RobInMN

Only been on GC and AMA, and I couldn't disagree with you more. I would completely agree that GC is a budget line.

We Hated GC, love Ama. My parents love GC and didn't really like Ama.

• We can't stand the GC cabins, especially the pullman beds (we spoon). Ama cabins are so much better.
• Love the excursion options you get on an Ama. Don't like that GC only has a single excursion.
• Love the small groups they break the excursions into, even if there's many people doing the same thing. Love that they will break up walking tours into easy, normal and active. GC you are with the same 1/4 of the ship for everything, and your pace is limited to the slowest person.
• Love that Ama uses local experts. Don't like that GC has multiple CMs that act as tour guides at every port (unless you are doing a specific venue that has their own).
• Love that Ama has 2 & 4 top table options. Not a fan of how every table on GC is 8.

I will say that I found the crew of GC just as friendly as the crew on Ama.

10 minutes ago, joepeka said:

The salient point in response to HicksRA is that the assertion that the Texas state flag is the only state flag allowed to be at equal height to the U.S. flag is false. I sense from your comment that you agree?

Nope. Not at all.

I was just saying that the quote from the Vexillologist that "All state flags can be flown at the same height as the US flag" was a bit simplistic. The actual Flag Code has a couple different situations. Then added some additional interesting parts.

2 hours ago, time4u2go said:

Nope, not true.  All state flags can be flown at the same height as the U. S. flag:

 

https://apnews.com/article/fact-checking-515351943107

 

 

That's a bit simplistic. Full Flag Code:

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/4/7

to me, e & f has a slight contradiction. 'e' says that in a group of states or localities, the US flag should be center and higher. But 'f' says that no state or locality flag can be to the right of the US flag (or higher, but that's the same). Only really implying that state flags can be at the same height. So maybe group vs. just a single state or locality?

Moving on from just state flags.

The only place where it's explicitly stated "same height" in the code is in reference to 2 or more nations. It further says that In a time of peace, all nations flags should be at the same height.. The code differentiates between states, localities, and societies versus flags of other nations.

One last note, the UN flag can not be higher than the US flag anywhere in the US except at the UN.

Not sure if you consider Uber private or public, but from what I can tell, Uber does operate in Bucharest.

5 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

Open your developer console. Then log into your account. In the Network tab, look for a request named "ships" (there may be more than one).

It lists every ship in the RC Group fleet.

Ah! Thanks!

I see it now.

This answers the question on the interesting note from the list I found. The ships that are listed twice (with & without "of the Seas") are all ships that were sold to Pullmantur. RCI owned that. All those ships are listed in the ship list as "brand":"P". BTW, "PG"s attributes match Grandeur, which was in the process of being transferred when COVID happened, and scrapped those plans. So "PG" - "Pullmantur Grandeur" maybe.

I'm not finding what @smokeybandit is looking at, but what I found is found here (Chrome instructions):

• Go to Royal Caribbean's web site
• right-click 'Inspect'
• Applications Tab
• Expand Local Storage
• Select https://www.royalcaribbean.com
• Select ga/ships in the list of keys
• Expand the values

This doesn't require you to be logged in. smokeybandit indicated that you could see the info he's looking at after you sign in. I was and still couldn't find it. Also tried going to different pages, no luck.

Interesting that Legend is still showing in the data as a OA, even after the announcement of it being an IC

I'm not sure what @smokeybandit was looking at that specifically linked 'TR' to Icon3, but I found this as ga/ships in local storage. Some interesting notes:

• Azmara ships are still in the list, but not SIlverSea
• Some of the older Vision & Sovereign class ships (but not all of either) are listed twice, with & without the "of the Seas"
• Legend is the only "of the Seas" ship missing, and LE is 'TBA'
• Viking Serenade is listed, but nothing older.
• CocoCay is listed as a "ship"
• 'TR' is the only 'TBA' listed as 'TBA OF THE SEAS'
• 'PN' & 'PG' are also 'TBA', hmm....

