Pebbles4444

My family and I are taking a cruise out of Mobile in December. The port there hasn't been reopened very long and I am having trouble finding a good deal on parking. Parking at the terminal for a 5 night cruise is $90.

We were hoping to find a hotel package, but am not familiar with the hotels down there. When I try to google it, even though I include Mobile AL in my search, I am getting results for places as far away as Miami, which makes it kind of confusing to wade through.

Any suggestions? Please, as much as possible, include links. Thanks!

You say you have tried the ginger pills. Did you start taking them a day or two before getting on the ship?

No. She took them for a long car trip, but not on the cruise she went on. Would it make a difference if we started a couple days before>

Setting sail on Enchantment of the Seas in about 3 weeks and I have a few questions. I posted these to the main message board, but folks there suggested I post it here for better or more targeted responses.

I have been on two previous cruises, as has my oldest daughter, both of those cruises on Carnival. Neither of us gets motion sick, but my husband and middle daughter do. They have both been on one previous cruise on Carnival and while they didn't hate it, they didn't enjoy it as much as the rest of the family. To alleviate their motion sickness I have tried Dramamine, ginger pills and candy, Bonine and MotionEaze. My daughter has tried the wrist bands. None of these remedies has worked. My husband will be trying the patches this time, but the doctor won't prescribe anything for my daughter because she is only 10 and small for her age. Any suggestions for something to try?

My next question is what RC means by "priority embarkation and de-embarkation." My son has Autism and after submitting the Special Needs form we were told that we would get these. On Carnival, that meant that we skipped the line and went straight to check in and then boarded as soon as all the large suites and those with the high membership statuses had boarded, but before the rest of the passengers did and we got the option of early de-embarkation or leaving with our assigned group. We also got offered a private muster drill for myself and my son. Are RC's options similar? If not, then can someone tell me how they might be different?

My last set of questions is in regards to my three year old who will be cruising for the first time ever. She is not yet fully toilet trained, to my consternation, and I know that they don't allow swim diapers in the pool. Do they allow them on the splash pad?

Also is there a play area where we can take her to safely climb and run around, that is not their nursery area? We know we can't put her in the nursery because she is not toilet trained, but am hoping to find somewhere that she can safely play and run off some energy while I visit with the extended family members we are cruising with.

And, anyone who has cruised with a toddler, any special equipment or items that you found especially useful? We are packing her favorite blanket and doll, plus her harness to keep her from running off. I have several sippy cups in case a couple get lost. And I always travel (even just down to my sister-in-law's place a couple hours away) with a fully stocked first aid kit. We discussed a stroller, but since we don't intend to take her off the ship in port, decided it would just be excess baggage.

Thanks!

Our daughter when she was that age took Bonine and it worked well for her. You said you've tired it. Has she?

 

For your question about the pool I would ask this on the RCI Board.

 

Keith

I should have been more clear, sorry. I don't suffer from motion sickness, only my husband and daughter do. She is the one who took the Bonine and she said it didn't make her feel any better. But she is my child who gets violently ill in a car if she doesn't sit next to a window with it down, no matter the time of year, if we are going to be driving for more than 20 minutes. Normally I give her Dramamine because it puts her to sleep. But she can't enjoy the cruise if she is sleeping or wanting to be in bed the entire time.

Heading off on what will be my third cruise, second cruise for most of my family and first cruise for my 3 year old. Most of the stuff we need to bring is simply common sense, but have some questions still about other things.

We are setting sail on RC Enchantment of the Seas. I have already submitted the special needs request for my son with Autism, and received back the response. Can anyone tell me what their definition of "expedited embarkation and de-embarkation" means? On Carnival it meant that we went straight to the counter to check in, and then boarded right after the folks renting the suites or higher member status folks did, but before everyone else did. And we got to choose whether or not to get off early or with the other folks in our de-embarkation group according to staterooms.

My three year old is not toilet trained yet, much to my consternation, and still wears swim diapers. I know she can not go into the pool, but what about the splash pad area? Does anyone know if they allow swim diapers there?

