peacefulOR

It's our experience that Royal's beds are very, very firm until you book at the suite level and then have more padding. I'm ordering twin size memory foam toppers (2") with cooling properties for a cruise this April. We're taking as second checked luggage; also optional for anyone driving to port. Read up on your ship and search for comments on the beds. Good luck!

Hmm, that is the protocol for waiters in the main dining room and my usual experience. This last cruise on Royal there was a "drop and run" going on with the removal of uneaten food not even questioned. We've sailed for 25 years and not always Royal and it was our worst dining experience ever. It was apparent that the servers were either overwhelmed or stretched too far but the entrees were not the quality of previous experiences on Royal. Disappointing. I'm curious, why weren't you in the Coastal Kitchen instead of the MDR? There's a vast difference in cuisine and service. I think that every passenger has the right to expect their meals to be of a decent quality and, especially, served fresh and warm. I'm pretty easygoing so we just went elsewhere after three lukewarm dinners. I don't project problems on the Quantum and appreciate reading your positive review. By the way, we selected my time dining with a set time of 6:30. Will definitely do traditional dining on the Quantum.

Yes. the suite beds are far superior to anything below so I'm glad that you were comfortable. It sounds like they've changed as well. I'm looking forward to better dinners at the MDR this time and maybe they'll even be warm enough! We're in an extended balcony this time and will be prepared for the difference. Thanks for sounding in.

Thank you for responses about beds. We are going to take mattress toppers (memory foam) as extra luggage on a 10-day cruise from Honolulu. I don't remember our earlier cruises on RCCL being so uncomfortable, I've heard that there are good beds in the suites so they are aware of their existence. About the MDR meals. We found the breakfast & lunches very nice and served warm, at least (last cruise, Navigator). The three dinners there were served lukewarm and overcooked. I don't cruise to eat but miss dining as apposed to feeding at the buffet.

Could you share your opinion of the hardness of the beds? I've been reading that the Quantum is one of the worst for "rock hard beds". We're also wondering about your impression of the MDR meals.....a poor experience on the Navigator recently! Thank you for offering to answer our questions. I hope that you had a great time in Alaska.Rainey

After sleeping on the Navigator's hard beds and being given a folded duvet as a "topper", I started researching. We're sailing on the Quantum next Spring and want to be comfortable. I've read so many references to Quantum as having very firm beds that we are ordering memory foam (with gel cooling ) toppers, taking them in the original shipping box as extra luggage. Ten nights makes it worth it. Do not expect any ship to wash or separate your personal sheets......they get thrown in huge, mingled washers. How long is your cruise? They seem to change the sheets about every 7 days; someone jump in if you know for sure that it's more often but I haven't seen it. The old toppers were egg crate foam and they are no longer available; the reason is non-sanitary. Comfort is subjective, but hard is hard and very firm is very firm so go from there. If you are going to the port city by car, it's easy. Good luck on finding the right match for you but I think that camping mattresses tend to slide. Beds seem to be a standard twin on Royal.....some cruise lines have narrow mattress, Have a great first cruise! Rainey

What a great idea....I forgot about how well the Space Bags work! Thank you for your input. I've seen the packaged foam toppers in stores and they are a large cube so your idea is much better.

To Garmy44, how do you carry your foam topper? I'm thinking of plane travel but maybe you are able to drive to your port. I can see packing them in a box as extra luggage while in original shrink wrap but how about after using. Thank you for your input (if you see this). Rainey

Cotton mattress pads do very little. Even a doubled comforter is more helpful. What about baggage allowance? I'm going to buy them and ship as extra baggage (no extra cost). Otherwise, Walmart sells them in their stores. I wonder if you could order them online and then pickup in Honolulu? It may sound extreme to those who like extra firm beds, but it IS one solution if we really would suffer for 10 nights. Seems cheaper than upgrading to a suite just to get a reasonable bed. I think only an inflatable might fit in a large case by itself but if shipping cost isn't an issue, a memory foam topper is cooler and more comfortable. They start under $20 online but I've seem nice ones (1.5" thick) for ten dollars more.

You're welcome! I had the makeshift (thin) comforter and used a second one trying to soften. Toppers are bulky, at least the ones I've seen. You might call them again and ask what they use for toppers. Good luck but if they only use the regular comforters ask for 2 of them, doubled. I wish I had read a thread like this before booking the Quantum!

I sailed on the Navigator in January.....rock hard beds and no mattress toppers available. Taking your same cruise next year and called special needs about toppers. She said "no problem" so maybe you have to reserve them before boarding. The no. is 1-866-592-7225. I've also researched taking twin memory foam toppers to Hawaii as extra luggage. You wouldn't think that it would be necessary. Our cabin attendant on the Navigator claimed that the eggcrates are not used anymore (probably already promised) so I'd call tomorrow. Good luck; I hope that you report back on your quest.

Thank you all for replying. I can't seem to start a new topic on the RCI forum so I tried here. I will call on Monday and ask.

I could use your help. Just off of Navigator and booked a TA for 5/24. The manager told me I could change to another booking within 30 days without losing OBC or deposit. Okay, so can I just call customer service and book another cruise? Would I still be able to transfer the booking to an outside agent if I wished? Thanks for your help! Rainey

I've been to Mexico many times (by ship, air, and cruises) and have done lots of independent excursions on my own with no problems. From what I've been reading lately on travel advisories, there are more warnings about being cautious when traveling, even in popular tourist areas. Also, I have read that it's faster to get ashore if you are booked on a ship-arranged excursion. No big scares, just more cautious as I age. Most independent excursions are still safe, I'm sure, and certainly less expensive.

Hi, Rainey here. We're on the same cruise and just booked the Cabo boat excursion @ $59 pp. It was originally shown as a 9 a.m. departure so that's why it disappeared before. Now at 1 p.m. I'm checking daily to see if more excursions show up. With the way things are these days, we are also choosing to stay with Royal excursions. Only 32 days to go!