Worn out mailman

I see the cruise there for May 9th 2015 has 5 days at port and one day at sea. and of course the first day. Has anyone ever done a trip like this and felt rushed. I always like the thought of 2 days at sea at least. What is your thoughs ? I know the Adventure of the seas is not as big as some ships .

Hi.

For us, the five port cruises are optimal. Here's why: In 2010 we sailed a 7 night eastern on Emerald Princess. The scheduled stops were Princess Cay (a tender stop), St. Maarten, St Thomas, and Grand Turk. Our stop at Princess Cay was cancelled because the seas were too choppy for the tendering. So, okay, now we're down to only three island stops. St. Maarten was great, but St. Thomas was overcast and Grand Turk was overcast and rainy. So, on that seven night sailing we only had one worthy port day. On the five island cruises from San Juan, you have no tender stops. You have no chance of missing a stop due to choppy seas. If you have one or two overcast days, you still have at least three quality sunny port days, plus your sea day.

So, unless you really prize your sea days, you stand a better chance of a perfect trip with more port days. As far as feeling rushed, the answer is yes, a little. The best way to remedy that is to schedule your dinners a little late, so you don't have to rush back onboard from ports in order to clean yourselves up for dinner. It's also helpful to this end to advance plan for your time off the ship. That way, you're not wasting time once you get off the ship figuring out what you're going to do.

So, that's one person's perspective. :)

On one of your sea days, venture into the Windjammer after prime lunch time, and walk to the very back. From that vantage point you can see the entire sports deck, both sides, and down to the boardwalk, plus the wake. Looking aft left, aft right, aft down, then straight back, you see so much going on. It's a great reminder of what a special ship she is.

We thought the sandwiches were a joke. They were on a large roll with a very small, about 3" x 3" paper thin piece of meat on them. After one time we never went back. The other problem was no drinks, such as ice tea, lemonade, etc., available. The only thing was water at the pizza place or coffee. This was on the Freedom of the Seas. We were looking more for something like the deli on Carnival.

The Café Promenade was the only dining disappointment on our recent Adventure cruise. The snack sandwiches were not at all rotated. It was the same thing for me, all week long....some kind of pesto sandwich with an olive, which I had to pull off because I don't like olives. Also, like the above poster said, there was nothing other than water or coffee to drink, no lemonade or iced tea like I'd grown used to. I guess those are among the cutbacks being made. Also, the cookie choices were wiz-eak.

Have to give an edge to RCCL for the entertainment (and a hugh kudos for shows on Oasis class) Princess is just ok unless you get to see the Bayou show on the Coral. Both lines are about the same on trivia, casino, bingo etc. Princess has 2 venues I prefer however. One is the International Cafe. So much better than Cafe Promenade on Royal ships. Service better and quality of food at the International Cafe better. Princess also has a true outside grill that I love. Princess has movies every night on offer while Royal has a few and more shows. This depends on what you enjoy really. Pizza imho is better on Princess. Royal does not have a grill outside for the hamburgers/ chicken sandwiches and hotdogs. That is a great place on Princess to grab a bite to eat anytime. I give Princess an edge to the ships with a "swim against the current" pool. Really I love both cruise lines and service has always been great on both. I think it depends on how active or laid back you want your vacation to be. Active? Go with Royal. Especially the Oasis/Allure. It's non-stop. Relaxing? Go Princess. Celebrity is ok but really we found them to have a more sedate crowd on board than we like. Food was good but that's not the focus of our cruise. We are mid-50's and Celebrity is our least favorite.

Mailmama added what I wanted to add: About Oasis and Allure regarding the excellent entertainment, entirely in a different class than any of the other RCCL ships I've been on (with the exception of the ice shows that are also on Voyager class and Freedom Class). Princess stage shows qualify to me as "cheesy". So do the run of the mill RCCL shows except those on Oasis and Allure. The Aqua Theater show is awesome.

She also mentioned the International Café. You'll miss that on an RCCL ship. They do a great job with fresh pastries and switching things up a little. The only thing that Café Promenade has that I.C. on Princess doesn't is free coffee. Also, along with no Pizza and burgers right on the pool deck, there's also no buffet that stays open late, so you can't get, say, a piece of yummy Boston Cream pie at 10pm to make you sleepy.

While these things may make you reluctant to switch, Don't worry. A cruise on RCCL is a very enjoyable experience that you'll love.

