First cruise

[Hosum]

We are doing our first cruise in May (me,dh, dd14,dd3) with royal Caribbean from Rome - any tips? Is the VIP pass worth it? We are thinking dining isn't worth it?

It was our first cruise and I was very dubious. We really only booked due to it being a couple fo friends’ big birthdays. However, we can’t wait to book another!

kids club wise- it was term time so never needed to book. Ours were desperate to go each evening (7pm-10pm) and we had a couple of hours cloud/rain here and there so they chose to head off then too. They both lived the pool, slides and splash park. The 6 yo was tall enough and old enough for rock climbing and the flow rider.

our friend’s daughter was 14 and she would walk around with her new friends (with phone linked to free WiFi on the RC app- you can chat for free and also an AirTag).

We didn't notice the ship move at all. Only a slight vibration in the morning as it docked.

We went to the beach in Majorca, a place called Portals Nous. It was beautiful and only 15 euros in a taxi. As I mentioned previously, leave plenty of time for a taxi back. I’d suggest no later than 2.45pm. The taxi pick up point is near a restaurant on the marina called Cappuccino.

We booked a standard cabin overlooking Central Park. It was far too small for us with 3 big cases and the sofa bed pulled out. Wish I’d booked a bigger one. However, we didn’t spend much time there, so not really an issue.

It was a very quick process to leave the ship each day, just remember your sea pass cards and passports. On the final day, as part of the check out process, you leave your cases outside your door before 11pm and disembarkation is staggered. The shuttle bus queue to get back to Citavecchia was a little crazy, but everything else was very smooth.

The sail away parties on deck were fun, my 4 yo loved waving to the other cruise ships.

Thanks this is so helpful to reassure! Dd 3 (4 in July) is tiny as prem so she won't be tall enough for the slides so I am hoping the kids club will distract her.

On the last day we are heading into Rome to stay there for a night so trying to work out timing of colosseum tickets but RCI give little info on final day timings.

Snacks? I've seen all the restaurants but like crisps/pretzels/fruit l/ breadsticks (dd3 especially is a grazer) are on board purchases v expensive or are there places this sort of stuff is available throughout?

Re slides -- there is a lovely splash pad with two small slides for little ones. Your 3 year old will be tall enough for those and will have lots of fun.

Snacks - the windjammer is open most of the time and people just walk in and out with cookies, fruit and snacks. There is also park cafe in Central Park. You will not have to buy snacks and there is an abundance of food at all times!

Thank you - taking the bags of Maryland cookies out of the case!

Your 14 year old will be absolutely fine to wander about by herself - its so safe and we have found RCI cruises to be amongst the best for teens making friends - i barely saw my son some days!

If she goes to the teen club on the first day she will make friends and spend most of the evenings there, its a great holiday for independence without the worry! Get her the soda package so she can get herself a drink when needed without you.

I enjoy having the drinks package as i pay it in advance and can just enjoy whatever i want anytime without a big bill at the end.

Book the coliseum for the afternoon, you dont want to worry about rushing on the departure day.

If you have paid gratuities and drinks package we only have extra spend on the ship if we choose to buy anything in the shops - there will be a small shopping mall on the ship with a variety of items in- usually pretty expensive to be honest.

Take a credit card and some euros for the days off ship, thats all you will need if you have already arranged your excursions.

Watch you tube videos of the ship - there will be tours, reviews, guides etc - i find them so helpful in preparing and also helps get excited for the holiday!

You arent in the cabin much and ive done a variety of cabin grades. I do think the biggest you can afford is worth it as 4 people changing at once in a small one is a bit tight- but you can just take turns if needed.

And take any type of medicine you may think you will need, the ship only stocks basic items ( there is a medical centre for more serious illness, but i remember getting bad cold/flu on a cruise once and wishing i had some lemsip with me)

Its an amazing holiday, enjoy!

Thanks - we've paid drinks packages and gratuities up front so we can manage the cost. Really good to hear re the teenager - this is the main reason we are trying it - hopefully iit caters for a 3 and 14 year old where other holidays really end up with dd14 compromising for her sister.

RC really do cater for kids. Don’t worry about them being full.

your empty suitcases can be stored underneath your beds. Or your room steward can take them away til the end of the holiday.

We found booking two interconnecting staterooms better as we got two bathrooms. But we’ve got 3 kids, so never fitted into a standard room that only slept four anyway.

You will definitely be off the ship no later than 9am on disembarkation day. They can’t wait to get you off. They are firm but friendly with herding everyone off so they can set up for the new guests getting on at 11am. It’s a well oiled machine!

I can’t remember the solarium cafe being anything special. The Windjammer will have a much bigger selection of food choice.

we tend to eat dinner in the main dining room. Prefer being served a nice meal. Don’t mind the buffet for lunch. It’s all very flexible. Just do what suits you.

your 14 year old May eat with new friends some nights. They do a pizza party with the club iirc. Or she may skip dessert with you and meet friends for ice cream later.

Yes- don’t forget there’s space under the bed for case storage. We only found out towards the end.

pack a small, separate bag with swim wear, suncream etc so that you can use the pool area straight away on the day you arrive. Cases get delivered to your room around 4/5pm so it’s handy not to wait for them.

if you’re thinking of doing Rome, take a pushchair. Really wish we did for 4yo as there’s lots of walking, its very hot and busy.

We are booked for harmony of tte seas this summer
barcelona
palma
rome
Naples
Never cruise before. The ship seems huge - was it croweded ? How did you enjoy it? Thank you

At Palma get a taxi to the castle (it opens at 10am, closed on Mondays), do the tour, then get another taxi to Genova caves (takes 30 minutes to go round), then have lunch at nearby Meson Can Pedro (real Majorcan food), then if you have time left go to the cathedral ,which is where everyone goes and is great, but it's just a cathedral, whereas the castle and caves are unique. The buses back to the cruise ships pick up and drop off 200 metres from the cathedral entrance, but some lines charge €15 pp for what's a €9 taxi ride for four.

You can also comfortably do Rome under your own steam. Get the earliest train you can from Civitavecchia to Rome and wander around. There are lots of return trains. The cruise companies like to scare you with "ooh ooh you might miss the boat with an unofficial excursion" but you have to be a fairly prize muppet not to be able to get a train or taxi back to the port in time.