HappyTexan44

We just got back from our cruise and the Cabana Beach was the highlight. I told daughter to soak up the luxury because we aren't likely to experience that again. For those that don't know, Cabana Beach is inside the Chank. area. When you reserve the cabana the entrance fee for Chank. is included. The prices still seem to be the lockdown prices, so it wasn't that much more to reserve the cabana. If you are thinking about going here, I'd reserve now. We picked #10 which is one of the VIP ones. We'd needed it because we originally had 8 people and the regular ones only allowed 6. Even if you have 6 or less, if you have introverts in the group, I recommend getting a VIP one. The area designated for just us was so much bigger. We had the cabana and a hammock, which I think all cabanas get. Then we also had a big day bed and a smaller day bed. #10 was closest VIP to the rest of Chank, and that was nice. They had nice towels for our use. Food and drink prices were about what you would expect for a beach vacation where they brought the stuff to you. We didn't eat that much, but it was good. The snorkeling near the cabanas was interesting. I liked the stair entry. You could sit on the stair and get your flippers on. We saw the free Sea Lion show, that was cute. People lined up for photos with a sealion that they'd prepaid for, and it didn't seem worthwhile to me. On the way back from the Sea Lion show, I stopped at a scuba shop to ask about diving. I'd looked into booking ahead but the prices included Chank admission, which we already had. The first guy said $55 for a Discovery dive for the teens and $40 for me since I'm certified. The max depth is 20', so a good beginner dive. The next booth saw that I talked to the previous booth, so they offered me a better deal which was the same price but included photos. That seemed good, so I told them we'd be back. The third booth called me over and they offered $40 for each regardless, when I said that the last guy included photos he made a face and included that. There was a fourth booth, but I didn't think I would get a better deal, and they didn't try to tempt me. That was a bit of fun. The max number of ships were in port and this was around 1pm. One the FB rollcall people were talking about being unable to get beach reservations anywhere. So, I got the girls and they took care of the equipment. One of the girls only had a face mask and had never been snorkeling, but that wasn't a problem. Manuel was our dive guide and he took just us, which seemed to be the norm. He did a good job on instructing the girls on what they needed to know for diving. Daughter and I had been snuba diving on a recent trip. This Discovery Dive was even easier since we didn't need to worry about the hose. They have a statue of Christ and another of the Virgin. He took us to both those and pointed out a bunch of sea creatures: lobster, eel, stone fish, baby stingray. He took a ton of photos. Then if you are doing good and want to, he'll take you through the little cave-ish thing that beach has. There was also a place where we went from salt to fresh water. I am really pleased with the job he did. The only snag was with me. They needed to use Facebook messenger to get the dive photos to me, and I had my phone but since I'd never used Facebook on it, it wouldn't let me in. Fortunately, the other mom was able to get the photos. I'll upload some photos I took next. Oh, I forgot to mention. To arrive you have to come in through the main entrance, but to leave they order a taxi to the back entrance.

Daughter's just has to stay below 50F. So it was fine for that. For anyone that needs tighter controls, I'd suggest bringing your own tiny fridge. Of course it wasn't in the room until late the first evening, and after I'd gone to guest services. The ship hadn't heard anything from Special Needs about us. Fortunately everything else fell into the normal requests.

We requested the medicine fridge. It wasn't what I expected, which was a small or tiny fridge with tight temperature control. As you can see, it isn't that. You might have something similar at home, I think we have two. The cord kept unplugging so we put in under the counter. The temp had been below 40F. It had been 47F when I opened the lid, which was the highest I saw while it stayed plugged in. A vial of medicine doesn't take that much space, so we used it for other stuff too. I always wrap the vial in a washcloth or napkin to help even out the temp. This was on the Voyager on Feb 2024. The regular fridge wasn't even claiming to be a fridge. It had a sign on the front that it was a cooler. The inside door was setup for a mini-bar where you were charged when you removed stuff. Remember those? Temp in there was 60's before I added a ziploc of ice.

Just so y'll know, I'm still torn on where to go so I guess I'll decide when we get there. The Viking Crown Lounge on Deck 14 sounds nice because it looks comfy and good view. The lounge on Deck 5 sounds nice too because it also looks comfy and there is a raffle there, that I think is before the rooms open? I'll have to check into that. The library has the advantage of being super close to our cabins. I'd be basically right there. I'm not a fan of the outdoors unless water is involved, so that is the only spot I eliminated. If I'm able to dump all our stuff when/if I drop the medicine, I think I'll go to Deck 14 Viking Lounge. I look forward to some alone time.

I had a key to my Grandparent's car but it worked in a stranger's car. If it hadn't have been for the hairbrush I'd have driven away. Years ago I had a friend that was convinced his car was stolen. It was a classic car even in the 80's. Then they noticed that there was another car just like it in the parking lot, only not theirs. They contacted the other owners and got their car back. While in college a friend of mine had a drunk stranger enter his locked apartment in the wee hours. Fortunately her brother was visiting and sleeping on the couch. The guy was mad at them for being in "his apartment." They eventually got him out of the apartment. In the morning, they reported it to the office and they admitted that there were only 7 keys total for the complex. He was in the wrong building, but the same apartment within the building.

