First Cruise on RCCL

[Jersey42]

6 minutes ago, mmtska said:

I will look into insurance too!

Take a look at the Cruise/Travel Insurance boards for ideas.  Here is a recent thread:

 

[LeeW]

Does your mom like wave pools and slides?  And climbing lots of stairs?  This determines water park.

 

There is a large free fresh water pool in the middle of the island.  And lots of sandy beaches.  Free lounge chairs are in groups of two and four with an umbrella each and most are located in the trees.  So lots of shade.  If you like the flavored waters there are free dispensers at all the dining areas.  Bars will fill your freestyle cups or serve virgin drinks.  We just buy the soda package (although at the moment price is high at 8.99/day) since we don't drink coffee or the mock cocktails.

 

"Formal" nights should be first sea day and first day after you leave ABC islands.

 

Excursions will open up as they set up there contracts.  At the moment islands have limited people to run them, so it is taking a while.  Not sure you really need an excursion, but the island 4x4 Landrover trips take you through both the city and desert areas.  A bit bumpy ride on benches in back of truck.  Many other tours hit places like ostrich farm.  Read descriptions and decide if they interest you.  Meanwhile check shoreexcursioneer and shoreexcursionsgroup for tours you might be interested in and ideas.  Both ports have lots of locals that will sell you a tour on the spot and customize it for you.

 

Aruba is our favorite island.  Have been on most of the adventure excursions there.  If you want just a beach (and maybe casino), leave terminal and cross main street.  Bus terminal is just right behind the first building.  Take #10 bus and get off where interested.  Walk beach, go back to main road and catch bus again.  Around $5 each these days and driver will give US change if he has it.

 

Curacao old town is across the swinging bridge.  Just walk right from cruise terminal.  

[DiamondDiva23]

On 6/22/2022 at 9:25 AM, MississippiMom said:

We just got off of Mariner of the Seas on Saturday morning; 5-night cruise to Labadee & CocoCay.  I cannot reply to all of your points, but will tackle a few.

 

#2 - Refreshment Package.  

We had Deluxe Drink Packages and NO ONE told us where or how to get the fancy beverage container for the Freestyle Machines.  I did, finally, ask at a quiet bar (that hidden one that is almost impossible to reach on Deck 14), where they scanned my card and handed me an insulated cup.  My husband used the Freestyle Machines on Deck 5 (right by Cafe Promenade), regularly.  The lines are super crazy, so plan accordingly.  I never saw the Freestyle Machines on Deck 11, so no idea of the lines there.

 

#5 - Mariner Cabins

We had a total of 5 cabins in our group - 3 balcony cabins, 1 handicap balcony cabin and 1 inside cabin.  I thought they were all in good shape.  They were exactly what I would expect on a cruise ship, so I really don't understand why people complain.  Cabins are supposed to be small, have limited storage and limited outlets.  It's a cruise ship, not a brand-new luxury hotel.

However, all of the beds were HARD.  If we had known, we might have picked up an inexpensive eggcrate mattress topper to put in the handicap cabin for my 84 year old parents, and just trashed it afterward.  But, the rocking of the ship and the daytime sun made everyone so tired that we still slept with no problems.

 

#6 Shore Excursions

We were able to see and book things prior to final payment.  If you watch some of the CC threads, you will notice that the excursions are populated in bits & pieces and there is no rhyme or reason to when they populate for the passengers to view.

 

#7 CocoCay

Five of the eleven of us did purchase Thrill Waterpark tickets and really enjoyed it.  However, once that second ship (Symphony) got clearance to unload their passengers, we were told that the waterpark was packed and the wait times for slides were about an hour.  The other six of us hung out in a Cabana at Chill Island.  There are tons of free chairs with umbrellas ALL over the island.  Search for a map of CocoCay and you will get an idea, so you can plan accordingly.

 

Happy cruising!

What is the hidden bar called on Deck 14?

[mmtska]

On 6/23/2022 at 2:35 PM, LeeW said:

Does your mom like wave pools and slides?  And climbing lots of stairs?  This determines water park.

 

There is a large free fresh water pool in the middle of the island.  And lots of sandy beaches.  Free lounge chairs are in groups of two and four with an umbrella each and most are located in the trees.  So lots of shade.  If you like the flavored waters there are free dispensers at all the dining areas.  Bars will fill your freestyle cups or serve virgin drinks.  We just buy the soda package (although at the moment price is high at 8.99/day) since we don't drink coffee or the mock cocktails.

 

"Formal" nights should be first sea day and first day after you leave ABC islands.

 

Excursions will open up as they set up there contracts.  At the moment islands have limited people to run them, so it is taking a while.  Not sure you really need an excursion, but the island 4x4 Landrover trips take you through both the city and desert areas.  A bit bumpy ride on benches in back of truck.  Many other tours hit places like ostrich farm.  Read descriptions and decide if they interest you.  Meanwhile check shoreexcursioneer and shoreexcursionsgroup for tours you might be interested in and ideas.  Both ports have lots of locals that will sell you a tour on the spot and customize it for you.

 

Aruba is our favorite island.  Have been on most of the adventure excursions there.  If you want just a beach (and maybe casino), leave terminal and cross main street.  Bus terminal is just right behind the first building.  Take #10 bus and get off where interested.  Walk beach, go back to main road and catch bus again.  Around $5 each these days and driver will give US change if he has it.

 

Curacao old town is across the swinging bridge.  Just walk right from cruise terminal.  

Awesome information! Thank you 🙂