deltableh

Go to the Space Center. You'll spend less time traveling, more time enjoying the actual destination.

Keep an eye here: https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/launches-and-events/events-calendar?pageindex=1&categories=Rocket%20Launches As we get closer to launches, those dates will lock down and who knows... you might be able to see something pretty spectacular.

I think my biggest dissapointment was that netflix had it listed as 4K- rated MA. That sure didn't look like 4k to me? (far from expert!)

It was 4K. It was not 4K HDR, but it was certainly a higher resolution than 1080p.

As an Orlando resident, you won't get the value for your money, even if you know a Disney CM or Universal TM and get comp'd in. Your in-parks time would be extremely limited, and personally, I'd spend all my time in the parks worrying about one accident on 528 causing me to miss the ship (it can happen; 528 is only 2 lanes in each direction, I almost missed the Falcon Heavy launch because of accidents).

As been said above, go see the Kennedy Space Center. You can arrange really cool tours in advance where you might be able to see the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) and even some of the most historic launch pads. Plus, the exhibits there are really good, as are both IMAX movies. Well worth your time. Be sure also to check launch schedules; you may be lucky enough to catch a rocket launch up close and personal!

Connecting to WiFi is free, it's accessing the internet that costs (via a VOOM package). There are a few things that work by simply connecting to the ship's WiFi (like access to RCCL related web sites).

Dollars to dimes says that something on the whitelist for not-paid internet, be it iQ or a RCCL website, uses the same port or IP range as iMessage, and that's why it can slip through.

Not gonna argue, though!

Buy it now and just watch for it to drop. If it does, just cancel your original purchase and repurchase at the lower rate. You will receive a refund on your original purchase. I just did it for my September cruise. Super easy.

Bingo... and if it stays the same price, you can still cancel and repurchase it with OBC instead of a credit card.

If you don't need the wrap-around qualities of a GorillaPod, I highly recommend a GreenPod. Think of a beanbag with a tripod socket in it. Really useful if (and RCCL ships don't say this) a location explicitly states "no tripods," but way better than balancing your camera on the fat lens cap from your 14-24mm f/2.8 lens. Which I tried to do once in Grand Central Terminal. It was unnerving. The GreenPod is nice because the beanbag can mold itself to the top of a wide, non-flat railing. I wouldn't use it, however, on the railing of a cruise ship because it sits on, not straps to, surfaces.

KSC is fantastic; see if you can get a tour where they take you out to the pads or the VAB. KSC offers such tours in advance on their website.

Hey guys!

Looking for aome help and advice. I will be traveling on independence of the seas shortley and looking to pop the question!

 

Looking for some advice on where too do it. Initially had the idea of getting the sunset in view and hoping to have one of her family members secretly film the moment.

 

Any suggestions on places you suggest or seen it done before would be amazing!

 

Thanks!

Having just gotten engaged myself, though not on a cruise, first off, take a deeeeeeeeeeeeeep breath. I was freaking out, and everything went just great.

The sun rises in the east, and sets in the west, so figure out where west is around sunset on the night you'd like to propose. If it's the first night, and the ship is heading south, that'll put the sun off the starboard side of the ship. A nice way of doing things might be dinner at Giovanni's Table, which is on the starboard side of the ship; my fiancé and I had a lovely view of the sun setting behind Miami that evening. You might even be able to call or e-mail your ship to see if they might be able to help out a bit, too. Parts of the Main Dining Room are also port side, and there's a walking path on deck 4 and deck 12, if you want to do things outside. That might be easier if you're looking to have family members video it for you, because they won't have to "sneak" into a restaurant for dinner.

And one last thing, speaking as a hobbyist photographer who thinks about such things: if you want the sunset at her back, just know you you may not get the pictures or videos you want. In order to properly expose for the proposal (which is WAY more important than the sunset!), the camera may choose to blow out the background, or if the camera tries to expose for the sunset, you and your fiancé-to-be will be in pretty heavy shadow.

Good luck! Let us know how it goes :) You're going to do great, and don't forget to enjoy the moment a little bit. This is an exciting time!

I also recall, having read the rules just before my sailing 2 weeks ago, that boxes of wine are specifically prohibited; only 750mL bottles are allowed.

Had it on Freedom of the Seas on the April 22nd sailing.

We are sailing on FOS May 6 and I am enjoying reading your review about what we can expect and am very excited! Do you happen to have pictures of the cruise compasses for the rest of the week as well? Thanks again for your report!

I'm going to second this, and can't wait for you to post them (I saw you said you would shortly, thanks in advance!). I like having a bit of an idea what food is in the MDR and what movies are playing before boarding :)

One last bump for this before we sail. Again, as much as we'd love to shop in Cozumel, our shore excursion likely won't accommodate it, so Costa Maya recommendations are greatly appreciated.

