ali3pt14

I would contact your ob and ask the question just to be certain. Having said that, you will be so early in your pregnancy that I don't see having a massage will be an issue for you. Further, the masseuses on board should have had some training and some knowledge about pregnancy massage (most spas DO offer special pregnancy massages). However, you cannot know for certain if they have had that sort of training, so checking with your OB first and getting their input should be your first step.

Even if you have yet to visit your OB for the first time, they will certainly speak with you on the phone about the matter.

Congratulations to you, and have a great cruise.

It is so funny when we find ourselves doing things our parents did! (Especially those things we rolled our eyes at...Karma!!!)

Have a great cruise!

I too have booked a JS for a 30th anniversary suprise on Adventure September 10th. I am lucky my partner doesnt have any involvement in the planning of our holidays so no problems keeping the secret (apart from my own big mouth).

 

I was hoping to keep the suprise until he puts the key in door and enters, so with that in mind do JS go through a suite line to board, and if so is there any advantage to going through that line. Or to keep the secret shopuld I just use the platinum line - if San Juan has those.

 

Jo

I am on this same cruise!

If you panic, get sweaty and claustrophobic by attending a muster, it will not be a good thing for you if you're required to report to the muster station for emergency. Having said this, Suites & higher decks typically will line up at or near the exit doors on deck 4

I am very claustrophobic, but I imagine that in an emergency that required me to report to my muster station, my issues with claustrophobia would be the very least of my worries! ;)

To the OP, I'm glad you and your wife were both comfortable. On my last cruise when I reported to muster, I just quietly told the person lining us up that I was claustrophobic and I was allowed to stand in the front of the line. That would help you, but not your wife. I think it might be worth mentioning to guest services in future if your stateroom doesn't automatically accommodate you. I don't think in this instance you reporting to a sit down area would put anyone out.

I always bring a large, thermal plastic cup with lid and straw with me. I make a trip to the Windjammer a couple times per day and get a plate with cucumbers, watermelon, strawberries and pineapple. Then I take a couple glasses of water and mix it all in my cup. Healthy, refreshing and delicious (and free!).

If you meant Adventure of the Seas, she doesn't yet have the freestyle machine. As someone else already mentioned, yes, lemonade and tea are free.

Last year we had specialty dining from our TA. Yes, it's true, you must book onboard, but there won't be any problems getting reservations. Get the tiramisu when you go...it's so good!

Just a little bit of advice. Make sure to print and bring a copy of your invoice from your TA. Royal initially stated that they had no record of my OBC and free dining from my TA once I was onboard. It was quickly remedied because I had my invoice and contract proving my benefits.

Have a great cruise.

For $100, you can apply for global entry, which automatically gets you pre-check. If you travel internationally, you get through customs quicker...I've not used it on a cruise yet...don't know if it works with cruise lines or only airports. I figured it was worth the additional $15.

On the topic of jet lag, if possible, I typically try to book an overnight flight that lands early in the morning of my arrival city. I take a sleeping pill as soon as the final leg of the flight begins, put on noise cancelling headphones, a sleeping mask, and arrive refreshed in my arrival city's timeframe.

As others have stated, I'd arrive at least one day before...if there are any delays at all, you will miss embarkation. Too stressful!

Have a great trip!

You are awesome! Thank you for the pictures. I've sent them to my mother who is sailing with me to see what she thinks. I may do it!

Thank you for the quick replies! I'm mildly concerned that the views won't be as good as it looks like they sit back away from the water a bit...am I wrong? I do like the idea of the larger balcony. The obstruction isn't a problem?

I am currently booked in JS 9580 on Adventure of the Seas, but noticed that 7394, 7392 and 7694 are available. I have heard that the aft rooms might be preferable...should I switch? And if so, to which of the three?

I apologize in advance to hijacking this post, but does anyone know if a junior suite guest on Adventure of the Seas gets priority disembarking too? I'm on a waiting list for a grand suite. :(

I think if you are going to buy a lanyard, I'd buy one with a clear plastic envelope attached (called a badge holder, I believe). Just Google lanyard with badge holder and you will see what I mean. This way, you don't have to punch holes in your seapass, it just slips in the envelope. They also sell these on board the ship with the Royal Caribbean logo. Have a great cruise!

