sauvichick

The first order of business -- **please** -- is to fix RCI's email system so that loyal Crown & Anchor members receive the email mentioned above. We are now over 2 years without C&A emails, with too many to count unsuccessful attempts to fix this glitch. I am by far not the only one with this ongoing issue.

 

We can't book a cruise with the President of RCI if we don't know about it.

 

I agree. My friend has cruised many times and just started getting emails a few months ago after calling Royal. I began receiving them as soon as I booked my first cruise...years later.

This is what I had seen on Royal's website. Hopefully it's the same on the Allure because I am considering her again.

 

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/anthemoftheseas/dining/restaurants/coastal-kitchen/

I received the email, filled out my preferences and would like to see the results. Why are people being so harsh? I could never sail in September because I am a teacher. Anyways the draw is the ship and the itinerary.

I got this from another 5 nighter...although we were on the July 11-16 sailing to Bermuda

 

Mojo

Saffron

Pimento

Shiitake

Jasmine

 

We only ate the MDR food on Night 4 and I thought it was very good (although delivered by room service).

I was disappointed that Art Mei's was not open when I was in St. George a month ago.

 

It was closed on a Tuesday ((July 14) when we were there. We only had 2 days in Bermuda on the LOS. The website states closed Sunday and Monday.

It happened only once on a cruise that someone smoked on the balcony next to us. I was very surprised when I heard a lighter click and smelled the smoke seconds later, because our cabin was the last before the officers cabins next to the bridge. I could not resist and poked my head around the divider and there an officer was sitting together with his spouse, both happily smoking away. I just said: "So the guests are not allowed to smoke on the balcony but YOU are? Very strange rules here!" They stopped immediately.

 

I did not report him and he never did it again for the whole 12 days of the cruise. But I can still hardly believe it. It was on Quantum in March 2015.

 

Wow and what nerve! Kudos to you for saying something and more for sticking around your head around the partition! Awesome!

[quote name='LynKnee']Kelly...I meant since our room was so low on the ship...We were almost in the engine room. Our last trip on RC we were on deck 6 with the balcony. I was so eager to get away...I took what ever they had. I'm sure we won't be in the room too much. Can't wait. Coming from NJ.[/QUOTE]

Huh?????

It's been like that this season. I was watching the webcam until we sailed July 11.

I've been to 2 different M&Ms on the Allure. The first (2012) was fantastic because we really had the opportunity to get to know our fellow roll call members. The 2nd (2014) was quite disappointing because all the Royal staff did was talk about the history of the line...blah blah blah. I'm not sure if that's the norm now. On the plus side you did receive a welcome gift of a notepad that included a pen. There was really no opportunity to talk to others except at the end when everyone was getting up. The fact that they have prizes each time is great! Champagne, wine, t-shirts, toiletry kits, etc. are all awesome so I would not complain. I'm appreciative that Royal provides us with giveaways.

Congratulations on your marriage and Happy Honeymooning! I am loving your live review and your wife's fantastic collage photos. My favorite parts are your reviews of all the restaurants. A Quantum class ship may make the cut for next year's cruise so thank you.

[quote name='cincicruisers']Hi

1. Did you take advantage of ordering MDR food for in suite dining? YES

2. Can you share specialty dining options?

3. Did grand suite have coffee maker?

Thanks![/QUOTE]
1. Yes and it comes all together, but others have posted that they have ordered their entire meal in 2 separate phone calls. Apps/ salad and entree/dessert, but we feared it would take hours.

2. Dinner-Chops Grille, Portofino, Vintages wine pairing dinner (food from MDR) offered nightly. Our friends loved the experience, but they said it was a blind tasting, California Wine pairing dinner in Chops which was advertised like a Chef's Table online, but you basically ordered from the recommendations from the menu.


3. Yes, but never used it because I don't know how often it's cleaned. I preferred the CL coffee machine.
[quote name='venuti82413']What is the Sun Suite you are referring to above the Sky Bar? Sounds relaxing :)

(Sorry - first time RC cruiser in September!)[/QUOTE]

No apologies and it's not relaxing/quiet. It's a very small area with cushioned loungers that are close together. Although I did go up there twice it's noisy because it's very close to the main pool and all the activities. The solarium is quiet. If you've been on Oasis class there is no comparison to the sun suite deck. No special touches like cold face cloths, fresh fruit or a bathroom.