My husband and middle daughter both suffer from motion sickness and didn't enjoy the last cruise as much as the oldest daughter, son and myself did. We are trying to find a treatment that works but doesn't make them sleepy. So far we have tried ginger pills, candied ginger, Dramamine, Bonine and MotionEaze (essential oils). Hubby will be trying patches this time, but daughter is only 10 so the doctor isn't willing to prescribe anything. Does anyone have any other suggestions for a child who is small for her age?

Thanks!

Anybody know the best and cheapest way to park at Cape Canaveral during the 7 day cruise we will be going on. Has anyone stayed at a hotel there and had free parking and shuttle?

I have sailed out of Port Canaveral/Cape Canaveral and in my research the best was the Port Park by Radisson.

http://www.parkportcanaveral.com/?gclid=COfCisCPuckCFdgRgQodTQIKZA#.VlzDodKrQps

Patrolled security, free shuttle service to and from for all members of your group (some of the hotel deals only give a certain number of folks in each party).

BTW, how would someone go about finding out about Autism group cruises? That sounds like a wonderful way to meet other families and exchange ideas.

I know that younger children get wristbands at the muster drill, so staff will know what station the child needs to go to if he/she gets separated from the family. I plan to take a sharpie marker with us and write our last name and stateroom number on the wristband for my toddler in case she runs off. Then the staff can look us up easily and page me. This is also a good idea for kids who are nonverbal or get confused/scared easily when approached by a stranger.

Do the kids drink the stuff you mix with water? You could bring that and an empty bottle and use the free water to mix your owm beverage, just don't fill the bottle at the spout, use a glass to fill it to prevent contamination. Also, at ports I had no problem bringing on a bottle of water or soda.

One of my daughters will, but she is also the one who likes the lemonade they serve on the ships. My son and other older girl don't like those because no matter how much water they use to mix it with, they always complain about a gritty sensation in the drink. I could try the drops that they now sell. I will have to have them try those in the next couple months, see if we can find one that works well.

Does anyone know how much individual cups of juice cost on RC ships? If I can find an alternative that works for my other kids, I might just buy a couple cups of juice each day for the toddler.

Threads like this one make me realise what a different world we live in today.

 

When we were kids we ate & drank what was put in front of us & if we didn't we went hungry or thirsty.

 

Not that it was ever a possibility, but if, when we were kids, we had the opportunity to spend time on a luxury cruiseship, we would have likely drank the rainwater from the lifeboat cover for the chance to go on a cruise.

You are right. It is a different world. My mother gripes all the time because I don't use that sort of rule with my kids, but I refuse to make food a battleground. My sisters and I were made to eat what was served, and if we didn't eat it then we got it for the next meal, with no microwaves to heat it up with because they didn't exist then. It caused all sorts of problems for us, and at least two of us are still battling eating disorders as a result.

There are far too many things of greater importance that I need to spend my time on, especially with a special needs son and a toddler with several food allergies. I don't have time or energy to waste on forcing kids to drink water or go thirsty when I can avoid it.

Yes, there is a soda package for kids that is $4.50/day.

I completely agree that the $19 price is ridiculous.

 

That being said, if you're going to be purchasing certain drinks any how it can actually work to your advantage.

My wife will get the $19 plan. She doesn't drink much if any alcohol but will have several of the starbucks drinks (hot and cold) per day. Now add in a few bottles of water and a glass of the fresh squeezed OJ and you're ahead.

 

I tried an alcohol package on our last cruise. I found it useful to try different drinks and if I didn't care for it just give it back. I'd have never bothered to order it if I was paying the $9+ for it. I did however find a few new drinks that I liked.

 

How those plans shake out for you in terms of economics depends heavily on if you would be purchasing them without the package.

