boingy300

Really? 3 weeks ago it was $5... They raised the prices that fast?! Wow. Still worth it for a peaceful, quiet lunch! Karen

We are RCCL veterans. Just got off Silhouette a few weeks ago. I'd liken in to the Radiance class ship. The casino was nonsmoking. One side of the ship top deck was smoking, one side not. I liked mimosa/champagne when we boarded, blankets, no towel counting, molecular and martini bars. It was just more relaxed. It could be we had just such an intense itinerary we were just exhausted in the evenings too! It was a nice ship. I also enjoyed the little $5pp lunch venues. Made for some relaxing quiet lunches.

Karen

You have to join the Captain's club if coming from RCCL. It's not automatic.

 

Karen

There were lots of baseball caps and sun visors on our cruise a few weeks ago. People need to chill out and stop controlling. It's vacation. Have fun and focus on being happy! Lots of time for angst at the airport! :D

Karen

I've never sailed Princess (but did HAL- Celebrity very similar). You seem to be confusing the specialty dining with what is free. The $45/pp dinner is specialty dining. That is an option. You will not be charged extra for any meal. It is only if you wish to "level up" that you pay. I, too, liked the breakfast in the buffet (since 1991 a cruising "1st" for me!). Good luck in your research.

Karen

Good point. I was just judging by the families there and the activity. Another good point is that this was a port intensive cruise. Flavor may have changed on a more relaxed schedule.

Karen

Good point! IF I had children I would NOT sail Celebrity. Royal, Carnival or Disney better meets a family's needs. Been there done that and just want to relax. I personally felt Celebrity was more upbeat and energetic than Holland. It is so dependent on itinerary and age.

Karen

We are diamond on RCCL and sailed Oasis in November. We just finished our 1st Celebrity a few weeks ago. They were different cruises. The Oasis- the ship is the thing. ADHD central (& I like that)- lots to do. I could easily do a trans- Atlantic on the Oasis. The Celebrity (Silhouette) was different- Mediterranean Sea and very port intensive. Because of that we found the more relaxed, less structured evenings very pleasant. The molecular bar and the martini bar were fun. (I mean the molecular bar menu was so very cool!) The shows seemed to be better on Celebrity but admittedly....we didn't go to any shows on either ship. (I wasn't jazzed about Hairspray on Oasis but others liked it). I liked that Celebrity didn't count pool towels, pools didn't have a belly flop, gave us champagne when we boarded and warm blankets on the deck for night time star gazing. Mostly it depends on your likes and the itinerary. We felt Celebrity suited our needs/demographic and has slightly more varied ports (we are tired of the Caribbean...and honestly...I'm not going to surf or rock climb.)

Now 2 dings against Celebrity- I think the food on Oasis was better and they play the music loud (I'm an ER nurse and noise rarely annoys me). Ding against Oasis....disembarking with 6000 of my newest friends.

Bottom line- no such thing as a bad cruise but I highly recommend getting out of the Caribbean if you can. Cruising is a blast in a far away place. (Just my opinion. Everyone has different tastes!)

Karen

I'm never in my room and thought Vegas was the absolute disappointment and the armpit of society (Sorry as I'm sure that's offensive to some! I will never return- jmho). If we trend in either of these directions- I'm out. Looking for a floating hotel- cool, unique ports and to learn as I go. I don't need a cheap cruise and am willing to pay for my education and adventure. If the ship is the adventure (Like Oasis on a transatlantic...cool) or if the place is the adventure (like a small ship that doesn't overwhelm an island) I would like that. But blinky lights, drunks, hard selling(Tag Hauer chicks in the promenade get away from me!) and noise? I'll just go to Vegas (or not).
Karen

Thanks- and lovely picture Sheila! I'm using it to explain to my family what we can do with the balconies. Karen

Amen to the red! We are looking for smaller ships, more unique experience, places to sail. Don't care about sexual orientation of entertainers....really? Entertain me, period- that's all I need to know about you! We are young 50s. Started cruising 1991. Looking for adventure not afraid to spend money, not wanting to be nickel and dimed. We like learning new things or places. I want a fun place to retire to. Sailed Holland and only activity at 11am on a sea day was bridge in the parlor? I would have been happier with a how to play bridge class. Take me places, teach me things- please! Karen

Can I assume also for Solstice? Sailing Silhouette this week and Solstice 2016. Thanks! Karen

