NJcruisenewbie

You can certainly find something to snack on but if you're like me and particular about what you eat you're better off bringing your own. My favorite is an assortment of flavored 100 calorie pack almonds.

My 17 year old daughter has had a passport since just after 9-11. I consider it a small price to pay for peace of mind. We live outside Manhattan.

She just got her 4th one.

Price fluctuation happens on lots of purchases - airfare, cruises, cars, houses, etc.

The best thing to do is not check price after you purchase if there isn't anything you can do to adjust it.

I can't believe you're throwing a fit over $100.

I wish my 87 year old mother, who's a retired teacher, was on that cruise because she would have taken those kids to task and they would have listened. I've seen her in action. It's awe inspiring.

OP, I'm sorry you had to deal with this. I'm fortunate my teen is a good kid. Of course, it's been grilled in her since birth to be respectful.

The ferry and bus systems are very easy to use. For the buses there are basically 3 routes that run from one end of the island to the other - north, central and south.

Congrats. I've been to Bermuda with a 10 year old not a toddler but I'd highly recommend horseshoe bay beach. There's also the aquarium, museum and zoo. The crystal caves are really neat but might be too much for a 3 yo. The public transportation is very good and easy to figure out. IMO snorkel park isn't very good. There is a lot of debris. There are some neat shops at the pier like a glass blower that many but be fun.

WE LOVE having tablemates! So far, we've had none that "offended" us or took away from the evening meal. Most folks are VERY friendly...you all have cruising in common...so vacationing is a good topic to talk about!

 

Unless YOU are really particular, you'll get along with anyone for 2 hours....jeez.

 

"Bad" Tablemates will give you a good topic of conversation later. Go with the flow. Don't sweat the small stuff. Get along with humans...that's what we humans do!

Sorry, there are plenty of situations where I have to put a smile on my face and get along with people I don't care for. However, vacation isn't one of them.

Thanks for the report. I have brothers and remember issues with underwear and socks growing up:D. As for washing hands all day long, my teen doesn't do that in school, the mall or around town so I don't see a ship being different. Kids get sick on land and at sea. It happens.

In many cases I'd rather see a movie than a show. I've seen some good shows but also ones that I thought were so bad I was embarrassed for the performers.

A question for the experts, some people are saying that passengers should be allowed to stay on the ship in Bayonne and use it as a floating hotel. Would that even be possible? Bayonne is the start/end of the cruise, not a port of call. I'm thinking there are likely different port regulations but I could be wrong.

Yes, that is my point, there are two sides. Its all honky dory to post the positives, the people praising RCCL, but don't go posting any negative comments! Don't call it a horror or horrific experience... Can we stop only presenting the "positive" side.

 

Enough already of the defense and trying to sugar coat a real, preventable, horrifying experience!

But don't you see that you're doing the same thing. You've been insinuating on multiple threads that the captain ignored all weather reports and deliberately risked the lives of 6500+ people.

I remember being on a cruise out of Bayonne to Bermuda when we hit unexpected bad weather. Nothing like this but certainly enough that we were advised not to go out on deck and room attendants were offering saltines and ginger ale to anyone who needed it. My point is that weather can and does change on a dime.

From what I've seen RCCL has cancelled, shortened and rerouted cruises plenty of times. I don't see why this sailing would have been any different had the full weather picture been known at the time of sailing.

I can imagine there are people on board now who were really scared. I probably would have been especially if my child were with me. I certainly think RCCL and the captain can learn something from this experience just like each of us learn from going through difficult situations.

So I talked with guest services and they said they'd call the police in Ft Lauderdale if I couldn't settle it by the end of the cruise.

 

I have an emergency American Express at home that I left specifically for my friend. He is pet sitting my cats and it is there in case they needed to go to the vet. I turned my phone on and had my friend send a picture of the card. They won't take a number of a card, they said the only way is to swipe it.

 

I can't have a friend or family member deposit that much money. I am sick and this is ruining my trip real quick.

So you do have a credit card. I'd call American Express and explain that you left your card at home and need a way to pay you balance. Let them help you. I'm sure there is something AMEX can do. Good luck.

I bring snacks with us, not because there isn't enough food on board but because there isn't enough of the kind of food I like to eat when I want to eat it. Things like individual packages of nuts and KIND bars. I eat several small meals during the day so a KIND bar is perfect for me. Also, my daughter is a bottomless pit but is a bit picky so I bring things for her as well. My husband will eat anything.

I also bring things that are good if one of us isn't feeling well like snack packs of pretzels. On one cruise my daughter got sick and all she wanted were pretzels. I asked at every bar and food establishment and couldn't find any complementary ones. I paid $6 for a bag of pretzel thins for her.

There is potentially more at stake than just you. So, I'd say cancel it. If you can afford fertility treatments, you should be able to lose a cruise fare.

 

Not sure if your travel insurance will cover something like this.

 

Is it too early for a pregnancy test before you leave? I mean the ones the doctors give out, not an OTC model, because they may be more accurate.

 

We decided to stay on the ship in one of our ports due to malaria. Still we did the bug spray. I think there's some Deet free insect repellent out there. We've used Naturapel wipes and take them w/ us on our shore excursions. On the really bad mosquito islands, we also wear Insect Shield clothing. When we mentioned Malaria, our doctor told us to wear long sleeves and long pants.

