Pratique

2 hours ago, Another_Critic said:

Do you mean the Viking Crown Lounge?  Hours would be in the app.  IIRC, they have a DJ at night, but no live band.

I think it is called Olive or Twist if looking for it in the app? Don't remember.

Getting decent complimentary beverages is always a bit of a challenge and we mention that on every survey. We ate brunch in the MDR one day and they "ran out" of apple juice. In the WJ they only offer certain juices for breakfast but those drinks seemed to be available all day in the Park Cafe. In the Solarium Bistro the ability of the server to fetch a free drink of your choice depended on how willing they were to hunt it down. You noted good options above although sometimes it takes some sleuthing to find something appealing. The cynical answer is that they want you to buy drinks. Even in the WJ the portable bar is easier to deal with than the clunky drink stations. with malfunctioning ice dispensers. Drink packages never make financial sense unless you are a fish or get a really good pre-cruise deal.

1 minute ago, TwoMisfits said:

 

Ahhh...we were poolside early (b/c of Key flowrider) and then inside for the afternoon - that explains where everyone was day 2...

 

Guess they got sick of the pool after all the beach days (that or sunburn - I saw a bunch of folks who mentioned their bad sunburns in elevators after Coco Cay)...

I do think that the cabin fever effect is stronger toward the end of the cruise. Add to that the weather on Days 6 and 7 was pretty spectacular so lots of people wanted to be outside soaking up the last days of their vacations.

Just now, TwoMisfits said:

 

But the 1st sea day was empty on Day 2 (and the rest of our start on day 1)...it was weird that it was all back-ended...

I was on your sailing and I remember the pools being jammed on Day 2 and people out exploring the ship. I think it just becomes more noticeable later in the cruise.

45 minutes ago, TwoMisfits said:

On that point, it was funny.  Day 1-4, you didn't feel the people on board.  Day 5 after Coco Cay, you started really feeling them and Day 6-7 were packed.  My husband theorized everyone had seen the big shows, the kids were sick of the kids room, and/or everyone had already lost as much money as they could in the casinos...but it was interesting.  I can't really explain it - just the way the crowds move I guess.

It's the sea days. I've always noticed this crowding effect on Oasis class ship sea days. We stayed on the ship at Nassau and it was serene and peaceful, like a (massive) private yacht. But on the sea days people have cabin fever.

1 hour ago, Mum2Mercury said:

With that many people in a small room, I'd bring less.  Much less.  

Every time we cruise we bring less than before. For two of us we’re down to two carry ons and one large bag that is only about 2/3 full. Even then it’s more than needed.

7 minutes ago, Another_Critic said:

They had EIGHT suitcases (4 large and 4 carry-on).  Four people in an inside cabin.

I would nest all of the carry ons inside of the larger luggage and then place the spare linens inside of the carry ons. Then it should all fit under the bed.

57 minutes ago, cruiselvr04 said:

I wouldn’t have liked that answer either although I do try not to make extra work for the stewards. I can see especially with more then 2 in a room that you might need extra room under the bed.

I won't make excuses for the stewards but my observation has been that they are under strict orders to do things a certain way, and any exceptions need to get supervisor approval. For example, replacing a pillow requires approval.

Our last cruise we were in a loft suite with two attendants, but on boarding day the room was not ready when the announcement was made. The attendant apologized (it wasn't a big deal since she let us leave our luggage in the room while she cleaned it) and later in the cruise told us it happened because too many guests vacated late at the end of the prior cruise. I noticed during the week that their supervisor was hanging out in the corridor giving all of the attendants commands - it seemed like they were being micromanaged and not in an efficient way at all.

So of course tipping is discretionary but I would not necessarily reduce the tip for something like refusing to remove the linens from under the bed because they probably would get in trouble for doing it without approval.

1 hour ago, The Fun Researcher said:

I wonder what caused them to have an unusually large and prevalent selection of seafood on Symphony on your sailing?    

My theory is that they were testing it out for the Cape Liberty sailings. As far as I could tell, the seafood in the WJ was a popular choice. And it was good too.

52 minutes ago, mjldvlks said:

Interestingly, I just ran across an article (which for some reason I cannot locate now) that reported three of the major cruise lines, rcl, carnival, and I believe ncl are having to discount certain ships (ie smaller/older) and itineraries to keep ships full. Sounds like the salad days are getting a little soft around the edges. 