Hi. I've sailed on 4 different classes of RCCL ship, and have sailed on Ruby, Emerald, and Caribbean Princess. We've noticed the changes you mentioned, on both lines actually. Princess seems to have made changes to come to terms with the increased passenger load due to the addition of Riviera deck.

RCCL may have to make similar changes soon to cope with policy changes re.maximizing passengers per stateroom, plus on the Voyager class they're adding staterooms.

We like the dining room experience better on Royal. The dining rooms are more elegant looking, and the wait staff gets to know you very well. The staterooms are a little bigger, the showers on some ships have solid enclosures, not curtains.

Personally, I like the upper deck layout (pools) better on Princess. The availability of snack food is better on Princess, hands down. I also like the entertainment around the ships better on Princess, especially Movies Under the Stars.

It's the itineraries that keep us on Royal, and that along with the cutbacks the prices have stayed the same for a lot of years. Princess has raised their fares and taken an Island off many of their sailings. If we were wealthier, I think we'd do the 10 day sailings on Princess, though their new class of ship that's

taking these over doesn't look so great to me.

Hi there! We have been blessed to have sailed Princess

Carribean 2x

Mexico

Hawaii

Panama Canal

Mexico

Alaska

Mediterranean

 

And now for the first time we are considering RC. We have kids now and although Princess had a lovely Kids Club, the cruise itself is not particularly catered to families.

 

My question is will I be disappointed in the service, food, etc by going with Royal, or do you feel it is comparable? Frankly I've seen The quality aboard princess reduced slightly the past 8 years.

 

My hubs wants to Oasis or Allure with their promo right now.

 

Also I will be asking about whether getting a "boardwalk view" balcony is worth the extra cost on a low floor.

Opinions?

Our cruise on Allure in 2012 was actually a last minute booking. We were supposed to have sailed on Caribbean Princess, but she broke down and our sailing was cancelled two days before we were set to embark!

Having said that, we sailed on CB in 2013, and also on Ruby and Emerald in 2009 and 2010 respectively. I can honestly say that in all respects except dinner in the main dining rooms, I prefer Princess just a tad. However, like your first responder stated, Allure and presumably Oasis are something special. There's just so much going on. Of course, there needs to be as you're cruising with over 5000 other people, and you're on the ship for 4 days on a seven day sailing. If I ever felt like taking a cruise where I didn't want to be off the ship much, I'd sail Allure or Oasis in a second.

You'll miss the NY style pizza that you get on Princess, and the Café Promenade doesn't measure up to the International Café in the Piazza, but the food in the main dining room is equal in our opinion, and in fact the menus are easier to decipher on RCCL's fleet. We're not "foodies" and found Princess' menu choices challenging. We enjoyed Chops and Giovanni's Table, but didn't think the Samba grill was up to muster next to Brazilian steak houses where we live.

The staterooms are also a bit larger on RCCL's ships, and the showers have solid enclosures instead of a curtain.

I was looking around for more info or an update from Royal, but I haven't seen anything on either the consumer nor agent site.....

The same thing happened to us in 2012, in advance of our sailing on Caribbean Princess. She started having problems on the two our three sailings before ours. On the sailing immediately prior to ours, she had an overnight in St Martin, skipped the other stops and limped back to San Juan. I knew all this was going on entirely due to the Princess boards here on CC.

We were officially notified by Princess 2 days before our sailing that it was canceled. We then scrambled and ended up on Allure. I can't imagine the shock for the non Cruise

Critic readers who get so little advance notice.

Just curious...then why did you make a reservation?

Since it is My Time, I would have just went to dinner later.

We could have done so, but we would have given up our location (which we liked) and the pleasure of having the same servers every night (who we liked).

Sorry if this has been asked.

We are booked on the Explorer OTS for Oct 9.

When I go in to make dinner time reservations it

states there are none? This seems odd to me. Is it

too early to make them?

I couldn't get the search to work correctly to search

the forum.

Kathy

Maybe so, but try to make reservations as add soon as you're able. I attempted doing it close to sailing and was boxed out of anything later than 6:15, way too early. We ended up missing all the late afternoon pool deck activity getting ready for such an early dinner.

