TnTWalter

thanks for the info.

money and book like through a travel website? It's not a charter where they fill the whole ship.

I can save about $500 plus get OBC credit but would I be allowed access to the concerts and speakers etc.? Thanks.

I have JS on RCCL Rhapsody Western Caribbean January 2017.

 

Booked 1st April. $3051.82. No Gratuities sale.

 

Called on No tax sale. April 15th Better deal. $2829.00

 

Fired TA due to unethical behavior. Gained $250.00 OBC with new TA April 25th.

 

Called TA for this sale May 6th now $2729.00

 

Plus the OBC will be used for gratuities.

So we will have $60..00 left of our OBC after tips!

Very happy.

This sale ends the 10th of May 2016

I have yet to find a TA. so frustrating that people can't share their good TAs on here.

i think with kids the more space is better so even though a balcony would be nice, i'd stick with 1864.

We had family of 5 and did the family panoramic [extra bath and bunk room]...I bought a cheap shower curtain [under $1] and some metal hooks and put by the master bed for changing. it worked well.

Great review!! So glad to hear your kids liked the teen club. I will have a new 15 yr son on our May 15 trip. We also have two daughters - 19 and 21. Have seen a few posts about a young adult club. But they also enjoy each others company. We will be in a family promenade as well. We also book over a year ago as there are only 4 on this ship and I wanted us to be together. I choose Galveston so we can drive from Kansas City and save air fare money!

your son will love the teen club.

And your daughters can hang together so that will be nice. If they are active there are adult pool volleyball tournaments, rock climbing competitions, basketball, soccer, etc. Just sign up early. My husband missed out on a couple because they filled quickly.

I was plugging in dates for a friend and the Rhapsody shows deck 12 panoramic rooms...which I don't think that ship has yet [end of November 2016 were the dates.]

After years of cruising the Vision and Radiance class, I cruised the Liberty a couple years ago. As I keep reading your comments on the feeling of being crowded, I keep thinking that you may find you like the smaller ships better. Many of us do. My single most challenging disembarkation experience ever was on the Liberty. From the time we joined the line on board till we reached the customs agent, it was an hour.

.

NO I must not have been clear...the main 'crowd' problem was in port. Not only would our group of 3 thousand be there but 2-3 other ships full as well. So 10,000 extra people all trying to do the same things and go to the same places...just felt 'crowded'. We've been on island vacations where you know where not to go on cruise ship days because of the crazy crowds.

That's what bothered hubby the most. Obviously off season might help but that won't happen for 6 more years [youngest graduates!]....

The lines on the ship were manageable...

Our lines getting on/off ....disembarking was a breeze but we were 8:30 group so no back up yet. Embarking... we should not have tried to get on early [11am] huge line [mostly because of mix-up with previous group..they must have had horrible wait getting off]....We just went and had a great lunch in Galveston and the crowd was gone.

And getting back on ship in Grand Cayman was a nightmare. We arrived before 3...crazy horrible line [one lady even fainted]...but had we waited til 4 ... minimal line...so that's a learning curve...

So perhaps we will try a smaller ship and off-season when it's just the 2 of us....and it will be a lot cheaper too. Thanks.

there's a board dedicated to all thinks WDW called disboards.

The key to not waiting in lines is research just like on here.

My husband hated the crowds in port on our cruise...I said but we go to WDW and he said it's not the same. LOL.

We also spent much less at WDW than our cruise.... for a family of 5.

I would do either.

I did 2 onsite visits and 2 offsite visits. All were wonderful. The most crowded was Easter week I don't recall any long waits. They have this system called fastpass which is wonderful. Although, back when we went it was more wonderful [it's a little tighter on the times to arrive nowadays].

Depends on your kids' interests and ages. There are also many shows, etc. throughout all parks.

Thanks for your review. I have 16 and 11 year old boys who will definitely want to check out the arcade. How do you go about putting cash in their sea pass cards for the arcade?

he did it at the arcade with his cash. do not activate their cards or they might blow through $$ without realizing it. See the posts on page 4 with stories. Have fun.

This "no limits" got our youngest into trouble - several hundred dollars later at the arcade he was going to be washing dishing for the rest of his life! You can put a limit. Wish we had!!

they can only swipe if you activate....they told us at guest services not to activate to prevent the above.

he used the cash we gave him to load onto his card.