[
  { "value": "AD", "name": "ADVENTURE OF THE SEAS" },
  { "value": "AL", "name": "ALLURE OF THE SEAS" },
  { "value": "AN", "name": "ANTHEM OF THE SEAS" },
  { "value": "JR", "name": "AZAMARA JOURNEY" },
  { "value": "ON", "name": "AZAMARA ONWARD" },
  { "value": "PR", "name": "AZAMARA PURSUIT" },
  { "value": "QS", "name": "AZAMARA QUEST" },
  { "value": "AW", "name": "AZAMARA WORLD CRUISE" },
  { "value": "BR", "name": "BRILLIANCE OF THE SEAS" },
  { "value": "AX", "name": "CELEBRITY APEX" },
  { "value": "AT", "name": "CELEBRITY ASCENT" },
  { "value": "BY", "name": "CELEBRITY BEYOND" },
  { "value": "CS", "name": "CELEBRITY CONSTELLATION" },
  { "value": "EC", "name": "CELEBRITY ECLIPSE" },
  { "value": "EG", "name": "CELEBRITY EDGE" },
  { "value": "EQ", "name": "CELEBRITY EQUINOX" },
  { "value": "FL", "name": "CELEBRITY FLORA" },
  { "value": "IN", "name": "CELEBRITY INFINITY" },
  { "value": "ML", "name": "CELEBRITY MILLENNIUM" },
  { "value": "CP", "name": "CELEBRITY PASSAGES" },
  { "value": "RF", "name": "CELEBRITY REFLECTION" },
  { "value": "SI", "name": "CELEBRITY SILHOUETTE" },
  { "value": "SL", "name": "CELEBRITY SOLSTICE" },
  { "value": "SM", "name": "CELEBRITY SUMMIT" },
  { "value": "XC", "name": "CELEBRITY XCEL" },
  { "value": "XP", "name": "CELEBRITY XPEDITION" },
  { "value": "XE", "name": "CELEBRITY XPERIENCE" },
  { "value": "XO", "name": "CELEBRITY XPLORATION" },
  { "value": "NB", "name": "CHINA NEXT CRUISE" },
  { "value": "CC", "name": "COCOCAY" },
  { "value": "EP", "name": "EMPRESS" },
  { "value": "NE", "name": "EMPRESS OF THE SEAS" },
  { "value": "EN", "name": "ENCHANTMENT OF THE SEAS" },
  { "value": "EX", "name": "EXPLORER OF THE SEAS" },
  { "value": "FR", "name": "FREEDOM OF THE SEAS" },
  { "value": "GR", "name": "GRANDEUR OF THE SEAS" },
  { "value": "HM", "name": "HARMONY OF THE SEAS" },
  { "value": "IC", "name": "ICON OF THE SEAS" },
  { "value": "ID", "name": "INDEPENDENCE OF THE SEAS" },
  { "value": "JW", "name": "JEWEL OF THE SEAS" },
  { "value": "LB", "name": "LIBERTY OF THE SEAS" },
  { "value": "MT", "name": "MAJESTY" },
  { "value": "MJ", "name": "MAJESTY OF THE SEAS" },
  { "value": "MA", "name": "MARINER OF THE SEAS" },
  { "value": "MN", "name": "MONARCH OF THE SEAS" },
  { "value": "NV", "name": "NAVIGATOR OF THE SEAS" },
  { "value": "OA", "name": "OASIS OF THE SEAS" },
  { "value": "OY", "name": "ODYSSEY OF THE SEAS" },
  { "value": "OV", "name": "OVATION OF THE SEAS" },
  { "value": "QN", "name": "QUANTUM OF THE SEAS" },
  { "value": "RD", "name": "RADIANCE OF THE SEAS" },
  { "value": "RH", "name": "RHAPSODY OF THE SEAS" },
  { "value": "SR", "name": "SERENADE OF THE SEAS" },
  { "value": "SO", "name": "SOVEREIGN" },
  { "value": "SS", "name": "SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS" },
  { "value": "SC", "name": "SPECTRUM OF THE SEAS" },
  { "value": "SP", "name": "SPLENDOUR OF THE SEAS" },
  { "value": "ST", "name": "STAR OF THE SEAS" },
  { "value": "SY", "name": "SYMPHONY OF THE SEAS" },
  { "value": "LE", "name": "TBA" },
  { "value": "PN", "name": "TBA" },
  { "value": "TR", "name": "TBA OF THE SEAS" },
  { "value": "PG", "name": "TBD" },
  { "value": "LM", "name": "TEST SHIP" },
  { "value": "UT", "name": "UTOPIA OF THE SEAS" },
  { "value": "VS", "name": "VIKING SERENADE" },
  { "value": "VI", "name": "VISION OF THE SEAS" },
  { "value": "VY", "name": "VOYAGER OF THE SEAS" },
  { "value": "WN", "name": "WONDER OF THE SEAS" }
]

20 minutes ago, ONECRUISER said:

Same here, in multiple States seen this myself

Add Minnesota to that list

AmaWaterways

AmaMagna has a variety of table sizes including 2-tops & 4-tops. It also has a secondary option (Al Fresco) that's all 4-tops (different menu than MD). You can also have dinner at Jimmy's Wine Bar. It serves the same thing as the MD, but family style at longer tables (not what you are looking for)

AmaDante is one of their older ships, and I think they were most 6-tops, but some of them were half booths that could be split 4 & 2.