The rooms are larger than standard, and therefore it takes longer to clean. The attendant doesn't have as many to service and therefore the higher gratuity to even out with the other stewards. That is my guess. Mine have always been worth every penny and more.

Perhaps it's just another way for Royal to get more money from the suite guests, but again, I just figure it into the cost and don't begrudge it. It is what it is.

We were on Adventure last year in a grand suite and there was a suite priority line at the port. Once through the line, however, we sat with everyone else waiting to board.

Also, I'm 95% positive that it's a DVD player in the room.

I'm jealous that you got a grand suite...we booked again for this September and the grand suites were sold out. I'm on a waiting list. Have a great cruise!

We were on Adventure last September, and will be again this September. You will have a great time whichever room you choose! I think room choice is subjective...I have read posts from people that love their inside staterooms. I am claustrophobic and can't even imagine! However, as Bob mentioned above, if you could get an inside or oceanview connected to a balcony, that might be a good middleground for you.

Have a great trip!

I wanted a grand suite on Adventure for our Sept. 10 sailing. I'm hoping that they become available before final payment. I look everyday to see if one has freed up. So far, only JS available.

I hope you get want you want, too and at a price you want to pay!

I haven't yet done this, but recently heard of swabbing the inside of your nostrils with Neosporin prior to flying.

I have had really good food on board and some food that is simply "meh". What I think makes it exceptional is the fact that I didn't have to cook it and I'm eating it against a backdrop of turquoise water! As it is all inclusive, I certainly don't believe that the food on the ship warrants complaints. For the price, it really is just fine and sometimes quite good!

Has anyone stayed in an owners suite on Adventure of the Seas? Last September we stayed in a grand suite and I loved it...I guess I was spoiled. We just booked the same cruise for this September (we can only pick one specific week) and currently there are no grand suites available for that date, only Jr or Owner suites. I am torn as I know the Jr suite will be smaller and it doesn't offer the "suite perks", but the owners suite is twice as much money with a smaller balcony and bed. We ate breakfast on our balcony each morning and loved that! Also, I will be travelling with my mother so one of us (me!) will be sleeping on the roll out sofa since they cannot separate the queen bed. Has anyone stayed in both types and have you any opinions one vs the other? I booked the Junior for now and will keep checking to see if a Grand becomes available, but I'm wondering if I should just get the owners and be done with it? I know, such problems to contemplate!!!! Shame on me, but the heart wants what it wants.

Thank you to all of you that sent words of support. My final update is that upon speaking with the excursion manager, we have all received 100% refunds. Additionally, the guest services manager called to apologise for the run-around we received when attempting to report our fiasco in the first place. I am satisfied that Royal has made this right.

Here is a quick update. We had another call from the excursion desk this morning to schedule a time when all of us (those that took this tour) could all meet this evening. I do hate to waste any more time on this, but will go and see what they have to say (both to help myself and to support the others that took this excursion). I do think that we will actually be speaking with the excursion manager this time. Fingers crossed.

To those of you that indicated that it depends on how things are handled, I do agree. However, in this case, we all simply explained what had happened to us to an individual behind the excursion desk that didn't have the authority to do anything (none of it angily - we were actually all pretty sure that there would be no question at all that a refund be issued). Beyond that it was in an elusive managers hands that rendered the 50% decision only by speaking directly to the vendor and none of us.

I'll let you know what outcome we see tonight.

PS Sorry for the long-windedness and lack of paragraphs in my original post. I know better...just in vacation mode! ;)

PPS St Lucia (today's port) is lovely! :)