We have left $5pp and sometimes a bit more because gratuity is also included, but it's up to you to decide.

Sauvichick, After sailing on both the Oasis and the Allure ( with you last summer), I am a little bit concerned about my April 2016 cruise on the IOS. I absolutely love Central Park day and night, Park Café and the Solarium Café, so am having to mentally prepare myself for not having these. That said, I am beyond excited about our Nov 2016 cruise on Harmony of the Sea's. Thank goodness educators get a week-off at Thanks Giving.

 

I was a bit worried, took it with a grain of salt and realized I was right about about my fear. Our friends could not relate to the lack of dining options on the LOS v. the Allure. Central Park was my favorite deck too. This educator gets 3 weekdays off for Thanksgiving - first time ever.

 

 

 

 

I haven't been on the Oasis or the Allure, nor the Quantum for that matter. Freedom OS was the last and we loved it. I'd better not take the bigger ships or I may never want to go back to small. :)

 

So true. From what I've read many people love the Freedom Class ships. I would have been one of them if I didn't work my way up. Problem is I went straight to the top. I still have months before looking at Oasis or Quantum class ships and the itinerary they offer.

I guess I should cancel my cruise in a GS based on all the information given, or maybe not

 

Read my review of bring in a GS. I hope you were being sarcastic;)

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2235262

We were on the LOS July 11-16 and after sailing twice on the Allure I will not sail a Freedom Class ship despite being in a GS. YES I enjoyed the suite experience on this ship and on the Allure. My reason is for an entirely different reason. There were not enough specialty/alternative dining venues. We had the MDR food once and it was really good! Loved Chops and Portofino.. Went to each twice, but I missed the additional salad options found in Park cafe and the Solarium. Cancelled our Vintages wine pairing experience because we could not handle all that wine for 2 nights. I missed the Chefs Table experience too. Bermuda was beautiful and the ship was well maintained, but I missed the Oasis class which I feared would happen.

It's a Cadilac version of the Suburban.

 

Which one the ship or the Esplanade?

 

 

 

 

 

This: -

 

 

This is the view from in front of Michaels pub looking Aft.

 

Imo it's not as grand as a Royal Promenade, so it's been given a different title to acknowledge there's a difference.

 

Ok. Thanks for the visual explanation because now I see what it is.

In our experience the HSB special wound up being the better option. There was one shuttle available and 2 were on the road. Too many cruisers trying to get their large groups on the same shuttle. We weren't waiting for that and the shuttle organizers had no change left. The bus was an interesting ride with no AC, some SRO, the curvy narrow roads and almost running over a moped(She tried to beat the bus out of a gas station). Yes I would do it again!:D

I know when we did the HOHO bus to the St George locations in June they had more than 1 bus. I wonder what determines if they put more than 1 out there. I would think if they have 2 different areas they are going to now, they would at least have both of them running, so that's disappointing.

 

I do know that it stated that the HOHO bus to the St David area only runs every hour, so that's probably why you waited for a hour before getting picked up? Someone had mentioned that they run every hour on the 45 minute mark. Do you remember if that's when yours came? If that's the case, it sure would make it easier to "time" things on when to leave.

 

We were told every half hour from St. Catherine's Fort/Achilles Bay. The driver wasn't planning on going to Clearwater unless people requested it. Unfortunately people in the shuttle did. Our driver stated the other driver was on the hospital. Had we known that we would have walked to the unfinished church and then take a taxi to the fort.

 

I think what everyone is trying to express is it is a difficult ship to meet new people. You never see the same people. It is simply too large a ship. Not that people are not friendly. We sat with people and enjoyed good discussions each night. But the next night, they ate somewhere else and so did we. There was little chance you keep seeing the same people. And you must plan more each day if you want to do things. More reservations and less walk up than other ships.