I don't drink alcohol, so that isn't a problem for me. My hubby will occasionally have a beer or two, but actually hasn't had one in years either. We aren't against alcohol, it just isn't part of our life. He took soda with us on the cruise with the kids, but after trying the lemonade they offered on the ship, he didn't bother with the soda because the lemonade was good.

Our oldest daughter also likes the lemonade, so we aren't worried about her. She drinks very little juice, but will get milk with breakfast and lunch.

The tricky ones are our son, and the two younger girls. The toddler has to have soy milk, and I am hoping that the cruise ship will provide that. I have been told that they do, by others. But don't want her drinking water the rest of the time, or soda, and she doesn't like lemonade. The middle girl likes chocolate milk but not the type that was offered on Carnival. She is picky. She also doesn't care for lemonade or water all the time, although will drink water sometimes. My son would be perfectly happy if I bought him a soda package, and so would the older girls, and I may do that for the three of them. After all it is vacation and only a three night cruise. But would like to take juice for the toddler at least.

So far the most reasonable option seems to be taking the 100% juice Capri Suns. Or maybe I will order one of the $19 per day packages. She can have a couple juices and I can enjoy the teas or sodas. But that would be cheating I think. Oh well, I have a few months to wrestle with this question. I just like planning ahead to be sure I have covered every possibility that I can.

I went to look at their beverage packages just now. The one that includes fresh squeezed juice is $19 per day per person. That is RIDICULOUS. They did have one for sodas that was $4.50 per day per person age 17 and under. Even that, when you multiply times 4, is expensive.

I think I will stick with buying a 40 count pack of 100% juice Capri Suns at Sam's Club for around $8 and taking it with us. If it gets confiscated, I will be out the $8 and still have to buy the drink packages, but if it is not confiscated I will have saved myself a LOT of money.

Officially, no drinks except the bottles of wine allowed inboard, as per their policy on website, etc.

Practically, no prob in most embarkation ports to bring reasonable amounts of non-alcoholic beverages onboard such as 6-pack of water, or 12 -pack soda or the like. Juices from.concentrate are available MO.charge at breakfast, flavored waters like kiwi strawberry or mango, etc are available at lunch in the buffet, water, tea, coffee, milk, lemonade all available 24/7

7. RCI offers a juice package to purchase in advance with boxes of juice delivered to your cabin before sailing...(or at least still did as of 4 months ago). Same for a water package.

I did not see a juice package offered. I will look again, although with 4 kids it is likely that the juice packages would be expensive too, unless I could get one and simply share it with the others, or one per stateroom. Thanks!

You posted the answer to your question in your question. Just because some people have been able to bring banned items on board does not mean that you will.

 

As for what you can most likely get away with, I don't think the style of packaging matters. I suggest you carry on whatever kid drinks you are going to bring though to save yourself a trip to the naughty room.

I was planning to carry it on, but have heard stories of folks having even that confiscated depending on who is doing the inspections. That is why I was wondering what they are most likely to ignore. Thanks!

I have seen some articles recently about Carnival changing its policy about drinks being brought on board. Specifically that they will no longer allowed bottled drinks, but cans and boxed drinks are still allowed. What is Royal Caribbean's policy on this?

According to their FAQs the only drinks allowed to be brought on board are two bottles of wine or champagne per stateroom, but other folks in the comments sections under articles about Carnival's new policy indicate that you can bring bottled drinks on RC.

I will be cruising on Enchantment of the Seas in December, my first cruise on RC (previously I have only cruised on Carnival and still love them). Since I will be traveling with 4 children, and only one likes water or lemonade, I was planning to bring some juices for the other kids. I am considering bottled ones or the Capri Sun style pouches, and would like to know which type I am more likely to get on board with. I don't want to purchase the drinks and then have them confiscated at the dock, but can't afford the drink package prices I see quoted on the RC website. I also don't want them drinking nothing but soda all day, especially not the three year old.

Thanks!