Enjoying your reviews! Your trip sounds like our first family trip to Coz. Rented a car didn't quite go to the right places. I'm glad we saw a lot of the island, but it was hectic and the car was scary. Second trip, we took cab straight to the money bar and snorkeled. We had a much better time.

we loved the jeep. it was not in the greatest condition but it was fun. it was hectic though. the kids enjoyed the ruins and a little of the driving. it's hard with 5 people trying to make everyone happy. i would have liked to snorkel and lounge and have a cocktail. lol. next time no kid maybe! ha ha.

What didn't you like about Palancar? Just curious-we've been there like 10 times and always loved it.

the beach was really narrow and lots of seaweed.

We just got back and used Galveston Park N Cruise. We parked and all walked our luggage across the street and down one terminal. Super easy. Also super easy leaving. No waiting for shuttles or someone running to get the car, etc. It's right there.

We had a great time with Dexter but did not have time to stop at 7MB...they were running behind [we started late]. It was a great day.

removed

Do you know what prom night was all about? I'm sure it's fairly self explanatory, but, just in case. Did some actually dress up? Was it basically just a dance?

They said it was a normal dance except they have a prom king and queen. No special dressing up. They did also do the 70s party and lots of adults were dressed up.

Jamaica Rio Bueno River Tubing w/Courtney Taylor includes pics

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2343056

 

Grand Cayman Catamaran Stingray City & Reef Snorkel with Dexter Fantasea

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=49697254#post49697254

 

Cozumel Tour on our Own

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=49697432#post49697432

does anyone know why my grand cayman post would have been removed?

Probably doesn't help OP since it sounds like her ship doesn't have the FAMILY PANORAMIC ROOMS [FP]

We had this on the Liberty last week. It is a LARGE room with 2 bathrooms [only 1 shower]; tons of storage; a bed that could be king/queen or 2 twins; sofa bed and a separate bunk area with its own closet and shelves....

We loved it. Had 3 teens so basically 5 adults.

Thanks for the review. We are doing the same itinerary May 1 in reverse order. Did the staff happen to mention anything on when the Tidal Wave slide would open?

from what I've read on here, the tidal wave needs major work so basically it's not functional for a long while. sad but true.

Do you know what prom night was all about? I'm sure it's fairly self explanatory, but, just in case. Did some actually dress up? Was it basically just a dance?

I'll ask the kids tonight. I think it was basically just a dance. My oldest 17 said she did her first slow dance so she was excited. lol.

since my oldest will age out of the teen club, I'm thinking maybe an all inclusive? that has daily activities like volleyball, etc. I don't know. it was our first time and I wish we had started sooner. Ha ha. I want to go back.

My hubby really had issues with the port day crowds...

Glad i could help w compasses

Re adjoining cabins. I originally had 2 inside. This room was $100 more i think.

Another peeve about family of 5....you can't do any pricing online. So it's hard to check for price drops or availability of special cabins. I hate having to call. Lol.

We were on the same cruise and had 2 balcony rooms on deck 12. We had the same weird vibration. Definitely got worse as the week went on. More of an annoyance than a problem I guess.

I hope they can fix it.

Does Royal Caribbean give out necklaces to hold your sea pass when on board or do you need to bring your own? Thanks.

as mentioned, they sell lanyards. Prices are $6.95-$10.95 and they are cute. We bought for our teens. They all picked out different ones and cheap souvenir. We adults didn't need as they are easy to put in a bag or wallet. but it's up to you.

We bought the punch card on Day 6 and it I remember when I got my last of the 5 on the last night I didn't really need it...so I think I would feel pressure to 'get my money's worth.' lol. It's just really expensive. It should be that much per couple!

I think if you have 1-2 drinks per day it's cheaper not to do the drink package.

You can bring 2 bottles of wine per cabin.

Beer is $6

Drink of the day is $9.50

Many glasses of wine are $7-$13.

You could easily buy 1-2 drinks per day and maybe an extra on the sea days and still be less expensive than the package. It's crazy.

We bought 3 beers <$20

1 bottle of wine over 2-3 dinners for 2 of us <$40

10 drink pass $79 after grat.

$140 [i rounded up].

[Could have easily added drinks poolside daily and still be way under package price...darn. lol].

We otherwise drank water, tea, lemonade, coffee.