Tljcruiser

Doing the land portion first does have the advantage of relaxing on the way home but going north on the cruise you experience better scenery each day.  You get up in the morning and see more and more every day.  I would image the other way around would be a little anticlimactic since you saw the best at the beginning.  Going North the excitement builds.  Doing a land package is less stress, but doing your own thing is not difficult.  We got off in Seward, spent a couple of nights there in an awesome cabin, did a bit of sight seeing and whale watching.  Rode the train to Anchorage, rented a car and drove North stopping along the way at our leisure.  Rented another cute little cabin outside Denali park and spent a few days exploring the park.  Continued the drive to the Fairbanks area then flew home from there.  I will say the flight home was a killer and we would probably have been better rested doing it the opposite direction but since you are an educator it's not like you will have to rush back to work!  Either way will be great! It was one of my favorite trips and I am totally not a cold weather person, will pick the beach over mountains typically but I would love to go back at some point.  If you go with an inside cabin at least try to pick one that is strategically located close to an exit to an upper outside deck.  We spent a lot of time on the balcony, but there were also times that we would run outside to have the entire expanse of deck to take in the sights on both sides of the ship. The balcony is great though especially late in the evening with a cup of hot chocolate in pjs just watching the sights go by before bed.  It stays light so long making for even more opportunities to see things than you might realize.   Whatever you decide I am sure you will love it.

My daughter has to search out the litter box on every ship we have been on.  She has always been fascinated by this for some reason.  I think she is hoping one day she will see a dog there.  She always misses the pup when we travel.  We saw a "service" chihuahua once at Disney riding in the motorized scooter of the owner wearing a matching shirt with all the rest of the family with a magic band around it's neck like a collar.  🙂

Yes with the hospital grade hydrogen peroxide wipes that are supposed to kill Norovirus.  Have done this for years in ships, hotels and planes.  Prefer to wash my hands but there are times when that is not an option, so always have hand sanitizer.  Will not change one way or the other once we get back to cruising.  I've worked in a middle school for the last 25 years and hand sanitizer is a staple to our staff.  I should really probably be immune to most anything by now 🙂    

2 hours ago, jknc said:

Always used an agent and never had to contact cruise directly, so I did not know that. 
 

Not the best way, IMO, to do business.

 

Thanks, Elsa!

Probably will regret asking this but....why don't you just ask the travel agent how much you will be getting back?   When my March trip was cancelled and I received the FFC and the taxes were credited back to my account I did the math and was $495 short.  I called Royal and was told "we can not tell you why because the travel agent is in charge of the booking".  My initial thought was "I didn't pay the agency I paid you" just as you stated but instead of raising my blood pressure by getting all tore up I simply contacted the agent for clarification.     She was quickly able to explain that Royal had already processed my FCC, my tax refund and the missing $495 would be coming from ****** agency within the next 30 days.  Interestingly enough still waiting on my refund from the agency.  Seems like maybe you should direct your questioning and ire to your agent instead of the cruise line.  And I sure hope they and the others do not go bankrupt as I have a couple more booked and really hope to book more in the future!!!  Also really hoping to go to Disney sometime in the next 6 months-just throwing that out there hope you don't wish bankruptcy on the mouse! 

24 minutes ago, Merion_Mom said:

 

I always enjoy posts like yours, @Tljcruiser.  🙂 You do understand that when you have a Boardwalk balcony cabin, YOU are one of the people being watched, don't  you?  😉 

Yes I realize if I can see people they can see me.  I really do not care if people are looking at me sitting out on the balcony.  I keep the curtains closed when I am in the room!  As I said they are not for everyone!  We enjoy people watching on the boardwalk below.  My daughter likes to see whatever activity is taking place.  Some of the ships play bloopers all day on the aqua screens and she likes to sit out on the balcony and watch those while I am getting ready for dinner.  We don't spend our time looking in the cabins across from us!  Although we have had some friendly neighbors across the way that would wave to us in the mornings and evenings.  Have also seen a few things at night while the lights were on and the curtains were open that I would rather NOT have been a witness too 🙂

20 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Have you been in one since slides added

Yes on Harmony and Symphony.  Also booked again on Symphony next month which most likely won't happen 😞 and Harmony next October which hopefully will happen!  On Harmony the price has dropped a lot since we booked but for an ocean view balcony gty.  I am considering changing categories as the boardwalk balcony cabin has NOT dropped at all.  But we really like those rooms so maybe not!  

