Sarge6870

"4 Days of cruise bliss!" Click here to view the cruise review

"All our bags are packed we're ready to go ..." For a minute there, I thought you were breaking out in a song ... Peter, Paul & Mary's "Leaving on a Jet Plane" was the Bon Voyage song played at our wedding nearly 36 years ago ... corny, I know. Rose & Howie in the next cabin - there's going to be some partying on that deck! We wanna see lots of pics, too. Have fun you four, and have a safe trip! Funny you should say that Jan...that was the song the diningroom staff sang for us on the last night!!!!

The bags are packed, pets are ready for boarding, doing final check of the official CruiseCrazies packing list and finishing 3rd cup of coffee!!! Were looking forward to meeting Rose & Howie (sailingrose) onboard the Jewel of the Seas. Won't be hard to find them since their in the cabin right next to us!! I will try to update our first time sailing with RCCL later and onward. Don't forget my LIVE CHAT from Paradise Beach, Cozumel on Saturday May 4th at 1pm EST. Gotta run....Jewel of the Seas is calling..................

Good post Jan. I have seen this too many times in the past on cruises to blow it off!! And, I have posted on it often. The statement "it's my vacation, I paid for it" just shows the self-centered nature of many (not all) parents. You may have paid for your vacation, but you did not pay for mine. Maybe I don't find the games of your kids pressing all the buttons on the lift, sitting and blocking the stairs or running up and down the hallways screaming to be amusing. When we brought our niece (she was 12 at the time) on the Carnival Pride with us, she was so well behaved because we discussed with her pre-cruise the importance of respecting the other passengers right to the vacation THEY paid for. I've actually had little "Rug Rats" curse at me when I asked them to move from blocking access to the stairs!! They were about 12 or 15 years old!!! No parents or adult guardians to be found anywhere. And one more thing to parents bringing their kids on a cruise, the cruise line staff are NOT your personal babysitters. Please don't board the ship on which I PAID for MY cruise and just cut your kids loose as if the ship was their personal playground!!!

You'd be surprised Jan!!! I been working my leg muscles to use my knees as a cup holder for the live chat!!! Chrissy also got me a stand for my tablet and if worse comes to worse, I'll dictate to her and she can type!!! Just kidding...I'd NEVER get away with that!!!!

OK, but if Amy stops by since she's already in Mexico...SHE'S buying!!!! Hope to see ya'!!!

Then the best way to visit Paradise Beach again is with ME on Saturday Gina!!! Hope to see you on the CHAT!!!

I'm looking forward to seeing you all online for CruiseCrazies first scheduled "Live Chat"!! Please keep some things in mind. Although Paradise Beach boasts free WiFi, I'm not sure of the connectivity of it. My replies to questions may be slightly delayed by the connection. But it will be exciting!! I hope to see everyone there with me as I lay on the beach, drinking an adult beverage and "working" to bring you the highlights of the cruise to that point!!

PLEASE...KEVIN...your KILLIN' me!!! Thanks for not using a pic of Jackie Gleason......That would have REALLY killed me!!!!

You know, I guess I should look at it that way. Even though it's our 9th cruise, I have never purchased one of the beverage packages. We always just bought the unlimited soda card for Chrissy. Guess it was just a hurdle I didn't expect. I'm going to be open minded and excited about being on RCCL for the first time. Nothing like sailing on a ship for the 1st time and on a cruise line for the first time. And nothing like...well...just being on a cruise!!!!!

See you and Howie onboard Rose

LMAO!!! :laugh: TOO FUNNY !!! Maybe Jackie is my anniversary present!!! Just hope Jackie is a she and not a HE!!

I think your right Jan. Games like crossword and word search are first person games. Think I'll go that route!! Thanks

Thanks MaryLou...but who's Jackie? My wife's name is Chrissy (lol)

I'm looking for input from my fellow passengers here as to what games to download to my Android tablet for the upcoming cruises. I am particular to "Circle a word" or EASY "Crossword Puzzle" type games. Keep in mind, these games must NOT require an internet connection to work since the internet on the ships tend to be limited (and expensive). I have downloaded a couple so far but aren't sure if they need a internet connection to work. Any ideas ?

Oh I get the basis behind it too. BUT, to automatically assume that everyone is going to abuse the package is unfair to those of us that won't!! My thought was for RCCL to approach the issue on a case by case basis . If you get caught abusing the package, they can withdraw it with no refund due. I'd be willing to sign and agree to a disclosure such as that. My wife does not drink...at all!! Never has. For RCCL to ask passengers to secure a letter (which as I stated wouldn't prevent anyone from abusing the package) from a doctor at the passengers expense is sending a message that they don't trust any of their passengers. She has no medical conditions that prevents her from drinking alcohol, she just has always chosen NOT to!! It never interested her. Some people smoke, some do not. Some people eat meat, some do not. Some people drink, some do not. Were not going to let the issue put a damper on our cruise. We'll play the game and Chrissy will get a letter from the doctor the day before the cruise to present to them onboard so I can purchase the package just for myself.

Good to know!! Maybe I'll build on that

Hi Jay!! The Celebration is now called the "Grand Celebration". We decided to try RCCL this time because even though we had looked at RCCL for past cruises, it always seemed there was another cruise line doing an identical itinerary for a bit less. We had always heard how RCCL was a "step-up" from Carnival so we decided to lock in this time. We had originally booked the Brilliance of the Seas for November 2013 (which is still scheduled) but as you will read from posts on this site, I had decided to book the May 2nd cruise on the Jewel for our 23rd anniversary. We have been on larger ships (the last being the Carnival Dream in 2010) but always enjoyed the smaller vessels. They seemed to be more personable to us. Funny you should mention the Oasis & Allure!! My wife wanted to go on either but now that we have moved to the Tampa area, Ft. Lauderdale would be about a 3 1/2 to 4 hour drive. Port of Tampa is about 30 minutes from where we now live!!! The only time my wife had gotten sea sick was on the crossing aboard the Celebrity Meridian to Bermuda from N.Y. in 1992 (or so). She got a shot of something from the onboard doctor, slept for a few hours and she was fine for the rest of the cruise. The Meridian being an older vessel, didn't have stabilizers so the ship did rock and roll a bit. Since then, all the ships we have sailed have had the stabilizers and she hasn't had any problems. Glad to have ya' back Jay!! Just stay onboard or I'll have to track ya' down and make you walk the plank!!! ARGHHH!!!

Welcome back Jay!! Hope you'll stick around for awhile this time!!!

Different ship Jason. Different date.