We are booked on our first royal cruise, after reading about the changes doesn't seem like it will keep us from going back to Princess which is who we mostly cruise with. Was planning on buying some ncc but probably not now.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - Oy, excuse the auto correct ;)

Yeah, we just bought one on our Feb 23 Adventure sailing....now I've come home to shop and am realizing I can't grab a stateroom I like because of their new policy. If that's the case, they ought to consider placing some staterooms for two in favorable locations during the refurb. I have no intention ever of sailing with more than one other person in a stateroom.

Hi

 

Cruising on the Adventure of the Seas in May on a 7 night Norwegian Fjords cruise, and wondering which ice-show will be performed.

We were on Adventure 2 sailings ago and our show was called "cool art, hot ice", or something close to that. Excellent show, we thought.

I'm curious if anyone has insight on why they've flip flopped the itineraries for the 5 island southern routes, on Adventure, at least...and also some of the Celebrity routes.

We've always enjoyed the last day being a sea day. It's a good wind down day, and it seems like a nice long day being that you don't spend time getting on and off the ship.

I think we'll enjoy our final island stop less while anticipating having to go back and pack.

Why have they reversed the itineraries? Anybody????

Though it may seem like these boards are filled with "do I have to" type posts, my cruising experience says those folks that don't follow the "suggested" guidelines are in the minority. In my opinion, cruising has not gotten all that sloppy.

We just came home yesterday from last week's sailing on Adventure of the Seas.

We happened to be seated alongside a family group who wore shorts, and sometimes t's to dinner. We were annoyed each time we saw them, until around day 6 when we conversed with them a bit and realized they were quite nice despite not dressing up. After that, we both regretted judging them.

I guess my point is: unless something is overt (for example, someone being noisy) we're at least going to try to relax a little regarding how others behave.

As others have said, I think most people observe the guidelines.

I'd love a small poolside shack with beers + grilled hotdogs, burgers, pizza. Something like Carnival does (as much as I hate to say it)

Then say "something like Princess does". That makes it sound somewhat better. :)

This is actually a good idea that would be good for all RCCL ships.

I was on Allure in '12 and I can't think of anything else about the ship that I'd change, though I would like to see some free food on the boardwalk.

Room spray! We often have an inside cabin and that can make for some pretty close quarters so a good odor-eliminating spray for use in the bathroom is essential. We take an orange spray bought at Trader Joe's. It's non-aerosol so doesn't bother TSA and doesn't leave the room smelling like a rose covered port-a-potty. :)

Yankee car jar to hang in the cabin bathroom. Some of those bathrooms are sooooooo stinky (before you use them!). :(

These are great suggestions. In 2010 we cruised on the Emerald Princess, in a stateroom on a lower deck. The toilet stunk badly. Thankfully in the sundry store, they had a small can of orange scented room deodorizer that worked really well. We had the same issue on Enchantment last June though and the sundry store didn't carry any such spray.

So, to you two posters, or anyone who knows: Does TSA take issue with an aerosol in checked bags, or is the pressure on the aircraft an issue? I mean, don't ladies pack hairspray?

Also, does the hanging deodorizer work? I never thought to do that. :)

On other things I "wish I'd remembered"....I wish I'd remembered to remove my seapass from the pocket of my bathing suit before I took a swim in the sea in Antigua on my cruise in 2011. Especially after I gave my girlfriend grief for losing her sunglasses in the same sea. Talk about eating one's foot. Thank heaven I "did remember" to bring a copy of my passport photo page in my beach bag...which enabled me to get back on the ship without much hassle.

Princess has a grill area by pool that RCCL doesn't have. They also have to movies under the stars every night. Freedom ship might have a movie on or two nights by pool. Not near as nice. If you want burgers on Freedom, you have to go to the Windjammer and they are not open flamed (and no chicken sandwich like on Princess) Pizza is not as good either on RCCL. (IMHO) Freedom has a cafe like the Ruby's international cafe but not near the selection of items. Food in dining room is pretty comparable but we really like the mega salad bar that is available on Freedom on sea days. Don't miss it. Afternoon tea is no comparison. Don't bother. Rooms on Freedom all have a couch or love seat. This gives them an edge as to space. Service has been excellent on both lines. Our GD loves RCCL's kid's club more than any other line. They do a great job on RCCL for activities available. (ice skating, rock climbing etc) Shows are much better on the Freedom. Its really just little things that you will like about each line. That makes it fun to switch back and forth so you don't do the same old thing each vacation.