We will be on AmaSiena (one of the newer ships) next spring and looking at videos, it looks like the MD is mostly 4-tops, with a few 2-tops and only a few larger. I would assume all her sister ships are the same?

They all have a Chef's table. Not sure if that counts for what you are looking for, but depending on the ship, there's some to plenty of 4-tops.

Refundable makes sense to me if:

1. There is a high chance that you won't be able to make it
2. If you can't make it, you have no plans to sail on RCI in the next 2 years

1. If the chances are low, and you have every intention to book another one in the next couple years, the $100/person change fee makes more sense to me than paying the refundable upcharge. You'll be ahead in the long run.
2.  

This is the one we travel with. It's USB, very quiet, and surprisingly powerful:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B9B1SVHD

We did Vantage with my parents back in 2005.

I've only done Grand Circle and AmaWaterways since.

Not a fan of Vantage or Grand Circle, but a fan of Ama.

The president or owner of Vantage is/was the brother of the president or owner of GC. Pretty sure GC is nearly identical to Vantage, down to the ship floor plans.

For comparisons with other lines, search/peruse this forum for threads asking for comparisons

Here's a few recent ones:

You tell them. Probably more important to tell them when you don't want a voucher used than when you do, as I think many bartenders will typically use one if it's available.

59 minutes ago, livetravelcruise07 said:

You'll eventually get a "pending" status if it goes through and then a day after that you get the email that your bid was accepted. We found out 30 days before our sailing that our bid had been accepted. 

"Pending" doesn't mean it will definitely go through. I had a pending once, that never happened. Got the denial about 9:00 PM embarkation night. 

28 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

You get a denial email, likely the day before sailing,

Or by 9:00 PM embarkation day. 😉🤣

Oops, guess @Ourusualbeach already pointed out the late notification time

25 minutes ago, wolfcathorse said:

I have a Roku, how do I make it work on a ship?

Should be the same as a Firestick.

Plug it into one of the HDMI ports.

Change the TV to this port. You may need to bring a universal remote that you program to Samsung so that you have a Source button. 

On newer ships, with the interactive TVs, you may need to unplug the wired network connection and power cycle the TV. When that is connected, it auto-launches a custom app that prevents the source button from working.

On the Roku, you will need to switch to the ship's WIFi, and then launch a browser to do the login like you would with any other device you connect to the ship's wifi. Assuming you you don't have a dedicated device count so that they Roku has it's own full time wifi connection. Alternatively, you could have the Roku pre-setup to a hotspot that you bring with you. This could be a hotspot device, or if you have an Android phone, you can wifi hotspot your phone's wifi connection (iPhone does not support this).

Once connected to the wifi, turn on a VPN. (set this up at home before you go). I suggest a VPN so that you are not geo-locked from anything you want to watch. This is especially important for YoutubeTV. I find it also helps to turn on the VPN on my phone that my firestick is connected to. Not sure why (seems redundant), but I have less issues with YTTV suddenly realizing it's not in the US anymore.

30 minutes ago, sowhat said:

Why is it called back to back cruises?

1 hour ago, sowhat said:

When you say the ships are  B2B, do you mean that they are docked stern to stern ?

Also does S2S mean that the ships are dock each side of the pier, ie port to port or starboard to starboard?

28 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

Because CC posters named them as such. RCI itself calls them consecutive cruises.

I'm going to guess that you are not in the US, Possibly UK?

Apparently the phrase "back to back" meaning "Consecutive" is more of a US thing.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/back-to-back

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/back-to-back

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/back-to-back

We did this in 2018. I tried to look at my Google Maps timeline, but while all the places are there, it seems highly confused by the times and order.

Anyway, if you are on the ship excursion, I highly doubt that there is going to be time or opportunity to do anything on your own, even if you ditch part of the tour. If you do, make sure the guide knows so that he's not holding everyone else up trying to make sure that everyone is accounted for, as they usually are checking numbers at any transition.

From my recollection (and trying to piece things from timeline), you take the boat to Capri, you get on a bus, and that bus takes you up to the top (or as far as vehicles are allowed to go). The guide gives you a short tour and then maybe an hour of free time to wander. Basically, time to go to the Capri Overlook on the south side. Then you have to take the Funicular back down and back to the port where you get on another boat to Sorento. Maybe 2 hours total on Capri. Google Maps says that the Blue Grotto is 22 minutes from the ferry port.

In Sorrento, you walk up to Piazza Tasso, and our guide's job was to push this wood inlay shop. and then to a local restaurant for lunch. I think there was a free 30 minutes or something. Then off to Pompei. Maybe 1.5 hours? 2? from boat to bus.

