First Cruise Questions (Freedom of Seas)

[pens4821]

Sorry for the long post. This will be my first cruise, and I have alot of questions. The cruise I’m looking for isn’t until next November so there is plenty of time. However I see they have their Black Friday deal so figured this may be a good time to book.

If I book now, and pay the deposit, can I make changes (don’t foresee any but never know)? If I book the beverage package I’ve read you have to pay in full. So if I do that will I still be able to make changes? Or does that mean you just pay in full for the beverage package not the entire cruise?

I’m also trying to decide which room to book. Never being on a cruise I was thinking deck 2 aft as close to the middle as I could in the cheapest category (have read lower in case of sea sickness which I don’t know if I’ll suffer). Then I was looking at the deck plans and figured that forward deck 3 may be better because the bar that looks more my style is right above on deck 4 (and the late night pizza place directly above on deck 5). But is there a lot of noise right outside the theater on deck 3, by the elevators, and being under a bar? I’m a pretty heavy sleeper though so that shouldn’t matter much but curious.

I was looking at these lower because I’ve read it’s not as rocky. I also feel like the floors that are all just staterooms would be more crowded for the elevators.

Lastly I was wondering about the internet package. While I don’t see myself being online much (just a 4 day cruise), I want to be able to communicate with people just in case. If I do the internet package and put my phone in airplane mode is that all I need to do to make sure I don’t get any phone charges I’m not expecting. I have an iPhone as does my family who isn’t going so I will be able to stay in contact from what I read.

 

[Grankm21]

I have never booked a cruise during the Black Friday sale so I can’t speak to the current sale, but you can book you onboard items as soon as you book the cruise you don’t have to wait until after final payment. If you make any changes to your cruise sailing, you will need to pay $100 per person change fee unless of course you bought a refundable fare which is more expensive. There is no fee to change things on the same sailing such as room category. After you book and up until final payment, if the cruise price goes down you can call for a refund for the difference. For my upcoming cruise I got a price drop multiple times so if you know you are going on the cruise you may as well book now.

For the optional onboard items (internet, drink packages, Specialty dining, etc) I always book in the app during the Black Friday sale because it is one of the better overall sales. You can book these items online or in the app as soon as your sailing shows up in your account which is usually within a day or two. You do not book these at the same time you book the sailing, at least I never have. For those items you pay in full right away, but you can cancel and receive a refund at anytime up until 48 hours before sailing.

I would recommend a room by the elevators. The only floors I would recommend staying away from would be the floors directly below the pool decks. You can often hear the staff dragging pool chairs around early in the morning.

I can’t speak to the phones since I have an android, but I would caution against assuming you’ll still be able to connect. I do think iMessage works on iPhones while in airplane mode, but I’m not sure it’s a guarantee.

Fell free to reach out with any other questions. We sail Royal Caribbean quite often

 

[pens4821]

I have never booked a cruise during the Black Friday sale so I can’t speak to the current sale, but you can book you onboard items as soon as you book the cruise you don’t have to wait until after final payment. If you make any changes to your cruise sailing, you will need to pay $100 per person change fee unless of course you bought a refundable fare which is more expensive. There is no fee to change things on the same sailing such as room category. After you book and up until final payment, if the cruise price goes down you can call for a refund for the difference. For my upcoming cruise I got a price drop multiple times so if you know you are going on the cruise you may as well book now.

For the optional onboard items (internet, drink packages, Specialty dining, etc) I always book in the app during the Black Friday sale because it is one of the better overall sales. You can book these items online or in the app as soon as your sailing shows up in your account which is usually within a day or two. You do not book these at the same time you book the sailing, at least I never have. For those items you pay in full right away, but you can cancel and receive a refund at anytime up until 48 hours before sailing.

I would recommend a room by the elevators. The only floors I would recommend staying away from would be the floors directly below the pool decks. You can often hear the staff dragging pool chairs around early in the morning.

I can’t speak to the phones since I have an android, but I would caution against assuming you’ll still be able to connect. I do think iMessage works on iPhones while in airplane mode, but I’m not sure it’s a guarantee.

Fell free to reach out with any other questions. We sail Royal Caribbean quite often

Thank you so much for your detailed response! It’s much helpful and appreciated. It’s especially nice to know I can book now and if it goes down get a refund before final payment. Im sure I’ll have more questions before the cruise. These were pressing ones on my mind haha. Thanks again!