I believe RCL has pre-booking of excursions, as does the sister company, Celebrity. If they do, you should be getting a booklet shortly, listing all excursions, descriptions, prices, and how to order. With that in mind, sit down with your husband, figure out what you want to see or experience, and weed out what you're not interested in. We've never done a party boat, but have seen some coming back to the ship. It's constant drinking. On a January cruise that stopped in Cozumel, we saw 2 young men being dragged back on the ship. I wouldn't consider that as a snorkeling trip, but as a drinking trip. As far as parasailing, all the ships that I've been on, all tell you the same thing, UNSAFE unless it's offered from the ship, and I think I might have seen that on a couple of occasions. This falls in the same category as mopeds, as you'll be in relatively poor areas where safety isn't an issue, and equipment isn't maintained under government standards. If you're stopping in St. Thomas, plan on a short morning tour, a bus trip to the top of the island that offers a spectacular view. They'll drop you off in town, where you can shop til you drop. All cruise lines have "recommended stores". I tend to stay away from the jewelry chain stores that they suggest, as it is always a "bait and switch tactic", showing you a nice inexpensive ring or tennis bracelet, and when you get there, they never have them. They also "give" you free diamond earrings, and that's another story. They're microscopic at best. Know your jewelry and be prepared to bargain. If you need linens, make sure you have all your measurements with you. There's several good linen shops there. You can also bring back 4 liters of liquor per person if you're stopping in St. Thomas. The airlines have very strict new guidelines about weight, as well as size. Go into the individual site of whatever airline you're going on, and read and print out the guidelines. Measure your suitcases carefully, and I would suggest that you go a couple of inches under to be on the safe side. Half an inch or a pound over could very easily cost you hundreds of dollars. We took a cruise in August and 1 bag 56 lbs., and the other 73 lbs. Had to transfer things on the floor of the airport. We were lucky she allowed us to do it, and saw people paying, as they had no place to put extra things. Even though you booked with a friend of a friend, they can still supply you with valuable info. Upgrades, I wouldn't even think about it. If they are available at all, they go to repeat customers for the most part. We've done a lot of sailing, and only gotten them twice. It depends on the time of year you're going. January is a pretty busy month, where people want to get out of the ice and snow. You could far more easily get an upgrade in August or September during hurricane season, but then who wants to take that chance. If you plan on doing suning, get a little pre-tanning before you go. The intensity of the sun is far different that what we're used to, and get a good sunblock. This can prevent a lot of trouble down the road.Hope this has been a little helpful. Have fun, and let us know how you make out. I'm sure you'll be a repeat cruiser. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img] [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]
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