Questions about Royal Caribbean cruises?

Question

I'm a single mom and will be taking the 4 day Mexico cruise this fall. My little girl will probably be in the kids' club a lot.

I'm in Las Vegas now, so I'm really not interested in gambling or drinking/nightclubs/bars.

What is there for me to do? I'm really looking for a good spot to read, I think they have a library? Has anyone visited it who can tell me if they have lots of good books? And I know about the rock climbing and yoga classes - I'll be doing those! :)
I'm also curious about in room movie rental... do they do that? Do you know what cable channels their ships get? Ordering room service and watching TV seem heavenly to me, I know it seems ridiculous to some.

One more thing, a lot of the excursions I'm interested in don't allow my daughter to join yet (she's 10.) If I chose to just hang out on the ship while it was at the different ports, do they still have activities onboard? Do you know if they just allow you to get a towel and hang out on the beach?

Answer 1

The first thing you should do is go to the web site for the cruise line you are going on and find the ship that you will be on and take their virtual tour of the ship. It will help you know what is on ship and where things are. You can also look at programs for you kid.

The room TV usually has one or more channels where free movies are shown. Some ships also have pay-per-view movies that you can purchase on your TV in your cabin. Some ships will have a small movie theater where movies (same ones as in your room) are shown.

I have been on many cruises and there is always a library. I have not looked at the selection of books but if you want to read I suggest that you bring your own. Some libraries are not really quiet. They are in traffic areas and thus may interfere with your reading. But you can always stay in your cabin or do as I usually do and find a secluded spot on one of the decks. Most people will be around the pool areas so places away from there will be quietest.

Since the ship is moving it will get what TV signals it can pick up that are near. The channels usually include a major network, CNN, ESPN and then some other channels that may have vintage TV shows. The stations may broadcast in Spanish if you are going to Mexico.

The good part is the movies run continuously and the room service is free 24/7. When you get to ports if you do not go on a tour you can get off ship and do whatever you want; just be back before time to go. If there is a beach available they will loan you a towel or two (will probably be in your cabin already) and yes you can hang out on the beach. Generally while the ship is in port its a very quiet time on ship. Not much happening.

Answer 2

As far as movies go, all the ships I have been on have had a few movies which were newly released on video staggered throughout the day. For example, when Spiderman was new to video, they showed it on the cruise (on your stateroom tvs) starting about every 2 1/2 hours. I believe there are anywhere from 1 - 3 different movies which play daily, and the movies sometimes change every day. And, no, there is nothing wrong with lying in your room watching a good movie after spending the day having fun in the sun. You don't need to be doing an activity every moment of the day.

Additionally, I believe you can leave your daughter in the camp for part of the while you are parked in port. I know you can on Carnival, but I am not absolutely positive about RC. As far as shore excursions are concerned, you can book an excursion or just hang out at the beach on your own. Also, there is no reason you can't take your own snorkel and masks with you and snorkel right off the beach. Just be sure to get a real snorkel and mask for your daughter, not one of the "toy" ones. You can get them at a local sporting goods store, or online at Dick's Sporting Goods.Com - You can get a set for yourself and your daughter for less than $20 each - not including fins. Also, if possible, show your daughter how to use the snorkel in a pool before going on the cruise, that way she is familiar with it - Nothing worse than snorkeling for the first time and getting a mouth full of salt water! YUCK! If you are not interested in snorkeling, consider a glass bottom boat tour. They are very relaxing, and both you and your daughter will see things that will amaze you. You can also stay on the ship while in port. This is a great time to get in some reading, and the pool is open (and much less crowded) for your daughter. If you are looking for a place to read, roam around the ship for a while. If you like to be in the sun, you can usually find a chair on a deck in an area that is not too noisy or loaded with activities. Most importantly, have fun - and don't forget the sunscreen!