 

It was a beautiful ship and we enjoyed our cruise. But it was different. Relax and don't try to fit it to being a traditional cruise. Do things you normally do not do (Windjammer for dinner was our new thing) and see how that changes how you look at the daily schedule.

 

We found the opposite to be true on the Allure. We constantly ran into the same people which was so bizarre. I haven't tried a Quantum class ship, but they offer so many options for specialty dining that I'm open. Is the need for reservations similar to the Oasis class ships? We did make all reservations for dining, shows, and the comedy club on Allure each time. To me it's just what needs to be done now on Royal. I guess that's another factor that takes away from traditional cruising others enjoy. One final thing what is an Esplanade? A walkway? I still don't completel understand .:what:

Regarding swelling while on a cruise, it's a multi-fold answer.

1) Sea air contains high levels of salt, which can lead to swelling and water-retention.

2) Alot of dishes onboard are high salt content, and of course, we tend to eat more on ship. People also tend to drink more alcohol and sodas, and less water, which contributes to swelling (water retention).

3) People tend to do more walking on cruises, especially the bigger ships, as well as in ports, shopping and on excursions, than they do at home.

 

All of these contribute to more swelling of extremities at sea. It tends to get worse the longer the cruise is, but clears up within a day or two on land. What can you do to help relieve it?

1) Drink more water to counteract the swelling. For every alcoholic drink or soda, you should drink an 8 oz glass of water (room temp is better for the body than ice cold).

2) Try to sit with feet elevated whenever possible.

3) Compression stocking can help, but who wants to wear those on a warm weather cruise.

4) Ask your family doctor (General Practioner) for a low dose prescription for water pills to take only while on the cruise. (HCTZ- Hydrochlorothiazide is a good choice).

 

My ankles always swell on the 4th or 5th day of a cruise, but I now take HCTZ, put my feet up when possible, and drink tons of water to counter-balance the effects. Hope this helps!!

 

I really never thought of the sea air bring a contributing factor! That was an AHA moment for me. My friend and I cruise yearly and it happened once - to the point that it was so noticeable from Day 1 to Day 7 from pictures. Despite eating healthy for breakfast and lunch, avoiding salty foods and bad carbs, drinking tons of water all day, limiting our alcohol to the evening, and following the rule of 1 alcoholic beverage with 1 large water she felt the effects. Solution was a prescription strength diuretic. All the asparagus talk really turned into a learning experience. Thanks.

On our recent sailing there was an offer for $20 pp/day for Chops and Portofino, but you had to go to nightly.

You would be charged whether you ate there or not. 20% discount on the 1st night that would be applied as OBC.

All this info is helpful for me too. Considering a class of ship for 2016 that has Coastal Kitchen/Suite Lounge. No less than a GS anymore and hopefully the new suite perks will be revealed by then.

Ha Ha! That's funny! I just thought it odd...someone told me onboard that it was a cheap vegetable so that's why they use it often. It's not just Royal, from what I recall it's pretty much every line yet I don't see it used in restaurants that often. I just thought it odd, nothing else. Most places around here use broccoli for everything so I thought maybe there was some reason specifically for that.

 

Asparagus cheap? It's a lot more expensive than broccoli. I have not bought it this summer because the price is ridiculous. Just got back from LOS and now after reading your observations, jrljel I chuckled because asparagus was served frequently. I just can't stand the "after effects."

 

I assume Oasis and Allure both have the same changes except for the shows. (I haven't done research for next year's cruise). The shows may be major productions, but I find it hard to sit for the 1.5 hours especially when there's a ton of "distractions" on a cruise. I've seen Cats twice on Broadway including the final performance and I enjoyed it, but a 3rd time no thanks. Now if it was Mama Mia that would be a different story.

 

I'm not going to flame you because that is obnoxious, but everyone has different cruise experiences and you are pointing out the small changes you noticed. I probably wouldn't notice the small details either. After going on the LOS I realized the Freedom Class ships don't offer what is on the Oasis class and probably Quantum class ships. The focus for me is multiple specialty dining venues (free and for a fee ).

Wine and beer available during the day is great. Is this option also available on the Allure now?

If you go to a specialty restaurant the 1st night you get 20% OBC of the cover.