My family took a cruise with Carnival in March 2015. Our son has Autism, and doesn't deal well with large crowds, lots of noise or chaos or long waits. Because of sensory processing disorder, I also don't deal well with large crowds, chaos or noise, but have learned MANY coping mechanisms. We contacted Carnival less than a week before our departure date. Sailing was set for Sunday morning and I didn't think to contact them until the Wednesday prior to that, so really just 4 days prior to sailing. They were WONDERFUL.

I had sent an e-mail asking about any accommodations that might be available to us. The very next morning a gentleman called to discuss this with me. He suggested things I never would have dreamed would be offered. We got priority check in and boarding, so no lines at check in and a small, uncrowded waiting area. He and I were allowed to stay in our room for a private muster drill (I took him later to the area where he would have to go in case of a real emergency). We were offered a private corner table, or by a window, or where ever we thought he would do best in the dining room. And he was offered the opportunity to change which children's activity area he went to, depending on where he would feel more comfortable even he wasn't in that actual age group.

Our steward, and a couple of the ship's officers, came by our room or stopped us in the corridors to ask if he (calling my son by name) or myself needed anything.

I have been told that RC has the certification from Autism on the Sea, but based on the responses I have received from them so far, in regards to a cruise we are taking later this year, I don't feel that the certification is deserved at all. Carnival deserves every certification that is available for their response to our special needs kiddo and we will definitely be cruising with them again.

Bluejay555, yeah, my daughter enjoyed her build a bear, but was bummed she wasn't going to get to use her new sewing skills.

Also, I've heard mixed reviews on walkie talkies. Some say you get a ton of interference and lots of other conversations. We did purchase wifi this last time and used iMessage to keep in touch. Not sure if that's an option for you but it worked well for us.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Is iMessage an iPhone app? Is there one available for other cell phones? I am going to look into if RCCL has the social media wifi like Carnival now has. It was fairly cheap and we could use it to send Facebook messages to each other for communications. Thanks!

The only advice I would provide is make sure you have documentation from your doctor concerning your children's special needs. Sometimes, the cruise line will request it during priority boarding and check-in. Just report to the priority boarding area upon arriving to the cruise pier and I'm sure the cruise line will be more than helpful.

 

jcruise

Thanks for the tip about carrying the documentation. I never would have thought that they would ask for it, but I guess it makes sense. I will be giving RCCL a call to see if they will work with us, even after the response I received via e-mail. My son enjoyed his first cruise and I attribute part of that to the accommodations that Carnival made for us. I want his next cruise experience to be just as enjoyable.

We are and have cruised with RCI Australia. It's in their website that you get priority boarding. Call rci back. Different customer service reps may have different answers.

I will definitely do that, probably in a month or so, closer to the cruise dates and once I get all the information like booking numbers from my father so I am a bit better prepared. Thanks!

The "crowds" you are expecting are unlikely to be a problem...If you feel Carnival is the best fit...go with it!

 

In reality, ANY cruise line will suit your family and your child.

I have been on two Carnival cruises. The first one was just my sisters and I. We got to the port fairly early, and still took more than an hour just to get through to park. Then it was another 90 minutes to 2 hours to get through check in and onto the ship, with nice long lines and lots of people. The second cruise was with my husband and 3 of our 4 children. We were able to get priority boarding and faster check in, but I saw the long line of folks waiting for regular check in and the crowd in that section of the terminal waiting to board. Being in the middle of that would have freaked my son out and caused a melt down. This is what I am afraid will happen in December, unless I can get a better response from RCCL.

You have given me hope that my 6 yr old can move into the high functioning area if autism & the now diagnosis may not stick for ever.

When my son was diagnosed at almost 6 years old he was barely verbal and my expectations for him were extremely low as far as what I thought he would be able to accomplish or achieve. He is now 14, pretty well mainstreamed at school, and has no problem verbalizing what he wants or needs, although there is still some stuttering due to word recall issues. My suggestion is lots of intervention, speech therapy, OT, PT, whatever your child requires or could benefit from the most. And above all push your child to do as much as they are capable of. They can move into high functioning most times.

