Tyler80

Okay this one makes me laugh and scratch my head.....

 

While doing the online check-in, one of the items RCI has you select is your occupation. Has anyone ever wondered where on earth their list came from? It's like they just randomly picked some "jobs", some "fields" and some "terms" and threw them together. Here is the list of options in it's entirety:

 

Blue Collar

Business Owner

Clerical/Admin

Exec Upper Mgmt

Health Services

Home Business

Homemaker

Middle Mgmt

Military

Nurse

Profssnl/Technl

Retired

Sales/Marketing

Student

Teacher

White Collar

 

Every company (whether you realize it or not) collects information on the people who utilize their products and services. In turn this information is used to develop demographics for mainly marketing or future developmental purposes.

[quote name='jcg4550']We all know that we do not go on a cruise to stay in our cabins and watch TV. We are hardly ever in the cabin during the day or evening. However, when someone is ill, then it leaves little choice.
Just off the Oasis and my poor DH had a bad couple of days and wanted to rest in bed. Alas, read a book or watch TV. Well, no ABC, NBC, CBS,FX, Fox News and the list goes on. Instead the options were RCL advertising and constant reruns of Castle on TNT. We know that RCL could add more channels to the line up and Sat signals are not a problem in the ocean. I would also like the Weather Channel available to know what I am in for getting home. I mean, I get the Weather Channel everywhere I travel. Are you listening RCL, we need more choices on the TV.
Does this bother anyone else?[/QUOTE]

International broadcast rules prohibit networks from airing certain content outside of the United States. This includes most of what we all watch at home. That leaves the selection of channels available on cruise ships to just a few, including international news stations.

FTLOSM: Hey Michigan Neighbor! It is great to hear that you are having a blast on Allure, despite all the negative attention brought on by her current propulsion issue!

Does anyone get any inoculations before cruising to the Caribbean? I read on the RCI website that they recommend following the CDC and WHO guidelines. According to these guidelines those visiting Belize and Cozumel (the only ones I researched) need to have several shots before going. They stress concern with Malaria from mosquito bites among others. I researched visiting while on a cruise so these guidelines are set for day visitors.

 

To answer your question, when traveling abroad you should always be up to date on vaccines (MMR, tetanus, polio, yearly flu) several of which you would have gotten as a child or received from your doctor during a yearly physical.

I did not realize there was a malaria vaccination, only an inoculation?

 

Currently there is no malaria vaccine available. But GlaxoSmithKline is currently in the clinical trial phase of a new vaccine.

 

Malaria is present in some parts of Mexico, all of Haiti and the Dominican Republic and currently not many other places in the Caribbean.

 

Malaria Coverage Map: http://cdc-malaria.ncsa.uiuc.edu/

 

From the CDC regarding traveling to Mexico:

 

When traveling in Mexico, you should avoid mosquito bites to prevent malaria. You may need to take prescription medicine before, during, and after your trip to prevent malaria, depending on your travel plans, such as where you are going, when you are traveling, and if you are spending a lot of time outdoors or sleeping outside. Talk to your doctor about how you can prevent malaria while traveling. For more information on malaria in Mexico, see malaria in Mexico.

We bought some DELICIOUS rum cream in Belize on our first-ever cruise. We've been trying to find it's match ever since!

 

Rum cream? Have you ever tried RumChata? http://www.rumchata.com

I like cruising for one simple reason: its a 'fire and forget' vacation. Let me explain:

 

We do both land vacations and cruises. Lets compare what I do on both type vacations. Recently we went to visit some sites and family in Texas:

 

1) Fly to Austin TX

2) Go get rental car

3) Drive 3 hrs to Houston, TX

4) Find Hotel

5) Find some place for dinner

6) Next morning, drive to NASA for tour

7) Find place for dinner

8) Drive back to Austin, TX

9) Find hotel

10) Figure out something to do for morning

11) Drive to family location

12) Drive to next spot, find meals, return car, etc

 

 

Now, for a cruise, here is what it looks like to me:

 

1) Fly to Port city

2) taxi to ship

3) hotel room

 

Thanks it. Don't have to find a place to eat, no changing hotels, no deciding on what to do...its all right there. We even go to different cities, and all I have to do to get there is SLEEP! That, my friends, is vacation!

 

You hit the nail on the head. Simply put: You get on the ship and someone takes care of everything else for you!

I would be surprised to see a replacement this early as well. I can think of some other shows that would be a good fit. All Shook Up and Wicked come to mind. I really enjoyed Hairspray. Even though there was a technical issue during the production I saw last December which delayed the show for 10 minutes in the middle, the show was still great!

I choose cruising over a land based all inclusive resort because when I "go" on vacation I like to actually "go to" many places while on vacation. Royal Caribbean feels like home when I get onboard. They take care of my needs and I feel it is a superior value over all inclusive resorts.

I believe those have a capacity of 350, so assuming enough capacity as others have indicated, 350 people probably have to have new Sea Pass cards (or correction stickers) showing a new Muster Station. I'm sure we will hear something in reviews. I guess this is why they test.

 

The rescue vessels onboard Oasis class ships actually have a capacity of 370 each. And there is significant "extra" or "over capacity" space to handle more passengers.

 

The loss of 1 rescue vessel is not significant enough to warrant reducing passenger numbers or changing muster locations. As previously noted muster locations are the areas where you gather, not where you board a rescue vessel.

