CruisingJoe09

Didn't care for the Windjammer on Wonder - found the design odd and also was a bit let down by the food selection on a few occasions if I'm being honest. I prefer the WJ on older Oasis Class ships, both Allure & Symphony had good ones.

Odyssey's WJ was better though so it's not a new ship problem.

That CD who spoke negatively about older guests and scheduled little to no entertainment definitely would get a thumbs down from me but I've actually seen it in the other way around. On Serenade in 2013, there was usually only one show an evening and it was too late at night despite it being early-mid July and a lot of kids being onboard for summer vacation. Whoever did the scheduling there clearly didn't take that into consideration and it's a shame because the CD was otherwise quite good on stage. 

1 hour ago, coffeebean said:

Speaking of the morning show.......There was a CD from Canada who was funny as hell on his morning shows and also did a great job in other venues. I can not remember his name. He would wear a bathrobe and curlers in his hair for the morning show. Of course the curlers were a "wig" because he shaved his head. Anyone remember his name? He was a Royal Caribbean CD for many years.

Sounds like Allan Brooks?

I think it depends on what type of cruise you are on and whether or not you go to the events anyway. If you're on a small ship and/or a itinerary with cold weather, then a good CD plus a good Activities Manager is imperative to make sure you have things to do when you can't go to the pool or the other amenities (if the ship even has them). The Activities Manager is equally as important since they manage the trivias and all of those events and sometimes a decent AM can make up for a below average CD.

On a warm weather cruise on a big ship, probably less so but some of us still enjoy going to the events. A CD doesn't make or break a cruise for me but they can affect certain events such as the Love and Marriage or theme nights which I like. And I also enjoy a decent morning show on the TV, the likes of Abe Hughes & Leigh Xuereb (neither are Royal CDs any more) were great with that but my most recent cruise on Odyssey, the morning show was just so basic and lasted only a few minutes.

It's also personal preference as to what style of CD you like. I've had 12 CDs in total, 9 I've liked and there were 3 who were not my cup of tea. It doesn't make or break a cruise but it's better when you get someone with a bit of energy and humour and seems somewhat engaged with guests (wouldn't judge them on how visible they are though since the mega ships require a lot of behind the scenes work).

Marvin Wilson was an Activities Manager for several years, often on the former AM list.

On 8/9/2022 at 8:20 PM, RCCL Fan said:

We enjoyed some time in boleros tonight, it was hopping with music and had great bar service. I think i put my finger on it tonight.... cruise director.  

 

I ran into her in the elevator, several of us with her and she just kinda stood there. The activity director got on and spoke to all the passengers, asked about their vacation, encouraged them to come upstairs to the white party going on.  You know... the party host.   I didn't really feel that from the cruise director

 

.   It was like every bar was open, and had music in it at night.  And you had your scheduled shows, but that's it.  There was a lack of energy and vibe on the ship.   I was critical of this on Allure last year with their new cruise director. 

Ships need that energetic party host in my opinion.

 

Tomorrow --- Naples or is it?

 

I was on the ship a couple of weeks after you and have to agree on the CD Ana. To be fair, it's her first contract as CD and she doesn't have the usual hosting background like the others (ex sports staff) plus Odyssey is a difficult ship to manage, with several hundred staff in the entertainment/sports/youth staff to manage.

But I did feel that she wasn't that present throughout and things like the morning show were just very basic compared to other CDs. The Activities Manager was great though, a Welsh guy named Dom, very visible around the ship and energetic.

Was on Odyssey last week. Captain Sindre is fantastic, really enjoyed his contributions throughout the cruise and a great Captain's Corner as well.

4 hours ago, tompeter said:

Where are you cruising, how long is the cruise? These factors influence the crowd on the ship and thus who may be attending.

7 night Eastern Med from Civitavecchia.

I'm sailing on Odyssey of the Seas on Sunday. I'm wondering if I have any chances of meeting people at the LGBT gatherings, purely because I'm under 25. What age do these gatherings tend to attract?

Looks like I'll have Ana on Odyssey in 10 days then. Anyone had her? First ever female CD for me in 13 years.

Was on Wonder 2 weeks ago, Michele always does a great job. Quite funny and knows the languages so ideal for that itinerary.

Since the pandemic, I'm less fussed about flying abroad so I'd definitely be up for it but I think they would be limited on ports. More important to me than having an Oasis Class though is having something other than Anthem in Southampton (whether as a replacement or a 2nd ship).

