A few questions for past cruisers...

[PartiesNBalloons]

Hi all,

We're sailing on the July 20th Western and I just received our docs yesterday In reading the information, it boldly states that personal coolers are NOT allowed. I know that others have said they took their soft, collasible wheeling coolers with them in the past. We have one of these and was planning on taking it with us to use at the beach but I don't want to take it if I'm going to be stopped by a CM and questioned about it as we are wheeling it out. So, can someone please share their experience with this? If you can take these, do you wheel it on the boat with your sodas in it or do pack it?

Also, how neccesary are water shoes? We're going to Seven Mile beach, Playa Del Sol and of course CC. Are the beach bottoms at these all nice sand? We're also going to Stingray City. Will we need them for that?

Thanks, I'm sure I'll have other questions as the time draws closer

 

[mmouse37]

The whole cooler issue has been discussed many times. Yes, it does state in the documents that no personal coolers are allowed, but other posters have said that they recently have brought their wheeled or carried on collapsible coolers onboard with no problem. If that has changed very recently, I do not know.

We always pack our collapsible cooler in our checked luggage and we carry on our wine/soda in a duffle/tote bag. Once we get to our room we put our beverages in the room cooler (not really cold enough to be called a fridge). When we go on excursions or to the pool we fillup a ziplock bag with ice and put it in the collapsible cooler with the drinks to keep them cold.

MJ

 

[tlt]

We went at the end of May and our documents said the same thing and we were worried. We took a soft-sided collapsible cooler on board with us full of Corona and 2 bottles of wine...we carried it into the terminal and even sent it thru the x-ray machines...several others did the same...no one said a word to us. Our room was ready soon after we boarded, so we didn't have to carry it for long. We didn't want to check it with luggage-afraid of beer breaking. We left it open every morning and our cabin steward kept it full of ice for us. We went on the Eastern, so I can't answer your question about the water shoes. We did take ours...we actually wore them as regular shoes off the ship and to the beaches...just in case we needed them...also wore them to Castaway Cay...we never needed them, but we weren't sure and they did do fine just as shoes for us. They sell for $5 at Target and Walmart and $20 on the ship, so I would take them just in case.

 

[kimtenn]

DH and I went on the 4 day WDW park/3 day Disney cruise and the only time I needed water shoes was in the ocean off the adult beach at Castaway Key. The hurricanes in 2000 had stirred up the broken shells and debris, so walking any further than 30 feet out really cut up my feet. I could have kicked myself for not bringing water shoes, but live and learn. So, in Sept. for our 7-day Eastern cruise, I am bringing them. You might as well because as the previous post said, they're so cheap at Target and Wal-Mart.

Have a great cruise!

 

[KimDisFan]

Water shoes are more of a personal preference, my DD and DH will not go into the water without them. I can do without them. It probably wouldn't hurt to have them just in case. And if you do use them make sure you have a bag to put them in to bring back in you luggage, they will take a couple of days to dry.

 

[tkd lisa]

When we went to Stingray City, they said that you can't wear water shoes there. Anything rubber damages the animal's skin. That's why they take the flippers and life vests back before that stop.

I took water shoes for my family, and they wore them to and from the beaches, but didn't need them at the beaches.

 

[PartiesNBalloons]

Thanks everyone! Your help is much appreciated! I think we are going to skip the water shoes and take the cooler

12 days and counting down!!