the ship for in the future. Thank you for the feedback!

Thank you, we will likely wind up at KL. About 4 years ago, give or take, we tried Malecon21 and were disappointed. Granted, they had just opened up so maybe they have improved but we didn't enjoy it as much as we hoped to. At the time they had one or two AI packages to choose from, we chose the highest priced package even though we knew we wouldn't spend that much PAYG (just didn't want to have to be concerned with any extra fees aside from tips). When we arrived we were given four chairs that were split far enough away from each other (in different rows too) that we could not hang out with the other couple in our group even though they were not busy yet, and yes, we reserved together. Then they brought drink menus and each drink we picked they said we could not have. They said AI packages could only have frozen drinks (Pina coladas mainly) and a rum punch type of drink, can't remember what it was called, and a couple of other single liquor/mixer type drinks. The food was vey limited too, we could not choose what we wanted off the menu. When we complained they just said "sorry." Drink service was very poor too, even though we were tipping well. Probably got three drinks all day? So maybe they have gotten it together and are much better now, but I really dislike the idea of AI unless it is a resort with lots to do/benefits that will keep us there all day. Guess it cannot hurt to try KL and see how it goes this time, thanks again!

We have not been to CM in about 4 years and did a resort for a day with forced AI fees. It was okay but we do not want to go that route again this cruise. Would it be possible to just get a taxi to a beach and walk/chill/swim then PAYG for drinks and lunch? Any beach anyone would suggest?

If I remember correctly, most of the RCCL ships tend to have Clinique, Lancôme, Clarins, and some have Chanel also. Haircare tends to vary quite a bit, I believe. You can often get an idea of haircare brands by looking at salon service offerings. Sometimes they say "Kerastase treatment" or something along those lines.