General questions.. regarding drink package, room service, and teens.

[Jaimeglaser]

Hi folks! I have several questions (tried searching existing postings first and can't find the answers anywhere, sorry if these are repeats). We will be on the Harmony next month... 10/13 sailing. Love this resource and all the great helpful information!! I've not cruised in a decade, so I'm sure a lot has changed. Also, we're cruising with DD 16 and DS 8.

 

1. Husband and I pre-ordered the premium drink packages for both of us, and we pre-ordered a coffee card for teen DD. Are the drink package soda cups and the coffee card typically in the stateroom when our room is ready the first day, or do we need to pick them up somewhere? Trying to plan the list of "errands" to get out of the way when we first board.

 

2. In the morning, I'm an early riser and like to go wander a bit while the rest of the fam sleeps in. Would I be able to take both my husband and my Wow bands and/or seapass cards and pick up 2 premium coffees (or maybe even 2 mimosas)... to bring back to our room for DH and I? Wasn't sure if he needs to be present or if I could fetch both coffees/drinks myself with our cards. I don't want to look like a jerk or like I'm trying to cheat the system though.

 

3. Room service for breakfast... are there little order cards to put on our doors the night before still? And is it possible to get a whole pot of coffee delivered along with the continental breakfast? I like the idea of not being charged the service fee for continental breakfast, but wasn't sure if that includes a large carafe of coffee or if it's just a couple mugs pre-poured. I would tip well for breakfast delivery of course, with or without the bucket of coffee :)

 

4. This is our first time in a balcony cabin, and we are really excited! I have a decent yet inexpensive pair of binoculars, but don't like to pack things we won't use since we travel light. Is it worth sacrificing the suitcase space? We are on the starboard side, if that makes a difference, and it's a Western Caribbean sailing (Cozumel, Jamaica, and Haiti). I hate to bring it along if there's not really anything to see with it.

 

5. Two part regarding having a teen on board visiting the teen activities...

First part - Husband and daughter will have VOOM, and I'll just pay the $7 to have the app for messaging for myself. Is the app's messaging reliable enough for me to get in touch with her on the ship while she's off doing her activities? I assume her dad and her can text like normal with VOOM, but wasn't sure if the cheapo messaging system is very reliable for her and I to message back and forth when she ventures out.

 

Secondly, the teen activities seem to end at 1 am from what I can tell, maybe later... and I do tend to be a bit on the overly cautious side with my kids... so my idea is that DH and I will take turns heading over to the teen area when she's leaving and escort her back to the room. She's 16, responsible, courteous, and while I know the ship has cameras everywhere, I would still worry about her being out late without us. What do most parents tend to do? I don't want to embarrass her, but I also want her to be safe.

 

Thanks in advance for any/all help and advice! :)

[cb at sea]

You can certainly get a carafe of coffee from room service...simply ask for 2 cups (or how many you need)

 

Yes, I think binoculars are a must-have on a cruise or beach vacation! Lots to see at sea!

 

It's up to you if you want to escort your daughter....most of the teens don't actually USE the club...they sort of meet each other, then do their own thing....so you may have to make that determination when you see how it will go once you're onboard.

[mjkacmom]

I’ve had several teens in several cruise ships, most of the time, at night, they are in various places outside of the club. They just let us know where they will be. The only times we’ve gone to get them was when they missed curfew (one at the pool deck, the other playing monopoly in the library). Both just lost track of time.

[WVHillbilly]

I’ll try to answer a few of your questions, we were on the Oasis of the Seas in April on the same itenerary.

 

1. The soda cups were left in our rooms, I assume they would leave the coffee card in there also.

 

2. Yes you can take your husband’s sea pass card/wow band to get premium coffees or mimosas.

 

3. Yes there are hanger cards in the room and you can also order on the tv or phone. We only ordered one morning and I think you get the coffee in a small insulated carafe, you only get what your ordered (I.e. if you ordered 2 coffees that is what you get, if you want more cups just order how many cups you will drink.)

 

4. I had meant to bring a small binoculars but forgot to pack it, there was a few times I saw a ship that I would have liked a closer look at, plus when in port it might be nice to check out the islands in the distance.

 

Can’t help with the messaging app or zoom or teen clubs for that matter as we didn’t use either.

[lovelife]

I've usually been given the coffee card with my sea pass upon check in, but one time I had to go to the coffee shop to pick it up.

[rukkian]

Hi folks! I have several questions (tried searching existing postings first and can't find the answers anywhere, sorry if these are repeats). We will be on the Harmony next month... 10/13 sailing. Love this resource and all the great helpful information!! I've not cruised in a decade, so I'm sure a lot has changed. Also, we're cruising with DD 16 and DS 8.

 

1. Husband and I pre-ordered the premium drink packages for both of us, and we pre-ordered a coffee card for teen DD. Are the drink package soda cups and the coffee card typically in the stateroom when our room is ready the first day, or do we need to pick them up somewhere? Trying to plan the list of "errands" to get out of the way when we first board.

 

2. In the morning, I'm an early riser and like to go wander a bit while the rest of the fam sleeps in. Would I be able to take both my husband and my Wow bands and/or seapass cards and pick up 2 premium coffees (or maybe even 2 mimosas)... to bring back to our room for DH and I? Wasn't sure if he needs to be present or if I could fetch both coffees/drinks myself with our cards. I don't want to look like a jerk or like I'm trying to cheat the system though.

