Stupindous

Look out the balcony with binoculars at everyone stuck in port, and secretly have a smug laugh at them. Wave to all on passing ferries with a glass of whatever-on-ice.

This is reversed on disembarkation.

Hi kaz and shaz!

I love dem sparklz.

Dont know if this has been done before, but why not pack a soda stream? It would be easier than bottles and you could drink.mlre.

I didnt take the land tour but really enjoyed the day visiting the sounds.

Why has no one mentioned the SeaPlex Doghouse on Ovation? Awesome sauce hotdogs - complimentary My daughter and I still talk of those days [emoji4]

Pepperoni. Thin crust.

Molto bene!

Thanks! How do you already know your seating?

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[emoji851]

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Does Ferry McFerryface qualify?

;p

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We find the food in the MDR not quite to the standard we like and so we eat speciality every night. On Explorer we think Giovanni's is the best of the bunch. Izumi uses frozen product which is a bit off-putting - defrosted fish eggs just don't work for sushi. Chops is adequate but ordinary - our sides were served only barely warm each time we were there.

 

RCL prices the speciality restraints to encourage you to buy a package; on a one-off basis the prices are outrageous for what you're getting. On a January fourteen nighter just coming up now we got a package for the whole cruise at under $20 NZD per night; we booked super early and have to put up with dinner at 9pm on the first night (but you can be sure I will ask the concierge to change this as soon as we are on board).

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We always take an Aldi adapter and its never been picked up. We pack it in a small bag, I think it is the one it came with, along with a heap of USB cables and other electrical plugs and AA/AAA battery charger. Disguised it perhaps?

On our last RCI (Ovation) cruise in December, as we debarked, there was a table loaded with powerboards for people to collect as they left. There were also irons, kettles and even what appeared to be an elecric fan with removable blades.

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I bought a coffee card before the cruise. 15 espresso style coffees for about $50. In the end, I gave it to my wife, who went through her card in a few days. They're pretty ordinary at making coffee.

I just learned to tolerate American style coffee, you get for free.

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Couple of my pics from the same sailing. I don't think they do the place justice.

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Here's a pic I took of Ovation, while waiting to cross the bridge into the tender port at Auckland on 2/1/18. What a great day that was! Beautiful city.

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I was on Ovation a month ago on a 12 night NZ sailing. There were 2 nights with a suggested code of 70s or tropical.

A few people participated but most got by with regular digs.

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I was on the Ovation during this cruise. Watching Maasdam pull into port alongside us I was struck by its elegant lines. Ovation looks like a brick.

Up close though I have to say, there was visible rust up the side of the Maasdam. On the other hand, whenever I went on the lower deck on the Ovation, there was always a painting crew at work. It looked immaculate.

I remember a similar comparison being made between QE2 and Queen Mary 2 when they were in Sydney in 2007/8. Old style elegance vs the modern numbers game.

Has anyone sailed on a new smaller ship?