allyfree

22 hours ago, Tromler said:

there are free PDF editors available for download...or if you have Adobe Acrobat you can edit and type your name.

you can also just add a text box in the space ... 

18 hours ago, taglovestocruise said:

We have sailed Oasis Class mostly over the last few years.  Last Sep/Oct we did 17 nights on a Ovation and Quantum combo.  Quantum class feels way to small and their single level dining rooms suck. Oasis Class for us.  We have done 3 transatlantic crossings on Oasis Class and all were fantastic. We are both 70+. We did find Vintages to be our go to bar. 

Yup ... our problem is we are UK-based so we only have Anthem if we want to use RCI to make the most of our benefits ... and it seems we're getting Odyssey next so same old, same old unfortunately

Having been on Anthem several times recently, we can't wait to get back on an Oasis class (doing Symphony in October). Yes, Quantum class is smaller but being more family-friendly you'll be lucky to find the quiet, relaxing space you seek - only comfortable place I could find to read was in Vintages! That, and the absence of outside space, ice rink and aqua theatre all make it dull, dull, dull for me

3 hours ago, taglovestocruise said:

Check out Dazzles, very quiet all day,  well padded chairs, upstairs may still have some large booths with a great view out the windows.

Good call - thanks - was on Anthem in May and the library there is part of 270 so there was always something going on. Been on Oasis a few times and liked the actual library - when I checked Symphony it seems that the "library" consists of a few bookcases in the card room!

4 hours ago, cruisegirl1 said:

There is always comfortable seating in the schooner bar.  Except for an occasional trivia game, it is generally quiet all day.  Boleros or might be an option as well, also during the day.

 

Solarium has a variety of padded chairs.  

enjoy

M

 

 

I love Boleros - it's my favourite bar for a cocktail and yes, the seats are comfy but between art shows and music, reading is a non-starter

4 hours ago, gingerpeaches said:

I can't suggest where to sit because in a few weeks I will also be on Symphony for the first time! However, as a fellow hooker I have to ask what's currently on your hook?

working on christmas characters, believe it or not! 

I like to read and crochet on holiday ... RCI libraries these days are next to useless and there aren't as many nice places to just sit and relax. New to SOTS but not Oasis class and heading out of Barcelona in a few weeks so looking for some suggestions on where would be a quiet place with comfy seating? TIA xx

5 minutes ago, Ret MP said:

Well, I believe that ONE reason is that the countries that don't require U.S. Citizens (mostly Caribbean countries) to have a U.S. Passport to enter are strongly dependent on U.S. tourism $ and wanted as much of it as possible, to include $s from those that don't have a U.S. Passport.  

 

Kinda like traveling within the EU, not border checks or no need to have a passport:

 

https://european-union.europa.eu/live-work-study/travelling-eu_en

 

Your rights & EU rules

As an EU national, you enjoy the right of free movement. This means you’re entitled to travel, work and live in another EU country. If you’re a citizen of a Schengen country – which is most EU countries – you’re also free to travel to other Schengen countries without the need for border checks.

 

And BTW, the U.S. Passport laws are part of the International laws/treaties and therefore are a "norm".  

 

Yes, you are free to travel in the Schengen zone but you can still be stopped and asked for your passport - especially on the German/Austrian border. Your passport is also your access to embassy support among a host of other things and you never know when you might need to prove nationality, especially these days and ID cards are not usually acceptable

On 5/25/2023 at 6:57 PM, Tatka said:

I think when it was celebrated on Anthem in 2019 aside from a small cake with a candle we got some QR code to RCI cook book. But it was 50 years of Royal.

 

Not sure about C&A.

 

We are receiving welcome gifts with each sailing, right ?

Nothing on Anthem last week ...

The rest of the world would like a word ... why does the US think itself exempt from the norms of international travel? 

Having just spent a week on Anthem, they lie - a lot !!!

