gluecksbaer

Thanks for responding everyone. I didn't think about plugs in common areas being an EU outlet. I will have to figure out if my charger can be used with an adapter or if the company makes an EU compatible charger. There is usually a US standard outlet in each cabin, correct? I expressed my disappointment to the store I purchased my scooter from that I wasn't told about the battery capacity issue in a travel scooter . They were kind enough to order the smaller battery for me at no charge. This leaves more room in the budget for purchasing a second battery or asking my parents for one for my birthday so I don't have to worry about cutting excursions short and disappointing my kids. The battery that comes with it is 360kWh so over the max for any airline. The smaller battery is under 160 so should work. I also need to ask what airline we are flying so I can double check all their rules since I didn't plan this trip.

I decided to buy a folding travel scooter. Usually I'm very detailed and do a lot of research, but several factors led me to impulse purchase a Buzzaround Carryon today. I was looking for other information and discovered that the battery that comes with it is too large for the FAA rules for wheelchair/scooter batteries. I really liked that the battery capacity had around 18 miles. There is a smaller, FAA compliant battery that has only 6.5 AH and is supposed to get 7.8 miles. I'm just wondering, for those of you who use a motorized mobility device, how big is your battery capacity? Will the 6.5 AH likely be enough or will I want to purchase a second battery to switch out on long days. Are there often outlets available in common areas of ships or will I need to go back to my cabin to charge the scooter during the day? I'll be on the Allure of the Seas if anyone knows about that ship specifically.

You shouldn't need crazy statements. Tell them it would be a financial hardship to lose your deposit. Emphasize the money portion. I was called for jury duty once and people were stating their reasons for not being able to serve the length of the trial. The person ahead of me said he was teaching in a summer program and was denied. I almost put my hand down because I was also starting summer school but then decided it couldn't hurt to say something. I included that the time was a third of my pay for the next three months (because, as a teacher, I wasn't getting paid during the summer except for that 5 week program). The judge said, "That sounds like a financial hardship" and dismissed me. The guy before me was like, "Wait, that's my problem too." I don't know what happened with him because I was walking out. You could also try calling again. Even though they moved you once, they may be able to move you again to a time you can serve.

When my kids were that age, I wrapped the little toys/activities I brought and called them "presents." It made them more exciting and the unwrapping took up some time too. I also used to just put away some of their small toys a month or so before a trip. It was like it was new again and I didn't have to buy as much.

Exactly. I like to check everything but I have one bag that carries all our medications, our nebulizer, and boosters for the kids. Those things stay with me at all times. TSA likes to look through it whenever we fly so it adds a bit of a hassle to take it through airport security, but the security of knowing we will have the things we need is worth it.

My son has had an asthma attack triggered by selfish people spraying sunscreen too close.

My kids are now old enough to know that I don't tell them not to do something just for funsies and young enough that the reptilian teenage brain hasn't hit yet, so it's not currently a concern for me. However, if the lock is as high as stated above, then I'm not sure how I would manage to engage it to begin with.

Most of the high SPF isn't more effect than the lower ones, if that's what you mean, you are correct. However, the depletion of the ozone layer leads to more harmful UV rays reaching us down here so that's going to affect the cancer rates anyway. For me, rather than skin cancer, my concern is not ending up with a 2nd or 3rd degree burn. While dining room standards have relaxed, I believe that unclothed because anything near the skin hurts too much would still be frowned upon.

All I know is that the balcony door in a relative's cabin did not slow down my young, very proficient climber at all. That was without a child lock engaged but I wouldn't have trusted something like that while I slept. My son has never met a child lock he couldn't disarm and my daughter has been known to literally climb walls. I would have woken up when the door opened but that wouldn't have been in time for me to grab her before she scaled the railing if she was intent on doing so. If you are thinking of a one year old who just barely learned to walk, then it's probably not a big concern but an older toddler in the 2-3 year range definitely depends on the kid. I assume that part of the reason you don't hear about toddlers falling off balconies is that parents of escape artists know our kids. We don't stay in balcony rooms.

