miamimere

Just now, Ashland said:

What level of C&A are you ?...If at least D you may have vouchers to use. I would hold off on purchasing the package...see how things are going by the time you sail.

This cruise with double points will put us at Diamond, but we will be Emerald coming in... 

I am just trying to figure out when we will be purchasing out of pocket - sounds like at CocoCay and during the day at the pool (unless we want to go in CK and grab a beer/wine).  Dinner drinks will be covered if we eat at CK until 8 or 9?  So, maybe  few drinks at the shows.... doesn't sound like it's worth $950 drink package unless we hit it really hard at CocoCay! haha... 

We are booked for a 2-bedroom suite (deck 9) over Thanksgiving on Oasis.  Debating on the drink package.... we have always purchased the package for adults and teens/kids as they enjoy getting their own soda freestyle cup and virgin daquiris.  This is our first time in a suite.... sounds like we have access to drinks for adults in the evening in the suite lounge and possibly at the pool?  Can someone fill me in on where/when we can get drinks and whether drink package makes sense in a suite... It's $950 for 2 adults right now our week! yikes!!!  We do plan to eat most our meals in Coastal Kitchen but might do a few specialty dinners. 

What about our day at CocoCay?   Will we have to pay out of pocket for drinks or do they have any suite perks on the island? 

HELP! 🙂

1 minute ago, FBurnley said:

Best selection of craft beers maybe, but at $11 for a bottle (12 oz)  of A Little Sumpin' Laganitas I am going to have to stick with a $5 Heineken. 🙄

And that's part of the concern also.  I do enjoy a craft beer or two, but for drinking by the pool during the day I was hoping for buckets of miller lights.  It's really odd that they wouldn't have a light beer offering.  I am coming up with nothing, not even Heineken light...haha! 

I think we have successfully reviewed all the drink menus posted recently.  But, I am not seeing much selection when it comes to light beer - No Miller Light, Bud Light, or Corona Light.  Not that it's a make or break, but we drink quite a bit of Miller Light on our cruises. 

I also don't see Truly/white claw options either.  I am hoping there are some lighter options offered at the pool bars and we just haven't seen pics yet.    

Am I going to have to convert to Heineken this cruise?  #firstworldproblems

5 hours ago, Love2CruiseTampa said:

We just returned from Grand Turk and the Beached Whale. When we were there, snorkeling for the kids was fine at the beach around Margaritaville and past that area, but on the Beached Whale side was too rough and much more rocky. Of course, my kids are younger (11, 9, 6) so if yours are older that may not be a problem for them. 

Thanks for the info!  We have 9 and 14 year old boys.  Sounds like a good place to check out, but stick to the other side of the pier for snorkeling.  Thanks! 

We are going to be in Grand Turk on Spring Break.  Thinking about heading down to the beached whale.. I see lots of reviews on the food, but not many on the beach area.  Can my kids snorkel there?  Super rocky?  Anyone have pictures? 

Thanks!!!! 

Love the review, definitely a good resource for those that are debating!  

We flip back and forth between Royal and Carnival.  We just did the Symphony in Nov and planning a trip on the Breeze in April! 

Couple of things not mentioned - the "fun factor", Carnival wins HANDS DOWN.  We showed up to the sail away party on Royal to a crowd of 10 and super boring.  Carnival sail away parties and pool deck dance parties are not to be missed!  The cruise directors make such a bigger impact on Carnival with the fun factor.  I don't even know the cruise directors on Royal, they really are a non-impact.  

Piano Bar - so much more fun on Carnival!  

Also, my family really enjoys the dive-in movies on Carnival.  We anxiously await the movie list for the month and love sitting on the pool deck under the stars and enjoy a movie together.  They do have movies on Royal, but the bigger ships have now been delegated to the aqua theater and not as much fun.  

Royal has a leg up in a number of areas also, but we do enjoy our Carnival cruises and comment on some of the things we miss when we are on the royal ships.  

They did have a specialty dining package you could purchase for $60 which included the steakhouse and two of the following: Ji Ji's, Cucina, or a $15 voucher at Bonsai Sushi or Guy's BBQ. Normal price would be $68. They also had a lesser advertised package for three $15 vouchers for $38 that could be redeemed at Cucina, Ji Ji, Guy's, Bonsai, or Seafood Shack.

Okay, this is great info!  We are on the Breeze in 60 days and I am curious to see if they offer the same package.  I do not see it online, must be only offered on the ship.  

We loved the Horizon, sailed her in Nov 2018.  My only complaint was the MDR.. service was SOOOOO SLOW.  And our waiter was just awful.  I have never complained on many cruises, but we actually ended up moving tables around the middle of the week.  I am curious to hear about your experience in the MDR.  Hopefully, it was much better! 

Great, good to know!!!  that would be the only time I probably will let them spend money in the arcade.  

Looking at past fun times for our upcoming cruise and it appears that they offer a "power hour" in the arcade on night 1.  Does anyone know what this means?  It has the ($) next to it, so I assume it is discounted arcade games and not free. 

Thanks!!! 

On the Horizon last year and planning for Breeze this spring break with kids.  We just did the Symphony over Thanksgiving (Oasis class), so we are in the same "boat" as you all.... 

