Cutigerlady

If you signup your kids for Crown & Anchor numbers, they get the same internet you pay for free (assuming you are also a member). I always paid for my kids and apparently this was an unwritten benefit they formalized with the changes this year. They also get a few other discounts you may be interested in. This is the easiest way to keep tabs on what they are doing. 

I forgot to mention that outside they had lanes for each boarding group time, so I suspect on the bigger ships they can keep passengers outside if needed.  I've been through Port Canaveral many times prior to this and this was the first time I've seen in setup this way (first time in 2023).  I think the last group of seats inside was 12:30-1:00, so if you have a later group you probably can get on early, but not at 10:30.  

We were on a cruise out of port Canaveral last week. They had chairs arranged in groups by boarding group times and led each group row by row in line onto the ship. The times began at 10:30, but they didn’t start boarding until about 11:15. I’m guessing the 1:00 group was able to get on about 12:30. They would not start boarding a group until everyone was sitting in a chair and several people that tried to join a different group were told to go to their group. We got to the port about 10:15 and were back about 10 rows in our 11:00 group. 

Have you tried using a private passport replacement service?  they typically can turn it around in 5-7 days.  It's not cheap ($749 for the one I googled), but it's better than missing entire trip!

No, you don't have to buy beverage packages for your kids.  You are required to buy a package for all of the adults in the room.  

A year ago, I was able to get the breakfast shake as part of the drink package on the Harmony.  They won't make a regular shake at breakfast (which is what my teenager wanted - he's an athlete on a need to eat all of the time diet).  He ended up going to the spa and getting protein shake and bringing it back to eat with his full breakfast at Johnny Rockets.  

Maybe I completely missed discussion about this, but I just noticed that the rewards are changing a bit on 3/10/23.  Maybe this will help out someone else as well. 

There is a new section for Youth Benefits, which include:

50% off Ben & Jerrys - 1 scoop cup or cone and limited to twice during sailing

Same Surf + Stream benefits as your parents - this is huge for me!

Spend $15 in Arcade, $5 OBC Spend $50 get $25 OBC at end of cruise

Buy one movie rental get one free

Drinks for Diamond and above (Same as adults), excludes starbucks

I can't really comment on the other changes because we are lowly Platinum.  

I have been to the beach club with my son that is the same age over Christmas.  What made it nice was that the pool is heated and it was chilly.  My son ate the cost I paid $100 (I think) in food at lunch!  The life guards at the pool were not allowing any splashing/rough housing in the pool (I'm totally fine with that in a mainly adult area) and my son slept in a chair the majority of the day.  I would not pay the price it is for your trip.  We have been to Coco Cay many times, but if you haven't there are lots of things to do for free.  

For May, I wouldn’t wait if you find a price you can live with. We booked a last minute trip for early February in early January and the prices never dropped and they pulled the cruise from being able to be booked at all. We didn’t have flexibility with the dates. 

It does not have splashaway bay. My kids were in the pool or hot tubs, along with lots of other kids over Christmas.  It does have 2 water slides, but it was chilly so my kids were not interested in standing in line in the cold.  They have a few swings and the climbing play thing and a the trampoline (I do think there is a weight minimum).  

Yes, my cruise for November is cheaper today.  But my cruise for July is more.  Gotta love RCL Marketing!  

Do you have to fly?  If so, you may want to consider which airport is cheaper to fly into and that it is much farther to the port from the airport in Orlando.  My boys (16,12) would pick the Harmony and they did so last Spring Break.  We are going on the Oasis in November because I wasn't paying the premium for the Wonder.  

I did have to make reservations when we arrived. They had a variety of times and we didn’t rush to get there early. I would just let them know what time you have your other excursions and I’m sure you can work it out.  

The pool is heated and we loved it in December. It was so windy, but that area seems protected and it wasn’t as chilly as the rest of the island.  I got it for less than $200 per person and would definitely go again. 

I think the texting works through the Royal app, which I can't use from my Apple Watch.

You can get a bottle of water at the same time you get an alcoholic drink.  I do this all of the time.  You can also order a drink for someone else in your party if you have their Sea Pass card.  I think the servers work really hard to be available and provide you drinks as quickly as possible.  We get to know the people working and most times they start to make my drink even before I order.  

You should be able to access the ones you selected to download by selecting the Unlocked tab.  I struggled to do this from my phone, but it was easier from my computer to figure out I needed to select a tab first.  

I was just there and I thought it was worth it at Christmas time when there were 2 full ships at Coco Cay (Mariner and Oasis).  It was very quiet/peaceful and the pool was heated.  When I've been at Coco Cay in the past in the winter, the water (pool/water park) was freezing.  The day we were there it was very windy and where the club is located, it is insulated from the wind, so it felt warmer.  The ocean was also chilly for me this trip.  The lifeguards at the pool were telling the kids no splashing/rough housing in the pool. My two teens enjoyed it and said they would go back.

I enjoyed the lunch, upgraded loungers and everywhere you turned there was someone to take your drink orders.  When we arrived in the morning, they had a drink stand with coffee/tea/water and pastries.  My husband and I are going back in February and I did pay the $170, which is about the max I would pay for it.  

I think the first reservations are at 6:45. You can try emailing the dining department to request an earlier reservation  (include your sailing date, ship, last name, number of people). The email address is rcldining@rccl.com.  You can also make the request on board by stopping by the dining room, but the line can be long!  

We played ping pong and miniature golf (open until 8), went to the ice show, Aqua show, and ventriloquist show. We did family trivia, family karaoke, watched movies, and watched sports until my son was exhausted every evening!  He went ice skating, zip lining, rock wall climbing, swimming, etc. I didn’t pay for anything extra. There is plenty to do that is included!!

If you pay for the expedite and don't get your passports in time, there is a way to go to a passport center and have the book printed there.  You must be traveling within 20 days.  You should be able to look up where the closest facility is to where you live online.  You may also have a local service that guarantees a passport within 2 weeks, but it usually is alot more $$.  

We did get passports and have never needed them for an emergency situation, however it did make meeting the Real ID requirements to renew my driver's license much easier (didn't have to get a certified copy of my marriage license).  

It looks like all the Reserve buttons have been disabled. If you selected the add sale to your calendar yesterday it had an 11:00 EST time, so I wonder if it wasn’t supposed to go live so soon?  It let me cancel, but I can’t rebook the lower prices. What a mess!  

Mine took almost a week and the details went to my TA. She reached out to me because she couldn’t figure out what changed on my statement.  That evening, I could see the credit online. 

I booked June 2024 - 1 inside and 1 ocean view for 2 adults and 2 kids (count as adults because over 12).  I am buying private cancel for any reason insurance over the refundable deposit because that was much cheaper than $290 extra per room and the travel insurance is also much cheaper/better.   

On the Harmony, you can have breakfast for free at Johnny Rockets too.  We like the egg scramblers here and everything is made to order.  We also like the Solarium Bistro for a more laid back buffet than WJ.  The Park Cafe is another great choice for bagels, breakfast sandwiches/burritos, cereal, fruit at breakfast and lots of sandwiches, soup and salads they make for you at lunch.  I get overwhelmed in WJ, so I always look for alternatives.  

If you are looking for something after dinner, then the choices get a lot harder.  You have promenade cafe for sandwiches/cookies/desserts or pizza.