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12 hours ago, Miickra said:

Hey all,

 

The website mentioned is mine that I developed and maintain because of trying to find information for each ship was frustrating me and a few close friends.

 

I'm happy to hear of improvements for the website and make it more useful for everyone who cruises with RC.

I would love to provide you with what I'm working on and see if you have interest in incorporating it into your site.  Better to have one really good quality site than me trying to figure out how to share my info on my own!  I THINK I can PM you a link via CC - if so, will let you see what I've got (still a work in progress) and you are more than welcome to leverage it however you want.  

(Update: looks like CC has disabled the feature to allow users to PM each other.  I'll do some juggling and make my spreadsheet available in a bit and update on this thread when ready.)

(Update2: I used the Contact form on your site to send you a link to my spreadsheet so you can take a look and decide whether you wish to use any of the info.)

18 hours ago, mets123 said:

I vote that you take up the task. All those in favor say "Aye".

Well, as it happens I already nominated myself and swept the vote of all those on the couch!. 

I plan to do the first major collection and presentation of the data but then hope to open it up to crowd-sourced updates and changes so it doesn't get stale.  Probably will have the first draft in about a week.  (I LOVE a good, meaty, data-collection task.)

18 hours ago, OCSC Mike said:

I think this is what you’re looking for. It was put together by a poster at another popular RC forum.

 

https://rc.cruises/

Thanks - that's definitely the idea I had in mind.  Whoever put that together thinks very much like I do.  My own "spin" on the data demands that I track more info than this to satisfy my own cravings, but this will certainly help!

And for those wondering where Royal's online info falls short, just a couple of examples just from Oasis of the Seas:  

1) Web site mentions they have a "Champagne Bar".  No such named location on deck plans, no such named place in a March 2024 Cruise Compass.  So either it doesn't exist (wrong text) or it exists at a differently-named bar - which is ultimately unhelpful info as it is incomplete.

2) Website says they have a Vitality Cafe, and a March 2024 Cruise Compass backs this up...but not on any deck plans.  Sure, it is not a huge leap to assume it is located with EITHER the Spa or the Fitness Center, but those are on different decks...so which one?

To many folks these are minor nits, but for anyone (like me) pre-planning, it is frustrating not to be able to trust the data (in case #1) or for the data to be ambiguous (case #2).  For a subset of folks (again, like me) who are data-driven (aka anal ) this kind of bad data is maddening.  Sure, I can triangulate between many sources (Royal data, cruise compasses, 3rd party sites), but that's annoying, time-consuming, and, as noted, STILL leads to errors.  

46 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

Unlikely anyone outside of RCI has the incentive to do so. 

Sigh.  Was hoping someone here knew of something a previous passionate cruiser had put together, but won't be shocked if this is the case.  What started as my own "what's on Navigator" data collection has morphed into an ADHD-driven "what's on EVERYTHING" spreadsheet, so at some point I may end up sharing that and seek input from those who are actually much more "in the know" than me - or at least those who are on WAAAAAAAAAAAAY more ships than me!

Does anyone share a link to a "go-to" website containing regularly updated and CORRECT info re: bars, food, and features on each ship?  The amount if out-of-date info floating around is really frustrating.  

For example, the Ben & Jerry's partnership is over, yet so many websites (all, in fact, that I've found) still show it on deck plans on multiple ships and/or still list it in descriptions.  In other cases, the list of bars and/or restaurants shown on websites is totally at odds with the lists printed in 2024 cruise compasses.    

Given that Royal's own posted data is suspect in some cases perhaps my hopes are too high...but hoping SOMEONE out there has done their homework and keeps their info up-to-date.  

I'm feeling pretty pleased with the USD 15.50/device/day I'm getting for 2 devices for upcoming Mar 2025 and Sept 2025 sailings.

Original response removed - I was asserting that one of the web sites you quoted indicated that anyone staying <6 months didn't need an ETA, but the OTHER website seems to contradict that.  So I am equally confused as the UK's own sites are in disagreement.

Thanks Biker.  I'd not seen that site before and it turned out to be extremely helpful.  My prior source of data presented thing in an easy to grab fashion, but was UK-based so I had to do a lot of work to convert dates to US format.  Managed to get my project re-built in a much more elegant way using your suggestion.

We disembarked on Canada Day a few years ago and took SkyTrain.  One thing to note is that SkyTrain was operating on a holiday fare schedule, which meant no need to figure out how many zones you were traveling through.  (We were stuck on trying to figure that out when a kind Canadian clarified this for us.)  And as per the advice to get to the airport 2.5-3 hour ahead of time, I second that advice.  We were quite surprised at how long it took to get through airline check-in, baggage check-in, and security at YVR (on multiple trips, not just our Canada Day trip).  At least one of those three checkpoints has often held us up for 45+ minutes every time.

Well, I found a semi-brute force method to achieve what I want, that is mostly cut/paste/massage.  Gets the job done, however!

