teajak

This thread is about large groups on cruise ships. The Carnival Paradise carries a little over 2 thousand passengers. Over 80 % of the cruise was elderly. There were less than 10 children on board. So there were 1600+ from the two retirement condo villages. If this doesn't count as a large group what does? Did I say I didn't like OLD people (I'm getting there myself)? The balance was just way way off. I've looked at the forum for "Banned" topics and I don't see one about "Old People". This topic is about large groups on cruise. Don't get your kickers in a bunch. I will stop posting, all you get when you join in is grief.

Way back in 1999 we sailed on the Carnival Paradise when it was non smoking. This was when you could literally book last minute. Found an unbelievable rate on the seven night cruise on a Wednesday and we sailed on Saturday. As we were boarding we noticed a great many really OLD PEOPLE. I'm talking walkers and Oxygen. We found out the next day a local South Florida travel agent had book over 80% of the cruise from two very, very large condo type retirement villages. Also found out that the youngest of the group was 73 years old. It was an interesting week. The ship's AC was set very high because they were all cold. We were miserable in the public areas. Massive lines at the service desk they were complaining about being too cold, the food to spicy ect. All the poor bartenders were only serving glasses of water to take pills (I'm not exaggerating). All were wanting early dining times and most were not happy they couldn't get it. We were close to being run over by wheel chairs more than a few times.

Just a note - there IS a Diamond breakfast area on Freedom. It is a side dining room just off the MDR. We had to ask for it when we were onboard since there was no mention of it and no sign. We ate there 3 or 4 times and each time there was only one other table of people in there.

Enjoying your review! Love your style of writing. Sitting here giggling to myself and my husband wants to know what is so funny.

We will be boarding the Freedom on Sunday. Keep the review coming.

I'm interested too! We have 7414, 7412, and 7410 booked on FOS for Sept 15!! Love hearing what others think of the afts! This will be our first experience!!!

 

 

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We had an aft cabin on Freedom deck 7 and hated it. You are not directly on the water as there is a large closed off deck between the railing of the so called balcony and the water. We hated it.

Seriously, why pick on the kids for this? If you expect to use public pool facilities on a ship with several thousand people, and don't think somebody isn't taking a leak in the pool, I have a wonderful can't lose investment opportunity for you.

Because some of us want an adult experience without children. They have their space and we want our space.

Is FOS still in good shape? Are her shows as good as Oasis and LOS? Dose anyone have any info they can share on handicap cabins on FOS?

They fill very fast

More room

BR for handicapped

Ramps for BR,balcony.

Must provide proof of need.

Anything else?

It depends on your mood. Dear, dumb, etc.

But closing this one will only cause another one to open. :p

 

I personally like getting dressed up for dinner on the formal nights. To me, it's part of the experience of cruising and what makes the cruise for me. I don't have the opportunity to go out to a fancy dinner and get dressed up all that often on land so I look to take full advantage of it on a cruise.

 

While I believe the dress code should be enforced if you are going to have "Formal Nights" on a cruise, I am not going to get bent out of shape if I see someone walk into the dining room wearing a polo and khaki's.

 

My view is this: the suggested attire for formal nights is posted on the "What to Know Before You Go" section on RCCL's main website. It also has a breakdown of how many formal nights there are on a given voyage depending on length. This is for everyone to see and prepare for. And if dressing up is not your thing, that's completely understandable and completely fine with me. Just expect to be turned away at the main dining room by staff(though this isn't the case on RCCL).

It is called vacation. For me I sure don't want to waste it waiting for laundry to wash and dry. JMHO.

Not at all. I don't like the Royal Promenade either. It's like a shopping mall at sea, and I don't like going to shopping malls when I'm at home!

Bathing suit. !!!!!

I realize that handicap cabins are not always available but the OP needs to know that grandma will need an accessible cabin if he orders her a scooter. Who knows, maybe they already have her an accessible cabin and the scooter will not be an issue.

I'm traveling with a group of family members and friends on May 6, on the Jewel and we have my grandmother with us. Now, she's up there in age and she's in the kind of shape where she needs to sit down and rest after a grocery shopping trip to Wal Mart, but she moves around pretty well. With that said, I'm really interested in getting her one of those mobile scooters/wheelchairs. I just got off the Ruby Princess and saw a lot of people with them and it made me wonder if perhaps the cruise lines have them available on the ships? Does anyone know if RCI has them available for guests and if so is there a charge? I don't mind paying for it. She doesn't use one at home but moving around a cruise ship is a lot to handle for anyone!!

 

Thanks for any advice.

 

Zach

Russ we totally agree with you about Annoying Amy. We are booked on the Oasis for Sept. 14 and sure hope she isn't the CD.

Thank you for sharing your experience, I am sailing the oasis as well first time in a couple of weeks, being it my first cruise as well, I nervous but sool excited!

 

Sorry to hear your luggage was damaged, now that you mention this issue I got myself worried. My partner and I are traveling with quite expensive luggage pieces... Not that I want to brag but I want to be on the safe side. If those get damaged, I for sure won't take any replacement they offer me since I don't think it would equal the value of our luggage, and if they offer us money, I either dont think it will be enough, you can tell me to bring non-expensive luggage, which I would if I could, we dont have pieces that big, and believe me we pack a lot. This given in the worst case -hopefully not- that they get damaged

 

Would it be ok to to tell them when I hand it in to take care of it? Will they Even care? I will try to find proof of purchase of those just in case... That should be the last thing i should worry about right? But Then again I don't have any other as big pieces to take :/

the people who are critical just want to feel superior I suspect......plus they are probably "dog people".....;):)

It has been years since smoking was alowed in many areas of a cruise ship. On RCCL two weeks ago the only place we were bothered by smoking was in the casino and since we don't gamble ist happened only when we had to go through the casino to get to the dinning room. We could of avoiding it but held our breath instead. Years ago you could smoke anywhere including the dinning room.

Just got off Enchantment Saturday. Park West is back!

I believe there is a birthday package if you purchase it.You may order a cake in the DR,charge, formerly free.The waiters will sing happy birthday,no charge.Your post is fine.

No one has mentioned my favorite port activity - watching the pier runners!

 

About 30 minutes before sailing time, get a large cocktail and find a place with a good view of the gangway and watch the hilarity ensue!

Please don't tell anyone else how great it is!!!!!!

The moral of this story is to read the ENGLISH small print first ,before getting on your moral high horse :eek:[oh my god i mentioned HORSE we cant get away from this subject in the UK..]:rolleyes::D