I once got into the wrong car and started it. It was only "What is that strange brush doing on the passenger seat" that clued me into the problem. Weird thing was it was at college and I'd occasionally drive my grandparents car to keep in running. So, it was a boat in that mint green color only on old_people's cars.

Yes, we requested a medicine fridge, and I did got an email back from special_needs listing what we'd have. And I printed the email. The medicine fridge is a really nice idea. Either the hotels where I normally stay don't have that, or I just haven't asked.

I hadn't noticed this when you posted. That is exceedingly helpful. Daughter's medicine is over $1000/vial so I guard it closely. It also has to be kept cold. It would be nice to drop it off early and put it in the medicine fridge. No one would know it is expensive, but still.

On the general topic, not saying that Royal does this, but even today it isn't that unusual for hotels to have only a limited number of codes to open the doors. So, I always use the hardware lock when inside hotel rooms.

We once went to a surprise party on the wrong week! It was at the house of a friend of a friend. The front door was open and no one answered so DH went in and thought everyone was already hiding so was hollering "Hello." It was a pool party so he went into the backyard where the owner was in the pool in an inner tube. DH had thought something was maybe up when there wasn't many cars, so DD and I stayed in the car. The story was told many times at the actual party.

One thing that almost got me was the photos. There are places that will convert your random photo into a passport photo, for a fee. Then there are other free places that you just upload the photo and center and zoom it yourself, and then it has a software test for passport-worthiness. Photos went through without a problem, and the guy at the post office seemed surprised that our photos were fine.

I was genuinely shocked at how quick it was. The appointment was easy to get and the post office we went to had a day where they took walk-ins. I got an appointment anyway. We went just before Thanksgiving and got them on Dec 7th. DH had the passport from when he was 8. I had my passport from 2000, but I'd married since then with a name change. Daughter was getting her first. So, it wasn't like we were all renewing unexpired passports. I'd thought about just not getting passports. But I wanted ID for daughter, and I wanted a married name passport for me. So, now I can stop digging out my marriage license.

At least for her, she probably won't spend any money on drinks without the freestyle. She likes a few non-bubbly options on the freestyle, but isn't a fan of sodas. We invited a friend of hers on the cruise, and the friend likes sodas so I got the friend the soda package. Then I got daughter the same so that she wouldn't feel deprived and she could get her non-bubbly options.

Once we get on board Voyager I will be cancelling daughter's soda package and telling them why. No Freestyle.

That has changed. On the general Voyager FB group someone posted photos from the most recent cruise of some video poker machines on it.

I will tell you in a few weeks after our cruise : )

DH only got a smart phone because they stopped making the batteries for his milspec flip phone. That thing was sturdy. When we were dating, he put his shorts with his phone in the pocket into the laundry hamper that was ready to go in the washer. It wasn't until it started to bang around in the dryer that we knew. Phone was fine. It would have been fine if we'd left it in the dryer, since that was a test for flip phones, a certain amount of time in a dryer. One time he was buttonholed by some salesguy in an Apple store, who claimed that the iphone was sturdier. DH took his flip phone and tossed it across the room like it was dice at a craps table. Then he showed the guy that it still worked and was about ready to do the same thing to the iphone when the salesguy grabbed his arm and admitted it was less sturdy. Now that we all have smart phones, we just plan on replacing his every 6-8 months. He is doubling the size of our house himself, so misc. construction. The only smart part that he uses is as a radio/audiobook player, and he'd be happier if it was the size of the old flip phones. For myself I deliberately waited until DD was school aged to get a smart phone. Kids are talking later than they used to, and parents with smart phones is thought to be one reason. The kids don't hear as many words because the parents stare at the smart phone screen instead of talking to their baby. I'm a gadget gal, so I was quite happy to switch.

Brita has water bottles that have filters inside them.

From what I've read, and what I planned on doing myself. When you are checking in, and you are talking to the crew with the ipad, tell them that you want to switch to a Cash Account. Someone said that they deliberately didn't upload a photo since that was a good time to switch to a cash account.

I wonder, would having a cash account help with this? In that they are motivated to provide a bill to get paid. Maybe

Nope. closest you could get was chocolate chip cookies and add ice cream.

I think there is something to, "My luggage is weird. This looks like my luggage. Therefore this is my luggage." Back when I was a road warrior. I once saw luggage just like my weird luggage. I'd never seen a duplicate of mine. I'd had just grabbed it and in my defense I was checking the tag. Simultaneously, I saw that the tag wasn't mine and a young soldier in uniform ran up acting like I was stealing his luggage. But until I saw the tag, I really had thought it was mine. I recently bought a bag of random ribbon at Goodwill. I set aside some "It's a Boy" ribbon to tie around our luggage handles. That should truly be unique!

It is by state and most states don't even have a rule for that.