WrittenOnYourHeart

Given how much people complain about how slow the internet is, I'd think a flat-rate would be preferred to one that was time-based. I'd be far more upset about a huge internet bill due to a slow system than I am about the concept of a per-day fee.

I don't understand how everything was correct on the invoice - which I believe IS the exact same information that's on the reservation - but not in the system. THAT makes no sense - and honestly sounds like a very human case of looking at it and seeing what you expect to see. I had a professor in college once recommend reading a paper backwards to find errors that would be commonly missed because, for example, our eyes would see "from" when we had mistakenly typed "form" because we knew the word was supposed to be "from". And it sounds like this is the case here - your eyes expected to see "Smith" and so they saw "Smith" in a quick read-through.

I don't understand how they couldn't find it with the reservation number though...you did have that, right?

32 days to Southbound Radiance!!

I haven't cruised on Royal Caribbean yet, but I remember a lot of my first cruise.

I was in 6th grade, so that would have been 1982. We'd moved three years before, and our house had sold but we hadn't found one yet. Our dad wanted to do a special trip for Spring Break, and the travel agent (member of our church where Daddy worked) suggested a cruise. Our only image of cruising was courtesy of The Love Boat, so we thought it was out of our reach. But there was something like a Kids Sail Free thing on the SS Emerald Seas (and possibly some kind of deal with air as well...I don't know those specifics), so we decided to give it a shot.

I don't remember when we got on the ship - if we were escorted or anything. I do remember we had to go to the dining room to get our table assignment. Our cabin was a porthole cabin, and the porthole was just that - maybe a foot in diameter. But it was a little window. The cabin had twin beds in two corners with bunks over them - Mom and Dad had the beds, my sister and I had the bunks. Our cabin steward was great - I don't remember towel animals, but he was always setting our stuffed animals up somewhere. Our beds were not just set up, but turned down for the night when we got back from dinner (except my dad's the first night - he had left his socks on the bed when we left for dinner and his was not turned down - we teased him mercilessly about that).

Muster drill was a presentation in the show room, and we all had to wear our life jackets.

We were seated at a table with another family (that was the norm then - communal seating...and why as someone pointed out earlier in the thread there was more space between the tables - they weren't separated for everyone who needs to have their special snowflake table alone - you accepted when you cruised that you would be seated with others, and you'd dress while doing it) who had a daughter right between me and my sister in age. We three may have been the only children on the ship, but I'm not positive. Our server, Manuel (yes, I still remember his name) was wonderful with us. We were in Nassau for two days - yes, even without Atlantis!! - the first day we did a buggy tour and the straw market and a glass bottom boat ride while the second we went to Paradise Island which was really just a beach (topless on one side, clothed on the other) at that time. I got super sunburned that day, and I remember Manuel offering to get vinegar for my mom to put on me (I nixed that saying I was not a pickle). We had one pretty rough night, and we were all ok, but only the father made it from the other family - Manuel got plates fixed for the mom and daughter to have delivered to their cabin. That night there was a Creme de Menthe dessert, which turned out to be basically vanilla ice cream with Creme de Menthe poured over it. I wanted that because to me "Creme de Menthe" meant those little Andes mints. Manuel cleared it with my parents, and so I had my first taste of alcohol (they didn't really understand what it would be either) - and I had NO issues with rockiness.

I don't remember any big-name entertainers, but we did go to a few of the shows in the lounge - still dressed from dinner. There was a room that served as a movie theatre on board - my sister and our table mate and I went to see a movie - and discovered a rotten apple core between the seats that was so fuzzy at first we thought it was a mouse. We did get to see our tablemates' cabin, which was a verandah suite - and we were most impressed with it.

There was a small, square pool on board, but it was only open when the ship was in port, and the water was about three feet below the ledge and was only about 4 feet deep. We did swim the day we were in Freeport after walking around in the morning and having enough of that place - I had to wear the badge of shame (t-shirt over suit) because of my sunburn. But I'm pretty sure my dad and sister and I were the only ones who actually used it - at least at that time we were the only ones in there.

