1025cruise

Skip the cruise tour. Take the Silver Line (pick up at pier) to South Station, then take the Red Line to Park Street. Get up to the street and there is the start of the Freedom Trail. Walk it. Just follow the red brick line. By lunch time, you should be at Faneuil Hall, where there is a large food court where everyone can get something for themselves (or dine in a restaurant if you wish). Then keep going.

Your only option is going to be for a taxi (or 2) that can hold your group.

Unfortunately, you aren't going to be able to complete escape fish on a cruise ship. I would think the best option would be to find a least busy time. While you can control what you order, you can't control your neighbors. Just like I can't ask the whole ship to not douse themselves in perfume.

You are a braver soul then I am. I would happily pay the surcharge to not share a cabin with my mother in law.

You might want to ask on the Florida Departures board.

As an IT guy, I wonder if this is something like backups running or something, with the fact that the size of the databases are just so large it causes an outage.

And where is this posted on the Carnival site making it public information?

To answer your question as to how they can do this? Read the contract you agreed to, it's right there.

How on earth did a 16 year old get Cheers?

Just note that the Maitre'Ds are not required to respond to guest requests, though it is reported that people that choose this route are accommodated. The proper way to request a table for 2 (or any size) is to post to John Heald's Facebook page 4 days prior to your cruise and make the request. And to the people that say they always email the MaitreD, I again ask for a Carnival link that posts this information. None has been provided to me to date.

Last time I cruised, i didn't notice a fiber optic cable trailing the ship everywhere it went. Don't expect speeds like you get at home. Be happy with the 2M.

In all honesty, I would not do a solo cruise on DCL. Too expensive. However, if you want to cruise with your friends, go for it. I would probably pick the cheapest inside.

Never seen a whirlpool in any couples massage.

Really no way to predict this. One week it can be docked Starboard, the next week Port. It all depends on the port authorities, work to be done on the ship while docked, etc.

Also note that Royal no longer allows you to slap a tag on a case of water and give it to the porter.