Does anyone know a website where I can get a simple LIST/TABLE of all RCCL sailings?  I'm really looking for raw data in a format SIMILAR TO this:
Depart       Return    # Nights    Ship          From         To        Description    
5/21/2025    5/30/2025   9         Brilliance    Barcelona    Athens    Western Mediterranean    
2/20/2026    3/1/2026    9         Brilliance    San Juan     San Juan  Southern Caribbean    
12/27/2025   1/5/2026    9         Explorer      Orlando      Orlando   Southern Caribbean    
12/27/2025   1/5/2026    9         Freedom       Miami        Miami     Eastern Caribbean    

I don't want the fancy-formatted tables that have ship picture and route maps you normally get from cruise search engines.  I really just want raw text output that I can cut/paste into a spreadsheet that includes (at least) dates, ships, start/end ports, and basic route names.  FWIW: I'm trying to manipulate things in a spreadsheet to help me find interesting B2B sailing options.

1 hour ago, John Bull said:

You can book any train journey on any rail operator's website, or via the National Rail website which I find simpler

https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/

Fares are the same whichever of those sites you use

...and to complete this, based on what else I've read here (and relevant to those of us coming from the US): apparently, South Western's online ticket purchase requires creation of an account but doesn't know how to deal with non-UK-based buyers.  You apparently can't enter a US-based address.  Others have noted that US-based pax can successfully complete a purchase via the LNER website.  I don't know whether the National Rail site above is "US-friendly" or not, but you do have at LEAST one known-good option via LNER.  Just be aware.

I just happened to watch someone's 2024 video re: a tour around Brilliance last night and can answer a couple of these:

3) Pizza availability: With no Sorento's, they serve pizza out of Park Cafe.

4) Yes, Park Cafe (in the Solarium) has the roast beef sandwiches.  Hours unknown.

Certainly possible, but without visual proof I'm not prepared to trust it.  (In the USA, Missouri has the nickname "The 'Show Me' State".  I'm not from there...but in this instance I feel a kin-ship. )

FWIW: A reason for my initial question was that online research turned up phrases like "you can only do this [get direct to street level via escalators] from the northbound platform [of the Northern Line]" and/or written instructions that talked about taking stairs "to the intermediate level".  The video gave me unambiguous proof that starting at the SB platform that you could get up to Villiers St w/no more than 3 steps - following an admittedly winding journey to get from the SB platform over to the area of the NB platform.

You have hit on the crux of it: where does that escalator near the SB platform that is seen (but not used) in the video ACTUALLY go?  All the way to the ticket hall or somewhere else, necessitating traversing more [than 3] stairs?

Hopefully, someday, someone younger and more adventurous can confirm that there's a faster route from SB platform to street level.  If your journeys do take you back there and you can figure it out it will be akin to Sir Edmund H. scaling Everest.  OK...that may be a BIT of hyperbole...but it would be great to learn what reality is.  Until then, I (at least) can be content following the path shown in the video while dragging my luggage around.  

Thank you! 

I have to add that this is one of the clearest and most informative answers I've ever received.  Whether you realized it or not, you touched on every concern that motivated my original question (including issues I was thinking about but didn't voice in my question), and then added answers that anticipated potential follow-up questions.  Very impressed and very grateful!

Any advice about traveling via TRAIN from London (Waterloo) to Southampton on the morning of the day of embarkation?  Are train cancellations and/or delays realistic concerns?  What about rail strikes on a Saturday?

I know many folks recommend arriving in SOU at least one day early, but my sense is that this advice is really targeted to those using motor vehicles (i.e. cars, shuttles, buses) as a hedge against traffic slowdowns and/or accidents closing the roads.

If we were taking ground transport I'd definitely heed the advice to arrive the day before to avoid stress, but trying to get a better idea of whether the advice is still relevant to train travel?

Different ship, different class - so apologies if this isn't relevant for you.  However, on Radiance we got a table for 11 for our entire trip in the MDR.  It definitely could have seated (and was, I assume, designed for) 12.  Not sure if it is safe to assume that a 12-top is available in every MDR fleetwide, but fyi.

FWIW, our family group had 4 different reservations that were SUPPOSED to have been linked pre-cruise and rcldining had confirmed, pre-cruise, that we'd all be assigned to a common table.  However, when we checked the MDR upon boarding we found ourselves assigned to 3 different tables.  We got that fixed before the 1st night's dinner and they put all 11 of us at the table mentioned above. Moral: even if you THINK you're pre-assigned to the same table, check as soon as you board!

Thanks for the responses!  In particular, the suggestions to transfer to bus or taxi @ Tottenham Court are really appreciated.  While I wasn't trying to eliminate 100% of the stairs, it seems like adding in buses is potentially even faster than transferring to another tube line.  The pointer re: single step access to buses was also an eye-opener.  This combo would eliminate the risk of escalator breakdowns at Embankment throwing a wrench into the works.

I did eventually find a video of someone walking through the station and it turns out that the walker follows the exact path of interest.

