pinkrosesdeb

So, maybe it is only the Oasis class ships that open Giovanni's for lunch? I really thought we had lunch in Giovanni's on embarkation day on Freedom...but it could be my aging memory again. Whenever we have the chance to go to Giovanni's at embarkation we go because it is so relaxing! And, the food is great. I can't even remember what it cost us.

I think you would find the Windjammer very well laid out on Royal. While it does get busy we have always been able to find seats and make quick runs thru the lines. If Liberty has a Giovanni's Table that has also been a paid option for us when we want a quieter full-service meal. I am not sure if it is available on embarkation day on Liberty but I KNOW all the experts here can answer that if you are looking for another choice.

We usually cruise with Royal so had no idea of the over the bed storage. We kept trying to find drawers then hubby opened cabinet over the bed. Not a great arrangement but,luckily,it was the first time we ever used our packing cubes and it worked great!

Let me give you a warning...you will LOVE the GS and it becomes addictive!

They have allowed our family to board together on several occassions but things change daily with Royal. As stated in earlier posts, you will not find the wait times that much different and you will all be boarding pretty close together anyway. You might wait 5 mins or so before they cross over into the ship and there are lots of places to wait as you board.

If casino is a big draw for you, I would do the Freedom. We did NOT like the casinos on Allure or Oasis. One side is supposed to be "no smoking" but there is nothing to divide it and it is in a very enclosed halllway. You can smell the smoke way before you see the casino. If you are a smoker, it won't bother you at all. We are doing our third cruise on Freedom and love her. We enjoy the larger cabins (Oasis class are very small) and more connection to the sea. Oasis class is truly a floating resort so it depends on what you are looking for. Your kids might really enjoy that resort feel. I hope whichever you choose, you make it incredible, don't waste a minute second guessing your choice!!

You have legitimate concerns and it never hurts to plan ahead. I hope everything works out for you and that your cruise is wonderful!

We have done Nachi 3x and loved it every time. Lunch is provided and so are drinks.

You will be able to reserve dining times prior to your cruise, you can also link your reservation to your parents so you get the same times if you want. While the Windjammer on Oasis class is definitely not one of the best in the Royal line, your parents might really enjoy Park Cafe which has panini, salad, soup, dessert etc as well as a create your own salad bar. The buffet is smaller and choices are a little more limited in the Windjammer on the Oasis class because there are so many other choices available. You will also find a free breakfast available at Johnny Rockets. I would try to book shows and dining times as far in advance as you can especially if you are booking for 4. We enjoyed solarium buffet on Oasis and Allure both for lunch and breakfast, there is no charge there at those times.

Great to have 'OPTIONS"...no one is forcing you to go but it is there if you want it. We love their malts and burgers, don't go every cruise but it is nice to have the choice.

Harmony is an Oasis class ship with some changes. I would also miss the solarium, not sure why that happened. The ships are stunning. Central Park is amazing. Park Cafe and the many different food choices are also great We never set foot in the windjammer it was very small but there are a LOT of food choice (no extra charge) available. You can do Park Cafe, Promenade Cafe, Solarium Bistro, all open on embarkation day to avoid the crowds in the windjammer. Also, for a fee I believe if it is like other Oasis ships Giovanni's Table will be open for lunch that day for a quieter, full service experience. You do need to book shows prior to leaving if there is something you really want to see. Comedy club for sure if it opens prior to sail date. We did not find the food "better" on Celebrity about the same. I found the venues on Equinox a little claustrophobic at night because a lot goes on in the centrum. Loved Celebrity staff though and would not hesitate to book again. Ship is beautiful, loved the Sunset bar etc.

fishkillbill, I would suggest looking at Blu menus because my dh is a "meat & potatoes" kind of guy and he chose not to eat in Blu most nights. He likes beef & chicken, no duck, no lamb, no pheasant etc. I could not convince him to try Blu once he checked the menu in the afternoon. We absolutely loved it for breakfast. We ate in Tuscan Grill 3xs and buffet several nights.

The only "high pressure" pitch that bothered me was when my therapist stopped my treatment 10 mins early to try to sell me $400 of products! Then, she got mad when I said no. She said, "you said you wanted to take care of yourself, I guess that wasn't true". I was shocked and haven't been back to the spa since. I did NOT buy the products LOL Sorry, to clarify that happened on Royal but I didn't try the spa on Celebrity because of it. Otherwise, a sales pitch doesn't really bother me unless they persist after I say no thank you.