And if you are looking for a good cruise line to take your child on a cruise with, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND CARNIVAL.

Royal is not my favourite line for allergies.

 

My son has tree nut and peanut allergies.

 

Royal acts in way to protect themselves from being sued. IF they know of a nut allergy (and it's a big IF that information makes it from special needs through to the MDR) - you are best to have a discuss with your Waiter, the Head Waiter, and/or the Maitre D. If there is any doubt, they will tell you "better not to take a chance". While this is true, they will tell you this about everything - no cookies, no ice cream, no chocolate ....

 

All chocolate will be off-limit for your child because all ship chocolate has a "may contain" label. If you are on a dreamworks sailing, you may want to skip the chocolate breakfast.

 

Royal is also famous for "hiding" nuts. For example, the Apple Parcels which appear on a sea day menu - the description does not contain any mention of nuts, but there is an almond paste that lines the pastry.

 

Do you just have benedryl or do you carry an epi pen? Allergies can escalate especially if she has multiple reactions successively on a cruise.

My niece who has food allergies does have an epi pen. I believe she and her family have sailed on RCCL previously, so they would know what to watch out for.

My toddler with tree nut allergies does not currently have severe enough reactions to warrant an epi pen, we have never needed more than Benadryl. Thank you for the warning about the almond paste used in the pastry. It was almond extract used in frosting that prompted her first allergic reaction, and since then she has reacted to any tree nut exposure, even just a kiss on the cheek from a cousin that drinks almond milk. But peanuts have never prompted a reaction at all. We will probably be extremely selective in what we serve her and may even take some of her favorite prepackaged foods with us to help avoid exposures.

I do know that I was not impressed with the response I received from RCCL when I sent in an inquiry with regards to my son with Autism. Carnival on the other hand was awesomely helpful.

Adventure Ocean programs are for 3-11. You may request a 12YO be allowed in AO, dependent upon the number of kids in the program and the staffs' preferences, they may or may not accommodate aging down. Anyone much over 12YO would be very unlikely to be allowed. (and would probably not want to anyway!)

 

12 and up are aged to be in the teen program -- they have two groupings in the teen section, some of the activities include both groups, others are limited to one age group or the other. While we have been on some cruises where an 11YO has been allowed to age up, they are relatively rarely granted (primarily because the older kids don't care for hanging out with younger kids and will then avoid the program like a plague :) )

 

A 10YO being allowed to particpate in the Teen club programs will be unlikely. A 15YO being allowed to participate with the 12-14YOs may be accomodated.

 

There are more than your group for the cruise line to deal with, so major changes to accommodate the nuances of your group is unlikely. Parents of some 12YO may not be too thrilled with a 15 or 16YO to be participating in programs with their kids. 14YOs will not accept a 10YO no matter how cool he/she is and/or who her cousins are. DD was quick to pick up on the ageism and did not mention she was in 6th grade when she had "just" turned 12 (a week pre-cruise) because all of her other 12YO friends were in 7th grade and while she was very well accepted - they all assumed she was "like them" and in 7th grade -- the 8th graders treated the 7th graders differently.

 

With kids in a variety of age groups, and those kids not necessarily being "close" to another age group; I would assume that the programs would be unlikely to accommodate keeping your kids together. But on just about any of the RCCI ships there is plenty to keep tweens and teens occupied outside of the formal programs. The larger the ship, the more activities will be available.

Thank you!

We got back from our cruise a few days ago and I am finally finding time to sit down and post here again. My daughter did do the Build a Bear and chose the St. Jude Bear.

The animals they offered ranged in price from $14.99 to $24.99 and the clothes were mostly $8, but ranged from $8 to $12 each. There were no other accessories offered on this cruise, not sure if there are others offered on other cruises or not.

The completion of the bear was even more low tech than I was expecting. After the child stuffs the chosen animal with the stuffing to their desired level, the "pouch" the stuffing goes into is ZIPPED shut. Then extra strong Velcro is used to hold the back of the animal shut.