MessyJessy

I really don't get the concept of making reservations in Select Dining for a specific time. Seems to me the point was that you go when you feel like dining. I've never experienced a wait longer than about 5 minutes.

We prefer traditional dining but that option wasn't available when we booked. We like having the same wait staff, dining at a set time and talking with just our family at dinner.

Being wait listed for traditional dining was out of the question since there was a list of 100 plus names ahead of ours on our sailing (we booked 6 months in advance - so not very last minute). I also checked as soon as we got onboard and it was longer so we stuck with select.

We also have a food allergy in our family and it just works better explaining the restrictions once instead of 7 times.

From what I understand, some folks select traditional because you don't have to prepay tips. For us, it didn't matter because of our package.

It felt like an inconvenience to be forced to be in select, however, it ended up working out for the best (or maybe I'm just an optimist). I did like the option of being able to make a standing reservation for each night. I made them online for 6:30 and spoke with the maître D once onboard to have the same waiters each night.

We had really great waiters. Probably the best out of all our cruises. I was very happy with the service received. We never had to wait on a table (but that may have been because we ate early - 6:30) and our preferences were remembered after the first visit.

Honestly, I don't want to wait for a table like at a standard restaurant. I don't want different servers each night. I like to get to know them and let them know us. It's far more personal for us. That's just what we like.

But that's just my opinion. :)

We had a standard balcony last month on the Silhouette and the water pressure was very strong. Like a burst fire hydrant. I was pleased until I arrived home and realized my shower is like a broken sprinkler in comparison.

Here is a link to the pdf file to make it easier to see the program schedule.

Fun Factory Schedule

Here you go! Hope this helps.

The 2 weeks prior to our sailing was spring break. The factory staff said they had over 100 children in her age group 3-8 for those sailings. On ours, there were 8 in her age category.

I'm sure it's not going to be similar to Disney cruise line as far as size or activities. They don't have a bibbidi boutique but they do have theme nights. Sometimes they did face painting for pirate night and carnival theme.

They did offer clean, secure facilities that were well staffed. They had a variety of video games too for older kids.

They offered enough to engage my daughter and she met a few kids (from Australia, Canada and Midwest) that she had fun playing with.

It probably will depend on your child's personality and interests of they enjoy the fun factory. For us, it worked. However, our daughter is pretty laid back and we don't have a gaming system at home. She enjoyed the crafts and games with other children.

We took a 7 day on Silhouette the other week (April 12). I saved all the fun factory sheets left in our cabin. I can share them if you would like. It's not Alaska...but it will give you a general idea.

Our daughter is 7 and she loved the fun factory and wanted to go whenever it was open. Lots of activities, crafts, games, family game time, face painting and field trips (ocean view for ice cream, theater for circus theme show, etc.,).

Wow! Perfect. Just what I was looking for! I can always count on cruise critic folks to help a gal out! Thanks again! :)

Hi Folks!

Contemplating a cruise for the family on Royal Princess and found 2 balcony cabins on the Marina Deck. Only problem, they are listed as Obstructed Balcony.

I'm trying to figure out if there is equipment or something that is blocking the view but I can't find an image that clearly shows what the obstruction is. Most images are at a weird angle.

I was specifically looking at Cabins M115, M109 and M119. Does anyone have pictures of the exterior in that section? I have looked through the boards, the Royal thread and searched through google but no luck so far. I did find a few images of the port side but I'm not sure that it is identical on starboard?

Anyone stay in those cabins? Anyone...Bueller, Bueller?

Thanks for the help!

This is one dress I'll wear on our formal night. We sail on HAL Zuiderdam tomorrow! I picked this up at Dillards on sale for way less than the listed price.

http://www.cache.com/shopdetails.asp?cat=0100&sku=58024C35533206

Here is the formal outfit I wore on RCI Enchantment of the Seas in November. I'm on the right and the MIL is on the left.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/360626642/360677171MDoxfJ

This was from our honeymoon cruise on Carnival - it's not a great shot but you get the idea.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/360849314/360856419soLKKf#

Our first HAL cruise on the Zaandam. Here's a picture of my MIL & FIL.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/360868734/360881787smbnVt

Here is what I wore on HAL Zaandam cruise. It's floor length fully beaded evening gown.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/360868734/360882898aeBpRF

http://community.webshots.com/photo/360868734/360882919uwlLEq

The back of my other dress

http://community.webshots.com/photo/360868734/360881760oPRvsk

and the front. It's a A-line black satin with silver embroidered flowers and black accent beeds.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/360868734/360881773IjsppU

HAL was the most formal and Carnival the most relaxed. RCI fell in between the two. I enjoyed them all for different reasons.

BTW - I purchased the same dress as the OP is wearing but with turquoise trim. I'm wearing it for informal night.