I guess my question is do I HAVE to have a phone for RIL? It would involve changing our contract with Verizon and I would rather not. I understand the convenience but is it necessary? Thanks, Karen

OK, still debating. Thanks! Karen

How essential is having a phone? We weren't planning on using ours at all. We are packing it in our luggage and for getting about it. Karen

Thanks for the comparison. We are about to sail our 1st Celebrity (Many RCCL, 1 Disney, 1 Carnival and 1 Holland). Interestingly enough, Holland is the only cruise line where I did a pub crawl. The cruise director tied toilet paper bows around some of our heads (for NOT finishing our long island iced tea= sober) and I had to crawl on my hands and knees (bow still on) to get from the piano bar (for not finishing my drink), through the casino into the disco in order to complete the pub crawl. Simply put: on my "classiest cruise line" I ended up sober doing probably the trashiest (and most fun) thing I've ever done on a cruise ship.....and I'd do it again. My husband, who did finish his drink(s) was bow-less and walked in. Still a funny memory. I will never see those people again and had a blast. Good for you for being open to new experiences.

Karen

We leave for a 655am flight. 5/17. We are staying at Boscolo at the North . Any suggestions for a 430 ish ride?

This will be our 1st trip to Europe but on our last trip to Australia we listened to the advice to keep going and were very glad we did! A bit tired by the evening but nothing a dinner and drink in front of Sydney Opera house couldn't rejuvenate.

This trip we have the tour company picking us up as we get off the NY red eye and will end 3pmish after the Vatican . Maybe a nap, nice stroll to dinner and then we'll see if we wish to go back out or just relax at the hotel.

Karen

We will be booking 14 night NZ to Sydney for 2016 on our upcoming cruise. I'm so excited.I guess I need to read your posts from last to first?

I really appreciate that you took the time to do this. Thank you.

Karen Mason Ohio

The good news is once you reach Juneau's shores Tracy's Crab Shack awaits you. You know it's good when the Captain gets off the ship for some crab legs! I love this place. Enjoy your trip!

Karen

Labadee is my favorite port. Zipline, roller coaster and water slide. Wonderful island day. And Grand Cayman- Captain Marvin's Sting Ray City. This one is easy for me. Western. Karen

We've been cruising about every other year since our honeymoon 1991. Budgeted and planned cruises. Now my husband can do some seminars at Sea, so on sea days he's in class and I go play. The group gives him some money for the seminar/travel (About $800 seminar, $1200 toward travel) . We have free hotel points We also get a discounted group rate on the rooms for the seminar. We rarely do ship excursions and we budget. We are "shaved our heads and drank the kool aid" Dave Ramsey, Financial Peace University fans- this is budgeted and and paid off before we fly. OH! And the one time we "splurged" on a Jr. Suite in Alaska- our room flooded twice..at 2am...I will never move beyond balcony and don't mind an inside (provided it's not over a lounge).

Karen

We had 4 days at sea, unexpectedly, in the Caribbean on Nieuw Amsterdam (HAL). I had a blast. I was concerned because it was (perceived) an older demographic and horrible weather. I am usually so task oriented on cruises (and I usually pick port intensive cruises). I was forced to relax while my hubby was in seminar. I made friends, went to classes- really relaxed...new for me. Now my brother has just returned from a trans-Atlantic flight from So. Africa to MIA where he reports a person actually expired on his flight....They put the expired patient back in her seat, next to her husband for the rest of the flight after CPR failed. And everyone exited at MIA, walking past her body and sobbing husband. After hearing that- I thought "at least the cruise has a morgue". Put it in perspective for me. Once we retire a trans-(insert ocean here) is on my bucket list!

Karen

I'm a foodie and it was a cool experience. It was very relaxing . I agree the basil martini was probably one of the best I've had. I didn't realize it was $15 each and thought it was included. I would order one again, but just be aware it is additional. The salts were very fun. I was surprised I liked the seafood shack almost as much, the warm crab legs rivaled any meal I had any where. And we went to all the specialty restaurants. I would visit it again.

Yes Terry this has been great as we plan our 2016 cruise, same course I hope (sans Hawaii due to work schedule). I've also enjoyed your Venice review! I really appreciate that you took us along. I'm so glad you did the bridge climb too! (Sorry I missed it originally).

Karen