The last night, the servers did a dessert parade with Baked Alaska with sparklers in it - and Manuel had held some sparklers our for my sister and our tablemate and me.

We had a really good time, but didn't cruise again until a couple of years ago when we went on Disney as part of a vacation to celebrate my parents' 45th anniversary. :)

Yes.

Excellent! Thanks!

If you book on board during the booking window, does BOGOHO apply?

I'm sorry you had so many issues on your cruise! I fully get that things can happen, and I'd never say that someone's experience is wrong.

But I will say that a port being closed due to fog is nothing the ship can control. I believe that happened just a couple of months ago...Tampa and the Liberty I think?? Fog happens.

I'm reading about the Greek situation on a daily basis. It is no more dangerous than a lot of other places that cruises take you to. Do you think the poverty level is below some of the Caribbean islands cruises stop at on a daily basis?

 

Here's one article from two days ago and there are numerous on UK news sites

 

http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/23/travel/greece-crisis-vacation-time-to-cancel/

I'm not concerned about the poverty level as much as the potential for rioting when the people have no access to their money.

But that's just me.

Plus every cruise I've seen that goes to Greece includes Turkey and I have zero desire to go there.

As you said, everyone has their own preferences.

Most travel experts disagree with you. Athens I would be more concerned, but places such as Santorini, Mykonos that rely on Tourism for their income, I have no worries. I've never used an ATM in Greece so don't anticipate it for this trip. And as I said...It will have no impact on OUR decision. Your opinion may be very different and you're welcome to it.

I'm going by the warnings that were put out THIS WEEK.

I have zero interest in the Canaries but loved our Greek island cruise and can't wait to return in April. Their current situation has no bearing on our decision.

Their current situation will definitely affect you if as predicted ATMs all shut down, people lose access to their money, and things are forced to close - along with the likely ensuing unrest among the people. I don't care how beautiful something is, my safety trumps that. Sorry.

I was happy to see that I could do it in advance just so it's done (because it's not like you get anything on the first cruise anyway - but I don't have that extra hoop to jump through should I decide to book another cruise while onboard) - but I still don't get the requiring a sign-up to begin with. Disney makes you a Castaway Club member automatically when you cruise with them - no sign-up required.

I haven't been on them yet (36 days I believe), but the thing that has me 99% there to booking another (and likely will unless things are HORRIBLE) is their Italy itinerary that hits the major cities I want to visit AND has an overnight in Venice. I haven't found another that has that itinerary. And it's on a smaller ship (Brilliance...I'll be on sister Radiance this summer).

Beyond that, time will tell if I come back. I am not a fan of the floating resort model, so as things go more and more that way I may well go back to land-based vacations - if I'm going to feel like I'm on a land-based resort (as in not feeling the ship's movement), I might as well BE on a land-based resort. I know (from the threads about the demise of smaller ships) I'm in the minority there, and I'm cool with that.

No DVDs in the internal cabin we had or my parents' balcony cabin.

 

I copied some DVDs from home to our ipad and tablet for the children before we left home, but they didn't get watched much - too busy!

 

Lou :)

Thanks. I've got a couple of movies on my Surface. I'll just watch those at night I guess. (I don't do "comedians" or magicians...and I'm SUPER picky about live entertainment living in NYC, so I really don't do the night "entertainment" offerings onboard.)

(Interesting that THIS is the one area HAL outranks Disney and Royal Caribbean. They do have DVD players in all cabins - at least on the Westerdam. My only problem last year was what I brought thinking it was a DVD/BluRay dual set was ONLY BluRay.)

Quick question... Do the TVs have DVD players with them? I'd like to bring a few of my faves to watch at night if so, but can save the packing room if not.

The airport that's part of MCO (Hyatt I think?) reportedly has day rooms you can book. You might have to call to do it, but I've heard it can be done.

36 days to Southbound Radiance!

37 days to Radiance Southbound!

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.