For more great cruise info, check out www.cruisecritic.com

Answer 3

everything that u want is on the ship.....they have a library, and many awesome books....you can read in the library or in the quiet room or out by the pool or on the top deck or in a provate area in the front or back of the ship....the rock climbing is amazingy fun, and free....im not sure about the joya but they have pilates and other fitness classes available....they have movie rental, but u have to go to the front desk b/c they aren't available unless you request them.....there are ur basic channels....some include, like disney, tnt, a sport channel, gsn, and i cant remeber all of them, but they are the basic ones...they have a channel where it is all about the ship, and then they have another one where you can see different parts of the ship, like with cameras and stuff....you can also go to the front desk to order more channels....there is amazing room service, such great staff....just a little pricey, but worth it....everything is available at the ports except for the casinos, and shops, which may i mention are awesomely fantastic....ur allowed to take towels from the pool, but if u take it from ur room, u must bring it back or u will be charged....if u take the towel from the pool (i reccomend) then there will be a place to return them once back on the ship.....i hope u have an amazing time, and if u have any more questions, send me a message = ]

Answer 4

Read on deck by the pool. For a day at sea get to a sport early and pay attention to the sun and shade and where the sun will go as the time passes.

You get a Curise Compass newsletter every day and it lists is all out. Eating is big, then crafts, wine tasting, art auctions, shopping, great music - see the jazz and piano bands - they are usually very good.

Kids clubs are very nice on RC. My 10 and 12 yr olds loved it.

They have several channels of cable, rental movies, take your daughter to the beach. Get some inexpsensive masks and fins and go out and see the fish.

Books were ok on our ship - bring some of your own just to make sure.

Answer 5

It's your cruise you can do whatever you want.. I mean you can get off the ship when and where you want and go wherever. You can read and bring your own books and exchange for new ones, and just hang out. You can also watch movies in your stateroom but if I remember correctly they play the same one over and over but I think you can buy some different movies on paper per view and you do get some cable but the signal varies and the picture can be fuzzy depending on the location of the ship, and everything.. I think you will have a great time..

Answer 6

You (and your daughter) will SO LOVE your cruise!

As far as movies, not sure what ship you're on, but believe it or not there's sometimes a movie theatre on the ship! I've enjoyed 2 hours at a movie while on a cruise! (gotta bring your own popcorn tho ;)

Also there are SPA specials when the ship is in port :) and the pool is (obviously) MUCH less crowded.

4-day Mex sounds like San Diego is one of your stops. Have you been to Sea World? You and daughter can go on your own (if you can get her away from her kids group!)! You can also go to Catalina and go to the beach. Ensenada - stay on the ship! nasty place.

You'll have a great time!

Answer 7

You will have many activities to choose from, depending on the actual ship that you sail on. There are dinners and contests and dances and sight-seeing adventures... there are many other activities you can choose from on your stops (including just hangin on the beach). There will also be spa options - lots of pampering available (at a cost). The excursion I went on did have children aboard, and had many children's activities as well. Nonetheless, the most popular activity of all did seem to be drinking. As for in-room cable and movies - it's a tiny TV - not much you would want to hang out watching for too long. There was a library, not a huge one, but it was nice and quiet and away from the bustle.

Answer 8

One thing to remember if you decide to spend most of your time on-board during the stops in port, is that the boat will be much quieter, peaceful, and easier access to all of the amenities. I took a cruise as part of a group of four and two went non-stop on shore excursions, while the other two of us preferred to enjoy the ship. Just make sure to take your daughter out for a leisurely stroll at each island to let her see the sights. Then you two can go back to the boat early and enjoy having the ship basically to yourselves. ENJOY!

Answer 9

We'll there is plenty to do I recently went on a royal caribean cruise theres alot to do the library is nice it's a little small though but still decent it has a very nice spa and workout room and has a nice mall in the ship has a lot stores some excurisions are nice you'll find alot to do on the ship

Answer 10

omg! That's so funny because me and my mom just took a Royal Carribean cruise also and I'm 12, but we just took one in June to Mexico, and we live in Nevada too!! Anyway, it's so much fun. I didn't go in the kid's club @ all because me and my mom wanted to spend time together, and we went swimming, did activities, eat, eat, eat, and eat, and went to Mexico, and did lots of other stuff!! Me and my mom walked around a lot together, like at night we would walk around the deck and watch the ocean! My mom is like you. She never went to the nightclubs, drank, gambled, etc. So many people were drunk and drinking a lot and it's sick!! If you want, maybe your daughter can go to the kids club or stay in the room while you do stuff, but my mom didn't do that stuff because it was way more fun just to be together. Anyway, I hope you and your daughter have lots of fun! I know you will! Ok!! Bi Bi!! =)