Lv2sail_18

Which ship will you be on? Recently on Wonder of the seas, the remaining balance displayed with each swipe just like at land based arcades. Haven’t seen this on any of the older ships.

After the prepaid credits run out, each game will be charged to the seapass card if charging  privileges. If no charging privileges, there is a kiosk where additional credits can be loaded onto the card using cash or credit card.

1. Yes, Anchors Away parade. Can’t recall which days exactly, maybe day 3 and day 6?, check cruise compass once on board as it may change with your sailing. IMHO Best place is cafe promenade or sorrentos so you can sit and relax as you wait.
3. Welcome aboard party first night with midnight balloon drop if you can stay up that late. Variety of others - disco night, etc throughout the week.

7. Small wonders is only on the Oasis I think. Wonder has astronauts in various places.

8. Laser tag 2-3 times during the week when there is not an ice show or free skate. Sign up as soon as you board the ship via the Royal app. No problem also just showing up during the listed time and waiting a bit in the standby line as well. Closed toe shoes needed.

Not sure about the rest. Have fun!

Thank you for the detailed review! Given your experience leaving the shop on the last day, what would you recommend? Taxi? Uber? Pre-paid shuttle?

Thank you everyone for your input! Sounds like a perfect storm of school days off, kids sale free, and yeshiva. Googled Yeshiva + Oasis and found that Oasis is having a yeshiva special. Explains why the Solarium Bistro is set aside for “private function” at mealtimes. But the kids seem to be from a wide variety of backgrounds, predominantly North American I would say based on accents, so the first 2 are probably biggest contributors. Great cruise nonetheless!

On 1/25/2023 at 2:48 PM, pittnh said:

 

thank you, how about the Headliner Showtime with Ron Lucas, is this a comedian?

Comedian/Ventriloquist https://www.ronnlucas.com

There are many more elementary school aged children on the Oasis this week than I’ve seen before in mid-January. Is there an American school holiday I don’t know about? Asking as a Canadian who can’t find the answer in google!

Aqua show moved from Day 1 to Day 3

Someone had helpfully posted the main dining room menus for 2022: https://profcruise.com/royal-caribbean-dinner-menus-2022/?fbclid=IwAR0mj9CxeACib8juhzpafS8XspUNIdSancusy9D6BiGKPlWUGuF05UX_fVg

The windjammer also has a wide variety of items marked as low fat or no added sugar.

Thank you for sharing your planning process and rationale! Fascinating insights!

Thank you so much for sharing your experience and lessons learned. It really helps to know what might happen and how to mitigate some of the risks.  All the best to you and your family!

12 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

Someone asked about arcade.

 

It's open, but about half the machines are shut down for social distancing 

 

 

 

Much appreciated! Thank you for taking the time!

Thank you for bringing us along on your journey!  If it is not too much trouble, could you tell me if the video game arcade is open? Pre-pandemic, it would be listed in the cruise compass as open 24 hours but I don’t see it now. Much appreciated!

Reservations can only be made after boarding - either via the Royal app or at the reservation desk.  When laser tag first opens for the day (e.g. 9:30 am) there can be a long standby line but after the first hour or so, it clears up and there is really no line at all. You may want to check previous cruise compasses but generally laser tag seems to be offered on sea days plus the occasional port days if arriving at a port late or leaving early.

Yes definitely. Otherwise they would need to go down and up stairs. Shallow steps and hand rails but very crowded right when show ends.

On 10/31/2019 at 9:19 AM, ilovetotravel1977 said:

Drinks package - If there is a sale and you want to reprice, do they refund the whole amount, or do they simply credit back the amount you have saved?  As I am Canadian, I was wondering if it makes monetary sense in buying it, then refunding the whole amount, then buying it again as I'd have credit card fees and exchange rates each time...?

 The whole amount is refunded and you would have to buy again to reprice. The exchange rate back and forth definitely cuts into any potential savings from repricing. I wonder if it is possible to buy OBC and use that for cruise planner items and then have any refunded items returned as USD OBC so there isn’t that exchange rate penalty when repricing.

Early seating for main dining room is 5:30 pm (sometimes as early as 5:15 pm).  There are no sign ups  for the buffet.

So if you want to dine with the other couple in the MDR, they will need to switch to MTD or you will need to switch to early seating.

2 hours ago, sellwingri said:

I’m on Anthem in November and it’s my first time on this class of ship so I’m looking forward to this cruise.  I’ve read that it’s better to try the North Star while in port versus at sea.  Any thoughts?

More interesting views while at port compared to large expanse of open water on a sea day. Here are pictures from the North Star while leaving port  (on standby) and another on a sea day (with reservation). Great experience either way.

2 hours ago, PCWalton1 said:

That is where we were going to enjoy breakfast this morning but this is all we have for a table.
 

You might be able to move the desk under the mirror in the cabin to use as a table. Probably too big to take all the way out to the balcony though.

There is a night light in the bathroom on Symphony.

5 hours ago, PCWalton1 said:

May 2018 to Feb 2019

Your cruise reviews and pictures are amazing! Thank you for taking us along!

Question - did you need to check regularly and call RCI or travel agent to reprice your cruise with each price drop or is there a way to get automatic notifications?

5 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

 

If you are asked at check-in about the other person, just say they are making their own way to the cruise.

Why not tell them at check-in that the person is not coming? Any downsides?

1 hour ago, Coral said:

That just looks ugly! Too bad about the smoke.

I thought that it looked beautifully ethereal and mystical! Or should I say mist-ical? 😜

On the Ovation Aug 2-9 we entered Endicott Arm but couldn’t get close to Dawes glacier due to ice and forest fire smoke obscured even a distant view. Attached is the picture at the glacier. Amazing trip nonetheless and I would totally do it again but something to consider if seeing the glacier from the ship is going to make or break the trip for you.

Wonderful review so far! Thank you for sharing!