QueenofKrakatoa

I'll also point out that a lot of the people reviewing on the site (not the forum) are first/only time posters that have only come to complain.

If it's the best cruise ship in the world, why does it only get a 49% approval rating from the reviewers here on cruisecritic.com? I've never been on the ship so I can't comment one way or the other. After reading the reviews, I'll stick with the Allure.

A very small percentage of the cruising population uses cruise critic or even knows what it is. I'm willing to bet that most of the people that use cruise critic are middle aged or older (there's exceptions, of course), and Quantum class ships are geared more towards the Asian market and younger demographics. Older, more experienced cruisers haven't liked the changes and they're the ones doing the reviewing, so that 49% is not an accurate figure.

If the ships are selling well with some sailings totally sold out, I think that's pretty indicative of how people like it.

For future reference: some states require that, if you lose your driver's license and you attempt to get a regular government issue photo ID instead that you relinquish your driving privileges; in other words, you'd have to retake the driver's test after replacing your DL with a regular ID. Glad he found it though.

If I purchase a plane ticket and don't go, they don't give me frequent flyer miles. Seems pretty consistent in the industry.

This right here. Truth.

Call Royal and ask to speak to the access department. Royal doesn't provide hoyers or sit-to-stands so you'll have to bring them, but if they book an accessible room they should fit. To my knowledge the handicap accessible rooms have the grab bars and wider doors. You can ask RC for a shower stool and raised toilet seat. Like I said, get in touch with the Access department and they'll be able to help.

My experience has been this: book as early as possible, for off season sailings. As soon as the itinerary is released is ideal. That way you can check prices before final payment and get the best deal.

Personally I'd do the fall foliage cruise, but I've always wanted to try a TA, so I really don't think you can go wrong here.

Also, the Navigator isn't as popular as the Freedom, so the difference isn't surprising. Freedom class is fun, I just wouldn't recommend busy seasons.

First of all, I'm glad overall you enjoyed your cruise. That's what's important.

I've been on Freedom, we went with my family as part of a 50th anniversary cruise for my grandparents. It can definitely hold a lot of people and it was crowded around the pool on sea days, but it wasn't necessarily overwhelming (and I have issues with crowds). I think part of the problem is you were on the ship during spring break, all the ships in the Caribbean will be overflowing. I wouldn't write off the Freedom class just yet, I'd try the Independence or Liberty on an off season week and I think you'll find it much more manageable.

It's not that they don't have the correct info, per se, it's that the higher ups don't tell regular phone reps anything about the releases until right before. Or so one of them told me when I asked.

I'm in Seattle too, I'll go. 😁 In all seriousness though, Seattle is a great city. If you've never been I'd go for it.

I wouldn't read too much into it. The staff are definitely busy and have their work cut out for them. While you pay their salaries, just remember that they're human beings too, so be pleasant, say please and thank you, and remember that a little appreciation and common decency go a long way.

As always with one of these screeds I forgot a few things.

 

One was a life lesson even for me.

 

I have often kidded (well sort of kidding) that certain swimwear observed aboard made me want to wash out my eyes with acid. Didn't really see any of those on this trip BUT I did learn how to simulate the feeling quite effectively.

 

On day 2 I was on GDD duty in the pool. After an hour or so I needed to cool off so I dived in. When I came up I learned that it's never a great idea to wear contact lenses in a salt water pool.

 

I also learned that the word "contact" means exactly that when it comes to the horrifying mixture of salt and cornea. I would gladly have stood under Niagara Falls with open eyes to flush them out.

I too wear contacts, and I too learned that lesson on my first cruise 15 years ago. I imagine that's what washing your eyes with acid is really like.

That's the first review that I haven't rolled my eyes at. Jolly good, sir.

We ated our time getting to Platinum on Carnival and then they cut benefits. I guess they are now cutting even more.

 

A big difference is the loyalty programs. Your goal should be to make Diamond on RCCL. The nightly cocktail hour with free drinks and hors d'oeuvres is amazing. Throw in the balcony discounts, free internet (if you play it smart), free pictures and the programs do not compare.

 

I highly suggest you do as we did and make your cruise investment in RCCL.

Yeah the Diamond benefits were pretty awesome once we got there.

RCI has better, nicer staff, better food, and better clientele. We went on a Carnival cruise when I was 16 (almost 15 years ago) when we still lived in Florida and it was terrible, mostly because of the other passengers. I know that's not really Carnival's fault, but there were other things about that cruise that just left a bad taste in my mouth. A few years later after I got married my husband and I took our first RCI cruise and we've cruised with them ever since. We also did our first Alaskan cruise on the Celebrity Solstice last year and it was phenomenal, so you could always try them. My favorite RCI cruises have been on the Freedom and the Allure.

The Codfathers

The Naughty Buoys

Buoys in Blue

I hope that the crew member is okay and that he gets adequate health care for his illness, and not continue to have it left unchecked. Poor guy.

Maybe the passengers were misbehaving, and the Captain said, "If you don't behave, I will turn this ship around and we'll go right back home. Is that what you want?"

That's exactly what happened. Lol

I think everyone should be required to work as a waiter, in retail, or as a CNA at some point. I think we'd see a lot less entitlement if people focused on doing more for others instead of the me me me mindset, which unfortunately is rampant here on cruise critic. It's the same mindset as "the customer is always right," which does NOT mean you get to treat other people like crap.

I believe that the Upsell Fairy lives in Miami. ;)

The upsell fairy comes from either/or. If it's a crown and anchor fairy it's going to come from Oregon because crown and anchor is only in Oregon.

But that's probably moot because it'll probably show up as some kind of 1-800 #.

Do you recall what area code it was from?

If it was the Oregon office the area code is 541.

Air 2 Sea is usually just fine, especially international, but I usually book it 9 times out of 10 domestic because when I buy the travel insurance it protects the flights if I cancel. You never know what can happen. Also, since you live in PA now with the winters as they are, it's at least something to think about.

This is also why I buy travel insurance.