I just booked Symphony for May 2025 at 30% less than we paid for our May 2024 Symphony cruise. Same category, same dates, same itinerary. Also got OBC from NextCruise. So things seem to be settling down.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/cruise-operators-offer-summer-discounts-051026361.html

They had it twice last week on Symphony but I didn’t partake. It was held on the suite sun deck. Smelled nice though!

1 hour ago, leaveitallbehind said:

The OP indicated that an announcement was made regarding a big fight and pepper spray being used to control it that may have into the ventilation system.  I was wondering if you had also heard that.

I was hoping someone else would chime in. Perhaps an announcement was made in the dining room but I wasn’t there. I just came to report that my wife and I both experienced tightness in our chests around the time this supposedly happened. It only lasted a few minutes. The pepper spray theory seems plausible, we don’t have any other explanation for it.

3 hours ago, mjldvlks said:

Great business model: “it’s awful but it’s all you can get — take it or leave it.”

 

Kind of like a middle finger to your customers. 

Sadly that’s the way it is. Some companies like Sears failed to recognize this and are now long gone. But others will repeat the same mistakes as long as they can because they are constantly chasing the bottom line.

The crew are constantly asking us if we are having a great cruise but only because they want to hear “yes.” Any other answer usually leaves them stumped and a bit panicked as what to do. The only people asking us “what can we do to make your day better” are the concierges because they actually have some authority and directive to make things right. Fortunately for us things are good so it’s not a big problem, just nit picky stuff that I don’t let ruin my day.

One thing I’ve learned is that life is full of disappointments. I try to make lemonade where possible. We still prefer cruising to land vacations. Maybe some day that will change.

6 minutes ago, leaveitallbehind said:

So if an announcement was made, you did not hear it?

Not sure what you are asking. No announcements have been made since we left Coco Cay. If there was one I would have heard it. Maybe it only occurred in certain areas of the ship where I was not present.

Night 2 formal

Night 3 white

Night 4 Caribbean

Night 5 80s casual 

Night 6 Dress your best

Onboard now. Not aware of this but recently both my wife and I started having breathing issues, constricted breathing. We were in the WJ and Suite Lounge then down to Sthe Boardwalk and back to our cabin. That’s when my wife mentioned her breathing difficulties and I thought it was odd that I was also experiencing the same thing. So perhaps the pepper spray theory is the cause. I’ve just been out and about and all is quiet.

Yesterday my DW and I were sitting at the Mast Bar at the aft of the ship by the Flowriders when a torrential downpour started and stranded us there for awhile. We still had a good time chatting with the bartender. Another guest sitting there said that it would stop raining by 5 o’clock and he was right. A beautiful sunset shortly thereafter.

I think the second formal night is Day 6. On Day 7 we’re putting our luggage out in the corridors.

6 minutes ago, Sea Dog said:

I always try and wear something nicer for a specialty restaurant. Basically anything goes except for swim wear. I have worn shorts I have worn pants. I always wear a collard shirt and not a tee shirt even though I have seen others do it.

Same here. Also it’s common for people to dress for each day’s theme such as white or formal or 80’s casual or whatever it is.

39 minutes ago, mjldvlks said:

Liberty’s background is in finance and accounting. He strikes me as a bean counter who cannot see beyond dollars and cents. He and people like him need to look at the real world and realize the bottom line is important, but you have to have a product consumers want.
 

The so called “discount” has always been a key selling point for cruising. How many of your selling points are you going to sacrifice?  You’ve given up food quality, you’ve given up the “discount,” you’re hacking hard at service. What’s next?  Sooner or later you are going to cut back to the point no one wants your product at any price. There are plenty of examples out there of companies following the bottom line into oblivion. Boeing is the one the comes to mind most readily. Royal is pretty much there for me. 

I’m on our second cruise this month and I’m not hearing anyone complaining. Business looks good. Ships are full. Drinks are flowing. Short term is all they care about, investors have the attention span of a gnat. I worked for Disney Parks when the bean counters took over a few decades ago and I see the effects of cost cutting but business is booming these days. Investors still not happy. Boeing will be fine because Airbus can’t build enough planes to meet demand. And Royal will be fine because the competition can’t meet demand either.

Your experience may vary but usually if we pick up the cups from one of the tables they set up on boarding day they let us choose any cup so you can pick the color you want. At the bars they just hand one to you.

Heading to the turning basin now.

Victory Casino going out first.