WrittenOnYourHeart

I might avoid Greece for a while - it's financial situation is making for some less than safe tourist situations.

 

This is exactly what I was going to say. I read several articles yesterday about the increasing unrest and it was enough to make my decision for what RC cruise to take next summer assuming I decide in that direction easy. Assuming I decide on the cruise thing, I'm doing the Italian Med cruise on Brilliance (with overnight in Venice) as opposed to the Med cruise on the Brilliance that included Greece.

To be honest, as active as we are in our temple (and we attend Shabbat services at home all the time) when we are on vacation, we are not likely to attend Shabbat services. My DH could lead the service without books, but it just is something we generally even vacation from. When we were on Her Majesty a few years ago for Chanukah and for Shabbat -- Royal did a nice job, is all I can say -- but it was totally lay led and without books.

 

I agree with this sentiment. I am VERY involved with my parish here (Episcopal), but for me vacation is just that - vacation! Even growing up with a dad who worked in a church (United Methodist), unless we were visiting family, we had no issues skipping one or even two weeks of worship services for vacation - we even *gasp* skipped Easter services one year because we were vacationing over our Spring Break which fell over Easter.

This is funny! It's a cruise line owned by Royal, however, it does focus on Spanish customers. That may make it something that alienates some Americans.

 

I love how, since you live in NYC, the rest of the world should cruise like you.

 

I live in Florida. Should I get to banish sunshine because it's sunny here like 350 days a year? Should I get to banish beaches because I'm never more than 45 minutes from one in this state?

 

How about we all cruise our own way? There are plenty of ships to choose from.

 

I NEVER said everyone should cruise like I do. I said I think they are alienating those of us who don't like the behemoths - who want to feel the ship's movement and who don't need ice rinks, rock walls, flow riders, and things like that to enjoy our vacations. It seems more that those who are celebrating the demise of the small ships are more the ones saying that everyone should cruise like THEY want to.

 

As for "known" CC seems to have a pretty extensive list with the forums, and the mentioned one is NOT one of them. And I'm not even sure I'll like RCCL yet - this summer will be my first time on them. I do know that I like feeling the ship's movement and knowing that I'm on a ship - I don't need to go on one with features I know I don't want to know that I don't want to cruise on something featuring something I don't want. I just wish there were going to be options for EVERYONE.

Thanks for all the information!! :)

Oasis of the Seas isn't for everyone. One of my sons said "This ship is too damn big". The other son "loved it more than any ship". It was definitely a different experience. I liked that I didn't feel any movement. We'll see what it's like stepping down in size.

 

See, movement is one of the things I love! When I'm on a ship I want to know I'm on a ship. Otherwise I'll just take a land-based vacation. :)

Since you don't seem to want to pay for the small ship, and want the old ones- Pullmantur seems perfect for you. Empress, Monarch, and Sovereign are still available through them. http://pullmantur***************/?source=google&cn=mscclipper&ag=pullmantur

 

Perfect for the simple cruise.

 

(which is to say, the ships were not sunk or scrapped.)

 

And some of us would prefer a KNOWN cruise line. When the link is even blocked out, sorry, but that gives me pause.

 

That's fine. I'll cruise until behemoth malls on the water are the only option, then I'll go back to land-based vacations. Did them before and still do. I like having the option now, but I can live with only land-based.

If you are unwilling to try the 'bigger' ships at all, how can you say you won't like them. I can say we went on Allure -- seeking to having something different....a balcony overlooking Central Park. It was a nice and very different experience. Is that class of ship, my favorite, no -- Freedom class so far stands out as the one I feel is the best. It never felt overly large, more like smaller distinct areas that I could enjoy. Never overly crowded in any one location, except when leaving a show (and that is on any ship).

 

Our plans were not to jump on that class of ship unless it went somewhere we wanted to go, and got a great price....then Harmony was announced and it has a waterslide. Which is something that I would love to enjoy on a ship. So we are sailing again on an Oasis class ship.

 

I can't see ourselves going on a Quantum class ship....not because of its size (it isn't as big or with as many pax as Oasis class), it just doesn't have anything that excites me or DH....the new amusement park features, just don't interest us....we will leave them for others to enjoy.

 

For me, it's pretty simple.

 

* I don't do rock climbing. Ergo I don't need a rock wall.

* Not a fan of water slides. Ergo those don't appeal to me.

* I don't surf. Ergo I don't need a FlowRider.

* If I want to go skydiving, I'm going to do the real thing, not a tube simulator.

* I don't ice skate. Ergo I don't need an ice rink.

* I live in NYC so "Central Park" on a ship has NO appeal.

* I don't need to see the edited Broadway shows on the ship when I can see any legit full-length Broadway show running any time I want without traveling. No interest in ice or diving shows either - but that would be the case wherever I lived.

 

As I said, when I go on a cruise, I like to know that I am on a ship. I cruise to relax and to see places I haven't been before. Give me a chair and a book and I'm a happy camper. I don't need the bells and whistles - and I certainly don't need to pay for all the stuff that I won't use. Ergo, I know that the behemoths are not for me.

The problem with land based vacations is that you wake up in the same place every day.

 

I'm ok with a resort on the seas when I can wake up in Cozumel on day, Labadee another, and Falmouth another.

 

With SO VERY MANY small ships to sail on, you have way more choices than people who enjoy mega ships. You are welcome to sail on any one of those.

 

Geez- did someone pass a rule that everyone HAS to sail a mega ship? I didn't see that memo.

 

How about YOU don't book those big ships and the rest of us will do what we please?

 

The problem is with more and more going to the floating island thing becoming the norm and more and more of the small ships going away, choices are becoming limited for those of us who prefer them.