Do you mean slot vouchers or casino certificates, OP?

They say on them CASHOUT VOUCHER.

I had a coworker forget to redeem some casino certificates from her cruise on Oasis at the end of last month. She gave me them since they must be redeemed within 30 days of their issue, and I'll be sailing in that timeframe. Will I be able to redeem those certificates for cash or casino credit?

Thanks so much for your thorough write-ups. I'll be on this exact itinerary shortly with my girlfriend, and so your posting of the menus and Cruise Compasses are fantastic in helping us get excited to sail, and to plan our days just a little bit better.

Everywhere in the Costa Maya area they use bottled water and it is safe to drink. Even the ice is made with bottled water.

 

Costa Maya is not known for any good deals on jewelry and you would be better off shopping for it in Cozumel if you are going there.

And the bakery and coffee at Kariltas is excellent.

 

In addition to Blue Reef, places along the malecon like Tropicante, Krazy Lobster, Barefoot, Pez Quadro and Blue Kay have good food and service.

 

For jewelry, the port has the standard Tanzinite and Diamonds International rip off places you'll find in every port.

 

As tallyho mentioned, best to shop in Cozumel and I suggest heading downtown to the shops along the waterfront and around the plaza. But avoiding the kiosks (quality unknown). Los Cincos Soles generally has decent quality jewelry. And there's a small shop on the northwest corner of the plaza that specializes in silver and had tourquoise.

Much thanks on the information that people cook with bottled water. Additionally, we will be going to Cozumel, but are doing the Chichen Itza trip through our cruise line (as a hobbyist photographer, I can't say no to that excursion; it's part of my photographic bucket list), so I don't imagine we'll have a ton of time in Cozumel-proper to shop, sadly. I'll keep an eye out for any of your named spots, though, if we do.

Also, I avoid Tanzanite and Diamond's International basically at all costs. This is my first cruise without my parents, hence the questions, but I've been on probably 15 or 16 cruises overall previous to this one.

I did some searching, but the last post about such things seems to be 11 years ago.

My girlfriend and I have a port stop upcoming in Costa Maya, and we'd love to do some shopping, especially to get her mom some silver jewelry, either with turquoise or opal in it. Does the port-section of Costa Maya have that? Or would we need to head elsewhere? Additionally, my girlfriend is concerned about getting indigestion with the Mexican water; what sort of food can we get that won't be bothersome? I've read a lot about a really good bakery nearby, but I admit my chemistry isn't the best; will baked goods make with Mexican water cause issues for us?

Thanks in advance, and I warn, I may have some follow-up questions.

Springhill Suites cost me $180 for the one night, but that was offset with a $5/night charge for leaving the car there, which was $4 cheaper than any park-and-go spots I found. There's a free shuttle to the port, but it'll be $10/pp to get back from the port to our car. Overall, we decided this was worth not waking up at 4AM to drive from our home to Ft. Lauderdale, and worry about traffic and the like.

As an Orlando resident, just know that you'll pay for parking at Universal CityWalk, but parking is free at Disney Springs.

That said, I wouldn't come into Orlando or the area. While it's tempting to do a Disney-day, one day tickets to the parks are heckka expensive and frankly, I'd be clock-watching too much worrying about reboarding the ship to really enjoy myself. I would recommend the Space Center, as well. Keep an eye here closer to your trip to see if you might be able to see a rocket launch, too. You'll have a great view right from the ship: https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/launches-and-events/events-calendar?pageindex=1&categories=Rocket%20Launches

Looked like a fantastic sunset the other night; I love living in Florida because we get those incredible pink-and-orange sunsets all the time, but they never get old. Also, your shot of the lava sedimentation is very cool. Might have to add that to my travel bucket-list.

What? It's over?

(╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻

If I want to watch TV I'll save my thousands of dollars and watch it home

 

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

Really, I'm just looking to watch the Opening Ceremony, and also have it as an option at night. I don't plan on spending all my time watching the Olympics, but my girlfriend and I don't gamble, we aren't dance club people; so being able to watch the Olympics at night would be a nice option up on deck, in our room, in a public area without smoking, et cetera.

The cabin TV'S do not carry ABC' CBS or NBC. The Olympics are on NBC. To be safe, I'd DVR it. :)

Well, that's an incredible bummer. I was really hoping to watch the Olympics.

Also, I don't have a DVR. I guess I'll have to hope it's on YouTube or Hulu later.

If you're hard up for lunch one day, I can't get enough of the Pickled Onion on Front Street. Those friggin' fish and chips are delicious!

So, I'm a huge Olympics dork and really enjoy watching the Opening Ceremony, during which I will be on a Royal cruise. Has anybody sailed during the Olympics before, and if so, do they carry the Opening Ceremonies on one of the large, behind the stack screens? Or in one of the bars? Or will I be relegated to watching it in my cabin?

Thanks!