Video around 18:20 DEFINITELY shows walker standing on Northern's SB platform #4 - i.e. exactly where we'd end up if we decide to take Elizabeth Line from LHR and change to Northern at Tottenham Court, exiting at Embankment instead of Charing Cross.  The walker exits the platform directly onto an escalator going up.  At the top, walks straight off the escalator (with a slight jog to the left) and follows signage toward Northern NB platform 3/Bakerloo platform 5+6 (probably ignoring nearby "Way out" signage).  When this walk dead ends (with District/Circle's WB platform 1 on the left and EB platform 2 and "Way out" sign pointing right), walker turns right, goes up 3 steps, and THEN follows "Way out" signs up escalator to exit gates and finally walks out to Villiers Street.  So this video shows you can get off a SB train and get directly to street level via escalator with just 3 small steps up along the way. 

London-based folks, a question re: Underground from Heathrow T3 to the Trafalgar Square area.  We're likely to be staying at The Clermont Charing Cross.

The most direct route appears to be Elizabeth Line -> Northern Line@Tottenham Court -> Charing Cross.  However, I note from research that Charing Cross involves a LOT of stairs up and this is not attractive when hauling our luggage around.

The longer but less stair-intensive route appears to be to exit at Embankment.  But which line is best?  I'm confused as to which line(s) have access to escalators vs stairs.

NORTHERN is extremely deep.  Can you take escalators UP to (at least) the DISTRICT level if arriving on the southbound platform?  Can you take escalators ALL THE WAY UP to street level? My research has left me confused as to whether the escalators are available for southbound travelers, as well as to how many stairs the escalator replaces.

DISTRICT is shallower and therefore (worst case) is a few short flights of stairs.  Are there escalators UP available for those arriving on the eastbound platform?  (I understand that choosing this route means using Piccadilly Line -> District@Hammersmith -> Embankment.)

Thanks for the great review!  I think you and I would get along great - we share VERY similar attitudes around food, appreciating the good things one experiences and not dwelling on the minor nits...and neither one of us is worried about brevity in our writing!  You one-upped my review with your index, however.  I'm oddly jealous.  (Our trip was in 2016, and I documented it here.)

We had GS 8540 on a cruise in 2015, which was underneath one of the side dining areas of WJ.  We are EXTREMELY laid-back cruisers and generally are not fazed by "little things".  We go expecting to have a great time and that attitude generally means we DO have a great time. 

Having said that, when we finished the cruise - having had a wonderful trip - we both agreed that there was more thumping noise coming from above us in the early mornings than we cared for.  We assumed that we were hearing carts being moved around pre-breakfast, although can't be 100% certain  what all the noise was.  

Over the years we've had (hotel) rooms that were uncomfortably close to elevators and/or air conditioners, street noise, staff utility spaces, etc.  We've managed to live with all of them with no real reason to complain.  ("The worst day on vacation is better than the best day at work.")  So for us to agree post-trip that there was more noise than we'd hoped for is pretty significant.  We just don't normally let this kind of thing bother us.

Our bottom line was: the cabin did NOT ruin our cruise and if our ONLY choice was to rebook the suite or skip the cruise we'd definitely rebook w/eyes fully opened and know we'd hear more noise that we'd prefer to...but if we could have a do-over we would have booked a different cabin that didn't have early AM WJ traffic coming through our ceiling.

I've always felt that the ship-board JR experience is an incredibly faithful recreation of the shore-based JR experience. 

In other words, it is just as disappointing and overpriced on the ship as it is on land, with the same cramped seating and the same lack-luster execution of burgers, fries, and shakes.  

To get there from anyone's post, click on their name, as shown here:

EDIT:  D'OH!  Just realized that you didn't need the additional illustration - you obviously understood what I was saying!  I'll leave this in case my text instructions a couple of posts above weren't clear to others!  

5 hours ago, Hoopster95 said:

However, I finally figured how to find all of mine while logged in... however no one else can though.

Although this isn't a solution that SPECIFICALLY answers the "how to find Hoopster's [or anyone's] reviews", it does answer "how to find any thread STARTED by Hoopster" - which allows someone to scan for thread titles that look interesting.  Note that this allows ANY user to dig up content of any OTHER user, not just yourself.

This might not be what you were actually trying to accomplish.   If I misunderstood your intention and am telling you something you already knew my apologies.   

1. Find any post written by <target user>.  Let's assume it is Hoopster.

2. Click on the user's name (i.e. the link just above the user's profile photo, just to the left of the body of text).  The user's profile will open.

3.  Click the "See their activity" button in the upper right of the profile.  At this point, you can see pages linking to EVERY post of Hoopster, both original threads as well as replies to other threads.  For Hoopster, that's 40 pages of links

4.  To see only threads STARTED by Hoopster (rather than everything he replied to) click on "Topics" in the left-hand menu bar.  For Hoopster, this narrows things down to 3 pages of links.