Also, late night snacks are not as readily available. One of the things I love about the Princess ships is that I can go to three or 4 places at say, 10pm, and grab a free bite. The buffet closes a little earlier on the RCCL ships, and the snacks in the International Café aren't as good or as fresh.

Awww, you must be going on the beautiful Jewel, the only ship left in the entire fleet that has a Sea View Café! Definitely get a Reuben - it was delicious!

 

Enjoy your cruise.

Wow. Will she be getting refurbed before March 2015? We just may have to sail on her next year before they take the Seaview away. We love that place.

I have a lot of awesome vids of sailing into ports, sailing out of ports, sunrises, sunsets, rainbows, etc, and even a topless bather (for novelty, not as a voyeur) on an adjacent ship. I may not even bring my highest def and best zooming camcorder on our upcoming cruise. That's just another battery to worry about keeping charged. My girlfriend gave me a pocket size digital underwater camcorder for Christmas 2012...this does me just fine.

When I cruised on Caribbean Princess last year, based on advice from CC members, I wasn't shy and actually asked for the filet entrée and also the lobster entrée. For the extra trouble, I tipped an extra $10. Remember, anything to drink other than what is complimentary in the dining room is also for an extra fee in Chops, over and above the admission. This includes bottled water.

Did you ever consider that the Pax did not like the show(s). Some of the shows are awful. I agree, when we give a show a look, we sit in the back and if we enoy it we stay otherwise we leave.

Yeah, I hate to say it, but I agree with this post. Different strokes for different folks. I've walked out of shows because they were cheesy. Mostly though, we'll sit through them hoping they'll end soon, unless we're overcome with fatigue from a long day in the sun. We'll leave at that point in order to retire.

Hello from Nassau,

 

What a great dinner we had at Chops last night. Our 3 year old had a blast in Adventure Ocean and didn't want to leave. We went to bed early and slept amaaaazing. The Royal Family suite is amaaaaazing and very very comfy for the 4 of us. We had a great breakfast on the balcony early this morning. We just got off the ship and I'll report back soon.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ha!

My girlfriend and I met you and your wife (pre-baby) on one of our Princess cruises (either Ruby or Emerald). Around day 5 say, we bumped into you on an elevator and you told us how you were exhausted from staying up so late and surviving by drinking red bulls (I think). Looks like being a Dad has settled you down a bit. :)

Going on the explorer of the seas in May 2014 and I can't wait to eat at Johnny rockets! The burgers are delicious, the chili is amazing and the service is too notch!!! Anyone agree or disagree??

 

I even made up a dessert that wasn't on the menu and the server brought back what I asked for!! We tipped him well of course and I took pics with him and my wife!

Really, the burgers are better than what you find in the Windjammer or wherever on board? I've always wondered if it's worth the cover charge...I know my girlfriend loves onion rings. I imagine one can order those there?

For me it is first and foremost the weather:D We have had a few cruises with rain here and there and that can put a damper on things. Being from the Northeast we are escaping cold, cloudy weather and hope to avoid it at all costs! When the weather is sunny and warm things seems to fall into place!

 

Really has nothing to do with the cruise, ship, destinations, crew or fellow passengers- just give me a bright sunny day and I'm happy!

That was the first thing that came to mind for me as well. It's especially a factor when you're at a beach and can't see the wonderful color of the water, which for us is the big draw to the Caribbean.

We took the shuttle but I remember being extremely annoyed because the shuttle driver took roads which had speed limits of 20 and 25 mph and it took extremely long to get there.

On Ruby instead of a belly flop contest, you'll have a sexy legs contest (which is also pretty entertaining). In March on Caribbean Princess, the pool band was excellent and did some interactive stuff with the ladies around the pool.

My overall impression of Princess would never include the word 'stuffy', as some people on this RCCL board say. We've been on three, a western, an eastern, and a southern. Only on the eastern did there seem to be a large senior population. The entertainment did seem more lively as well on the western and southern itineraries, come to think of it.

Princess' staterooms run a wee bit smaller but are comfortable enough.

I echo the previous poster's good review of Movies Under the Stars, as long as there is a good movie in recent rotation. I remember being disappointed last March because they were showing 'Lincoln' and 'Argo' during the day in the Princess Theater but Movies Under the Stars ran some lame kids movie. Maybe it's hit and miss.