My kids LOVE the sail away parties on Carnival.  They are not to be missed.  Last week on Symphony, the sail away had 20 people and it was lame.  We missed the Carnival sailaway.  Lots of line dancing and limbo for the kids.  They still talk about it. 

I also remember a Dr. Seuss parade and singalong on day 1-2 that my kids loved.  They hold signs and parade through the lounge and end in the theatre with a read-along.  The kids go on stage for the story.  It was really fun. 

Also, the Hasbro family game show was a big hit.  Definitely go to that one. 

My kids enjoyed the musical and broadway theatre productions on Carnival, although, they are not quite at the same level as Royal - still really good and engaged my children.  

Final note - we missed the poolside movies on this last cruise.  Carnival does a MUCH BETTER job at the dive-in movies.  All the kids with us commented that they really missed the movies by the pool every night.  So, we will be doing quite a few of those 🙂

I believe it is included in the unlimited dining package, right?  It's part of the reason we are upgrading from the 3 night to the unlimited.  For $75 more you get playmakers ($35 credit pp) and hibachi.  

I always look forward to your reviews, and they have been super helpful on previous trips!  We did the Freedom in 2018 and loved the ship, the Freedom class is my absolute favorite of the Royal ships. 

We started booking more Carnival and MSC cruises because our family outgrew the royal rooms and my kids no longer willingly shared the double sofa bed.  I was so excited to see your pics of the ultra spacious room.  I showed my husband last night.  Good to know that we have some options!!!  Thanks so much for the info 🙂

The last couple of times we visited Labadee, they had Corona jeeps coming around with drinks.  Does anyone know if they have bar service like this at coco cay?  Or only at the bar?  

I love having drinks brought to me in my seat without having to wait in line at the bar.... definitely got spoiled at Labadee! 🙂

We ate dinner there on the Horizon last fall.  Very good meal with a live band.  Not crowded at all.  I think our bill was $20-$30 for 4 of us.  It was fairly reasonably priced.  We enjoyed the pulled pork and sides.  I would recommend doing it at least once on your cruise!

I have searched and not found the answer to this question, so hoping someone has had this situation before. 

Due to work/school schedules, my husband may have to fly in separately from us for the next cruise.  I will have the kids with me.  We are thinking about meeting on the ship, will he be allowed to check in separately for the cruise than the rest of the family staying in the same room?  Not sure how that all works.... Thanks! 

It does look like fancy seltzer water, I bet you could carry on a case.  Worst case, you lose $15 and they take it.  

I would love for them to add this option to the bars, it's super popular now! 

Interesting review!  We went on the NCL Getaway in 2015...It was brand new and we had just got off the Allure the year before.  It was my least favorite experience of any cruise we have done, including several Carnival ships.  

I missed not having a promenade and the pool deck area was completely insane on sea days, not a chair to be found.  We sailed right when they started including the free drink package and the lines were insane at the bars.  

I did LOVE the illumination show on NCL (paid extra) and the waterfront restaurant area was super cool - loved being able to eat outside and all the specialty dining options!  And the deck parties at night in the adults area were about the most fun we have ever experienced - my kids still have glow sticks and talk about the glow party on the getaway.  I think we closed down the 80's and the 90's party.  Royal really lacks the late night dance parties that NCL and Carnival do really well.  

But, I remember thinking that the NCL room was the smallest we have ever experienced.  

Maybe I need to give it another try?  We went back to Royal and haven't looked back.  It's good to hear another opinion.  Thanks!

On ‎11‎/‎12‎/‎2018 at 11:44 AM, Cruisin_Husker said:

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but in the sport bar and casino they show ESPN and I believe the fox sports one channel. They did have the Thursday night NFL game and a couple Sunday games. If the game you want to watch is on ABC or CBS you'll be out of luck. I know I wanted to watch a couple of the national games on ABC and they weren't available. 

Thanks for the update!  I figured this was going to be the response based on other reviews I have read.  

Curious on the selection of college & NFL football games on the cruise... any showing?  We will be cruising next week and my teenage son is going to freak if we can't watch OSU beat Michigan ;) haha!  

Got it, thanks so much! 

Question - If you purchase the social wifi package, can you use the chat feature on the Hub app?  Or do you need to purchase the social wifi package AND pay $5 for the Hub app? 

Thanks!!!! 

We just got off the Freedom, did the 3/31 sailing. LOVED IT!!!! Had sooooo much fun. Look for the waiter named Ryan at the pool - it's actually his last name, but that's what he goes by. He would make up trays of the same drink and bring them around. Just hand him your card. Best.idea.ever! I was never thirsty on the Freedom! :) Have a great time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The front of the balcony is curved, the sides are straight and yes they do open.

Thanks for all the responses! Good news!!! :)

We just booked connecting Boardwalk balcony rooms on Symphony, deck 8. We are usually at the late night movies and shows, have older kids (14 & 9 for this sailing), so not too worried about the noise. I am looking forward to having lots of activity and things to look at outside the balcony. Might be a one and done, but excited to give it a try!

Question I have - does anyone know if the balcony dividers open up/slide back on the connecting rooms on the boardwalk? My TA didn't know as she mentioned they are curved on the new ship and might not open up.

Thanks!!!!!