 

3. Room service for breakfast... are there little order cards to put on our doors the night before still? And is it possible to get a whole pot of coffee delivered along with the continental breakfast? I like the idea of not being charged the service fee for continental breakfast, but wasn't sure if that includes a large carafe of coffee or if it's just a couple mugs pre-poured. I would tip well for breakfast delivery of course, with or without the bucket of coffee :)

 

4. This is our first time in a balcony cabin, and we are really excited! I have a decent yet inexpensive pair of binoculars, but don't like to pack things we won't use since we travel light. Is it worth sacrificing the suitcase space? We are on the starboard side, if that makes a difference, and it's a Western Caribbean sailing (Cozumel, Jamaica, and Haiti). I hate to bring it along if there's not really anything to see with it.

 

5. Two part regarding having a teen on board visiting the teen activities...

First part - Husband and daughter will have VOOM, and I'll just pay the $7 to have the app for messaging for myself. Is the app's messaging reliable enough for me to get in touch with her on the ship while she's off doing her activities? I assume her dad and her can text like normal with VOOM, but wasn't sure if the cheapo messaging system is very reliable for her and I to message back and forth when she ventures out.

 

Secondly, the teen activities seem to end at 1 am from what I can tell, maybe later... and I do tend to be a bit on the overly cautious side with my kids... so my idea is that DH and I will take turns heading over to the teen area when she's leaving and escort her back to the room. She's 16, responsible, courteous, and while I know the ship has cameras everywhere, I would still worry about her being out late without us. What do most parents tend to do? I don't want to embarrass her, but I also want her to be safe.

 

Thanks in advance for any/all help and advice! :)

 

I don't have girls, but our boys (14, 16) pretty much had free range as long as they were behaving (ours are pretty easy going). Neither really spent much time in the club, and just kind of did their own thing. Sometimes, the 16yo would just go wondering the ship, as he likes to stay up later than us. We never worried about safety.

[Jaimeglaser]

Thanks everyone for your help!! All good information and helps me plan for the week.

 

So it seems in general, the teens don't seem to utilize the teen club a whole lot? Maybe use it as a place to meet people to hang with on the first night, and then they just venture out on the ship with their new friends. Good to know!!

 

Any takers on the question about the onboard messaging reliability? To recap, DH and DD are getting voom, I'm probably just going to set up the app to do messaging for the $7 charge or whatever it is... but wanted to know if it's reliable enough to keep in touch with DD when she's away from us.

[Clarea]

... Any takers on the question about the onboard messaging reliability? To recap, DH and DD are getting voom, I'm probably just going to set up the app to do messaging for the $7 charge or whatever it is... but wanted to know if it's reliable enough to keep in touch with DD when she's away from us.

If you have iPhones, try iMessage.It's been reported to work for free on Harmony, no app or VOOM needed. More reliable than the app for messaging.

[Jaimeglaser]

If you have iPhones, try iMessage.It's been reported to work for free on Harmony, no app or VOOM needed. More reliable than the app for messaging.

 

 

Oooh yay!! We do all have iPhones in our fam... would be awesome if iMessage still works. Thank you!

[bouhunter]

I never cruise without binoculars. Always nice to check out the port, other islands, other ships. You never know what you might see.

[lovelife]

Had to chuckle reading these and thinking back to my grandson at age 14 when we took him on a cruise. We thought he was responsible enough to turn loose. Caught him in the 16 and over hot tub, found out he was taking his new friends in the suite lounge with him, and he was getting his new friends sodas on his soda card. Oh yeah, he also broke the 1:00 am curfew. We put an end to that. My angel turned out to be not so much.:halo:

[Jaimeglaser]

Had to chuckle reading these and thinking back to my grandson at age 14 when we took him on a cruise. We thought he was responsible enough to turn loose. Caught him in the 16 and over hot tub, found out he was taking his new friends in the suite lounge with him, and he was getting his new friends sodas on his soda card. Oh yeah, he also broke the 1:00 am curfew. We put an end to that. My angel turned out to be not so much.:halo:

 

 

This is hilarious! For some reason I'm picturing Russ Griswold's "Mr. Papa Georgio" persona in Vegas Vacation, in the hot tub with the ladies! :')

 

You are so right, lol. I do feel like DD is fairly tame.. but of course I have already read verbatim the section of the cruise contract saying if there is underage drinking they will force you to disembark. Not sure if they actually enforce that punishment or return the misbehaving teen to the parent, etc... but as far as she is concerned underage drinkers walk the plank!!!

[mjkacmom]

Had to chuckle reading these and thinking back to my grandson at age 14 when we took him on a cruise. We thought he was responsible enough to turn loose. Caught him in the 16 and over hot tub, found out he was taking his new friends in the suite lounge with him, and he was getting his new friends sodas on his soda card. Oh yeah, he also broke the 1:00 am curfew. We put an end to that. My angel turned out to be not so much.:halo:

After having 5 teens, these infractions don’t seem that bad!😂 I did have a 14 year old asked to leave the fitness center (she was there with her 16 year old sister, exactly the same size, go figure), and she and her new friends were asked to leave the suite area (another new friend brought them in). Fortunately never had any serious issues.

[lovelife]

This is hilarious! For some reason I'm picturing Russ Griswold's "Mr. Papa Georgio" persona in Vegas Vacation, in the hot tub with the ladies! :')

 

You are so right, lol. I do feel like DD is fairly tame.. but of course I have already read verbatim the section of the cruise contract saying if there is underage drinking they will force you to disembark. Not sure if they actually enforce that punishment or return the misbehaving teen to the parent, etc... but as far as she is concerned underage drinkers walk the plank!!!

 

Yep, that's what I thought of too when I saw him in the corner all smiles with a hot tub of adults. In hindsight his antics don't seem too awful. A few years later we still take him on cruises but these days I tend to not want to know what he's up to!