 

On our last cruise, we stayed on the ship four port days out of six. You can see a lot of beauty from the window.

 

Those bugs can catch a ride on the ship. We had a bug hitchhike from Monterey to Catalina Island.

Lots of insurance policies in the US pay for fertility treatment. Ours paid for 3 IVF cycles which is the common coverage.

OP, I've been through IVF so I know some of what you're going through. If I were in your shoes I'd get my doctor to sign whatever documents necessary for the insurance company to cover my not traveling. Worst case I'd eat my loses.

It isn't about the actual risk of getting this illness, because that is likely low. I imagine you may be feeling a little fragile at times and you need to protect yourself from anything outside your control.

I wish you all the best.

It's on the cruiseline if they irritated themselves by bringing free stuff to people whose birthday it wasn't. They, after all, have our birthdate information right there in front of them. :)

 

 

Our TA asked about our upcoming cruise. We are taking it b/c of Dh's birthday, and we'll be enjoying a sea day ON his b'day. It's right there on our reservation, too, that we're celebrating his b'day.

 

I think I'll buy him a tiara. ;)

Then celebrate his birthday. I don't get the fuss adults wants strangers to make over things like birthdays. I can't imagine wearing something that screams "give me attention".

The op can vacation other ways. Vegans probably represent less than 1% of passengers. Why should the cruise line spend all the extra $ on food to accomadate those few?

There isn't extra money involved in vegan food. An easy and simple meal could consist of stir fry vegetables with rice. The ship has all of food necessary to accommodate a vegan - grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, plant based fats.

I'll add that I'm not vegan but do often eat vegan meals. I don't care for the taste of meat or dairy at all. I'd be vegan if it weren't for my love of fish and seafood.

I'm thinking of bringing a couple of those CoffeeMate to-go's on my next cruise. Have never tried them. Did you like the flavor and did it require more than one squirt per cup?

 

It seems to be a much easier alternative to the International Delight pods, which I like.

I have one of the french vanilla coffee mate to-go's in my office. I don't think it has much flavor to it. The pods are much better IMO.

Just an FYI For all you experts on going to the naughty room for sneaking on alcohol I have always brought on alcohol before they started the alcohol package and never been called to the naughty room. I now buy the package and don't have to run back to my room for a drink what a hassle that was. I don't know how hard it is now to get alcohol on board but I used to bring 2 18 packs of beer and a bottle of vodka and never not once got called to the naughty room.all I had to do was give my room attendant $10 and my beers would be iced down when I got back to the room. While I'm not condoning it we had to do what we had to do at the time. Now we buy the package and it's so much easier and stress free.

Really?!! We're talking booze on a cruise ship not keeping your kids fed and a roof over their heads. How about not drinking or drinking less if the prices are too much for you. $12-15 is pretty standard for non happy hour drinks.

You sound like a really fun guy/girl.

 

Again, we are trying Anthem and RCCl for the first time. I was very surprised to see a curfew mentioned for teens of 1am. I wanted to hear about experiences with it. So, thank you to the 5 or 6 people who answered the question.

 

I don't know how it's going to work for our family. I hope everyone likes it and has a great time. I anticipate the 1am thing being met with annoyance after not having that limitation on other cruises. I hope they are able to enjoy themselves. He's such a nice kid, he would never bother a fly.

I just have to laugh when I read things like this. I'm sorry but the nicest, sweetest teen in the world bothers others at times. We all do things that bother others at times.

I have a very sweet 16 year old and she is a night owl. Staying up to 3 or 4am doesn't faze her in the least but she knows that it isn't allowed unless she's in our house or at a sleepover safely in someone else's house. I can't imagine going to bed and allowing her to be out and about until all hours.

I think the cerfew is as much to save us parents from dealing with teens wanting to be out until the wee hours as it is to prevent teens from getting carried away.

I'm a morning person so I get up early whether I've been up late the night before or not.

On a cruise I'm usually up by 6am, which is actually late compared to when I get up at home. I go workout, shower and get coffee. Then I'll walk around inside and outside until my family is up.

Here is the US kids not only have to pay their own tips but their cruise fare as well. Why do you think there are so many lemonade stands? We're wicked that way:p.

On a serious note, I don't know about anyone elses kid but, my kid is way spoilier than DH or me. Why shouldn't tips be paid for kids?

I've taken spinning classes on board (not on allure). The gym may offering a bit of a discount if you buy a few classes. If I remember the cost was about the same as a cocktail. Definitely worth it to me.

The northeast April vaca is not tied to easter....always the same week....sometimes it coincides....local airports are a zoo....

Why do people make blanket statements like this? Are you honestly saying you know the vacation schedule of every district in the northeast? That's impressive.

I'm sure I'm not imaging this but, on the EOS a couple of years ago, after I selected what I wanted and it was mixed and chopped, there were things that I could add afterwards like prosciutto and mozzarella balls. Recently, there were no "after market" items. I don't like my mozzarella balls chopped.:D

There definitely were things to add after. Tutti salad bar is my absolute favorite food on RCCL. I don't know why - maybe it's getting something exactly like I want it.