I am currently on Adventure of the Seas. We have been having a lovely cruise and the ship seems to be in fine shape despite some of the reviews I'd read prior to sailing. The food is fine and our service in the MDR has been fabulous. However, yesterday we went on an excursion (I'm unsure if I'm allowed to type the name) and it was one of the most terrifying experiences I've had in my life! For our time in Antigua, my mother and I signed up for an excursion where you operated your own inflatable jet ski sort of thing. (It looked like a jet ski with a rubber raft surrounding it. It was raining when we arrived in port, and we questioned whether the excursion would be cancelled due to the weather and it wasn't. So off we went figuring we'd be getting wet anyway, so fine. There ended up being a total of eight of us. We were taken by taxi by a very personable driver. Once at the excursion place, we were then quickly shown how to operate the boats by the owner, were introduced to our guides, (one was the owners son who we found out later was only 16 years old!) and we all loaded up two per boat (with a 400 lb weight limit) and headed out single file through a cove and out into open water. The rain, which we were told should pass by 11am was getting heavier by the minute. Once we left the cove, the heavens opened and we were getting pelted by driving rain in the eyes. I was directly behind the boats with the guides who were speeding off ever faster. The waves are rough and splashing over the bow and in our faces but (luckily???!) the rain spearing into my eyeballs kept the saltwater from stinging. I had to really push to keep up! After what was probably 30 minutes, but felt more like at least double that, we arrived at a buoy over at reef area and our boats are all tied off. The other couples that pulled in behind me all look like I felt! Now it begins to thunder and lightening! At this point the younger of the two guides tells us where we should try to snorkel and that we'd spend 45 minutes there! Each and every one of us said that this was unsafe. The water was really rough and did I mention THUNDER and LIGHTENING? ! He was really trying and jumped in the water to dive down and hand us a shell. We all were looking at each other and told them again that we wanted to leave. Finally they agreed, but one boat would not start. The rest of us puttered around while they tried to start the boat to no avail. So the two guests got on the guides boat, and one of the guides got in another's boat. So now two of the four remaining boats are over the weight limit. We again take off with the two boats each with the guides in the lead. I am following at the end. The boat in front of me is going slower and slower....they are breaking down! They guides are way ahead at this point!!!! I tell them we will speed aged to try to get help. Finally the guide turns around and notices us (thank goodness, because I wasn't catching up!) We all again wait while they try to help this boat. I can't really see, but I think they get that boat working, but another is now malfunctioning and smoking! The guide connects my boat to theirs and now I'm towing them. This is slow going, I have the engine at full throttle, and we are just creeping along. The first twoboats are now out of sight. The guide then tells us he got their engine fixed and for us to go on. At this point, we are shivering and this is horrible, but it gets even better! We take off, I'm trying to see the other boats and my mother behind me is tapping me on the shoulder. There is no one behind us! We are alone in the water!!!! My boat is now sputtering, I've no idea if we are out of gas or about to break down as well! I slow way down, and begin to pray that the first group will come back to help us soon. After probably 15 minutes the owner comes..not in a speedboat, but on another of these rafts!!!! We tell him of the loss of the other stranded (we guess) group. He tries to explain which inlet we should head back to and takes off to find the others. We are again alone, but make it into the cove, only to find that there are many turn offs and we've no idea how to get back to their docks, so again we wait another half hour or so. He finally comes back alone!) The other people got out and were going to try to swim to shore, but were rescued by another boat!!! Finally we are onshore, the wife of the owner takes us to a nearby open air restaurant and we are given hot coffee. The other people that were rescued, then call from shore telling them where they are. A taxi is sent to get them, and we wait for their return. Once all 8 of us are again together in the warm taxi, we decide to go as a group to guest services to say we want our money back for this excursion. We are turned away by the gentleman behind the counter. He says that we must come back at 6pm to talk to the excursion desk. We have dinner reservations at 6, but agree that there is strength in numbers, so we all meet at 6. We tell our tale to the lady and she is apologetic and mortified for us, but says that her manager must speak to the owners before she can authorize a refund. Last night we got a call from the lady - not the manager - and they have talked to the owners and have come to the agreement that a 50% refund is in order since we agreed to go on this excursion. How many of you believe this is fair??

I will be boarding Adventure of the Seas today (eat your hearts out!!!!!) ;) Yesterday, on my flight from Baltimore to San Juan, someone had a dog in the cabin. It yapped and yappedthe duration of the four hour flight. Even with Bose noise canceling headphones, I could hear it. As has already been posted, TRUE service animals are highly skilled and well behaved. No problem. I love animals and didn't blame the dog...I was, however, fantasizing about the many many injuries that might befall it's owner.

No, I would not cruise on an animal-friendly ship.

Cindy,

I'm loving your review - thank you for taking the time to post! We are leaving Thursday for our cruise on the 12th. I'm voraciously reading everything I can. We are staying in GS 1256 which is just a few doors down from you. Did you hear any noise from the pool deck above?

Ali