Just over an hour bus ride to Pompei, and a short walk from the bus parking. If timeline is correct, we arrived about 3:00 PM at Pompei. About 1 1/4 hours walking tour in Pompei, then he led everyone out and to a gift shop across the plaza, just outside the exit. After promoting their Lemoncello, complete with tastings (which was arguably good), he then gave us 30 minutes free time to shop. Seriously?!?!? I'd rather have spent 30 more minutes inside Pompei. 

This was the first ship excursion where it was really evident that these guides get kickbacks to push specific shops/vendors. He was not real subtle about it. Maybe he was just a bad guide, I don't know. I think I did say something to the Shore Excursion team when we got back though.

Then maybe an hour back to Naples.

2 hours ago, mapleleaves said:

Would you recommend this AirBnB ?

2 hours ago, Joe33472 said:

 

This is our very first AirBnB ever, so it's been interesting experience.   The location of this AirBnB is fantastic.  We're on Via di Pietra which connects the Pantheon to the Trevi fountain.  So, it's very central to the old historical sights.   We're 5 minutes from Trevi and 7 minutes from the Pantheon and about 15 minutes for Piazza Navona.  There are a ton of restaurants, shops, and gelato in both directions. 

If you are staying for a number of days (a week?), I would totally recommend the AirBnB that we used. It was about 3 blocks from the Vatican's main entrance, and a couple blocks from a couple Metro stops. We took the Metro to everything, but it was very convenient. I figure 30m commute to just about anything we wanted to see. It had a full kitchen (but only used the fridge - bar sized), 2 bedrooms (only needed 1), and most importantly, a washer and a (condensing?) dryer (European dry - had to empty the water tray and re-run like 3 or 4 times). "Via Tolemaide Private Apartment" (by Cory). I just looked it up, and they've more than tripled their price, so maybe it's not as good of a deal as when we rented it.

2 hours ago, LooneyCruzer said:

Not sure how to describe how huge the place is. The letters in the words are 6 feet high(pic 1) zoom in.

When we went in 2018, I zoomed in with my phone's camera. From 1 angle, you can see the line of people that I think are waiting to climb to the top of the dome.

But yes, photos just don't really do a good job of conveying the size. This is about the best I got: 

11 hours ago, Ashland said:

We always bring our Firestick and have no problems watching Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu etc. etc. etc.

Us too. And we use a VPN

Total number of passengers is a tough one. I think you'd have to go ~3000 (or more??) for the economics. But if I recall correctly, some of the potentially desirable ports of call that are limiting or looking at limiting cruise ship sizes are targeting 2500 & under? So that might be a factor also?

Can't hurt to call and ask.

35 minutes ago, alfaeric said:

Vision is 2200, Radiance is 2500.  Any bigger than that and it will have to grow a deck, meaning it will have a tough time with the bridges.

Voyager is 3100-4000, so you can increase the footprint without necessarily adding decks. The pool deck on a Voyager class and Radiance class are both on Deck 11. Voyager's extra decks & height come from the "Crown" (Deck 14 vs 13) and the stacks. I am pretty sure you could add 1 deck to Radiance without having any issues with the vast majority of bridges. I think you could add a deck without increasing the overall height too much as they seem to have abandoned the "Crown".

6 hours ago, irenen said:

Wow. Seems everyone is very happy with their choices. Either river cruising generally has a high standard of service or only happy optimists do river cruising. My choices are more difficult. One thing that seems to be different is that Tauck has 4 cruise directors on board, which might make for a more personalised service and smaller excursion groups. But it is more expensive than others. Not sure if the increased price is good value. Back to my research. Any more reviews welcome.

4 cruise directors vs 1 is not an apples to apples comparison. I can only give you examples of Grand Circle (4) vs. Ama (1).

On GC, the entire ship was divided (equally?) amongst the 4 CDs. On board, presentations would be done as a full ship where it was led by 1 or more of the CDs. Off ship, you were divided into these 4 groups. These were you permanent groups. In my experience, these CDs led all excursions (unless we were visiting something that had their own guides), as experts on everything. These 4 groups could be 40-50 people each depending on the passenger count of the ship/sailing. Your tour size will only be smaller if people in your group choose not to do the excursion at all. 

On Ama, where there was 1 CM, they were more of a coordinator. They led any on ship talks, as well as the occasional all ship evening events (like a wine tasting), but all off ship excursions were done by local guides. There were as many guides as necessary as there were typically multiple options (up to 5?) and any walking tour usually with easy, normal, and active options. Each group had their own guide and depending on interest, multiple guides doing the same excursions. Each group is always kept small, maybe 20(?) max, but typically much smaller. Once it was just my wife & I and the guide. Also any on ship local evening presentations were done by experts brought onto the ship.