Central Park balconies will hear noise from anything going on in Central Park and from pool bands and or music from the pool deck. You can hear this from standing in Central Park.

 

Boardwalk balconies will hear noise from anything going on in the Boardwalk area, the carousel music and bell, and any Aqua Theater events going on.

sailawaybellaluna: I know it has been said before but your son is cuter than sliced bread! Those eyes! And you are beautiful as well. Thank you for posting your review and wonderful photos. You should submit your son eating snails to Royal Caribbean.

 

SteveH2508: Are you calling the Royal Promenade the boardwalk? I'm sorry you did not like this space but the Royal Promenade is a signature feature on many of Royal Caribbean's ships.

IIRC, I read somewhere on here that the reason for docking on the starboard side is based on the arrangement for embarking and disembarking. I have sailed the Allure twice and only once did the ship dock portside to the pier. That was in Nassau and they were conducting life boat drills with the starboard life boats.

 

The forward and aft escalators are directed towards the starboard side and only function when the ship is docked on that side. As others said they only dock on port side if doing rescue vessel training.

Help! I'm usually so on top of things but we are sailing next week on Liberty 4 night to Cozumel and I am so unprepared.

 

Haven't sailed Rccl in 2 years / anything new on ships? New on liberty?

 

This will be my sons first time in the kids program (4.5) and haven't even started looking into how that works.

 

Any help is appreciated!!

 

And looking for a recent cruise compass for the liberty 4 night too if anyone has one.

 

Thanks!

 

Not much has changed on Liberty if you've sailed on her since 2011 drydock with Cupcake Cupboard and Saturday Night Fever additions.

I'm really surprised no one has answered this question. The stairway that appears to diagonally lead into a stateroom is actually an escalator that leads to deck 2. There are 2 of these escalators one forward and one aft. When the ship is docked at ports of call passengers are directed to these escalators (via the gangway button in the elevator) which take you down to deck 2 where you can walk off the ship via the gangway.

 

The 2 escalators are only in use when the ship is docked on the starboard side, thus why they are pointed to one side. I have no idea why only 1 shows up on the deck plan. There are actually 2 each on Oasis and Allure. See the attached photos. When they are not in use a fire door closes to block access and you would never know anything is here. familyfunof6: To answer your question the escalator does not block the hallway.

 

Upon debarkation both escalators go down to unload passengers quickly through both the forward and aft doors. After a few hours one will change to going up to load passengers wanting to get back on the ship. Eventually both change to going up to quickly load passengers at the end of the day.

 

Photos attached of the escalators on Oasis of the Seas.

I personally don't think Mama Mia is child appropriate either. Sophie can't know who her daddy is?

 

You'd be surprised at how many kids don't know who their daddy is. The relationship is more important than the biological connection.

 

As I've mentioned before, I expected Mama Mia. It's a fun show, suitable for a vacation. Wicked is dark and heavy...people don't want to see a downer on vacation.

 

Have you seen Wicked? Even though it's not completely warm and sunny, each show has their own issues and dark sides. Hairspray = race issue. Chicago = sexual behavior, fowl language. Wicked would be a good fit. Obviously it is a smash hit on Broadway.

I have never seen it so I am very excited and I do love the music from it. :D

 

Mamma Mia is a great Broadway Musical and I think a great addition to the Broadway musical lineup onboard Royal Caribbean ships.

 

I would have bet everything that it was going to be Wicked, but I'm very pleased with Mamma Mia. Fun, upbeat, good music.

 

I too thought it would be Wicked. The clues were all there NYC, Kristin Chenoweth, a "green" ship. But maybe we can hope Wicked for Anthem, or Quantum 3 or 4?

Joseph and the amazing technicolor dreamcoat or Mary Poppins.

 

Probably won't see any Disney licensed productions on a Royal Caribbean ship ever! :)

The Bahamas stop is on the Eastern route, not Western. Yes there are places to buy alcohol, not sure about an actual store. But many places in the main port building that sell alcohol. Any large bottles you buy will be sent directly to the ship and you will not be able to have them until your last night to take home.

Wicked is a bit heavy and sad for a vacation. I'm thinking something more upbeat.

 

Don't forget Allure of the Seas has Chicago. So Wicked wouldn't be too heavy. Personally I would love Wicked.

Personally my pillow never leaves my house. But if you have neck problems where you'll need a special pillow, it would be smart to bring your own. I don't know if the ship will have the right pillow for you and you wouldn't want to ruin your vacation because you can't sleep well. :)

"like your has?"

 

You mean like Allure has? I don't know what the details are for Oasis, I don't think they've been released yet. I wouldn't be surprised if there weren't a lot of changes. Everything works now, but there will just be a lot of refurbishment.

When people ask what I like to do I tell them I'm a frequent floater. It gets odd looks especially from people who haven't cruised before. Most of the time they ask if I have a pool, which I don't. ;)

Looks nice. Thanks for the photos! :)

Shows will probably run as normal, but you won't be able to see them all. Shops will be open once the ship leaves port. For a little more than twice the price, you could sail a 7 night cruise on Oasis that is more than 3 times as long. You might be let down or feel overwhelmed with only 2 days onboard to explore all that Oasis has to offer. Just a thought. :)