I think it's a real shame that Royal sold Majesty and the new company seemingly hasn't used her at all in 18 months. Probably very far fetched but I'd kinda like Royal to get her back at this point, otherwise it feels like she'll waste away in Athens before getting scrapped.

Nice that Empress has started a new life cruising in India.

I imagine it will be Michele who does Wonder for the Med summer season, he's experienced with Oasis Class and multi-lingual, was CD for the Symphony launch season as well.

Haven't checked in here for most of the year - I don't recognise some of the names on the list, guessing that COVID influenced quite a few CD's to move on so a bunch of AM's got promoted.

Some CD's have headed out to ships now. From what I have seen:

• Hugo Arenas on Adventure
• Joff Eaton on Anthem
• John Blair on Serenade
• Brian Leavitt on Symphony
• Mitch Merucci on Quantum

Marc Walker is also on a ship (possibly Allure?).

15 minutes ago, sandebeach said:

I was surprised this year for sailings out of Ft. Lauderdale. Allure and Odyssey are both doing alternating 6-day and 8-day sailings. Nothing wrong with it, it is just different. 

An 8 nighter on Oasis Class does sound quite good in all fairness, always wanted to see something a bit different to 7 nighters on them (often not enough time to do everything and really experience the ship).

6 hours ago, SG65CB said:

I noticed this too with the Freedom class, along with Adventure of the Seas. The problem I see is if you want to take a 7 night Caribbean cruise you're going to be forced onto an Oasis class ship - or a very small ship like the one sailing out of Tampa or Barbados. Oasis is OK, but not every time out.

 

Any idea where Navigator of the Seas will be in early 2023? 

 

Waiting to see what ship will be sailing from Puerto Rico in early 2023.

I believe Voyager is heading to San Juan after her stint in Boston.

No idea on Navigator - her deployment is one that does interest me as I thought she'd be a cert for short cruises. Really liked the look of her AMP 2 years ago so would definitely be interested in a sailing on her if something a bit longer.

And yeah - not really any mid ground options for 7 night Caribbean now. I love Oasis Class but as you say, it gets stale doing the same one each time.

Just now, HBE4 said:

 

Three words: B-2-B.

Not worth it for repeats to Nassau & CocoCay sadly.

18 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

My guess is that the Navigator and Mariner proved to be so popular with the crowd that likes the 3/4 night cruises that Royal upped its game and put the Freedom class doing these short cruises, as they carry more passengers  than the Voyager class ships.  It’s all about maximizing revenue.  
 

The 3/4 night cruises have come a long way from the days where they were done by the oldest ships in the fleet.  Royal has set the standard on short cruises. 

And that's great for them that they've found a successful market and no problem putting 1 or 2 of them on that route. But all 3 just seems like a middle finger being stuck up to non American markets (and it's not like some of the ships we have in Europe are anything to write home about, the likes of Voyager, Brilliance, Rhapsody and Vision are just what's left over).

1 minute ago, HicksRA said:

Liberty is doing 7 nights out of Galveston. 

Until Oct 2022 then joining her sisters on the short cruises.

Not at all happy reading the deployment schedules. As a European, I feel like it's a major slap in the face that all ships in the class are to be assigned to a specific market which is inaccessible for anyone from abroad to travel to. Indy was the ship that got me into cruising back when she was in Southampton. Been a few years but I was hoping to sail either her or one of her sisters in the not too distant future. No chance of it ever again by the sounds of it.

Sure, it's profitable but could they not have had one in PC, one in Miami and the other doing longer itineraries somewhere? (even if in Florida, a 6/7/8 nighter would do).

What ship do we think is going to New Jersey alongside Oasis?

My guess would be the new Wonder of the Seas going to Oz, splitting time between there & China.

56 minutes ago, Ethanol95 said:

I don't know whether this has been done before, but just thought I'd put this here. I've color coded all ship deployments to their homeports. Don't mind it's still a work in progress trying to catch up with the past. And there's probably some outdated changes with Covid which i'll change when I have more time.

 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1myIob-e1U7bwVqUfabeADDxkNVbFEC0iQ8fRI274Sp8/edit?usp=sharing

Thanks! 🙂

2 hours ago, swoopy2110 said:

 

They have more ships than just the Independence too.

 

And I've sailed ships other than Independence - I've also been on Jewel, Enchantment, Explorer, Serenade, Oasis, Allure, Harmony, Symphony and Anthem. It's an issue with Anthem and not an issue with "not Independence" - I'd be quite happy if we had a Voyager, another Freedom or an Oasis in the area. 

Ah well, Allure looks to be Barcelona bound at least.