Was in Geiranger last week and it was fine .... such a shame but I'm sure they will get an excursion refund at least. I was due to go up Mt Dalsnibba but the road was still closed with snow - I did most of the trip and we were automatically refunded a % for the part we missed out on ... they should also get port fees refunded - it all happened instantly on my card

why would anyone travel anywhere without a passport in these days of global strife ???

Just off Anthem today and have all the same issues ... that, and that from Sunday evening until Thursday afternoon the TVs never worked throughout the ship - not even for the RCCL channels/info and the internet kept dropping off every 10 minutes or so - you had to keep disconnecting and then reconnecting. Conflicting info from Guest Services, staff too busy trying to be zany & entertaining rather than actually doing their jobs efficiently ... sad!

14 minutes ago, The Fun Researcher said:

 

We enjoyed the dining room far more than the wind jammer on the Anthem in March. However, we were comparing lunch in the WJ  to dinner in the MDR.  Pretty hard to compare apples to apples unless you go to both on the same night.
 

However, I felt a lack overall of quality proteins, especially in the Windjammer for lunch. Everything just seemed to be “cost out”. It was not a bad lunch, but not what I was used to in the Windjammer.

 

I also walked through the Windjammer on the second formal night. I was not very impressed. I went to the main dining room instead as usual.

Thanks ... we were on her in September and although not as good as other ships we've been on, the food was ok ... I guess those of us who have sailed RCCL for years probably just expect better than we're being offered these days 

1 hour ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

but MDR food is still a whole lot better than WJ...

It was ... but it sounds like that's debatable these days .... we're on Anthem a week on Sunday so time will tell !

38 minutes ago, *twinkle* said:

Totally agree, although the itinerary's are a bit repetitive!  Flights and transfers easy peasy, but have been visiting the same ports of call for more than 10 years now.

That's our problem too .... there's no way we'll be heading across the pond these days, sadly ... the gun issue is now a huge no-no for us ... I suppose the only good thing about Europe is that there are often plenty of alternative great places to visit if you venture that little bit further - especially by train. Hope you get something sorted 😊

If you're wanting to do the Med, try Barcelona ... so much easier !

7 hours ago, lovesthebeach2 said:

I agree, I was replying to a post that they think the not so great food in the MDR is Royals way to force everyone to buy specialty dining, which could never accommodate all passengers. The WJ could, but they would need to assign times for everyone which will never happen.  

My comment was about the decline in food standards turning people off from eating in the MDR .... I foresee they will still use the MDR space but that it will be at an additional cost; leaving only WJ and whatever other outlets they have on each ship for complimentary food - such as Cafe 270, etc.

5 hours ago, fredmdcruisers said:

Duh! But like the guys in the video, if I sent cold food back several times with no improvement I would give up. Unlike them I would eat elsewhere and give up on MDR.

My theory is that's what they want you to do ... I'm sure they're trying to get rid of MDR completely and make people pay extra for specialty restaurants - with no intention of lowering the price to reflect the reduction in complimentary dining offered 🤨

17 hours ago, HalifaxYorksCruiser said:

Oh dear - terrible review of the MDR new menus.

 

Was just about to post this ... you've saved me the trouble 😁  ... we're on Anthem 14/05 and worse, Symphony on 08/10 ... let's hope things improve !

1 hour ago, little britain said:

I went on Apex twice just to double check … as I couldn’t understand why I disliked her so much lol!

Agree… love Silhouette. 

We felt the same about Edge ... yet loved both Silhouette and Eclipse !

I will never fail to be amazed by the assumptions of people on these forums - that they think they know a person's cruise experience (or lack thereof) and opinions on all things ... simply because they read a single post in a thread 🙄

There are multiple rail companies in the UK but this is the overall agency website and their webpages are being constantly being updated so this is probably the best place to start ... I hope your plans can go smoothly but definitely worth checking in advance 

National Rail Enquiries - Industrial Action

13 minutes ago, Merion_Mom said:

 

 

 

 

There are many other cruise lines out there.

you don't say 🙄 ... this is the RCCL forum, right ?