We love these rooms, actually prefer them to ocean balcony cabins when on Oasis class, but they are not for everyone!  We enjoy people watching and being able to see the aqua theater from the room.  I have only ever stayed in very far aft cabins.  I do want to be able to see some water, so would not be happy with cabins at the front of boardwalk area.  

20 hours ago, Mallefiscent said:

 

Thanks for the advice.  It would probably help keep track of everyone's stuff if we put it in a backpack the night before instead of rushing around for it in the morning. 

Yes I do not function well in the mornings even on vacation!  Also stock the bag the night before.  Also thank you for the list of educational resources you posted.  Super helpful!  I'm not up for this home schooling!  And I say that as a school employee 🙂

8 hours ago, Mallefiscent said:

 

Do you find it easier to have a backpack?  I usually just stick my ID and money in my pocket, so that I don't have to carry anything.  I suppose a backpack would make it easier to carry anything we buy back to the ship. 

Yes I always take a lightweight backpack....but I have a child so it's pretty much essential.  I have to have sunscreen, camera, SNACKS lots of snacks.  My daughter really is a great traveler, has always been a go with the flow kind of kid BUT she turns into a different person if hungry and she pretty much eats non stop.  I wish I had her metabolism.  She's 10 now so the bag has gotten smaller through the years but I find it's the most efficient thing to take to make sure we have everything we need.  Mainly food, water bottles-full of ice water then an extra plastic water bottle to refill if we run out, sunscreen, camera, phone and sunglass cases! 

We always take large reusable water bottles to use onboard and in port.  A hydro flask or similar.  Keeps the water cold and easy to throw in the backpack!

I am so sorry APDMOM!  How long/far have you driven?  This is so crazy I thought they would at least wait to cancel for NEXT week's sailings not ones that are 24 hours away that people have flown/driven etc. to get to.  

Have a great trip!  I was hoping to meet you on board but we ended up canceling 😞 My mom is 69 with asthma and copd so cruise ship probably not the best place to be right now.  I look forward to the review but will read it sadly wishing I was there too! We rebooked for 5/25 Navigator and 5/30 Symphony so praying this mess is over with by then! 

Anxiously awaiting for Adventure confirmation myself!!!! 🤞

I have had the same experience multiple times when booking onboard,  I always decide which date and ship and cabin type prior to going in. When they quote me a higher price than the one I recently found I tell them I found such and such on RCCL website and they are always able to find it at that point 🤔 I continue to book onboard to get the extra OBC but only after I know I am getting the same price I was able to find.  Usually then transfer to travel agent when we get home to get additional credit.  It works out fine as long as you do your research before as op suggested.  

I have taken my 10 year old daughter on 18 cruises starting when she was 3 and 2 overseas trips.  I have been divorced for years and have sole custody.  I travel with my parenting plan and  a notarized statement signed by my ex that he is aware she is traveling out of the country as advised by the cruise lines.  I have never once been asked for this statement or any documentation, but I look at it as insurance if I have it hopefully won't need it.  The one time I do not have it.....could need it!    

I was disappointed last week on Brilliance.  I hoped the tree would be up on black Friday.  I brought a Christmas dress for my daughter wanted to get some nice pictures but no tree 😞 heard some Christmas music but saw no decorations.  We did Mickey's Merry Christmas party the night before we boarded so it was a bit of a bummer to have no decorations.  Maybe another time will have better luck.....good excuse to plan another trip!

Depends on the kid! I would agree that there is not a lot going on on this ship but my daughter was fine with it.  She is 10 and has  been on all Oasis class ships, the two larger Disney ships and the Anthem.  We have never had a problem finding something to do on any of them.  If given a choice she would prefer Oasis class but perfectly happy with smaller ships.  She is pretty low maintenance though. 

We did the hop on hop off double decker bus tour.  It was a great way to see some sights.  They picked up right outside the cruise terminal and take care of your luggage.  When the tour ends you retrieve your luggage and they transport you to the airport.  My daughter had never been to Miami before so she really enjoyed it.  

1 hour ago, Daisymae14 said:

I am taking my kids in December on cruise - 17 & 19 - Has anyone ever gone on the Pig excursion while at CoCo Cay and thoughts??  We are also stopping in Nassau, was going to Sea lion encounter, but don't want to beach break with it, I want to show the Kids Bahamas and let them shop and eat at other restaurants. I found out you cant book "privately" if thru cruise line, but I cant seem to just get animal encounter and come back thru Royal. Blue Lagoon was $100 pp vs spending $179 pp thru Royal. So I thought maybe do other animal encounter elsewhere and walk Nassau and shop and eat... thoughts??  Thanks!

