Help Please

[belac]

My DH has just literally booked the Quantum as a Christmas gift for us and surprise for DS. I am Super excited but I don't know how to plan. We have only done DCL and while I know bunches on what that is I haven't a clue on RCCL. Where do I start?
What is dining like, what is included, what is the reservations for dinner, what is not included, kids clubs, tipping, can or can not bring on liquor, and any other information would be way appreciated. I'm a planner and freaking out about this honestly. I went from happy happy raining gumdrops to WAIT a second what have we done, I know nothing
Thanks in advance all.
And now. I need a new counter (sigh)

 

[valiamo]

Wow the Quantum... this ship has not been completed yet, and still a ways away from it's first cruise, you will be on one of the early cruises. Think the first sailing is in late November.

Most of what is below is based on current cruises by RCI.

Tipping, based on current cruises, is $12 a day per person (added to your account)

Coffee, tea, water, ice tea, etc is included. Soda Pop is not it is an extra cost per person per day.

You can bring on-board 2 bottles of wine per stateroom (750 ml or less), all other bottled booze is held until you finish the cruise.

Entertainment is usually included, speciality resturants are not.

This ship has something called Dynamic Dining, and you have to book it in advance. Do not know how this works, and it would just be guessing right now.

Kids club is included, and they appear to have scheduled lots of activities.

You might want to also look on the Cruise Critic forum for updates and threads on the Quantum.

 

[belac]

Wow the Quantum... this ship has not been completed yet, and still a ways away from it's first cruise, you will be on one of the early cruises. Think the first sailing is in late November.

Most of what is below is based on current cruises by RCI.

Tipping, based on current cruises, is $12 a day per person (added to your account)

Coffee, tea, water, ice tea, etc is included. Soda Pop is not it is an extra cost per person per day.

You can bring on-board 2 bottles of wine per stateroom (750 ml or less), all other bottled booze is held until you finish the cruise.

Entertainment is usually included, speciality resturants are not.

This ship has something called Dynamic Dining, and you have to book it in advance. Do not know how this works, and it would just be guessing right now.

Kids club is included, and they appear to have scheduled lots of activities.

You might want to also look on the Cruise Critic forum for updates and threads on the Quantum.

Yes Quantum, so really excited. I don't even know which cabin, where etc.. It was supposed to be a surprise for me too, but DH knew better and let me know cause I would really freak if He didn't, but he is keeping the room a surprise. All I know is it has a veranda and what we are used to on DCL.

Thanks for the cliff notes and now I will be going back to school to learn about Quantum... But your notes take the edge off, thank goodness it is a long holiday weekend, in the US. I will be up late on cruise critic.

So I can take 2 bottles of wine on but no hard liquor like vodka. DH will make empty out the shampoo bottles for his precious vodka tonics
Are bar drinks super expensive?

 

[bumbershoot]

Plain drip coffee, normal tea lke Lipton...those are included. Specialty coffees (lattes, etc) and fancy teas (like Tazo) aren't included.

But they have beverage packages that go from water-bottle packages to soda packages all the way up to "everything up to a certain price" packages. We drink lattes and mochas and such, and bottled water so we got "Replenish" which included those things and fancy teas, fresh squeezed OJ in the morning (normally something like 4.50), could have included smaller bottles of sparkling water, non-alcohol drinks (like a frozen "mock"tail)...

I didn't find drink prices to be that awful. Especially if you remember to say "no" to any "souvenir" cup you can get the drink prices down a bit. If DH drinks a good amount each day, definitely look into the beverage packages.

Kid clubs aren't free and open ALL day long like DCL; they take breaks, and after a certain hour at night there's an hourly charge. But they are also fun, if not as visually lovely as on the Dream (the only DCL ship I've been on).