I assume that at some point during a cruise all parents, even responsible ones, need to sleep. Generally they don't have someone to sit and watch the balcony door while they do so. I also assume that parents with kids who have uncanny abilities to bypass childproofing don't get a balcony cabin. The OP's problem was Royal Up trying to override their responsible parenting.

Glad to read this resolution. I have a very proficient climber that was barely slowed down by the balcony door in a relative's cabin when we went on a cruise when my kids were young. Just reading this thread gave me anxiety. I wouldn't have slept the entire cruise if there had been a balcony in our room.

I agree. I'm not happy with my 12 year olds being considered teens because I would rather they have a more structured environment, but I don't see a problem with them allowing the families the option of letting older kids sign themselves out.

I'm also not happy with the idea of my 12 year olds being considered "teens." I wish Adventure Ocean was an option.

I second the Cosco Scenera Next. I took two on a cruise and they fit stacked in the closet. Super easy to travel with. To round out the car-seat conversation: The Cosco Finale is a good choice for most forward-facing preschoolers who aren't ready for a booster. (It has a 30lb minimum and isn't great for very tall kids.) The Graco Right Guide is a good choice for older kids who still need a booster (and meet the 50lb minimum).

I was going to buy some through my kids' school SCRIP program but the fine print said that they could be used for new bookings only. The ones on Royal's website say "can be used towards the purchase of any Royal Caribbean International cruise vacation or as an onboard credit." If you aren't purchasing directly from Royal, make sure you check the fine print.

Of course many people will still test positive after the cruise or not test positive at all. Omicron is typically symptomatic in 3-5 days. If I catch it on day 1 that means I'm off the ship before then if it's a 3-4 day, maybe testing positive on a 5 day, but likely positive before the end of a 7 day. Someone boarding who is already positive will likely cause three additional people to quarantine on a longer cruise and zero people to quarantine on a shorter cruise. I'm just saying, I think Royal has looked at their numbers and determined that it's better for their bottom line to test on longer cruises and not that important on shorter cruises.

I think that after day 5 it is more likely someone will test positive while still onboard. That becomes a problem for Royal. They don't care how many people test positive after they disembark.

I still carry my old driver's license with my maiden name because I left it in my wallet initially while I caught up to everyone with my name change and then just forgot to take it out. It randomly came in handy about a year after I was married somewhere that only processed my name change on one account and then initially said they couldn't help me because my ID didn't match the name on the account. Now, every time when I clean out my wallet part of me is always worried that I will need it again once day.

What part of that was a false claim?

I was taught that first and it went horribly. I was in severe pain and unable to walk at all for days. Then I was seeing another disability specialist for different reasons but my difficulty with stairs came up and she said to remember "Good foot goes first" for both up and down. I still have some difficulty with stairs but using that I am able to manage a short set of stairs regularly and a full flight sometimes. I think not being to bend the knee changes things but my suggestion would be to try some stairs before leaving home and see what works best.

I don't have experience with Royal's kids club but I read this statement as requiring a nurse or an ABA specialist or something like that. Do you just mean that you need a babysitter to be attentive the whole time? Otherwise I can't imagine that you could use any kind of kids club.

I don't know why futureAG is into lanyards but I get distracted easily and misplace things. While I make it a point to search for clothing with pockets, sometimes that just doesn't work with female clothing. My daughter has proportions that are difficult to fit so she has very few pockets. I have developed strategies for not leaving a bag/purse behind but my daughter would 100% lose one multiple times every day. A lanyard doesn't get set down and left behind.

Well, if they're a cat-lover they probably would have appreciated a picture of the front of a cat costume and not ears on the back of someone's head. (If you meant the yellow costume, Pikachu is not a cat.)

For me, I can barely stay awake on Dramamine. Bonine doesn't knock me out completely but I can't do anything important because I will be sleepy for 24-36 hours after I take it. I knew that wouldn't work on a cruise so I tried the patches. I did not notice any side effects with scopolamine.

It worked well for us with gift cards at Disney at 4 years old except for the fact that Grandpa came with us and my kids have always had him wrapped around their little fingers. We kept track of things they had looked at and talked about how much they had left and what that meant. They turned down several things until their money was spent and they started in on Grandpa instead.