Landlubbers going cruising !

[muchcat]

I won an 8-day RCCL Western Carib. trip and we're going in three weeks, out of Canaveral on Freedom of the Seas.

We're rather addicted to sleeping with fans. Will RCCL frown on us bringing a small fan to put on our end table?

Will I need any special permissions/arrangements for my CPAP machine?

Should we bring our own Splenda?

We have seasickness patches. Do they make you sleepy? They say to put them on several hours before travelling, but I'd prefer not to use them unitl I see how it is... how long does it take them to start working?

I know about soda packages; do they have alcohol/beer packages? Bottled water? I'm a water/soda gal but hubby loves his Bud !

Speaking of soda; please tell me RCCL isn't "in bed" with PepsiCo...when I order a Coke, Pepsi is NOT ok !!

Are shorts ok to wear around the ship, and to the buffets, casino, etc? I do understand we should wear long pants at dinner!

Do the slot machines take (and pay out) coins, or does one just play on their card? (I'd rather use coins)

Thanks to any and all !

[TexCruise]

You should be able to take a small fan onboard.

CPAP- I'm sure that should not be a problem but you can check it out with RCL's special needs e-mail.

They do not offer alcohol/ beer packages anymore. They do have wine packages.

There is plenty of Coke onboard.

Shorts are great except in the main dining room for dinner.

Not sure about the slots on Freedom but most of the newer ships like Freedom pay out paper tickets.

Here's a link that may help you:

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/...83FSrj4Lrb:13hldcgo7

[Dave]

There is no special permission needed for a CPAP. It is a fairly common thing these days.

[muchcat]

That's good to know, Dave. Without my CPAP I'd be in danger of being put off the ship for my snoring

[muchcat]

Not sure about the slots on Freedom but most of the newer ships like Freedom pay out paper tickets.


Darn; I do SO love the clink-clank of those coins!

Thanks for the link - perfect !

[Cruise Fanatic]

Your husband can ask for a bucket of beer which is a small discount than buying individual beers. The bucket is four or five beers.

Everyone reacts differently to the patches. I have never used them. Other tips are eat green apples, crackers, ginger, keep your stomach full, and look at the horizon.

[Nadine]

Hi Muchcat. We always take a fan on our cruises and have never had a problem. A couple times, though, we bought too many souvenirs and had to leave the fan behind so there was room in our luggage for the purchases! Consequently, we buy cheap fans!!

How lucky you are to have won a cruise. I believe for everyone on this forum that would be a dream come true!

Nadine

[Nceremuga]

Congrats on winning. That's awesome.

Like Tex said fans should be fine to bring on, as long as its smaller.

Splenda was available on the ship in the sugar trays if I remember correctly. If it wasn't Splenda it was some other sugar substitute. You might want to bring some JUST IN CASE.

Soda packages are available for your Seapass card which is basically your room key/credit card for the ship. Just ask any bar tender that you want to get the soda pass and they will do it I believe you can also sign up for the pass early these days online. I would check Royal Caribbean's site for your information. They even give you a nice souvenir travel mug!!

And yes its coke products.

I never needed sea patches. My first cruise I just got on and was fine but my mom uses the bracelets that put pressure on your wrists. Those work great for her. I have heard that medication that you take for sea sickness can make you a bit drowzey but I think it depends on the person. The patches same deal.

Shorts are fine all over the ship except for dinner you should wear some casual nice cloths. and formal night is obviously doesn't mean your formal shorts. My fiance loves to wear shorts, he word his every place. He spent a lot of time in the casino as well in them.

The slots pay out in coins that needed to be exchanged for real money at a window. This was on Mariner but I don't know if your ship does the same thing. We didn't play a lot but we did lose. I have heard of several friends who have won enough to pay for their whole cruise.

Hope all this information helps. One last word of advice that i like to give is leave some room in your bags to bring stuff back... duty free shopping is addicting!!!

[Dwayne]

Hi muchcat, and Welcome to Cruise-Chat!

Congratulations on winning the cruise! As Nadine said, that would be a dream come true for most of us here.

I like the clink-clank of the slot coins too! Unless, I'm just changing a bill, then I hold my hand under there not to draw attention.

Welcome aboard,

Dwayne

[muchcat]

I sure appreciate everyone's answers & tips! I see on our local news the Freedom is coming in to Port Canaveral this morning to be home-ported. Maybe I'll get a preview on the news.

I'm a "sweeper"..enter lots every day, and this was the first big prize I won. I was SO SURPRISED! The prize included airfare, but since we live so close to the port, we'll be picked up and chauffered to the port.

We'd been wishing we could afford a cruise, saying "some day". Well, that day is almost here, and we're mega excited!