Not sure what you mean by "adjacent but not adjoining". Do you mean adjoining (next door) but not connecting (with a door between them)?

 

That was my guess.

 

Having worked in hotel reservations for a few years, I can tell you the most commonly confused terms are "adjoining" and "connecting" - and the yelling that happens at the front desk is never fun.

 

Adjoining means next to, across the hall, or even diagonally across the hall - but no door in between.

Connecting means next to each other with a door in between.

 

True the person taking the reservation should clarify, but I found that in at least half of the cases even when we DID clarify the person only half-listened and still didn't get what they wanted because they assumed that we were saying what they thought rather than listening to what we were truly saying.

Do they not have the trash can divided with 1/2 being recycling and the other true waste? Even HAL had that last year.

Really enjoying your review so far .. it sounds like quite an ordeal u had to endure for ur first night !

 

I appreciate the honesty u are being chided for here .. we know that the RC cheerleaders on here will go for anyones throat who dare criticize "their" line .. especially Oasis or Allure .. so I see how this took a bit of courage ... keep it coming !

 

 

My only question is: why the smarmy voice when saying this? U confused me a little on this one! ;)

 

I didn't get that either. There is NOTHING wrong with JetBlue! It is an awesome airline - I'd save the smarmy for Spirit or Southwest...but that's just me, and price be d%$^ed I would never choose to fly them. (ETA: Just saw your response, and now I get it.)

 

I'm also enjoying the review. :) You'd never catch me on a Behemoth of the Seas, but it's fun to read others' experiences.

38 days to Southbound Radiance!

I couldn't agree more. I love the small and midsize ships. The Behemoth of the Seas are just not my kind of ship.

 

This! If I'm on a cruise, I want to know I'm on a ship. If I want a resort, I'll keep my feet on dry ground. I don't get this "it's a ship but you don't feel like you're on one" mentality - THEN DON'T GO ON A SHIP! There are plenty of non-ship places to vacation. Quit ruining cruising for the rest of us with these monstrosities.

39 days to southbound Radiance!

Yes, you can use the showers in the fitness center if you wish.

 

Thanks! :)Good to know in case I find that I need it. Though being accustomed to a small NYC apartment (and ergo a tiny bathroom) I suspect I will likely be fine with what is in the cabin.

Thanks for the review! Doing the southbound in a few weeks!!

 

One question - for you or anyone else who might know. I see a lot of talk about how small the cabin showers are. Are there showers in the locker room at the fitness center that one can go and use? I know on Disney people will talk of doing that for more room or just if more than one person is needing to get cleaned up quickly. Just wondering if that is an option on Royal.

Nice! What ship and cabin?

 

Never mind. The titling didn't show on the app on my phone.

Hope I didn't already post this but it's a video from our transit to Hawaii last September.

 

 

 

 

 

Nice! What ship and cabin?

[quote name='FloridaPalms']For those unaware, here are Royal Caribbean's newest policies:
[B]
1. You are allowed two bottles of wine per cabin but zero bottles of whine per occupant.

2. You can bring your wine on board in your carry-on or checked luggage but you have to check your whine at the pier.

3. You can bring your wine abroad but cannot bring a whiny broad onboard abroad.

4. There is no longer a wine corkage fee in any venue. Whine corkage fees vary by venue.

5. The whine package is not to be shared.

6. If you pre-purchase the whine package, it will be delivered to your stateroom, along with complimentary sour grapes, immediately following your disembarkation from the ship on the final day of the cruise.

7. Anyone under 21 is not allowed any wine or whine. Ever.

8. If your or your table-mates whine can't be corked, the drunken whinos will be put ashore at the next Port, or Merlot, or Chardonnay. Or dumped overboard like bad wine.[/B]


~ Judy[/QUOTE]

Love it!

So question... Does number 7 mean adults-only cruises?? :p I have yet to meet a child who doesn't get off on whine!

40 days to Radiance Southbound!

Awkward? No! It would have been fun! Table mates make dinner special....it's not just a time to eat!

 

Exactly!

 

The only thing that makes the traditional cruise-style dining with other parties "awkward" is the attitude of people who don't want traditional cruising and choose to make a scene about sharing a table with others. (To the point that tables seem so close together because most main dining rooms were designed with the traditional model in mind and only a certain amount of square footage - the more people want their own special snowflake tables, the less room there will be between them - and consequently the more difficult for the servers to adequately serve all as they have to try and squeeze through ever shrinking aisles.)

[quote name='clc6p']I disagree. I always bring it in my checked luggage. We usually always take 3 bottles even though the rule is really 1 per person. I have also often purchased additional bottles in port and have never had a problem taking it back on in my backpack. It depends on the ship, but usually they don't say anything. I have been asked to check it in at the desk twice (but I only actually did one time! ), but usually they do not say anything if you just have one bottle. I just got back from Alaska. Took 3 bottles on, and they never said a word in Juneau or Ketchikan.[/QUOTE]


As long as you are prepared to cover the damage to someone else's luggage when those bottles break, do what suits you.

OMG .... 2+ pages of "whine" cracks! Slow night up in here! LOL

 

 

Now now. Don't whine about our fun! ;)

This system is becoming very common at hotels...not on cruise ships. Once you open your cabin door with your SeaPass card you won't need it again while inside your cabin. Enjoy ROS will be on her again in September.

 

 

It is on the Disney Dream and Fantasy (possibly Magic, but I don't know for sure on that) which are all I have sailed as an adult. That is why I asked. If you know about it, it is no big deal to bring a "dead" gift card to put and leave in the slot. I just wanted to be prepared.

 

Thanks.

Thanks!