I took my daughter (10) last month.  She read a book about the swimming pigs of Exuma a few years ago for an AR test and has wanted to see swimming pigs ever since.  It is definitely a tourist novelty but she loved it.  You will not actually swim, they swim you stand in knee-waist deep water while they swim around and get fed apples.  As others stated you board a small boat from the activities pier at Coco Cay, go about 10 minutes over to Treasure Island get briefed on pig behavior and rules and then you are taken over to the beach.  You are not allowed to bring your camera into the water and they change around $15 per picture.  You can take pictures from the boat and the deck.  They allowed everyone who wanted to hold/pet a baby pig on the deck that you were able to photograph.  All in all it is quite a bit of money to do and I wouldn't do it again but I am glad she got to go.  She loved it so it made it worth it.  They would probably like the water park.  On our cruise we had the option of 1/2 day booking for much less money than the full day, but I have not seen that be available on any of our future cruises. It worked out well we did 1/2 day water park in the morning and the pig excursion in the afternoon and still had time to swim in the pool and hang out on the beach a bit.  

Enjoying your review so far! One question....Do your wow bands have a muster station printed on them?  My daughter and I got ours on Harmony last year and were able to use them last month on Symphony . My mom got hers on Symphony and the muster station was on the band so I am not sure if hers will be able to be reused.  Just curious if this was the case on Harmony now also?

Make reservations for the kids for laser tag as soon as you board so you don't have to wait in the stand by line!  Water park on Coco Cay is pretty great for kids!

On the ship last week.  They did have packages but I can't remember what they were since we just got our 2 free and I only purchased 2 additional.  I definitely remember the $19.99 because my photo shop bill was $39.98 🙂  It did not matter if they were print or digital $19.99 each and only 8x10 offered in print. 

Individual were $19.99 I believe they were offering 6 for $99

We just got off yesterday.  Could not reserve laser tag with the app when we first boarded.  I did not attempt it any other time during the week.  We went to On Air shortly after boarding, they had multiple folks set up taking reservations for all entertainment, not just laser tag.  We had everything else booked so only booked laser tag.  We were allowed to book 3 sessions and we participated in all three.  We never did stand by but I did notice during 2 of our 3 sessions the stand by line was not long.  The last session was the last sea day and the stand by line was crazy.  The we never waited more than 10-15 minutes... much smoother than on the Navigator in March were no reservations were taken and you couldn't see how many people were in front of you until after you entered Studio B and there were tons of people sitting and waiting.  The reservations were great!  

3 hours ago, Sherri914 said:

 

 

When I posted earlier (Pg 3 I think), I mentioned that I'd called RCI twice about this issue.  First time, the rep was completely unfamiliar w/ this new change and tried to tell me the perks would still be given...  he even said I could visit guest services aboard and they would give me the 'coupons' for these perks.  When I politely disagreed, he then started to back off a little, acknowledging that he was just parroting what his supervisor had told him and what he was interpreting from the information he was reading.  His interpretation was incorrect.  And when i called back to RCI shortly after (because we all know, if you don't get the answer you want on the first try, call back!), the rep (after 26 minutes on hold) told me they could only offer $50 OBC for my CP balcony perk loss.  I asked if I would be able to cancel my reservation if I chose, since Royal changed the terms, and she said "you have a non-refundable deposit, so yes, you can cancel, but it would cost you $100/person to cancel).   

 

For anyone who didn't see my earlier post, I was finally able to speak to a supervisor and she offered an additional $50 OBC giving me a total of $100 OBC for the loss of the CP perks.  I was satisfied with that amount.   Had I been in a BW balcony, the $100 OBC wouldn't have been satisfactory as the perks with those cabins were valued at more because of the drink packages.    One last sentiment -- at no time during my phone calls did I raise my voice or get ugly with the reps.  It's not their fault.  I was very polite, made my points clearly without ranting, and they, in turn, were very gracious and did their best to help me with what they all admitted seemed an unfair corporate decision.    The old saying about catching more flies with honey paid off for me.   

I may have missed this in your earlier post but did you contact the main 800 number or did you call the crown and anchor number?  We are booked on Harmony October 2020 in a boardwalk cabin and have friends joining us in a CP cabin.  I would like to try to get additional credit for either or both cabins if possible! TIA for your reply.

Never mind when I refreshed I saw the number was trying to read on my phone and not working very well!!