It just gives us something to look forward to...we are booked in Jan 2018! Ready to try something new.

evitacruiser, if the price is right you should definitely try the Oasis class. There is nothing like it but it will feel a little less like a cruise and a little more like a really, nice resort. There is lots to do, the ships are gorgeous and we did NOT find it to feel overly crowded as there are so many options onboard that only at a few specific times would you find a huge group in one place. Even at embarkation, you will have quite a few dining options open to you unlike most ships that have only a couple. If price is the biggest factor, keep checking daily, we found a couple of great price drops that lasted on a few hours. Luck and timing are everything. On the flip side, we really enjoyed our Equinox cruise also. Our next one is on Freedom of the Seas.

plucasana, I didn't say we were perfect at it by any means but like you we tried our best! Our girls are both successful, professional, respected business women at this point so I guess trying hard is all we can do. I am sure we would love to have your kids around.

We raised 2 daughters who were always taught to respect other people. They were never allowed to run around a restaurant, never allowed to talk back to an adult (as a child they do need to respect adults) and were always taught to be polite. They were disciplined and loved very much. I do not feel like kids who are raised to always think that their happiness supercedes everyone else's learn much about the way "real life" is. Not everyone will respect their "right" to do their own thing without regard to others. I respect every parent's right to choose how to raise their children but I don't have to respect poor manners when they are shoved in my face...just my opinion.

We have had this happen also. It does pay to check often. We found a price drop that ended 10 mins after we switched from a balcony to a JS for less money! What a great treat for you...hope you love it...but it will spoil you for sure. The concierge lounge on the Oasis class ships is really nice.

The "suite perks" start with GS so JS does not get to use the ones mentioned. You will receive priority embarkation and double cruise points if that matters to you. And, a really nice size cabin. I do believe on the Oasis class you will be able to use Coastal Kitchen for your dinners and while we haven't had that yet, I hear it is pretty good.

Amber, your dh can get eggs to order in the dining room and also at Egg Harbor in the windjammer. Grits (Georgia Ice Cream! is what we call it!) is available every morning on the end of the back buffet lines (both sides) and is usually very good. I add butter and cheese. There is also oatmeal which my dh loves and has almost every morning onboard. Unless things have changed since we were onboard free breakfast at Johnny Rockets is only available on Oasis class ships. Trivia (many different topics) is offered several times during the week. Also, don't miss Quest which will be done around 11pm in the ice rink one evening...a bit bawdy but seriously fun time. Don't give if you are easily shocked, people do crazy things for small prizes. Not sure of current procedure for ice show we have a suite and seats are reserved but I KNOW someone will have the answers for you. This group is amazing with ship knowledge. And, last, Labadee is a relaxing beach day. Beach is beautiful, don't miss Dragon's Breath. We usually book a cabana but there are lots of beach chairs, hammocks and tables on the beach. Also a tram to take you from one end to the other. I hope you love your time onboard. We are also big fans of Giovannis Table.

Everyone's idea of "kids having fun" is different. We were on a Royal Caribbean cruise and there was a group of kids around 8-12 and the parents were in a group a few rows back from the beach pool. The kids were running around the pool, jumping from one of the higher levels, one landed on another passenger. One of the boys ended up falling on the pool deck and smashing his head...hard! That is when the parents finally paid attention. I do NOT find this fun. The parents were then angry that their son fell "on a wet, slippery deck" implying it was the ship's fault.

I think you will really appreciate the extra room especially on that ship class. The JS is a really nice size cabin and you do get double cruise credits. Last time we did a JS we did not get to use Coastal Kitchen so that seems like a nice perk also. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

GS is probably our very favorite choice but when the OS opened up so cheap we jumped on it. I would not have done it otherwise. The GS is plenty big enough and the perks are the same as the OS. We really enjoy the suite breakfast option of eating in Chops in the morning. It was quiet, food was cooked to order and servers were fantastic.

We are totally in love with the strawberry pavlovas! Our maitre d on Brilliance sent them to our suite every night once he learned how much we enjoyed them. It was a treat to go back to them before bed every night...for us better than the chocolate!

Even though we found the D cabin so small, I am not sure I would have paid an extra $900 to get the larger cabin. The extra perks are not worth much unless you are close to your next C&A level and the double points would make a difference it is such a personal choice though. I hope you are thrilled whichever way you go.